JP2002287948A - Information processor, and information processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To considerably save paper resources in printing the printing information including detailed information of a document by printing the detailed information of the document on the reverse side of a document printing surface. SOLUTION: A CPU31 acquires detailed information on the document, and the printing is controlled so that the document and the detailed information on the document are printed on one side of a recording medium if duplex printing is not possible, and the printing of the document and the printing of detailed information on the document are performed on both sides of the recording medium in a sorted manner if duplex printing is possible.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus for outputting print information processed based on a plurality of applications to a printer, and a print control method for the information processing apparatus.

Conventionally, in this type of information processing apparatus, in a print mode setting method for a printer, when a user uses a print function from application software,
Prior to printing, make settings to use various functions of the printer.

At that time, in a system in which the printing function is generally virtualized as represented by Windows (registered trademark), since a printing program is separated from an application, a printer main body connected to a computer is used. Is performed using a print mode setting function of a general-purpose printing program (hereinafter, referred to as a printer driver) for controlling the printer.

[0004] Print settings set by the print mode setting function are shared by a plurality of applications.

In this type of information processing apparatus, in a method of printing document information to a printer, additional information such as a document name, a creation date and time, a creator, a page number, and a total number of pages are used as information about a document together with print data. (Hereinafter referred to as document information) provides various information about the document.

Accordingly, the document viewer can obtain information on the origin of the document, confirm the order and omission of the document, and be useful depending on the added information.

[0007]

However, in the above-described print mode setting method, the print mode setting function provided by the printer driver shared by a plurality of applications is provided without having the print mode setting function on the application side. The application does not hold the print settings because it is realized by using it.

For this reason, the print settings set by one application are retained by the printer driver. However, if the print mode is set by another application thereafter, the print settings are updated and all the past settings are lost. It will be broken.

As described above, although the print mode setting required for each application is different, the conventional printer driver holds only the last set print mode. Therefore, the print setting is redone each time the application is changed. There was a problem that it was necessary.

Further, according to the conventional document information printing method, information added to a document is generally printed as a header or a footer on an upper or lower end of a printing sheet.

[0011] In this case, since the print is performed together with the document data, if the additional information is increased, the print result becomes mixed and the essential document data tends to be difficult to see.

Further, since the document information is printed together with the document data on a limited printing surface, the capacity of the document data that can be printed on one page is inevitably reduced. There is a problem that the number of pages increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to print a document and detailed information of the document together on one side of a recording medium when double-sided printing is not possible. However, when double-sided printing is possible, the document is printed to fill the effective print area by controlling the printing process so that the document and detailed information of the document are distributed and printed on both sides of the recording medium. An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus and an information processing method capable of saving paper resources when printing print information accompanied by detailed information of a document, since the detailed information of the document can be printed on the back side of the document print surface.

[0014]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided means (not shown) for outputting a document to be printed on a first side, and information relating to the document to be printed on a second side. Output means (steps (8) to (12) shown in FIG. 6).

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a means (not shown) for outputting a document to be printed on the first side and information related to the document, and a document for printing on the first side and the means for outputting the document. Means for outputting information relating to a document to be printed (steps (8) to (12) shown in FIG. 6).

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a determination means (step (6) shown in FIG. 6) for determining whether or not a printer can print a plurality of surfaces on a printing paper, Means for outputting a document to be printed on the first side and information about the document when the printer determines that the plurality of sides cannot be printed on the printing paper; and Means for outputting information relating to a document to be printed on the first side and a document to be printed on the second side when it is determined that printing is possible (steps (8) to (12) shown in FIG. 6); It is characterized by having.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a first determining means (step (4) shown in FIG. 6) for determining whether the print setting is one-sided printing, and whether the printer is capable of double-sided printing. Determination means (step (6) shown in FIG. 6)
When the print setting is determined to be one-sided printing by the first determination unit and the printer is determined to be capable of duplex printing by the second determination unit, a document for printing on the front side and printing on the back side are performed. For outputting information related to a document (step (8) shown in FIG. 6)
To (12)).

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a step of outputting a document to be printed on the first side (step (8) shown in FIG. 6), and information relating to the document to be printed on the second side. Output step (step (11) shown in FIG. 6).

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a step of outputting a document to be printed on the first side and information related to the document (not shown) includes a step of outputting the document to be printed on the first side and the second side. A step of outputting information on a document to be printed (steps (8) to (12) shown in FIG. 6).

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a determining step (step (6) shown in FIG. 6) for determining whether or not a printer can print a plurality of surfaces on a printing sheet. A step of outputting a document to be printed on the first side and information related to the document (not shown) when the printer determines that the printer cannot print a plurality of sides on the printing paper; If it is determined that a plurality of sides can be printed, a document for printing on the first side and a second
A step of outputting information relating to a document to be printed on the surface (steps (8) to (12) shown in FIG. 6).

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, a first determining step (FIG. 6) for determining whether the print setting is one-sided printing.
(4)), a second determination step (step (6) shown in FIG. 6) for determining whether the printer can perform double-sided printing, and that the print setting is one-sided printing by the first determination step. If it is determined that the printer is capable of duplex printing in the second determination step, a step of outputting information on a document to be printed on the front side and a document to be printed on the back side (FIG. 6)
(8) to (12)).

[0022]

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of an information processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a central processing unit, which is composed mainly of a storage device (for instructions) 12, a storage device (for data) 13, a display device 14, an input device 15, a communication device 16, and the like. .

FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of a print mode setting screen displayed on the display device 14 shown in FIG.

In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes a print mode setting window which is displayed when a print request is instructed by a keyboard or a pointing device constituting the input device 15 in the information processing apparatus. Reference numerals 22 to 25 designate instruction buttons for setting the print mode, such as OK, Cancel,
The next candidate, default, and the like are designated by the cursor 27 or function keys. 26 is a closed box,
By designating the box with the cursor 27, the print mode setting window 21 disappears from the display screen.

The items displayed in the window are:
This is an example, and may include other print mode setting items. That is, it is determined by the function of the printing apparatus (color function, sheet post-processing function, double-sided printing function).

The window 21 is displayed on the display device 14 when the user sets the print mode, and is operated by the user himself using the input device 15 such as a mouse.

Hereinafter, the print control method of the information processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a print control method for an information processing apparatus according to the present invention.
Note that (1) to (3) indicate each step, and in the present embodiment, correspond to a print mode setting method.

In the following steps, a program necessary for realizing the processing is read from the storage device (for instructions) 12 and executed by the central processing unit 11. In addition, all display on the screen in this embodiment is performed on the display device 14 and all setting operations from the user are performed by the input device 15.

Generally, in a system in which a printing function is separated from application software and virtualized, as typified by Windows (registered trademark),
When using the print function from the application software, a printer driver for realizing the print function is called via the system.

The print mode setting process according to the present embodiment also includes
In this way, it is assumed that the application is called when the print setting is performed and the processing is started.

First, in the application name obtaining step (1), the printer driver obtains the application name that called the print setting process. The application name handled here does not need to be a product name or a program name, but may be information that can uniquely limit an application. Further, since the obtainable application information differs depending on the system in which the printer driver operates, the application name is not limited.

Next, in the print setting search step (2), a search is made as to whether the print setting registered under the previously acquired application name exists in the storage device (for data) 13. If it is determined in the print setting presence / absence determination step (3) that there is a print setting previously set by the application having the same name, the print setting reading step (4) causes the storage device (for data) to be read.
13, the relevant print setting information is read.

When it is determined in the print setting presence / absence determination step (3) that there is no corresponding print setting, a default print setting creation step (5) is performed.
A print setting is created in accordance with predetermined general-purpose print setting information.

Finally, in the print setting initialization step (6), the printer driver is executed based on the print setting information obtained in either the print setting reading step (4) or the default print setting creating step (5). A print setting for the called application is created, and this is set in the print setting screen display step (7).
A print setting screen is displayed on the display device 14, and the process returns.

In the above-described embodiment, only one print setting can be used regardless of the number of the corresponding print setting information on the storage device (for data) 13. By adding a step of selecting these or a step of calling them in order, it is possible to hold various print settings according to a use mode without being limited to one print setting for one application. It is a target.

Further, by adding a step of resetting the print settings to the default print settings in addition to the call of the print settings realized by the above-described embodiment, it becomes convenient to create a new print setting.

Thus, in an environment where a plurality of applications are used, even if the applications are changed,
The application itself can use the print settings that were set in the past without having to redo the print settings, and once set, you can immediately print with the print settings that are appropriate for each application. Become. [Second Embodiment] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of an information processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 31 denotes a CPU,
3 connected to the bus 37 based on the system program and the application program stored in the memory 3.
2. Access to the display device 34, the input device 35, the output device 36, and the like is controlled.

The printer device is connected to the output device 36, and print data is output via the output device 36 when the CPU 31 executes the print program.

The double-sided printing in the printer device used in the present embodiment employs a method of printing odd-numbered pages of continuous print data in the table and printing even-numbered pages on the back in the order received. The reversal is performed by a reversing unit built in the printer device.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a document information printing process output state in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 5A shows a case where document data and document information are printed only on one side of printing paper.
(B) illustrates a print output result in the document information printing method to which the present embodiment is applied, and corresponds to a case where document data is printed on the front side of a print sheet and document information is printed on the back side. .

Hereinafter, the print control method of the information processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a print control method for an information processing apparatus according to the present invention.
Note that (1) to (12) indicate each step, and in the present embodiment, correspond to a document information printing method.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a print output state by the print control method in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention. Since the surface on which the document information is printed is output on the upper surface, the document can be easily confirmed. .

In each of the following steps, a program necessary for realizing the processing is read out from the storage device 33 and executed by the central processing unit 31. Further, as a result of a print instruction from the user through the input device 35, a print program is activated on the information processing device. When the print program receives a print request, the processing in FIG. 6 is called.

First, in the document information acquisition step (1), information on a document requested to be printed is acquired based on the passed document name. Here, the acquired information depends on the information processing apparatus and the document file format to which the present invention is applied. In the present embodiment, the title, the date and time of creation, and the number of pages are acquired.

Next, in a page counter initialization step (2), the page counter is initialized in advance to obtain the print page number of the document data. Next, in the print setting obtaining step (3), the print settings passed along with the print request are obtained. This includes a print mode setting for performing printing on one side or both sides.

In the acquired print settings, it is determined in the subsequent print setting determination step (4) whether the print mode setting is one-sided printing or two-sided printing.

On the other hand, if it is determined in the print setting determining step (4) that the printing is single-sided, the printer information obtaining step (5)
As a result, information (printer information) about the printing capability of the printer to be printed is obtained. This printer information also includes information about the duplex printing capability of the printer device.

In the printer information acquired in step (5), it is determined in the subsequent double-sided printing capability determination step (6) whether double-sided printing can be used in the target printer.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the printing is double-sided printing in the double-sided printing capability determination step (6), the printing setting obtaining step (3) is performed in the double-sided printing mode setting step (7).
Reset the print mode setting in the print setting acquired in step 2 to the duplex printing mode.

The present invention is not applied when the printing setting determination step (4) determines that double-sided printing is performed, and when the double-sided printing capability determination step (6) determines that double-sided printing is impossible. Conventional single-sided printing as illustrated in FIG. 2 is performed. When the above pre-processing prior to printing is completed, the printing program shifts to document data output processing.

Next, a page data output step (8)
Thus, one page of print data is extracted from the document data requested to be printed, and sent to the output device 36. When the output of the page data is completed, the page counter is added by one page in the page counter adding step (9).

Next, in the document information print data creation step (10), print data (document information print data) for printing on the back side of the printing paper is created based on the acquired document information and the added page counter. I do. The document information print data to be printed on the back side may include any information, and the format is arbitrary. In the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5B, a document name, a creation date and time, a page number, and a total number of pages are arranged in a lower rectangle on the back surface.

The created document information print data is sent to the output device 36 in the document information print data output step (11). Depending on the output, the page counter is not added because the data is not document data.

Finally, the next page data detecting step (1)
2) The presence or absence of print data for the next page of the document requested to be printed is detected. Here, when the next page data is detected, the process returns to the page data output step (8) and the subsequent processing is repeated.

On the other hand, when output of all print data and its document information print data is completed in step (12),
The printing program shifts to post-processing (return).

In the above-described embodiment, a printer device having a double-sided printing function has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is not limited to this. It is also effective for

Even without the double-sided printing function, by providing a wait step after printing the document data on the table of the printing paper or by providing an input waiting step for continuation, the document data is printed during that time. Since the output printing paper can be turned over and fed again, the same effect can be obtained.

As a result, information that supplements the document can be added to the printing paper without interrupting the document data. Thus, since the entire print area on the front side of the printing paper is document data, the number of papers required for printing can be reduced even if the data capacity increases.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0064]

As described above, the first embodiment according to the present invention is described.
According to the eighth aspect, when double-sided printing is not possible, the document and the detailed information of the document are printed according to one side of the recording medium, and the document and the detailed information of the document are distributed to both sides of the recording medium. Since the printing process is controlled so as to print the document, the document can be printed in the full effective print area, and the detailed information of the document can be printed on the back side of the document printing surface.
This has the effect of significantly saving paper resources during printing of print information with detailed document information.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a print mode setting screen displayed on the display device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a print control method of the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a document information print processing output state in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a print control method of the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a print output according to a print control method in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Central processing unit 12 Storage device 13 Storage device 14 Display device 15 Input device 16 Communication device

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus comprising: means for outputting a document to be printed on a first side; and means for outputting information about the document to be printed on a second side. Means for outputting a document to be printed on the first side and information about the document; means for outputting a document to be printed on the first side and information about the document to be printed on the second side. An information processing apparatus comprising: And determining means for determining whether or not the printer is capable of printing a plurality of surfaces on the printing paper; and determining that the printer is not capable of printing the plurality of surfaces on the printing paper by the determining means. Means for outputting a document to be printed on the first side and information related to the document; and a step for printing on the first side when the determination section determines that the printer is capable of printing a plurality of sides on printing paper. Means for outputting information relating to the document and the document to be printed on the second side. A first determining unit that determines whether the print setting is one-sided printing; a second determining unit that determines whether the printer is capable of performing double-sided printing; Means for outputting information about a document to be printed on the front side and information about a document to be printed on the back side, when the printer is determined to be single-sided printing and the printer is determined to be capable of duplex printing by the second determining means, An information processing apparatus comprising: 5. An information processing method comprising: outputting a document to be printed on a first side; and outputting information about the document to be printed on a second side. 6. A step of outputting a document to be printed on the first side and information about the document, and a step of outputting information about a document to be printed on the first side and information about the document to be printed on the second side. An information processing method, comprising: 7. A determining step of determining whether the printer is capable of printing a plurality of surfaces on printing paper; and determining that the printer is not capable of printing a plurality of surfaces on the printing paper by the determining step. Outputting a document to be printed on the first side and information about the document; and, if the determination step determines that the printer is capable of printing a plurality of sides on the printing paper, a step for printing on the first side. Outputting information about the document and the document to be printed on the second side. 8. A first determination step for determining whether the print setting is one-sided printing, a second determination step for determining whether the printer is capable of double-sided printing, and the print setting is determined by the first determination step. Outputting a document for printing on the front side and information about a document for printing on the back side, if it is determined that the printing is single-sided and the printer is determined to be capable of printing on both sides by the second determination step, An information processing method comprising: