JP2011008469A - Information processor, information processing method, program and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the following problems: it is difficult to enable a specific function of print setting only for an extremely short time, and operation is complicated when the function to be enabled is selected by manual operation.SOLUTION: A proper number of jobs are counted to release a constraint for print setting and enable the print setting only for an extremely short time. A constrained function of the print setting is automatically extracted from a difference between an initial setting value in factory shipment and a customized initial setting value, so that there is no need for a user to manually select the function.

Description

  The present invention relates to print settings when printing to a printer.

  In recent years, when a printing system is introduced, an increasing number of users desire to change the initial value of print settings in accordance with their business. Specifically, in order to save paper, there is a case where the duplex function is enabled in the initial setting of printing. To solve this problem, there is a method of customizing the initial value of the print setting held by the printer driver before installing the printer driver (see, for example, Patent Document 1). With this method, after installing the printer driver in the operating system, it is possible to save the trouble of changing the initial printing settings for each operating system and to reduce the operation cost. However, since this method does not fix the print settings, it cannot prevent the user from changing the default settings again after the system is installed.

  On the other hand, a technique that does not allow the user to change the print setting has been introduced into the print system (see, for example, Patent Document 2). Combining this technology makes it possible to fix print settings from the initial state.

  However, in reality, exceptional work always occurs. For example, in an office where a color printer is installed, if the print setting is fixed to monochrome, it may be necessary to print in color exceptionally. In order to cancel the print setting thus fixed, the procedure for releasing the fixing is very troublesome.

  That is, a flexible system is required that allows the user to make exceptional print settings while maintaining the recommended print setting. There are a method for maintaining the initial settings for printing (for example, see Patent Document 3) and a method for temporarily canceling the print restriction (for example, see Patent Document 4).

JP 2006-309725 A JP 2006-330940 A JP 2007-122137 A JP 2007-230013 A JP 2005-107777 A

  However, it is difficult to cope with the case where the print setting is canceled for a very short time only by the methods disclosed in Patent Document 3 and Patent Document 4. In particular, when canceling a tint block print as shown in Patent Document 5, considering the original purpose of the tint block print, a long canceling period is not preferable in terms of security. In this case, it is necessary to cancel the function only for a very short time, but there is a problem that the limit value is exceeded in the middle of the printing process only by the limitation due to the conventional number of print jobs and time limitation. Furthermore, in Patent Document 4, a target function that restricts print settings is manually selected. However, there is a problem that the operation is troublesome because the system installer is forced to perform an operation of manual selection.

Means (902, 903) for extracting the difference between the initial setting content (60) indicating the printing conditions of the printer and the customized initial setting content (61), and whether the current setting content (72) includes the difference. Means (904, 905), means (914) for changing the current setting contents (72) to follow the difference, means (918, 919) for comparing the current process identifier with the stored process identifier, , And a means (919, 920) for increasing the number of jobs when it is determined as a different identifier as a result of the comparison means.
An information processing apparatus characterized by that.

  Since the appropriate number of jobs can be counted when releasing the restriction of the print setting, the print setting can be released only for a very short time. In addition, since the target function that restricts the print setting is automatically extracted from the difference between the factory default value and the customized default value, there is no need for the user to manually select and specify the function. That is, system operation becomes easy.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a print processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the memory map of RAM2 in the state in which a predetermined application and the printing process related program started, and the program and data were loaded to RAM2 of the host computer 3000 Diagram illustrating UI of customization tool The figure which shows printer driver UI for initial setting value customization State diagram of printer driver UI control module before applying customization tool State diagram of the printer driver UI control module after applying the customization tool Transition diagram of initial print settings Detailed list of default print settings Flowchart explaining a method for temporarily canceling print settings The figure which illustrates the message box displayed by step 910 of FIG. The figure which illustrates the message box displayed by step 909 of FIG. The figure which illustrates UI (restraint return condition sheet) of a printer driver

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  A computer as an embodiment of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a print processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This print processing system includes an information processing apparatus (hereinafter also referred to as “host computer”) 3000 and a printer 1500 that receives print data from the host computer 3000 and performs printing.

  In the host computer 3000, the CPU 1 comprehensively controls each device connected to the system bus 4 according to a program stored in the RAM 2. The RAM 2 also functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 1. The ROM 3 stores various programs and data, and is divided into a font ROM 3a that stores various fonts, a program ROM 3b that stores a boot program, BIOS, and the like, and a data ROM 3c that stores various data.

  A keyboard controller I / F 5 controls key input from a keyboard 9 or a pointing device (mouse) (not shown). The display I / F 6 controls display on the display 10. The external memory I / F 7 controls access to the external memory 11 such as a hard disk. The printer I / F 8 is connected to the printer 1500 via the bidirectional interface 21 and performs communication control processing with the printer 1500.

  The external memory 11 is, for example, a hard disk (HD), an SSD (Solid State Disk), an MO, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, or the like, and as shown in the drawing, an operating system program (hereinafter referred to as OS) 205 and various applications (for example, In addition to storing a document processing application program (document processing application program 201 for performing document processing in which graphics, images, characters, tables, and the like are mixed) and a print processing related program 204, user files, editing files, and the like are also stored. The print processing related program 204 is a program for generating print data described using a page description language, and can be used in common for a plurality of printers of the same series. The print processing related program 204 also includes a printer control command generation module (hereinafter referred to as a printer driver) 2041 and a printer driver UI control module 2042 according to the present embodiment.

  An application 201 stored in the external memory 11 and including a customization tool program according to this embodiment (hereinafter simply referred to as “customization tool”) is loaded into the RAM 2 and executed by the CPU 1. Further, the CPU 1 executes, for example, outline font development (rasterization) processing on the RAM 2 to enable WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) on the display 10. Furthermore, the CPU 1 opens various registered windows based on commands instructed by a mouse cursor (not shown) on the display 10 and executes various data processing. When the user executes printing, the user can open a print setting screen (controlled by the printer driver UI control module 2042), and can make settings for the printer driver 2041 including printer settings and print mode selection. .

  Next, the configuration of the printer 1500 will be described. The CPU 12 controls the overall operation of the printer 1500. The RAM 19 functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 12, and is also used as an output information expansion area and an environment data storage area. The RAM 19 also includes an NVRAM (Non-volatile RAM) area, and is configured such that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown). The ROM 13 includes a font ROM 13a that stores various fonts, a program ROM 13b that stores a control program executed by the CPU 12, and a data ROM 13c that stores various data. The input unit 18 transmits / receives data to / from the host computer 3000. The printing unit I / F 16 controls an interface with the printing unit 17 that is a printer engine.

  The external memory 14 is controlled by the external memory I / F 20 and includes a hard disk (HD), MO, floppy (registered trademark) disk (FD), IC card, etc., which are connected as options, and font data. Stores emulation program, form data, etc. When the external memory 14 such as a hard disk is not connected, information used by the host computer 3000 is stored in the data ROM 13c of the ROM 13. The external memory 14 is not limited to one and may include a plurality of external memories. For example, an external memory storing an optional font card, a program for interpreting a printer control language having a different language system, and the like in addition to the built-in font. You may be comprised so that two or more can be connected.

  The operation unit 1501 is provided with an operation panel that receives an operation by a user, and an operation switch, an LED display, and the like are arranged on the operation panel (not illustrated). Further, an NVRAM (Non-volatile RAM) (not shown) may be provided to store printer mode setting information from the operation panel.

  The CPU 12 outputs an image signal as output information to the printing unit (printer engine) 17 via the printing unit I / F 16 based on a control program stored in the program ROM 13 b of the ROM 13. Further, the CPU 12 can communicate with the host computer 3000 via the input unit 18 and receives print data transmitted from the host computer 3000 and notifies the host computer 3000 of information in the printer 1500 and the like. It is configured to be possible.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a memory map of the RAM 2 in a state where a predetermined application and a print processing related program are activated and programs and data are loaded into the RAM 2 of the host computer 3000.

  As shown in the figure, the RAM 2 is loaded with a BIOS 206, an OS 205, an application 201, a print processing related program 204, and related data 203. Furthermore, a free memory area 202 is also secured. As a result, the application 201 and the print processing related program 204 can be executed. The printer driver UI control module 2042 (FIG. 1) in the print processing related program 204 displays a print setting screen on the display 10 in response to a print setting command by the user, and can be set by the user using the keyboard 9 or the like. To.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a UI of a customization tool that is an example of the application 201. The customization tool runs on Windows (registered trademark) 2000 / XP / Server 2003 / Vista, Windows (registered trademark) 98 / Me, Windows (registered trademark) NT4.0, Windows (registered trademark) 2000 / XP / Server For example, customizing each printer driver for 2003 / Vista. Of course, it is not limited to these OSs.

  In FIG. 3, the customization tool that accepts the selection of “Open (C)...” From the menu 301 from the user displays a dialog (not shown) for instructing the folder of the printer driver set to be customized. Instructs the user to input the storage location of the driver that performs the operation. The customization tool that has received the printer driver storage location from the user displays the driver storage location in the display field 302 and displays the corresponding OS for the printer driver set in the display field 303. In the list view 305, an identification display “On” is displayed for the printer driver model to be customized and the customized information.

  In the check box 310, the customization tool that has received a check from the user enables the button 311. When the button 311 receives a press from the user, the customization tool displays a printer driver UI for customization (FIG. 4). The UI shown in FIG. 4 is included in the printer driver UI control module 2042. In the UI shown in FIG. 4, the printer driver UI control module 2042 that has received a UI operation by the user performs initial value settings such as print settings (document properties), device settings (printer properties), and the like. Can do.

  The customization tool that has been pressed by the user at the button 320 displays a dialog (not shown) for designating the creation destination of the customized printer driver, and instructs the creation destination of the customized printer driver to the user. Can do.

  In the button 330, the customization tool that has received a press from the user creates a printer driver customized according to the settings.

  The customization tool described here may be considered equivalent to that described in JP-A-2006-309725. In the present invention, since it is important to solve the problem after customizing the printer driver using the customization tool, details of the mechanism and functions of the customization tool itself are omitted.

  FIG. 5 shows a state of the printer driver UI control module before being installed in the OS. The customization tool mentioned above is not applied. In the state of FIG. 5, the customization tool customizes the factory default value 60 held by the printer driver UI control module. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the printer driver UI control module holds a customized initial setting value 61 in addition to the factory-set initial setting value 60. When the printer driver having the configuration shown in FIG. 6 is installed in the OS, the OS recognizes the customized initial setting value 61 as an initial value in the OS.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a transition state of the initial print setting after the printer driver UI control module is installed in the OS. The uniqueness under OS management is called system global. The system global initial setting value 70 is extracted from the customized initial setting value 61 stored in the printer driver UI control module, and is an initial setting value managed by the OS. Since it is a system global, only one exists in one OS. Users who do not have administrator rights cannot change this initial value. The OS manages a plurality of user accounts, but the OS also copies initial setting values for each user. The user can change the initial setting value 71 for each user. Furthermore, an application may manage print settings independently. In this case, the application acquires the print setting from the initial setting value for each user, and thereafter manages the print setting independently. If the application executes printing, the print setting used at that time is the current print setting value 72.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram in which information regarding each print setting in FIG. 7 is organized. From the viewpoint of a module that holds print settings, it is important that the printer driver holds the initial setting value 60 at the time of factory shipment and the customized initial setting value 61. The application can acquire not only the current print setting value 72 held by itself but also the initial setting value 71 for each user and the system global initial setting value 70 held by the OS through an API provided by the OS. The factory default value 60 and the customized default value 61 held by the driver cannot be acquired. Of course, it is possible for the printer driver to prepare a special interface and disclose the factory default value 60 and the customized default value 61, but the application also needs to support the special interface. Only an application that is tightly coupled to the printer driver such as the customization tool described above can operate the factory default value 60 and the customized default value 61. A general application cannot operate the factory default value 60 and the customized default value 61.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart for describing processing unique to the present idea that is executed during the printing process by the printer driver 2041. The process starts from step 901. When the printer driver 2041 is a GDI (Graphics Device Interface) driver that operates on Microsoft Windows (registered trademark), this process is started by the DrvStartDoc function, the DrvResetPDEV function, or the DrvStartPage function called first. When the printer driver 2041 is an XPS (XML Paper Specification) driver ("XPS" is a registered trademark) operating on Microsoft Windows (registered trademark), this process is started in the IPrintPipelineFilter :: StartOperation member function. In step 902, a factory default value 60 and a customized default value 61 are obtained. In step 903, the difference between the factory default value 60 and the customized default value 61 is extracted. Hereinafter, this difference is referred to as a constraint condition. For example, when the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print is enabled with respect to the factory-set initial setting value 60 and the customized initial setting value 61 is created, the only constraint condition is that the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print is valid. This automatic generation of constraint conditions is an important point in this idea. Since the printer driver 2041 automatically extracts the difference between the factory default value 60 and the customized default value 61, it is not necessary for the user to manually select and specify the function. That is, system operation becomes easy. In step 904, the current set value 70 is obtained. In step 905, it is determined whether or not the current set value 70 satisfies the constraint condition. If the constraint condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to step 915 and the printing process is continued. If the constraint condition is not satisfied, the process proceeds to step 906. Here, the above example will be described. The constraint condition satisfies the constraint condition only if the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print is valid and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print at the current setting value 70 is valid. On the other hand, if the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing at the current setting value 70 is invalid, the constraint condition is not satisfied. As described above, since the restraint condition is automatically determined without any manual operation by the user, the operation of the system is facilitated. In step 906, variable values such as a constraint release mode, a start time, a process identifier, and the number of jobs are read. The restraint speed mode is a Boolean value indicating true / false. When the value is true, the print process is under the restraint release mode (corresponding to the process from step 916 to step 922, details will be described later). Is under normal processing. The start time indicates the time when the restraint release mode is changed. The process identifier is a unique value for identifying an application that executes printing. The process identifier is obtained by using a Windows (registered trademark) API (Application Program Interface) and a character string of a process name and a process ID, and further combined to create a unique identifier that identifies an application that executes printing. The number of jobs is the number of times print processing has been executed. In step 907, it is determined whether the constraint release mode is true or false. If true, go to step 916; if false, go to step 908. In step 908, it is determined whether or not the start time has passed T hours or more. The setting of the T time value will be described later with reference to FIG. If the start time has exceeded T time, the process proceeds to step 910 to display the message box of FIG. If the user presses the “temporary release” button, the process proceeds to step 916. If the user presses the “follow recommended settings” button, the process proceeds to step 914. If the user presses the “cancel” button, the process proceeds to step 913. If the start time is less than T time, the process proceeds to step 909 to display the message box of FIG. If the user presses the “follow recommended settings” button, the process proceeds to step 914. If the user presses the “cancel” button, the process proceeds to step 913. In step 913, a print cancel process is performed, the process proceeds to step 923, and the process ends. In step 914, the setting is changed so that the current setting value 70 satisfies the constraint condition. Here, the above example will be described. Since the constraint condition is only that the tint block print is valid, the tint block print at the current setting value 70 is invalid. At this time, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print at the current set value 70 is effectively changed so as to satisfy the constraint condition. The initial setting value 60 at the time of shipment from the factory or the customized initial setting value 61 is not used to rewrite the entire contents of the current setting value 70. The only change in the current setting value 70 is related to the constraint conditions. Therefore, it is possible to manage settings while taking full advantage of the user's flexibility and convenience. Then, the process proceeds to step 915, the printing process is continued, the process proceeds to step 923, and the process ends. Next, the description will be shifted to the case where the constraint release mode is true. If it is determined in step 907 that the constraint release mode is true, the process proceeds to step 916. In step 916, the current system date and time is obtained using the Windows® API, and a difference from the start time is obtained. In step 917, it is determined whether the difference is N hours or more. If it is N hours or more, the process proceeds to step 922, and if it is less than N hours, the process proceeds to step 918. The setting of the value of N hours will be described later with reference to FIG. At step 918, a process identifier is generated and saved and compared with the process identifier. If it is determined in step 919 that the processes are the same, the process proceeds to step 915, the printing process is continued, the process proceeds to step 923, and the process ends. If it is determined that the process is different, the process proceeds to step 920, and the stored process identifier is updated with the new process identifier. In step 921, the number of jobs is increased by one. In step 922, it is determined whether the number of jobs is M or more. If the number of jobs is M or more, the process proceeds to step 922. If the number of jobs is less than M, the process proceeds to step 915, the printing process is continued, the process proceeds to step 923, and the process ends. The setting of the value of M will be described with reference to FIG. The determination based on the process identifier is an important point in this idea. Even if the user instructs the application to print only once, there are many cases where a print job is submitted to the printer driver 2041 a number of times. Can be counted correctly. For example, Microsoft Excel submits a print job for each sheet when book printing is executed. If the value of M is 1 and four sheets are printed as a book, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print is invalid for only the first sheet and the print-forgery-inhibited pattern print is valid for the remaining three sheets unless there is a determination by the process identifier. If there is a determination based on the process identifier, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing can be invalidated for all four sheets.

  In step 922, the process identifier and the number of jobs are updated to initial values, the constraint release mode is set to false, the start time is updated to the current time, and the process proceeds to step 909. Since the subsequent processing has already been described, a description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 12 illustrates a UI for setting the values T, N, and M in FIG. It is included in the printer driver UI control module 2042. The value in the edit box 1201 becomes M in FIG. The value in the edit box 1202 is N in FIG. The value in the edit box 1201 is T in FIG.

Claims (12)

Means (902, 903) for extracting the difference between the initial setting content (60) indicating the printing conditions of the printer and the customized initial setting content (61), and whether the current setting content (72) includes the difference. Means (904, 905), means (914) for changing the current setting contents (72) to follow the difference, means (918, 919) for comparing the current process identifier with the stored process identifier, , Means for increasing the number of jobs (919, 920) when the identifiers are determined to be different as a result of the comparison means, and means (921, 920) for transitioning from the setting constraint release state to the setting constraint state when a certain number of jobs is reached. 922),
An information processing apparatus comprising: Steps (902, 903) for extracting the difference between the initial setting content (60) indicating the printing conditions of the printer and the customized initial setting content (61), and determining whether the current setting content (72) includes the difference. A step (904, 905), a step (914) for changing the current setting contents (72) to follow the difference, a step (918, 919) for comparing the current process identifier with the stored process identifier, And a step of increasing the number of jobs (919, 920) when it is determined that the identifiers are different as a result of the comparison means, and a step (921) of transitioning from the setting constraint release state to the setting constraint state when a certain number of jobs is reached 922),
An information processing method characterized by the above. Steps (902, 903) for extracting the difference between the initial setting content (60) indicating the printing conditions of the printer and the customized initial setting content (61), and determining whether the current setting content (72) includes the difference. A step (904, 905), a step (914) for changing the current setting contents (72) to follow the difference, a step (918, 919) for comparing the current process identifier with the stored process identifier, The step of increasing the number of jobs when it is determined as a result of the comparison means that the identifiers are different (919, 920) and the step of transitioning from the setting constraint release state to the setting constraint state when the predetermined number of jobs is reached (921, 922),
A program that causes a computer to execute.   A computer-readable storage medium storing the program according to claim 3. In claim 1,
Means (916, 917) for comparing the current time with the saved time, and means (917, 917) for transitioning from the setting constraint release state to the setting constraint state when a predetermined time is reached as a result of the comparison means. 922),
An information processing apparatus comprising: In claim 2,
A step of comparing the current time with the stored time (916, 917), and a step of transitioning from the set constraint release state to the set constraint state when a predetermined time is reached as a result of the comparing means (917, 917). 922),
An information processing method characterized by comprising: In claim 3,
A step of comparing the current time with the stored time (916, 917), and a step of transitioning from the set constraint release state to the set constraint state when a predetermined time is reached as a result of the comparing means (917, 917). 922),
A program that causes a computer to execute.   A computer-readable storage medium storing the program according to claim 7. The means (907, 908) for determining whether or not a set specific time has elapsed since the transition from the setting constraint release state to the setting constraint state according to claim 1, and a means (909, 910) for displaying a message )When,
An information processing apparatus comprising: The step (907, 908) of determining whether or not a specific time set has elapsed since the transition from the setting constraint release state to the setting constraint state according to claim 2, and a step of displaying a message (909, 910) )When,
An information processing method characterized by comprising: The step (907, 908) for determining whether or not a set specific time has elapsed since the transition from the setting constraint release state to the setting constraint state according to claim 3, and a step (909, 910) for displaying a message )When,
A program that causes a computer to execute.   A computer-readable storage medium storing the program according to claim 11.

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