JPH0816344A - Printing system and distributed printing method for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten time for printing by distributedly printing the printing data of plural pages with plural printers by allocating the printing data to the printers and transferring them according to registered printer candidate names and the number of printer candidates. CONSTITUTION:A storage device 105 for storing the printer candidate names and the number of distributed printer candidates for distributedly printing the printing data with the plural printers, CPU 104 for dividing the printing data for the unit of a page based on the distributed printer candidate names and the number of distributed printer candidates in the storage means, and communicating means 106 for transferring the printing data allocated to the respective printers to the respective printers according to the distributed printer candidate names stored in the storage means 105 are provided on the side of an information processor 101. At the time of printing, the CPU 104 divides the printing data for the unit of a page and allocates those data based on the candidate names and the number of candidates in the storage device 105. Then, the communication equipment 106 transfers the printing data to the printers according to the distributed printer candidate names in the storage device 105.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing system for parallel and distributed processing of print information supplied from the same data source by using a plurality of printing devices, and a distributed printing method of the printing system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a printing system in which a plurality of printing devices and a plurality of host computers are connected via a network, when a user records image data over a plurality of pages using the printing device, a single printing is performed. Output all pages using the device.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, since all pages are sequentially recorded by a single printing apparatus, there is a problem that the printing processing time becomes long.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems. In the first to eighth inventions, print data is printed for each printing device according to the registered printing device candidate name and the number of printing device candidates. The present invention provides a printing system and a distributed printing method of the printing system, in which print data over a plurality of pages is distributed and printed by a plurality of printing devices, and printing time can be shortened by allocating and transferring the print data.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in a printing system in which a plurality of printing devices and a plurality of information processing devices are connected via a network, a plurality of pages of print data are printed. A storage unit that stores a name of a printing device candidate and the number of distributed printing candidates for distributed printing in the device, and a plurality of storage units based on the name of the distributed printing device candidate and the number of distributed printing candidates stored in the storage unit when printing print data. An assigning unit that assigns the print data for each page by dividing it into page units, and the print data assigned to each printing device by this assigning unit is transferred to each printing device according to the distributed printing device candidate name stored in the storage unit. A transfer means is provided on each information processing device side.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, each information processing device has an input means for inputting a printing device candidate name and a number of distributed printing candidates for distributed printing of print data over a plurality of pages by a plurality of printing devices. The printing device candidate name and the number of distributed printing candidates input from the input unit are registered in the storage unit.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, print data for a plurality of pages is distributed to a plurality of printing devices in a storage means based on a data request from each printing device in response to a data transfer request from each information processing device. A registration unit that automatically registers a printing device candidate name and the number of distributed printing candidates for printing is provided on each information processing device side.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the allocating means is configured to variably set the allocation distribution to each distributed printing device candidate by referring to the printing resources of each printing device.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a printing resource is
The print processing speed information of each printing device is configured.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided storage means for storing a print device candidate name and the number of distributed print candidates for distributed printing of print data over a plurality of pages by a plurality of printing devices, and via a network. A plurality of printing devices and a plurality of information processing devices are connected to each other, and print data is transferred to each printing device according to a data request from each printing device in response to a data transfer request from each information processing device to each printing device. In the distributed printing method of a printing system, an acquisition step of acquiring a name of a printing device candidate for performing distributed printing and the number of distributed printing candidates from the storage device, and print data based on the acquired name of the printing device candidate and the number of distributed printing candidates Step for dividing the number of pages into the number of apparatuses that perform print processing, a determination step for determining the printing apparatus that is the data request source, and the divided mark Those having a termination determination step of determining whether the completed for data requesting the printing apparatus the data transfer is determined for each data.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, at the time of initial setting of a network, a plurality of print data over a plurality of pages is stored in a storage means based on a data request from each printing device in response to a data transfer request from each information processing device. And a registration step of automatically registering a printing device candidate name and the number of distributed printing candidates for distributed printing by the printing device.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, at the time of starting a printing process, a plurality of print data for a plurality of pages is stored in a storage means based on a data request from each printing device in response to a data transfer request from each information processing device. 7. A registration step of automatically registering a printing device candidate name and the number of distributed printing candidates for distributed printing by the printing device according to claim 6.
A distributed printing method of the described printing system.

[0013]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when printing the print data, the print data for a plurality of pages is divided into page units based on the distributed printing device candidate name and the number of distributed printing candidates stored in the storage unit by the assigning unit. , The transfer means transfers the print data assigned to each printing device to each printing device according to the distributed printing device candidate name stored in the storage device, and the print data transferred by each printing device is parallelized. And perform distributed printing.

In the second aspect of the present invention, the printing device candidate name and the number of distributed printing candidates input from the input means are registered in the storage means, and the printing device installed by the user in any proximity on the network is distributed to the distributed printing device. Make it a candidate.

In the third aspect of the invention, the print data over a plurality of pages is distributed to the storage means by the plurality of printing devices based on the data request from each printing device in response to the data transfer request from each information processing device of the registration means. All the printing device candidate names for printing and the number of distributed printing candidates are automatically registered, and all printing devices on the printable network are registered as distributed printing device candidates. The print data is distributed and printed by the printing device.

In the fourth invention, the allocating means variably sets the allocation distribution to each distributed printing device candidate by referring to the printing resources of each printing device, and averages the print data processing load of each printing device.

In the fifth aspect of the present invention, the allocation means for the printing resources variably sets the allocation allocation to each distributed printing device candidate by referring to the print processing speed information of each printing device as the printing resource of each printing device. , The load of print data processing of each printing device is averaged.

In the sixth invention, a name of a printing device candidate for performing distributed printing and the number of distributed printing candidates are acquired from the storage device, and print data is paged based on the acquired name of the printing device candidate and the number of distributed printing candidates. Is it divided into the number of devices that perform print processing in units, determines the printing device that is the data request source, and has the data transfer for each of the divided print data determined for the determined printing device that is the data request source? It is determined whether or not the print data transferred by each printing device registered as the distributed printing device candidate is distributed and printed in parallel.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, at the time of network initialization, the print data over a plurality of pages is stored in the storage means in the plurality of printing devices based on the data request from each printing device in response to the data transfer request from each information processing device. Automatically register the names of printing device candidates and the number of distributed printing candidates for distributed printing by using, and register all printing devices on the printable network as distributed printing device candidates to become distributed printing device candidates on the network. Print data is distributed and printed by all printing devices.

According to the eighth aspect of the invention, at the start of the printing process, the print data for a plurality of pages is stored in the storage means in the plurality of printing devices based on the data request from each printing device in response to the data transfer request from each information processing device. Automatically register the name of the printing device candidate and the number of distributed printing candidates for distributed printing with, and register all the printing devices on the latest printable network at the start of the printing process as distributed printing device candidates. The print data is distributed and printed by all the printing devices that are candidates for the distributed printing device.

[0021]

【Example】

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the arrangement of a printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The system includes printing devices 121, 131 connected to an information processing device 101 by a network 140. Corresponds to when configured. The information processing device 101 and the network 1
There is no limit to the number of printing devices 121 and 131 connected by 40.

As shown in the figure, the image data is input from the input device 103 and stored in the storage device 105 by the CPU 104 for controlling. The stored image information is stored in the communication device 106 and the communication device 126 or the communication device 136.
Is transferred to the storage device 125 and the storage device 135 via. The transferred image information is stored in the CPU 124 and the CP.
Developing device 122 and developing device 1 controlled by U134
32 is recorded on the print medium. In addition, 102,1
28 and 138 are display devices, and 127 and 137 are external storage devices.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a data transfer state between the information processing apparatus 101 and the printing apparatuses 121 and 131 in the printing system shown in FIG.

As shown in this figure, the information processing apparatus 101
Divides the image data into page units and allocates them to each printing device, and sends data transfer requests 201 and 211 to the connected printing devices 121 and 131. Upon receiving the data transfer request, the printing apparatuses 121 and 131 determine whether or not other print processing is being executed, and if not, send the data requests 202 and 212 to the information processing apparatus 101.

Information processing apparatus 101 that has received the data request
Determines the printing apparatus that is the data request source, and transmits the image data 203, 213 assigned to that printing apparatus.

Printing devices 121, 1 that have received the image data
31 executes the print processing to execute the next data request 204, 21.
4 is transmitted to the information processing apparatus 101. Upon receiving the data request, the information processing apparatus 101 confirms the printing apparatus that is the data request source, confirms that all the image data assigned to the printing apparatus has been transferred, and ends 205 and 215, and the printing apparatus 12 ends.
Send to 1,131. Hereinafter, the correspondence between the present embodiment and each means of the first to third inventions and the operation thereof will be described with reference to FIGS.
Etc. will be described.

The first invention is a printing device candidate for distributed printing of print data over a plurality of pages in a printing system in which a plurality of printing devices and a plurality of information processing devices are connected via a network. A storage unit that stores the name and the number of distributed printing candidates (storage device 10
5) and an allocation unit (CPU 104) that allocates the print data over a plurality of pages by dividing the print data into a plurality of pages based on the distributed printing device candidate name and the number of distributed printing candidates stored in the storage unit when printing the print data. A transfer unit (communication device 106) for transferring the print data assigned to each printing device by the assigning unit to each printing device according to the distributed printing device candidate name stored in the storage unit is provided to each information processing device 101 side. When the print data is printed, when the print data over a plurality of pages is divided and assigned in page units based on the distributed print device candidate name and the number of distributed print candidates stored in the storage device 105 by the CPU 104, the communication device 106 Each printing device 121, 1
The print data assigned to 31 is stored in the storage device 105.
Since the data is transferred to each printing device according to the distributed printing device candidate name stored in, the print data transferred by each printing device can be distributed and printed in parallel.

A second aspect of the invention is a printing device input from an input means (input device 103) for inputting a printing device candidate name and the number of distributed printing candidates for distributed printing of print data over a plurality of pages by a plurality of printing devices. Since the candidate name and the number of distributed printing candidates are registered in the storage device 105, the user can select any nearby printing device on the network as a distributed printing device candidate.

In the third aspect of the invention, print data over a plurality of pages is distributed and printed in the storage device 105 by a plurality of printing devices based on a data request from each printing device in response to a data transfer request from each information processing device 101. A registration unit (CPU 104) for automatically registering a printing device candidate name and the number of distributed printing candidates for storing a plurality of data is stored in a storage unit based on a data request from each printing device 121, 131 in response to a data transfer request from each information processing device. Since a printing device candidate name and the number of distributed printing candidates for distributed printing of print data across pages by a plurality of printing devices are automatically registered, all printing devices on the printable network 140 are registered as distributed printing device candidates. , Print data can be distributed and printed by all the printing devices that are candidates for the distributed printing device on the network 140. Can.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing an embodiment of the distributed printing method of the printing system according to the present invention. In addition,
(1) to (10) show each step.

First, the information processing apparatus 101 determines whether or not a print processing request has been issued (1), acquires the apparatus name and the number of apparatuses of the printing apparatus that performs the print processing from the storage device 105 (2), and displays the image. The data is divided into the number of printing devices in page units and assigned to each printing device (3).

The device name of the printing device in step (2) is information for specifying the only printing device on the network, and the network address (eg IP address) is also included in this. .

After that, the data transfer request packet is transmitted to the printing device which should execute the printing process (4), and the printer waits for the data request packet to be transmitted (5). If the data request packet is received, the printing apparatus that requested the data is discriminated (6), and it is determined whether all the image data assigned to the printing apparatus have been transferred (7). If the image data is still transferred, The packet of image data is transferred (8), and the next data request is waited (5).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (7) that the transfer of the image data allocated to the data requesting printing device is completed, the end is transmitted to the data requesting printing device and the data is sent to that printing device. The data transfer of is finished (9). Then, it is judged whether or not there is data to be transferred to another printing apparatus (10), and if there is still data, the next data request packet is waited for (5), and if image data transfer is completed, transfer is performed. Control ends. Correspondence between the present embodiment and each step of the sixth invention and its action will be described below with reference to FIGS.
Etc. will be described.

The sixth aspect of the present invention has a storage unit (storage device 105) for storing the names of printing device candidates and the number of distributed printing candidates for distributed printing of print data over a plurality of pages by a plurality of printing devices, and the network 140. Via the plurality of printing devices 121, 131 and the plurality of information processing devices 10
In a print information distributed output method of a printing system, 1 is connected, and print data is transferred to each printing device according to a data request from each printing device in response to a data transfer request from each information processing device to each printing device. , An acquisition step (step (2) in FIG. 3) of acquiring the name of a printing device candidate for performing distributed printing and the number of distributed printing candidates from the storage device 105, and dividing the print data into the number of devices performing printing processing in page units. Dividing process (step (3) in FIG. 3)
And a determination step (FIG. 3) for determining the data requesting printing device.
No. (6)) and an end determination step (steps (7) and (8) in FIG. 3 or step (7) in FIG. 3) for determining whether or not the data transfer for each divided print data is completed.
By executing (11) and (12), the print data transferred by the respective printing apparatuses registered as the distributed printing apparatus candidates are distributed and printed in parallel.

FIG. 4 shows the printing apparatus 121, 1 shown in FIG.
13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a print processing procedure of No. 31. Note that (1) to (10) indicate each step.

First, when a packet is received from the network 104 (1), the type of the packet is discriminated (2), and if the packet is a data transfer request, it is discriminated whether or not print processing is currently being performed (3). If it is not being processed, a data transfer request is sent to start the printing process (4).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step [3] that the job is being processed, a job is added to the queue (5) and a wait request is sent (6).

On the other hand, if the received packet is image data in the determination of step (2), the image data is recorded on the recording medium by the developing device 132 (9) and a data request is sent (10).

On the other hand, if the received packet is judged to have ended in step (2), it is judged whether there is a job in the output queue (7), and if there is, a data request for the waiting job is sent out (8 ), If not, the printing process is terminated and the process returns to step (1) to wait for reception of the next packet.

FIG. 5 shows the information processing apparatus 101 shown in FIG.
It is a figure which shows the memory map of the memory | storage device 105 in the inside.

As shown in this figure, the storage device 105 has an area 501 for storing image data, an area 505 for storing the device name and the number of devices of a printing device for performing print processing, and a work area 506. The device name and the number of devices of the printing device that performs the printing process are input from the input device 103, and the CP
It is stored in the area 505 via U104.

The printing device names stored in the area 505 are limited to the printing devices installed in a specific narrow area. [Second Embodiment] In the above embodiment, the printing devices 121 and 13 are used.
Although the case of performing distributed output processing in parallel by two units of No. 1 has been described, in the following embodiment, printer registration work is reduced in a network that is set up in a specific narrow area such as a section unit or a small office. As an effective example of the means, in the case where the networked area is limited to a specific narrow area and the print processing is distributed to all the printing devices connected to the network, the area 505 shown in FIG. The acquisition of the information about the device name and the number of devices of the printing device to be stored can be realized by processing according to the procedure shown in FIG. Although the second embodiment can be applied to a wide area network, in such a case, information for designating the range of the network in which a valid printer is placed (for example, a netmask in an IP address) and That process is required.

FIG. 6 shows the information processing apparatus 101 shown in FIG.
6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for acquiring information on a device name and the number of devices of a printing device according to the above. In addition, (1) ~
(7) shows each step.

First, a data transfer request packet is sent to the printer (1), and a data request packet is waited (2).
When the data request packet is received, the printing device that requested the data is determined (3), the device name of the printing device is stored in the area of the storage device 105 in 505 (4), and the number of devices stored in the area 505 is stored. The information of is incremented by 1 (5).

Next, it is judged whether or not to wait for the data request packet (6). If it waits, the process returns to step (2) to wait for the data request packet again, and if it does not wait, the end request packet is sent out (7). ), End the procedure. Hereinafter, the correspondence between the present embodiment and the respective steps of the seventh and eighth inventions and their actions will be described with reference to FIG. 6 and the like.

In a seventh aspect of the present invention, at the time of initial setting of the network, print data for a plurality of pages is stored in the storage device 105 on the basis of a data request from each printing device 121, 131 in response to a data transfer request from each information processing device 101. A registration process (steps (1) to (6) in FIG. 6) for automatically registering a printing device candidate name and the number of distributed printing candidates for distributed printing with a plurality of printing devices is executed, and the network 14
The print data is distributed and printed by all the printing devices that are candidates for the distributed printing device 0.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, at the start of the printing process, the print data over a plurality of pages is distributed to the storage means in the plurality of printing devices based on the data request from each printing device in response to the data transfer request from each information processing device. By configuring to automatically register the printing device candidate name and the number of distributed printing candidates for printing, that is, by executing the process of FIG. 6 between step (1) and step (2) of FIG. All the printing devices on the latest printable network at the start of the printing process are registered as distributed printing device candidates, and the print data is distributed and printed by all the printing devices that are distribution printing device candidates on the network. [Third Embodiment] In the above embodiment, instead of the processing of step (3) shown in FIG. 3 for dividing the image data, the image data may be divided at the ratio of the processing speed of the printing apparatus. . Hereinafter, the correspondence between the embodiment and each means of the fourth and fifth inventions and the operation thereof will be described with reference to FIG.

In the fourth invention, the CPU 104 as the allocating means shown in FIG. 1 allocates to each distributed printing device candidate by referring to the printing resources (stored in the storage device 105) of each printing device 121, 131. The distribution is variably set, and the CPU 104 controls the printing apparatuses 121 and 13
The allocation distribution for each distributed printing device candidate is variably set with reference to one printing resource, and the print data processing load of each printing device 121, 131 is averaged.

In the fifth invention, the allocation means (CP
U104) refers to the print processing speed information of each printing device as a printing resource of each printing device to variably set the allocation distribution to each distributed printing device candidate, and averages the print data processing load of each printing device. .

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. That is, the number of information processing devices and the number of printing devices are not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. [Fourth Embodiment] In the above first and second embodiments, the case where the printers for distributed printing are automatically registered from the printing device candidates has been described, but these embodiments can be combined. That is, the user may be allowed to select a printer for distributed printing from printing device candidates that are automatically registered according to the procedure of FIG.
As a result, it is possible to limit the printer selection range of the user and perform distributed printing with the printer that the user likes. Needless to say, the printer driver controls such a procedure.

[0052]

As described above, the first aspect of the present invention
According to the invention, when the print data is printed, when the print data over a plurality of pages is divided and assigned in page units based on the distributed printing device candidate name and the number of distributed print candidates stored in the storage unit by the assigning unit, Since the transfer unit transfers the print data assigned to each printing device to each printing device according to the distributed printing device candidate name stored in the storage unit, the print data transferred by each printing device is distributed and printed in parallel. can do.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the printing device candidate name and the number of distributed printing candidates input from the input means are registered in the storage means, the user can perform distributed printing of printing devices installed in any proximity on the network. It can be a device candidate.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the print data over a plurality of pages is stored in the storage means in a plurality of printing devices based on the data request from each printing device in response to the data transfer request from each information processing device of the registration means. Since the printing device candidate name and the number of distributed printing candidates for distributed printing are automatically registered,
All print devices on the printable network can be registered as distributed printing device candidates, and print data can be distributed and printed by all printing devices that are distributed printing device candidates on the network.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the allocating means variably sets the allocation distribution for each distributed printing device candidate by referring to the printing resources of each printing device, and averages the print data processing load of each printing device. be able to.

According to the fifth aspect, the print resource allocating means variably sets the allocation distribution to each distributed printing device candidate by referring to the print processing speed information of each printing device as the printing resource of each printing device. However, the load of print data processing of each printing apparatus can be averaged.

According to the sixth aspect, the name of the printing device candidate for performing the distributed printing and the number of distributed printing candidates are acquired from the storage device, and the print data is obtained based on the acquired name of the printing device candidate and the number of distributed printing candidates. It is divided into the number of devices that perform print processing in page units, the printing device that is the data request source is determined, and data transfer for each of the divided print data is determined for the printing device that is the data request source that has been determined. Since it is determined whether or not the print data transferred by each printing device registered as a distributed printing device candidate can be distributed and printed in parallel.

According to the seventh invention, at the time of initial setting of the network, a plurality of pages of print data are printed in the storage means based on the data request from each printing device in response to the data transfer request from each information processing device. Since the printing device candidate name and the number of distributed printing candidates for distributed printing on the device are automatically registered, all printing devices on the printable network are registered as distributed printing device candidates, and distributed printing device candidates on the network are registered. The print data can be distributed and printed by all the printing devices.

According to the eighth invention, when the printing process is started,
A printing device candidate name and a number of distributed printing candidates for distributed printing of print data over a plurality of pages in the storage means based on a data request from each printing device in response to a data transfer request from each information processing device. Is automatically registered, all the printing devices on the latest printable network at the start of the printing process are registered as distributed printing device candidates, and the print data is printed by all the printing devices that are distributed printing device candidates on the network. Disperse printing respectively.

Therefore, the print data over a plurality of pages can be distributed and printed by a plurality of printing apparatuses, and the printing time can be shortened.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a data transfer state between an information processing device and a printing device in the printing system shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a distributed printing method of a printing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a print processing procedure of the printing apparatus illustrated in FIG.

5 is a diagram showing a memory map of a storage device in the information processing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an acquisition processing procedure of information of the device name and the number of devices of the printing device by the information processing device illustrated in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 Information Processing Device 102 Display Device 103 Input Device 104 CPU 105 Storage Device 106 Communication Device 121 Printing Device 122 Developing Device 124 CPU 125 Storage Device 126 Communication Device 127 External Storage Device 128 Display Device 131 Printing Device

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. In a printing system in which a plurality of printing devices and a plurality of information processing devices are connected via a network, a printing device candidate name and distributed printing for distributed printing of print data over a plurality of pages by the plurality of printing devices. Storage means for storing the number of candidates, and allocation for dividing the print data over a plurality of pages into page units based on the distributed printing device candidate name and the number of distributed printing candidates stored in the storage means when printing the print data. Each information processing device side is provided with means and transfer means for transferring the print data assigned to each printing device by this assigning device to each printing device according to the distributed printing device candidate name stored in the storage means. Characteristic printing system. 2. An information processing device is provided with input means for inputting a printing device candidate name and the number of distributed printing candidates for distributed printing of print data over a plurality of pages by a plurality of printing devices, and the input means inputs the information. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing device candidate name and the number of distributed printing candidates are registered in the storage unit. 3. A printing device candidate name for distributed printing of print data over a plurality of pages in a storage unit based on a data request from each printing device in response to a data transfer request from each information processing device. 2. The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising a registration unit for automatically registering the number of distributed print candidates on each information processing apparatus side. 4. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the allocating unit variably sets the allocation distribution to each distributed printing device candidate by referring to the printing resources of each printing device. 5. The printing system according to claim 4, wherein the print resource is print processing speed information of each printing device. 6. A storage device for storing a print device candidate name and the number of distributed print candidates for distributed printing of print data over a plurality of pages by a plurality of print devices, and a plurality of print devices and a plurality of print devices via a network. In a distributed printing method of a printing system, an information processing device is connected, and print data is transferred to each printing device according to a data request from each printing device in response to a data transfer request from each information processing device to each printing device. An acquisition step of acquiring from the storage device a name of a printing device candidate for performing distributed printing and the number of distributed printing candidates, and printing processing of print data page by page based on the acquired name of the printing device candidate and the number of distributed printing candidates The dividing process of dividing into the number of devices, the judging process of judging the printing device of the data request source, and the data transfer of each of the divided print data are judged. A distributed printing method for a printing system, comprising: a termination determination step of determining whether or not the termination of the data requesting printing device is terminated. 7. In order to perform distributed printing of print data over a plurality of pages in the storage means in a plurality of printing devices based on a data request from each printing device in response to a data transfer request from each information processing device at the time of network initialization. 7. The distributed printing method of the printing system according to claim 6, further comprising: a registration step of automatically registering the printing device candidate name and the number of distributed printing candidates. 8. When the print processing is started, the print data over a plurality of pages is distributed and printed in the storage means by the plurality of printing apparatuses based on the data request from each printing apparatus in response to the data transfer request from each information processing apparatus. 7. The distributed printing method of the printing system according to claim 6, further comprising: a registration step of automatically registering the printing device candidate name and the number of distributed printing candidates.