JP3941789B2 - PRINT DATA TRANSMISSION SYSTEM, RECEPTION DEVICE AND TRANSMISSION DEVICE USED FOR THE SAME, PRINT DATA TRANSMISSION METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM RECORDING COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR IMPLEMENTING SAME - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for transmitting print data from one computer to another computer in a computer network to which a plurality of computers are connected.

  As a conventional print data transmission system, for example, print data is transmitted from a certain sender computer connected to a computer network to a receiver computer connected to the same computer network, and connected to the receiver computer. A printer that prints the content of transmitted print data by a printer (so-called network printer) is known.

  Note that the network printer can be connected directly to the receiver computer, indirectly connected to the receiver computer via another computer network, etc., or integrated with the receiver computer. There are forms that are configured.

  However, in the above-described conventional print data transmission system, normally, in order to cause a network printer to perform printing, a printer driver dedicated to the network printer needs to be installed in the sender computer. Therefore, when there are a plurality of network printers to be printed, it is necessary to install a dedicated printer driver for each network printer in the sender computer.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and when sending print data via a computer network and causing printing means such as a printer to perform printing, To provide a print data transmission system, a print data transmission method, and a recording medium recording a computer program for realizing the print data transmission system capable of performing printing without any trouble even if a driver dedicated to the printing means is not installed It is in.

In order to achieve at least a part of the above object, a print data transmission system according to the present invention is a computer network in which a plurality of computers are respectively connected to a second computer from a first computer via the computer network. A print data transmission system for transmitting print data indicating contents to be printed,
The first computer includes first storage means for storing the print data, first transmission / reception means capable of transmitting the print data, input means, display means, and the first computer. A first control means for controlling each of the means, and
The second computer stores a user interface data for displaying a printing unit for printing the contents of the print data and a user interface for inputting print setting information corresponding to the printing unit. Means, second transmission / reception means capable of transmitting the user interface data, and second control means for controlling each means in the second computer,
When the print data transmission process start instruction is input to the first computer via the input unit, the first control unit transmits the transmission process start instruction to the first transmission / reception. When the second control means receives the transmitted transmission processing start instruction via the second transmission / reception means, the second storage means transmits the second storage means to the second computer. The user interface data is read from the means and transmitted to the first computer via the second transmission / reception means, and the first control means transmits the transmitted user interface data to the first transmission / reception means. The display means displays the print setting information input user interface using the user interface data,
Thereafter, when print setting information used when printing is performed by the printing unit is input to the first computer via the input unit and the transmission instruction of the print data is input, the first computer The first control unit reads the print data from the first storage unit, transmits the print data to the second computer via the first transmission / reception unit together with the data of the input print setting information, and A second control unit configured to receive the print data and the print setting information data via the second transmission / reception unit, based on the print setting information; The gist is to print the contents represented by the data.

A transmission apparatus according to the present invention is a transmission apparatus capable of transmitting print data indicating contents to be printed to a reception apparatus including at least a printing unit via a computer network,
A storage means for storing the print data; a transmission / reception means capable of transmitting the print data; an input means; a display means; and a control means for controlling each means in the transmission device. When the print data transmission process start instruction is input to the transmission apparatus via the means, the control means transmits the transmission process start instruction to the reception apparatus via the transmission / reception means. ,
When user interface data for displaying a user interface for inputting print setting information corresponding to the printing unit is transmitted from the receiving device, the control unit transmits the user interface data via the transmitting / receiving unit. The display means displays the print setting information input user interface using the user interface data,
Thereafter, when the print setting information used when printing is performed in the printing unit is input to the transmission device via the input unit, and the transmission instruction of the print data is input, the control unit The gist of the invention is to read the print data from the storage unit and transmit the print data together with the input data of the print setting information to the receiving device via the transmission / reception unit.

The receiving device of the present invention is a receiving device capable of receiving print data indicating the content to be transmitted, which is transmitted via a computer network from a transmitting device having at least display means,
Printing means for printing the contents of the print data, storage means for storing user interface data for displaying a user interface for inputting print setting information corresponding to the printing means, and transmitting the user interface data Transmission / reception means capable of controlling, and control means for controlling each means in the receiving device,
The control unit reads the user interface data from the storage unit and receives the user interface data via the transmission / reception unit when receiving an instruction to start transmission processing of the print data transmitted from the transmission device via the transmission / reception unit. Transmitting to the transmitting device;
Thereafter, when the print data and print setting information data used when printing is performed in the printing unit are transmitted from the transmission device, the control unit stores the print data and the print setting information data. The gist of the invention is that the contents received by the transmission / reception means are printed by the printing means based on the print setting information.

In the print data transmission method of the present invention, in a computer network to which a plurality of computers are respectively connected, from the first computer having at least display means to the second computer having at least printing means via the computer network, A print data transmission method for transmitting print data indicating contents to be printed,
(A) when an instruction to start transmission processing of the print data is input to the first computer, the first computer transmits the instruction to start transmission processing to the second computer;
(B) When the second computer receives the transmitted transmission processing start instruction, user interface data for displaying a user interface for inputting print setting information corresponding to the printing unit is displayed on the first computer. Sending to one computer;
(C) when the first computer receives the transmitted user interface data, the display means displays the print setting information input user interface using the user interface data;
(D) When print setting information used when printing is performed by the printing unit is input to the first computer and an instruction to transmit the print data is input, the first computer Transmitting print data and print setting information data to the second computer;
(E) Contents represented by the print data by the printing unit based on the print setting information when the second computer receives the transmitted print data and print setting information data A step of printing
It is a summary to provide.

  As described above, in the print data transmission system, the transmission device and the reception device, and the print data transmission method of the present invention, first, when an instruction to start the print data transmission process is input to the first computer (transmission device), The first computer transmits an instruction to start the transmission process to the second computer (receiving device). When the second computer receives the transmission processing start instruction, the second computer transmits user interface data to the first computer. This user interface data is data for displaying a user interface for inputting print setting information corresponding to printing means such as a printer connected to the second computer. When the first computer receives the user interface data, the first computer uses the user interface data to display a print setting information input user interface on a display unit connected to the first computer.

  Thus, when the print setting information input user interface is displayed on the display means, the user of the first computer uses the user interface to perform printing when causing the first computer to print the contents of the print data. Input the setting information, and then input the print data transmission instruction.

  When the print setting information and the print data transmission instruction are input to the first computer, the first computer transmits the print data and the print setting information data to the second computer. When the second computer receives the print data and the print setting information, the second computer causes the printing unit to print the contents of the print data based on the print setting information.

  Generally, a printer driver obtains a desired print result based on a first function that provides a user interface for inputting print setting information for printing to a user and the print setting information input by the user. As described above, the printer has a second function for performing various processes on the print data and performing predetermined control on the printer.

  In the print data transmission system, the transmission device and the reception device, and the print data transmission method of the present invention, the computer on the sender side (second computer or reception device) to the computer on the sender side (first computer or transmission device) Since the user interface data for inputting the print setting information is transmitted to the sender computer, the first function described above can be realized by using the user interface data in the computer on the sender side. In addition, since print setting information is transmitted together with print data from the sender computer to the receiver computer, the second computer implements the second function described above based on the print setting information. Can do.

  Therefore, according to the print data transmission system, the transmission device and the reception device, and the print data transmission method of the present invention, the print data is transmitted when the print data is transmitted via the computer network and the printing means such as a printer performs printing. Even if a printer driver dedicated to the printing means is not installed in the hand side computer, printing can be performed without any trouble.

  In the print data transmission system of the present invention, it is preferable that the user interface data is created in a computer language independent of a specific model.

  By creating the user interface data in this way, even if the sender computer (second computer) does not know what model the sender computer (first computer) is, User interface data available on the sender's computer can be sent to the sender's computer. Examples of computer languages that do not depend on a specific model include HTML (HyperText Markup Language) and Java (a programming language announced by Sun Microsystms, USA).

  Further, in the print data transmission system of the present invention, the first control means causes the display means to display an icon corresponding to the second computer or the printing means in advance, and to the first computer. The instruction to start the print data transmission process is preferably made by selecting the icon displayed by the display means using the input means.

  In such a configuration, even if there are a plurality of printing-side computers (second computers) to which print data is to be transmitted and printing means to be printed, the sender-side computer (first computer) The user can give an instruction to start print data transmission processing for each computer and each printing means by a simple operation.

  In the print data transmission system of the present invention, it is preferable that the print data transmitted from the first computer to the second computer has a data structure that does not depend on a control code of the printing unit.

  If the print data transmitted from the sender's computer (first computer) has such a structure, the sender's computer is connected to the receiver's computer (second computer). There is no need to acquire information about the print data or to process the print data in advance with the acquired information.

  In the print data transmission system according to the present invention, the printing unit may be connected to a main body of the second computer via a computer network.

  The printing means does not need to be directly connected to the main body of the second computer, and the effects of the present invention described above can be achieved even when connected via a computer network.

A first recording medium of the present invention causes a transmission-side computer having at least display means to transmit print data via a computer network with at least a reception-side apparatus having printing means. A computer-readable recording medium recording the computer program of
A function of transmitting an instruction to start the transmission process to the receiving device when an instruction to start the transmission process of the print data is input;
When user interface data for displaying a user interface for inputting print setting information corresponding to the printing means is transmitted from the receiving side device, the user interface data is received, and the user interface data is received by the display means. A function to display the print setting information input user interface using data;
When print setting information used when printing is performed by the printing unit is input, and the print data transmission instruction is input, the print data and the data of the print setting information are transmitted to the reception-side apparatus. Function and
The gist is that a computer program for realizing the above is recorded on the computer.

  When a computer program recorded on such a recording medium is executed by a computer, the computer can operate as the first computer in the above-described first print data transmission system or print data transmission method. Therefore, it is possible to achieve the same effect as the first print data transmission system or the print data transmission method described above.

The second recording medium of the present invention causes a receiving computer having at least printing means to transmit print data via a computer network to / from a transmitting device having at least display means. A computer-readable recording medium recording the computer program of
User interface data for displaying a user interface for inputting print setting information corresponding to the printing means when receiving an instruction to start transmission processing of the print data transmitted from the transmission side apparatus is transmitted to the transmission side apparatus. With the ability to send to
When the print data and the print setting information data used when performing printing in the printing unit are transmitted from the transmission side device, the print data and the print setting information data are received, and the print setting is received. A function of causing the printing unit to print the content represented by the print data based on the information;
The gist is that a computer program for realizing the above is recorded on the computer.

  When a computer program recorded on such a recording medium is executed by a computer, the computer can operate as the second computer in the first print data transmission system or the print data transmission method described above. Therefore, it is possible to achieve the same effect as the first print data transmission system or the print data transmission method described above.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a print data transmission system as a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example when the print data transmission system of FIG. 1 is realized on the Internet.

  The print data transmission system of this embodiment includes a receiver computer 100 that receives print data and a sender computer 200 that transmits print data.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the receiver computer 100 includes a CPU 110 for performing various processes and controls according to a computer program, an I / O unit 120 for exchanging data and the like with various peripheral devices, It consists of a memory 130 for storing the above computer program or temporarily storing data obtained during processing, and a keyboard, mouse, tablet, etc., and inputs for inputting instructions from the user. Communication composed of a device 140, a CRT, a liquid crystal display, etc., and a monitor 150 for displaying data contents, a modem, a terminal adapter, a network card, etc., for communicating with other devices via a network Device 160 and hard disk device 17 for storing various data When the content such as color image data is print data (i.e., a color image, etc.) is provided with a printer 180 capable of printing, a CD-ROM drive device 190, a.

  The CPU 110 functions as a transmission / reception control unit 111, an input processing unit 112, a display processing unit 113, and a print processing unit 114 by operating according to the computer program described above. The print processing unit 114 further includes a resolution conversion unit 115, a color correction unit 118, a color conversion unit 116, and a halftone processing unit 117. Also, in the hard disk device 170, when color correction processing is performed on user interface data 171 for displaying a user interface for inputting print setting information corresponding to the printer 180, and color image data which is print data. The color correction destination data 172 to be used is stored in advance.

  On the other hand, the sender computer 200 is similar to the receiver computer 100 in that the CPU 210, the I / O unit 220, the memory 230, the input device 240, the monitor 250, the communication device 260, the hard disk device 270, and the like. And a CD-ROM drive device 290.

  The CPU 210 also functions as the transmission / reception control unit 211, the input processing unit 212, and the display processing unit 213 by operating according to the computer program described above. Also, in the hard disk device 270, color image data 271 that is print data to be transmitted and color correction source data 272 that is used when color correction processing is performed on the color image data that is print data are stored in advance. Stored.

  The color image data 271 stored in the hard disk device 270 can be expressed in the same color image data as the color image data used for the monitor 250 (that is, in a color gamut reproducible on the monitor 250 as will be described later). Color image data), for example, composed of RGB grayscale bitmap data.

  Here, the color correction data 172 and 272 used when performing the color correction processing will be described. In general, in a color space, for example, a color gamut that can be reproduced on a monitor and a color gamut that can be reproduced on a printer are different in size and position from each other. In some cases, colors cannot be reproduced. Conversely, even colors that cannot be reproduced by a monitor may be reproduced by a printer. Therefore, when trying to print a color image displayed on a monitor with a printer, the color of the color image obtained by printing is completely different from the color of the color image displayed on the monitor. It will be different.

  Therefore, in order to make the color of the color image obtained by printing as close as possible to the color of the color image displayed on the monitor, normally, the color image data used to display the color image on the monitor, Color correction processing (that is, color matching processing) is performed, and the color image data after the color correction is used to cause the printer to print the color image.

  Specifically, the color correction process is as follows. For example, assuming that the color image data is RGB data, first, a color image device having an ideal color gamut in the color space as a reproduction range is virtualized and can be expressed in a color gamut that can be reproduced on a monitor. Color correction source data is converted into color image data R′G′B ′ that can represent image data (that is, color image data used in a monitor) RGB in a color gamut that can be reproduced by the virtual color image device. (Ie, a profile for monitoring) is converted (RGB → R′G′B ′). Next, color image data R′G′B ′ that can be expressed in the color gamut that can be reproduced by the virtual color image device is used as color image data that can be expressed in the color gamut that can be reproduced by the printer (that is, used in the printer). Color image data) R "G" B "is converted using destination data for color correction (that is, a profile for a printer) (R'G'B '→ R" G "B").

  In other words, the color correction source data (monitor profile) is used for shifting all the colors existing in the color gamut that can be reproduced by the monitor in the color space to the color gamut that can be reproduced by the virtual color image device. The color correction destination data (printer profile) is a color that can be reproduced by the printer with all colors existing in the color gamut that can be reproduced by the transferred virtual color image device. This is data for conversion used to move within the region.

  In the above description, the color image data RGB is converted into the color image data R′G′B ′ by the color correction source data, and the color image data R′G′B is converted by the color correction destination data. 'Has been described as converting to color image data R "G" B ", but the color correction data can also be expressed as matrix data, so the color correction source data and the color correction destination data are used. Thus, the color image data RGB may be directly converted into the color image data R "G" B "without using the intermediate color image data R'G'B '.

  Now, when the color correction data as described above is applied to the case of this embodiment, the color correction source data 272 stored in the hard disk device 270 of the sender computer 200 is sent in the present embodiment. Color image data RGB that can be expressed in the color gamut reproducible on the monitor 250 in the hand-side computer 200 (that is, color image data used in the monitor 250) RGB is expressed in the color gamut reproducible on the virtual color image device. This is data (profile for the monitor 250) for conversion to possible color image data R′G′B ′. On the other hand, the color correction destination data 172 stored in the hard disk device 170 of the receiver computer 100 is color image data R′G′B ′ that can be expressed in a color gamut that can be reproduced by the virtual color image device. , Data for conversion into color image data (that is, color image data used in the printer 180) R "G" B "that can be expressed in the color gamut reproducible by the printer 180 in the receiver computer 100 (for the printer 180). Profile).

  The color correction source data 272 is different for each display resolution and other parameters when displayed on the monitor 250. Similarly, the destination data 172 for color correction is also provided for each print pixel density, halftone processing method (dither processing, error diffusion processing, etc.), color correction processing method, and other parameters when printing with the printer 180. Is different. Accordingly, a plurality of color correction source data 272 stored in the hard disk device 270 and a plurality of color correction destination data 172 stored in the hard disk device 170 are prepared accordingly.

  In this embodiment, the receiver computer 100 and the sender computer 200 shown in FIG. 1 are connected via the Internet 600 as shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, the receiver computer 100 is shown as the receiver computer main body 101 and the printer A (180), and the sender computer 200 is shown as the sender computer main body 201. In this embodiment, the computer main body is composed of, for example, a CPU, a memory, an I / O unit, a communication device, and a hard disk device shown in FIG. Therefore, the input device, the monitor, and the printer are not included in the computer main body. Of these, the input device and the monitor are omitted in FIG.

  In addition, a sender computer main body 401 and receiver computer main bodies 301 and 501 are connected to the Internet 600. Among these, the receiver-side computer main body 301 is connected with two printers, that is, a printer B (310) and a printer C (320). On the other hand, three printers, that is, a printer D (510), a printer E (520), and a printer F (530) are connected to the receiver-side computer main body 501 via a LAN (local area network) 700.

  Therefore, in the case of the present embodiment, a printer capable of transmitting print data from the sender computer main body 201 or 401 via the Internet 600 and printing the contents represented by the print data is apparent from FIG. , Printer A to printer F.

  In this embodiment, as described above, the computer main body is composed of a CPU, a memory, an I / O unit, a communication device, and a hard disk device. However, depending on the form of the computer, an input device, A monitor, a printer, and the like are also included in the computer main body, that is, they may be integrated with the computer main body.

  In FIG. 2, each computer main body is depicted as being directly connected to the Internet 600. In many cases, however, the Internet 600 is indirectly connected to the Internet 600 via another network such as a telephone communication network or a LAN. It is connected to the.

  As described above, in the receiver computer 100, the CPU 110 operates according to the computer program, thereby functioning as the transmission / reception controller 111, the input processor 112, the display processor 113, and the print processor 114. In the computer 200, the CPU 210 functions as a transmission / reception control unit 211, an input processing unit 212, and a display processing unit 213 by operating according to a computer program. In the present embodiment, such a computer program is provided in a form recorded on CD-ROMs 195 and 295, which are recording media, and is read by the CD-ROM drive devices 190 and 290, whereby the receiver-side computer 100 is provided. And in the sender computer 200. The fetched computer program is transferred to each of the hard disk devices 170 and 270, and then transferred to each of the memories 130 and 230 at the time of startup or the like.

  As described above, in this embodiment, it is described that the CD-ROM is used as a “recording medium” for recording the computer program in a computer-readable manner, but in addition, a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, an IC card, a ROM Various types of computer-readable media such as cartridges, punched cards, printed matter on which codes such as bar codes are printed, computer internal storage devices (memory such as RAM and ROM), and external storage devices can be used.

  In addition to providing the computer program in a form recorded on such a recording medium, the computer program accesses a program server (not shown) that supplies the computer program via a network, and receives the computer 100 from the program server. Or may be taken into the sender computer 200.

  A part of the computer program may be constituted by an operating system program.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the transmission / reception control unit 111, the input processing unit 112, the display processing unit 113, and the print processing unit 114 are included in the receiver side computer 100, and the transmission / reception control unit 211, input processing is performed in the sender side computer 200. The unit 212 and the display processing unit 213 are each realized by software, but may be realized by hardware.

  The same applies to the second and third embodiments described later.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the print data transmission system of FIG. Now, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, as shown in FIG. 3, the CPU 210 of the sender computer 200 determines whether or not an instruction to start transmission processing of color image data as print data is input from the user to the sender computer 200 ( Step S100), and waits until an instruction to start the transmission process is input. When the user of the sender computer 200 inputs an instruction to start transmission processing of color image data using the input device 240, the input processing unit 212 transmits the instruction to the transmission / reception control unit 211. The transmission / reception control unit 211 establishes communication with the receiver computer 100 to which the color image data is to be transmitted via the communication device 260, and then receives the received transmission processing start instruction toward the receiver computer 100. Transmit (step S102).

  Here, one procedure when the user of the sender computer 200 gives an instruction to start transmission processing of color image data will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing icons displayed on the screen of the monitor 250 in the sender computer 200 of FIG.

  As described above, the printer that can transmit color image data, which is print data, from the sender computer 200 and print the content represented by the color image data, that is, the color image, is the printer A shown in FIG. ~ F are six printers. Therefore, on the screen 251 of the monitor 250 in the sender computer 200, icons of these six printers A to F that can be printed are displayed as shown in FIG. In addition, color image data 271 is stored in the hard disk device 270 of the sender computer 200, and an icon of the stored color image data 271 is displayed on a screen 251 of the monitor 250 as shown in FIG. It is displayed as an icon of color image data ID. These displays are made when the display processing unit 213 of the CPU 210 sends icon display data to the monitor 250 via the I / O unit 220.

  Therefore, the user of the sender computer 200 looks at the display on the screen 251 and determines which printer among the six printers A to F is to print the content of the color image data ID. In this embodiment, for example, it is assumed that the printer A (180) is determined as a printer to be printed. Next, the user drags the color image data ID icon displayed on the screen 251 of the monitor 250 using the mouse of the input device 240, for example, and drops it on the icon of the printer A to be printed. As a result, the input processing unit 212 transmits the color image data ID to the receiver computer 100 connected to the printer A (180) in order to cause the printer A to print the contents of the color image data ID. Assuming that a start instruction has been input, the instruction is transmitted to the transmission / reception control unit 211 as described above.

  As described above, the user of the sender computer 200 can instruct the start of the color image data ID transmission process.

  In FIG. 4, the icons of the printers that can be printed are displayed. Instead, the icons of the computers that are connected to the printers that can be printed may be displayed instead.

  Next, in the receiving computer 100, when the communication device 160 receives the transmitted transmission processing start instruction, the transmission / reception control unit 111 of the CPU 110 reads the stored user interface data 171 from the hard disk device 170. Then, the data is transmitted to the sender computer 200 via the communication device 160 (step S104). As described above, the user interface data 171 is for displaying a user interface for inputting print setting information corresponding to the printer A (180) connected to the receiver computer 100.

  By the way, in this embodiment, the user interface data prepared by the receiver computer 100 is not prepared only for the sender computer 200 but by a number of senders connected to the Internet 600. It is prepared for general use in a computer (for example, the sender-side computer main body 401 in FIG. 2). Therefore, this user interface data is mainly composed of HTML data written in HTML.

  That is, the Internet 600 itself is a heterogeneous environment, and it is difficult for the receiver computer 100 to grasp what type of each sender computer connected to the Internet 600 is. Accordingly, when a user interface is created using a program depending on a specific model and the data is provided to each sender computer, naturally, the sender computer that cannot use the user interface data appears. However, it is practically impossible to provide user interface data for each model and provide user interface data according to the model of each sender computer. Therefore, in this embodiment, user interface data is created using HTML that does not depend on the model and can be easily created, and is used.

  Instead of creating user interface data by HTML, it may be created by another computer language such as Java, which does not depend on a specific model.

  Next, in the sender computer 200, when the transmitted user interface data is received by the communication device 260, the transmission / reception control unit 211 stores the user interface data in the hard disk device 270 and also the display processing unit 213. However, a user interface for inputting print setting information is displayed on the screen of the monitor 250 based on the user interface data (step S106). As described above, since the user interface data is HTML data, it can be easily displayed by using well-known Web browser software.

  FIGS. 5 and 6 are explanatory diagrams showing examples of a user interface for inputting print setting information displayed on the screen of the monitor 250 based on user interface data sent thereto. Among these, FIG. 5 shows a paper setting screen, and FIG. 6 shows a print designation screen.

  Therefore, for example, when a paper setting screen as shown in FIG. 5 appears on the screen of the monitor 250 as a user interface for inputting print setting information, the user of the sender computer 200 uses the input device 240. Then, the paper setting items 252, that is, the paper size, the paper feeding method, the printing direction, the printing size, and the like are input. Then, a print designation screen as shown in FIG. 6 appears. Subsequently, the user again uses the input device 240 to input the print designation item 254, that is, the number of copies to be printed, the print range, the print quality, the paper type, the ink color, and the like as desired. Although not listed as the print designation item 254, other color correction (that is, color matching) processing methods and the like may be input as desired by the user.

  Thereafter, if the user finally desires to send the color image data ID to the receiving computer 100 and have the contents (that is, the color image) printed by the printer A (180), the input is made. The OK button 255 is clicked using the device 240, and if not desired, the cancel button 256 is clicked (step S108).

  The input processing unit 212 transmits various types of input print setting information and button click results to the transmission / reception control unit 211. The transmission / reception control unit 211 performs a series of operations when the cancel button 256 is clicked on the print designation screen. The process ends.

  On the other hand, if the OK button 255 has been clicked on the print designation screen, the transmission / reception control unit 211 first reads out the color image data ID (271) to be transmitted from the hard disk device 270 and the monitor 250. The color correction source data (that is, the profile for the monitor 250) 272 corresponding to the display setting of the color image data 271 and the color correction source data 272 are read out together with the input print setting information data and the communication device. The data is transmitted to the recipient computer 100 via 160 (step S110).

  When the receiver computer 100 receives the transmitted color image data 271, color correction source data 272 and print setting information data via the communication device 160, the transmission / reception control unit 111 receives the received color image data 271, The color correction source data 272 and the print setting information data are transferred to the print processing unit 114. Here, the print processing unit 114 is realized by printer driver software dedicated to the printer 180, and includes the resolution conversion unit 115, the color correction unit 118, the color conversion unit 116, and the halftone processing unit 117 as described above. ing.

  In the print processing unit 114, each component performs the following processing on the received color image data 271 so that a desired print image can be obtained using the received print setting information and the color correction source data 272. This is performed (step S112).

  That is, first, the resolution conversion unit 115 performs resolution conversion processing such as interpolation and thinning on the color image data 271 based on the received print setting information so that the color image has a desired resolution at the time of printing. To do.

  Next, the color correction unit 118 makes various settings such as a print pixel density, a halftone processing method (dither processing, error diffusion processing, etc.) and a color correction processing method when printing with the printer 180 from the print setting information. The color correction destination data (that is, the profile for the printer 180) 172 corresponding to the print setting is selected from the plurality of color correction destination data stored in the hard disk device 170. read out. Then, using the previously received color correction source data 272 and the read color correction destination data 172, color correction processing is performed on the color image data 271 as described above. In other words, the color image data 271 can be expressed in the color gamut that can be reproduced by the printer 180 in the color image data that can be expressed in the color gamut that can be reproduced by the monitor 250 (that is, the color image data used in the monitor 250). Color image data (that is, color image data used in the printer 180) is converted to R "G" B ", color correction is performed, and the color of the color image printed by the printer 180 in the receiver computer 100 is changed to the sender. The color of the color image displayed on the monitor 250 in the side computer 200 is made as close as possible.

  Next, the color conversion unit 116 converts the color image data from R "G" B "data to CMYK data corresponding to the input of the printer 180, for example.

  Further, the halftone processing unit 117 performs well-known dither processing and error diffusion processing on the color image data CMYK based on the print setting information so that a desired gradation expression is made in the print image. .

  When the above processing is completed, the print processing unit 114 outputs the color image data to the printer 180 via the I / O unit 120, and the printer 180 outputs the color image data to the printing paper based on the input color image data. The color image that is the content is printed (step S114).

  As described above, the color image data 271 is sent from the sender computer 200 to the receiver computer 100 via the Internet 600 together with the color correction source data 272 and the print setting information data. The print processing unit 114 performs various processes based on the print setting information. In particular, the color correction unit 118 performs color correction source data 272 and color correction destination data 172 read from the hard disk device 170. Then, the color correction process is performed, and finally, the printer 180 prints a color image which is the content of the color image data.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when the color image data, which is print data, is transmitted via the Internet 600 and the printer 180 performs printing, the sender computer 200 is connected to the receiver computer 100. Even if a printer driver dedicated to the printer 180, which is a printer, is not installed, user interface data for inputting print setting information dedicated to the printer 180 is transmitted from the receiver computer 100 to the sender computer 200. Since the print setting information for the printer 180 can be sent from the side computer 200 to the receiver computer 100, the receiver computer 100 can cause the printer 180 to print without trouble.

  In this embodiment, even if a printer driver dedicated to the printer 180 is not installed in the sender computer 200, the color image data (ie, the monitor 250) is transferred from the sender computer 200 to the receiver computer 100. By sending the color correction source data 272 that is a profile for the monitor 250 together with the color image data being used, the receiver computer 100 can perform appropriate color correction processing on the color image data. Therefore, the color of the color image printed by the printer 180 can be as close as possible to the color of the color image displayed on the monitor 250. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, a color image can be printed by the printer 180 in the receiver computer 100 with the color intended by the user of the sender computer 200.

  In this embodiment, the user interface data provided from the receiver computer 100 to the sender computer 200 is mainly created by HTML that does not depend on a specific model. Even if the recipient computer 100 does not know whether the model is a correct model, user interface data that can be used by the sender computer 200 can be sent to the sender computer 200.

  Further, since the user interface data is HTML data, a mechanism for calling a software component for using a function on the receiver computer 100 called CGI (Common Gateway Interface) can be set in the data. it can. Therefore, if this mechanism is set, the sender computer 200 can remotely control the functions of the receiver computer 100, and the processing capacity of the CPU 210 in the sender computer 200 is low. If the processing capability of the CPU 110 in the receiver computer 100 is high, the sender computer 200 can perform advanced processing by entrusting the processing to the receiver computer 100.

  In the above description, the case where the user of the sender computer 200 selects the printer A (180) in FIG. 2 as the printer that the user wants to perform printing has been described, but even when another printer is selected, According to the same procedure, transmission of color image data and printing of the contents can be performed.

  In FIG. 2, for example, when the printer E (520) is selected, user interface data for displaying a user interface for inputting print setting information corresponding to the printer E (520) is received from the receiver-side computer main body 501. In addition to being transmitted to the sender computer main body 201, print setting information data, color image data, and color correction source data are transmitted from the sender computer main body 201 to the receiver computer main body 501.

  In the receiver-side computer main body 501, the print processing unit performs the above-described processing on the transmitted color image data using the print setting information and the color correction source data, and when the processing is completed, the color image is completed. The data is output to the communication device via the I / O unit, sent from the communication device to the printer E (520) via the LAN 700, and the printer E (520) prints a color image.

  In FIG. 2, it is also possible to transmit color image data from the sender-side computer main body 401 and print it in each printer.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the contents of the image data desired by the user of the sender computer can be printed on the desired printer via the Internet 600 under the desired print setting conditions.

  In the first embodiment described above, the color correction processing for the color image data is performed in the receiver computer 100. However, this may be performed in the sender computer 200.

  Accordingly, an embodiment in which color correction processing for such color image data is performed in the sender computer 200 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a print data transmission system as a second embodiment of the present invention.

  The configuration of the print data transmission system of this embodiment differs from the print data transmission system of the first embodiment described above in that the color correction functioning by the CPU 110 in the receiver computer 100 is shown in FIG. Instead of the unit 118, the CPU 210 functions as the color correction unit 214 in the sender computer 200. The other configurations in the present embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a main part of a processing procedure in the print data transmission value system of FIG. In FIG. 8, the processing content up to step S108 is the same as the processing content shown in FIG. Now, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the sender computer 200, when the user clicks the OK button 255 on the print designation screen shown in FIG. 6 and inputs a transmission instruction of the color image data 271, the transmission / reception control unit 211 is first input. Various settings such as print pixel density, halftone processing methods (dither processing, error diffusion processing, etc.) and color correction processing methods when printing with the printer 180 are determined from the print setting information, and the print settings are supported. A transmission request for the color correction destination data (that is, the profile for the printer 180) is transmitted to the receiver computer 100 via the communication device 260 (step S202).

  When the receiver computer 100 receives the transmitted transmission request for the color correction data, the transmission / reception control unit 111 receives a transmission request from among the plurality of color correction destination data stored in the hard disk device 170. The color correction destination data 172, that is, the color correction destination data (profile for the printer 180) 172 corresponding to the print setting is selected and read, and is sent to the sender computer 200 via the communication device 160. (Step S204).

  When the sender computer 200 receives the transmitted color correction destination data 172, the color correction unit 214 reads the color image data 271 to be transmitted from the hard disk device 270 and displays it on the monitor 250. The color correction source data (that is, the profile for the monitor 250) 272 corresponding to the setting is read, and the color correction destination data 172 previously received and the read color correction source data 272 are used as described above. The color correction process is performed on the color image data 271 by the same method as described above (step S206).

  Thereafter, the transmission / reception control unit 211 transmits the color image data subjected to the color correction processing to the receiver computer 100 through the communication device 260 together with the print setting information data (step S208).

  When the recipient computer 100 receives the transmitted color image data and print setting information data via the communication device 160, the transmission / reception control unit 111 receives the received color image data and print setting information data as a print processing unit. 114.

  In the print processing unit 114, the resolution conversion unit 115, the color conversion unit 116, and the halftone processing unit 117 perform the above processing on the received color image data so that a desired print image can be obtained using the received print setting information. Processing similar to that described above is performed (step S210).

  When the above processing is completed, the print processing unit 114 outputs the color image data to the printer 180 via the I / O unit 120, and the printer 180 outputs the color image data to the printing paper based on the input color image data. The color image that is the content is printed (step S212).

  As described above, first, the color correction destination data 172 is sent from the receiver computer 100 to the sender computer 200, and then the color correction unit 214 applies the color correction data 271 to the color image data 271. Color correction processing is performed using the destination data 172 and the color correction source data 272 read from the hard disk device 270. Then, the color image data after the color correction is sent from the sender computer 200 to the receiver computer 100 via the Internet 600 together with the print setting information data, and in the printer 180, the color image data which is the content of the color image data. Is printed.

  As described above, in this embodiment, even if a printer driver dedicated to the printer 180 is not installed in the sender computer 200, the profile for the printer 180 is sent from the receiver computer 100 to the sender computer 200. By sending certain color correction destination data 172, the sender computer 200 can perform an appropriate color correction process on the color image data. Therefore, the color image data is sent to the receiver computer 100 and sent to the printer. Even if the color image is printed at 180, the color of the printed color image can be made as close as possible to the color of the color image displayed on the monitor 250. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, a color image can be printed by the printer 180 in the receiver computer 100 with the color intended by the user of the sender computer 200.

  In this embodiment, when the user inputs a transmission instruction of the color image data 271 in the sender computer 200, the transmission / reception control unit 211 performs various settings when printing with the printer 180 from the input print setting information. Then, a transmission request for destination data for color correction corresponding to the print setting is transmitted to the receiver computer 100. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It may be as follows. In other words, the transmission / reception control unit 211 transmits a transmission request for mere color correction destination data without specifying what kind of print setting the color correction destination data corresponds to. The printed print setting information is also transmitted. Then, in the receiving computer 100, the transmission / reception control unit 111 grasps various settings for printing with the printer 180 from the transmitted print setting information, and then, correction destination data corresponding to the print settings. 172 is selected and read out from a plurality of color correction destination data stored in the hard disk device 170.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the color correction processing for color image data is performed by the receiver computer 100 or the sender computer 200. However, the receiver computer 100 and the sender computer are used. This may be shared by the side computer 200.

  Therefore, an embodiment in which color correction processing for color image data is shared between the receiver computer 100 and the sender computer 200 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a print data transmission system as a third embodiment of the present invention.

  The print data transmission system of this embodiment differs from the print data transmission systems of the first and second embodiments described above in that the CPU 110 is used in the receiver computer 100 as shown in FIG. In addition to functioning as the color correction unit 118, the CPU 210 also functions as the color correction unit 214 in the sender computer 200. Other configurations in the present embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment and the second embodiment.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a main part of a processing procedure in the print data transmission value system of FIG. In FIG. 10, the processing content up to step S108 is the same as the processing content shown in FIG. Now, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the sender computer 200, when the user clicks the OK button 255 on the print designation screen shown in FIG. 6 and inputs a transmission instruction for the color image data 271, the color correction unit 214 starts from the hard disk device 270. The color image data 271 to be transmitted is read out, the color correction source data (that is, the profile for the monitor 250) 272 corresponding to the display setting of the monitor 250 is read out, and this color correction source data 272 is used. Color correction processing is performed on the color image data 271 (step S302). That is, color image data 271 that can be expressed in the color gamut reproducible on the monitor 250 (that is, color image data used in the monitor 250) RGB within the color gamut that can be reproduced on the virtual color image device. Is converted into color image data R′G′B ′ that can be expressed by As a result, in the color space, the color expressed by the color image data shifts from the color gamut that can be reproduced by the monitor 250 to the color gamut that can be reproduced by the virtual color image device (that is, the ideal color gamut). .

  After that, the transmission / reception control unit 211 transmits the color image data subjected to the color correction processing together with the print setting information data to the receiver computer 100 via the communication device 260 (step S304).

  When the recipient computer 100 receives the transmitted color image data and print setting information data via the communication device 160, the transmission / reception control unit 111 receives the received color image data and print setting information data as a print processing unit. 114.

  In the print processing unit 114, the resolution conversion unit 115, the color conversion unit 116, and the halftone processing unit 117 perform the above processing on the received color image data so that a desired print image can be obtained using the received print setting information. In addition to performing the same processing as described above, the color correcting unit 118 performs the following processing (step S306).

  That is, the color correction unit 118 uses the received print setting information to make various settings such as a print pixel density, a halftone processing method (dither processing, error diffusion processing, etc.) and a color correction processing method when the printer 180 performs printing. The color correction destination data (that is, the profile for the printer 180) 172 corresponding to the print setting is selected from the plurality of color correction destination data stored in the hard disk device 170. read out. Then, using this color correction destination data 172, color correction processing is performed on the color image data. That is, for color image data, color image data R′G′B ′ that can be expressed in the color gamut that can be reproduced by the virtual color image device can be expressed in the color gamut that can be reproduced by the printer 180 (that is, Color image data used in the printer 180) R "G" B "is converted and color correction is performed, whereby the color represented by the color image data can be reproduced by the virtual color image device in the color space. The color gamut (that is, the ideal color gamut) is shifted to a color gamut that can be reproduced by the printer 180.

  When the above processing is completed, the print processing unit 114 outputs the color image data to the printer 180 via the I / O unit 120, and the printer 180 outputs the color image data to the printing paper based on the input color image data. The color image that is the content is printed (step S308).

  As described above, first, the color correction unit 214 in the sender computer 200 performs color correction processing on the color image data 271 using the color correction source data 272 read from the hard disk device 270, and the color correction is performed. The subsequent color image data is sent together with the print setting information data from the sender computer 200 to the receiver computer 100 via the Internet 600, and the color correction destination read out from the hard disk device 170 by the color correction unit 118. Color correction processing is performed on the data 172, and finally, a color image that is the content of the color image data is printed by the printer 180.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, even if the printer driver dedicated to the printer 180 is not installed in the sender computer 200, the sender computer 200 uses the monitor 250 for the color image data. Then, an appropriate color correction process using the color correction source data 272 that is the profile of the printer 180 is performed, and then the receiver computer 100 further performs an appropriate color correction using the color correction destination data 172 that is the profile for the printer 180. Since color correction processing can be performed, the color of the color image printed by the printer 180 can be as close as possible to the color of the color image displayed on the monitor 250. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, a color image can be printed by the printer 180 in the receiver computer 100 with the color intended by the user of the sender computer 200.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described examples and embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the scope of the invention.

  In the embodiment described above, the color image data 271 stored in the hard disk device 170 can be expressed in the same color image data as the color image data used for the monitor 250 (that is, within the color gamut that can be reproduced by the monitor 250). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be color image data read by a scanner, for example, or color image data obtained by photographing with a digital camera. Or other color image data related to a color image device. In such a case, the color correction source data includes the scanner profile (that is, the color image data that can be expressed in the color gamut that can be reproduced by the scanner within the color gamut that can be reproduced by the virtual color image device). Data for converting to color image data that can be expressed) and profiles for digital cameras (ie, color image data that can be expressed in a color gamut that can be reproduced by a digital camera within a color gamut that can be reproduced by a device for virtual color images) It is necessary to prepare data for converting into color image data that can be expressed in

  In the above-described embodiment, the sender computer 200 and the receiver computer 100 are connected via the Internet 600. However, the present invention is not limited to the Internet. You may make it connect via various computer networks, such as LAN and WAN (Intranet etc. are included).

  In the above-described embodiment, the image data sent from the sender computer 200 to the receiver computer 100 via the Internet 600 is described as being composed of RGB grayscale bitmap data. The present invention is not limited to such color image data, and any color image data may be used as long as the data structure does not depend on a control code such as a printer.

  In the above-described embodiments, the case where the printing unit is a printer has been described as an example. However, other printing devices such as a printing machine, a copier, and a facsimile machine may be used.

1 is a block diagram showing a print data transmission system as a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows an example at the time of implement | achieving the print data transmission system of FIG. 1 on the internet. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure in the print data transmission system of FIG. 1. It is explanatory drawing which shows the icon displayed on the screen of the monitor 250 in the sender side computer 200 of FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a user interface for inputting print setting information displayed on a screen of a monitor based on user interface data. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a user interface for inputting print setting information displayed on a screen of a monitor based on user interface data. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the print data transmission system as the 2nd Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the principal part of the process sequence in the print data transmission value system of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the print data transmission system as the 3rd Example of this invention. 10 is a flowchart showing a main part of a processing procedure in the print data transmission value system of FIG. 9.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Receiver side computer 101 ... Receiver side computer main body 110 ... CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 111 ... Transmission / reception control part 112 ... Input processing part 113 ... Display processing part 114 ... Print processing part 115 ... Resolution conversion part 116 ... Color conversion part 117 ... Halftone processing part 118 ... Color correction part 120 ... I / O part 130 ... Memory 140 ... Input device 150 ... Monitor 160 ... Communication device 170 ... Hard disk device 171 ... User interface data 172 ... Destination data for color correction 180 ... Printer A
190 ... CD-ROM drive device 195 ... CD-ROM
200 ... Sender computer 201 ... Sender computer body 210 ... CPU
211 ... Transmission / reception control unit 212 ... Input processing unit 213 ... Display processing unit 214 ... Color correction unit 220 ... I / O unit 230 ... Memory 240 ... Input device 250 ... Monitor 251 ... Screen 252 ... Paper setting item 253 ... OK button 254 ... Print designation item 255 ... OK button 256 ... Cancel button 260 ... Communication device 270 ... Hard disk device 271 ... Color image data 272 ... Color correction source data 290 ... CD-ROM drive device 295 ... CD-ROM
301: Receiver computer body 310 ... Printer B
320 ... Printer C
401... Sender side computer main body 501... Receiver side computer main body 510.
520 ... Printer E
530 ... Printer F
600 ... Internet 700 ... LAN

Claims (9)

In a computer network to which a plurality of computers are connected, a print data transmission system for transmitting print data indicating contents to be printed from a first computer to a second computer via the computer network,
The first computer includes first storage means for storing the print data, first transmission / reception means capable of transmitting the print data, input means, display means, and the first computer. A first control means for controlling each of the means, and
The second computer stores a user interface data for displaying a printing unit for printing the contents of the print data and a user interface for inputting print setting information corresponding to the printing unit. Means, second transmission / reception means capable of transmitting the user interface data, and second control means for controlling each means in the second computer,
The first control means causes the display means to display in advance a first icon corresponding to the print data and a second icon corresponding to the second computer or printing means, and the display means. A drag-and-drop operation is performed by the input unit between the first and second icons displayed by the above-described input unit, whereby the second computer is connected to the first computer via the input unit. When an instruction to start the print data transmission process is input to the computer, the first control unit transmits the transmission process start instruction to the second computer via the first transmission / reception unit. When the second control means receives the transmitted transmission processing start instruction via the second transmission / reception means, the second storage means The user interface data is read from and transmitted to the first computer via the second transmission / reception means, and the first control means transmits the transmitted user interface data via the first transmission / reception means. The display means displays the print setting information input user interface using the user interface data,
Thereafter, when print setting information used when printing is performed by the printing unit is input to the first computer via the input unit and the transmission instruction of the print data is input, the first computer The first control unit reads the print data from the first storage unit, transmits the print data to the second computer via the first transmission / reception unit together with the data of the input print setting information, and A second control unit configured to receive the print data and the print setting information data via the second transmission / reception unit, based on the print setting information; A print data transmission system that prints contents represented by data. The print data transmission system according to claim 1.
The print data transmission system, wherein the user interface data is created in a computer language independent of a specific model. A transmission device capable of transmitting print data indicating content to be printed to a reception device including at least a printing unit via a computer network,
A storage unit that stores the print data; a transmission / reception unit that can transmit the print data; an input unit; a display unit; and a control unit that controls each unit in the transmission device. The means displays in advance the first icon corresponding to the print data and the second icon corresponding to the receiving device or the printing means by the display means, and the first icon displayed by the display means. When the drag and drop operation is performed by the input unit between the second icon and the second icon, an instruction to start the print data transmission process with respect to the reception device is sent to the transmission device via the input unit. Is input, the control means transmits the instruction to start the transmission process to the reception device via the transmission / reception means,
When user interface data for displaying a user interface for inputting print setting information corresponding to the printing unit is transmitted from the receiving device, the control unit transmits the user interface data via the transmitting / receiving unit. The display means displays the print setting information input user interface using the user interface data,
Thereafter, when the print setting information used when printing is performed in the printing unit is input to the transmission device via the input unit, and the transmission instruction of the print data is input, the control unit The transmission apparatus reads out the print data from the storage means, and transmits the print data together with the input print setting information data to the reception apparatus via the transmission / reception means. A receiving device capable of receiving print data indicating the content to be transmitted, which is transmitted from a transmitting device having at least a display means via a computer network,
Printing means for printing the contents of the print data, storage means for storing user interface data for displaying a user interface for inputting print setting information corresponding to the printing means, and transmitting the user interface data Transmission / reception means capable of controlling, and control means for controlling each means in the receiving device,
The control unit reads the user interface data from the storage unit and receives the user interface data via the transmission / reception unit when receiving an instruction to start transmission processing of the print data transmitted from the transmission device via the transmission / reception unit. Transmitting to the transmitting device;
Thereafter, the print data is transmitted from the transmission device as data having a data structure that does not depend on a control code in the printing unit, and data of print setting information used for printing in the printing unit is transmitted. The control means receives the print data and the print setting information data via the transmission / reception means, and uses the print setting information to at least the CMYK data for the print data. A receiving apparatus, wherein after the color conversion to the above and the like and the halftone process for making a desired gradation expression are performed, the printing unit prints the content represented by the print data. The print data transmission system according to claim 1.
The print data transmission system, wherein the print data transmitted from the first computer to the second computer has a data structure independent of a control code of the printing means. The print data transmission system according to claim 1.
The print data transmission system, wherein the printing means is connected to the main body of the second computer via a computer network. In a computer network to which a plurality of computers are respectively connected, print data indicating the contents to be printed is transmitted from the first computer having at least display means to the second computer having at least printing means via the computer network. A print data transmission method for transmitting,
(A) displaying in advance a first icon corresponding to the print data and a second icon corresponding to the second computer or printing means by the display means;
(B) By performing a drag and drop operation between the first and second icons displayed by the display means, the print data for the second computer is sent to the first computer. The first computer transmits the transmission processing start instruction to the second computer when the transmission processing start instruction is input;
(C) When the second computer receives the transmitted transmission processing start instruction, user interface data for displaying a user interface for inputting print setting information corresponding to the printing unit is displayed on the first computer. Sending to one computer;
(D) when the first computer receives the transmitted user interface data, the display means displays the print setting information input user interface using the user interface data;
(E) When the print setting information used when printing is performed by the printing unit is input to the first computer and the transmission instruction of the print data is input, the first computer Transmitting print data and print setting information data to the second computer;
(F) Contents represented by the print data by the printing unit based on the print setting information when the second computer receives the transmitted print data and print setting information data A step of printing
A print data transmission method comprising: A computer readable recording computer program for transmitting print data via a computer network to at least a transmission side computer having display means and a reception side device having at least printing means A recording medium,
A function for displaying in advance a first icon corresponding to the print data and a second icon corresponding to the receiving side device or the printing means by the display means, and the first and second displayed by the display means. When an instruction to start transmission processing of the print data is input to the reception side apparatus by performing a drag and drop operation between the two icons, the reception side starts the transmission processing start instruction. A function to send to the device;
When user interface data for displaying a user interface for inputting print setting information corresponding to the printing means is transmitted from the receiving side device, the user interface data is received, and the user interface data is received by the display means. A function to display the print setting information input user interface using data;
When print setting information used when printing is performed by the printing unit is input, and the print data transmission instruction is input, the print data and the data of the print setting information are transmitted to the reception-side apparatus. Function and
The recording medium which recorded the computer program for making said computer implement | achieve. A computer readable recording of a computer program for transmitting print data via a computer network to at least a receiving side computer having printing means and a transmitting side device having at least display means A recording medium,
User interface data for displaying a user interface for inputting print setting information corresponding to the printing means when receiving an instruction to start transmission processing of the print data transmitted from the transmission side apparatus is transmitted to the transmission side apparatus. With the ability to send to
The print data is transmitted from the transmission side device as data having a data structure that does not depend on a control code in the printing unit, and the print setting information data used when performing printing in the printing unit is the transmission side When the print data and the print setting information are received from the apparatus, the print data and the print setting information are received, and the print setting information is used to perform color conversion to at least CMYK data or the like with respect to the print data. A function of causing the printing means to print the content represented by the print data after performing a halftone process for gradation expression;
The recording medium which recorded the computer program for making said computer implement | achieve.

Images