JP2014016964A - Information processing device, information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable an information processing device to easily perform printing of high quality and high performance when the information processing device is in an environment in which a plurality of printing applications exist.SOLUTION: An information processing device comprises: display control means which displays a print setting screen of a print application selected from a plurality of print applications providing print setting screens; reception means which receives an instruction to search for a print application that receives print setting information having a higher function level than a function level of print setting information of the print application selected from the plurality of print applications; and generation means which, in response to reception of the instruction, generates a file in which information indicating the higher function level than the selected print application is defined as a search condition.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program.

There are roughly two methods for printing from an information processing apparatus using a printer. One is a method in which a printer driver is installed, print setting information is set using a printer driver setting screen, and printing is performed. The other is a method of printing by setting print setting information using a setting screen of a print application without using a printer driver.
Prior art document 1 discloses a printing system that starts and prints an application corresponding to a file format when an application on a client transfers a file to a system on a server.

JP 2008-152545 A

However, the network printing system disclosed in Prior Art Document 1 cannot notify a printing application that can set more functions.
Therefore, when there are a plurality of print applications and there is a difference in the function of the print setting information that can be received by each print application, the user cannot easily select a desired print application.

  Therefore, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a display control unit that displays a print setting screen of a selected print application among a plurality of print applications that provide a print setting screen, and a print that is selected from the plurality of print applications. A receiving unit that receives an instruction to search for a print application that receives print setting information whose function level is higher than the function level of the print setting information of the application, and information indicating a function level higher than the selected print application when the instruction is received Generating means for generating a file defined as.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily perform printing with high image quality and high functionality in an environment where a plurality of printing applications exist.

It is a figure which shows an example of the system configuration | structure of the network system which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions etc. of the information processing apparatus of FIG. 1A, and a printer. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the method of printing by transferring the print data file of the conventional printing system. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method for printing a print data file by a file transfer service of an OS of a conventional printing system. It is a figure which shows an example of the original file used as the object of the file transfer of the printing application 127 on the information processing apparatus 101 which concerns on this embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a secondary print application search process of a print application according to the present embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the printing process of the secondary printing application which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure showing an example of transition of UI. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of print processing of a print application according to the present embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of UI of a recommendation message.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Embodiment 1>
A first embodiment will be described.
FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of a network system according to the present embodiment.
This network system includes an information processing apparatus 101 and a plurality of printers 102a, 102b,... That receive print data from the information processing apparatus 101 and perform printing. These are connected via a network 104 configured by Ethernet (registered trademark).

FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 101 and the printer 102 in FIG. 1A.
In the information processing apparatus 101, the CPU 111 comprehensively controls each apparatus connected to the system bus 114 according to a program stored in the RAM 112.
The RAM 112 also functions as a main memory and work area for the CPU 111.
The ROM 113 stores various programs and data.
A keyboard I / F 115 controls key input from a keyboard 119 or a pointing device (not shown) (not shown).
The display I / F 116 controls display on the display 120. The external memory I / F 117 controls access to the external memory 121 such as a flash memory or a solid state disk (SSD).
A USB or network I / F 118 is connected to the printer 102 via the network 104 and performs communication control processing with the printer 102.
The external memory I / F 117 controls access to the external memory 121 such as a flash memory or a solid state disk (SSD).
The external memory 121 stores an operating system program (hereinafter referred to as OS) 122, an application 125, and a print processing related program 126. Furthermore, the external memory 121 functions as a storage medium that can be read by an information processing apparatus that stores user files, registered printer information, editing files, and the like (not shown).

The OS 122 includes programs for the print manager 123 and the file transfer manager 124 according to the present embodiment.
The print processing related program 126 includes programs of a print application 127, a printer driver 128, and a print expansion module 129 according to the present embodiment.
The print application 127 is a type of the application 125, but is separately described as the print processing related program 126, and there are a plurality of types of print applications. Note that the difference between the print application 127 and the other applications 125 is whether or not a function capable of generating print data is provided.
The printer driver 128 is software that generates print data that can be interpreted by the target printer 102. The printer driver 128 and the print extension module 129 may not be installed or installed due to the structure of the OS 122.
More specifically, when the CPU 111 performs information processing based on the OS 122 and the print processing related program 126, each function of the OS 122 and the print processing related program 126, a flowchart described later, and the like are realized.

Next, the configuration of the printer 102 will be described.
The CPU 132 controls the overall operation of the printer 102.
The RAM 139 functions as a main memory and work area for the CPU 132, and is also used as an output information expansion area and an environment data storage area. The RAM 139 also includes a non-volatile RAM (NVRAM) 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 133 includes a font ROM 133a that stores various fonts, a program ROM 133b that stores a control program executed by the CPU 132, and a data ROM 133c that stores various data.
The USB or network I / F 138 transmits / receives data to / from the information processing apparatus 101.
A printing unit I / F 136 controls an interface with a printing unit 137 that is a printer engine.

Access to the external memory 134 is controlled by the external memory I / F 140, and includes a hard disk (HD), a solid state disk (SSD), and the like connected as options.
The external memory 134 stores font data, an emulation program, form data, and the like. If the external memory 134 such as a hard disk is not connected, information used in the information processing apparatus 101 is stored in the data ROM 133c of the ROM 133. Further, the external memory 134 is not limited to one, and a plurality of external memories 134 may be provided. For example, in addition to the built-in font, an optional font card, a plurality of external memories storing programs for interpreting printer control languages with different language systems, and the like may be connected.

The operation unit 142 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, the operation unit 142 may have an NVRAM (not shown) and store printer mode setting information from the operation panel.
The CPU 132 outputs an image signal as output information to the printing unit 137 via the printing unit I / F 136 based on a control program or the like stored in the program ROM 133b of the ROM 133. Further, the CPU 132 can perform communication processing with the information processing apparatus 101 via the network I / F 138. The printer 102 is configured to receive print data transmitted from the information processing apparatus 101 and to notify the information processing apparatus 101 of information in the printer 102.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a print data file transfer processing method executed between a general application and a print application that receives print setting information.
In the following description, the network system shown in FIG. 1 is used as an example.
When printing data created by the application 125 installed in the information processing apparatus 101, in step S201, the application 125 receives a print execution instruction from the user.
In step S202, the application 125 calls a print setting screen from the print application, acquires print setting information from the print application 127, and displays the print setting information.
Here, it is assumed that the print application 127 has been activated in advance in step S210 and has started the file monitoring operation. Although not shown, the print application 127 operates even if it is activated on an information processing apparatus other than the information processing apparatus 101 if it can be accessed on the network 104 shown in FIG.
In step S <b> 211, the print application 127 acquires setting information from the printer 102 connected in advance, generates print setting information, and transmits the print setting information by calling from the application 125.

On the other hand, the application 125 proceeds from step S202 to step S203, and accepts the user's print settings.
In step S204, the application 125 transmits the print setting result to the print application 127 as print setting data.
In step S212, the print application 127 stores the received print setting data.
In step S205, the application 125 transmits data to be printed (print target data) to the print application 127 as a print data file.

In step S213, the print application 127 confirms whether or not the print data file has been received. If the print data file has not arrived yet, the print application 127 returns to step S210 and always updates the print setting information in steps S211 and S212. to continue.
If the print data file is received in step S213, the print application 127 proceeds to step S214, starts a conversion application corresponding to the file format, and prints intermediate language data for printing based on the print data file and the print setting data. Is generated.
In step S215, the print application 127 converts the intermediate language data into print data (page description language, hereinafter abbreviated as PDL) corresponding to the printer 102.
In step S <b> 216, the print application 127 transmits the PDL to the printer 102. Then, the printer 102 starts printing.
Finally, in step S217, the print application 127 deletes the used print data file as necessary, and ends this process.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method for printing a print data file using the file transfer service of the OS of the printing system.
In the following description, the network system shown in FIG. 1 is used as an example.
The flowchart in FIG. 3 is a flowchart in which the OS 122 on the information processing apparatus 101 sends a file used by the application 125 to a file transfer destination application and performs printing using the print function.
In step S301, the file transfer source application registers with the transfer service of the OS 122.
Next, in step S302, the file transfer source application waits for an event from the file transfer manager 124 in which the OS 122 is running. If an event has arrived, the process proceeds to step S303.
In step S303, the file transfer source application creates a transfer file.
When the transfer file is completed, the file transfer source application sends a transfer file creation end notification to the file transfer manager 124 in step S304. A detailed example of the transfer file will be described later with reference to FIG.

On the other hand, when the file transfer manager 124 detects that the user has selected the transfer menu in step S311, the process proceeds to step S312.
In step S312, the file transfer manager 124 transmits a transfer event to an application that is valid at the time of selection in S311. In this case, an effective application is a file transfer source application. Accordingly, in step S302, the file transfer source application receives the transfer event. In step S303, the file transfer source application creates a transfer file as described above.
In step S313, the file transfer manager 124 receives a notification that a transfer file has been created. Then, the file transfer manager 124 treats a list of transfer destination applications that can be handled as transfer destinations registered in the OS 122 as the filter list, and creates and displays a filter list.
In step S314, the file transfer manager 124 acquires information on the transfer destination application selected by the user from the transfer destination application list.
In step S315, the file transfer manager 124 transmits an event based on the acquired information with the transfer destination application as the file transfer service destination.

The file transfer destination application to be selected is registered in the transfer service of the OS 122 in step S321.
In step S322, the file transfer destination application receives an event from the file transfer manager 124 and starts it.
In step S323, the started file transfer destination application receives the transfer file from the transfer service of the file transfer manager 124 and opens it.
In step S324, the file transfer destination application receives print setting information.
In step S325, the file transfer destination application confirms whether to perform printing.
If printing is instructed via the screen of the file transfer destination application, in step S326, the file transfer destination application handles the transfer file as a print data file. Then, print data (PDL) is generated based on the print data file and the print setting information.
In step S327, the transfer destination application transmits the PDL to the printer 102. As a result, the printer 102 starts printing.
Finally, in step S328, the transfer is completed and the file transfer destination application transmits an end event to the file transfer manager 124.
In S316, the file transfer manager 124 provides a transfer service.
In step S317, the file transfer manager 124 confirms an end event from the file transfer destination application, and ends the transfer process upon receiving the event.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a unique file transferred by the print application 127 on the information processing apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment. The unique file of FIG. 4 is created in S303 of FIG. In the present embodiment, the description content is simplified for the sake of simplification of description. The unique file in FIG. 4 is generated in S509 in FIG. The unique file 4000 is a single file in which several files are compressed in the ZIP format, and has a unique extension.
The contents of the compressed file are a print job ticket 400, a printer information file 420, a function level setting file 440, a print data file, or an intermediate file 460. Each file has a file name. In the present embodiment, JobTicket. xml, PrinterInfo. xml, Function Level. xml, OriginalData. Let it be pdf.
The print job ticket 400 includes print setting information. A tag 401 and a tag 402 are ticket header information. A tag 403 is a job name. A tag 404 is a user name. A tag 405 represents the creation source application. In this embodiment, the creation source application information is used as usage history information when the printing application transfers the unique file 4000 to the secondary printing application. The secondary print application indicates a print application (corresponding to a file transfer destination application) called by the file transfer service of the OS 122 from another print application (corresponding to a file transfer source application). A tag 406 indicates that a job requesting execution is defined below the tag. A tag 407 indicates that a printing operation is defined below the tag. The contents of the printing work are defined below the tag 408. Although not shown, it is assumed that print setting information set by the application 125 or the print application 127 is described below the tag 409. A tag 410, a tag 411, a tag 412, and a tag 413 are end tags, and correspond to the tags 409, 408, 407, and 401 that are start tags, respectively.

  The printer information file 420 includes information regarding the printer 102 to be used. A tag 421 and a tag 422 are ticket header information. A tag 422 indicates that printer information is defined below the tag 423. A tag 424 is address data on the network of the printer 102 in the printer information. For example, when the information processing apparatus 101 and the printer 102 to be used have a USB interface connection, the tag 425 describes the USB port name to be used on the information processing apparatus 101. A tag 426, a tag 427, a tag 428, and a tag 429 are end tags, and correspond to the start tag, that is, the tag 424, the tag 423, the tag 422, and the tag 421, respectively.

The function level setting file 440 includes information regarding the function level supported by the transfer destination print application. A tag 441 and a tag 442 are ticket header information, and indicate that function level setting information is defined below the tag 443. The tag 444 is a thing that represents the function level numerically, and expresses the richness of the function in advance. For example, a function level 1 printing application receives at least print setting information necessary for printing. In addition to the print setting information that can be received by the function level 1, the print application at the function level 2 can also receive other print setting information. For example, the function level 1 printing application can accept the paper size and the number of copies, but the function level 2 printing application can set the stapling obtained by acquiring the function information of the printer in addition to the paper size and the number of copies. Can also be accepted. That is, the function level is determined by the number of print setting information functions that can be accepted. Further, the function level may be determined according to the contents of functions of print setting information that can be accepted. Here, when the original print application 4000 shown in FIG. 4 is generated, the transfer source print application is one level higher than its own function level in order to make the OS search for a print application having a higher function level than itself as a transfer destination. The function level is described in the tag 444. A tag 445 indicates the type of print data file that is the target of the function level. For example, Photo is a case where photo data is targeted, and Document is a document data containing many characters. Next, a tag 447 is extension information used for an actual unique file. For example, when the type of the print data file is Document and the function level described in the tag 444 is 2, an extension dl2 is defined. On the other hand, if the type of the print data file is Photo and the function level described in the tag 444 is 3, an extension of pl3 is defined. A tag 446, a tag 448, and a tag 449 are end tags, and correspond to a tag 443, a tag 442, and a tag 441, which are start tags, respectively. The print data file or intermediate file 460 is a print data file of print target data generated by the application 125 or the like.
The file transfer source application compresses each of the above files by a compression method that can be supported by the OS 122 such as the ZiP format, and converts the files into one file for use. The file transfer source application defines and creates the extension indicated by the tag 447 as the file extension used for the unique file 4000. The OS searches for the secondary print application of the file transfer destination using the extension of the unique file 4000.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing of the print application according to the present embodiment.
First, it is assumed that a plurality of print applications 127 exist in the OS 122 on the information processing apparatus 101.
In step S <b> 501, the print application 127 loads the print target data into the RAM 112.
In step S <b> 502, the print application 127 (one of the multiple print applications 127) acquires printer function information from the printer 102 and reflects it on the print setting screen (display control).
In step S503, the print application 127 receives the print setting information of the user and stores the received print setting information with the print application UI 700 of FIG.

In step S504, the print application 127 displays the message 710 in FIG. The message 710 is a message for searching for a higher-performance printing application or asking for the user's judgment. The message 710 may be displayed when the print setting unit 701 is displayed, or may be displayed when the user presses the print button 703 in FIG.
In step S505, the print application 127 determines whether an event such as pressing (or selection) of a button on the screen in FIG. 7 has been received (has an event) via the OS. If there is an event, the print application 127 proceeds to step S506. If there is no event, the print application 127 repeats the process of step S505.
In step S506, the print application 127 determines whether the event is a press of the print button 703. S506 is realized by interpreting the event content notified from the OS. If the event is a press of the print button 703, the print application 127 proceeds to step S530. If the event is not a press of the print button 703, the print application 127 proceeds to step S507.
In step S530, the print application 127 proceeds to the print processing process, and ends the process illustrated in FIG. The printing process in step S530 is the same as the process after step S214 in FIG.
In step S507, the print application 127 determines whether the event is the selection of the file transfer 731 or the selection of the printer 732. If the event is the selection of the file transfer 731, the print application 127 proceeds to step S 508. If the event is the selection of the printer 732, the printing application 127 proceeds to step S 520.

In step S520, the print application 127 describes a record to the effect that printing is performed using the printer driver in the usage history file.
In step S521, the print application 127 transmits print target data to the printer driver 128 of the selected printer, and the printer driver 128 generates print data based on the print target data and transmits the print data to the printer.
On the other hand, in step S508, the print application 127 checks whether the print target data is an image file. If the print application 127 is an image file, the process proceeds to step S509. If the print application 127 is not an image file, the process proceeds to step S510.
In step S509, the print application 127 starts creation of the unique file in FIG. 4 and transfer processing starting from step S303 in FIG. Below, an example of the creation method of the original file in S509 is demonstrated. If the corresponding function level is 1, the print application 127 inputs 2 on the first rank to the tag 444, inputs the tag 445 to Photo, and inputs the extension pl2 to the tag 447. Further, the print application 127 inputs the print setting information set in step S503 to the print job ticket 400, and inputs the information acquired in step S502 to the printer information file 420. The file extension of the unique file is used as a search condition when the OS searches for a transfer destination application.

On the other hand, in step S510, the print application 127 starts creating a unique file in FIG. 4 and a transfer process starting from step S303 in FIG. Below, an example of the creation method of the original file in S510 is demonstrated. If the corresponding function level is 1, the print application 127 inputs 2 on the first rank to the tag 444, inputs the tag 445 to Document, and inputs the extension dl2 to the tag 447. Further, the print application 127 inputs the print setting information in step S503 to the print job ticket 400, and inputs the information acquired in step S502 to the printer information file 420.
By creating these unique files, the file transfer service of the OS 122 can search for a secondary print application having a print function having a higher function level than the print application of the transfer source.

Proceeding from step S509 or step S510 to step S511, the print application 127 waits for confirmation of the transfer process depending on whether an event from the OS 122 is received. If the event has arrived, the print application 127 proceeds to step S512. If the event has not occurred, the print application 127 repeats the process of step S511.
In step S512, the print application 127 confirms the content of the event from the OS 122. If the event is cancelled, the process proceeds to step S513. If the transfer is successful, the process illustrated in FIG. The case of cancellation corresponds to a case where an application that can accept the unique file 4000 is not searched.
In step S513, the print application 127 displays a message “No higher function application was found. Do you want to print now” on the screen. Then, the print application 127 returns to the process of step S505, and the user operates the system menu button 720 in FIG. 7 to leave an option for selecting the printer 732.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing of the secondary printing application according to the present embodiment.
In step S601, before receiving the unique file 4000, the secondary printing application registers a file format corresponding to the file transfer service on the OS 122 of the information processing apparatus 101. For example, when the function level of the secondary printing application is 2, the secondary printing application registers an acceptable file extension such as dl2 or pl2 as the file format. At this time, the secondary printing application registers the file format up to its own function level. Specifically, when the function level of the secondary printing application is 4, dl2, dl3, dl4, pl2, pl3, and pl4 and file formats up to the own function level are registered. In the case of this embodiment, when the secondary printing application is selected, the tag 444 in FIG. 4 has a printing function of the type of data to be printed of the tag 445 at two or more levels.
In step S602, the secondary print application is called from the transfer source print application 127 by the file transfer service via the OS 122 and is activated.
In step S603, the secondary printing application receives the transferred data.

In step S604, the secondary printing application (printing application serving as a transfer destination) can accept a general data file, and therefore confirms whether the received data is a unique file. For example, the secondary printing application confirms whether the file is a unique file based on an extension or the like. If the received data is a unique file, the secondary printing application proceeds to step S605. If the received data is not a unique file, the secondary printing application proceeds to step S620.
In step S620, the secondary printing application performs processing similar to the processing from step S502 in FIG.
On the other hand, in step S605, the secondary printing application extracts the print job ticket 400, the printer information file 420, the print data file, or the intermediate file 460 from the unique file 4000.
Next, in step S606, the secondary printing application acquires information about the designated printer from the printer information file 420, and acquires printer function information from the printer. The secondary print application reflects the print setting information of the print job ticket 400 and the function information acquired from the printer on the print setting screen. For this reason, the print setting information set in the transfer source application is displayed as the default value of the print setting screen of the secondary print application. Further, since the function information of the printer is also reflected on the print setting screen, for example, when the printer has a stapling function, a function capable of selecting ON or OFF of stapling is also included in the print setting screen.
In step S607, the secondary print application reflects the print setting information on the secondary print application UI 740 in FIG. 7 and displays the print data file on the print preview unit 742 on the secondary print application UI 740 as a preview image.

In step S608, the secondary print application accepts the setting (or input) of the user's print setting information on the secondary print application UI 740 of FIG.
In step S609, the secondary printing application waits until the user selects the print button 743.
If the print button 743 is selected, the process advances to step S610, and the secondary print application converts the print data file included in the unique file 4000 into print data (PDL).
In step S611, the secondary printing application extracts the address of the target printer from the tag 425 of the unique file 4000, and transmits the print data.

In step S612, the secondary printing application records the name of the printing application 127 of the data transmission source as a usage history file from the tag 405 of the unique file 4000, and ends the processing shown in FIG.
The secondary printing application stores the usage history file in the external memory 121 that can be shared by each printing application. Thus, in response to selection of the print application 127 described as the data transmission source in the usage history file, the message 710 can be displayed before the print setting unit 701 or the like is displayed.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of UI transition.
The print application UI 700 (corresponding to a print setting screen) and the secondary print application UI 740 are an example of a UI (screen) displayed by the print application 127 of the present embodiment, and a message 710 is also displayed depending on the situation. The print application UI 700 and the secondary print application UI 740 are described as examples of UI (screen) displayed by the print application 127 of the present embodiment, but the print application and the secondary print application are separate print applications. Next, a system menu button 720, a system menu 711, and a file transfer service system menu 712 are provided by the OS 122.
A description is given of 701 to 704 constituting the print application UI 700. The message 710 is also a part of the print application UI 700.
The print setting unit 701 is a UI unit that receives print setting information.
The print preview unit 702 displays print target data as a preview image.
A print button 703 is a button that is pressed when the print application 127 is instructed to print. When the print button 703 is pressed or the like, the print application 127 determines “Yes” in the determination of S506 in FIG. 5 and proceeds to step S530.
The close button 704 is a button that is selected (or selected) when the print application UI 700 is closed.

Next, 741 to 744 constituting the secondary print application UI 740 serving as the UI of the secondary print application in the present embodiment will be described.
The print setting unit 741 is a UI unit that receives print setting information, and the user can set detailed and multifunctional print setting information in the print setting unit 741 from the secondary print application UI 740.
The print preview unit 742 displays the print data file as a preview image.
The print button 743 is a button that is pressed when the secondary print application is instructed to print. When the print button 743 is pressed or the like, the secondary print application performs the processing from step S610 onward in FIG.
The close button 744 is selected (or selected) when the secondary printing application UI 740 is closed.

Next, a part of the system menu of the OS 122 will be described.
The system menu button 720 is a button that is pressed when the system menu 711 is activated. The system menu 711 includes a function 730, a file transfer 731, a function of the OS 122 such as a printer 432, a button for starting a service, and the like. When the file transfer 731 used in this embodiment is selected, the file transfer service system menu 712 is activated, and 733 and 734 that are candidates for the application 125 or the print application 127 that can be the transfer destination are displayed as an example. . Here, an example of how the OS displays the print applications 733 and 734 will be described. For example, it is assumed that the print application providing the print application UI 700 in FIG. 7 generates a unique file “.dl2” as an extension in accordance with an instruction from the file transfer 731. Various print applications register extensions that can be received when they are installed. Therefore, the OS can display the print applications 733 and 734 in FIG. 7 by searching for a print application registered as an extension that can receive “.dl2”.
As a UI transition, first, the system menu button 720 is pressed from the state in which the print application UI 700 and the message 710 are displayed, and the system menu 711 is activated. When the file transfer 731 is selected in the system menu 711, the print application 127 advances the processing to step S508 in FIG. 5, and as a result, the file transfer service system menu 712 is displayed.
In the file transfer service system menu 712, for example, when the user selects the print application 2 733 as the secondary print application, each print setting information and print data file are transferred after the process of step S602 in FIG. As a result, the secondary print application UI 740 is called, and the user can use a secondary print application having a higher function than the print application.
According to this embodiment, even if the user does not know that the print application 2 or 3 has a higher function level than the transfer source application, the user can easily select the print application 2 or 3.

<Embodiment 2>
A second embodiment will be described.
As in FIG. 1A, the system configuration of the network system according to the present embodiment includes an information processing apparatus 101 and printers 102a, 102b,... That perform printing by receiving print data from the information processing apparatus 101. The hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 101 and the printer 102 is the same as that shown in FIG. 1B.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing of the print application according to the present embodiment.
First, it is assumed that a plurality of print applications 127 exist in the OS 122 on the information processing apparatus 101, and the file transfer source application 125 that created the print target data exists.
In step S801, the print application 127 is started as a file transfer destination application in the same manner as in step S322 in FIG.
In step S <b> 802, the print application 127 receives print setting information and a print data file from the file transfer source application, and expands them in the RAM 112.
In step S <b> 803, the print application 127 acquires printer function information from the printer 102 and reflects it on the print setting screen.
In step S804, the print application 127 accepts the setting of the user's print setting information on the print application UI 700 of FIG.

In step S805, the print application 127 displays a message 710 that searches for a higher-function print application or asks the user to make a determination.
In step S806, the print application 127 determines whether an event such as a button press on the screen of FIG. 7 has been received (whether there was an event) via the system menu. If there is an event, the print application 127 proceeds to step S807. If there is no event, the print application 127 repeats the process of step S806.
In step S807, the print application 127 determines whether the event is the selection of the file transfer 731 or the selection of the printer 732. If the event is selection of the file transfer 731, the print application 127 proceeds to step S 808. If the event is selection of the printer 732, the print application 127 proceeds to step S 820.
In step S820, the print application 127 describes a record to the effect that printing is performed using the printer driver in the usage history file.
In step S821, the print application 127 passes the print data file to the printer driver 128, and the printer driver transmits print data based on the print data file to the printer.

On the other hand, in step S808, the print application 127 confirms whether the print data file has the following file format. That is, when the file transfer source application prints via the printer driver 128, the print application 127 checks whether or not the file format has a possibility of performing complementary processing unique to an application having image processing or print target data. . For example, the print application 127 is a file format in which image data, text data, HMTL data of a Web page, and the like may be able to be subjected to the above-described supplementary processing because information or image quality may be restricted during file transfer. Judge. On the other hand, PDF data and XPS data are determined as file formats that cannot be complemented. Further, the print application 127 may determine that the file format is a file format in which a plurality of pieces of data are collected and printed, and there is a possibility that complement processing can be performed. If the print application 127 determines that the print data format is complementary, the process proceeds to step S809. If the print application 127 determines that the print data format is not complementary, the process proceeds to step S812.
In step S809, the print application 127 checks whether there is a printer driver usage history from the usage history file. If there is a use history, the print application 127 has a printer driver, so the process proceeds to step S810. If there is no use history, the process proceeds to step S812.

In step S810, the print application 127 displays a recommendation message UI 900 as shown in FIG. The content of the recommendation message is, for example, “If you print using the printer driver, the image quality will be higher, but will you continue?”
In step S811, the print application 127 determines whether the user has selected cancel 901 or continue 902 in the UI 900 of the recommendation message. If the print application 127 determines that continue 902 has been selected, the process advances to step S812. If the print application 127 determines that cancel 901 has been selected, the process illustrated in FIG.
In step S812, the print application 127 performs processing similar to the processing from step S502 in FIG.
In step S813, the print application 127 records the name of the print application that is the data transmission source from the tag 405 of the unique file 4000 as a use history, and ends the process illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI of a recommendation message. In step S810 of FIG. 8, the recommendation message UI 900 prompts the user to explain the situation and determine if the printer driver is present and the file format has a possibility of complementary processing unique to the file transfer source application 125. UI.
When the user presses cancel 901 or the like, in step S811 in FIG. 8, the print application 127 finishes the processing shown in FIG. 8, shifts the processing to the transfer source application 125, and prints using the printer driver. To be moved to.
On the other hand, when the user continues to press 902 or the like, the print application 127 advances the process from step S811 to step S812, and performs the same process as step S502 of FIG.
According to the present embodiment, depending on the format of the print data file, it is possible to notify that there is a possibility that the transfer source application may output print data with higher quality by generating print data using the printer driver.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

As described above, according to each of the above-described embodiments, it is possible to easily perform printing with high image quality and high functionality in an environment where a plurality of printing applications exist.
More specifically, when there are a plurality of print applications, the user can easily determine whether other print applications have higher functions and are suitable for print data.
As a result, the user can use the optimum printing function in the environment without checking the environment setting or the like.
In addition, the relationship between printing applications that can transfer unique files becomes clear, and a printing environment that is easy for the user to understand can be provided.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.・ Change is possible.
For example, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the print application 127 calls the OS file transfer service system menu 712 to execute the file transfer service. However, the print application 127 may not accept the user's operation through the application interface of the OS 122, and may call the file transfer service and printing by the printer driver. In this way, the user can search and execute an appropriate printing unit more automatically.

Claims (11)

Display control means for displaying a print setting screen of a selected print application among a plurality of print applications providing a print setting screen;
Receiving means for receiving an instruction to search for a print application that receives print setting information having a higher function level than the function level of the print setting information of the selected print application among the plurality of print applications;
When receiving the instruction, a generating unit that generates a file in which information indicating a higher function level than the selected print application is defined as a search condition;
An information processing apparatus.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the generation unit generates the file included in a file extension corresponding to the function level as the search condition.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the search condition includes information on a format of a print data file.   4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a recommendation unit that recommends printing via the printer driver when it is determined that printing via the printer driver is better according to the format of the print data file. Information processing device.   5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the recommendation unit recommends printing via the printer driver when the format of the print data file is image data, text data, or Web page data. An information processing method executed by an information processing apparatus,
A display control step for displaying a print setting screen of a selected print application among a plurality of print applications providing a print setting screen;
A receiving step for receiving an instruction to search for a print application that receives print setting information having a higher function level than the function level of the print setting information of the selected print application among the plurality of print applications;
Upon receiving the instruction, a generation step of generating a file in which information indicating a higher function level than the selected print application is defined as a search condition;
An information processing method including: A display control step for displaying a print setting screen of a selected print application among a plurality of print applications providing a print setting screen to the computer;
A receiving step for receiving an instruction to search for a print application that receives print setting information having a higher function level than the function level of the print setting information of the selected print application among the plurality of print applications;
Upon receiving the instruction, a generation step of generating a file in which information indicating a higher function level than the selected print application is defined as a search condition;
A program for running   8. The program according to claim 7, wherein in the generation step, the file included in a file extension corresponding to the function level is generated as the search condition.   The program according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the search condition includes information on a format of a print data file.   10. The method according to claim 7, further comprising a recommendation step for recommending printing via the printer driver when it is determined that printing via the printer driver is better according to the format of the print data file. Program.   11. The program according to claim 10, wherein in the recommendation step, if the format of the print data file is image data, text data, or Web page data, printing via the printer driver is recommended.

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