JP2006155465A - Terminal device, program, and computer-readable recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily determine whether a printing result satisfactory to a user can be obtained with a printing device specified by the user when printing is conducted by the printing device on the network. <P>SOLUTION: At the time when a print preview is displayed by a print preview display part 13, a printing conditions acquisition part 14 acquires printing conditions of printing data, and an executing printing device information acquisition part 17 acquires the device information from the printing device specified by the user. A printing possibility determination part 19 determines whether it is possible or not to conduct printing based on the printing data by the printing device specified based on the printing conditions and the device information. As the result of the printing possibility determination, a printing possibility determination result display part 20 displays the information to the effect that printing is possible if printing can be conducted, and the information to the effect that printing is not possible together with its reason if printing can not be conducted, on the print preview screen of the display part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a terminal device such as a personal computer, a program to be executed by a computer, and a computer-readable recording medium on which the program is recorded.

Conventionally, when printing from a document management system or an application with a print function, before sending print data to the printing device that issued the print instruction, the print result image is displayed and there is a problem with the set print conditions. There is a terminal device that executes an application having a print preview function that can check whether or not there is a problem and change the print condition setting if there is a problem (for example, see Patent Document 1).
Also, when printing is instructed by an application, the function of acquiring the status of the printing device before making a print request to the printing device, and executing proxy printing for other devices in the case of an error status There was a terminal device (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 2004-94795 A JP 2004-21624 A

However, in the case of proxy printing in which printing is performed by another printing device instead in the event of an error in a designated printing device on the conventional network, when the function or option configuration of the printing device instructed to print and the destination printing device are different, etc. The desired print result may not be obtained. If a result as instructed cannot be obtained, the printing apparatus of the printing destination must be changed frequently, and there is a problem that resources such as paper are consumed wastefully.
In the print preview, an image of a printing result can be displayed, but there are cases where printing cannot be performed depending on the state of the printing apparatus at the time of printing execution. However, in order for the user to know this in advance, it is necessary to go to the printing device and check the state of the printing device, and there is a problem that the work load during printing increases.
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is possible to easily confirm whether or not a printing result desired by a user can be obtained with a printing apparatus designated when printing using a printing apparatus on a network. The purpose is to do so.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following terminal device, program, and computer-readable recording medium.
(1) means for transmitting print data to a designated printing apparatus from a plurality of printing apparatuses connected via a network and performing printing based on the print data, and a print preview before transmitting the print data In the terminal device having the print preview display means for displaying, when the print preview is displayed by the print preview display means, the print condition acquisition means for acquiring the print condition of the print data, and the device information is acquired from the designated printing device. Printing based on the print data in the designated printing device based on the printing destination printing device information acquisition unit, the printing conditions acquired by the printing condition acquisition unit, and the device information acquired by the printing destination printing device information acquisition unit A print availability determination unit that determines whether or not printing is possible, and a print availability determination result by the print availability determination unit. Terminal device having a print determination result notifying means for notifying.

(2) In the terminal device of (1), a printing device search unit that searches for another printing device connected to the network, and a unit that acquires device information from the printing device searched by the printing device search unit. A means for determining whether printing based on the print data is possible in the searched printing apparatus based on the apparatus information acquired by the means and the printing condition acquired by the printing condition acquisition means, and printing by the means A terminal device provided with means for notifying a printing apparatus determined to be capable of printing, and means for changing a printing apparatus selected from the printing apparatuses notified by the means to a printing destination.

(3) In the terminal device of (1), a printing device search unit that searches for another printing device connected to the network, and a printing device list that displays a list of printing devices searched by the printing device search unit. Notifying the display means, the means for acquiring the device information of the printing device selected from the list of printing devices displayed by the printing device list display means, and the print conditions that can be set based on the device information acquired by the means A terminal device provided with means for performing, a printing condition changing means for changing a printing condition of the print data, and a means for changing the selected printing device to a printing destination.

(4) A procedure for causing a computer to send print data to a designated printing device from among a plurality of printing devices connected via a network and to perform printing based on the print data, and before sending the print data A print preview display procedure for displaying a print preview, a print condition acquisition procedure for acquiring a print condition for the print data when the print preview is displayed by the print preview display procedure, and a print for acquiring device information from the specified printing device Printing based on the print data is possible in the designated printing device based on the destination printing device information acquisition procedure, the printing condition acquired by the printing condition acquisition procedure, and the device information acquired by the printing destination printing device information acquisition procedure. The printability determination procedure for determining whether or not to print, and the printability determination result according to the printability determination procedure are passed. Program for the print determination result notification procedure to perform.

(5) A procedure for causing a computer to send print data to a designated printing device from among a plurality of printing devices connected via a network and to perform printing based on the print data, and before sending the print data A print preview display procedure for displaying a print preview, a print condition acquisition procedure for acquiring a print condition for the print data when the print preview is displayed by the print preview display procedure, and a print for acquiring device information from the specified printing device Printing based on the print data is possible in the designated printing device based on the destination printing device information acquisition procedure, the printing condition acquired by the printing condition acquisition procedure, and the device information acquired by the printing destination printing device information acquisition procedure. The printability determination procedure for determining whether or not to print, and the printability determination result according to the printability determination procedure are passed. A printing availability determination result notification procedure, a printing device search procedure for searching for another printing device connected to the network, a procedure for acquiring device information from the printing device searched by the printing device search procedure, and a procedure thereof A procedure for determining whether printing based on the print data is possible in the searched printing device based on the device information acquired by the above and the printing condition acquired by the printing condition acquisition procedure, and printing is possible by the procedure. A program for executing a procedure for notifying a printing apparatus determined to be present and a procedure for changing a printing apparatus selected from the printing apparatuses notified by the procedure to a printing destination.

(6) A procedure for causing a computer to send print data to a designated printing device from among a plurality of printing devices connected via a network and to perform printing based on the print data, and before sending the print data A print preview display procedure for displaying a print preview, a print condition acquisition procedure for acquiring a print condition for the print data when the print preview is displayed by the print preview display procedure, and a print for acquiring device information from the specified printing device Printing based on the print data is possible in the designated printing device based on the destination printing device information acquisition procedure, the printing condition acquired by the printing condition acquisition procedure, and the device information acquired by the printing destination printing device information acquisition procedure. The printability determination procedure for determining whether or not to print, and the printability determination result according to the printability determination procedure are passed. A printing availability determination result notification procedure, a printing device search procedure for searching for another printing device connected to the network, and a printing device list display procedure for displaying a list of printing devices searched by the printing device search procedure; A procedure for acquiring device information of a printing device selected from the list of printing devices displayed by the printing device list display procedure, a procedure for notifying a print condition that can be set based on the device information acquired by the procedure, A program for executing a printing condition changing procedure for changing the printing condition of the printing data and a procedure for changing the selected printing device to a printing destination.
(7) A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to any one of (4) to (6) is recorded.

The terminal device according to the present invention can easily confirm whether or not a user's desired printing result can be obtained with a printing device designated when printing using a printing device on a network.
Further, the program according to the present invention can realize a function for allowing a computer to easily confirm whether or not a printing result desired by a user can be obtained by a designated printing apparatus on a network.
Furthermore, the computer-readable program of the present invention can be easily introduced into the computer.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a network printing system to which the terminal device of the present invention is applied.
In this network printing system, a terminal device (client PC) 1 such as a personal computer has a plurality of first printing devices (first printers) 3, second printing devices (second printers) 4,. The printing apparatuses can be connected to each other, and the print data can be transmitted from the terminal apparatus 1 to the designated printing apparatus for printing.

The terminal device 1 includes a control unit realized by a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and each function of the terminal device according to the present invention is realized by installing a program according to the present invention. Also provided are a display unit such as an LCD and an input unit such as a keyboard or a mouse. Although not shown, the display unit and the input unit are provided in the terminal device.
The program according to the present invention to the control unit may be stored in advance in a ROM or the like, or may be installed at any time using a computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention.
The plurality of printing devices, the first printing device 3, the second printing device 4,... Each include a control unit, a display unit, an input unit, and a printing unit similar to those described above.

[Example 1]
Next, a terminal device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of Embodiment 1 of the terminal device illustrated in FIG.
The control part of this terminal device is provided with each part shown in FIG.
The main control unit 10 controls the units 11 to 25 and also controls the entire terminal device, and sends print data to a printing device designated from a plurality of printing devices connected via a network. It also functions as a means for sending and printing based on the print data.
The printing condition setting / printing instruction unit 11 inputs information such as a printing destination printing apparatus, a printing condition, and a printing instruction input by the user via the input device.
The upper printing conditions include various paper sizes (for example, A4 size, B5 size, etc.), specification of supported PDL, color printing and monochrome printing, number of copies, duplex printing, aggregate printing, sorting, scaling, etc. There are items.

The print preview data creation unit 12 has a print preview data creation function for creating print preview data for displaying a print preview based on the print data.
The print preview display unit 13 functions as a print preview display unit that displays a print preview on the display unit before transmission of print data to the printing apparatus.
The print condition acquisition unit 14 functions as a print condition acquisition unit that acquires the print condition of the print data when the print preview display unit 13 displays the print preview.
The print condition display unit 15 functions as a print condition display unit that displays the print condition of the print data acquired by the print condition acquisition unit 14 on the display unit.
The print condition setting changing unit 16 functions as a print condition setting changing unit that changes the print condition of the print data based on an instruction input by the user via the input device.

The printing destination printing device information acquisition unit 17 acquires the address of the printing destination printing device designated by the user via the input device, and obtains device information from the designated printing device on the network 2 based on the address. It functions as a print destination printer information acquisition unit to acquire.
The device information includes status information (status) of the printing device, such as whether printing is possible, whether paper is present, whether toner is out, whether the cover is open, whether there is an error such as a jam, support PDL, color printing, and monochrome. Information on available functions such as printing and scaling, information on paper such as paper tray settings, printable paper size types, and printable paper types, duplex printing, consolidated printing, sorting, stapling, etc. Option configuration information.
The printing destination printing apparatus information display unit 18 functions as a printing destination printing apparatus information display unit that displays the acquired apparatus information on the display unit.

Whether the printability determination unit 19 can perform printing based on the print data in the designated printing device based on the printing conditions acquired by the printing condition acquisition unit 14 and the device information acquired by the printing destination printing device information acquisition unit 17. It fulfills the function of a printability determination unit that determines whether or not.
The printability determination result display unit 20 functions as a printability determination result notification unit that displays and notifies the printability determination result by the printability determination unit 19 on the display unit.
The proxy printing device registration unit 21 registers in advance a proxy printing device (printing device as a candidate for proxy printing when the designated printing device cannot be printed) input by the user via the input unit. Fulfills the function.
The proxy printing device search unit 22 searches for another printing device connected to the network based on a proxy printing instruction input by the user via the input unit when the designated printing device cannot print. Fulfills the function.

The proxy printing device information acquisition unit 23 functions as a unit that acquires device information from the printing device searched by the proxy printing device search unit 22.
The proxy printing availability determination unit 24 includes the print data in the printing device searched by the proxy printing device search unit 22 based on the device information acquired by the proxy printing device information acquisition unit 23 and the printing conditions acquired by the printing condition acquisition unit 14. It serves as a means for determining whether printing based on the above is possible.
The proxy printing availability determination result display unit 25 functions as a means for displaying and notifying the display of a printing device that has been determined to be printable by the proxy printing availability determination unit 24.
The printing destination printing device changing unit 26 functions as means for changing the printing device selected by the user via the input unit from the printing devices notified by the proxy printing availability determination result display unit 25 to the printing destination.

Next, a process for displaying the printability information at the time of print preview in this terminal apparatus will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a print permission / prohibition information display process during print preview by each functional unit of the terminal device shown in FIG.
In this process, in step (indicated by “S” in the figure) 1, print data is designated from the input unit, a print destination printer is instructed, and print condition setting is input (this input may not be performed). When a print instruction is input, print preview data is created based on the print data instructed to print in step 2, and a print preview is displayed on the display unit based on the print preview data in step 3.

When the printing condition is acquired from the print data instructed to be printed in step 4, and the change of the printing condition is instructed from the input unit in step 5, the printing condition is changed based on the instruction.
In step 6, the network address of the printing apparatus designated as the printing destination is acquired.
In step 7, the printing apparatus designated as the printing destination on the network is accessed based on the address, and the printing destination printing apparatus information which is the apparatus information of the printing apparatus is acquired. In step 8, the acquired printing destination printing is performed. The device information is displayed on the display unit.
For the device information acquisition process, a generally popular method such as an SNMP protocol or a Web service that provides device information may be used.
In step 9, it is determined whether or not the printing apparatus designated as the printing destination is operating normally (whether printing is possible normally) based on the status information of the acquired apparatus information.

If it is determined in step 9 that the printer is operating normally, the printing of the print data is performed in the designated printing apparatus based on the function information of the apparatus information acquired in step 10, information on paper, option configuration information, and the like. It is determined whether printing based on conditions is possible.
If it is determined in step 10 that printing is possible, in step 11, print permission information is displayed on the display unit as a result of the print permission determination, and this process is terminated.
If it is determined in step 9 that the printer is not operating normally and if it is determined in step 10 that printing is not possible, in step 12 the printing permission information and the reason why printing cannot be performed are displayed on the display unit as a result of the printing permission determination. The process ends.
Thereafter, in the case of display of printable information, when a print instruction is input from the user, the print data is transmitted to the designated printing apparatus, and printing is executed under the print conditions set in the print data. Further, in the case of displaying the printing rejection information, processing up to the proxy printing device determination described later is executed.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example when printable information is displayed on the print preview screen in the display unit of the terminal device illustrated in FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example when print rejection information is displayed on the print preview screen in the display unit of the terminal device illustrated in FIG. 1.
The print preview screen 40 includes a print preview column 41 for displaying a print preview of print data designated for printing, a print destination printer name display column 42 for displaying a printer name designated as a print destination, and its print destination. In the printing apparatus designated in the above, the printability determination result display field 43 for displaying whether or not printing is possible under the printing conditions of the printing apparatus instructed to print, and the printing apparatus designated as the printing destination determined that printing is not possible. A cause display field 44 for displaying a detailed explanation of the cause that cannot be printed sometimes, a print condition display field 45, and a substitute print button 46 are displayed.

When the printability determination result is printable, “usable” is displayed as printability information in the printability determination result display field 43 as shown in FIG. 4, and the cause display field 44 is blank. In the cause display field 44, various types of information other than the cause that cannot be printed, such as a print job waiting time, may be displayed.
On the other hand, if the printability determination result is printability, for example, print condition: paper size → A4 size designation, device status: normal (printable), paper information: tray 1 / A4 / no paper (set to A4) In this state, however, the designated printing apparatus cannot perform printing. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, “unusable” is displayed as the printable information in the printability determination result display field 43 and the cause information that cannot be printed in the cause display field 44 is, for example, “specified” as shown in the figure. "Cannot print because the paper size is not loaded in the tray."

Next, processing when a substitute print button is input after displaying the printability determination result at the time of print preview will be described.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing up to the determination of the substitute printing device after the display of the printability determination result at the time of print preview by each functional unit of the terminal device shown in FIG.
In this process, when the substitute print button is input from the input unit by the user, it is determined in step (indicated by “S” in the figure) 21 whether or not there is a substitute printing device registration. If NO, step 22 searches for an alternate printing device (printing device other than the designated printing device) which is another printing device on the network.

In step 23, it is determined from the network search result or the registration result of the proxy printing device whether there is a proxy printing device candidate. If there is a candidate, the network address of the proxy printing device searched or registered in step 24 is determined. In step 25, the proxy printing device on the network is accessed based on the address, and proxy printing device information that is device information of the proxy printing device is acquired.
In step 26, it is determined whether or not the substitute printing apparatus is operating normally (whether printing is possible normally) based on the status information of the acquired apparatus information.

If it is determined in step 26 that it is not operating normally, the process returns to step 23. If it is determined that it is operating normally in step 27, the function information, paper information, option configuration information, etc. of the device information acquired in step 27 are displayed. Based on this, it is determined whether printing based on the printing conditions of the print data is possible in the proxy printing apparatus.
If it is determined in step 27 that printing is not possible, the process returns to step 23. If it is determined that printing is possible, it is added to the proxy printing capable printing apparatus list that notifies the printing apparatus that is determined to be capable of printing in step 28. Return.
In this manner, by repeating the processing of steps 23 to 28, whether or not the printing apparatus is in a printable state for all of the previously registered proxy printing apparatuses or other printing apparatuses searched from the network, It is determined whether printing is possible based on the printing conditions of the printing apparatus, and only proxy printing apparatuses that can print are listed.

When it is determined in step 23 that there are no candidates after performing the above determination for all of the proxy printing devices registered in advance or other printing devices searched from the network, a list of printing devices capable of proxy printing is displayed on the display unit in step 29. indicate. If there is no proxy printing device that can print, a message to that effect is displayed.
In step 30, when one of the substitute printing devices listed in the substitute printable printing device list is selected by the user's selection input from the input unit, the selected substitute printing device is selected. The print destination is changed, and this process ends.
After that, when there is a selection input of the proxy printing device and a print instruction input to the proxy printing device from the user, the print data is transmitted to the proxy printing device and printing is performed with the printing conditions set in the print data. Let
This process may be executed whenever the user presses the substitute print button at a time other than when the print preview is displayed.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example when the proxy printing possible printing device list is displayed on the print preview screen in the display unit of the terminal device shown in FIG. 1, and parts common to FIGS. 4 and 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Is attached.
In this print preview screen 40, instead of the printing destination printing device example display column, the printability determination result display column, and the cause display column, the substitution printing devices (FIG. As an example, there is a substitute printable printing device list field 47 for displaying the names of a plurality of substitute printable printing devices such as a second printer, a third printer, a seventh printer, and an eighth printer). Is displayed.
After that, when the user selects a printing device to perform proxy printing from the list of printers that can perform proxy printing, the print data is transmitted to the selected proxy printing device, and printing is performed with the printing conditions set in the print data. Is executed.

In the above-described processing, printing devices that can perform proxy printing are displayed as a list, but printing that is determined to be printable first among proxy printing devices registered in advance or from proxy printing devices that are searched from the network. The apparatus may be displayed as a substitute printing apparatus candidate, and the user may be inquired whether or not printing to the substitute printing apparatus candidate may be executed.
In that case, when there is a print instruction from the user, the print data is transmitted to the proxy printing apparatus, and printing is executed under the print conditions set in the print data.

[Example 2]
Next, a terminal device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the second embodiment of the terminal device shown in FIG. 2, and the same reference numerals are given to portions common to those in FIG. 1, and description thereof is omitted.
The proxy printing device list display unit 27 of the control unit of the terminal device functions as a printing device list display unit that displays a list of proxy printing devices searched by the proxy printing device search unit 22 on the display unit.
The proxy printing device selection unit 28 functions as a proxy printing device selection unit that inputs an instruction selected and input by the user from the proxy printing devices displayed by the proxy printing device list display unit 27.

The proxy printing device information acquisition unit 23 ′ functions as a proxy printing device information acquisition unit that acquires device information of a printing device selected from the list of printing devices displayed by the proxy printing device list display unit 27.
The settable print condition display unit 29 functions as a settable print condition display means for displaying and notifying the display unit of print conditions that can be set based on the device information acquired by the proxy printing device information acquisition unit 23 ′.
The printing condition changing unit 30 functions as a printing condition changing unit that changes the printing condition of the print data based on an instruction input from the input unit by the user.

Next, another example of processing when an input of a substitute print button is performed after displaying the printability determination result at the time of print preview in this terminal device will be described.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating another example of processing up to determination of a substitute printing apparatus after display of a printability determination result at the time of print preview by each functional unit of the terminal apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.
In this process, when the substitute print button is input from the input unit by the user, it is determined in step (indicated by “S” in the figure) 41 whether there is a substitute printing device registration. If NO, step 42 searches for an alternate printing device (printing device other than the designated printing device) which is another printing device on the network.

In step 43, a proxy printing device list indicating a list of proxy printing devices is displayed on the display unit from the network search result or the registration result of the proxy printing device (the proxy printing device listed in this proxy printing device list is in a printable state). In step 44, an address on the network of the proxy printing device selected and input by the user from the proxy printing device list is acquired in step 44. In 45, the selected proxy printing device on the network is accessed based on the address, and device information of the proxy printing device is acquired. In step 46, information on the function of the device information in the device information, information on paper , Print conditions that can be set by the selected proxy printing device based on the option configuration information and the like are displayed on the display unit.
In step 47, based on the function information of the apparatus information acquired in step 47, information on paper, option configuration information, etc., it is determined whether or not the selected substitute printing apparatus can print based on the printing conditions of the print data. .

If it is determined in step 47 that printing is possible, the print permission information is displayed on the display unit as the print permission determination result in step 51, and the process proceeds to step 49. If it is determined that printing is not possible, the display unit is displayed as the print permission determination result in step 48. Display the printing rejection information and the cause of the printing failure, and proceed to Step 49.
In step 49, it is determined whether or not there is an OK instruction input from the input unit by the user. If there is no OK instruction input, this process is terminated. If there is an OK instruction input, The printing destination is changed to the selected substitute printing apparatus, and this process is terminated.
Thereafter, when there is a print instruction input from the user, the print data is transmitted to the changed proxy printing apparatus, and printing is executed under the print conditions set in the print data.

10 and 11 are diagrams illustrating an example when the proxy printing device list is displayed on the print preview screen in the display unit of the terminal device illustrated in FIG. 1, and portions common to FIGS. 4, 5, and 7. Are denoted by the same reference numerals.
As shown in FIG. 10, in this print preview screen 40, instead of the printing destination printing device example display column, the printability determination result display column, and the cause display column, the above processing is listed in the substitute printing device list. Proxy printing device list field 48 for displaying the names of proxy printing devices (in the drawing, a plurality of proxy printing devices such as a second printer, a third printer, a seventh printer, and an eighth printer are shown as an example). Is displayed.

After that, as shown in FIG. 11, when the third printer indicated by the arrow 49 in the drawing is selected as the printing device to be printed by the user from the proxy printing device list, the third printer of the selected proxy printing device is selected. Only the printing conditions that can be used by the printer are displayed in the printing condition display field 45. In the figure, in order to indicate that the functions of duplex printing and aggregate printing can be used, settings for each function are displayed so that the sort function that cannot be used by the third printer is displayed. As shown by the arrow 50 in the figure, the screen is shaded so that the function cannot be set.
In the above display example, the function that cannot be used is displayed by shading and displaying the setting input not accepted. However, the display color is displayed lightly so that the setting input is not accepted. Alternatively, functions that cannot be used may not be displayed.

In the network printing system of this embodiment, when executing print preview, it is possible to check in advance whether or not printing can be performed with the designated printing conditions on the designated printing device. It is possible to confirm whether printing is really possible.
In addition, when printing is not possible under the set printing conditions as a result of the preliminary check, the user (user) can be notified of the location that is causing the printing failure in the preview printing screen, and measures are taken. Can give an opportunity.
Further, when the output from the printing apparatus that has instructed printing for some reason during print preview is impossible, it is possible to easily know an alternative device.
If the pre-check results indicate that printing with the set printing conditions cannot be performed, a printing apparatus that can print with the same printing conditions is searched from the network or a pre-registered substitute printing apparatus. Instead of the printing apparatus selected by the user, proxy printing can be performed.

In addition, when there is no proxy printing device that can print under the same printing conditions, all the printing devices that exist on the network are displayed, and the settable conditions are displayed using the print condition setting function on the print preview screen. The printing conditions can be reset.
Also, by incorporating it into an existing network printing system used by the user, it is possible to use a pre-check whether printing is possible and a substitute printing function at the time of print preview.
Furthermore, by installing the program according to the present invention in an existing terminal device (client PC) used by the user, it is possible to use a pre-check whether printing is possible and a substitute printing function at the time of print preview.

  In this embodiment, as an example of displaying the printability information to the user, an example in which the printability information is displayed on a part of the print preview screen is shown, but other warning messages or voices are output. For example, the notification means is not limited to one type.

  The terminal device according to the present invention can also be applied to personal computers such as desktop personal computers and notebook personal computers.

It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of Example 1 of the terminal device shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the network printing system to which the terminal device of this invention is applied. It is a flowchart figure which shows the process of the printing propriety information display at the time of the print preview by each function part of the terminal device shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example when printable information is displayed on the print preview screen in the display part of the terminal device shown in FIG.

It is a figure which shows an example when printing rejection information is displayed on the print preview screen in the display part of the terminal device shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating processing up to determination of a substitute printing device after display of a printability determination result at the time of print preview by each functional unit of the terminal device illustrated in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example when the proxy printing possible printing apparatus list | wrist is displayed on the printing preview screen in the display part of the terminal device shown in FIG.

It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of Example 2 of the terminal device shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating another example of processing up to determination of a substitute printing device after display of a printability determination result at the time of print preview by each functional unit of the terminal device illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows an example when a substitute printing apparatus list is displayed on the print preview screen in the display part of the terminal device shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example when a substitute printing apparatus list is displayed on a print preview screen in the display unit of the terminal apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

Explanation of symbols

1: Terminal device 2: Network 3: First printing device 4: Second printing device 10: Main control unit 11: Print condition setting / printing instruction unit 12: Print preview data creation unit 13: Print preview display unit 14: Printing condition Acquisition unit 15: Print condition display unit 16: Print condition setting change unit 17: Print destination printer information acquisition unit 18: Print destination printer information display unit 19: Printability determination unit 20: Printability determination result display unit 21: Proxy Printing device registration unit 22: Proxy printing device search unit 23, 23 ′: Proxy printing device information acquisition unit 24: Proxy printing availability determination unit 25: Proxy printing availability determination result display unit 26: Printing destination printing device change unit 27: Proxy printing Device list display unit 28: Proxy printing device selection unit 29: Settable printing condition display unit 30: Change printing conditions 40: Print preview screen 41: Print preview field 42: Print destination printer name display field 43: Printability determination result display field 44: Cause display field 45: Print condition display field 46: Substitute print button 47: Substitute printable printer List column 48: Proxy printing device list column

Claims (7)

Means for sending print data to a designated printing device from a plurality of printing devices connected via a network and printing based on the print data; and printing for displaying a print preview before sending the print data In a terminal device comprising preview display means,
A printing condition acquisition unit that acquires a printing condition of the print data, a printing destination printing apparatus information acquisition unit that acquires apparatus information from the designated printing apparatus, and the printing condition when the print preview is displayed by the printing preview display unit; Print availability determination means for determining whether printing based on the print data is possible in the designated printing apparatus based on the printing conditions acquired by the acquisition means and the apparatus information acquired by the printing destination printing apparatus information acquisition means; A terminal device comprising: a printing availability determination result notifying unit for notifying a printing availability determination result by the printing availability determining unit. The terminal device according to claim 1,
Printing device search means for searching for another printing device connected to the network, means for acquiring device information from the printing device searched by the printing device search means, device information acquired by the means, and the printing conditions A means for determining whether printing based on the print data is possible in the searched printing apparatus based on the printing condition acquired by the acquisition means, and a printing apparatus determined to be capable of printing by the means are notified. And a means for changing a printing apparatus selected from the printing apparatuses notified by the means to a printing destination. The terminal device according to claim 1,
Printing device search means for searching for other printing devices connected to the network, printing device list display means for displaying a list of printing devices searched by the printing device search means, and display by the printing device list display means Means for acquiring device information of a printing device selected from the list of printed devices, means for notifying a printing condition that can be set based on the device information acquired by the means, and changing the printing condition of the print data A terminal device, comprising: a printing condition changing unit that performs the operation, and a unit that changes the selected printing device to a printing destination.   A procedure for causing a computer to send print data to a designated printing device from among a plurality of printing devices connected via a network and to perform printing based on the print data, and to perform a print preview before sending the print data A print preview display procedure to be displayed; a print condition acquisition procedure for acquiring a print condition of the print data when a print preview is displayed by the print preview display procedure; and a print destination printing device for acquiring device information from the designated printing device Whether printing based on the print data is possible in the designated printing device based on the information obtaining procedure, the printing condition obtained by the printing condition obtaining procedure, and the device information obtained by the printing destination printing device information obtaining procedure A printability determination procedure for determining the printability, and a mark for notifying the printability determination result according to the printability determination procedure. Program for executing the determination result notification procedure.   A procedure for causing a computer to send print data to a designated printing device from among a plurality of printing devices connected via a network and to perform printing based on the print data, and to perform a print preview before sending the print data A print preview display procedure to be displayed; a print condition acquisition procedure for acquiring a print condition of the print data when a print preview is displayed by the print preview display procedure; and a print destination printing device for acquiring device information from the designated printing device Whether printing based on the print data is possible in the designated printing device based on the information obtaining procedure, the printing condition obtained by the printing condition obtaining procedure, and the device information obtained by the printing destination printing device information obtaining procedure A printability determination procedure for determining the printability, and a mark for notifying the printability determination result according to the printability determination procedure. Availability determination result notification procedure, printing device search procedure for searching for other printing devices connected to the network, procedure for acquiring device information from the printing device searched by the printing device search procedure, and acquisition by the procedure A procedure for determining whether printing based on the print data is possible in the searched printing device based on the device information obtained and the printing condition acquired by the printing condition acquisition procedure, and that printing is possible by the procedure A program for executing a procedure for notifying a determined printing device and a procedure for changing a printing device selected from the printing devices notified by the procedure to a printing destination.   A procedure for causing a computer to send print data to a designated printing device from a plurality of printing devices connected via a network and to perform printing based on the print data, and to perform a print preview before sending the print data A print preview display procedure to be displayed; a print condition acquisition procedure for acquiring a print condition of the print data when a print preview is displayed by the print preview display procedure; and a print destination printing device for acquiring device information from the designated printing device Whether printing based on the print data is possible in the designated printing device based on the information obtaining procedure, the printing condition obtained by the printing condition obtaining procedure, and the device information obtained by the printing destination printing device information obtaining procedure A printability determination procedure for determining the printability, and a mark for notifying the printability determination result according to the printability determination procedure. A determination result notification procedure; a printing device search procedure for searching for another printing device connected to the network; a printing device list display procedure for displaying a list of printing devices searched by the printing device search procedure; A procedure for acquiring device information of a printing device selected from a list of printing devices displayed by a printing device list display procedure; a procedure for notifying a print condition that can be set based on the device information acquired by the procedure; A program for executing a printing condition changing procedure for changing a printing condition of printing data and a procedure for changing the selected printing apparatus to a printing destination.   The computer-readable recording medium which recorded the program as described in any one of Claims 4 thru | or 6.

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