JP2005219260A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer with good operability, which can bring about a desired printing result specified in printing conditions by a user. <P>SOLUTION: In this printer, printing condition information, which is held by a printing condition holding part 24, is updated depending on the situation of a duplex printing unit 30 or the like, which is connected as a printing option device 22, and the definition of a printing condition of a storage area in a folder constituting part 14 is updated in accordance with the updated printing condition information. In the folder constituting part 14, a folder for the printing condition is composed of only the printing function of being printed by the printer 10, because constituted based on the definition of the printing condition of the storage area. Thus, the printing result corresponds to the printing condition capable of being specified by a host device 50, and the printer can bring about the desired printing result which is specified in the printing condition by the user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a print instruction to a printing apparatus such as a printer.

  Conventionally, when printing is performed by a printing device such as a printer, a printer driver provided in the host device is provided from an information processing device (hereinafter referred to as a host device) such as a personal computer (PC) connected to the printing device. In general, print data is transmitted via the network. In this case, for example, when the user instructs printing of print data created on a desired application on the host device side, a printer driver corresponding to an arbitrary printer to be output by the user is called and the printer can interpret Print data is converted into a predetermined control code such as a PDL (Page Description Language) language and output to a printer. In addition, the user can specify print conditions such as the paper size of the print data, the number of output sheets / number of copies, duplex / single-sided printing, presence / absence of sorting, and the like by this printer driver, thereby outputting the print data in a desired format. be able to.

  However, in the user interface (UI) screen at the time of setting the printing conditions by the printer driver as described above, it is common to set a printing condition by switching a plurality of screens by tabs or the like, and a desired function on the UI screen is set. It is very difficult to know where the setting location to be set is on the UI screen of the printer driver. Also, since the UI screen configuration of the printer driver differs depending on the printer manufacturer, it is even more so when operating a printer driver that is not familiar to the user.

Therefore, the present applicant filed an application for a printing apparatus in which printing conditions are made to correspond to a folder configuration in Patent Document 1. In this printing apparatus, for example, when specifying the number of output sheets / number of copies, duplex / single-sided printing, sorting / non-printing as printing conditions, a folder for selecting the number of output sheets / number of copies as the upper hierarchy (1 copy, 2 copies,..., 9 copies) A folder for selecting double-sided / single-sided printing (double-sided printing or single-sided printing) is provided as a middle level in each upper level folder, and a folder for selecting whether or not sorting is selected as a lower level in each middle level folder (sorting) Yes, do not sort). On the host device, the user selects a print data file by selecting a folder configuration from a higher hierarchy to a lower hierarchy, a two-fold folder (upper), a single-sided print folder (middle), and a folder to be sorted (lower). By storing, the printing conditions can be easily specified.
JP 2003-256165 A

  However, the printing apparatus described in Patent Document 1 sometimes fails to obtain a printing result desired by the user. This is because the printing apparatus described in Patent Document 1 has no means for changing the folder structure of printing conditions even if a printing option apparatus such as a double-sided printing unit is added. For functions that can be performed (for example, double-sided printing), it is necessary to prepare a folder for printing conditions in advance. That is, a folder for selecting duplex / single-sided printing is provided in the printing condition folder even though the duplex printing unit is not added, and the user can select duplex printing even though it cannot be used. The printing result desired by the user was not obtained.

  Further, when a conventional printer driver is used, when a printing option device such as a duplex printing unit is added (deleted), the host device corresponds to the added (deleted) function, and the UI for setting the printing conditions of the printer driver is used. The screen needs to be updated, and therefore the printer driver needs to be updated.

  In consideration of the above-described facts, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus and a printing instruction method which can obtain a desired printing result designated by a user under printing conditions and have good operability.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage unit that stores, as items, a plurality of functions that can be designated as printing conditions, folder information of folders configured in a hierarchical cooperation, and item information for each folder, A printing apparatus comprising: a print execution unit configured to execute printing based on the item of the print condition specified by the folder and the print data by storing a print data file in the folder; A printing apparatus comprising: changing means for changing a configuration of the folder so that each item of the folder configured as the printing condition becomes the function usable as the printing condition.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the storage means includes folder information in which folders each having a plurality of functions that can be designated as print conditions are configured hierarchically (in a tree shape), and items for each folder. Information is stored. The print execution means prints the print data based on the print condition items specified from the folder stored by storing the print data file in the folder and the print data.

  At this time, the changing unit changes the configuration of the folder so that each function of the folder configured as the printing condition can be used as the printing condition. That is, since the folder structure is configured only with functions that are printed by the printing apparatus, functions that cannot be used are not selected. Therefore, the print condition specified by storing the print data file matches the print result, and the user can obtain the desired print result.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the changing unit is executed in response to addition or deletion of a print option device to the printing apparatus main body.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, when a print option device is added to or deleted from the printing apparatus main body, the functions that can be used in the printing apparatus are changed. Therefore, the changing unit can change the folder configuration in accordance with the function change to make the folder configuration only the function that can be used in the printing apparatus.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the changing unit is executed in response to a change in setting information set in the printing apparatus.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the function usable in the printing apparatus is changed by changing the setting information set in the printing apparatus. Therefore, the changing unit can change the folder configuration in accordance with the function change to make the folder configuration only the function that can be used in the printing apparatus.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the second to third aspects, the change of the folder configuration is an increase or decrease of the folder.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the changing means changes the configuration of the folder corresponding to the printing conditions by increasing or decreasing the folder. By increasing or decreasing the folder according to the change in the function of the printing apparatus, the folder structure can be matched with the printing conditions.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, the change of the folder configuration is a change of a folder name.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the changing means changes the folder configuration corresponding to the printing conditions by changing the folder name. By changing the folder name according to the change in the function of the printing apparatus, the folder configuration can be matched with the printing conditions.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the configuration of the printing condition folder is configured only by functions that can be used in the printing apparatus, so that the printing condition specified by the user matches the printing result. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a desired printing result designated by the printing condition by the user, and to provide a printing apparatus with good operability.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the following examples.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment.

  The printing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is used by being connected to a host apparatus 50 (details will be described later) for transmitting desired print data to the printing apparatus 10 and issuing a print instruction. As the host device 50, a PC, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable information terminal such as a mobile phone, or the like can be adopted.

  The printing apparatus 10 includes a communication unit 12 that receives print data transmitted from the host device 50 and a folder for printing conditions, and is stored as a folder configuration unit 14 that stores print data received by the communication unit 12. A print condition analysis unit 16 that analyzes the print conditions of the print data, an engine control unit 18 that controls a print engine 20 to be described later based on the analyzed print conditions, a print engine 20 that prints print data, and the printing apparatus 10. The printing option device 22 is added as a printing option function, and includes a printing condition holding unit 24 that holds information about printing conditions of the printing device 10 and an internal information holding unit 26 that holds various setting information of the printing device 10. ing.

  Also connected to the printing apparatus 10 are a duplex printing unit 30 that prints print data on both sides of a sheet as a print option device 22 and a finisher 32 that sorts sheets printed by a plurality of copies.

  The communication unit 12 is connected to the host device 50 and the folder configuration unit 14. The communication unit 12 allows the host device 50 to refer to a printing condition folder configured by a folder configuration unit 14 to be described later. Also, when print data stored in the printing condition folder is received from the host device 50, it is sent to the folder configuration unit 14. Note that transmission / reception of print data from the host device 50 can use general FTP (File Transfer Protocol), HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol), or the like as a file transfer protocol.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the folder configuration unit 14 includes a storage unit 40 having a plurality of storage areas in which print data received by the communication unit 12 is stored, and a reading unit 42 that reads a folder of printing conditions from the plurality of storage areas. And a changing unit 44 that changes the plurality of storage areas of the storage unit 40 based on the contents of printing condition information held in a printing condition holding unit 24 described later.

  The storage unit 40 is connected to the communication unit 12, the reading unit 42, the changing unit 44, and the printing condition analyzing unit 16. As shown in FIG. 3, the storage unit 40 is provided with a plurality of predetermined areas from a storage area 1 to a storage area n (n is a natural number), and printing conditions are defined in each storage area. . Furthermore, in this embodiment, each area is defined as a folder, and a predetermined printing condition is set as the folder name. The folder configuration in the storage unit 40 is read by the reading unit 42 and can be referred to from the host device 50 side. Note that a plurality of areas provided as folders in the storage unit 40 can be provided, and the items of printing conditions set in each area include a plurality of items such as paper size, number of copies, duplex / single-sided printing, sorting, N-UP, and the like. Is included.

  As the folder structure in the data storage unit 14, a hierarchical structure shown in FIG. 4 can be adopted.

  In FIG. 4, areas are provided for items of paper size, number of copies, duplex / single-sided printing, N-UP, and sort printing conditions. Furthermore, an area relating to the set value of the paper size “A3, A4, B4, B5, postcard” is provided as a lower hierarchy of the paper size. Further, areas for items other than the paper size already selected in the upper hierarchy are provided in the lower hierarchy of the area “A4”. Here, in the example shown in FIG. 4, a layer is further provided in the area related to the set value of the number of copies according to the number of digits of the number of copies. In the example shown in FIG. 4, an area corresponding to “111 copies” is designated. In the printing apparatus 10 configured as described above, when the print data is stored in the setting value area of the printing condition of the lowest hierarchy, printing is performed according to all the printing conditions corresponding to the higher hierarchy. For example, in FIG. 4, when print data is stored in the “no sort” area, the print data is printed under the print conditions of “A4, 111 copies, duplex printing, 2-UP, no sort”.

  Also, when print data is stored in the setting value area of a certain printing condition, all the printing conditions corresponding to the higher hierarchy are followed as they are, and the printing conditions of the lower hierarchy are determined in advance. Printing is performed using the initial value. For example, in FIG. 4, when print data is stored in the “double-sided printing” area, printing is performed under the printing conditions of “A4, 111 copies, double-sided printing”, and N-UP and sort printing are preset as initial values. For example, printing is performed with an initial value of 1-UP and no sorting. For example, when the printing apparatus 10 can print up to 999 copies, 999 regions from 1 to 999 copies may be provided.

  The reading unit 42 is connected to the communication unit 12, the storage unit 40, and the internal information holding unit 26. The reading unit 42 stores Japanese names and English names of printing conditions defined corresponding to the respective storage areas (1 to n) stored in the storage unit 40, and an internal information holding unit to be described later Based on the contents of the printing condition display set in the setting information 26 (see FIG. 6), the folder configuration of the printing conditions can be read from the host device 50 side through the communication unit 12.

  The changing unit 44 (see FIG. 2) is connected to the storage unit 40, the printing condition holding unit 24, and the internal information holding unit 26. The changing unit 44 is either print condition information (see FIG. 5) held in a print condition holding unit 24 (to be described later) or setting information (see FIG. 6) held in an internal information holding unit 26 (to be described later). When changed, the storage area (1 to n) provided in the storage unit 40 is changed based on the changed information. That is, the changing unit 44 changes the storage area (1 to n) based on the printing condition information held in the printing condition holding unit 24 and the setting information held in the internal information holding unit 26. The definition of the associated printing condition is only an effective printing function that can be printed by the printing apparatus 10.

  The printing condition analysis unit 16 (see FIG. 1) is connected to the storage unit 40 (see FIG. 2) and the engine control unit 18. The print condition analysis unit 16 identifies the file type of the received print data, and determines that the received print data corresponds to the file type of the application supported by the printing apparatus 10 File analysis is performed based on the format of the application to be converted into image data. When the print data is PDL data created by the host device 50, the PDL data is converted into image data, and the print data is defined in the storage area where the print data is stored in the storage unit 40. A print instruction for printing the image data is output to the engine control unit 18.

  The engine control unit 18 is connected to the printing condition analysis unit 16, the printing engine 20, and the printing condition holding unit 24. The engine control unit 18 controls the print engine 20, the duplex printing unit 30, and the finisher 32 based on the print instruction output from the print condition analysis unit 16, and prints the image data on the paper under the designated print conditions. Further, the engine control unit 18 monitors the status of the print option device 22 connected to the print engine 20 and outputs status information to the print condition holding unit 24. In the case shown in FIG. 1, whether the duplex printing unit 30 and the finisher 32 are connected to the print option device 22 and whether the duplex printing unit 30 and the finisher 32 are usable is output as status information.

  The printing condition holding unit 24 is connected to the changing unit 44 (see FIG. 2) and the engine control unit 18. The print condition holding unit 24 updates and holds the print condition information as shown in FIG. 5 based on the status information of the print option device 22 output from the engine control unit 18. In this printing condition information, printing conditions that can be specified by the printing apparatus 10 are provided in advance as records, and it is set whether the printing option apparatus 22 is connected or whether the printing conditions are valid / invalid. In the case of FIG. 5, the record with the printing conditions of paper size, number of copies, and N-UP is a printing function provided as a standard in the printing apparatus 10 (the printing option apparatus 22 is not required). ― ”. In addition, when the duplex printing unit 30 and the finisher 32 are connected to the printing option device 22, the printing option connection is “Yes” when the printing condition is duplex / single-sided, and the sort record is “None”. Become.

  The internal information holding unit 26 is connected to the reading unit 42 (see FIG. 2) and the changing unit 44. The internal information holding unit 26 holds setting information regarding the printing apparatus 10. Here, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, the setting information includes a setting for switching the name displayed in the printing condition to Japanese / English, and designation of double-sided / single-sided printing of the printing condition from double-sided or single-sided (double-sided / Single side), or there is a setting to delete only one side printing (single side) and no specification and only double side printing (double side).

  FIG. 7 shows a schematic configuration of the host device 50.

  The host device 50 includes an OS 56 executed under the control of a main control unit (not shown), a plurality of application programs 57 installed on the OS 56, a display unit 60 configured by a display made up of a CRT, a liquid crystal display, and the like, print data A storage unit 58, a communication interface (communication I / F) 52 for communicating with the printing apparatus 10, and a print instruction control unit 54 for issuing a print instruction are included.

  The print data storage unit 58 stores files created by the application program 57 and print data created by PDL. The files stored in the print data storage unit 58 are not limited to those created by the application program 57 of the host device 50. For example, files sent from other host devices as email attachments, It may be downloaded from a file server. The host device 50 transmits a file designated by the user among the files stored in the print data storage unit 58 to the printing device 10 via the communication I / F 52.

  In addition, the host device 50 receives information related to the folder configuration of the printing conditions from the reading unit 42 of the printing apparatus 10 and displays the information on the display unit 60. Here, the folder structure of the reading unit 42 of the printing apparatus 10 is displayed as an icon, and the printing conditions corresponding to the folder are displayed as the name of the folder. Accordingly, the user can visually recognize and grasp the folder configuration of the printing conditions read from the reading unit 42 of the printing apparatus 10.

  In the present embodiment, the display on the display unit 60 is performed by the file operation software provided in advance in the OS 56 that operates folders and files. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it is possible to provide a Web server on the printing apparatus 10 side and display information on printing conditions that can be set by the printing apparatus 10 via the Internet as a list on the display unit 60 of the host apparatus 50. In this case, the host device 50 performs display via browser software for browsing the Web site.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

  In the host apparatus 50 to which the printing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is connected, each display unit 60 on the network to which the host apparatus 50 (for example, corresponding to HOST1) is connected as shown in FIG. A screen showing a list of connected devices is displayed. As shown in FIG. 8, in the present embodiment, as each connected device on the network, the printing device 10 (for example, corresponding to PRINTER1) is displayed so that it can be referred to in the same manner as other host devices and file servers. .

  When the printing device 10 (PRINTER1) that executes printing is selected on the display unit 60, the folder structure read by the reading unit 42 of the printing device 10 has the hierarchical structure shown in FIG. As shown, options relating to printing conditions that can be specified by the selected printing apparatus 10 (PRINTER1) are displayed as folders. FIG. 14 shows a flow of switching of each display screen (FIGS. 9 to 13) by a user folder operation.

  First, when “PRINTER1” as the printing apparatus 10 is selected on the display screen shown in FIG. 8, as shown in FIG. 9A, a folder group in which options for the items of printing conditions are set as names is displayed. (State S10 in FIG. 14). In the case of FIG. 9A, paper size, number of copies, duplex / single-sided printing, N-UP, sorting, and automatic printing (details will be described later) are displayed.

  Here, for example, when specifying from the paper size, if the “paper size” folder is selected (operation M10 in FIG. 14), as shown in FIG. 9B, setting values relating to the paper size that can be printed by the printing apparatus 10 Is displayed as a name (state S11 in FIG. 14). Here, when the user selects a folder (for example, “A4” folder) corresponding to the desired paper size (operation M11 in FIG. 14), as shown in FIG. A group of folders in which the number of copies, duplex / single-sided printing, N-UP, sorting, and automatic printing, which are items of printing conditions other than the selected paper size, are set as names are displayed (state S12 in FIG. 14). Here, for example, when 111 copies are designated as the number of copies, if the “number of copies” folder is selected (operation M12 in FIG. 14), printing is performed by the printing apparatus 10 as a lower hierarchy as shown in FIG. 10B. A folder group in which items (“1 to 9 copies”, “10 to 99 copies”, “100 copies or more”) in which setting values related to the possible number of copies are classified according to the values is displayed (FIG. 5). 14 state S13). Here, when the “100 copies or more” folder is selected (operation M13 in FIG. 14), as shown in FIG. 10C, the setting values related to the number of copies are further classified according to the values as the lower hierarchy. A folder group in which items (“100 parts”, “200 parts”,..., “900 parts”) are set as names is displayed (state S14 in FIG. 14). Here, when the “100 copies” folder is selected (operation M14 in FIG. 14), as shown in FIG. 10D, the setting values relating to the number of copies are further classified according to the values as a lower hierarchy. A folder group in which (“10 parts”, “20 parts”,..., “90 parts”) is set as a name is displayed (state S15 in FIG. 14). Here, when the “10 copies” folder is selected (operation M15 in FIG. 14), the setting values relating to the number of copies are further classified according to the values as shown in FIG. A folder group in which (“1 part”, “2 parts”,..., “9 parts”) is set as a name is displayed (state S16 in FIG. 14). Here, when the “1 copy” folder is selected (operation M16 in FIG. 14), as shown in FIG. 11 (A), it is an item of printing conditions other than the already selected paper size and number of copies as the lower hierarchy. , A group of folders in which double-sided / single-sided printing, N-UP, sorting, and automatic printing are set as names are displayed (state S17 in FIG. 14).

  Next, for example, in the case of specifying double-sided printing, when the “double-sided / single-sided printing” folder is selected (operation M17 in FIG. 14), as shown in FIG. A folder group in which setting values relating to printable duplex / single-sided printing are set as names is displayed (state S18 in FIG. 14). Here, when the “double-sided printing” folder is selected (operation M18 in FIG. 14), as shown in FIG. 12A, the paper size, number of copies, and other than double-sided / single-sided printing that have already been selected are displayed as lower layers. A folder group in which N-UP, sort, and automatic printing, which are printing condition items, are set as names is displayed (state S19 in FIG. 14).

  Next, for example, when 2-UP printing is designated as N-UP printing, when the “N-UP” folder is selected (operation M19 in FIG. 14), as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 14, a folder group in which setting values relating to N-UP printing that can be printed by the printing apparatus 10 are set as names is displayed (state S20 in FIG. 14). Here, when the “2-UP” folder is selected (operation M20 in FIG. 14), as shown in FIG. 13A, as the lower hierarchy, the already selected paper size, number of copies, duplex / single-sided printing, and A group of folders in which sort and automatic printing, which are items of printing conditions other than N-UP, are set as names are displayed (state S21 in FIG. 14).

  Next, for example, when specifying whether or not to sort, if the “Sort” folder is selected (operation M21 in FIG. 14), as shown in FIG. A group of folders in which setting values related to simple sort printing are set as names are displayed (state S22 in FIG. 14). Here, for example, a “not sorted” folder is selected (operation M22 in FIG. 14). Thus, when the folder for sorting, which is the lowest layer, is selected, the print data file operation is performed on this folder (operation M23 in FIG. 14). As a result, the print data is transmitted to and stored in the corresponding folder designated by the host device 50 provided in the storage unit 40 in the printing apparatus 10.

  As described above, each time a desired print condition item and set value are selected, the items and set values are alternately displayed as lower layers, and the user can specify the desired print conditions.

  When print data is transmitted to a folder in which printing conditions up to an intermediate level are specified, printing conditions set in a lower level are performed with the initial values registered in advance.

  In the description here, the paper size item is selected on the display screen shown in FIG. 9A, and the number of copies item is selected on the display screen shown in FIG. 10A as the next printing condition item. However, in the present embodiment, the order of selection of the print items may be any order, for example, it may be set from the items of N-UP printing on the display screen shown in FIG. In that case, the item to be selected next may be any item other than N-UP printing. That is, if the settable items are five items (paper size, number of copies, duplex / single-sided printing, N-UP printing, sorting) as shown in FIG. 9A, the order in which all the five items are set. There are 5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 = 120 patterns.

  It should be noted that automatic printing shown in FIG. 9A, FIG. 10A, FIG. 11A, FIG. 12A, and FIG. This is a folder corresponding to default printing in which all the initial values are printed, and the default printing can be selected by performing print data file operations in this folder and transmitting the print data. For example, when the “automatic printing” folder on the display screen shown in FIG. 12A is selected, printing is performed as specified for the paper size, number of copies, and duplex / single-sided printing specified at a higher level. Initial values are applied to N-UP and sorting.

Next, the processing flow of the printing apparatus 10 will be described. In the printing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, when the power is turned on and the print standby (warm-up) is completed and the print data transmission waiting state is entered, the processing routine shown in FIG. Is executed. When print data is transmitted from the host device 50 side as described above, the determination in step 100 is made.

  In step 100, when print data is transmitted from the host device 50 side, an affirmative determination is made in step 100 and print processing of the print data is performed. The transmitted print data is received by the communication unit 12 (see FIG. 1) and stored in the storage area of the storage unit 40 (see FIG. 2) corresponding to the folder of the print conditions specified by the user on the host device 50 side. Move on to step 102.

  On the other hand, if the print data is not transmitted on the host device 50 side, a negative determination is made in step 100 and the process proceeds to step 106 without performing the printing process.

  In step 102, the printing condition corresponding to the storage area in which the print data is stored is determined, the print data is converted into image data, and the process proceeds to step 104.

  In step 104, printing is performed by controlling the print engine 20 by the engine control unit 18 (see FIG. 1) under the printing conditions determined from the storage area where the print data is stored based on the converted image data. Specifically, when the storage area configuration of the storage unit 40 of the printing apparatus 10 is, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, when print data is stored in the storage area 1, the storage area 1 corresponds to the storage area 1. If the print data is printed under the printing conditions “A4, 1 copy, single-sided printing, 1-UP, no sort” and the print data is stored in the print area 2, “A3, 2 copies, double-sided printing” , 2-UP, no sorting ", print data is printed. Further, when the print output is completed, the print data is erased from the stored storage area. As a result, the printed data does not remain in the storage unit 40 indefinitely. When the deletion of the print data is completed, the process proceeds to step 106.

  In step 106, it is determined whether or not the print option device 22 has been added or deleted. If there is an addition or deletion, an affirmative determination is made in step 106, the printing condition information stored in the printing condition holding unit 24 is updated, and the process proceeds to step 110. For example, when the duplex printing unit 30 that is the printing option device 22 of the printing apparatus 10 is removed, the printing condition connection of the duplex / single-sided record in FIG. 5 is updated to “none”. When the removed duplex printing unit 30 is attached to the printing option device 22 of the printing apparatus 10, the printing condition connection in FIG. 5 is updated to “Yes” for the printing option connection of the duplex / single-sided record.

  On the other hand, if there is no addition or deletion in the print option device 22, a negative determination is made in step 106, and the process proceeds to step 108.

  In step 108, it is determined whether the device functioning as the printing condition is normal. For example, when the duplex printing unit 30 that is the printing option device 22 of the printing apparatus 10 is out of order and duplex printing cannot be performed, the setting of the validity / invalidity of the duplex / single-sided record is “invalid” in the printing condition of FIG. Updated to As described above, when a failure occurs in a device functioning as a printing condition, the setting of validity / invalidity of the corresponding device in FIG. 5 is updated, and the process proceeds to step 110. When the failed device is repaired and becomes normal, the valid / invalid setting of the corresponding device is updated to “valid”.

  On the other hand, if no failure has occurred in the device functioning as the printing condition, a negative determination is made in step 108 and the process proceeds to step 112.

  In step 110, based on the printing condition information shown in FIG. 5, the printing conditions defined corresponding to the storage area of the storage unit 40 are updated so that only the conditions that can be selected as the printing conditions are configured. For example, if the duplex printing unit 30 is removed in step 106, the print option connection is “none”, or if the duplex printing unit 30 fails in step 108, the valid / invalid setting is “invalid”. Therefore, double-sided printing cannot be performed as a printing condition. Therefore, in the case of a printing function (paper size, number of copies, N-UP) provided as a standard in the printing apparatus 10, a record in which the valid / invalid setting is “valid”, or printing on the printing apparatus 10 is performed. In the case of the print function (double-sided / single-sided, sort) provided as an option, the print option connection is “present” and the valid / invalid setting is “valid” as shown in FIG. As described above, the definition of the printing conditions in the storage areas 1 to m (m: natural number) is updated, and the process proceeds to step 112. Note that since the effective printing conditions are changed, the number of storage areas also varies from n to m. Since the storage areas (1 to m) are updated in this way, for example, when the duplex printing unit 30 is removed or fails, the duplex / single-sided folder disappears from the folder configuration of the printing conditions, and is shown in FIG. Will be changed as follows.

  In step 112, it is determined whether the internal information has been changed. For example, when the printing condition display shown in FIG. 6 is changed from “Japanese” to “English” or the designation of duplex / single-sided printing is changed from “double-sided / single-sided” to “double-sided”, step 112 is affirmed. Determination is made and the routine proceeds to step 113.

  On the other hand, if the internal information is not changed, a negative determination is made in step 112, and the process proceeds to step 116.

  In step 113, the initial value of the printing condition is updated based on the changed internal information, and the printing condition defined corresponding to the storage area of the storage unit 40 is updated, and the process proceeds to step 114. For example, when the double-sided / single-sided printing designation in the internal information is changed to “double-sided”, double-sided printing is set as the initial value of the printing condition, and all print data transmitted from the host device 50 side is printed on both sides. Also, since the storage conditions stored in the storage unit 40 are updated with the definition of the printing condition as shown in FIG. 16, the double-sided / single-sided folder disappears from the folder structure of the printing condition, as shown in FIG. Be changed.

  As described above, in the printing apparatus 10, the double-sided / single-sided printing designation is set to “double-sided” in the internal information and all print data is printed on both sides, thereby reducing the amount of paper to be printed. In addition, by specifying “double-sided” or “single-sided” for the double-sided / single-sided printing, there is no double-sided / single-sided folder from the folder configuration of the printing conditions, so that the printing conditions can be easily selected.

  In step 114, when the internal information is changed in step 112, the name of the folder displayed as the printing condition is updated based on the changed information, and the process proceeds to step 116. For example, when the print condition display setting contents shown in FIG. 6 are changed to English, the reading unit 42 changes the display characters of the print condition folder structure from Japanese to English as shown in FIG.

  In step 116, it is determined whether or not the printing apparatus 10 has been instructed to end the print standby state. For example, when the user performs a power-off operation of the printing apparatus 10, the determination in step 116 is affirmed in order to cancel the print standby state, and the process ends.

  On the other hand, if the power-off operation is not performed, a negative determination is made in step 116 and the process proceeds to step 100 and the process for the next print data is performed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the printing condition information held in the printing condition holding unit 24 is updated as needed according to the status of devices connected to the printing option device 22, and the updated printing conditions are updated. Since the definition of the printing conditions in the storage area of the storage unit 40 is updated based on the information, the folder configuration of the printing conditions read by the reading unit 42 is configured only with a printing function that can be printed by the printing apparatus 10. Therefore, the print conditions that can be specified by the host device 50 and the print results match, and the user can obtain the desired print results specified by the print conditions.

  In addition, even when the print option device 22 such as a duplex printing unit is added (deleted) as in the case of using a printer driver, the host device 50 does not need to update the printer driver, and desired printing can be performed by selecting a folder. Usability is improved because printing can be performed under certain conditions.

  In the above-described embodiment, the folder structure of the printing conditions as shown in FIG. 4 is created by the storage unit 40, but the hierarchical structure shown in FIG. 19 can also be adopted.

  In this hierarchical structure, first, areas corresponding to a plurality of printing conditions relating to the paper size are provided, and further, areas corresponding to a plurality of printing conditions relating to the number of copies are provided as a lower hierarchy. For example, when the printing apparatus 10 is capable of printing up to 999 copies, 999 regions from 1 to 999 copies may be provided, but in FIG. 19, first, 1 to 9 copies are provided. From 10 to 99 parts, 100 parts or more, 1 to 9 parts are selected and then 2 parts are selected. Furthermore, printing conditions relating to double-sided / single-sided printing are provided in the lower layer of the number of copies, printing conditions for N-UP printing are provided in the lower layer of double-sided / single-sided printing, and sorted printing is provided in the lower layer. An area for is provided. Here, FIG. 19 shows only the lower hierarchy for the A3 paper size, but the other A4 paper size, B4 paper size, B5 paper size, and postcard size are also lower in terms of the number of copies in the same manner as the A3 paper size. Hierarchies are provided, and all areas of the printing conditions of other copies, duplex / single-sided printing, N-UP, and sort printing also have lower layers.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of the folder structure part which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the memory area of the storage part which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the folder structure of the printing conditions in the read-out part which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure showing the printing condition information hold | maintained at the printing condition holding part which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure showing the internal information hold | maintained at the internal information holding part which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the host apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the display screen which shows the folder group corresponding to the printing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and a host apparatus. (A) And (B) is a figure for demonstrating an example of the display screen which shows the folder group corresponding to the hierarchy information of FIG. (A)-(E) is a figure for demonstrating an example of the display screen which shows the folder group corresponding to the hierarchy information of FIG. (A) And (B) is a figure for demonstrating an example of the display screen which shows the folder group corresponding to the hierarchy information of FIG. (A) And (B) is a figure for demonstrating an example of the display screen which shows the folder group corresponding to the hierarchy information of FIG. (A) And (B) is a figure for demonstrating an example of the display screen which shows the folder group corresponding to the hierarchy information of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the flow of the switching by folder operation of each display screen shown to FIGS. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of printing processing according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the memory area of the storage part 40 when the double-sided printing unit which concerns on embodiment of this invention is removed or fails. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a storage area when duplex / printing of printing condition information of FIG. 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention is disabled. It is a figure showing the hierarchical information of a printing condition when the printing condition display of the internal information of FIG. 6 according to the embodiment of the present invention is English. 10 is a diagram for explaining another example of a folder structure of printing conditions in the reading unit. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Printing apparatus 12 Communication part 14 Folder structure part 16 Print condition analysis part 18 Engine control part (print execution means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 Print engine 22 Printing option apparatus 24 Printing condition holding part 26 Internal information holding part 30 Duplex printing unit 32 Finisher 40 Storage part (memory | storage means)
42 Reading unit 44 Changing unit (changing means)
50 Host device 52 Communication I / F
54 Print Instruction Control Unit 56 OS
57 Application 58 Print Data Storage Unit 60 Display Unit

Claims (5)

Storage means for storing a plurality of functions that can be specified as printing conditions as items, folder information of folders configured in a hierarchical cooperation, and item information for each folder,
A print execution unit that executes printing based on the items of the print conditions specified from the folder and storing the print data file in the folder and the print data;
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a changing unit configured to change a configuration of the folder so that each item of the folder configured as the printing condition has the function usable as the printing condition.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the changing unit is executed in response to addition or deletion of a print option device to the printing apparatus main body.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the changing unit is executed in response to a change in setting information set in the printing apparatus.   4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the change of the folder configuration is an increase / decrease of the folder.   5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the change of the folder configuration is a change of a folder name.

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