PRINT APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND PRINT JOB PROCESSING METHOD

Abstract

In a print system constituted so as to enable a supplying of sheets from a printing apparatus to a sheet processing apparatus, wherein the printing apparatus having a print unit that executes a print process of data of a job stored in a storage unit can store data of a plurality of jobs, wherein the sheet processing apparatus having a sheet processing unit that executes a sheet processing operation to sheets of job printed by the printing apparatus, a controller unit allows the print unit to execute a print process of a second job required before a sheet process of the second job in case that a plurality of jobs including the second job after a first job are accepted and in case that a sheet process of the first job required after a print process of the first job is in execution by the sheet processing unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view for explaining an example of the overall configuration of a printing environment 10000 including a print system 1000 to be controlled in an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of the print system 1000 to be controlled in the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a view for explaining an example of the configuration of the print system 1000 to be controlled in the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining an example of a UI unit to be controlled in the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining an example of the UI unit to be controlled in the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining an example of display control on the UI unit to be controlled in the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining an example of display control on the UI unit to be controlled in the embodiment;

FIG. 8A is a view for explaining a control example of the print system 1000 to be controlled in the embodiment;

FIG. 8B is a view for explaining the control example of the print system 1000 to be controlled in the embodiment;

FIG. 9A is a view for explaining a control example of the print system 1000 to be controlled in the embodiment;

FIG. 9B is a view for explaining the control example of the print system 1000 to be controlled in the embodiment;

FIG. 10A is a view for explaining a control example of the print system 1000 to be controlled in the embodiment;

FIG. 10B is a view for explaining the control example of the print system 1000 to be controlled in the embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view for explaining an example of the internal structure of an inline finisher to be controlled in the embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view for explaining an example of the internal structure of an inline finisher to be controlled in the embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view for explaining an example of the internal structure of an inline finisher to be controlled in the embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a view for explaining an example of display control on the UI unit to be controlled in the embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a view for explaining a control example when the print system 1000 to be controlled in the embodiment creates a printed material;

FIG. 16 is a view for explaining a control example when the print system 1000 to be controlled in the embodiment creates a printed material;

FIG. 17A is a view for explaining an example of display control on the UI unit to be controlled in the embodiment;

FIG. 17B is a view for explaining an example of display control on the UI unit to be controlled in the embodiment;

FIG. 18A is a view for explaining an example of display control on the UI unit to be controlled in the embodiment;

FIG. 18B is a view for explaining an example of display control on the UI unit to be controlled in the embodiment;

FIG. 18C is a view for explaining an example of display control on the UI unit to be controlled in the embodiment;

FIG. 18D is a view for explaining an example of display control on the UI unit to be controlled in the embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a view for explaining an example of display control on the UI unit to be controlled in the embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a view for explaining an example of display control on the UI unit to be controlled in the embodiment;

FIGS. 21A-21C are tables for explaining a control example for a plurality of jobs to be processed by the print system 1000 to be controlled in the embodiment;

FIG. 22 is a view for explaining an example of display control on the UI unit to be controlled in the embodiment;

FIG. 23 is a view for explaining an example of display control on the UI unit to be controlled in the embodiment;

FIG. 24 is a view for explaining an example of display control on the UI unit to be controlled in the embodiment;

FIG. 25 is a view for explaining an example of display control on the UI unit to be controlled in the embodiment;

FIGS. 26A-26C are tables for explaining a control example for a plurality of jobs to be processed by the print system 1000 to be controlled in the embodiment;

FIGS. 27A and 27B are tables for explaining a control example for a plurality of jobs to be processed by the print system 1000 to be controlled in the embodiment;

FIG. 28 is a view for explaining an example of display control on the UI unit to be controlled in the embodiment;

FIG. 29 is a flowchart for explaining a control example for a plurality of jobs to be processed by the print system 1000 to be controlled in the embodiment;

FIG. 30 is a view for explaining an example of display control on the UI unit to be controlled in the embodiment; and

FIG. 31 is a chart for explaining a control example for a plurality of jobs to be processed by the print system 1000 to be controlled in the embodiment.

Claims

1. A print system constituted so as to enable a supplying of sheets from a printing apparatus to a sheet processing apparatus, wherein said printing apparatus having a print unit that executes a print process of data of a job stored in a storage unit can store data of a plurality of jobs, wherein said sheet processing apparatus having a sheet processing unit that executes a sheet processing operation to sheets of job printed by said printing apparatus,

2. The system according to claim 1, in which said controller unit permits the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job if the first job and the second job satisfy a specific condition, andinhibits the print unit from executing the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job if the first job and the second job do not satisfy the specific condition.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein if the first job is a job requiring a specific type of sheet process for a sheet on which the data of the first job is printed by the print process,said controller unit allows the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein if the first job is a job requiring a first specific type of sheet process, and the second job is a job requiring a second specific type of sheet process without requiring the first specific type of sheet process,said controller unit allows the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein if the first job is a job requiring a first specific type of sheet process after a print process of data of the first job by the print unit, and the second job is a job requiring a second specific type of sheet process without requiring the first specific type of sheet process after a print process of data of the second job by the print unit,said controller unit permits the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job, andif the first job is a job requiring the first specific type of sheet process after the print process of data of the first job by the print unit, and the second job is a job requiring the first specific type of sheet process without requiring the second specific type of sheet process after the print process of data of the second job by the print unit,said controller unit inhibits the print unit from executing the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein if the first job is a job requiring a first specific type of sheet process after a print process of data of the first job by the print unit, and the second job is not a job requiring the same type of sheet process as the first specific type of sheet process necessary for the first job after a print process of data of the second job by the print unit,said controller unit allows the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein if the first job is a job requiring a first specific type of sheet process after a print process of data of the first job by the print unit, and the second job is not a job requiring the same type of sheet process as the first specific type of sheet process necessary for the first job after a print process of data of the second job by the print unit,said controller unit permits the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job, andif the first job is a job requiring the first specific type of sheet process after the print process of data of the first job by the print unit, and the second job is a job requiring the same type of sheet process as the first specific type of sheet process necessary for the first job after a print process of data of the second job by the print unit,said controller unit inhibits the print unit from executing the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein if the first job is a job requiring a first specific type of sheet process after a print process of data of the first job by the print unit, and the second job is a job requiring, after a print process of data of the second job by the print unit, a sheet process by a sheet processing apparatus different from a sheet processing apparatus which executes the first specific type of sheet process necessary for the first job,said controller unit allows the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein if the first job is a job requiring a first specific type of sheet process after a print process of data of the first job by the print unit, and the second job is a job requiring, after a print process of data of the second job by the print unit, a sheet process by a sheet processing apparatus different from a sheet processing apparatus which executes the first specific type of sheet process necessary for the first job,said controller unit permits the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job, andif the first job is a job requiring the first specific type of sheet process after the print process of data of the first job by the print unit, and the second job is a job requiring, after the print process of data of the second job by the print unit, a sheet process by the same sheet processing apparatus as the sheet processing apparatus which executes the first specific type of sheet process necessary for the first job,said controller unit inhibits the print unit from executing the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein if the plurality of jobs including the first job and the second job are accepted and the sheet process necessary for the first job is in execution by the print system, said controller unit permits the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job in parallel with the sheet process necessary for the first job, andif the plurality of jobs including the first job and the second job are accepted and the sheet process necessary for the first job is not in execution by the print system, said controller unit inhibits the print unit from executing the print process necessary for the second job.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the print system can supply a sheet of a job having undergone a print process by the print unit from the print unit to a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses including a first sheet processing apparatus and a second sheet processing apparatus and each having a sheet processing unit capable of executing a sheet process for a sheet of a job printed by the print unit, andsaid controller unit controls, on the basis of information on the plurality of sheet processing apparatuses, print execution timings of a plurality of jobs to be processed by the print apparatus including the first job and the second job.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the print system can supply a sheet of a job having undergone a print process by the print unit from the print unit to a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses including a first sheet processing apparatus and a second sheet processing apparatus and each having a sheet processing unit capable of executing a sheet process for a sheet of a job printed by the print unit, andif the first job to be processed is a job of a first type requiring a sheet process by the sheet processing unit of the first sheet processing apparatus after a print process by the print unit, and the second job accepted after the first job is a job of a second type requiring a sheet process by the sheet processing unit of the second sheet processing apparatus after a print process by the print unit, said controller unit allows the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job before the sheet processing unit of the first sheet processing apparatus completes the sheet process necessary for the first job.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the print system can supply a sheet of a job having undergone a print process by the print unit from the print unit to a glue binding unit of a first sheet processing apparatus having the glue binding unit capable of executing a glue binding process requiring a gluing process in binding one bundle of sheets of a job having undergone a print process by the print unit,the print system can supply a sheet of a job having undergone a print process by the print unit from the print unit to a stacking unit of a second sheet processing apparatus having the stacking unit capable of stacking a plurality of sheets of a job having undergone a print process by the print unit, andif the first job to be processed by the print apparatus is a job of a first type requiring the glue binding process by the glue binding unit of the first sheet processing apparatus, and the second job to be processed by the print apparatus is a job of a second type requiring a stacking process by the stacking unit of the second sheet processing apparatus, said controller unit allows the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job before the glue binding unit of the first sheet processing apparatus completes the gluing process necessary for the first job.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the print system can supply a sheet of a job having undergone a print process by the print unit from the print unit to a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses including a first sheet processing apparatus and a second sheet processing apparatus and each having a sheet processing unit capable of executing a sheet process for a sheet of a job printed by the print unit,if the first job to be processed is a job of a first type requiring a sheet process by the sheet processing unit of the first sheet processing apparatus after a print process by the print unit, and the second job accepted after the first job is a job of a second type requiring a sheet process by the sheet processing unit of the second sheet processing apparatus after a print process by the print unit, said controller unit permits the print unit to start the print process necessary for the second job before the sheet processing unit of the first sheet processing apparatus completes the sheet process necessary for the first job, andif the first job to be processed is not a job of the second type but a job of the first type, and the second job accepted after the first job is not a job of the second type but a job of the first type, said controller unit inhibits the print unit from starting the print process necessary for the second job before the sheet processing unit of the first sheet processing apparatus completes the sheet process necessary for the first job.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein if the print system can use a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses, said controller unit permits the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job in the print system, andif the print system cannot use a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses, said controller unit inhibits the print unit from executing the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job in the print system.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein if the print system can execute a plurality of types of sheet processes, said controller unit permits the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job in the print system, andif the print system cannot execute a plurality of types of sheet processes, said controller unit inhibits the print unit from executing the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job in the print system.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein the print system can supply a sheet of a job having undergone a print process by the print unit from the print unit to a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses including a first sheet processing apparatus and a second sheet processing apparatus and each having a sheet processing unit capable of executing a sheet process for a sheet of a job printed by the print unit,the print system can supply a sheet of a job printed by the print unit from the print unit to the first sheet processing apparatus via the second sheet processing apparatus when the sheet processing unit of the first sheet processing apparatus executes a sheet process necessary for the job having undergone a print process by the print unit,if the second job to be processed is a job requiring not a sheet process by the first sheet processing apparatus but a sheet process by the second sheet processing apparatus, said controller unit permits the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job in the print system, andif the second job to be processed is a job requiring the sheet process by the first sheet processing apparatus, said controller unit inhibits the print unit from executing the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job in the print system.

18. The system according to claim 1, wherein when a third job is accepted as a job to be processed in addition to the first job and the second job, and the third job is a job satisfying a predetermined condition, said controller unit allows the print unit to execute a print process necessary for the third job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job in the print system while inhibiting the print unit from executing the print process of the second job.

19. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller unit permits execution of the print process necessary for the second job in parallel with execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job on the basis of information which contains at least one of apparatus configuration information of the print system and information on a sheet process necessary for each of a plurality of jobs to be processed by the print system, and is necessary to determine whether to execute the print process necessary for the second job in parallel with execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job.

20. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller unit is configured to accept a print execution request of a job to be processed and an execution request of a sheet process necessary for the job from a user via a display unit of a user interface unit of the print apparatus.

21. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller unit is configured to accept a print execution request of a job to be processed and an execution request of a sheet process necessary for the job from a user via a display unit of a user interface unit of a computer capable of transmitting data to the print apparatus.

22. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller unit is configured to allow the print unit to execute a print process necessary for a job whose data to be printed is stored in the storage unit via a document reading unit, in parallel with a sheet process of a job having undergone a print process by the print apparatus prior to the job.

23. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller unit is configured to allow the print unit to execute a print process necessary for a job whose sheet process execution request is issued via a print setup window displayable on a display unit of a host computer in response to a printer driver activation instruction by a user operation to the host computer capable of transmitting print data to the print apparatus, in parallel with a sheet process of a job having undergone a print process by the print apparatus prior to the job.

24. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller unit is configured to allow the sheet processing apparatuses of the print system to execute a plurality of types of sheet processes including at least one of a stapling process, a punching process, a case binding process, a pad binding process, a saddle stitching process, a large-volume sheet stacking process, and a cutting process as a sheet process for a sheet of a job having undergone a print process by the print unit of the print apparatus.

25. The system according to claim 1, wherein if a specific request is accepted from a user via a user interface unit, said controller unit is configured to allow the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job after execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job without causing the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job even when the sheet process necessary for the first job is in execution by the print system and the sheet process necessary for the second job is different from the sheet process necessary for the first job.

26. The system according to claim 1, wherein if a user interface unit is to display a list of displays representing process statuses of a plurality of jobs to be processed by the print system, said controller unit causes the user interface unit to execute a display representing process conditions of the plurality of jobs in a display form of allowing a user to confirm, for a job whose sheet process is in execution, that the sheet process is in execution, and for a job whose print process is in execution, that the print process is in execution.

27. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller unit is configured to determine whether to cause the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job in parallel with the sheet process necessary for the first job, on the basis of system configuration information which is accepted from a user via a user interface unit and is necessary to specify an order in which a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses of the print system connect to the print apparatus.

28. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller unit is configured to determine whether to cause the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job in parallel with the sheet process necessary for the first job, on the basis of system configuration information which is acquired from a sheet processing apparatus when the sheet processing apparatus connects to the print apparatus, and is necessary to specify an order in which a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses of the print system connect to the print apparatus.

29. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller unit is configured to allow the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job in parallel with the sheet process necessary for the first job if both the first job and the second job are jobs requiring a sheet process by an inline type sheet processing apparatus among the inline type sheet processing apparatus capable of receiving a sheet from the print apparatus without intervention work by an operator and communicating data with another apparatus, a near-line type sheet processing apparatus incapable of receiving a sheet from the print apparatus without intervention work by an operator and capable of communicating data with another apparatus, and an offline type sheet processing apparatus incapable of receiving a sheet from the print apparatus without intervention work by an operator and communicating data with another apparatus.

30. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller unit is configured to allow the storage unit to store print data of a third job whose print execution request is accepted after the second job, regardless of inhibiting execution of the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job, or permitting execution of the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job.

31. The system according to claim 1, wherein if execution of the print process necessary for the second job is inhibited during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job, said controller unit allows the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the first job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the second job by changing a print order of the first job and the second job in the print apparatus.

32. The system according to claim 1, wherein if the print system comprises three, first, second, and third sheet processing apparatuses,said controller unit allows the system to simultaneously execute a sheet process necessary for the first job by the first sheet processing apparatus, a sheet process necessary for the second job by the second sheet processing apparatus, and a print process by the print unit necessary for a third job subsequent to the second job.

33. The system according to claim 1, wherein if the print system has a system configuration capable of supplying a sheet from the print unit via a first sheet processing apparatus into a second sheet processing apparatus among the first sheet processing apparatus and second sheet processing apparatus which hold a printed material having undergone sheet processes by the first sheet processing apparatus and second sheet processing apparatus at sheet holding units of the first sheet processing apparatus and second sheet processing apparatus, andif the first job requires a sheet process by the second sheet processing apparatus,said controller unit allows the print unit to start the print process necessary for the second job while the second sheet processing apparatus executes the sheet process of the first job.

34. The system according to claim 1, wherein if the print system has a system configuration capable of supplying a sheet from the print unit via a first sheet processing apparatus into a second sheet processing apparatus among the first sheet processing apparatus and second sheet processing apparatus which hold a printed material having undergone sheet processes by the first sheet processing apparatus and second sheet processing apparatus at sheet holding units of the first sheet processing apparatus and second sheet processing apparatus,when the first job is a job requiring a sheet process by the second sheet processing apparatus, andeven when a factor of interrupting the sheet process necessary for the first job occurs in the second sheet processing apparatus while the second sheet processing apparatus executes the sheet process necessary for the first job,said controller unit permits the print unit to start the print process necessary for the second job during a period when the factor of interrupting the sheet process necessary for the first job in the second sheet processing apparatus is not canceled, as long as the second job is a job requiring a sheet process by the first sheet processing apparatus.

35. A job processing method for a print system constituted so as to enable a supplying of sheets from a printing apparatus to a sheet processing apparatus, wherein said printing apparatus having a print unit that executes a print process of data of a job stored in a storage unit can store data of a plurality of jobs, wherein said sheet processing apparatus having a sheet processing unit that executes a sheet processing operation to sheets of job printed by said printing apparatus, comprising the step of: allowing the print unit to execute a print process of a second job required before a sheet process of the second job in case that a plurality of jobs including the second job after a first job are accepted and in case that a sheet process of the first job required after a print process of the first job is in execution by the sheet processing unit.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein the job processing method permits the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job when the first job and the second job satisfy a specific condition, andinhibits the print unit from executing the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job when the first job and the second job do not satisfy the specific condition.

37. The method according to claim 35, wherein when the first job is a job requiring a print process of data of the first job by the print unit and a specific type of sheet process for a sheet on which the data of the first job is printed by the print process,the job processing method allows the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job.

38. The method according to claim 35, wherein when the first job is a job requiring a first specific type of sheet process after a print process of data of the first job by the print unit, and the second job is a job requiring a second specific type of sheet process without requiring the first specific type of sheet process after a print process of data of the second job by the print unit,the job processing method allows the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job.

39. The method according to claim 35, wherein when the first job is a job requiring a first specific type of sheet process after a print process of data of the first job by the print unit, and the second job is a job requiring a second specific type of sheet process without requiring the first specific type of sheet process after a print process of data of the second job by the print unit,the job processing method permits the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job, andwhen the first job is a job requiring the first specific type of sheet process after the print process of data of the first job by the print unit, and the second job is a job requiring the first specific type of sheet process without requiring the second specific type of sheet process after the print process of data of the second job by the print unit,the job processing method inhibits the print unit from executing the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job.

40. The method according to claim 35, wherein when the first job is a job requiring a first specific type of sheet process after a print process of data of the first job by the print unit, and the second job is not a job requiring the same type of sheet process as the first specific type of sheet process necessary for the first job after a print process of data of the second job by the print unit,the job processing method allows the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job.

41. The method according to claim 35, wherein when the first job is a job requiring a first specific type of sheet process after a print process of data of the first job by the print unit, and the second job is not a job requiring the same type of sheet process as the first specific type of sheet process necessary for the first job after a print process of data of the second job by the print unit,the job processing method permits the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job, andwhen the first job is a job requiring the first specific type of sheet process after the print process of data of the first job by the print unit, and the second job is a job requiring the same type of sheet process as the first specific type of sheet process necessary for the first job after a print process of data of the second job by the print unit,the job processing method inhibits the print unit from executing the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job.

42. The method according to claim 35, wherein when the first job is a job requiring a first specific type of sheet process after a print process of data of the first job by the print unit, and the second job is a job requiring, after a print process of data of the second job by the print unit, a sheet process by a sheet processing apparatus different from a sheet processing apparatus which executes the first specific type of sheet process necessary for the first job,the job processing method allows the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job.

43. The method according to claim 35, wherein when the first job is a job requiring a first specific type of sheet process after a print process of data of the first job by the print unit, and the second job is a job requiring, after a print process of data of the second job by the print unit, a sheet process by a sheet processing apparatus different from a sheet processing apparatus which executes the first specific type of sheet process necessary for the first job,the job processing method permits the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job, andwhen the first job is a job requiring the first specific type of sheet process after the print process of data of the first job by the print unit, and the second job is a job requiring, after the print process of data of the second job by the print unit, a sheet process by the same sheet processing apparatus as the sheet processing apparatus which executes the first specific type of sheet process necessary for the first job,the job processing method inhibits the print unit from executing the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job.

44. The method according to claim 35, wherein when the plurality of jobs including the first job and the second job are accepted and the sheet process necessary for the first job is in execution by the print system, the job processing method permits the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job in parallel with the sheet process necessary for the first job, andwhen the plurality of jobs including the first job and the second job are accepted and the sheet process necessary for the first job is not in execution by the print system, the job processing method inhibits the print unit from executing the print process necessary for the second job.

45. The method according to claim 35, wherein the print system can supply a sheet of a job having undergone a print process by the print unit from the print unit to a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses including a first sheet processing apparatus and a second sheet processing apparatus and each having a sheet processing unit capable of executing a sheet process for a sheet of a job printed by the print unit, andthe job processing method controls, on the basis of information on the plurality of sheet processing apparatuses, print execution timings of a plurality of jobs to be processed by the print apparatus including the first job and the second job.

46. The method according to claim 35, wherein the print system can supply a sheet of a job having undergone a print process by the print unit from the print unit to a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses including a first sheet processing apparatus and a second sheet processing apparatus and each having a sheet processing unit capable of executing a sheet process for a sheet of a job printed by the print unit, andwhen the first job to be processed is a job of a first type requiring a sheet process by the sheet processing unit of the first sheet processing apparatus after a print process by the print unit, and the second job accepted after the first job is a job of a second type requiring a sheet process by the sheet processing unit of the second sheet processing apparatus after a print process by the print unit, the job processing method allows the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job before the sheet processing unit of the first sheet processing apparatus completes the sheet process necessary for the first job.

47. The method according to claim 35, wherein the print system can supply a sheet of a job having undergone a print process by the print unit from the print unit to a glue binding unit of a first sheet processing apparatus having the glue binding unit capable of executing a glue binding process requiring a gluing process in binding one bundle of sheets of a job having undergone a print process by the print unit,the print system can supply a sheet of a job having undergone a print process by the print unit from the print unit to a stacking unit of a second sheet processing apparatus having the stacking unit capable of stacking a plurality of sheets of a job having undergone a print process by the print unit, andwhen the first job to be processed by the print apparatus is a job of a first type requiring the glue binding process by the glue binding unit of the first sheet processing apparatus, and the second job to be processed by the print apparatus is a job of a second type requiring a stacking process by the stacking unit of the second sheet processing apparatus, the job processing method allows the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job before the glue binding unit of the first sheet processing apparatus completes the gluing process necessary for the first job.

48. The method according to claim 35, wherein the print system can supply a sheet of a job having undergone a print process by the print unit from the print unit to a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses including a first sheet processing apparatus and a second sheet processing apparatus and each having a sheet processing unit capable of executing a sheet process for a sheet of a job printed by the print unit,when the first job to be processed is a job of a first type requiring a sheet process by the sheet processing unit of the first sheet processing apparatus after a print process by the print unit, and the second job accepted after the first job is a job of a second type requiring a sheet process by the sheet processing unit of the second sheet processing apparatus after a print process by the print unit, the job processing method permits the print unit to start the print process necessary for the second job before the sheet processing unit of the first sheet processing apparatus completes the sheet process necessary for the first job, andwhen the first job to be processed is not a job of the second type but a job of the first type, and the second job accepted after the first job is not a job of the second type but a job of the first type, the job processing method inhibits the print unit from starting the print process necessary for the second job before the sheet processing unit of the first sheet processing apparatus completes the sheet process necessary for the first job.

49. The method according to claim 35, wherein when the print system can use a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses, the job processing method permits the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job in the print system, andwhen the print system cannot use a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses, the job processing method inhibits the print unit from executing the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job in the print system.

50. The method according to claim 35, wherein when the print system can execute a plurality of types of sheet processes, the job processing method permits the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job in the print system, andwhen the print system cannot execute a plurality of types of sheet processes, the job processing method inhibits the print unit from executing the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job in the print system.

51. The method according to claim 35, wherein the print system can supply a sheet of a job having undergone a print process by the print unit from the print unit to a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses including a first sheet processing apparatus and a second sheet processing apparatus and each having a sheet processing unit capable of executing a sheet process for a sheet of a job printed by the print unit,the print system can supply a sheet of a job printed by the print unit from the print unit to the first sheet processing apparatus via the second sheet processing apparatus when the sheet processing unit of the first sheet processing apparatus executes a sheet process necessary for the job having undergone a print process by the print unit,when the second job to be processed is a job requiring not a sheet process by the first sheet processing apparatus but a sheet process by the second sheet processing apparatus, the job processing method permits the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job in the print system, andwhen the second job to be processed is a job requiring the sheet process by the first sheet processing apparatus, the job processing method inhibits the print unit from executing the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job in the print system.

52. The method according to claim 35, wherein when a third job is accepted as a job to be processed in addition to the first job and the second job, and the third job is a job satisfying a predetermined condition, the job processing method allows the print unit to execute a print process necessary for the third job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job in the print system while inhibiting the print unit from executing the print process of the second job.

53. The method according to claim 35, wherein the job processing method permits execution of the print process necessary for the second job in parallel with execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job on the basis of information which contains at least one of apparatus configuration information of the print system and information on a sheet process necessary for each of a plurality of jobs to be processed by the print system, and is necessary to determine whether to execute the print process necessary for the second job in parallel with execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job.

54. The method according to claim 35, wherein the job processing method allows accepting a print execution request of a job to be processed and an execution request of a sheet process necessary for the job from a user via a display unit of a user interface unit of the print apparatus.

55. The method according to claim 35, wherein the job processing method can accept a print execution request of a job to be processed and an execution request of a sheet process necessary for the job from a user via a display unit of a user interface unit of a computer capable of transmitting data to the print apparatus.

56. The method according to claim 35, wherein the job processing method allows the print unit to execute a print process necessary for a job whose data to be printed is stored in the storage unit via a document reading unit, in parallel with a sheet process of a job having undergone a print process by the print apparatus prior to the job.

57. The method according to claim 35, wherein the job processing method allows the print unit to execute a print process necessary for a job whose sheet process execution request is issued via a print setup window displayable on a display unit of a host computer in response to a printer driver activation instruction by a user operation to the host computer capable of transmitting print data to the print apparatus, in parallel with a sheet process of a job having undergone a print process by the print apparatus prior to the job.

58. The method according to claim 35, wherein the job processing method allows the sheet processing apparatuses of the print system to execute a plurality of types of sheet processes including at least one of a stapling process, a punching process, a case binding process, a pad binding process, a saddle stitching process, a large-volume sheet stacking process, and a cutting process as a sheet process for a sheet of a job having undergone a print process by the print unit of the print apparatus.

59. The method according to claim 35, wherein when a specific request is accepted from a user via a user interface unit, the job processing method allows the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job after execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job without causing the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job even when the sheet process necessary for the first job is in execution by the print system and the sheet process necessary for the second job is different from the sheet process necessary for the first job.

60. The method according to claim 35, wherein when a user interface unit is to display a list of displays representing process statuses of a plurality of jobs to be processed by the print system, the job processing method causes the user interface unit to execute a display representing process conditions of the plurality of jobs in a display form of allowing a user to confirm, for a job whose sheet process is in execution, that the sheet process is in execution, and for a job whose print process is in execution, that the print process is in execution.

61. The method according to claim 35, wherein the job processing method can determine whether to cause the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job in parallel with the sheet process necessary for the first job, on the basis of system configuration information which is accepted from a user via a user interface unit and is necessary to specify an order in which a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses of the print system connect to the print apparatus.

62. The method according to claim 35, wherein the job processing method can determine whether to cause the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job in parallel with the sheet process necessary for the first job, on the basis of system configuration information which is acquired from a sheet processing apparatus when the sheet processing apparatus connects to the print apparatus, and is necessary to specify an order in which a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses of the print system connect to the print apparatus.

63. The method according to claim 35, wherein the job processing method allows the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the second job in parallel with the sheet process necessary for the first job when both the first job and the second job are jobs requiring a sheet process by an inline type sheet processing apparatus among the inline type sheet processing apparatus capable of receiving a sheet from the print apparatus without intervention work by an operator and communicating data with another apparatus, a near-line type sheet processing apparatus incapable of receiving a sheet from the print apparatus without intervention work by an operator and capable of communicating data with another apparatus, and an offline type sheet processing apparatus incapable of receiving a sheet from the print apparatus without intervention work by an operator and communicating data with another apparatus.

64. The method according to claim 35, wherein the job processing method allows the storage unit to store print data of a third job whose print execution request is accepted after the second job, regardless of inhibiting execution of the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job, or permitting execution of the print process necessary for the second job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job.

65. The method according to claim 35, wherein when execution of the print process necessary for the second job is inhibited during execution of the sheet process necessary for the first job, the job processing method allows the print unit to execute the print process necessary for the first job during execution of the sheet process necessary for the second job by changing a print order of the first job and the second job in the print apparatus.

66. The method according to claim 35, wherein when the print system comprises three, first, second, and third sheet processing apparatuses,the job processing method allows the system to simultaneously execute a sheet process necessary for the first job by the first sheet processing apparatus, a sheet process necessary for the second job by the second sheet processing apparatus, and a print process by the print unit necessary for a third job subsequent to the second job.

67. The method according to claim 35, wherein when the print system has a system configuration capable of supplying a sheet from the print unit via a first sheet processing apparatus into a second sheet processing apparatus among the first sheet processing apparatus and second sheet processing apparatus which hold a printed material having undergone sheet processes by the first sheet processing apparatus and second sheet processing apparatus at sheet holding units of the first sheet processing apparatus and second sheet processing apparatus, andwhen the first job requires a sheet process by the second sheet processing apparatus,the job processing method allows the print unit to start the print process necessary for the second job while the second sheet processing apparatus executes the sheet process of the first job.

68. The method according to claim 35, wherein when the print system has a system configuration capable of supplying a sheet from the print unit via a first sheet processing apparatus into a second sheet processing apparatus among the first sheet processing apparatus and second sheet processing apparatus which hold a printed material having undergone sheet processes by the first sheet processing apparatus and second sheet processing apparatus at sheet holding units of the first sheet processing apparatus and second sheet processing apparatus,when the first job is a job requiring a sheet process by the second sheet processing apparatus, andeven when a factor of interrupting the sheet process necessary for the first job occurs in the second sheet processing apparatus while the second sheet processing apparatus executes the sheet process necessary for the first job,the job processing method permits the print unit to start the print process necessary for the second job during a period when the factor of interrupting the sheet process necessary for the first job in the second sheet processing apparatus is not canceled, as long as the second job is a job requiring a sheet process by the first sheet processing apparatus.

69. A computer program which when loaded into a computer and executed performs a method as claimed in claim 35.

70. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program as claimed in claim 69.

71. A print apparatus adapted to execute a job processing method defined in claim 35.