Printing system

Claim 2

A printing device comprising: a printer capable of printing print data; input means for receiving a print process instruction for instructing printing of print data; selecting means for selecting, in response to a print process instruction, whether print data is desired to be printed in the printing device or in a remote printing device; first print processing means for, when the selection means selects that the print data is desired to be printed in the printing device, controlling the printer to print the print data; print mail transmitting means for, when the selection means selects that the print data is desired to be printed in the remote printing device, creating print mail including the print data and header data, the header data including print information indicative of a printing condition, at which the print data is desired to be printed, and for transmitting the print mail to the remote printing device through a communication line; mail receiving means capable of receiving ordinary mail and print mail from remote printing devices via the communication line; print information detecting means for detecting whether print information indicative of a printing condition, at which print data should be printed, is included in a header portion of mail received via the communication line, thereby determining whether the received mail is print mail or ordinary mail; and second printing process means for, when the printing information detecting means detects that the print information is included in the header portion of the received mail and determines that the received mail is print mail, controlling the printer to print the print data included in the received mail in accordance with the print information.

Claim 3

A printing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the print information, included in the mail header, includes data indicative of date and time at which the print data is desired to be printed.

Claim 4

A printing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the print information includes data indicative of the number of copies, into which the print data is desired to be copied.

Claim 5

A printing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the print information includes status data representing status of the print data.

Claim 6

A printing device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the status data includes data indicating page description language describing the print data.

Claim 7

A printing device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the status data includes page data indicating the number of pages, into which the print data has been edited.

Claim 8

A printing device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising print data producing means for receiving document data and for converting the document data into the print data.

Claim 9

A printing system, provided to a computer system A capable of transmitting mail via a communication line to another computer system B, the printing system comprising: selecting means for, when receiving a print process instruction, selecting whether print data should be printed in the computer system A or in the other computer system B; first print processing means for, when the selection means selects that the print data should be printed in the computer system A, controlling a printer provided in the computer system A to print the print data; print mail transmitting means for, when the selection means selects that the print data should be printed in the computer system B, creating print mail including the print data and header data, the header data including print information indicative of a printing condition, at which the print data should be printed, and for transmitting the print mail to the computer system B through the communication line; mail receiving means capable of receiving ordinary mail and print mail from remote printing devices via the communication line; print information detecting means for detecting whether print information indicative of a printing condition, at which print data should be printed, is included in a header portion of mail received via the communication line, thereby determining whether the received mail is print mail or ordinary mail; and second printing process means for, when the printing information detecting means detects that the print information is included in the header portion of the received mail and determines that the received mail is print mail, controlling the printer to print the print data included in the received mail in accordance with the print information.

Claim 10

A printing system, provided to a computer system A capable of transmitting mail via a communication line to another computer system B, the printing system comprising: selecting means for, when receiving a print process instruction, selecting whether print data should be printed in the computer system A or in the other computer system B; first print processing means for, when the selection means selects that the print data should be printed in the computer system A, controlling a printer provided in the computer system A to print the print data; print mail transmitting means for, when the selection means selects that the print data should be printed in the computer system B, creating print mail including the print data and header data, the header data including print information indicative of a printing condition, at which the print data should be printed, and for transmitting the print mail to the computer system B through the communication line; mail receiving means capable of receiving ordinary mail and print mail from remote printing devices via the communication line; print information detecting means for detecting whether print information indicative of a printing condition, at which print data should be printed, is included in a header portion of mail received via the communication line, thereby determining whether the received mail is print mail or ordinary mail; and second printing process means for, when the printing information detecting means detects that the print information is included in the header portion of the received mail and determines that the received mail is print mail, controlling the printer to print the print data included in the received mail in accordance with the print information.

Claim 11

A printing system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the selecting means, the first print processing means, and the print mail transmitting means are configured as external computer programs that are started when needed by a process within a printer driver, the printer driver being started when an application program executing on the computer system A issues a print processing request to print document data supplied from the application program, the printer driver converting the document data into the print data.

Claim 12

A printing system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the selecting means, the first print processing means, and the print mail transmitting means are configured as internal computer programs within a printer driver, the printer driver being started when an application program executing on the computer system A issues a print processing request to print document data supplied from the application program, the printer driver converting the document data into the print data.

Claim 13

A printing system as claimed in claim 8, further comprising mail arrival detection means for repeatedly detecting, at a predetermined time interval, existence of mail newly arrived as addressed to the computer system A via the communication line, wherein the printing information detection means performs its detection operation and the second printing process means performs its process operation when the mail arrival detection means detects existence of some mail newly arrived as addressed to the computer system A.

Claim 14

A printing system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the print information, included in the mail header, includes data indicative of date and time at which the print data is desired to be printed.

Claim 15

A printing system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the print information includes data indicative of the number of copies, into which the print data is desired to be copied.

Claim 16

A printing system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the print information includes status data representing status of the print data.

Claim 17

A printing system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the status data includes data indicating a type of emulation capable of printing the print data.

Claim 18

A printing system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the status data includes page data indicating the number of pages, into which the print data has been created to be printed.

Claim 19

A printing system, provided in a communication environment capable of transmitting mail comprising print mail and ordinary mail via a communication line from a computer system A to another computer system B, the system comprising: selecting means, provided to a computer system A, for, when receiving a print process instruction, selecting whether print data should be printed in the computer system A side or in the computer system B side; first printing process means, provided to the computer system A, for, when the selection means selects that the print data should be printed in the computer system A side, controlling a printer provided in the computer system A to print the print data; print mail transmission means, provided to the computer system A, for, when the selection means selects that the print data should be printed in the computer system B side, creating mail including the print data and header data, the header data including print information indicative of a printing condition, at which the print data should be printed, and for transmitting the mail to the computer system B through the communication line; print information detecting means, provided to the computer system B, for detecting whether the print information is included in a header portion of the mail received via the communication line to distinguish the print mail from the ordinary mail; and second printing process means, provided to the computer system B, for, when the print information detecting means detects that the print information is included in the header portion of the received mail identifying the print mail, controlling a printer provided in the computer system B to print the print data of the print mail included in the received mail in accordance with the print information.

Claim 20

A printing system, provided in a communication environment capable of transmitting mail comprising print mail and ordinary mail via a communication line from a computer system A to another computer system B, the system comprising: selecting means, provided to a computer system A, for, when receiving a print process instruction, selecting whether print data should be printed in the computer system A side or in the computer system B side; first printing process means, provided to the computer system A, for, when the selection means selects that the print data should be printed in the computer system A side, controlling a printer provided in the computer system A to print the print data; print mail transmission means, provided to the computer system A, for, when the selection means selects that the print data should be printed in the computer system B side, creating mail including the print data and header data, the header data including print information indicative of a printing condition, at which the print data should be printed, and for transmitting the mail to the computer system B through the communication line; print information detecting means, provided to the computer system B, for detecting whether the print information is included in a header portion of the mail received via the communication line to distinguish the print mail from the ordinary mail; and second printing process means, provided to the computer system B, for, when the print information detecting means detects that the print information is included in the header portion of the received mail identifying the print mail, controlling a printer provided in the computer system B to print the print data of the print mail included in the received mail in accordance with the print information.

Claim 21

A printing system as claimed in claim 17, further comprising mail arrival detection means, provided in the computer system B, for repeatedly detecting, at a predetermined time interval, existence of mail newly arrived as addressed to the computer system B via the communication line, wherein the print information detection means performs its detection operation and the second printing process means performs its process operation when the mail arrival detection means detects existence of some mail newly arrived as addressed to the computer system B.

Claim 22

A program storage medium capable of being read by a computer system A capable of transmitting mail comprising print mail and ordinary mail to and receiving mail from another computer system B via a communication line, the program comprising: a program of selecting, when receiving a print process instruction, whether print data should be printed in the computer system A or in the other computer system B; a program of controlling, when the print data should be printed in the computer system A, a printer provided in the computer system A to print the print data; a program of creating print mail including the print data and header data when the print data should be printed in the computer system B, the header data including print information indicative of a printing condition, at which the print data should be printed, the program transmitting the print mail to the computer system B through the communication line; a program for controlling receipt of the ordinary mail and the print mail from remote printing devices via the communication line; a program for detecting whether print information indicative of a printing condition, at which print data should be printed, is included in a header portion of the mail received via the communication line, thereby determining whether the received mail is print mail or ordinary mail; and a program for, when the printing information detecting means detects that the print information is included in the header portion of the received mail and determines that the received mail is print mail, controlling printing of data included in the received print mail in accordance with the print information.

Claim 23

A program storage medium capable of being read by a computer system A capable of transmitting mail comprising print mail and ordinary mail to and receiving mail from another computer system B via a communication line, the program comprising: a program of selecting, when receiving a print process instruction, whether print data should be printed in the computer system A or in the other computer system B; a program of controlling, when the print data should be printed in the computer system A, a printer provided in the computer system A to print the print data; a program of creating print mail including the print data and header data when the print data should be printed in the computer system B, the header data including print information indicative of a printing condition, at which the print data should be printed, the program transmitting the print mail to the computer system B through the communication line; a program for controlling receipt of the ordinary mail and the print mail from remote printing devices via the communication line; a program for detecting whether print information indicative of a printing condition, at which print data should be printed, is included in a header portion of the mail received via the communication line, thereby determining whether the received mail is print mail or ordinary mail; and a program for, when the printing information detecting means detects that the print information is included in the header portion of the received mail and determines that the received mail is print mail, controlling printing of data included in the received print mail in accordance with the print information.

Claim 24

A printing method for a printing system, used in a communication environment capable of transmitting mail comprising print mail and ordinary mail via a communication line from a computer system A to another computer system B, the method comprising: selecting using computer system A, when receiving a print process instruction, whether print data should be printed in the computer system A side or in the computer system B side; controlling a printer provided in the computer system A, when the selection means selects that the print data should be printed in the computer system A side, to print the print data; creating mail in the computer system A, when the selection means selects the print data should be printed in the computer system B side, including the print data and header data, the header data including print information indicative of a printing condition, at which the print data should be printed, and transmitting the mail to the computer system B through the communication line; detecting in the computer system B, whether the print information is included in a header portion of mail received via the communication line to distinguish the print mail from the ordinary mail; and controlling a printer provided in the computer system B, when the print information detecting means detects that the print information is included in the header portion of the received mail identifying the print mail, to print the print data of the print mail included in the received mail in accordance with the print information.

Claim 25

A printing method for a printing system, used in a communication environment capable of transmitting mail comprising print mail and ordinary mail via a communication line from a computer system A to another computer system B, the method comprising: selecting using computer system A, when receiving a print process instruction, whether print data should be printed in the computer system A side or in the computer system B side; controlling a printer provided in the computer system A, when the selection means selects that the print data should be printed in the computer system A side, to print the print data; creating mail in the computer system A, when the selection means selects the print data should be printed in the computer system B side, including the print data and header data, the header data including print information indicative of a printing condition, at which the print data should be printed, and transmitting the mail to the computer system B through the communication line; detecting in the computer system B, whether the print information is included in a header portion of mail received via the communication line to distinguish the print mail from the ordinary mail; and controlling a printer provided in the computer system B, when the print information detecting means detects that the print information is included in the header portion of the received mail identifying the print mail, to print the print data of the print mail included in the received mail in accordance with the print information.

Claim 26

A printing method for a printing system as claimed in claim 20, further comprising, repeatedly detecting in the computer system B, at a predetermined time interval, existence of mail newly arrived as addressed to the computer system B via the communication line and the steps of detecting whether the print information is included and controlling a printer in the computer system B arc executed after the detection of the existence of some mail newly arrived as addressed to the computer system B.

Claim 27

A printing device, comprising: a printer capable of printing print data; mail receiving means capable of receiving ordinary mail and print mail from remote printing devices via a communication line; print information detecting means for detecting whether print information indicative of a printing condition, at which print data should be printed, is included in a header portion of mail received via the communication line, thereby determining whether the received mail is print mail or ordinary mail; and printing process means for, when the printing information detecting means detects that the print information is included in the header portion of the received mail and determines that the received mail is print mail, controlling the printer to print the print data included in the received mail in accordance with the print information.

Claim 28

A printing device, comprising: a printer capable of printing print data; mail receiving means capable of receiving ordinary mail and print mail from remote printing devices via a communication line; print information detecting means for detecting whether print information indicative of a printing condition, at which print data should be printed, is included in a header portion of mail received via the communication line, thereby determining whether the received mail is print mail or ordinary mail; and printing process means for, when the printing information detecting means detects that the print information is included in the header portion of the received mail and determines that the received mail is print mail, controlling the printer to print the print data included in the received mail in accordance with the print information.

Claim 29

A printing device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the print information, included in the mail header, includes data indicative of date and time at which the print data is desired to be printed.

Claim 30

A printing device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the print information includes data indicative of the number of copies, into which the print data is desired to be copied.

Claim 31

A printing device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the print information includes status data representing status of the print data.

Claim 32

A printing device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the status data includes data indicating page description language describing the print data.

Claim 33

A printing device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the status data includes page data indicating the number of pages, into which the print data has been edited.

Claim 34

A printing device as claimed in claim 22, further comprising print data producing means for receiving document data and for converting the document data into the print data.

Claim 35

A program storage medium for a printing device, comprising: a program for controlling printing of print data; a program for receiving ordinary mail and print mail from remote printing devices via a communication line; a program for detecting whether print information indicative of a printing condition, at which print data should be printed, is included in a header portion of mail received via the communication line; and a program for, when the program for detecting detects that the print information is included in the header portion of the received mail, determines that the received mail is print mail and controls the printer to print the print data included in the received mail in accordance with the print information.

Claim 36

A program storage medium for a printing device, comprising: a program for controlling printing of print data; a program for receiving ordinary mail and print mail from remote printing devices via a communication line; a program for detecting whether print information indicative of a printing condition, at which print data should be printed, is included in a header portion of mail received via the communication line; and a program for, when the program for detecting detects that the print information is included in the header portion of the received mail, determines that the received mail is print mail and controls the printer to print the print data included in the received mail in accordance with the print information.