JP2009009173A - Printer driver, program and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To embody information presentation which is rich in tenderness for a user in setting of function items such as both-side printing having a high frequency of occurrence of errors. <P>SOLUTION: Job history related with functional items related with a print job are stored in association with each of those function items, and when the setting of the function items is accepted, the job history related with the function items is acquired based on the stored content, and the frequency of occurrence of errors related with the function items is determined based on the acquired job history, and determination result of the frequency of errors is displayed on the display screen of a user terminal 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  In the present invention, when function items such as double-sided printing with high error occurrence frequency are set when causing an image forming apparatus to perform print output based on a command from a user terminal via a network, information overflowing with kindness to the user The present invention relates to a printer driver, a program, and a recording medium that can realize presentation.

  Conventionally, an information processing apparatus (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a user terminal) provided on the user side and an image forming apparatus are connected via a network, and print data is sent from the user terminal to the image forming apparatus. There is a printing system that requests printing. In such a printing system, when causing the image forming apparatus to perform a print job, the user can use the print setting dialog presented on the display screen of each user terminal to print the number of copies, the paper size, the paper orientation, the aggregation / both sides. After performing setting operations related to various function items such as printing, image density and quality, a print job is started by issuing a print start command.

  During execution of such a print job, an error such as a paper jam (hereinafter abbreviated as “jam”) or out of paper may occur. In this case, a technique for notifying the user of the error content is known (see Patent Document 1).

  According to the technique of Patent Document 1, even when an error such as a jam or out of paper occurs, the error can be effectively recovered.

  However, in the above-described prior art, the notification timing of the error occurrence is limited after the actual occurrence of the error. For example, when setting a function item such as double-sided printing with high error occurrence frequency, a print job is performed. In the case of an attempt, although there is a tendency that a job interruption due to an error occurs frequently, there is no way of notifying the user of this, and there is a tendency for the user to be gentle.

JP-A-11-327854

  The problem to be solved is that, in the prior art, when setting a function item such as double-sided printing with high error occurrence frequency and trying to execute a print job, job interruption due to error occurrence tends to occur frequently. In spite of this, there is no way to inform the user of this, and there is a tendency to apply to the user's kindness.

  The present invention provides a print setting dialog on the display screen for the purpose of embodying information presentation overflowing with user-friendliness when an attempt is made to perform a print job by setting a function item with a high error frequency. Used in a printing system configured by connecting a user terminal having displayable display means and an image forming apparatus via a network, and installed in the user terminal to control the operation of the image forming apparatus. A functioning printer driver that accepts various settings including a function item relating to a print job, and a job history relating to the function item when the accepting means accepts the setting of the function item relating to the print job. Job history acquisition means for acquiring the job item, and the function item based on the job history acquired by the job history acquisition means. An error frequency determination unit that determines the error occurrence frequency, and a display control unit that performs control to display a determination result in the error frequency determination unit on the display screen, To do.

  The present invention is used in a printing system configured by connecting a user terminal having a display unit capable of displaying a print setting dialog on a display screen and an image forming apparatus via a network, and is installed in the user terminal. A printer driver having a function for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus, receiving means for receiving various settings including function items relating to a print job, and setting of function items relating to the print job by the accepting means Error history determination that determines the error occurrence frequency related to the function item based on the job history acquired by the job history acquisition unit and the job history acquisition unit that acquires the job history related to the function item And a display control means to be described below, wherein the display control means is a determination result in the error frequency determination means. Is displayed on the display screen, so that each time a user who uses a print job function from a user terminal sets a function item related to a print job, prior to the execution of the print job, It becomes possible to know the determination result of the function item. Therefore, prior to the execution of a print job, for example, a user who has been informed of the determination result that the function item has a high error frequency considers the risk of error occurrence in advance or has a low risk of error occurrence. As a result of resetting items and allowing a print job to be performed, when trying to execute a print job by setting a function item with a high error frequency, user-friendly information presentation is realized. It is possible to improve user convenience.

  When trying to perform a print job with a function item with a high frequency of error occurrence, the purpose of embodying information presentation overflowing with user-friendliness is related to the function item acquired by the job history acquisition unit. This is realized by display control means for performing control to display the determination result in the error frequency determination means for determining the error occurrence frequency related to the function item on the display screen based on the job history.

  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 multi-function peripheral 5 will be exemplified as an image forming apparatus subject to operation control of the printer driver 1 according to the present invention, and the operation of the digital multi-function peripheral 5 is connected to the multi-function peripheral via a network. An example of control by a printer driver installed in an information processing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a user terminal) 3 such as a personal computer will be described.

[Schematic configuration around the digital MFP]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram around the digital multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram around the digital multifunction peripheral according to the second embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, this machine 5 can use at least one function among print output, fax transmission, mail transmission, and data transmission, and is mainly composed of a microcomputer and a dedicated hardware circuit. It is controlled by the control unit 11. 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. Further, the main control unit 11 determines, for each function item related to the print job processed by this machine, the job history related to the function item (when and what print job was performed, and the print job A job history storage unit (corresponding to the “job history storage unit” of the present invention) 70 that associates and stores the information with each other. The job history information related to the function item is returned to the user terminal that has received the inquiry. In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a job history storage unit 70 is provided on the user terminal 3 side. In this case, the job history storage unit 70 on the digital multifunction machine 5 side can be omitted.

  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.

  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 when the user touches 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 the user terminal 3 such as a client PC connected via the LAN. Specifically, the network I / F unit 65 receives, for example, a job history request signal related to a required function item transmitted from the user terminal 3, and transfers the received signal to the main control unit 11. On the other hand, the job history information related to the corresponding function item returned from the main control unit 11 is received, and the received information is transferred to the user terminal 3.

  The user terminal 3 includes a display device 69 (corresponding to the “display unit” of the present invention) 69 in order to display the error occurrence frequency related to the function item when performing a print job. In addition, the printer driver 1 as a program having the following functions is installed in the user terminal 3. Specifically, the printer driver 1 includes a setting content receiving unit (corresponding to “accepting unit” of the present invention) 71 that receives various settings including function items related to a print job, and a setting content receiving unit 71. When a function item setting is received, a job history acquisition unit (corresponding to “job history acquisition unit” of the present invention) 73 that acquires a job history related to the function item, and a job history acquisition unit 73 The error frequency determination unit (corresponding to the “error frequency determination unit” of the present invention) 75 that determines the error occurrence frequency related to the function item based on the job history and the determination result in the error frequency determination unit 75 Based on this, a display mode determination unit (corresponding to “display mode determination means” of the present invention) 76 that determines a design to be applied to the display screen corresponding to the determination result, and a display mode determination A display control unit (corresponding to the “display control unit” of the present invention) 77 that performs control to display the determination result in the error frequency determination unit 75 with the display screen having the design determined by the unit. It consists of

[Operation of User Terminal Installed with Printer Driver According to the Present Invention]
Next, the operation of the user terminal installed with the printer driver according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 shows an operation flowchart of the user terminal, and FIGS. 4 to 5 show examples of display screens related to error frequency display.

  When the user inputs a setting operation for an item related to the double-sided printing function in order to use the double-sided printing function among various functional items related to the print job presented in the print setting dialog, the setting content receiving unit 71 The setting content is accepted (step S11). In response to this, the job history acquisition unit 73 acquires the job history related to the function item from the job history storage unit 70 (step S12). The job history in step S12 may be acquired from the digital multi-function peripheral 5 side via a network as shown in FIG. 1, or from the user terminal 3 side as shown in FIG. May be. Further, the job history related to the function item acquired in step S12 is, for example, the number of times the duplex printing function has been performed within a predetermined period such as the most recent half year when the function item is the duplex printing function. And at least the number of times an error occurred (or the number of successes).

  Next, the error frequency determination unit 75 determines the error occurrence frequency related to the function item based on the job history acquired by the job history acquisition unit 73 (step S13). Note that the error frequency determination in step S13 is performed when, for example, the error occurrence probability exceeds 20% by referring to the job history related to the corresponding function item (double-sided printing function in this embodiment). On the other hand, when the error occurrence probability is less than 20%, it is determined that the error frequency is “low”. The threshold (error occurrence probability) related to this error frequency determination can be changed to an appropriate value according to the user's request.

  When it is determined that the error frequency is “high” as a result of the error frequency determination in step S13, the display mode determination unit 76 writes “high” in the error frequency determination flag (step S14). When it is determined that the error frequency is “low”, the display mode determination unit 76 writes “low” in the error frequency determination flag (step S15).

  After completing the writing of the error frequency determination flag in steps S13 to S14, the display control unit 77 refers to a display mode table (not shown) stored in the display mode determination unit 76, thereby causing an error in the display mode determination unit 76. The design of the print setting dialog corresponding to the content of the frequency determination flag is read, and control is performed to display the error frequency determination result using the print setting dialog to which the read design is applied (step S16).

  Here, as a display mode related to the error frequency determination result, for example, when the error frequency is “high”, a warning message such as “Please note that this function item (double-sided printing) has a high error frequency” is displayed. Doing so alerts the user. Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, a message 79 including the error occurrence probability itself is displayed as a warning in a pop-up format, for example, “Jam occurrence probability during double-sided printing is 30%”. , To alert the user. Instead of this message display or in conjunction with this message display, the background color of the print setting dialog 81 itself is displayed in a dark monochrome with a “dark gray” color design so as to enhance the user's alerting function. It may be configured.

  On the other hand, when the error frequency is “low”, a message such as “Please rest assured that this function item has a low error frequency” is displayed or, for example, as shown in FIG. The message 79 including the error occurrence probability itself is displayed in a pop-up format, for example, as shown in FIG. When the error frequency is “low”, a special message may not be displayed. In addition, when the error frequency is “low”, it is not necessary to alert the user, so the normal color design is adopted for the print setting dialog 81 or the ground color of the display screen is “light gray”. By providing a light monochrome display with the color design, it gives the user a sense of security.

  As described above, according to the printer driver according to the present invention, for each function item related to the print job, the job history related to the function item is stored in association with each other, and the setting of the function item related to the print job is accepted. A job history related to the function item is acquired based on the stored content, an error occurrence frequency related to the function item is determined based on the acquired job history, and the error frequency determination result Therefore, every time a user who uses the print job function from the user terminal 3 sets a function item related to the print job, the user performs the print job before executing the print job. It becomes possible to know the determination result of the error frequency related to the function item. Therefore, prior to the execution of a print job, for example, a user who has been informed of the determination result that the function item has a high error frequency considers the risk of error occurrence in advance or has a low risk of error occurrence. As a result of resetting items and allowing a print job to be performed, when trying to execute a print job by setting a function item with a high error frequency, user-friendly information presentation is realized. It is possible to improve user convenience.

  In addition, as a display screen mode when it is determined that the error frequency is “high”, a message including that fact is displayed as a warning to alert the user, and along with this message display, the background color of the display screen Is configured to enhance the user's alerting function by displaying the image in dark gray with a “dark gray” color design, so that the user can refer to the function when setting the function items related to the print job. By looking at the design change of the display screen itself, the error frequency judgment result can be easily recognized at a glance. A frequency display mode can be realized.

  In the embodiment, the color relating to the error frequency display has been described by taking a monochrome image as an example.However, in the case of color display, the display color related to the combination of RGB is changed to black (Black) according to the shade. You may comprise so that it may adjust with an appropriate allocation rate.

[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 read from the claims and the entire specification or the technical idea, and a printer driver accompanying 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 embodiment of setting the two-stage variation has been described for identifying and displaying the variation related to the error frequency, but the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. For example, the aspect which sets the variation of 3 steps | paragraphs or more can also be employ | adopted.

  Furthermore, in the embodiment of the present invention, as an example of the design of the print setting dialog 81, a mode has been described in which an identification display is performed so as to change the shade of the dialog 81 itself for each variation related to the error frequency. The present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. For example, instead of changing the shading of the dialog 81 itself, a mode in which the design of a part or all of the regions in the dialog 81 is changed is adopted. You can also. In addition, for each variation related to the level of error frequency, a mode of identifying and displaying so as to change the density gradation (for example, identification using a hatching pattern or gray scale) of the dialog 81 itself is adopted. Furthermore, it is also possible to adopt a mode in which both the color and density gradation of the dialog 81 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, in the error frequency display by the design variation of the dialog 81 according to the present invention, any design variation can be adopted as long as the user can grasp the error frequency related to the destination at a glance.

  The information processing apparatus according to the present invention is a concept including a personal computer (PC), a workstation (WS), a personal digital assistant (PDA), and the like.

  By the way, the present invention can take an embodiment as a program or a recording medium. That is, for example, the printer control function in this embodiment may be performed by the host computer by a program installed from the outside. In this case, the present invention can be applied even when an information group including a program is supplied to the output device from a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or an FD, or from an external recording medium via a network. Can be applied as is.

  In addition, a recording medium that records a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the program code in the recording medium. The object of the present invention can also be achieved by reading and executing. In this case, the program code itself read from the recording medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the recording medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. As a recording medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, DVD-ROM, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, EEPROM, A silicon disk or the like can be used.

  Furthermore, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) or the like running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. A mode in which part or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is also included in the scope of the technical scope of the present invention.

  In addition, after the program code read from the recording medium is written to the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. A mode in which the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is also included in the scope of the technical scope of the present invention.

  Finally, the system or apparatus enjoys the function according to the present invention by downloading and reading out the program represented by the software for achieving the present invention from the server, database, etc. on the network by the communication program. Needless to say, it becomes possible.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram around a user terminal installed with a printer driver according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a schematic block diagram around a user terminal installed with a printer driver according to a second embodiment of the present invention. It is an operation | movement flowchart figure of the user terminal in which the printer driver based on this invention was installed. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of an error frequency display on a display screen. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of an error frequency display on a display screen.

Explanation of symbols

1 Printer driver 3 Information processing device (user terminal)
5 Image forming device 69 Display device (display means)
70 Job history storage unit (job history storage means)
71 Setting content reception unit (reception means)
73 Job history acquisition unit (Job history acquisition means)
75 Error frequency determination unit (error frequency determination means)
76 Display mode determining unit (display mode determining means)
77 Display control unit (display control means)

Claims (9)

The image forming apparatus is used in a printing system configured by connecting a user terminal having a display unit capable of displaying a print setting dialog on a display screen and an image forming apparatus via a network, and is installed in the user terminal and the image A printer driver having a function of controlling the operation of the forming apparatus,
Accepting means for accepting various settings including function items related to the print job;
A job history acquisition unit configured to acquire a job history related to the function item when the reception unit receives a setting of the function item related to the print job;
Based on the job history acquired by the job history acquisition unit, an error frequency determination unit that determines an error occurrence frequency related to the function item;
Display control means for performing control to display the determination result in the error frequency determination means on the display screen;
A printer driver, comprising: The printer driver according to claim 1, wherein
The image forming apparatus includes a job history storage unit that associates and stores a job history related to the function item for each function item related to the print job,
The printer driver according to claim 1, wherein the job history acquisition unit acquires a job history related to the function item from the job history storage unit via the network. The printer driver according to claim 1, wherein
The user terminal includes a job history storage unit that stores a job history related to the function item in association with each function item related to the print job,
The printer driver according to claim 1, wherein the job history acquisition unit acquires a job history related to the function item from the job history storage unit. The printer driver according to claim 1,
The display control means includes
A printer driver, wherein control is performed to display a determination result in the error frequency determination means on the display screen in a manner of an error occurrence probability related to the function item. The printer driver according to claim 1,
Based on the determination result in the error frequency determination means, further comprising a display mode determination means for determining a design applied to the print setting dialog corresponding to the determination result,
The display control means includes
A printer driver, wherein a control is performed to display a determination result in the error frequency determination unit using a print setting dialog with the design determined by the display mode determination unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein
A printer driver characterized in that a design variation applied to the print setting dialog is expressed by a change in density gradation. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:
A printer driver characterized in that a design variation applied to the print setting dialog is expressed by a change in color.   A program for causing the user terminal to realize the function of the printer driver according to claim 1.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 8 is recorded.

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