Abstract: In an information processing system including workstations and printers interconnected by a network, current collective status information of a set of print jobs of a user is displayed permanently in icon form on the screen of the workstation of the user. The status is presented as one of three possible states: (1) active: there is still at least one print job of the set not ready; (2) passive: all the jobs of the set are ready, or the set is empty; or (3) error: a job of the set has caused an error in the printer. The set can include all the print jobs of a user, or a selection thereof. In response to a double mouse click on an icon, extensive information concerning the print jobs of the set to which the icon relates is displayed. As an alternative to permanent presentation in icon form, presentation can also be in the form of messages on the screen at the user's workstation when the status of the set changes.

Abstract: In an information-processing system having workstations and at least one printer interconnected by a digital network, the current state of the printer or printers is presented on the screen of a workstation in the form of an icon. The printers are of a type which can carry out printing processes in an autonomous mode, in which a print job sent from a workstation is executed directly, and in a command-controlled mode in which a reproduction process, including a copying process, must be started from an operator control panel on the printer. When the printer is “occupied” in the autonomous mode, a different icon is displayed from that displayed when the printer is “occupied” in the command-controlled mode.