JP2008242566A - Printer driver, program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable an information processor side to recognize in which state an image forming apparatus is placed even when making the image forming apparatus perform a print output on the basis of a command from the information processor. <P>SOLUTION: The deteriorating state of a printer main body is stored so as to be associated with each of a plurality of designs to be applied to a print dialog, and when the state to be displayed is acquired by a state acquisition part 71, the pertinent design is read from a display configuration table 72, and the deteriorating state to be displayed on the display picture of a display device 69 is displayed with the print dialog to which the read design has been applied. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  In the present invention, even when the image forming apparatus performs print output based on a command from an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer via a network, the image forming apparatus is in any state from the information processing apparatus side. The present invention relates to a printer driver, a program, and a recording medium capable of grasping whether or not.

  Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus including, for example, a printer or a multifunction peripheral, the configuration of a display unit provided in an operation panel is simplified, and the failure state of the apparatus is always displayed in an easy-to-understand manner on the display screen. There is known a technique that enables early recovery from a failure state (see Patent Document 1).

  On the other hand, for example, when the image forming apparatus performs print output based on a command from an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer via a network, a dialog for print setting is displayed on the display screen of the information processing apparatus. A technique for setting the paper size and the number of copies is widely used.

  However, for example, in the case of causing the image forming apparatus to perform print output based on a command from the information processing apparatus via the network, even if the application of the above-described conventional technique is attempted, the image forming apparatus is not limited from the information processing apparatus side. It is not possible to grasp whether it is in a proper state.

JP 2002-229393 A

  The problem to be solved is that when the image forming apparatus performs print output based on a command from the information processing apparatus via the network, in the conventional technique, the state of the image forming apparatus from the information processing apparatus side is It is a point that cannot be understood.

  The present invention grasps the state of an image forming apparatus from the information processing apparatus side even when the image forming apparatus performs print output based on a command from the information processing apparatus via a network. For this purpose, a printer driver that is installed in an information processing apparatus including a display unit capable of displaying a print dialog on a display screen and has a function of performing operation control of an image forming apparatus that executes a print job. A state acquisition means for acquiring a state in the image forming apparatus main body, and a display mode storage means for storing a plurality of states in the image forming apparatus main body in association with each of a plurality of designs applied to the print dialog. When the state to be displayed is acquired by the state acquisition unit, the corresponding design is read from the display mode storage unit. And a display control means for controlling the display of the state to be displayed on the display screen of the display means with the print dialog with the read design. Features.

  The present invention is a printer driver that is installed in an information processing apparatus including a display unit capable of displaying a print dialog on a display screen and has a function of performing operation control of an image forming apparatus that executes a print job. State acquisition means for acquiring a state in the image forming apparatus main body, and a display mode storage means for storing a plurality of states in the image forming apparatus main body in association with each of a plurality of designs applied to the print dialog; The display control means includes the display control means described below, and the display control means reads out the corresponding design from the display mode storage means when the state to be displayed is acquired by the state acquisition means, The display state of the display means is displayed on the display screen of the display means with a print dialog with a special design. As a result, it is possible to easily recognize the state to be displayed at a glance by looking at the design change applied to the print dialog itself. Even if the image forming apparatus performs print output based on a command from the information processing apparatus via the information processing apparatus, the visibility of the state of the image forming apparatus from the information processing apparatus side is deteriorated. It can be easily grasped with the state display mode.

  The purpose of making it possible for the information processing apparatus to grasp the state of the image forming apparatus even when the image forming apparatus performs print output based on a command from the information processing apparatus via the network When the state to be displayed is acquired by the state acquisition means, the corresponding design is read from the display mode storage means, and the display is performed on the display screen of the display means with the print dialog to which the read design is applied. This is realized by display control means for performing control to display the power state.

  Hereinafter, a printer driver, a program, and a recording medium according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following, a digital color copying machine will be exemplified as a printer that is subject to operation control of the printer driver according to the present invention, and the operation of the digital color copying machine is connected to the copying machine via a network. An example in which control is performed by a printer driver installed in an information processing apparatus such as a computer will be described.

[Schematic configuration around the digital color copier]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram around a digital color copying machine.

  This digital color copying machine can use at least one of the functions of print output, fax transmission, mail transmission, and data transmission, and is controlled by the main control unit 11 including a microcomputer and a dedicated hardware circuit. Is done. As an input / output device connected to the main control unit 11 and responsible for various functions, this machine includes a scanner unit 21, an image processing unit 31, an engine unit 41, an operation panel unit 51, a facsimile communication unit 61, and an HDD (hard disk drive) 63. In addition, a network I / F (interface) unit 65 is provided.

  The main control unit 11 includes a scanner controller 13 that performs operation control for realizing a scanner function, a facsimile controller 15 that performs operation control for realizing a facsimile function, and a printer controller that performs operation control for realizing a printer function. 17 and a copy controller 19 for controlling the operation for realizing the copy function are incorporated, and the overall operation of the apparatus is controlled.

  The scanner unit 21 includes an image irradiation lamp 23 and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor 25 constituting a scanner (not shown). The scanner unit 21 irradiates the document with the image irradiation lamp 23, receives the reflected light with the CCD sensor 25, reads an image from the document, and outputs image data corresponding to the read image to the image processing unit 31. .

  The image processing unit 31 includes a correction unit 33, an image processing unit 35, and an image memory 37. The image processing unit 31 processes the image data read by the scanner unit 21 with the correction unit 33 and the image processing unit 35 as necessary, and stores the processed image data in the image memory 37, the engine unit 41, Output to the facsimile communication unit 61 or the like. The correction unit 33 performs predetermined correction processing such as level correction and Y correction on the image data read by the scanner unit 21. The image processing unit 35 performs various types of processing such as image data compression or expansion processing and enlargement or reduction processing.

  The engine unit 41 includes a sheet conveying unit 43 including a sheet feeding cassette and a sheet feeding roller (not illustrated), an image forming unit 45 including a photosensitive drum, an exposure device, a developing device, and the like (not illustrated), a transfer roller (not illustrated), and the like. And a fixing unit 49 including a fixing roller (not shown). The engine unit 41 stores image data read by the scanner unit 21, image data transmitted from a client PC (personal computer) or the like by a LAN (Local Area Network) via the network I / F unit 65, and a facsimile communication unit 61. The image is printed on a sheet using image data such as fax data received from an external facsimile machine. Specifically, the paper transport unit 43 transports the paper to the image forming unit 45, the image forming unit 45 forms a toner image corresponding to the image data, the transfer unit 47 transfers the toner image to the paper, The fixing unit 49 fixes the toner image on a sheet to form an image. Further, the engine unit 41 relates to a function of storing drum usage history information including the number of image formations so far in the photosensitive drum and its usage frequency, and status acquisition from the information processing device 67 via the main control unit 11. When there is an inquiry, the drum use history information is returned to the information processing device 67 via the main control unit 11.

  The operation panel unit 51 includes a touch panel unit 53 and an operation key unit 55. The operation panel unit 51 is used for a user to perform operations related to a scanner function, a facsimile function, a printer function, a copy function, and the like, and gives an operation command and the like by the user to the main control unit 11.

  The touch panel unit 53 includes a touch panel unit that combines a touch panel and a color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and displays various operation screens, for example, information regarding the document size, copy size, number of copies, and the like when executing the copy function. In addition, operation buttons for inputting various operation commands are displayed by the user touching the corresponding part.

  The operation key unit 55 includes a plurality of operation keys for receiving user operation inputs. For example, a key input operation of a required function can be performed from various functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function. This is used when the user selectively executes, or when the user inputs a copy number or a copy execution command.

  The facsimile communication unit 61 includes an encoding / decoding unit (not shown), a modem unit (not shown), and an NCU (Network Control Unit) (not shown). The facsimile communication unit 61 transmits image data of a document read by the scanner unit 21 to a facsimile apparatus or the like via a telephone line, or receives image data transmitted from the facsimile apparatus or the like.

  The HDD (hard disk drive) 63 stores image data read by the scanner unit 21 and various data such as an output format set in the image data. The image data stored in the HDD is not only used inside the printer driver, program, and recording medium, but can be confirmed from the client PC or the like via the network I / F unit 65 as necessary, or the client PC Or a predetermined folder such as an FTP server.

  The network I / F unit 65 uses a network interface (10 / 100Base-TX) or the like to control transmission / reception of various data to / from an information processing device 67 such as a client PC connected via a LAN. Specifically, the network I / F unit 65 receives, for example, a print control signal including print data and a print command transmitted from the information processing device 67, and transfers the received signal to the main control unit 11. On the other hand, the information related to the deterioration state of the machine transmitted from the main control unit 11 is received, and the received information is transferred to the information processing device 67.

  In order to acquire the deterioration state of the present apparatus to be displayed and to display the acquired deterioration state by a design change applied to the print dialog on the display screen, the information processing device 67 includes a display device (of the present invention). Corresponds to "display means") 69. The information processing apparatus 67 is installed with a printer driver 77 as a program having various functions described below. Specifically, the printer driver 77 obtains a state acquisition unit (corresponding to the “state acquisition unit” of the present invention) 71 for acquiring the deterioration state of the apparatus, and a plurality of designs applied to the print dialog. The display mode table (corresponding to the “display mode storage unit” of the present invention) 72 that stores the degradation state of the device in association with each other, and the display mode (design) based on the degradation state of the device acquired by the state acquisition unit 71 When the deterioration state to be displayed occurs in the display mode determination unit 73, the corresponding design is read from the display mode table 72, and the print dialog with the read design is provided. A display control unit (corresponding to “display control means” of the present invention) that performs control to display a deterioration state to be displayed on the display screen of the display device 69. 75 is configured to include the functions of the.

[Operation of Information Processing Apparatus Installed with Printer Driver According to the Present Invention]
Next, the operation of the information processing apparatus in which the printer driver according to the present invention is installed will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 shows an operation flowchart of the information processing apparatus, and FIG. 3 shows a design example of a print dialog related to display of a deterioration state of the image forming apparatus.

  First, the state acquisition unit 71 inquires about the state acquisition to each functional unit of the scanner unit 21 and the engine unit 41 via the network I / F unit 65 and the main control unit 11, and stores scanner usage history information. And drum usage history information is acquired (step S11). Based on the usage history information and the like of each function unit acquired in step S11, the display mode determination unit 73 determines in which stage the deterioration state of each unit is “good”, “normal”, or “maintenance (nonce) required”. Is determined (step S12).

  As a result of the state determination in step S12, when both the scanner unit 21 and the engine unit 41 are determined to be “good”, the display mode determination unit 73 writes “good” to the deterioration state flag ( Step S13). When the determination that the scanner unit 21 and the engine unit 41 are “good” or “normal” (except when both the scanner unit 21 and the engine unit 41 are “good”) is made, The aspect determination unit 73 writes “normal” in the deterioration state flag (step S14). Furthermore, when it is determined that one of the scanner unit 21 and the engine unit 41 is “maintenance required”, the display mode determination unit 73 writes “maintenance required” to the deterioration state flag (step S15).

  After completing the writing of the deterioration state flag in steps S13 to S15, the display control unit 75 reads the screen design corresponding to the content of the deterioration state flag in the display mode determination unit 73 by referring to the display mode table 72, Control is performed to display a deterioration state to be displayed on the display screen of the display device 69 using the print dialog with the read design (step S16).

  Here, as a design example of a print dialog related to the display of the deterioration state of the image forming apparatus, for example, when the deterioration state is “good”, the ground color of the print dialog 79 is displayed in a color design of “green” (FIG. 3 ( 1)), and when the deterioration state is “normal”, the background color of the print dialog 79 is displayed in a color design of “yellowish green” (see FIG. 3 (2)), and the deterioration state is “maintenance required”. ", The background color of the print dialog 79 is displayed in color with the color design of" orange "(see FIG. 3 (3)).

  As described above, according to the printer driver of the present invention, the deterioration state in the printer main body is stored in association with each of a plurality of designs applied to the print dialog, and the state to be displayed is stored in the state acquisition unit. 71, the corresponding design is read from the display mode table 72, and the deterioration state to be displayed on the display screen of the display device 69 is displayed by the print dialog to which the read design is applied. Therefore, by viewing the design change of the print dialog itself, it is possible to easily recognize the deterioration state to be displayed at a glance. Even if the image forming apparatus performs print output based on the Apparatus and what state located in the, can be easily grasped with good degradation state display mode of the visibility.

  In other words, the user can check the status of the device, such as whether the printer he / she is using is new or has been used, maintenance is necessary, or it can be used without any problems for the time being. Since it is possible to know by seeing the background color of the print dialog 79 itself that is always seen when issuing a print instruction, it is possible to avoid a situation where the printer becomes unusable due to forgetting the maintenance period. can do.

  By the way, when identifying and displaying the state of the image forming apparatus by the design change of the print dialog 79 itself, it is more convenient if the user can be informed of what state is displayed along with the state. Rise.

  From such a point of view, a configuration may be adopted in which what state (for example, “life of the photosensitive drum”) is displayed with a balloon in accordance with the display of the print dialog 79 itself.

[Others]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the invention that can be read from the claims and the entire specification or the technical idea, and a printer driver that includes such a change. Is also included in the scope of the technical scope of the present invention.

  That is, in the embodiment of the present invention, the deterioration state of the image forming apparatus has been exemplified as the display target state. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. , The remaining state of consumables such as toner and paper, the health status of hard disk drives that support SMART (Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology), the frequency of use, life and power consumption of the image forming device, and the target manuscript If an image forming speed guideline or a device with an additional function such as a sorter or finisher is connected, the abnormal state (for example, the occurrence of jamming or the frequency of occurrence) and the operating state are displayed. It can also be adopted as a target state.

  Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, a mode in which three stages of states are set is described for identifying and displaying the deterioration state of the image forming apparatus to be displayed. However, the present invention is limited to such an embodiment. For example, a two-stage state may be set, and conversely, a mode in which four or more stages are set may be employed.

  Furthermore, in the embodiment of the present invention, as an example of the design of the print dialog 79, an embodiment has been described in which an identification display is performed so as to change the color of the print dialog 79 itself according to each of a plurality of states to be displayed. The present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. For example, instead of changing the color of the print dialog 79 itself, a mode in which the design of a part or all of the areas in the print dialog 79 is changed. It can also be adopted. In addition, a mode is adopted in which identification display is performed so that the density gradation (for example, identification using a hatching pattern or a gray scale) of the print dialog 79 itself is changed according to each of a plurality of states to be displayed. It is also possible to adopt a mode in which both the color and density gradation of the print dialog 79 itself are changed. In addition, as one design, it is possible to adopt a mode in which a plurality of stages of color and density gradation are interwoven. In short, as long as the user can grasp the state at a glance, the design display of the print dialog 79 according to the present invention can adopt any design variation.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram around a digital color copying machine that is an operation control target of a printer driver according to the present invention; FIG. It is a flowchart figure which concerns on operation | movement of the information processing apparatus in which the printer driver based on this invention was installed. 6 is a diagram illustrating a design example of a print dialog related to display of a deterioration state of the image forming apparatus. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

11 Main Control Unit 67 Information Processing Device 69 Display Device (Display Unit)
71 State acquisition unit (state acquisition means)
72 display mode table (display mode storage means)
73 Display Mode Determination Unit 75 Display Control Unit (Display Control Unit)
77 Printer Driver

Claims (6)

A printer driver that is installed in an information processing apparatus having a display unit capable of displaying a print dialog on a display screen and has a function of performing operation control of an image forming apparatus that executes a print job,
State acquisition means for acquiring a state in the image forming apparatus main body;
Display mode storage means for storing a plurality of states in the image forming apparatus main body in association with each of a plurality of designs applied to the print dialog;
When the state to be displayed is acquired by the state acquisition unit, the corresponding design is read from the display mode storage unit, and the display is performed on the display screen of the display unit with a print dialog to which the read design is applied. Display control means for performing control to display a state to be performed;
A printer driver, comprising: The printer driver according to claim 1, wherein
A printer driver, wherein the plurality of designs applied to the print dialog are expressed by changes in density gradation. The printer driver according to claim 1 or 2,
A printer driver characterized in that the plurality of designs applied to the print dialog are expressed by color change. The printer driver according to claim 1,
The state of the image forming apparatus main body is a deteriorated state of the apparatus main body.   A program for causing the information processing apparatus to realize the function of the printer driver according to claim 1.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 5 is recorded.

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