JP2009053735A - Image transmission device, image transmission system, and image transmission method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a selection support program allowing a user to select a printer driver easily. <P>SOLUTION: This selection support program makes an information processor having an OS (Operating System) capable of selecting and setting one printer driver among a plurality of printer drivers perform support processing for supporting the selection of printer driver when a print order from the application operating on the OS is issued. The support processing comprises a storing step for storing the information of history for letting the used printer driver and application correspond to each other every time the print order from the application is issued, an inquiry step for inquiring about the application capable of accepting the instructions for issuing the print order at the OS, and a setting control step for selecting the printer driver to be selected and set based on the information of history about the application when the application informed by the OS is the stored application and letting the OS select and set the printer driver. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to print processing using a printer driver, and more particularly to a technique for optimizing a printer driver selection operation.

When a print command from an application program is executed in an information processing apparatus or the like, the print command is passed from the application program to the printer driver, the print command is interpreted by the printer driver, and a language that can be interpreted by the print device is set. After the conversion, a printing process is executed in the printing apparatus.
When a print command from an application program is executed, print efficiency, image quality, and the like may be affected by the selected printer driver.

Some application programs can and cannot store printer driver selection settings. In such cases, once the user has made printer driver selection settings in the application program, When executing a print command using the application program, the print command can be executed by selecting the optimum printer driver selected and set in the application program without switching the printer driver selection setting. it can.
JP 2005-293019 A

  However, in the case of an application program in which the printer driver cannot be selected and set, when the print command is executed using the application program, the printer driver selected and set in the OS of the information processing apparatus to be used is Switching to a printer driver compatible with the application program is necessary, and when there are many types of application programs and printer drivers handled by the user, the switching setting operation becomes troublesome.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a printer driver selection support program capable of easily performing a selection operation of a printer driver suitable for the application program when executing a print command from the application program. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer driver selection support apparatus and a printer driver selection support method used.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides an application that operates on an OS for an information processing apparatus that includes a plurality of printer drivers and an OS capable of selecting and setting any one of the plurality of printer drivers. A driver selection support program for executing a driver selection support process for supporting a selection operation of a printer driver for processing a print command when the print command is issued from the application, wherein the driver selection support process receives a print command from an application. Each time it is issued, a storage step for storing usage history information in which a printer driver used for processing a print command is associated with the application, and an active command that can accept a print command issue instruction to the OS An inquiry step for inquiring an application, and the OS according to the inquiry If the notified application is an application stored in the usage history information, the printer driver to be selected and set in the OS is selected based on the usage history information for the application, and A driver setting control step for selecting and setting the selected printer driver.

  Further, according to the present invention, a print command is issued from an application operating on the OS to an information processing apparatus having a plurality of printer drivers and an OS capable of selecting and setting one of the plurality of printer drivers. A driver selection support program for executing a driver selection support process for supporting a selection operation of a printer driver for processing a print command, wherein the driver selection support process is a printer indicating a correspondence relationship between an application and a printer driver. A storage step for storing a driver selection table, an inquiry step for inquiring the OS about an active application that can accept an instruction to issue a print command, and an application notified from the OS in response to the inquiry are stored in the selection table. Remembered application If it is down, the printer driver that is associated with the application in the selection table, the OS hand, may be to include a driver setting control step of selectively setting.

  According to the present invention, in an information processing apparatus having a plurality of printer drivers and an OS capable of selecting and setting one of the plurality of printer drivers, a print command is issued from an application operating on the OS. A driver selection support apparatus that supports an operation for selecting a printer driver for processing a print command, and each time a print command is issued from an application, the printer driver used for processing the print command and the application are Storage means for storing associated usage history information, inquiry means for inquiring about an active application that can accept a print command issue instruction to the OS, and an application notified from the OS in response to the inquiry, When the application is stored in the usage history information A driver setting control unit that selects a printer driver to be selected and set in the OS based on use history information about the application and causes the OS to select and set the selected printer driver may be provided. .

  According to the present invention, in an information processing apparatus having a plurality of printer drivers and an OS capable of selecting and setting one of the plurality of printer drivers, a print command is issued from an application operating on the OS. A driver selection support apparatus for supporting an operation of selecting a printer driver for processing a print command at the time, a storage unit for storing a printer driver selection table indicating a correspondence relationship between an application and a printer driver, Inquiry means for inquiring about an active application capable of accepting an instruction to issue a print command, and when the application notified from the OS in response to the inquiry is an application stored in the selection table, Map to application The printer driver that the OS to be a fact and a driver setting control means for selectively setting.

  According to the present invention, a print command is issued from an application operating on the OS in an information processing apparatus having a plurality of printer drivers and an OS capable of selecting and setting one of the plurality of printer drivers. Selection support method for supporting selection of a printer driver for processing a print command at the time, each time a print command is issued from an application, the printer driver used for processing the print command is associated with the application A storage step for storing attached usage history information, an inquiry step for inquiring about an active application that can accept an instruction to issue a print command to the OS, and an application notified from the OS in response to the inquiry If the application is stored in the history information And a driver setting control step for selecting a printer driver to be selected and set in the OS based on use history information for the application, and causing the OS to select and set the selected printer driver. Can do.

  According to the present invention, a print command is issued from an application operating on the OS in an information processing apparatus having a plurality of printer drivers and an OS capable of selecting and setting one of the plurality of printer drivers. A driver selection support method for supporting a selection operation of a printer driver for processing a print command, and storing a printer driver selection table indicating a correspondence relationship between an application and a printer driver; An inquiry step for inquiring about an active application that can accept an instruction to issue a print command, and when the application notified from the OS in response to the inquiry is an application stored in the selection table, the application in the selection table Compatible with The printer driver has been kicked, the OS hand, may be to include a driver setting control step of selectively setting.

  By providing the above configuration, the present invention selects a printer driver that processes a new print command by the application program from a combination of an application program and a printer driver previously used for processing the print command. Therefore, a printer driver that is highly likely to be compatible with the application program can be selected and set for the OS during the selection operation, and the user can set the OS selection setting to another printer driver during the selection operation. It is possible to easily execute the printing process without performing an operation for resetting the setting.

Here, the driver setting control step is a printer driver to select and set a printer driver associated with the application in the usage history information about the notified application stored latest, for the OS. It is good also as selecting as.
Further, the driver setting control means sets the printer driver associated with the application in the usage history information about the notified application stored latest as a printer driver to be selected and set for the OS. It is good also as selecting.

As a result, in response to a print command from the application program, the most recently used printer driver is selected for the application program, so even if the user needs for the combination of the application and the printer driver change, the change Accordingly, an appropriate printer driver can be selected.
Here, the driver setting control step refers to the use history information about the notified application stored so far, and selects the printer driver that should be used most frequently from the OS. It may be selected as a driver.

The driver setting control means refers to the use history information about the notified application stored so far, and the printer driver that should select and set the most frequently used printer driver for the OS. It is good also as selecting as.
As a result, in response to a print command from the application program, the printer driver having the highest number of uses is selected in the printer driver usage history for the application program. it can.

Here, the driver setting control step refers to the usage history information about the notified application stored from the latest stored to the predetermined number of times, and selects the printer driver with the highest usage count. The OS may be selected as a printer driver to be selected and set.
Further, the driver setting control means refers to the use history information about the notified application stored from the most recently stored one up to the predetermined number of times, and determines the printer driver with the highest number of uses. The OS may be selected as a printer driver to be selected and set.

  As a result, the printer driver with the highest number of uses is selected in the most recent usage history of the printer driver for the application program in response to the print command from the application program, so the user needs for the combination of the application and the printer driver Even when is changed, an optimal printer driver can be selected in accordance with the change.

  Here, the usage history information is further associated with a print format specified in the issued print command, and the driver setting control step stores the usage history of the notified application stored so far. Referring to the information, a specifying step for specifying the printer driver having the highest usage count and the printing format having the highest usage count, and a determination step for determining whether or not the specified combination is stored in the usage history information And a selecting step of selecting the specified printer driver as a printer driver to be selected and set for the OS when stored.

  The usage history information is further associated with a print format designated in the issued print command, and the driver setting control means stores the usage history information for the notified application stored so far. , A specifying means for specifying the printer driver having the highest usage count and the print format having the highest usage count, and a determination means for determining whether or not the specified combination is stored in the usage history information In the case where the printer driver is stored, the specified printer driver can be selected as a printer driver to be selected and set for the OS.

  As a result, the printer driver is selected in consideration of the compatibility between the print format and the printer driver. Therefore, the print format that is frequently used in the application program is not used at all. Validating that a printer driver that is predicted to have low compatibility is selected incorrectly (for example, if the print format is color printing, the printer driver associated with the monochrome printer is selected incorrectly) It is possible to select the optimum printer driver for the application program.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below.
<Configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system 10 according to the present embodiment. The printing system 10 includes a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”) 100 and image forming apparatuses 102, 103, and 104. Each component of the printing system 10 is connected by a LAN (Local Area Network) 101. Yes.

Each component connected by the LAN 101 is interconnected according to a TCP (Transport Control Protocol) / IP (Internet Protocol) protocol.
In FIG. 1, for convenience of explanation, three image forming apparatuses (102 to 104) are shown, but the number of image forming apparatuses included in the printing system 10 is not limited to three.
(Hardware configuration)
(PC100)
The PC 100 includes a microprocessor, ROM, RAM, a hard disk unit, a keyboard for inputting instructions, an input device such as a mouse, a display unit including a liquid crystal display, a CRT, and the like. A computer program such as a printer driver selection support program is stored in the RAM or the hard disk unit. When the microprocessor operates according to the computer program, the PC 100 achieves each function described in the following functional configuration.

Here, the computer program is configured by combining a plurality of instruction codes indicating instructions for the computer in order to achieve a predetermined function.
(Image forming apparatus 102, 103, 104)
The image forming apparatuses 102, 103, and 104 are a microprocessor, a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk unit, an operation panel for inputting instructions (a panel constituted by a touch panel or a plurality of input keys and a liquid crystal display), a scanner, and laser printing. The printer is composed of an image printer such as a printer, a facsimile, and the like.
(Functional configuration)
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a functional configuration of the PC 100. As shown in FIG. 2, the PC 100 includes a printer driver switching module 110, an application program 111, a temporary storage memory 112, an operating system 113, and a printer driver module 114.

(Application program 111)
It is a program for creating various print data that operates on the operating system 113, and includes a plurality of types of application programs (hereinafter referred to as “applications”).
The print data includes various print data such as document data and image data, and the printing conditions.

The printing conditions include the identifier of the application that requests printing, the name of the printer driver used for printing, the size of printing paper, the type of double-sided or single-sided printing, the format of consolidated printing (for example, the format of 1in1, 2in1, etc.), the type of printing color Information on the print format such as (type of color printing and monochrome printing), output port, and the like is included.
(Temporary memory 112)
Temporarily stores print data created by the application.

(Operating system 113)
Software that enables the application program 111 and the printer driver module 114 to be used in the PC 100. As an operating system (hereinafter referred to as “OS”), for example, “Windows (registered trademark)” of Microsoft Corporation or the like is used. Can be used.

(Printer driver module 114)
The printer driver A 1141, the printer driver B 1142, and the printer driver C 1143. Upon receiving an instruction to read the print data for the printer driver selected and set in the OS 113 from the operating system 113 (hereinafter referred to as “OS 113”), the selection setting The activated printer driver is activated, and the activated printer driver converts the print data into a language interpretable by the image forming apparatus, and outputs the converted data to an image forming apparatus corresponding to the printer driver.

Here, the printer driver is software for controlling printing processing in a corresponding image forming apparatus among the image forming apparatuses 102 to 104, and operates on the OS 113.
In the first embodiment, the printer driver A 1141 is associated with the image forming apparatus 102, the print driver B 1142 is associated with the image forming apparatus 103, and the print driver C 1143 is associated with the image forming apparatus 104.

(Printer driver switching module 110)
FIG. 3 shows a functional configuration of the printer driver switching module 110. As shown in FIG. 3, the print driver switching module 110 includes an active application monitoring unit 1101, a printer driver selection unit 1102, a printer driver switching control unit 1103, a print data monitoring unit 1104, an association database management unit 1105, and an association database storage unit 1106. Consists of

(Active application monitoring unit 1101)
When at least one or more applications constituting the application program 111 are activated, the OS 113 is inquired which application is in an active state and is referred to as an active application (hereinafter referred to as “active application”). ).

Here, the “active application” refers to an application displayed in the foreground window among a plurality of windows provided by the PC 100.
Specifically, it refers to an application that can receive an input from an input device (keyboard, mouse) of the PC 100 and that can receive a print execution instruction from a user.

(Printer driver selection unit 1102)
With reference to the association database stored in the association database storage unit 1106, it is determined whether or not the active application specified by the active application monitoring unit 1101 is recorded in the association database. With reference to the printer driver selection table stored in the association database storage unit 1106, the printer driver associated with the active application is selected as the printer driver to be selected and set in the OS 113 for the active application.

  Here, the “association database” means that whenever the application outputs print data to the temporary storage memory 112, the association database management unit 1105 extracts the print conditions from the print data recorded in the temporary storage memory 112. This is the information created. Specifically, it refers to information that indicates the correspondence between the print data output source application, the printer driver to be used, the print format, and the output port. The association database management unit 1105 assigns job numbers in ascending order (in ascending order of numbers), and the creation date and time of the information.

FIG. 7 shows a specific example of the association database.
The “printer driver selection table” refers to a table created by the association database management unit 1105 with reference to the association data database and indicating the correspondence between each application and the printer driver used for the application. The creation date and time is given to the driver selection table by the association database management unit 1105.

In the first embodiment, the printer driver to be used is selected as the printer driver to be selected and set in the OS 113 at the latest association database creation date and time for each application, and based on the application and the selected printer driver. Thus, a printer selection table is created.
FIG. 8 shows a specific example of the printer driver selection table.

(Printer driver switching control unit 1103)
The printer driver selected by the printer driver selection unit 1102 is notified to the OS 113, and the selected setting printer driver of the OS 113 is switched to the notified printer driver.
(Print data monitoring unit 1104)
When receiving a notification that print data has been output by the active application from the OS 113, the print condition is extracted from the print data stored in the temporary storage memory 112 and output to the association database management unit 1105.

(Association database management unit 1105)
An association database creation process and a printer driver selection table creation process are performed.
1. Association database creation process Each time printing conditions are input from the print data monitoring unit 1104, job numbers are assigned in ascending order, and current times are acquired and associated with each other to create an association database. The data is sequentially recorded in the storage unit 1106.
2. Printer Driver Selection Table Creation Processing Every time a new association database is recorded in the association database storage unit 1106, all of the recorded association databases are referred to. The associated printer driver is identified, a printer driver selection table is created that associates the application with the identified printer driver, the current time is acquired, and the created printer driver selection table After the creation date and time are given, they are sequentially overwritten and recorded in the association database storage unit 1106.

(Association database storage unit 1106)
An association database and a printer driver selection table are stored.
<Operation>
(Printer driver switching process)
FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation of printer driver switching processing performed by the printing system 10. Hereinafter, the operation will be described with reference to FIG.

When one or more applications are activated (step S901), the printer driver switching module 110 inquires of the OS 113 which application is active among the activated applications (step S902). From the active application (step S903).
Next, the printer driver switching module 110 refers to the association database stored in the association database storage unit 1106 to determine whether or not the notified active application is recorded in the association database. The printer driver selection table stored in the association database storage unit 1106 is read, and the printer driver associated with the notified active application in the printer driver selection table is selected and set in the OS 113 (Step S904), and instructs the OS 113 to switch the selected printer driver to the selected printer driver (step S905).

Next, the OS 113 switches the selected and set printer driver to the printer driver instructed to switch in accordance with the switching instruction from the printer driver switching module 110 (step S906).
Thereafter, when the active application receives a print dialog display instruction from the user (step S907), the OS 113 inquires the OS 113 about the printer driver that has been selected and set (step S908), and the printer that is currently selected and set from the OS 113. A notification of the driver (printer driver after switching) is received (step S909), and a print dialog as shown in FIG. 15 is displayed on the display unit of the PC 100 based on the notified printer driver (step S910).

Here, the “print dialog” is a setting input screen for setting print conditions, and the user can edit print conditions such as print format settings and printer driver setting changes via the print dialog. It can be performed.
Reference numeral 141 in FIG. 15 indicates that the printer driver “C450PCL” after switching is selected and set in the print dialog. Reference numeral 143 denotes an input screen for changing the printer driver selection setting displayed when the user clicks the position indicated by reference numeral 142 with the mouse.

The example shown in FIG. 15 is an example, and the example of the print dialog is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 15, and includes, for example, a setting input screen for the type of double-sided or single-sided printing or the aggregated printing format. It may be.
In this way, in the print dialog that is initially displayed, the printer driver suitable for the application requesting the print processing is in an initial state, so that the user can select and set the printer driver each time an editing operation is performed. The printing process can be executed by a desired printer driver without performing an operation for changing the image.

Next, when the printing condition editing operation by the user is completed and a print execution instruction is input via the print dialog, the active application outputs the print data to the temporary storage memory 112 (step S911), and the OS 113 On the other hand, a print execution command is issued (step S912).
When the OS 113 receives a print execution command from the active application, the OS 113 instructs the selected printer driver to read the output print data (step S913), and the print data is output to the printer driver switching module 110. (Step S914).

Upon receiving the print data output notification, the printer driver switching module 110 acquires print conditions from the print data stored in the temporary storage memory 112, creates an association database based on the acquired print conditions, and stores the association database. The information is recorded in the unit 1106 (step S915).
(Printer driver selection table creation process)
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printer driver selection table creation process A performed by the printer driver switching module 110.

The above operation will be described below with reference to FIG.
Each time the association database management unit 1105 newly records an association database in the association database storage unit 1106, the association database management unit 1105 aggregates the association database for each application based on the association database recorded so far. A table is created (step S1001), and the combination of the application with the latest creation date and used printer driver is extracted from the created association database table (step S1002), and a printer driver selection table is created based on each extracted combination. (Step S1003) After obtaining the current time and assigning it to the created printer driver selection table as the creation date and time, the printer driver selection table after the creation date and time is associated. Recorded in the database storage unit 1106, updates the printer driver selection table or if the printer driver selection table to be updated is not recorded, a new record in the association database storage unit 1106 (Step S1004).

FIG. 4A, FIG. 5A, and FIG. 6A show specific examples of association database tables created for each application.
4, 5, and 6, “driver name” is the abbreviation of “used printer driver name”.
Each table shows a specific example of a table of the association database created based on the association database of FIG.

  A combination of “word” and “C450PCL” is extracted from the table shown in FIG. 4A as the combination of the application with the latest creation date and the printer driver used, and the creation date and time is extracted from the table shown in FIG. As a combination of the latest application and the used printer driver, a combination of “Notepad” and “350PCL” is extracted. From the table shown in FIG. A combination of “illustration” and “C450PS” is extracted, and a printer driver selection table shown in FIG. 8 is created.

(Embodiment 2)
In the first embodiment, in the printer driver selection table creation process, the latest combination database creation date and time is selected as the combination of the application and the used printer driver registered in the printer driver selection table. In the second form, the combination having the largest number of uses is different.

Hereinafter, the operation of the printer selection table creation process different from that of the first embodiment will be described, and the other configuration and operation are the same as those of the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.
<Operation>
(Printer driver selection table creation process)
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printer driver selection table creation process B performed by the printer driver switching module 110.

The above operation will be described below with reference to FIG.
Each time the association database management unit 1105 newly records an association database in the association database storage unit 1106, the association database management unit 1105 aggregates the association database for each application based on the association database recorded so far. A table is created (step S1101), the table of each created association database is referred to, and the number of times the used printer driver is used in each associated database table is counted (step S1102). A printer driver usage status table indicating the usage count is created for each application (step S1103).

Here, when creating the printer driver usage status table, the association database management unit 1105 creates a printer driver usage status table by associating the latest creation date and time of the combination with each combination.
FIG. 4B, FIG. 5B, and FIG. 6B show specific examples of the printer driver usage status table. Each table shows a specific example of a printer driver usage status table created based on the table of each association database shown in FIGS. 4A, 5A, and 6A.

  Next, the association database management unit 1105 refers to each printer driver usage status table, identifies the printer driver with the highest usage count in each printer driver usage status table (step S1104), and uses each printer driver usage status table. A printer driver selection table is created by associating the application related to the printer driver and the printer driver specified in the printer driver usage status table with each other (step S1105), and the current time is acquired and stored in the created printer driver selection table. After the creation date is given, the printer driver selection table after the creation date is recorded in the association database storage unit 1106, and the printer driver selection table is updated or the printer driver to be updated If the-option table is not recorded, a new record in the association database storage unit 1106 (Step S1106).

In step S1104, if there are a plurality of printer drivers with the highest number of uses, the printer driver with the latest creation date is identified as the printer driver with the highest number of uses.
(Embodiment 3)
In the second embodiment, in the printer driver selection table creation process, as the combination of the application and the used printer driver registered in the printer driver selection table, the combination having the largest number of uses in the association database is selected. The third embodiment is different in that a combination having the highest number of uses is selected in a predetermined number of association databases recorded most recently.

Hereinafter, the operation of the printer selection table creation process that is different from that of the second embodiment will be described, and the other configurations and operations are the same as those of the second embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.
<Operation>
(Printer driver selection table creation process)
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printer driver selection table creation process C performed by the printer driver switching module 110.

The above operation will be described below with reference to FIG.
Each time the association database management unit 1105 newly records an association database in the association database storage unit 1106, the association database management unit 1105 aggregates the association database for each application based on the association database recorded so far. A table is created (step S1201), and when a combination of a predetermined number of applications and used printer drivers is selected as a selection target group in the order of creation date and time in the table of each created association database, The usage count of the used printer driver is counted (step S1202), and the latest printer driver usage indicating the usage count of the combination of the application and the used printer driver in the selection target group is displayed. To create a status table for each application (step S1203).

Here, when creating the printer driver usage status table, the association database management unit 1105 creates the latest printer driver usage status table by associating the latest creation date and time of the combination with each combination.
4C, FIG. 5C, and FIG. 6C show specific examples of the latest printer driver usage status table. Each table is created for a selection target group in each association database table indicated by reference numeral 401 in FIG. 4A, reference numeral 501 in FIG. 5A, reference numeral 601 in FIG. 6A, respectively. A specific example of the latest printer driver usage situation table is shown.

 Next, the association database management unit 1105 refers to each recent printer driver usage status table, identifies the printer driver with the highest number of usages in each recent printer driver usage status table (step S1204), and each recent printer driver. The printer driver selection table is created by associating the application related to the usage status table with the printer driver specified in the latest printer driver usage status table (step S1205), and the current time is acquired to create the printer. After adding the creation date and time to the driver selection table, the printer driver selection table after the creation date and time is recorded in the association database storage unit 1106, and the printer driver selection table is updated or becomes an update target. When the printer driver selection table is not recorded, a new record in the association database storage unit 1106 (Step S1206).

In step S1204, if there are a plurality of printer drivers with the highest number of uses, the printer driver with the latest creation date is specified as the printer driver with the highest number of uses.
(Embodiment 4)
In the second embodiment, in the printer driver selection table creation process, as the combination of the application and the used printer driver registered in the printer driver selection table, the combination having the largest number of uses in the association database is selected. The fourth embodiment is further different in that the printer driver most frequently used and the compatibility with the print format are evaluated, and the optimum printer driver for the application is selected.

Hereinafter, the operation of the printer selection table creation process that is different from that of the second embodiment will be described, and the other configurations and operations are the same as those of the second embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.
(Printer driver selection table creation process)
FIGS. 13 and 14 are flowcharts showing the operation of the printer driver selection table creation process D performed by the printer driver switching module 110.

The above operation will be described below with reference to FIGS.
Each time the association database management unit 1105 newly records an association database in the association database storage unit 1106, the association database management unit 1105 aggregates the association database for each application based on the association database recorded so far. A table is created (step S1301), and the number of usages of the used printer driver in each association database table is counted by referring to the table of each created association database (step S1302). A printer driver usage status table indicating the usage count is created for each application (step S1303).

Here, when creating the printer driver usage status table, the association database management unit 1105 creates a printer driver usage status table by associating the latest creation date and time of the combination with each combination.
Furthermore, the association database management unit 1105 refers to each printer driver usage status table and identifies the printer driver with the highest usage count in each printer driver usage status table (step S1304).

  Next, the association database management unit 1105 refers to each created association database table, counts the number of times the print format is used in each association database table (step S1305), and sets the combination of the application and each print format. A print format usage status table indicating the number of times of use is created for each application (step S1306).

Here, when creating the printing format usage status table, the association database management unit 1105 creates a printing format usage status table by associating the latest creation date and time of the combination with each combination.
4D, 5D, and 6D show specific examples of the printer driver usage status table. Each table shows a specific example of a printer driver usage status table created based on the table of each association database shown in FIGS. 4A, 5A, and 6A.

  Further, the association database management unit 1105 refers to each printing format usage status table, identifies the printing format having the highest number of usages in each printing format usage status table (step S1307), and for each application in step S1304. It is determined whether or not the combination of the identified printer driver and the print format identified in step S1307 is included in the association database table for the application (step S1308).

If the determination result in step S1308 is affirmative (step S1308: Y), the association database management unit 1105 sets the combination of the application and the identified printer driver as a combination to be registered in the printer driver selection table. Hold (step S1309).
When the determination result of step S1308 is negative (step S1308: N),
Referring to the association database table for the application, identify the printer driver with the highest number of uses for the specified print format, and register the combination of the application and the specified printer driver in the printer driver selection table. It holds as a power combination (step S1310).

  For example, in the specific examples shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4D, in step S1308, “C450PCL” is identified as the printer driver with the largest number of uses for the application “word”, and the number of uses is determined. “Double-sided / 2in1 / A4” is specified as the most common print format, and the combination of the two specified is included in the table of the association database shown in FIG. The combination of “word” and “C450PCL” is held as a combination to be registered in the printer driver selection table (step S1309).

  Similarly, in the specific examples shown in FIGS. 6A, 6 </ b> B, and 6 </ b> D, for the application “Illustration”, “C450PS” is identified as the printer driver with the highest number of uses, and the print with the highest number of uses is performed. “One side / 1in1 / A4” is specified as the format, and the combination of the two specified is included in the table of the association database shown in FIG. 6A for “illustration”. The combination of “C450PS” is held as a combination to be registered in the printer driver selection table (step S1309).

  On the other hand, in the specific examples shown in FIGS. 5A, 5 </ b> B, and 5 </ b> D, “350PCL” is identified as the most frequently used printer driver for the application “Notepad”, and the most frequently used. “One side / 1 in 1 / A4” is specified as the print format, and the combination of the two specified is not included in the table of the association database shown in FIG. 5A for “Notepad”. The combination of “book” and “350PCL” is not held as a combination to be registered in the printer driver selection table, and as shown in FIG. 5E, “one side / 1 in1 / The combination of “C450PCL” and “Notepad”, which is the most frequently used printer driver for “A4”, should be registered in the printer driver selection table It is held as a combination (step S1310).

  Next, the association database management unit 1105 creates a printer driver selection table based on the combination of the application and the printer driver held in step S1309 or step S1310 (step S1311), further acquires the current time, After the created printer driver selection table is given as the creation date and time, the printer driver selection table after the creation date and time is given is recorded in the association database storage unit 1106, and the printer driver selection table is updated or the printer driver to be updated is selected. If the table is not recorded, it is newly recorded in the association database storage unit 1106 (step S1312).

In step S1304, if there are a plurality of printer drivers with the highest number of uses, the printer driver with the latest creation date is identified as the printer driver with the highest number of uses.
Similarly, in step S1307, if there are a plurality of print formats with the highest number of uses, the one with the latest creation date is identified as the print format with the highest number of uses.
<Supplement>
As described above, the printing system 10 according to the present invention has been described based on the embodiment, but it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.
(1) For example, in the first to fourth embodiments, the printer driver selection table is automatically created based on the usage status of the printer driver for each application in the association database. Instead of automatically creating a printer selection table, the user inputs data indicating the correspondence between each application and the printer driver to be selected and set in the OS 113 by using the input device of the PC 100 in advance. The database management unit 1105 may create a printer driver selection table based on the input data and record it in the association database storage unit 1106.

In this case, the printer driver switching process shown in FIG. 9 is selected using the created printer driver selection table based on the input data.
(2) In the printer driver selection table creation processes A to D according to the first to fourth embodiments, the printer driver selection table is created and then recorded in the association database storage unit 1106. Before recording, the created printer driver selection table is displayed on the display unit of the PC 100 so that the user can change the correspondence between the application and the printer driver in the printer driver selection table via the input device. The changed printer driver selection table may be recorded in the association database storage unit 1106.
(3) In the fourth embodiment, based on the association database recorded so far, for each application, an association database table is created by aggregating the association database, and the created association database table The number of times of use of the used printer driver and the number of times of use of the printing format in the table of each association database are counted. When the combination of the selected application and the used printer driver is selected as the selection target group, the usage count of the used printer driver and the usage count of the print format in the selection target group are counted, and then, based on the respective count results. There are, may perform the same processing as the printer driver selection table creation processing D in the fourth embodiment.

  The present invention relates to a technique for print processing using a printer driver, and in particular, can be used as a technique for optimizing selection of a printer driver.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system 10 according to the present embodiment. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a functional configuration of a PC 100. FIG. 2 shows a functional configuration of a printer driver switching module 110. The specific example of the table after each data processing produced based on the correlation database is shown. A specific example of the table after each data processing created based on the association database is shown. A specific example of the table after each data processing created based on the association database is shown. A specific example of the association database is shown. A specific example of a printer driver selection table is shown. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation of a printer driver switching process performed by the printing system. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of printer driver selection table creation processing A performed by the printer driver switching module 110. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of printer driver selection table creation processing B performed by the printer driver switching module 110. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a printer driver selection table creation process C performed by the printer driver switching module 110. 7 is a part of a flowchart showing an operation of a printer driver selection table creation process D performed by the printer driver switching module 110. 7 is a part of a flowchart showing an operation of a printer driver selection table creation process D performed by the printer driver switching module 110. A specific example of a print dialog displayed by the active application is shown.

Explanation of symbols

10 Printing system 100 PC
101 LAN
102, 103, 104 Image forming apparatus 111 Application program 112 Temporary storage memory 113 Operating system 114 Printer driver module 1101 Active application monitoring unit 1102 Printer driver selection unit 1103 Printer driver switching control unit 1104 Print data monitoring unit 1105 Association database management unit 1106 Association Database storage unit 1141 Printer driver A
1142 Printer driver B
1143 Printer Driver C

Claims (14)

A print command when a print command is issued from an application operating on the OS to an information processing apparatus having a plurality of printer drivers and an OS capable of selecting and setting one of the plurality of printer drivers. A driver selection support program for executing a driver selection support process for supporting a selection operation of a printer driver for processing
The driver selection support process includes:
A storage step of storing usage history information in which a printer driver used for processing of a print command is associated with the application each time a print command is issued from the application;
An inquiry step for inquiring of an active application that can accept an instruction to issue a print command to the OS;
When the application notified from the OS in response to the inquiry is an application stored in the usage history information, the printer driver to be selected and set in the OS is selected based on the usage history information for the application. A driver selection support program comprising: a driver setting control step for causing the OS to select and set a selected printer driver. The driver setting control step selects, as the printer driver to be selected and set for the OS, the printer driver associated with the application in the usage history information about the notified application stored in the latest. The driver selection support program according to claim 1, wherein: The driver setting control step refers to the use history information about the notified application stored so far, and selects the printer driver having the highest usage count as the printer driver to be selected and set for the OS. The driver selection support program according to claim 1, wherein: The driver setting control step refers to the use history information about the notified application stored from the latest stored up to a predetermined number of times before referring to the printer driver having the highest number of uses. The driver selection support program according to claim 1, wherein the printer driver is selected as a printer driver to be selected and set. The usage history information is further associated with a print format specified in the issued print command,
The driver setting control step includes:
A specific step of identifying the printer driver having the highest number of uses and the print format having the highest number of uses by referring to the use history information about the notified application stored so far;
A determination step of determining whether or not the identified combination is stored in the usage history information;
The driver selection support program according to claim 1, further comprising: a selection step of selecting the specified printer driver as a printer driver to be selected and set for the OS when stored. A print command when a print command is issued from an application operating on the OS to an information processing apparatus having a plurality of printer drivers and an OS capable of selecting and setting one of the plurality of printer drivers. A driver selection support program for executing a driver selection support process for supporting a selection operation of a printer driver for processing
The driver selection support process includes:
A storage step for storing a printer driver selection table indicating a correspondence relationship between the application and the printer driver;
An inquiry step for inquiring of an active application that can accept an instruction to issue a print command to the OS;
If the application notified from the OS in response to the inquiry is an application stored in the selection table, the driver that causes the OS to select and set the printer driver associated with the application in the selection table A driver selection support program comprising: a setting control step. In an information processing apparatus having a plurality of printer drivers and an OS capable of selecting and setting one of the plurality of printer drivers, a print command when a print command is issued from an application operating on the OS A driver selection support device that supports an operation of selecting a printer driver to be processed,
Storage means for storing usage history information in which a printer driver used for processing a print command is associated with the application each time a print command is issued from the application;
Inquiry means for inquiring of an active application that can accept an instruction to issue a print command to the OS;
When the application notified from the OS in response to the inquiry is an application stored in the usage history information, the printer driver to be selected and set in the OS is selected based on the usage history information for the application. And a driver setting control means for selecting and setting the selected printer driver for the OS. The driver setting control means selects, as the printer driver to be selected and set, for the OS, the printer driver associated with the application in the usage history information about the notified application stored latest. The driver selection support apparatus according to claim 7. The driver setting control means refers to the usage history information about the notified application stored so far, and selects the printer driver having the highest usage count as the printer driver to be selected and set for the OS. The driver selection support apparatus according to claim 7, wherein: The driver setting control means refers to the use history information about the notified application stored from the latest stored up to the predetermined number of times, and determines the printer driver with the highest usage count as the OS. The driver selection support apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the driver is selected as a printer driver to be selected and set. The usage history information is further associated with a print format specified in the issued print command,
The driver setting control means includes
A specific means for identifying the most frequently used printer driver and the most frequently used print format with reference to the use history information about the notified application stored so far;
Determination means for determining whether or not the identified combination is stored in the usage history information;
The driver selection support apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: a selecting unit that selects the specified printer driver as a printer driver to be selected and set for the OS when stored. In an information processing apparatus having a plurality of printer drivers and an OS capable of selecting and setting one of the plurality of printer drivers, a print command when a print command is issued from an application operating on the OS A driver selection support device that supports an operation of selecting a printer driver to be processed,
Storage means for storing a printer driver selection table indicating a correspondence relationship between the application and the printer driver;
Inquiry means for inquiring of an active application that can accept an instruction to issue a print command to the OS;
If the application notified from the OS in response to the inquiry is an application stored in the selection table, the driver that causes the OS to select and set the printer driver associated with the application in the selection table A driver selection support apparatus comprising: a setting control unit. A print command when an print command is issued from an application operating on the OS in an information processing apparatus having a plurality of printer drivers and an OS capable of selecting and setting one of the plurality of printer drivers. A driver selection support method for supporting a selection operation of a printer driver to be processed,
A storage step of storing usage history information in which a printer driver used for processing of a print command is associated with the application each time a print command is issued from the application;
An inquiry step for inquiring of an active application that can accept an instruction to issue a print command to the OS;
When the application notified from the OS in response to the inquiry is an application stored in the usage history information, the printer driver to be selected and set in the OS is selected based on the usage history information about the application. And a driver setting control step for selecting and setting the selected printer driver for the OS. A print command when a print command is issued from an application operating on the OS in an information processing apparatus having a plurality of printer drivers and an OS capable of selecting and setting one of the plurality of printer drivers. A driver selection support method for supporting a selection operation of a printer driver to be processed,
A storage step for storing a printer driver selection table indicating a correspondence relationship between the application and the printer driver;
An inquiry step for inquiring of an active application that can accept an instruction to issue a print command to the OS;
If the application notified from the OS in response to the inquiry is an application stored in the selection table, the driver that causes the OS to select and set the printer driver associated with the application in the selection table A driver selection support method comprising: a setting control step.

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