JP2007034534A - Printer system and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain automatic print setting based on arbitrary file characteristic information. <P>SOLUTION: This printer system 1 includes a setting table storage part 40 for storing print setting information showing print setting in association with file characteristic information to characterize a file, a print instruction accepting part 31 for accepting the print instruction of a file, an operation accepting part 36 for accepting the print setting of the file whose print instruction has been accepted, a print setting temporarily determining part 33 for acquiring one or more file characteristic information to characterize a file whose print instruction has been accepted and a threshold deciding part 39 for retrieving file characteristic information corresponding to each acquired file characteristic information from among the file characteristic information stored in the setting table storage part 40, and for updating the print setting information stored in association with at least one of the retrieved file characteristic information based on the accepted print setting. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer system and a program.

Recent printers have various functions such as a double-sided printing function, a Nin1 function, a toner saving function, and a watermark printing function. In order to use each function in such a multi-function printer, unless the same printing is performed every time, a print setting by the user of the printer is required for each printing. This operation is very troublesome for the user. In Patent Document 1, in order to reduce such annoyance, the print setting is automatically performed based on the extension of the file.
JP 2000-66850 A

  The file extension is one of file characteristic information indicating the application that generated the file. There are various other file feature information that characterizes the file in this way. As specific examples, there are an unlimited number of information such as information indicating whether the document is a confidential document or information indicating whether the document is a request for approval.

  If such file feature information and print settings are stored in association with each other, it is considered that automatic print settings corresponding to the file feature information can be performed by acquiring the file feature information at the time of printing. However, since it is practically impossible to create a table for storing all file feature information in advance, automatic print setting based on arbitrary file feature information has not been possible so far.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a printer system and a program that enable automatic print setting based on arbitrary file characteristic information.

  In order to solve the above problems, a printer system according to the present invention includes: a print setting information storage unit that stores print setting information indicating one or a plurality of print settings in association with file characteristic information that characterizes a file; Print instruction reception means for receiving an instruction, print setting reception means for receiving print settings of a file for which the print instruction has been received, and file feature information acquisition for acquiring one or more file characteristic information characterizing the file for which the print instruction has been received Means, a file feature information search means for searching corresponding to each file feature information acquired by the file feature information acquisition means from the file feature information stored in the print setting information storage means, and the file feature information At least of the file feature information retrieved by the retrieval means The bracts association with print setting information stored in the print setting information storage unit, characterized in that it comprises a and updating means for updating, based on the accepted print setting. The print setting indicated by the print setting information stored in the print setting information storage unit in association with at least one of the file feature information searched by the file feature information search unit is the file that has received the print instruction. It is good also as including the printing means to print by.

  According to this, file characteristic information acquired for a file for which a print instruction has been received and print settings received in printing the file can be stored in association with each other, so a table for storing all file characteristic information It is possible to perform automatic print setting based on arbitrary file feature information without creating the file in advance.

  In the printer system, the file feature information acquisition unit may acquire file feature information that characterizes the file from the file name of the file that has received the print instruction.

  In this way, if you include file feature information that requires automatic print settings (such as “Top Secret” or “Deliberation”) in the file name, automatic printing based on any file feature information that requires automatic print settings. Settings can be made.

Further, in each of the printer systems, the printing unit has the print setting indicated by the print setting information stored in association with any one of the file feature information searched by the file feature information search unit, Print the file that accepted the instructions,
It is good as well.

  Further, in each of the printer systems, the updating unit corresponds to the file feature information and the number of use of each print setting when the file characterized by the file feature information is printed by the printing unit. Print setting use number storage means for storing the print setting information, and the updating means uses the print setting use information stored in the print setting information storage means in association with each searched file feature information. Of the print settings stored in association with the file feature information by the number storage means, the print settings may be updated with the use frequency satisfying a predetermined condition.

  In this way, for each file feature information, a print setting (for example, a print setting with the highest use frequency) that satisfies a predetermined use frequency can be stored in the print setting information storage unit.

  The program according to the present invention includes a print setting information storage unit that stores print setting information indicating one or a plurality of print settings in association with file feature information that characterizes a file, and a print instruction reception unit that receives a file print instruction. A print setting reception unit that receives print settings of a file that has received the print instruction, a file feature information acquisition unit that acquires one or more file characteristic information that characterizes the file that has received the print instruction, and a print setting information storage unit. Among the stored file feature information, a file feature information search unit that searches for each corresponding to each file feature information acquired by the file feature information acquisition unit, and a file feature information searched by the file feature information search unit The print setting in association with at least one of The print setting information stored in the broadcast storage means, updating means for updating, based on the accepted print setting, and characterized by causing a computer to function as a.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration and functional blocks of a printer system 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer system 1 includes a computer device 10 and a printing device 20. Each of the computer apparatus 10 and the printing apparatus 20 includes a CPU and a memory, and is configured to be able to operate various programs. The printing apparatus 20 performs printing according to print data (described later) input from the computer apparatus 10.

  The computer apparatus 10 functionally includes an operating system 11, an application 13, a file management system 12, a display unit 14, an operation unit 15, a printer driver unit 17, and a printer interface unit 16, as shown in FIG. It is configured.

  The operating system 11 is a system realized by operating system software that runs on a CPU, and controls each unit of the computer apparatus 10.

  The file management system 12 is a system realized by file management system software that runs on a CPU, and manages files stored in storage means such as a hard disk of the computer apparatus 10. Specifically, the file management system 12 generates and stores a folder with a unique name. The file management system 12 stores each file in one of the folders and assigns a unique name to each file in units of folders.

  The application 13 is realized by application software that runs on the CPU. The application 13 controls each part of the computer apparatus 10 via the operating system 11. The application 13 acquires a file managed by the file management system 12 via the operating system 11 and performs processing such as change. Furthermore, when a file print instruction and print settings are input from the user via the operation unit 15 to be described later, the application 13 receives the file (print target file), print instructions, and print settings via the operating system 11. The data is output to the printer driver unit 17.

  Here, the print setting will be described. The printing apparatus 20 has various printing functions. For example, a duplex printing function, a Nin1 function, a toner saving function, a watermark printing function, and the like. When printing a file in the printing apparatus 20, it is necessary to notify the printing apparatus 20 whether or not to use these printing functions. Therefore, the computer apparatus 10 uses the watermark printing function for the user whether or not to use double-sided printing, whether or not to use the Nin1 function, and if the Nin1 function is used, the number of ups is further increased. Whether or not, what is a composite character when using the watermark printing function, etc., prompts the user to input print settings for each printing function. The computer apparatus 10 acquires, for each print function, print settings input by the user from among print settings indicating use, print settings indicating non-use, and other print settings. Further, the computer apparatus 10 generates print setting information indicating all acquired print settings and outputs the print setting information to the printing apparatus 20.

  The display unit 14 is an output interface for outputting information to a user of the computer apparatus 10 such as a display or a speaker. The display unit 14 performs display according to an instruction from the operating system 11.

  The operation unit 15 is an input interface for accepting a user operation of the computer apparatus 10 such as a keyboard and a mouse. The operation accepted by the operation unit 15 is output to the operating system 11.

  The printer interface unit 16 is a communication interface for performing communication between the printing apparatus 20 and the computer apparatus 10. Specific examples include Centronics and LAN.

  The printer driver unit 17 receives a print instruction and print setting information of a specific file (print target file) from the operating system 11, and print data in a language in which the printing apparatus 20 can analyze the print setting information and the contents of the print target file. And output to the printing apparatus 20 via the printer interface unit 16.

  As will be described later, the printer driver unit 17 stores print setting information indicating one or a plurality of print settings used in printing the file feature information in association with file feature information characterizing the contents of the file. A setting table storage unit 40 is included. The printer driver unit 17 acquires file feature information that characterizes the file for which the print instruction has been received, and prints with each print setting indicated by the print setting information stored in association with the file feature information. . The printer driver unit 17 also accepts changes in each print setting for each print, and updates the print setting information stored in the setting table storage unit 40 with the received print settings.

  Hereinafter, the configuration and function of the printer driver unit 17 will be described in more detail.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer driver unit 17 functionally includes a print instruction reception unit 31, a print data generation unit 32, a temporary print setting determination unit 33, a temporary print setting storage unit 34, a display control unit 35, and an operation reception unit. 36, a number counting unit 37, a setting history storage unit 38, a threshold value determination unit 39, and a setting table storage unit 40.

  When a print instruction and a print target file are input from the application 13, the print instruction reception unit 31 controls each unit of the printer driver unit 17 so as to start a printing process. In addition, the print instruction reception unit 31 outputs the file name of the print target file to the print setting provisional determination unit 33 and outputs the print target content of the print target file to the print data generation unit 32.

  When the print target content is input from the print instruction receiving unit 31, the print data generation unit 32 reads the print setting information from the print setting temporary storage unit 34, which will be described later, and converts the input print target content and the print setting information. Based on this, print data is generated and output to the printing apparatus 20 via the printer interface unit 16.

  The print setting provisional determination unit 33 acquires one or a plurality of file characteristic information characterizing the file. For this purpose, the print setting temporary determination unit 33 stores several delimiters. FIG. 2 shows an example of a delimiter storage table for storing these delimiters. In the figure, blanks, underlines, other symbols such as “+”, “−”, “•”, “(”, “)”, “.”, Hiragana, and katakana are stored as delimiters.

  The print setting provisional determination unit 33 acquires the position of the delimiter included in the input file name. Then, the print setting provisional determination unit 33 acquires words positioned respectively between the head and the delimiter, between the end and the delimiter, and between the delimiter and the delimiter, and uses the acquired word as file feature information. . For example, if the file name is “(approval) _specification.txt”, the print setting provisional determination unit 33 acquires the words “approval”, “specification”, and “txt”, and these are used as file feature information. To do. Here, it is preferable that the print setting temporary determination unit 33 excludes the extension “txt” from the file feature information. This is because the extension indicates the application that created the file and does not characterize the contents of the file.

  The setting table storage unit 40 stores a setting table. This setting table is a table for storing file characteristic information and print setting information indicating print settings to be selected when printing a file specified by the file characteristic information in association with each other. FIG. 3 is an example of this setting table. As shown in the figure, in the setting table, file feature information and print setting information are stored in association with each other. In addition, the setting table is provided with a setting set in which file feature information associated with the same print setting information is combined and combined into one record, and the storage area to be used is reduced. Further, the setting table storage unit 40 gives priority to this setting set. The print setting to be selected when printing the file specified by the plurality of file characteristic information is the print setting indicated by the print setting information determined according to the priority order.

  The print setting provisional determination unit 33 searches the file feature information stored in the setting table for items corresponding to the acquired file feature information. Then, the print setting temporary determination unit 33 acquires the print setting information in association with at least one of the searched file characteristic information, and the acquired print setting information indicates the print setting at the time of printing the print target file. Temporarily determined as information. In the above example, since the acquired file feature information is “consultation” and “specification document”, the setting set “submission document” and the setting set “reference document” are to be acquired. Here, if the priority order of the “submission document” is higher than the priority order of the “reference document”, the print setting temporary determination unit 33 acquires the print setting information corresponding to the setting set “submission document”, and prints the file to be printed. Is temporarily determined as print setting information indicating print settings at the time of printing.

  The print setting temporary determination unit 33 writes the temporarily determined print setting information in the print setting temporary storage unit 34. Then, the display control unit 35 generates a print setting input screen including each print setting indicated by the written print setting information, and displays it on the display unit 14 via the operating system 11. The user of the computer apparatus 10 knows the print setting information provisionally determined on the displayed print setting input screen, and inputs the change contents in the operation unit 15 when he / she wants to change it. On the other hand, when it is not desired to change, information indicating that the operation unit 15 does not change is input.

  The operation accepting unit 36 accepts information indicating change contents input from the user or information indicating that no change is made. When there is a change, the operation reception unit 36 rewrites the print setting information stored in the print setting temporary storage unit 34 with the print setting information indicating the changed print setting.

  The print setting temporary storage unit 34 outputs the stored print setting information to the print data generation unit 32. The print setting temporary storage unit 34 preferably outputs the stored print setting information to the print data generation unit 32 after being rewritten by the operation receiving unit 36.

  The number-of-times counting unit 37 uses a file feature information usage number table, which will be described later, based on one or more file feature information for specifying the current print target file and the print setting information stored in the print setting temporary storage unit 34. And the file feature information print setting table is updated.

  The setting history storage unit 38 stores the file feature information usage count table and the file feature information print setting table.

  FIG. 4 is an example of a file feature information usage count table. The file feature information usage number table is a table that stores file feature information and the number of uses in association with each other. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the file feature information and the number of uses correspond to each other. It is remembered. Each time printing is performed, 1 is added to the number of file feature information used to specify a file to be printed.

  FIG. 5 is an example of a file feature information print setting table. The file feature information print setting table is a table that stores, for each file feature information, the number of use of each print setting when printing a print target file characterized by the file feature information. In this table, the stored contents are updated each time a print target file specified by certain file characteristic information is printed. FIG. 5 is an example of certain file feature information. In the print function “double-sided” in FIG. 6, the number of used duplex print use print settings and the number of use of duplex print non-use print settings are stored. The same applies to other printing functions.

  In such a file feature information usage number table, the number counting unit 37 increments the usage number of one or a plurality of file feature information for specifying the current print target file by one. For file feature information that is not on the file feature information usage count table, the number counting unit 37 newly adds file feature information and sets the usage count to 1.

  In addition, the number counting unit 37 uses one or more of the present time based on the print setting information stored in the print setting temporary storage unit 34 in the file characteristic information print setting table for the file characteristic information for specifying the file to be printed. The number of print settings used is increased by one. For file feature information that does not have a file feature information print setting table, a table is added. Based on the print setting information stored in the print setting temporary storage unit 34, 1 is used as the number of one or more print settings used this time. Set.

  The threshold determination unit 39 updates the print setting information stored in the setting table in association with the file feature information searched by the print setting temporary determination unit 33 based on the print setting information stored in the setting history storage unit 38. To do.

  Specifically, the threshold determination unit 39 first determines whether there is any file feature information stored in the file feature information usage count table whose usage count exceeds the threshold. If there is something that exceeds the threshold, a setting table update process is performed. In addition, it is preferable that the threshold determination unit 39 returns the usage count of the file feature information usage count table to 0 for the file feature information subjected to the processing after performing the setting table update processing. .

  The setting table update process will be described. In the file feature information usage count table, the threshold determination unit 39 uses the file feature information print setting table for the file feature information that indicates that the usage count exceeds the threshold value, so that the usage frequency satisfies the predetermined print setting ( For example, the most frequently used print setting within the same print function is acquired. Then, the threshold determination unit 39 updates the setting table stored in the setting table storage unit 40 with each acquired print setting. That is, the threshold determination unit 39 stores each acquired print setting in the setting table in association with the file feature information whose number of use exceeds the threshold. For the file feature information that has already been stored, the threshold value determination unit 39 updates the print settings that are stored in association with the file feature information according to the acquired print settings.

  The threshold determination unit 39 newly adds a setting set as necessary. The setting set name added at this time is preferably a file feature information name corresponding to the newly added setting set.

  Two specific examples of such setting table update processing will be described below.

  6 shows a setting table obtained as a result of performing the setting table update process on the table shown in FIG. 3 based on the file feature information usage count table shown in FIG. 4 and the file feature information print setting table shown in FIG. It is. The setting table shown in FIG. 6 is obtained by adding a setting set corresponding to the file feature information “confidential” to the setting table shown in FIG.

  In the file feature information usage count table shown in FIG. 4, the usage count of the file feature information “Top Secret” in the file feature information usage count table exceeds the threshold. For this reason, the threshold determination unit 39 adds a print setting for the file feature information “top secret” to the setting table.

  Further, the threshold determination unit 39 acquires the print setting with the highest use frequency for each print function from the file feature information print setting table for the file feature information “confidential” shown in FIG. 5. Specifically, based on FIG. 5, the threshold determination unit 39 obtains “No” for both sides, “No” for Nin1, “No” for toner saving, and “Combine (secret)” for watermark printing. Then, the threshold determination unit 39 stores the print setting information indicating each acquired print setting in the setting table in association with the file feature information “top secret”.

  FIG. 9 shows the settings obtained as a result of performing the setting table update process on the table table shown in FIG. 6 based on the file feature information usage count table shown in FIG. 7 and the file feature information print setting table shown in FIG. It is a table. The setting table shown in FIG. 9 is obtained by adding file feature information “important” to the setting set “top secret” of the setting table shown in FIG.

  In the file feature information usage count table shown in FIG. 7, the usage count of the file feature information “important” exceeds the threshold. For this reason, the threshold determination unit 39 adds a print setting for the file feature information “important” to the setting table.

  Further, the threshold determination unit 39 acquires the print setting with the highest use frequency for each print function from the file feature information print setting table for the file feature information “important” shown in FIG. Specifically, based on FIG. 8, the threshold determination unit 39 obtains “No” for both sides, “No” for Nin1, “No” for toner saving, and “Combine (secret)” for watermark printing. This is the same as the file feature information “confidential” described above. The threshold determination unit 39 detects that a setting set of the same print setting information as the print setting information indicating each print setting for the file characteristic information “important” is already stored in the setting table, and detects the detected setting set “Top Secret”. "Important" has been added to the file feature information.

  As described above, the setting table is updated each time the number of printings is repeated. Hereinafter, such setting table update processing will be described in more detail with reference to a processing flowchart of the computer apparatus 10.

  First, the application 13 receives a print instruction from the user (S100), and causes the user to specify a printer (S101). Here, the description will be continued assuming that the printing apparatus 20 is designated by this designation. When a printer is designated, the application 13 outputs a print instruction and a print target file to the printer driver unit 17 (S200). The printer driver unit 17 acquires the file name of the input file to be printed and cuts out terms included in the file name (S201). The printer driver unit 17 handles this term as the file characteristic information described above.

  The printer driver unit 17 searches the setting table corresponding to the file feature information that matches the term used for the file name from the setting table (S202), and the file feature information that matches the term used for the file name. It is determined whether there is a setting set corresponding to (S203). When there is a setting set corresponding to the file feature information that matches the term used in the file name, the printer driver unit 17 indicates the print setting by the print setting information stored in association with the setting set. Switch to print settings (S204). On the other hand, if there is no setting set corresponding to the file feature information that matches the term used in the file name, the standard print setting information is used. This standard print setting information is print setting information stored in association with the setting set “standard” in FIG. This setting set “standard” does not store the corresponding file feature information, and is used as print setting information indicating default print settings.

  Next, the printer driver unit 17 generates a printer property screen (print setting input screen) in which the print setting information to be used is set (S205), and displays it on the display unit 14 (S102). On the printer property screen, the user changes and sets each print setting as necessary (S103), and requests to execute printing by pressing (instructing) a predetermined command button on the printer property screen (step S103). S104). The printer driver unit 17 generates print data according to the print settings set on the printer property screen, and executes printing (S212).

  Further, when the print setting is changed in S103, the printer driver unit 17 uses the file feature information usage number table based on the term (file feature information) included in the file name of the print file and the changed print setting. Then, the file characteristic information print setting table is updated (S206). When the number of uses exceeds the threshold (S207), the printer driver unit 17 changes the most frequently used one for each print function from the print settings stored in the file feature information print setting table. The print setting is adopted (S208). Next, the printer driver unit 17 determines whether a print set corresponding to the print setting information indicating the same print setting as each print setting to be changed is stored on the setting table (S209). For example, the term is stored as the file feature information of the setting set (S210). On the other hand, if not stored, a setting set is newly added, and the above term and each print setting to be changed are stored in association with each other (S211).

  As described above, the printer system 1 can store the file characteristic information acquired from the file name and the print settings received in printing the file in association with each other for the file that has received the print instruction. Therefore, it is possible to perform automatic print setting based on arbitrary file feature information without preparing a table for storing all file feature information in advance. Further, even if a plurality of file feature information is included in the file name of one print target file, the print settings can be updated for each file feature information. Furthermore, the print setting with the highest use frequency can be stored for each file feature information.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration and functional blocks of a printer system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a delimiter storage table according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a setting table which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a file characteristic information usage number table concerning an embodiment of the invention. 5 is a file feature information print setting table according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a setting table which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a file characteristic information usage number table concerning an embodiment of the invention. 5 is a file feature information print setting table according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a setting table which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the process which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer system, 10 Computer apparatus, 11 Operating system, 12 File management system, 13 Application, 14 Display part, 15 Operation part, 16 Printer interface part, 17 Printer driver part, 20 Printing apparatus, 31 Print instruction reception part, 32 Print data generation unit, 33 Print setting temporary determination unit, 34 Print setting temporary storage unit, 35 Display control unit, 36 Operation reception unit, 37 Count counting unit, 38 Setting history storage unit, 39 Threshold determination unit, 40 Setting table storage unit .

Claims (6)

Print setting information storage means for storing print setting information indicating one or a plurality of print settings in association with file characteristic information characterizing the file;
A print instruction receiving means for receiving a file print instruction;
Print setting accepting means for accepting print settings of a file for which the print instruction has been accepted;
File feature information acquisition means for acquiring one or more file feature information characterizing the file for which the print instruction has been received;
File feature information search means for searching for the one corresponding to each file feature information acquired by the file feature information acquisition means from the file feature information stored in the print setting information storage means;
Updating means for updating the print setting information stored in the print setting information storage means in association with at least one of the file feature information searched by the file feature information search means based on the received print settings;
A printer system comprising: The printer system according to claim 1.
The file that has received the print instruction is printed with the print setting indicated by the print setting information stored in the print setting information storage unit in association with at least one of the file feature information searched by the file feature information search unit. Printing means,
A printer system, further comprising: The printer system according to claim 1 or 2,
The file feature information acquisition means acquires one or more file feature information characterizing the file from the file name of the file that has received the print instruction.
A printer system characterized by the above. The printer system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The printing unit prints the file that has received the print instruction with the print setting indicated by the print setting information stored in association with any one of the file feature information searched by the file feature information search unit. ,
A printer system characterized by the above. The printer system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The update unit stores the file feature information in association with the number of used print settings when the file characterized by the file feature information is printed by the printing unit. Storage means,
The update unit stores the print setting information stored in the print setting information storage unit in association with the searched file feature information in association with the file feature information by the print setting usage number storage unit. Update the print settings to be used when the frequency of use satisfies the specified conditions.
A printer system characterized by the above. Print setting information storage means for storing print setting information indicating one or a plurality of print settings in association with file characteristic information characterizing the file;
A print instruction receiving means for receiving a file print instruction;
Print setting accepting means for accepting print settings of a file for which the print instruction has been accepted;
File feature information acquisition means for acquiring one or a plurality of file feature information characterizing the file for which the print instruction has been received;
Of the file feature information stored in the print setting information storage unit, a file feature information search unit that searches for each of the file feature information acquired by the file feature information acquisition unit, and the file feature information search unit Updating means for updating the print setting information stored in the print setting information storage means in association with at least one of the file characteristic information retrieved by the step, based on the received print settings;
As a program to make the computer function.

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