JP2000222144A - Printing processing method in print system and recording medium stored with printing processing program in print system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform high performance printing, to reduce a storage amount required for storing a printer driver for performing a printing processing and to effectively utilize the main memory part of a print system. SOLUTION: Among processing parts for constituting the printer driver on the side of the print system 5, the processing parts where operations are different depending on printing instruction contents are prepared as the plural kinds of sub printer drivers SD1, SD2,... made to correspond to the respective printing instruction contents and the sub printer drivers SD1, SD2,... are stored on the side of a server 2. At the time of performing printing, an optimum sub printer driver SD1, SD2,... is read corresponding to the printing instruction contents and written to a storage part 36 on the side of the print system 5 and the printing processing is performed. At the time, whether or not a storage area required for writing the sub printer driver SD1, SD2,... can be secured is checked, the sub driver is written to a storage means in the case that it can be secured. A different sub driver writable inside the storage area securable at the point of time is selected in the case that it can not be secured.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

In the present invention, the amount of free space in storage means existing in a printing system is influenced by an application which is already running, whereby the storage area of a printer driver required for print processing is reduced. The present invention relates to a mark processing method in a print system that is restricted and a recording medium recording a print processing program in a printer system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When printing data to be printed by a printer, it is common to connect the printer to an information processing device such as a personal computer (PC) to perform printing. This type of information processing device has a built-in printer driver for operating a printer, converts data to be printed into data (referred to as PDL data) in a format that can be interpreted by the printer by the printer driver, and converts the PDL data into data. Is generally passed to a printer for printing.

A conventional printer driver has all necessary functions in a monolithic form, and if the print instruction content is within a range that can be processed by the personal computer or the printer, any print instruction content can be used. It has become available. Here, the print instruction content includes a print file (in addition to the content to be printed, information such as the size of the text to be printed, the presence or absence of an image file, the image compression method, and the file format of the image file). ) And a print instruction format (print resolution, color printing or monochrome printing, etc.) as to how to print the print file.

[0004] For this reason, the higher the printing performance, the higher the set printing instruction contents, and accordingly, the processing contents of the printer driver are enlarged, and the processing contents of the printer driver in the storage unit of the printing system are increased. The share of the ratio is even higher. Since this storage unit needs to store the currently operating application and the like in addition to the printer driver, the storage capacity is naturally limited.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A printer driver comprises:
Broadly speaking, there are processing portions that operate differently depending on the content of a given print instruction, and other processing portions. Among them, the former, that is, a processing portion that performs different processing according to the given print instruction content, includes PDL data in a format that can be interpreted by the printer based on the print instruction content that is variously set for performing printing. This part consumes particularly the storage unit.

Recently, a system called a network computer has been developed. In this method, computers are connected to a network, required applications are fetched from servers connected to the same network, and processing is performed on the own computer based on the applications. Usually, they do not have a hard disk.

[0007] By adopting such a system, the cost of the computer can be greatly reduced since each computer only needs to have the minimum necessary components. Such a computer does not have a hard disk but has a storage means such as a flash memory necessary for processing as a main storage unit. The capacity of the main storage unit is such as that of a conventional personal computer hard disk. It is usually small compared to.

Therefore, if a printer is connected to this type of network computer to construct a print system capable of high-performance printing, the proportion of the printer driver in the main memory becomes large, and the main memory becomes large. It is also conceivable that the printer driver cannot be stored in the unit. To cope with this, a printing system with low printing performance may be used from the beginning, but a system that cannot perform high-performance printing is not preferable because it lacks attractiveness as a printing system.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a processing section having a different operation depending on the contents of a print instruction in another processing section in a processing program constituting a printer driver, and stores only a processing program necessary for printing in its own storage section. The purpose of this is to make effective use of its own storage unit by reading it into the storage unit.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a print processing method in a print system according to the present invention is provided with storage means for storing data required for operation of the system such as an application. A print processing method in a print system having at least a printer driver that converts a print instruction content into a data format that can be processed by a printer, and a print processing unit that performs printing based on data passed from the printer driver. Among several constituent processing parts, processing parts having different operations according to the print instruction content are separated from other processing parts, and the separated processing parts are
When preparing as a plurality of types of sub-printer drivers respectively corresponding to the print instruction contents, and storing some or all of these types of sub-printer drivers in another information processing means side, when printing, A sub-printer driver corresponding to the content of the print instruction is selected to perform a printing process.

In such a print processing method, the process of selecting a sub-printer driver in accordance with the content of the print instruction is performed when the sub-printer driver to be selected exists in another information processing unit. The sub-printer driver to determine whether or not the storage area necessary for writing the sub-printer driver to be selected can be secured. If it is determined that the storage area cannot be secured by writing to the area, a sub-printer driver capable of writing within the range of the storage area that can be secured at that time is selected.

When it is determined that the storage area cannot be secured, the process of selecting a writable sub-printer driver within the range of the storage area that can be secured at that time includes a print instruction content that can be set at that time. Is presented to the issuer of the print instruction, the issuer of the print instruction can input a new print instruction content in which the print instruction content has been changed, and the storage area of the sub-driver storage area corresponding to the changed print instruction content can be input. If the sub-driver can be secured, the sub-driver may be written to the storage means, or the system automatically selects a sub-driver that can be written within the range of the storage area that can be secured at that time, and A driver may be written in the storage unit.

Further, the recording medium in which the print processing program is recorded in the printer system of the present invention is a storage means for storing data required for the operation of the system such as an application, and the printer can process a given print instruction content. A printer driver for converting to a data format,
A print processing unit that performs printing based on data passed from the printer driver, and among several processing units constituting the printer driver, a processing unit that operates differently depending on the content of the print instruction is replaced with another processing unit. Separated from the processing part, the separated processing part is prepared as a plurality of types of sub-printer drivers respectively corresponding to the print instruction contents, and a part or all of the plurality of types of sub-printer drivers is used for other information. A print medium storing a print processing program in a printer system stored in a processing unit, wherein the print processing program analyzes input print instruction contents and, based on the analysis result, responds to the print instruction contents. The procedure for selecting the sub-printer driver and the printing process by the selected sub-printer driver And a cormorant processing procedure.

In such a print processing program,
The processing procedure for selecting a sub-printer driver according to the content of the print instruction is as follows: when a sub-printer driver to be selected exists on another information processing unit side, the availability of the storage unit should be grasped and selected. A processing procedure for checking whether a storage area necessary for writing the sub printer driver can be secured, and when it is determined that the storage area can be secured, the sub printer driver is written to the storage area and the sub printer driver is written to the storage area. If it is determined that it cannot be secured,
And selecting a writable sub-printer driver within a storage area that can be secured at that time.

When it is determined that the storage area cannot be secured, the processing procedure of selecting a writable sub-printer driver within the range of the storage area that can be secured at that time includes a print instruction that can be set at that time. A processing procedure for presenting the content to the side issuing the print instruction, and receiving a new print instruction changed from the print instruction input by the side issuing the print instruction. It is determined whether or not the storage area of the driver can be secured. If the storage area can be secured, a process including a processing procedure of writing the sub-driver in the storage means is performed, or the system side automatically secures the storage area at that time. It is also possible to select a writable sub-driver within the range of the available storage area and perform a process of writing the sub-driver to the storage means. .

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of types of sub-printers which correspond to the print instruction contents among the processing parts constituting the printer driver, the processing parts having different processing contents depending on the print instruction contents, are provided. Prepare as a driver, store some or all of these multiple sub-printer drivers in other information processing means side,
At the time of printing, a sub-printer driver corresponding to the content of a print instruction for a print target is selected to perform print processing.

Thus, the storage means on the printing system side is not always in a state in which all of the printer drivers which are heavily processed irrespective of the contents of the print instruction as in the prior art, so that the storage means in the previous storage capacity of the storage means The storage amount occupied by the printer drive can be greatly reduced, and the storage means can be effectively used.

When a sub-printer driver to be selected exists on another information processing means side, the availability of the storage means is grasped, and a storage area necessary for writing the sub-printer driver to be selected is secured. The sub printer driver is written to the storage area if it is determined that the storage area can be secured, and if it is determined that the storage area cannot be secured, the storage capacity which can be secured at present is determined. A sub-printer driver capable of writing within the range of the area is selected.

As described above, the availability of the storage means is determined, and the sub-printer driver which can write in the current availability is selected, so that the storage means can be used effectively. it can.

The process of judging the vacancy status and selecting a writable sub-printer driver within the range of the current vacancy status is performed by the printing instruction issuing side (user or server) at the time when printing is possible. By presenting the instruction content, when a print instruction content whose print instruction content has been changed is input from the user or the server, the corresponding sub-driver is selected. In this manner, the user who issues the print instruction, such as a user or a server, is prompted to reconsider the print instruction, and the sub-driver that can print at that time can be set. Is also possible, and a printing process according to the situation can be performed.

Alternatively, the print system automatically selects a writable sub-driver within a storage area that can be secured at that time, and writes the sub-driver to the storage means. You can also. As described above, when the printing system automatically performs the printing, it is possible to automatically perform the printing process adapted to the situation without imposing a processing burden on the side that issues the print instruction.

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. The contents described in this embodiment are as follows.
This is a description of the print processing method in the print system of the present invention, and also includes a specific processing procedure of a print processing program for a recording medium that stores the print processing program in the print system of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram for explaining an embodiment of the present invention.
And a computer 3 as an information processing device is connected to the network 1. This computer 3 may be a computer as the network computer system described above,
A personal computer conventionally used may be used. Further, a printer 4 as a print processing unit is connected to the computer 3. The network 1 is connected to a plurality of such computers 3 and printers 4 connected thereto (hereinafter, the computer and the printers connected thereto are referred to as a printing system 5).

In this embodiment, the data to be printed exists as a print file on the server 2 side, and a print instruction is issued from the server 2 to a predetermined print system, and the print target print data is printed. The print file is transmitted to the print system, and the print system that has received the file performs data processing and print processing.

In this case, the server 2 has a print file storage unit 21 in which a print file group to be printed is stored, and performs a certain process in a printer driver of the print system 5 ( , And SDn, which will be described in detail later), and a communication control unit 23 that communicates with other information processing devices. .

In this case, the computer 3 includes a communication control unit 31 for communicating with another information processing device, an operating system (OS) 32, and an application 3.
3, a printer driver 34, a sub-printer driver table 35, and a data transmission / reception unit 37. Of these, the OS 32, the application 33, the printer driver 34, and the sub-printer driver table 35 are stored as their own main storage units. It is stored in the unit 36.

The OS 32 and the application 33
May be originally built into the computer 3, and like a network computer,
When performing the process, the data may be read from the server 2 and written in its own storage unit 36.

In this embodiment, only the components required for the printing process are shown in the server 2 and the computer 3 because the server 2 and the computer 3 are not directly related to the processes performed by the present invention. Are omitted from FIG.

The printer 4 is a commonly used printer, receives data (hereinafter referred to as PDL data) in a format that can be processed by the printer 4 created by the printer driver 34 of the computer 3 and prints the PDL data on a printing mechanism. A unit (not shown) converts the data into data in a format that can be actually printed and performs printing.

By the way, the printer driver 34 is originally provided in the computer 3 and is provided with a print file sent from the server 2 (in addition to the content to be printed, the size of the text to be printed, the presence or absence of an image file). When the computer 3 receives an image compression method, information on a file format of an image file, etc.) and a print style instruction (instruction such as resolution, color printing or monochrome printing),
Based on this, the printer driver 34 creates PDL data.

In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, the printer driver 34 includes a print instruction content analysis section 341, a free area determination section 342, a sub printer driver control section 343, and a sub printer driver section (sub printer drivers SD1 and S1).
D2,..., SDn).

This sub-printer driver section is a part that operates differently depending on the contents of a print instruction. In this embodiment, a plurality of types of sub-printer drivers SD1 and SD corresponding to a plurality of types of print style instructions are provided as the contents of a print instruction.
, SD3,..., SDn are prepared. The sub printer driver SD1 has a print resolution of 180 dpi and the print color is monochrome, the sub printer driver SD2 has a print resolution of 360 dpi and the print color is monochrome, the sub printer driver SD3 has a print resolution of 360 dpi and the print color is color, and the sub printer driver SDn. Means that the print resolution is 1440 dpi and the print color is color,
Each is prepared corresponding to the content of the print instruction.

In this embodiment, the sub printer drivers SD1, SD2, SD3,.
Dn is prepared on the server 2 side, and the computer 3 reads out one of the sub-printer drivers from the server 2 side if necessary, writes it in its own storage unit 36, and stores the sub-printer driver in the printer driver 34. It is used as one of the elements and performs data processing based on the contents of the print instruction.

The sub printer driver table 35
As shown in FIG. 3, each sub printer driver name 351 and a storage address 352 indicating where each sub printer driver is stored, a print resolution 353 and a print color 354 that each sub printer driver can provide, The configuration includes a storage amount 355 and the like necessary for writing each sub printer driver in the storage unit 36.

For example, regarding the sub-printer driver SD1, this sub-printer driver SD1 is stored in the server 2, and its address is "ftp: /// 1.
2.3.4 / driver1 ”.
The print resolution is 180 dpi, the print color is monochrome, and the required storage amount is 10 KB (kilobytes). Also, the address of the sub-driver SD2 is “ftp://1.2.3.4/dri
The print resolution is 360 dpi, the print color is monochrome, and the required storage capacity is 20 KB (kilobytes). The address of the sub-driver SDn is a U-address such as “ftp://1.2.3.4/drivern”.
RL, and its printing resolution is 1440 dp
i, print color is color, required storage capacity is 2000K
Data such as B (kilobytes) is written.

As described above, for each sub printer driver, the address where the sub printer driver is stored, the print resolution and print color that can be provided, and the required storage amount are written. Therefore, by referring to the sub printer driver table 35, which sub printer driver is stored at which address, the resolution and print color that the sub printer driver can provide,
You can know the required storage capacity.

Next, the processing procedure will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 4 shows the processing performed by the printer driver 34 of the computer 3.

First, when a certain print instruction is issued to the computer 3, the print instruction content analysis unit 341 of the printer driver 34 causes the OS 32 or the application 33
Analyze the contents of the print instruction passed from (Step s
1). From the analysis result, print data (PDL data)
Is calculated based on the number of pixels to be printed, the resolution, the print size, and the like, and the sub printer driver table 35 is referred to. The storage amount required to write the sub-printer driver corresponding to the content of the print instruction is obtained (step s2).

The free area determination unit 342 checks the currently available storage area in the storage unit 36 and acquires the storage amount in the available storage area (step s3). Then, it is determined whether or not a storage area required for writing a sub printer driver suitable for the print instruction can be secured (step s4). If the necessary storage area can be secured, the sub printer driver control unit 343 reads the selected sub printer driver (here, the sub printer driver SD3) from the server 2 and writes it in the storage unit 36 (step s5). ).

As described above, the sub printer driver SD3 necessary for the printing process is read from the server 2, and the read sub printer driver SD3 is stored in the free area (the sub printer writable area shown in FIG. 1) of the storage unit 36 of the computer 3. When the issued sub printer driver SD3 is written, the printer is ready for printing. In this state, the print instruction content from the server 2 passed from the OS 32 or the application 33 is converted into print data (PDL data) according to the content of the sub printer driver SD3 (step s).
6). Thus, the creation of the PDL data is completed,
At the same time, the PDL data is passed to the printer 4 for printing.

When the printing process is completed, the sub-printer driver control unit 343 deletes the sub-printer driver SD3 used at that time from the storage unit 36 and saves the storage area of the storage unit 36 reserved for the sub-printer driver. Is released (step s7).

If it is determined in step s4 that the necessary storage area cannot be secured, a sub-printer driver capable of writing data within the securable storage area range is determined. Judging from the driver table 35, the print instruction contents (in this case, resolution or color / monochrome) that can be printed by the sub printer driver (for example, the sub printer driver SD2) are determined by the side (user or server) that issued the print instruction. 2) (step s8).

When the side issuing the print instruction changes the contents of the print instruction (for example, changing the color print to monochrome print), the print instruction is notified to the OS 32 or the application 33 (step s).
9).

Then, the process returns to step s1, and the print instruction content analysis unit 341 analyzes the content of the print instruction from the OS 32 or the application 33 (step s1).
1). Then, the sub-driver table 35 refers to the sub-driver table 35 for the processing area of step s2, that is, the storage area required for writing of the sub-driver (sub-driver SD2) that enables printing with the print instruction (the changed instruction). (Step s2). Thereafter, the process of step s3 is performed, and if a necessary storage area can be secured, the process proceeds to step s7, and the same process as described above is performed.

As described above, even if the content of the print instruction is changed, if the area of the storage unit cannot be secured yet,
Further, the contents of the print instruction are changed (for example, the resolution is lowered), and the same processing is performed again.

The processing shown in FIG. 4 is performed when printing cannot be performed as initially set, that is, when a storage area required to write the sub-driver selected in step s2 cannot be secured. Then, the writable print instruction content is presented to the side that issued the print instruction (user or server 2), and the side that issued the print instruction sets new print instruction content, and processes the changed print instruction content. However, it is also possible for the printer driver 34 to automatically perform these processes. Hereinafter, this will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 5, steps s11 to s14 are the same as steps s1 to s4 in FIG. 4, and therefore description thereof is omitted here. In step s14, if the necessary storage area can be secured, the sub printer driver control unit 343 reads the sub printer driver selected by referring to the sub printer driver table 35 from the server 2 and stores it in the storage unit 36. Write (step s15).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step s14 that a necessary storage area cannot be secured, the sub printer driver control unit 343 selects a sub driver that can write in a smaller storage area. For example, when the sub-driver SD3 is selected for the first time and it is determined that the storage area required for writing the sub-driver SD3 cannot be secured, the storage area required for writing is smaller than that of the sub-driver SD3. Sub driver SD
Select 2.

When a sub-driver that requires less writing area is selected in this way, the process of step s14 is performed again. If the sub-driver can be written, the process proceeds to step s15 and thereafter.

As described above, the sub printer driver necessary for the printing process is read from the server 2 and
When the read sub-printer driver is written in the storage unit 36 on the side, the printer is in a printable state. In this state, the contents of the print instruction from the server 2 passed from the OS 32 or the application 33 are converted into print data (PDL data) according to the contents of the sub-printer driver. If there is a change in the contents of the instruction), a process of absorbing the change is performed (step s16). That is, in this case,
On the printer driver side, the content of the print instruction is arbitrarily changed such that the color print instruction is changed to monochrome printing, so that the data to be printed is processed for the change.

In this way, the creation of the PDL data is completed, and the PDL data is passed to the printer 4 for printing.

When the printing process is completed, the sub printer driver control unit 343 deletes the sub printer driver used at that time from the storage unit 36 and saves the storage area of the storage unit 36 reserved for the sub printer driver. Release (step s17).

In the case of FIG. 4 described above, when the storage area of the storage unit 36 cannot be secured, the print instruction contents that can be printed are presented to the side (user or server) that issued the print instruction, and If the user or server that sees the print conditions agrees, enter the print instruction into the system,
It is determined whether or not a storage area can be secured again based on the print instruction contents (the print instruction contents changed by the user or the server). On the other hand, in the case of FIG. 5, if a necessary storage area cannot be secured, the printer driver 34 selects a sub-printer driver that can secure the storage unit 36 without permission.

As described above, according to this embodiment, of the processing parts constituting the printer driver 34, a part having a different operation depending on the content of the print instruction is set as the sub-printer driver, and the sub-printer driver is designated as the print instruction. A plurality of types of sub-drivers SD1, SD2,..., SDn are divided according to a print style instruction (in this case, resolution, color / monochrome, etc.), and these are prepared on the server 2 side. 3
And the printer 4) connected thereto read out the necessary sub-printer driver from the server 2 side based on the given print instruction content and write it into its own storage unit 36.

As a result, one sub-printer driver required for the printing process is written in the storage unit 36 on the printing system 5 side. Can be greatly reduced compared to the case where all the functions required for the application are stored in a monolithic form. Therefore, in a system where the capacity of the storage unit 36 is originally insufficient, the storage unit can be effectively used.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but can be variously modified without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, all the sub printer drivers 34 are provided in the server 2 side, and one of the sub printer drivers is read from the print system 5 as necessary. Instead, the sub-driver that is used relatively frequently and has a small occupancy of the storage area in the storage unit 36 may be provided in the storage unit 36 of the print system 5 from the beginning. For example, in the above embodiment, the sub-driver SD1 and the sub-driver SD2 are provided in the storage unit 36 of the print system 5, and the other sub-drivers SD3 to SDn are provided on the server 2 side. You may. This also provides an effect in terms of effective use of the storage unit 36.

The sub printer drivers SD1, SD
.., SDn may be located not only on the server 2 or its own print system 5 but also on another computer or another print system connected to the same network. In this way, even if the sub printer drivers are distributed, where they are located is determined by the storage address 352 indicating the storage location of the sub printer driver in the sub printer driver table 35 shown in FIG.
Can be managed by describing the storage address of the sub-printer driver.

The present invention is, of course, suitable for a system called a network computer in which the individual computers do not have a hard disk or the like, but is connected not only to a network computer but also to a network or the like. Any computer that can send and receive information from other systems can also be used when a normal personal computer or the like is used.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the content to be printed is output from the server 2 as a print file.
The case where the computer 3 receives the data and processes the data on the computer 3 to create the PDL data has been described. However, the contents to be printed can be provided even when the user managing the printing system directly gives the contents to the computer. Of course, it can be adapted. Also at this time, the sub-driver based on the print instruction content given by the user is brought from the server 2 to its own computer 3, and the printing process according to the sub-driver is performed.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the printer 4 is connected to the computer 3 and the computer 3
The system in which the PDL data is created and the printer 4 receives and prints the PDL data has been described above. However, the printer 4 itself has a function of enabling information exchange with another information processing device. At the same time, if the printer has a function of converting the received print instruction content into data printable by its own printing mechanism, the printer is connected to a network by itself, and the processing described above is performed. Can be made.

In the above embodiment, each of the sub printer drives SD1, SD2,.
The print resolution was set to correspond to the difference between the print resolution and the print style between monochrome printing and color print.However, the print style such as double-sided printing or single-sided printing and the information included in the print file It is possible to set a sub-printer driver corresponding to various print instruction contents such as the presence or absence of an image file.

In the above embodiment, the server 2
The sub-printer driver read from is written in the storage unit 36 in which the OS 32, the application 33, the printer driver 34, the sub-printer driver table 35, and the like are stored. Alternatively, a separately prepared storage unit may be used.

The print control processing program for performing the processing of the present invention described above can be recorded on a recording medium such as a floppy disk, an optical disk, or a hard disk. The present invention also includes the recording medium. Further, the processing program may be obtained from a network.

[0064]

As described above, according to the present invention, of the several processing parts constituting the printer driver, the processing parts having different processing contents depending on the contents of the print instruction are described below.
A plurality of types of sub-printer drivers corresponding to the contents of the print instructions are prepared, and some or all of the plurality of sub-printer drivers are stored in another information processing unit side. The printing process is performed by selecting a sub-printer driver according to the content of the print instruction for the target.

As a result, the storage means on the printing system side does not always store all the printer drivers which are heavily processed irrespective of the contents of the print instruction, unlike the conventional one, so that the storage means in the previous storage capacity of the storage means The storage amount occupied by the printer drive can be greatly reduced, and the storage means can be effectively used.

When a sub-printer driver to be selected exists on another information processing means side, the vacant state of the storage means is grasped, and a storage area necessary for writing the sub-printer driver to be selected is secured. The sub printer driver is written to the storage area if it is determined that the storage area can be secured, and if it is determined that the storage area cannot be secured, the storage capacity which can be secured at present is determined. A sub-printer driver capable of writing within the range of the area is selected.

As described above, the availability of the storage means is determined and the sub-printer driver which can write in the current availability is selected, so that the storage means can be used effectively. In addition, at that time, a writable sub-printer driver is selected, so that printing cannot be performed because a storage area cannot be secured, and by taking measures such as changing the content of a print instruction. Printing becomes possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer driver according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a sub printer driver table used in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a printer driver according to an embodiment of the present invention. When a necessary storage area cannot be secured for a selected sub-driver, a sub-driver selection based on a user instruction is performed. It is a flowchart at the time of performing a process.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a printer driver according to the embodiment of the present invention. When a necessary storage area cannot be secured for a selected sub-driver, the printer driver itself automatically selects a sub-driver. It is a flowchart at the time of performing a process.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 network 2 server 3 computer 4 printer 5 print system 21 print file 22 sub-printer driver storage unit 32 operating system (OS) 33 application 34 printer driver 35 sub-printer driver table 36 storage unit 341 print instruction content analysis unit 342 free space judgment Section 343 sub printer driver control section SD1, SD2,..., SDn sub printer driver

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A storage unit for storing data necessary for the operation of a system such as an application, a printer driver for converting a given print instruction into a data format that can be processed by a printer, and a printer driver provided from the printer driver. In a print processing method in a print system having at least a print processing unit that performs printing based on data, a processing part having a different operation depending on the content of the print instruction among other processing parts constituting the printer driver is subjected to another processing. Separated from the part, the separated processing part,
When preparing as a plurality of types of sub-printer drivers respectively corresponding to the print instruction contents, and storing some or all of these types of sub-printer drivers in another information processing means side, when printing, A print processing method in a print system, wherein a print process is performed by selecting a sub printer driver according to the content of the print instruction. 2. The process of selecting a sub-printer driver in accordance with the contents of a print instruction is performed when the sub-printer driver to be selected is present on another information processing means side, and ascertains the availability of the storage means. It is checked whether a storage area necessary for writing a sub-printer driver to be selected can be secured. If it is determined that the storage area can be secured, the sub-printer driver is written to the storage area, and the storage area is written. 2. The print processing method in the print system according to claim 1, wherein when it is determined that the printer cannot be secured, a writable sub-printer driver is selected within a storage area that can be secured at that time. 3. A process for selecting a writable sub-printer driver within a range of a storage area that can be secured at the time when it is determined that the storage area cannot be secured, the print instruction content that can be set at the time. Is presented to the side that issues the print instruction, so that the side that issues the print instruction can input a new print instruction that has changed the print instruction.
3. The print processing method according to claim 2, wherein if the storage area of the sub-driver corresponding to the changed print instruction content can be secured, the sub-driver is written in the storage unit. 4. When the storage area is determined not to be secured, the process of selecting a writable sub-printer driver within the storage area that can be secured at that time is automatically performed by the system. 3. The print processing method in the print system according to claim 2, wherein a writable sub-driver is selected within a range of a storage area that can be secured in step (a), and the sub-driver is written into the storage unit. 5. A storage unit for storing data necessary for the operation of a system such as an application, a printer driver for converting a given print instruction into a data format that can be processed by a printer, and a printer driver provided from the printer driver. At least a print processing unit that performs printing based on data, and among several processing parts constituting the printer driver, processing parts having different operations depending on the contents of the printing instruction are separated from other processing parts. The separated processing parts are prepared as a plurality of types of sub-printer drivers respectively corresponding to the print instruction contents,
A recording medium for recording a print processing program in a printer system in which some or all of a plurality of types of sub printer drivers are stored in another information processing means, wherein the print processing program includes the input print instruction content And a processing procedure for selecting a sub-printer driver corresponding to the content of the print instruction from the analysis result, and a processing procedure for performing printing processing by the selected sub-printer driver. A recording medium on which a print processing program is recorded. 6. A processing procedure for selecting a sub-printer driver according to the content of a print instruction, wherein, when a sub-printer driver to be selected exists on another information processing means side, the availability of the storage means is grasped. Then, a processing procedure for checking whether a storage area required for writing a sub-printer driver to be selected can be secured, and when it is determined that the storage area can be secured, the sub-printer driver is stored in the storage area. 6. The processing procedure for selecting a writable sub-printer driver within a range of a storage area that can be secured at the time when it is determined that writing and a storage area cannot be secured. Recording medium for recording a print processing program in the print system of the present invention. 7. A processing procedure for selecting a writable sub-printer driver within a range of a storage area that can be secured at the time when it is determined that the storage area cannot be secured, comprises a print instruction that can be set at that time. A processing procedure for presenting the content to the side that issues the print instruction, and receiving a new print instruction that has been changed from the print instruction input by the side that issues the print instruction, 7. A print processing program in the print system according to claim 6, further comprising: determining whether or not a storage area of the driver can be secured, and writing the sub-driver in the storage means if the storage area can be secured. Recording medium. 8. A processing procedure for selecting a writable sub-printer driver within a range of a storage area that can be secured at the time when it is determined that the storage area cannot be secured, the system automatically performs the processing. 7. The recording medium according to claim 6, wherein a writable sub-driver is selected within a range of a storage area that can be secured at a point in time, and the sub-driver is written into the storage unit.