JP2000181641A - Information processor, network printer system, printer selecting method, and computer-readable recording medium where program allowing computer to implement same method is recorded - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate and secure to select a desired printer by classifying pictures, characters, or symbols displayed by a 1st display means by groups and displaying pictures, characters, or symbols indicating the classified group on a 2nd display means. SOLUTION: A 1st display part 301 displays icons consisting of pictures, characters, symbols, etc., indicating printers according to printer information and icon information 300. The 1st display part 301 displays the icons classified into groups specified by a specification part 304. A classification part 302 classifies the icons displayed by the 1st display part 301 into one or more groups. A 2nd display part 303 displays the icons classified by the classification part 302 according to printer information icon information 300. A transmission part 306 transmits information (printer information and icon information 300) regarding classified into the group that the icon selected by the selection part 305 indicates to another information processor through a network 100.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer connected to a network,
A network printer system for printing a document created in an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer from a printer connected to a network, a printer selection method for selecting a desired printer from a plurality of printers connected to the network, and a method thereof. The present invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium storing a program to be executed by a computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a plurality of printers connected to a network are requested to print a document from an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer similarly connected to the network, a search is made on the network and the printer is connected to the network. One of the desired printers is selected from the many printers. At this time, the selected printer is controlled by using a printer driver unique to the printer, thereby performing printing processing by the printer.

[0003]

However, for the operator, the operator searches for a printer that he / she wants to use from among a large number of printers connected to the network.
There is a problem that it is difficult to perform printing using the printer.

In addition, when the printer cannot be used due to the printer's own trouble such as paper out, paper jam, etc., it is necessary to go directly to the place where the printer is installed.

When printing with a printer, a unique printer driver is required for each printer.
When a printer controlled by a printer driver that is not installed in the used information processing device is selected, an information processing device (server) that stores the printer driver is searched, and the printer driver is searched. Have to install the data.

For this reason, the efficiency of the printing process is reduced, and the function as the network printer system cannot be sufficiently performed. That is, although many printers are connected to the network, available printers are limited. There was a problem that would be done.

It is practically difficult to install all the printer drivers connected to the network in one information processing apparatus, and it is not practical because there is much waste.

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional example, it is possible to select a desired printer by a simple operation and surely, thereby realizing a sufficient information processing function as a network printer. Apparatus, one or more information processing apparatuses, and a network printer system in which a plurality of printers are connected by a network, a printer selection method for selecting a desired printer from a plurality of printers connected to the network, and a computer executing the method It is an object of the present invention to provide a computer-readable recording medium on which a program is recorded.

[0009]

Means for Solving the Problems The above-mentioned problems are solved,
In order to achieve the object, an information processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention is an information processing apparatus connected to a plurality of printers via a network, wherein the first information processing device displays pictures, characters, or symbols indicating the plurality of printers. Display means, a classification means for classifying pictures, characters or symbols displayed by the first display means into one or a plurality of groups; and a display means for displaying pictures, characters or symbols indicating the groups classified by the classification means. 2 display means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, a picture showing the printer,
Letters or symbols and / or pictures showing said groups,
Characters or symbols include information about the printer.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, the information processing apparatus further comprises a designation unit for designating a group classified by the classification unit, and the first display unit includes A picture, a character, or a symbol indicating the printer classified into the group designated by the designation means is displayed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to the first to third aspects, a picture, a character or a symbol indicating one or more groups displayed by the second display means is selected. A first selecting unit, and a transmitting unit that transmits information about the printer classified into the group indicated by the picture, character, or symbol selected by the first selecting unit to another information processing device via the network.
It is characterized by having.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a receiving means for receiving information on a printer transmitted by the transmitting means of another information processing apparatus via the network. Wherein the first display means displays the same picture, character or symbol as the picture, character or symbol indicating the printer based on the information on the printer received by the receiving means, and wherein the second display means Displaying the same picture, character, or symbol as the picture, character, or symbol indicating the group, based on the information about the printer received by the receiving unit.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to the fourth or fifth aspect, the transmitting means may include, as information relating to the printer, update information of the contents of the group classified by the classifying means. The information is transmitted to another information processing device.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to the first to sixth aspects, a search unit for searching for a desired printer based on information on the printer is provided,
And a third display unit for displaying a result searched by the search unit.

An information processing apparatus according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the information processing apparatus according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, further comprising a purpose designating means for designating a purpose of use of the document or the content of the document, and wherein the search means relates to a printer. Based on the information, a printer is searched with search conditions matching the purpose of use of the document or the content of the document specified by the purpose specifying means.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to the seventh or eighth aspect, the third display means groups one or more printers searched by the search means, and A picture, a character, or a symbol indicating a group is displayed.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to the first to ninth aspects, a picture showing one or a plurality of groups displayed by the second display means,
A second selection unit for selecting a character or a symbol; and a printer or a printer that matches the purpose of use of the document or the content of the document specified by the purpose specification unit, and the picture or character selected by the second selection unit. Or specifying means for specifying from the printers classified into the group indicated by the symbol.

According to a eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network printer system wherein one or more information processing apparatuses and a plurality of printers according to any one of the first to tenth aspects are connected by a network. Features.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the printer selection method for selecting a desired printer from a plurality of printers connected to a network, pictures, characters or symbols indicating the plurality of printers are displayed. A first step to perform, and a picture displayed by the first step,
The method includes a second step of classifying characters or symbols into one or a plurality of groups, and a third step of displaying pictures, characters, or symbols indicating the groups classified in the second step.

A printer selection method according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention is the printer of the twelfth aspect, including a fourth step of designating a group classified in the second step. The method includes a fifth step of displaying a picture, a character, or a symbol indicating the printer classified into the group.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer selection method according to the twelfth or thirteenth aspect, wherein a picture, a character, or a symbol indicating one or more groups displayed in the third step is selected. Six steps and the sixth step
Transmitting the information on the printers classified into the group indicated by the picture, character, or symbol selected in the step.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the printer selection method according to the fourteenth aspect, the information on the printer transmitted in the seventh step is received, and the information is received in the eighth step. A ninth step of displaying the same picture, character, or symbol as the picture, character, or symbol indicating the printer based on the information about the printer,
A tenth step of displaying the same picture, character, or symbol as the picture, character, or symbol indicating the group based on the information about the printer received in the eighth step.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the printer selection method according to the fourteenth or fifteenth aspect, the seventh step is to update the contents of the group classified in the second step as information on a printer. The information is transmitted to another information processing device.

A printer selection method according to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention is the printer selection method according to the twelfth to sixteenth aspects, wherein the eleventh step of searching for a desired printer based on the information on the printer and the eleventh step. And a twelfth step of displaying the obtained result.

A printer selection method according to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention is the printer according to the seventeenth aspect, further comprising a thirteenth step of designating the purpose of use of the document or the content of the document. , The printer is searched with search conditions that match the purpose of use of the document or the content of the document specified in the thirteenth step.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the printer selection method according to the seventeenth or eighteenth aspect, the twelfth step includes grouping one or a plurality of printers searched in the eleventh step. A picture, a character, or a symbol indicating a group is displayed.

The printer selection method according to the twentieth aspect of the invention is the printer selection method according to the twelfth to nineteenth aspects.
A fourteenth step of selecting a picture, a character or a symbol indicating one or more groups displayed in the step, and one printer matching the purpose of use of the document or the content of the document specified in the thirteenth step, The picture selected in the 14th step,
A fifteenth step of specifying from the printers classified into the group indicated by the character or symbol.

The recording medium according to the twenty-first aspect of the present invention records a program for causing a computer to execute the method according to any one of the twelfth to twelfth aspects, thereby making the program readable by a machine. The operations of the items 12 to 20 can be realized by a computer.

[0030]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the accompanying drawings, an information processing apparatus, a network printer system, a printer selection method, and a computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the method will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

First, the hardware configuration of the network printer system according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a network printer system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a network server as an information processing device, and 102 denotes a network terminal device (personal computer) also as an information processing device. Reference numeral 103 denotes a printer,
Each of the printers is a different type of printer, for example, a color printer / black and white printer, a laser printer / inkjet printer, etc., each having different performance.

The network server 101, the personal computer 102, and the printer 103 are connected to the network 100, respectively. The documents created by the network server 101 and the personal computer 102 can be printed by each printer 103, and the network By operating the server 101 and the personal computer 102, the operation of each printer 103 can be monitored and controlled.

Next, the hardware configuration of the network server 101 and the personal computer 102 as information processing devices connected to the network printer system will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the network server 101 in the network printer system according to the present embodiment.

In the network server 101 shown in FIG. 2, reference numeral 201 denotes a CPU for controlling the entire system;
Is a ROM storing a boot program and the like, and 203 is a C
RAM used as a work area of the PU 201 is:
Reference numeral 204 denotes an HDD (hard disk drive) that controls reading / writing of data from / to an HD (hard disk) 205 under the control of the CPU 201, and H denotes an H that stores data written under the control of the HDD 204.
D, 206 is the FD under the control of the CPU 201.
(Floppy disk) 207 denotes an FDD (floppy disk drive) for controlling the reading / writing of data to / from, and 207 denotes a removable FD for storing data written under the control of the FDD 206.

Reference numeral 208 denotes a display for displaying a window related to data such as a document, an image, and function information, including a cursor, an icon or a tool box. Reference numeral 209 denotes a display connected to the network NET 100 via a communication line 210;
0 and an interface (I / F) controlling an internal interface are shown.

Reference numeral 211 denotes a keyboard having a plurality of keys for inputting characters, numerical values, various instructions, and the like.
Denotes a mouse for moving a cursor and selecting a range, or moving and resizing a window, selecting and moving an icon, and 213 denotes a scanner for optically reading an image. Reference numeral 214 denotes a bus for connecting the above-described units.

The hardware configuration of the personal computer 102 is the same as that of the network server 101 described above.
Since the configuration is the same as the hardware configuration described above, the description thereof is omitted.

Next, a functional configuration of the network server 101 and the personal computer 102 which are information processing apparatuses connected to the network printer system will be described. FIGS. 3 and 4 are functional block diagrams functionally showing the configuration of the network server 101 in the network printer system according to the present embodiment.

In FIG. 3, the network server 10
1 designates a first display unit 301, a classification unit 302, a second display unit 303, a designation unit 304, a selection unit 305, a transmission unit 306, a search unit 307, a third display unit 308, The configuration includes a unit 311 and a purpose designation unit 312.

The first display unit 301 displays pictures indicating a plurality of printers based on the printer information / icon information 300.
Displays an icon consisting of characters or symbols. Also,
The first display unit 301 displays the icons classified into the group specified by the specifying unit 304. In particular,
The display of the icon is realized by the display 208 or the like.

The classification unit 302 classifies the icons displayed on the first display unit 301 into one or a plurality of groups. The details of the method of classifying groups by the classifying unit 302 will be described later.

The second display section 303 displays the icons classified by the classification section 302 based on the printer information / icon information 300. Specifically, the first display unit 30
As in the case of 1, the display of the icon is realized by the display 208 or the like.

The specifying unit 304 specifies a group classified by the classifying unit 302. Specifically, the mouse 212
The user selects a group by clicking a group / folder / icon indicating a group using a pointing device such as, or inputs a group name in a group designation field 503 described later using the keyboard 211 or the like, thereby forming a group. specify.

The selection unit 305 selects a group / folder icon which is an icon indicating one or a plurality of groups displayed by the second display unit 303. Specifically, the icon is selected by using a pointing device such as a mouse 212 to move the cursor to the position where the group / folder / icon indicating the group is displayed and invert the display of the icon.
Alternatively, the icon is selected by single-clicking the group / folder icon with a mouse button or the like to invert the display of the icon.

The transmission unit 306 transmits information (printer information / icon information 300) relating to printers classified into the group indicated by the icon selected by the selection unit 305 to another information processing apparatus via the network 100. The transmission unit 306 also transmits update information of the content of the group classified by the classification unit 302 to another information processing device as information about the printer.

The information on the printer includes information on the printer driver. Based on the information on the printer driver (required printer driver type, storage location, etc.), the necessary printer
Drivers can be installed in advance.

The search unit 307 searches for a desired printer based on the information on the printer. The search unit 307 searches for one or a plurality of printers satisfying a certain condition. Details of the search method will be described later.

The third display unit 308 displays the result searched by the search unit 307. As an example of the search result, a plurality of printers searched by the search unit 307 are grouped, an icon indicating the group is displayed, and printer icons classified into the group are displayed.

The purpose designation section 312 designates the purpose of use of the document or the content of the document. More specifically, the purpose of use of the document or the content of the document is displayed, and the user selects the purpose of use or the content of the displayed document by clicking on the displayed device using a pointing device such as a mouse 212, or a keyboard. By inputting the purpose of use of the document or the content of the document into a purpose specification field 1411 described later using the 211 or the like, the purpose of use of the document or the content of the document is specified.

The specifying unit 311 specifies one printer that matches the purpose of use of the document or the content of the document specified by the purpose specifying unit 312 based on the information on the printer. Details of the specifying method will be described later.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram functionally showing another configuration of the network server 101 in the network printer system according to the present embodiment. 4, the network server 101 includes a first display unit 301, a classification unit 302, and a second display unit 303.
, Designation unit 304, search unit 307, and third display unit 30
8 and further includes a receiving unit 401.

The receiving unit 401 receives the information on the printer transmitted from the transmitting unit 306 of another information processing device via the network 100. Also, the receiving unit 401
Receives, from another information processing apparatus, update information of the content of the group classified by the classification unit 302 as information about the printer.

Further, the first display unit 301 includes a receiving unit 401.
The same icon as the icon indicating the printer in the information on the printer transmitted from another information processing apparatus is displayed based on the information on the printer received by the information processing apparatus. Further, the second display unit 303 displays the same icon as the icon indicating the group based on the information about the printer received by the receiving unit 401.

The first display unit 301, the classification unit 302,
Second display unit 303, designation unit 304, selection unit 305, transmission unit 306, search unit 307, third display unit 308, reception unit 4
01 implements the function of each unit by the CPU 201 or the like executing a command process in accordance with a command described in a program recorded on a recording medium such as the ROM 202, the RAM 203 or the hard disk 205 or the floppy disk 207, respectively. is there.

Next, a method for selecting a printer based on the contents displayed on the display 208 will be described. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display screen of the network server 101 or the personal computer 102 in the network printer system according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 5, in the opened window, a group information display area 501, a printer information display area 502, a group designation field 503, and a message display field 504 are displayed.

In the group information display area 501, the icon "all printers" indicating all printers is displayed.
Icon 505 and group folder icon 5
06 to 508 are displayed. The group folder icons 506 to 508 are colored so that the icon colors are different from the colors of the other group folder icons, so that the group folder icons are clearly distinguished from each other. You may.

The printer information display area 502 includes “(printer) status”, “printer name”, “paper tray”,
Display columns of “option” and “comment” are displayed, and a printer icon (picture, character, or symbol) is displayed.

The group designation field 503 is a designation field used when designating a group. A group can be designated by inputting a group name into the group designation field 503 using the keyboard 211 or the like.

The message display column 504 displays messages related to the operation, such as the meaning of the icon, the operation procedure, the precautions for the operation, and the like. The message display column 504 is also used when notifying the status regarding the network 100 such as the content regarding the occurrence of a failure in the network 100. Further, the message display field 504 includes
Messages related to group and printer update information can also be displayed.

FIG. 6 shows a network server 10 in the network printer system according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an icon display displayed on the personal computer 1 or 102.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 600 denotes the network 10
An icon (picture) indicating 0, which means a network printer. Reference numeral 601 denotes a printer icon (picture) indicating the printer, 602 denotes an icon (picture) indicating the status of the printer, 603 denotes an icon (character) indicating the model name of the printer, and 604 denotes a printer job. Icon (picture) indicating the congestion degree status of
An icon (picture) 605 indicates whether or not the printer is a color printer, and an icon (picture) 606 indicates a connection state of the printer to the network 100.

Next, the printer icon 601 will be described. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing icons displayed on a network server or a personal computer in the network printer system according to the present embodiment and the contents thereof, showing the types of the printer icons 601.

In FIG. 7, the printer icon 601
Has three types of pictures, and if (1) is displayed,
Means "normal". When (2) is displayed, the print paper is being output as indicated by the icon, which means "printing". When (3) is displayed, as indicated by the icon, the display of the paper feed tray portion has changed, which means "out of paper".

Next, the icon 602 will be described. The icon 602 indicates the status of the printer. By using the icon 602 together with the printer icon 601, the operator can more intuitively know the status of the printer. FIG. 8 shows a network server 1 in the network printer system according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing icons 01 and other icons displayed on the personal computer 102 and their contents, and shows types of the icons 602.

In FIG. 8, the icon 602 has five types of pictures, and when (1) is displayed, it means "normal". When (2) is displayed, the print paper is being output as indicated by the icon, which means "printing".

When (3) is displayed, it means "out of paper". When (4) is displayed, it means "paper jam", and when (5) is displayed, it means "error".

The icon 603 indicates the printer model name and the like in characters, and the operator can more effectively identify the printer in combination with the pictorial icon. The character of the icon 603 is set in advance, and the operator can arbitrarily change the character.

The icon 604 indicates the degree of congestion of the printer job. The number of bars displayed increases when the printer is congested, and the number of bars displayed decreases when the printer becomes empty. This allows the operator to recognize the degree of congestion at a glance.

In addition to increasing or decreasing the number of bars, the color of the bars can be changed. For example, when the bar is empty, the bar is colored light blue, and when the bar is crowded, the bar is colored red. This allows the operator to more intuitively recognize the congestion degree.

An icon 605 is an icon (picture) indicating whether or not the printer is a color printer. The three circles are colored in three colors of blue, red and yellow.
It can be recognized at a glance that the printer on which the icon 605 is displayed is a color printer. Therefore, the icon 605 is not displayed on the monochrome printer.

An icon 606 indicates the connection status of the printer to the network 100. If this portion is not displayed, the printer is connected to the network 100.
Indicates that it is not connected. When the icon 606 is blinking, it indicates that a connection failure with the network 100 has occurred. As a result, the connection state with the network can be recognized at a glance.

Further, in the display column of "(printer) status", "normal", "printing", "out of paper",
Indication of "paper jam", "error", etc. is made, and the recognition of the printer status is further ensured.

The display field of “Printer Name” displays the name of the printer. The name of the printer can be arbitrarily set by the operator. In the present embodiment, for convenience of explanation, “printer A”, “printer B”. . . Printer name is set.

The icon of the paper feed tray set in the printer is displayed in the "paper feed tray" display field.
The numbers described are the number of paper feed trays that can be set in the printer. For example, in “Printer A”, four paper feed trays can be set.

Further, in “Printer A”, the first
A3 paper is set in the paper feed tray and the second
Paper “B4” is set in the paper feed tray,
This indicates that “A4” is set in the paper feed tray and the fourth paper feed tray. As a result, the size of paper that can be printed by the printer can be easily recognized.

In the "option" display column, optional functions of the printer are displayed. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing another icon displayed on the network server 101 or the personal computer 102 and its contents in the network printer system according to the present embodiment. Indicates the type.

In FIG. 9, the icon (1) indicates that the printer is equipped with a sorter.
The icon (2) indicates that the printer is equipped with a stapler. The icon (3) indicates that the printer has a duplex printing function.

In the "comment" display column, comments on the printer are displayed. As comment contents,
The location of the printer, points to consider when selecting the printer, and the like are displayed. The content of the comment displayed in the "comment" display field can be set arbitrarily.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the display screen of the network server or the personal computer in the network printer system according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 10, among the group folder icons, the “frequently used printer” group
This shows a state where the folder icon 506 is selected.

In the printer information display area 502,
Only “Printer A”, “Printer B”, and “Printer C” classified into the “frequently used printer” group are displayed. The operator moves the printer selection frame 1001 so as to surround a desired printer icon in order to select a desired printer from the three printers.

FIG. 10 shows that “Printer B” is surrounded by a printer selection frame 1001. In this state, by pressing (for example, double-clicking) the execution key of the keyboard 211 or the button of the mouse 212, the printer B is selected. When a desired printer is selected, the display shifts to a detailed status display (not shown) of the selected printer.

The printer selection frame 1001 is displayed so as to surround a commonly used printer immediately after a group is designated and a printer icon is displayed. Accordingly, the operation of moving the printer selection frame 1001 can be minimized.

FIG. 11 shows a network server 1 in the network printer system according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing another example of the display screen of the personal computer 102 or 01. In FIG. 11, FIG.
Like "0", "Frequently used printers"
Although the icon 506 is selected, the display method of the printer information display area is different.

In FIG. 11, printer information display area 1
Reference numeral 101 shows the locations where printers classified in the “frequently used printers” group are installed and displayed.

The printer information display area 1101 has a printer icon 11 corresponding to the office layout.
By displaying 03, 1104 and 1105, the location of the printer can be clarified. As a result, the operator can easily know the location of the printer, and can efficiently collect printed sheets.

Although the layout diagram and the input of the location of the printer are not shown, a layout creation dialog can be displayed on the screen and created according to the layout creation dialog.

In FIG. 11, the layout of the office is displayed. However, when a network printer is temporarily installed in a special venue or outdoors, a drawing or a map is displayed, and a printer icon is displayed on the drawing or the map. You may make it display. Thus, the location of the printer can be easily recognized, and the distribution of documents and the like can be performed more efficiently.

The printer information display area 1102 displays the printer information of the printer selected in the printer information display area 1101. The contents of the display are the same as the contents displayed in the printer information display area 502 in FIG.

In FIG. 11, printer information display area 1
It can be seen that in 102, the printer information of “Printer B” on the meeting desk selected by the printer selection frame 1001 is displayed.

FIG. 12 shows a network server 1 in the network printer system according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing another example of the display screen of the personal computer 102 or 01.

In FIG. 12, group, folder,
Of the icons, "frequently used printers" in Fig. 10
A state in which the “color printer” group folder icon 507 is selected instead of the group folder icon 506 is shown. Printer information display area 5
In 02, only “Printer E”, “Printer F”, and “Printer G” classified in the “Color Printer” group are displayed. The operator selects a desired printer from these three printers. The selection method is shown in FIG.
Is the same as the method described above.

Next, a series of processes from printer selection to printing in the network printer system according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a series of procedures of printer selection processing and printing processing in the network printer system according to the present embodiment.

In the flowchart of FIG. 13, first,
It is determined whether or not a classified group exists (step S1301). If the group does not exist (No at Step S1301), all the printer icons are displayed in the printer information display area (Step S1306), and the process proceeds to Step S1307.

On the other hand, if a group exists in step S1301 (Yes in step S1301), a group / folder icon indicating the group is displayed in the group information display area (step S1302).

Next, it is determined whether the operator has instructed to display all printers, that is, whether the “all printers” icon has been selected (step S1303). If all the printers have been instructed to display (YES in step S1303), the process advances to step S1306 to display all printer icons in the printer information display area.

On the other hand, in step S1303, if there is no display instruction for all printers (step S130
(No at 3), it is determined whether a group has been designated (step S1304). If no group is specified (No at Step S1304), the process moves to Step S1303. On the other hand, if a group is designated (Yes at Step S1304), the printer icons classified into the designated group are displayed in the printer information display area (Step S1305), and Step S13 is performed.
Shift to 07.

Next, in step S1307, it is determined whether a printer has been designated. The printer can be designated by, for example, clicking the desired printer icon displayed in the printer display area with the mouse 212. In addition, group designation column 5
By inputting and executing a desired printer name subsequent to the group name displayed in 03, a printer can also be designated.

If no printer is specified in step S1307 (No in step S1307),
The process moves to step S1301. On the other hand, if a printer has been designated (Yes at step S1307), printing processing is performed (step S1308), and a series of processing ends. In the print processing in step S1308, the detailed status of the designated printer is displayed.
The number of copies and the like are designated, and printing is started by pressing the execution button.

FIG. 14 shows a network server 1 in the network printer system according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing another example of the display screen of the personal computer 102 or 01.

In FIG. 14, a group designation field 503 is shown.
On the right side, a purpose designation field 1411 for designating the purpose of use of the document to be printed or the content of the document is provided. The purpose of use of the document is a purpose of using the document or a purpose of printing, for example, a trial or a clean copy. The contents of the document include a text document, a document of image data captured by an image scanner or the like, and a color document for presentation. Alternatively, a printer that is not crowded or a printer that can finish printing quickly may be designated.

When the down arrow button on the right end of the purpose designation field 1411 is pressed, a window 1412 for displaying the purpose of use of the document or the contents of the document appears. The operator
Instead of specifically specifying which printer to use, write the purpose of use of the document to be printed or the contents of the document in the purpose specification field 1411 and specify the purpose, or use the purpose of the document displayed in the window 1412. Alternatively, the user can select and specify any one of the contents of the document.

Next, the contents of the processing for specifying a printer in the network printer system according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a series of procedures of a printer specifying process in the network printer system according to the present embodiment.

In the flowchart of FIG. 15, the network server 101 or the personal computer 1
The selection unit 305 of 02 first determines whether or not a group has been designated (step S1511). If a group has not been designated (step S1511: No), it waits until it is designated. If a group is specified (Yes at Step S1511), the purpose specifying unit 312 waits until the purpose of use of the document or the content of the document is specified (Step S1512).

When the purpose of use of the document or the content of the document is specified (Yes at step S1512), the specifying unit 311
Extracts, from the specified group, the optimum one printer that best matches the purpose of use of the specified document or the content of the document, based on the information about the printer. Then, the printer name of one specified printer is displayed in the message display column 504, and an inquiry is made to the operator as to whether or not to output a document using this printer (step S1513).

The printer is specified, for example, by the specifying unit 31
1 may have a table that associates the purpose of use of the document or the content of the document with the condition to be specified, and the printer may be specified using this table. In this case, for example, "for trial"
Identify those that meet the condition that high-speed printing can be performed without considering image quality, and identify those that meet the condition that high-quality printing can be performed without considering printing speed if it is “for fine copy”. To

In the case of a "document document", a document which satisfies the condition of high speed in black and white is specified, and an "image document" is specified.
If so, specify a printer that meets the condition of being able to print in color. In the case of "uncongested printers", the number of jobs of each printer per unit time is counted, and a printer that meets the condition that the count value is small is specified.

Furthermore, the operator may be able to change the method of specifying the printer, the purpose of use of the document that can be specified, or the content of the document. Thus, for example, the condition of "high-speed printer" for "trial" can be changed to the condition of "black and white printer", the purpose of use of a new document for "conference" can be added and specified, For example, the purpose of use "for a fair copy" can be deleted.

After making an inquiry to the operator in step S1513, the specifying unit 311 waits for a response from the operator as to whether to use the specified printer (steps S1514 and S1515). If there is an answer that the document is to be output using the specified printer (Yes at Step S1514), the printing process is performed (Step S1514).
1516), and the process ends. On the other hand, if there is a reply not to use the specified printer (step S15
If 15 is affirmative, the process ends without performing the printing process. The print processing in step S1516 is the same as the print processing in step S1308 in FIG. 13, and a description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, even if the operator does not directly specify the printer, the network server 101 or the personal computer 102 can specify the purpose of use of the document or the content of the document within the specified group. Which printer is most suitable can be determined and specified. Alternatively, the purpose specifying unit 312 may determine the purpose of use of the document, the content of the document, or the like based on an application running on the network server 101 or the personal computer 102. For example, if an application that handles image data is operating, “image document” is specified, and if word processing software is operating, “document document” is specified.

Next, the contents of the classification process of the printer by the classification unit 302 will be described. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the display screen of the network server 101 or the personal computer 102 in the network printer system according to the present embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 16, group information display area 5
01 is selected, the printer information display area 502 is displayed.
Displays all printer icons connected to the network 100. Printers that are not fully displayed can be displayed by operating the scroll bar at the right end of the printer information display area 502.

Here, the icon 1401 indicating the printer of “Printer A” (displayed at the top of the printer information display area 502 in FIG. 16) is dragged using the mouse 212, and the “Printer of First Section” group is dragged. ·folder·
Drop at the position where the icon 508 is displayed.

Since the “Printer A” icon is dropped on the “1st Section Printer” group folder icon 508, “Printer A” is classified into the “1st Section Printer” group. As described above, the printers are classified by repeating the drag and drop of the icons. At this time, by repeatedly performing the drag-and-drop operation of one icon a plurality of times, the icon can be registered in different groups redundantly.

When the printer is classified by the function of the printer or the like as in the “color printer” group, the printer is automatically registered by recognizing the function when the printer is registered in the network 100 in advance. You may do so.

Next, the contents of the classification process of the printer 103 in the network printer system according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a series of procedures for group classification processing in the network printer system according to the present embodiment. In the flowchart of FIG. 17, first, it is determined whether or not the printer icon displayed in the printer information display area has been selected (step S1501).

Here, as a method of selecting a printer icon, a cursor is moved to a position where a desired printer icon is displayed using a pointing device such as a mouse 212. At this time, the printer icon is highlighted, whereby the selection of the printer icon is completed.

Further, by moving the cursor to a position where a desired printer icon is displayed, and further clicking the mouse button once, the printer icon is displayed in reverse video, thereby selecting the printer icon. May be completed.

In step S1501, the printer
If the printer icon has been selected after waiting for the icon to be selected (Yes at step S1501), then whether the selected printer icon has been dragged and dropped to the group folder icon Is determined (step S1502).

As a drag-and-drop method, for example, the cursor is moved to the position where the printer icon is displayed using the mouse 212 or the like, and the state in which the button of the mouse 212 or the like is pressed is maintained. By operating the mouse 212 or the like, the cursor is moved to the position where the group / folder / icon is displayed, and the pressed state of the button is released (button is released). Thus, the drag and drop is completed.

Further, a button such as the mouse 212 is clicked (the pressed state is released immediately after the button is pressed).
Then, put the printer icon in the drag state, move the cursor to the position where the group / folder icon is displayed, and click the mouse button again to cancel the drag state and complete the drop process at the same time. It may be.

In step S1502, drag
When no AND drop is performed (step S15
02 negative) means that the printer
It is determined that the icon has been selected to perform another process, and the process proceeds to the corresponding separate process.

On the other hand, if the drag and drop is performed in step S1502 (step S1
502 is affirmative), the printer icon is registered in the group (step S1503). This completes the classification of the printer. Steps S1501 to S15
By repeating the process of step 03 for each printer, the classification of printers in the entire network is completed.

Specific examples of the classification include the purpose of use, the specification, the model, the function, the color / black and white, the affiliation, the management department, whether or not the user frequently uses, the printing speed, and the like.
It can be considered by quality, whether or not it is nearby.

The printer information and group information after the classification may be updated by the network server 101 or the personal computer 102 automatically. For example, count the number of uses for each printer to calculate the frequency of use, add frequently used printers to the "frequently used printers" group, and remove infrequently used printers from the "frequently used printers" group. To

Further, a “frequently used printer” group is provided for each operator, the frequency of use of each printer is calculated for each operator, and the printer information and group information of each “frequently used printer” group are updated. It may be. Further, the usage frequency of each printer is calculated for each terminal (the network server 101 or the personal computer 102), and the “frequently used printer” is calculated.
The printer information and group information of the group may be updated.

Next, the contents of the printer information transmission process will be described. FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the display screen of the network server 101 or the personal computer 102 in the network printer system according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 18, when a desired group / folder icon is selected from the group / folder icons displayed in the group information display area 501, a group / folder / icon selection display frame 1601 is displayed.

In FIG. 18, "frequently used printer"
A group folder icon 506, a “color printer” group folder icon 507, and a “1st section printer” group folder icon 508 are selected.

With the group / folder / icon selection display frame 1601 displayed, the group / folder / icon selection display frame 1601 is dragged by the same method as described above, and is dragged out of the displayed window frame area. Drop at As a result, a group template file is created, and a group template 1602 is created.

Each group (group folder icon 506) is included in this group template file.
508) and the printer information of the printers classified into each group are stored. Specifically, (1) group name, (2) classification display color, (3)
Creator / administrator of the group, (4) network address (path) for referring to the creator of the group, (5) configuration information of the printers registered (classified) in the group, (6) information of each registered printer Detailed information (a network address of a printer, a printer server address, a name of a printer, a user access right, various settings, and the like can be considered.

By registering the group template file in the network server 101, another information processing apparatus can use the group template file. Also, by attaching the group template 1602 to an e-mail or the like, the group template file can be transmitted to another information processing apparatus.

Next, the contents of the transmission processing of the printer information in the network printer system according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a series of procedures of transmission processing in the network printer system according to the present embodiment. In the flowchart of FIG. 19, first, it is determined whether the group folder icon displayed in the group information display area has been selected (step S1701).

At step S1701, the group
When a group folder icon is selected after waiting for a folder icon to be selected (step S1)
(701 affirmative), it is determined whether or not the selected group folder icon has been dragged and dropped outside the window frame area (step S170).
2).

In step S1702, drag
When no AND drop is performed (step S17)
02 negation) is the group number in step S1701.
It is determined that the selection of the folder / icon has been made for another process, and the process proceeds to another process.

On the other hand, when the drag and drop is performed in step S1702 (step S17)
02 is affirmative), a group template file is created (step S1703), and the group template 1601 is displayed outside the window frame area (step S1703).
1704). After that, a transmission process of the group template file is performed (step S1705), and all the processes are ended.

Next, the contents of the printer information receiving process will be described. FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the display screen of the network server 101 or the personal computer 102 in the network printer system according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 20, a group template 1801 displayed outside the window frame area has been transmitted from another information processing apparatus by e-mail or the like.

By dragging the group template 1801 and dropping it in the group information display area 501, a group folder icon as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed. Further, by specifying a group, an icon relating to the printer information classified into the group is displayed in the printer information display area 50 in the same manner as described above.
2 can be displayed.

Next, the contents of the printer information receiving process in the network printer system according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the printer information receiving process of the network printer system according to the present embodiment.

In the flowchart of FIG. 21, first,
The group template file is received (step S1901), and the received group template 1801 is displayed in the group information display area 50 of the window.
It is determined whether or not the drag and drop operation has been performed within 1 (step S1902).

In step S1902, drag
If the drag and drop operation is performed after waiting for the drag and drop operation (Yes at step S1902),
Group corresponding to group template 1801
The folder icons 506 to 508 are displayed (step S1903).

Next, it is determined whether or not a group has been designated (step S1904). If a group has not been designated (No at Step S1904), the process proceeds to Step S1303 in FIG. On the other hand, when a group is designated (Yes at step S1904)
Displays the printer icons classified into the specified group in the printer information display area 502 (step S1905).

Next, it is determined whether a printer has been designated (step S1906). If no printer is specified in step S1906 (step S1906)
1906 No) corresponds to step S1303 in FIG.
Move to. On the other hand, if a printer has been designated (Yes at step S1906), a printing process is performed (step S1907), and the series of processes ends. The print processing in step S1907 is the same as the print processing in step S1308 in FIG. 13, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the contents of the update information transmission processing in the network printer system according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the printer update information transmission process of the network printer system according to the present embodiment. In the flowchart of FIG. 22, it is determined whether the group information / printer information has already been transmitted to another information processing apparatus as a group template file and updated (step S2001).

In step S2001, if the printer information has not been updated (No in step S2001), the process ends. On the other hand, if the printer information has been updated (Yes at step S2001), the transmission destination for transmitting the updated printer information is determined by determining the transmission destination of another information processing apparatus to which the group template file has been transmitted. The destination is determined (step S2002).

Thereafter, transmission processing is performed based on the transmission destination determined in step S2002 (step S2003), and a series of processing ends. Step S20
02, the content of the transmission process is the same as that of step S1 in FIG.
Same as 705. That is, the update information is transmitted as a group template file to another information processing apparatus in the same manner as the normal group information and printer information.

Next, the contents of the update information receiving process in the network printer system according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the printer update information receiving process of the network printer system according to the present embodiment. In the flowchart of FIG. 23, first, the group template
A file receiving process is performed (step S210)
1).

Next, it is determined whether or not the update information has been received, that is, whether or not the received group template file contains the update information (step S).
2102). Here, when the update information is not received, that is, when the update information is not included (step S21)
(No at 02), the flow shifts to step S1902 in FIG. 21, and a normal group template file reception process is performed.

On the other hand, if the update information is received in step S2102 (Yes in step S2102), the group information / printer information is updated based on the update information (step S2103), and the group / folder icon is displayed continuously. (Step S2104).

Further, the fact that the data has been updated is displayed to notify the operator (step S2105). As a display method,
For example, it is realized by changing the shape, color, or the like of the group / folder / icon, or displaying the change in the message display column 504.

Next, it is determined whether or not a predetermined group has been designated from the groups displayed in the group information display area (step S2106). Here, when the group is not specified (No at Step S2106), FIG.
It moves to step S1303 in. On the other hand, if a group has been designated (Yes at step S2106), the printer icons classified into the designated group are displayed in the printer information display area 502 (step S2106).
2107).

Here, the fact that the printer information has been updated is changed by changing the shape or color of the icon.
The operator may be notified by displaying the fact in the message display column 504.

Next, it is determined whether a printer has been designated (step S2108). If the printer has not been designated (No at Step S2108), the process proceeds to Step S1303 in FIG. On the other hand, when a printer is designated (Yes at step S2108)
Is executed (step S2109), and a series of processing ends. The print processing in step S2109 is the same as the print processing in step S1308 in FIG. 13, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Here, the group information / printer information transmitted to another information processing apparatus as a group template file may be updated only by a specific operator such as a creator, The update may be performed only by the information processing device. In addition, the group may be divided into a local group used personally and a public group commonly used by a plurality of operators.

For example, a public group can be updated only by an administrator or a specific information processing device. If a public group is updated by an administrator or a specific information processing device, the public group of each information processing device is compulsorily updated. To be updated. Local groups can be updated by anyone on any information processing device,
Even if a local group is updated in a certain information processing apparatus, a local group of another information processing apparatus is not updated. In this way, a plurality of security levels can be set and managed.

Next, the contents of the search processing in the network printer system according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 24 shows a network server 101 in the network printer system according to the present embodiment.
5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a search operation screen of the personal computer 102. FIG.

In FIG. 24, a search operation screen (search
The window 2200 includes a search group display area 22
01, a printer type / equipment display area 2202, a sort order display area 2203, a "detailed setting" instruction button 22
04, a “search start” instruction button 2205, and a purpose designation area 2206 are displayed.

A search group display area 2201 is a display area for inputting / displaying a group to be searched.
The operator inputs the group name to be searched using the keyboard 2
11 or the search group display area 2201
The user selects a desired group name from the pre-registered group names displayed by pressing the down arrow button on the right end of, thereby inputting a group to be searched.

A printer type / equipment display area 2202 is
This is a display area for selecting the type / equipment of the printer to be searched. By checking the check box on the left of each displayed item, the item is considered when searching. .

For example, among the displayed items,
If the check box of the item "color printer" is checked, color printers will be searched,
If it is not checked, whether or not the printer is a color printer is not a search target, and thus the printer to be searched may be a color printer or a black and white printer.

In FIG. 24, a black-and-white printer, a laser printer, a double-sided printing function and a sorter, and printers capable of printing on A3 paper and A4 paper are to be searched. Has become.

The purpose designation area 2206 is a display area for selecting the purpose of use of the document or the contents of the document. By checking the item of “designation of purpose and contents” in the printer type / equipment display area 2202, the operation is performed. It becomes possible. The operator can specify the purpose of use of the document or the content of the document in the purpose specification area 2206 instead of specifically specifying the search conditions such as the type / equipment of the printer to be searched. The purpose of use of this document or the content of the document is the same as the purpose of use of the document or the content of the document described with reference to FIG. 14, and is "for trial use", "for clean copy", "document document", "image document". , "Presentation documents" and "clean printers".

The sort order display area 2203 is a display area for designating the display order of the printers displayed in the printer information display area 502. If the number of target printers is large as a result of the search, a desired printer is selected. Can be found efficiently.

The input method for each sort item is the same as that for the search group display area 2201, and a description thereof will be omitted. When inputting to each sort item, inconsistent contents are input in the preceding and following items, and the input contents can be limited to the contents.

For example, the "latest" cannot be selected from the selection items of the sort item 2 so that "fastest" is input to the sort item 1 and "slowest" is not input to the sort item 2. Or an error message is displayed when “latest” is input through the keyboard 211 or the like.

Although not shown, the “detailed setting” instruction button 2204 is a button for opening a screen for setting more detailed search conditions including additional search conditions. A “search start” instruction button 2205 is a button for starting a search under the set search conditions.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the display screen of the network server or the personal computer in the network printer system according to the present embodiment. When the “search start” instruction button 2205 in FIG. 24 is pressed, the search is started, and as shown in FIG.
1, a “Printer search result” group folder icon 2301 is displayed.
The printers classified as the group / folder icons 2301, that is, the printer icons of the printers of the search results are displayed in the printer information display area 502. In FIG. 25, two printers, printer B and printer C, are displayed as search results.

Next, the contents of the printer search processing by the network printer system according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a printer search process of the network printer system according to the present embodiment. In the flowchart of FIG. 26, first, the search window 2
The search condition is input from 200 (step S240)
1).

Then, it is determined whether or not the input of the search condition has been completed, that is, whether or not the “search start” instruction button 2205 has been pressed (step S2402). If the search conditions have been input (step S2402: Yes), the search conditions are entered for all printers connected to the network and the search conditions input in step S2401. Are compared (step S2403).

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the comparison with all the printers has been completed, and the same processing is repeated until the comparison is completed. If the comparison with all the printers has been completed (Yes at step S2404), a “printer search result” group folder icon 2301, which is a search result group folder icon, is created (step S2405). A “printer search result” group folder icon 2301 is displayed in the group information display area 501 (step S2406).

Further, a “printer search result” group
The printer icons targeted for the search results classified into the folder icons 2301 are displayed in the printer information display area 5.
02 (step S2407).

Next, it is determined whether or not a printer has been designated from the printer icons displayed in the printer information display area 502 (step S2408). Here, when no printer is designated (step S2408)
If the answer is NO, the operator determines whether or not the desired printer exists among the printers related to the printer icons displayed in the printer information display area 502 (step S2409).

If the operator determines in step S2409 that the desired printer does not exist (step S2409).
2409 is negative), the process proceeds to step S2401 and again
Let the operator input search conditions. On the other hand, if there is no indication of the operator's intention that the desired printer does not exist (Yes at Step S2409), Step S2408
And wait for the printer to be specified.

If the printer is designated in step S2408 (Yes in step S2408), the printing process is started (step S2410), and when the printing process is completed, all the processes are completed.

Next, a description will be given of a process of designating the purpose of use of the document or the content of the document and determining the search condition. FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing another procedure of the search processing in the printer of the network printer system according to the present embodiment. Network server 10
1 or a purpose designation unit 3 of the personal computer 102
First, when the item “designation of purpose and contents” in the printer type / equipment display area 2202 is checked, one of the purpose of use of the document displayed in the purpose designation area 2206 or the content of the document is designated. It waits until (Steps S2701, S2702).

When the purpose of use of any document or the content of the document is selected and specified (Yes at step S2702), a search condition that matches the specified purpose of use is determined (step S2703), and FIG. Step S240
Proceed to 3. At this time, the printer type / equipment display area 22
If search conditions such as "black and white printer" are selected in step 02, these search conditions are ignored and step S2703 is performed.
The search may be performed using only the search conditions determined in step S2, or these search conditions may be searched in addition to the search conditions determined in step S2703.

As described above, even if the operator does not specify the search conditions such as the type and equipment of the printer, the network server 101 or the personal computer can be specified by specifying the purpose of use of the document or the content of the document. 1
On the 02 side, a search condition that matches the purpose of use of the document or the content of the document can be determined and searched. The determination of the search condition may be performed, for example, by a method in which the search unit 307 has a table that associates the purpose of use of the document or the content of the document with the search condition, and uses this table. In this case, for example, if it is "document", the search condition "black and white printer" is determined,
In the case of "image document", a search condition of "color printer" is determined.

An operator may be able to change the method of determining the search condition, the purpose of use of the specifiable document, or the content of the document. This allows, for example, "documents"
It is possible to change the condition of "black and white printer" to the condition of "inkjet printer", make it possible to newly specify the purpose of use of the document for "conference", or delete the purpose of use for "clear copy" it can. When a group is created by specifying and searching for the purpose of use of the document or the content of the document, the display order of the printers in the printer information display area 502 is arranged in an order that matches the purpose of use of the document or the content of the document. You may do so. For example, when a search is performed by specifying "high-speed printer" and a group is created, icons are arranged in order from the high-speed printer.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the printers can be classified according to the usage status of the printers, and the printer information can be displayed for each classification, so that the selection of a desired printer can be simplified. Operation can be performed reliably and reliably.

Further, since the icon includes information about the printer, the status of the printer can be more accurately recognized, so that a desired printer can be selected with a simpler operation. Further, printer information can be displayed for each group, and a desired printer can be selected easily and reliably by a simple operation.

The group template file makes it possible to centrally manage information on printers, information on groups into which printers are classified, and updated information on the information.

Also, a desired printer can be easily searched from among a large number of printers connected to the network, and the printers can be classified according to the search conditions. Without the search results.

With the above effects, the function as a network printer can be sufficiently exhibited.

The printer selection method described in the present embodiment is realized by executing a prepared program on a computer such as a personal computer or a workstation. This program is for hard disk, floppy disk, CD-RO
The program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as M, MO, and DVD, and is executed by being read from the recording medium by the computer. This program can be distributed via the recording medium via a network.

[0184]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the first display means for displaying pictures, characters or symbols indicating the plurality of printers, and the picture displayed by the first display means. , A classifying means for classifying characters or symbols into one or a plurality of groups, and a second display means for displaying pictures, characters or symbols indicating the groups classified by the classifying means. Since the printers can be classified according to the type and the printer information can be displayed for each classification, a desired printer can be selected with a simple operation and surely, and the function as a network printer can be fully exhibited. There is an effect that a possible information processing device is obtained.

Further, according to the invention of claim 2, according to claim 1,
In the invention of the above, since the picture, character or symbol indicating the printer and / or the picture, character or symbol indicating the group includes information about the printer, the state of the printer can be more accurately recognized. This makes it possible to select a desired printer with a simple operation and surely, and to obtain an information processing apparatus capable of sufficiently exhibiting a function as a network printer.

Further, according to the invention of claim 3, claim 1
In the invention according to the second aspect, there is provided designation means for designating a group classified by the classification means, and the first display means displays a picture, character or symbol indicating a printer classified into the group designated by the designation means. Since the printer information can be displayed, the printer information can be displayed for each group, so that a desired printer can be selected easily and reliably by a simple operation, and the information processing can sufficiently exhibit the function as a network printer. The effect that a device is obtained is produced.

Further, according to the invention of claim 4, according to claim 1,
In the inventions of the first to third aspects, a first selecting means for selecting a picture, a character or a symbol indicating one or a plurality of groups displayed by the second display means, and a picture or a character selected by the first selecting means Or transmitting means for transmitting information on the printers classified into the group indicated by the symbol to another information processing apparatus via the network, so that the information on the printers and the information on the groups into which the printers are classified are centrally managed. Therefore, a desired printer can be selected with a simple operation and surely, and an information processing apparatus capable of sufficiently exhibiting the function as a network printer can be obtained.

According to the invention of claim 5, according to claim 4,
In the invention of the above, further comprising a receiving means for receiving the information on the printer transmitted by the transmitting means of another information processing device via the network, wherein the first display means comprises information on the printer received by the receiving means And displaying the same picture, character or symbol as the picture, character or symbol indicating the printer on the basis of the printer. The second display means indicates the group based on the information on the printer received by the receiving means. Since the same picture, character, or symbol as the picture, character, or symbol is displayed, the information on the printer and the information on the group into which the printer is classified can be centrally managed. Information that can be performed reliably and can fully function as a network printer An effect that physical device is obtained.

According to the invention of claim 6, according to claim 4,
In the invention according to the fifth aspect, since the transmitting unit transmits update information of the content of the group classified by the classifying unit to another information processing apparatus as the information about the printer, the information regarding the printer and the group into which the printer is classified are included. When the information about the printer is updated, the information about the printer and the information about the group can be centrally managed, so that the desired printer can be selected easily and reliably by a simple operation. There is an effect that an information processing device that can sufficiently exhibit the information is obtained.

Further, according to the invention of claim 7, according to claim 1,
In the inventions of (1) to (6), since there are provided search means for searching for a desired printer based on information about the printer, and third display means for displaying a result searched by the search means, a large number of devices connected to a network are provided. Can easily search for a desired printer from among the printers, so that the desired printer can be selected easily and reliably by simple operation, and information capable of fully exhibiting the function as a network printer There is an effect that a processing device can be obtained.

Further, according to the invention of claim 8, according to claim 7,
The invention according to claim 1, further comprising a purpose designation unit for designating a purpose of use of the document or contents of the document, wherein the search unit is configured to use the purpose of use of the document or the document designated by the purpose designation unit based on information on a printer. Since a printer is searched using search conditions that match the content, a printer that matches the purpose of use of the document or the content of the document can be easily searched from a large number of printers connected to the network. Is more easily and reliably performed, and an information processing apparatus that can sufficiently exhibit the function as a network printer is obtained.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the seventh aspect is provided.
In the invention according to the eighth aspect, the third display unit groups one or a plurality of printers searched by the search unit and displays pictures, characters, or symbols indicating the group. A desired printer can be easily searched from among the printers, and the printers can be classified according to the search conditions. Therefore, the search result can be used without any discomfort by performing the same operation as that performed by the group. There is an effect that an information processing device capable of sufficiently exhibiting the function as the above is obtained.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the first to ninth aspects, a picture, a character or a symbol indicating one or a plurality of groups displayed by the second display means is selected. And one printer that matches the purpose of use of the document or the content of the document specified by the purpose specifying means is classified into the group indicated by the picture, character or symbol selected by the second selecting means. A printer that matches the purpose of use of the document or the content of the document from the printers classified into groups, so that it is easy to specify the desired printer. It is possible to obtain an information processing device that can be operated reliably and reliably and that can sufficiently exhibit the function as a network printer.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the one or more information processing apparatuses and the plurality of printers according to any one of the first to tenth aspects are connected via a network. There is an effect that a network printer system capable of sufficiently exhibiting functions can be obtained.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the printer selecting method for selecting a desired printer from a plurality of printers connected to a network, a first image, a character or a symbol indicating the plurality of printers is displayed. Process and
The picture, character or symbol displayed in the first step is
Or a second step of classifying into a plurality of groups;
And a third step of displaying pictures, characters, or symbols indicating the groups classified by the steps, so that the printers can be classified according to the usage status of the printers. It is possible to obtain a printer selection method for selecting a desired printer from a plurality of printers connected to a network, which can be performed reliably and can sufficiently exhibit the function as a network printer.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the method of the twelfth aspect further includes a fourth step of designating the group classified by the second step, wherein the group is classified into the group designated by the fourth step. Since a fifth step of displaying a picture, character or symbol indicating the selected printer is included, printer information can be displayed for each group, so that a desired printer can be selected easily and reliably. Thus, there is provided an effect that a printer selection method for selecting a desired printer from a plurality of printers connected to the network, which can sufficiently exhibit the function as a network printer, is obtained.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the twelfth or thirteenth aspect, there is provided a sixth step of selecting a picture, character or symbol indicating one or more groups displayed in the third step. Transmitting the information on the printers classified into the group indicated by the picture, character or symbol selected in the sixth step, and thereby integrating the information on the printers and the information on the groups into which the printers are classified. Since it is possible to manage a printer, a desired printer can be selected with a simple operation and surely, and a desired printer can be selected from a plurality of printers connected to the network. There is an effect that a printer selection method for selecting a printer can be obtained.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an eighth step of receiving the information on the printer transmitted in the seventh step, and a step of receiving the information received in the eighth step. Based on the information,
A ninth step of displaying the same picture, character or symbol as the picture, character or symbol indicating the printer; and a picture, character or symbol indicating the group based on the information on the printer received in the eighth step. And the tenth step of displaying the same picture, character, or symbol, so that information on printers and information on groups into which the printers are classified can be centrally managed, so that the selection of a desired printer can be performed with a simple operation. In addition, there is an effect that a printer selection method for selecting a desired printer from a plurality of printers connected to a network, which can perform the function as a network printer sufficiently, can be obtained.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the fourteenth or fifteenth aspect, the seventh step separates update information of the contents of the group classified in the second step as information on a printer. Since the information on the printer and the information on the group into which the printer is classified are updated, the information on the printer and the information on the group can be centrally managed. That a simple operation can be performed reliably and reliably, and a function as a network printer can be sufficiently exhibited, and a printer selection method for selecting a desired printer from a plurality of printers connected to a network can be obtained. To play.

According to the seventeenth aspect, in the twelfth aspect, the eleventh step of searching for a desired printer based on the information on the printer, and the result of the search performed in the eleventh step And a twelfth step of displaying the desired printer. Therefore, a desired printer can be easily searched from among a large number of printers connected to the network, so that the desired printer can be selected with a simple operation and reliably. This makes it possible to obtain a printer selection method for selecting a desired printer from a plurality of printers connected to the network, which can sufficiently exhibit the function as a network printer.

According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in accordance with the seventeenth aspect, there is provided a thirteenth step of designating the purpose of use of the document or the content of the document, wherein the eleventh step is performed based on information about the printer. In order to search for a printer under search conditions that match the purpose of use of the document or the content of the document specified in the thirteenth step, the purpose of use of the document or the content of the document is selected from among a large number of printers connected to the network. Since it is possible to easily search for a matching printer, a desired printer can be selected more easily and reliably with a simple operation, and a network connection that can sufficiently exhibit the function as a network printer can be achieved. This makes it possible to obtain a printer selection method for selecting a desired printer from a plurality of printers.

According to the invention of claim 19, in the invention of claim 17 or 18, the twelfth step groups one or a plurality of printers retrieved in the eleventh step and indicates the group. Displaying pictures, characters, or symbols allows you to easily search for the desired printer from among a large number of printers connected to the network, and to classify printers according to the search conditions. A printer selection method for selecting a desired printer from a plurality of printers connected to a network, which can use search results without a sense of incongruity by a similar operation and can sufficiently exhibit a function as a network printer, can be obtained. This has the effect.

According to a twentieth aspect, in the twelfth aspect, the fourteenth step of selecting a picture, a character or a symbol indicating one or a plurality of groups displayed in the third step. Identifying one printer matching the purpose of use of the document or the content of the document specified in the thirteenth step from the printers classified into the group indicated by the picture, character or symbol selected in the fourteenth step; Fifteen
Since the printer includes the steps, it is possible to easily specify a printer that matches the purpose of use of the document or the content of the document from the printers classified into the group. And a printer selection method for selecting a desired printer from a plurality of printers connected to the network, which is capable of fully exhibiting a function as a network printer, is obtained.

According to the twenty-first aspect of the present invention, by recording a program for causing a computer to execute the method according to the twelfth to twentieth aspects, the program becomes readable by a machine. ~ 20
There is an effect that a recording medium capable of realizing the above operation by a computer can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a network printer system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a network server in the network printer system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram functionally showing a configuration of a network server in the network printer system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram functionally showing another configuration of the network server in the network printer system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display screen of a network server or a personal computer in the network printer system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of icon display displayed on a network server or a personal computer in the network printer system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing icons displayed on a network server or a personal computer in the network printer system according to the present embodiment and their contents.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing another icon displayed on a network server or a personal computer in the network printer system according to the present embodiment and the contents thereof.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing another icon displayed on a network server or a personal computer in the network printer system according to the present embodiment and the contents thereof.

FIG. 10 illustrates a network printer according to the present embodiment.
It is an explanatory view showing another example of a display screen of a network server or a personal computer in a system.

FIG. 11 illustrates a network printer according to the present embodiment.
It is an explanatory view showing another example of a display screen of a network server or a personal computer in a system.

FIG. 12 illustrates a network printer according to the present embodiment.
It is an explanatory view showing another example of a display screen of a network server or a personal computer in a system.

FIG. 13 illustrates a network printer according to the present embodiment.
5 is a flowchart illustrating a series of procedures of a printer selection process and a printing process in the system.

FIG. 14 illustrates a network printer according to the present embodiment.
It is an explanatory view showing another example of a display screen of a network server or a personal computer in the system.

FIG. 15 illustrates a network printer according to the present embodiment.
5 is a flowchart illustrating a series of procedures of a printer specifying process in the system.

FIG. 16 illustrates a network printer according to the present embodiment.
It is an explanatory view showing another example of a display screen of a network server or a personal computer in a system.

FIG. 17 illustrates a network printer according to the present embodiment.
It is a flow chart which shows a series of procedures of group classification processing in a system.

FIG. 18 illustrates a network printer according to the present embodiment.
It is an explanatory view showing another example of a display screen of a network server or a personal computer in the system.

FIG. 19 illustrates a network printer according to the present embodiment.
9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a printer information transmission process of the system.

FIG. 20 illustrates a network printer according to the present embodiment.
It is an explanatory view showing another example of a display screen of a network server or a personal computer in a system.

FIG. 21 illustrates a network printer according to the present embodiment.
9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a printer information receiving process of the system.

FIG. 22 illustrates a network printer according to the present embodiment.
9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a printer update information transmission process of the system.

FIG. 23 illustrates a network printer according to the present embodiment.
9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a process of receiving printer update information of the system.

FIG. 24 shows a network printer according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a search operation screen of a network server or a personal computer in the system.

FIG. 25 shows a network printer according to the present embodiment.
It is an explanatory view showing another example of a display screen of a network server or a personal computer in a system.

FIG. 26 illustrates a network printer according to the present embodiment.
9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a printer search process of the system.

FIG. 27 illustrates a network printer according to the present embodiment.
9 is a flowchart illustrating another procedure of a search process in a printer of the system.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 Network 101 Network Server 102 Network Terminal (Personal Computer) 103 Printer 201 CPU 202 ROM 203 RAM 204 HDD 205 HD 206 FDD 207 FD 208 Display 209 I / F 210 Communication Line 211 Keyboard 212 Mouse 213 Scanner 214 Bus 300 Printer Information / Icon information 301 First display unit 302 Classification unit 303 Second display unit 304 Designation unit 305 Selection unit 306 Transmission unit 307 Search unit 308 Third display unit 311 Identification unit 312 Object designation unit 401 Reception unit 501 Group information display area 502, 1101 , 1102 Printer information display area 503 Group designation field 504 Message display field 505 “All printers” icon 506 508 Group folder icon 600, 602 to 606, 1401 Icon 601, 1103 to 1105 Printer icon 1001 Printer selection frame 1411 Purpose specification column 1601, 1801 Group folder icon selection display frame 1602 Group template 2200 Search window 2201 search group display area 2202 printer type / equipment display area 2203 sort order display area 2204 "detailed setting" instruction button 2205 "search start" instruction button 2206 purpose designation area 2301 "printer search result" group / folder /
icon

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 13/00 357 G06F 13/00 357A

Claims (21)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus connected to a plurality of printers via a network, wherein the first display means displays pictures, characters, or symbols indicating the plurality of printers, and the information is displayed by the first display means. Information comprising: classification means for classifying pictures, characters, or symbols into one or more groups; and second display means for displaying pictures, characters, or symbols indicating the groups classified by the classification means. Processing equipment. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the picture, character, or symbol indicating the printer and / or the picture, character, or symbol indicating the group includes information about the printer. apparatus. 3. A printer, comprising: a designation unit that designates a group classified by the classification unit; and the first display unit displays a picture, a character, or a symbol indicating a printer classified into the group specified by the designation unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing is performed. 4. A first selecting means for selecting a picture, a character, or a symbol indicating one or more groups displayed by the second display means, and a picture, a character, or a character selected by the first selecting means. Transmitting means for transmitting information about the printers classified into the group indicated by the symbol to another information processing apparatus via the network, wherein: Information processing device. 5. A receiving device for receiving information about a printer transmitted by the transmitting device of another information processing device via the network, wherein the first display device relates to a printer received by the receiving device. Based on the information, the same picture, character or symbol as the picture, character or symbol indicating the printer is displayed, and the second display means displays the group based on the information about the printer received by the receiving means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the same picture, character, or symbol as the picture, character, or symbol is displayed. 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the transmission unit transmits update information of the content of the group classified by the classification unit to another information processing apparatus as information about the printer. Information processing device. 7. A printer according to claim 1, further comprising: a search unit that searches for a desired printer based on information about the printer; and a third display unit that displays a result searched by the search unit. 7. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 6. 8. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a purpose designation unit for designating a purpose of use of the document or a content of the document, wherein the search unit is configured to use the purpose of the document or the document designated by the purpose designation unit based on information about a printer. 8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a printer is searched using search conditions that match the content of the printer. 9. The third display unit groups one or more printers searched by the search unit,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a picture, a character, or a symbol indicating the group is displayed. 10. A second selecting means for selecting a picture, a character or a symbol indicating one or a plurality of groups displayed by said second display means, and a purpose of use of the document specified by said purpose specifying means. Specifying means for specifying one printer that matches the content of the document from printers classified into the group indicated by the picture, character, or symbol selected by the second selecting means. Item 10. The information processing device according to any one of Items 1 to 9. 11. A network printer system, wherein one or more information processing apparatuses and a plurality of printers according to claim 1 are connected by a network. 12. A printer selection method for selecting a desired printer from a plurality of printers connected to a network, comprising: a first step of displaying pictures, characters, or symbols indicating the plurality of printers; One displayed picture, character or symbol
Or a second step of classifying the group into a plurality of groups; and a third step of displaying pictures, characters, or symbols indicating the groups classified in the second step. 13. A fifth step of displaying a picture, a character, or a symbol indicating a printer classified into the group specified in the fourth step, the fourth step including specifying a group classified in the second step. 13. The printer selection method according to claim 12, comprising: 14. A sixth step of selecting a picture, character, or symbol indicating one or more groups displayed in the third step, and a group indicated by the picture, character, or symbol selected in the sixth step. 14. The printer selection method according to claim 12, further comprising: a seventh step of transmitting information on the classified printer. 15. An eighth step of receiving the information on the printer transmitted in the seventh step, and a picture, a character or a symbol indicating the printer based on the information on the printer received in the eighth step. A ninth step of displaying a picture, character or symbol of the group; and a second step of displaying the same picture, character or symbol as the picture, character or symbol indicating the group based on the information on the printer received in the eighth step. The printer selection method according to claim 14, comprising: 10 steps. 16. The information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein in the seventh step, update information of the content of the group classified in the second step is transmitted to another information processing apparatus as information about the printer. The printer selection method described. 17. An eleventh step of searching for a desired printer based on information on a printer, and a twelfth step of displaying a result searched in the eleventh step.
The printer selection method according to any one of claims 12 to 16, further comprising the steps of: 18. A printer according to claim 13, further comprising: a thirteenth step of designating a purpose of use of the document or contents of the document, wherein the eleventh step is based on information about the printer.
18. The printer selection method according to claim 17, wherein a printer is searched using search conditions that match the purpose of use of the document or the content of the document specified in the thirteenth step. 19. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein in the twelfth step, one or a plurality of printers searched in the eleventh step are grouped, and pictures, characters or symbols indicating the group are displayed. Printer selection method described in 1. 20. A first method for selecting a picture, character, or symbol indicating one or more groups displayed in the third step.
Fourth step, one printer matching the purpose of use of the document or the content of the document specified in the thirteenth step is selected from the printers classified in the group indicated by the picture, character or symbol selected in the fourteenth step. 20. The printer selection method according to claim 12, further comprising: a fifteenth step of specifying. 21. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for causing a computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 12 to 20.