Hitachi, Ltd.

Takahiro Shiotani

Seiji Kageyama

Makoto Kitagawa

Takuya Shimakawa

Satoru Matsumoto

Naomi Tamura

A printing system having a plurality of printers and computers connected to each other through a communication network is disclosed. A first computer is connected with a second computer through the network. A first computer generates a printing job and a print request signal for executing the printing job according to a print request designated by the user to a first printer. A first computer also generates a continued print request signal containing information unique to the user according to a continued print request from the user requesting the execution of the printing job to a second printer. The printing job and each signal are transmitted to the communication network from the communication unit of the first computer. A second computer receives the printing job and each signal through the communication network. The second computer further causes the first printer to execute the printing job designated by the user in accordance with the print request signal. Upon receipt of a signal containing a continued print request and information unique to the user, the second computer decides that the information unique to a user belongs to the user designating the printing job. In the case where it is decided that the signal containing a continued print request and information unique to a user belongs to the user, the second computer causes the second printer to execute the printing job according to a continued print request.

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Kanagawa-ken, Japan

Takahiro Shiotani