Job processing system, method and program

1. A job processing system for processing jobs using a plurality of servers, comprising:

a first server having a first program control unit that generates jobs when requested;

a second server that manages the jobs generated by the first server, the second server having a storage device that stores attribute information on the jobs and files for use in processing the jobs, a management table that manages management information for the jobs by assigning a unique ID to each of the jobs, and a second program control unit that registers job management information in the management table, refers to the job management information registered in the management table, and registers the files for and attribute information on the jobs in the storage device; and

a plurality of third servers that successively acquire and process jobs managed by the second server, the third servers each having one or more job processing programs that process the jobs acquired from the second server, a third program control unit that acquires jobs from the second server and issues responses concerning the processed jobs, and a storage device that stores attribute information on and files for the acquired jobs;

wherein the plurality of third servers successively make inquiries about job processing to the second server;

wherein, every time an inquiry is received from any of the third servers, the second server refers to the management table and determines whether there is a job which can be processed by the inquiring third server and, when there is such a job, transmits attribute information on and a file for the job to the inquiring third server;

wherein, after acquiring the attribute information on and file for the job from the second server, the third server executes a corresponding one of the job processing programs and processes the job by referring to the attribute information and the file, and the third program control unit transmits the file and the attribute information reflecting a result of processing the job to the second server;

wherein the second program control unit of the second server stores the attribute information and the file acquired from the third server in the storage device and updates the management table according to the received attribute information,

wherein the plurality of third servers have the job processing programs for processing a plurality of different types of jobs and are divided into a plurality of classes corresponding to a plurality of job types;

wherein the attribute information on each of the jobs includes information on a class specified for each of the jobs and information on job processing priority within the specified class;

wherein the management table holds information on the class specified for each of the jobs, information on the job processing priority within the specified class and information on identification of the third server for executing the job registered; and

wherein the second program control unit refers to the management table and, when there are jobs which can be processed by the inquiring third server for processing jobs of one class within which job processing priority is specified, assigns such jobs to the inquiring third server complying with the job processing priority.

2. The job processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the management table holds information including job IDs, job classes for job classification, priority within each of the job classes, program information for use in processing the jobs, and a status of each job assigned to the third servers.

3. The job processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the attribute information includes job IDs for job identification, job names, job classes, priority within each of the job classes, and program information for use in processing the jobs.

4. A job processing method for processing jobs using a plurality of servers, comprising the steps of:

generating in a first server jobs according to requests received via a network;

storing in a second server attribute information on each of the jobs generated by the first server and a file for use in processing each of the jobs in a storage device and managing management information on each of the jobs by assigning a unique ID in a management table;

making inquiries about job processing to the second server in a plurality of third servers for processing jobs;

referring to the management table every time an inquiry is received from any of the third servers and determining whether there is a job which can be processed by the inquiring third server and transmitting attribute information on and a file for the job to the inquiring third server when there is such a job according to the determination;

executing in the third server a corresponding one of the job processing programs after acquiring the attribute information on and file for the job from the second server and processing the job by referring to the attribute information and the file and transmitting the file and the attribute information reflecting a result of processing the job to the second server; and

storing in the second server the attribute information and the file acquired from the third server in the storage device and updating the management table according to the received attribute information;

wherein the plurality of third servers have the job processing programs for processing a plurality of different types of jobs and are divided into a plurality of classes corresponding to a plurality of job types;

wherein the attribute information on each of the jobs includes information on a class specified for each of the jobs and information on job processing priority within the specified class;

wherein the management table holds information on the class specified for each of the jobs, information on the job processing priority within the specified class and information on identification of the third server for executing the job registered; and

wherein the second server refers to the management table and, when there are jobs which can be processed by the inquiring third server for processing jobs of one class within which job processing priority is specified, assigns such jobs to the inquiring third server complying with the job processing priority.

5. The job processing method according to claim 4 , wherein the management table holds information including job IDs, job classes for job classification, priority within each of the job classes, program information for use in processing the jobs, and a status of each job assigned to the third servers.

6. The job processing method according to claim 4 , wherein the attribute information includes job IDs for job identification, job names, job classes, priority within each of the job classes, and program information for use in processing the jobs.