JP2010204777A - Information processor, information processing system, program and printer driver - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor, capable of automatically converting a job to one printer to a job to the other printer, an information processing system, a program and a printer driver. <P>SOLUTION: A control part 13 acquires, for each printer, command information including a function of each printer, a range of choices or values for the function and a command corresponding to the range of choices or values, forms a filter for converting a command for one printer to a command for other printer (or A-to-B filter or B-to-A filter) based on the acquired command information for each printer, and uses the formed filter to convert a command contained in the job to one printer to a command contained in the job to the other printer. Thus, the job to one printer is automatically converted to the job to the other printer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing system, a program, and a printer driver.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing apparatus having a conversion module that converts a command into one or more commands that cause the printing apparatus to perform an intended operation is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-146629 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus, an information processing system, a program, and a printer driver that can automatically convert a job to one printing apparatus into a job to the other printing apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, the information processing apparatus according to claim 1 is configured to acquire, for each printing apparatus, instruction information including a function of each printing apparatus, a setting related to the function, and an instruction corresponding to the setting; Based on the acquired command information for each printing device, a filter for converting a command for one printing device into a command for the other printing device is created, and the one printing device is created using the created filter. Conversion means for converting an instruction included in the job to the printer into an instruction included in the job to the other printing apparatus.

  An information processing apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect, further comprising an input unit that inputs a function of each printing apparatus included in the command information and a setting related to the function. When the command included in the command information is unknown and the function of the other printing device and the setting related to the function are input, the conversion unit has the same setting related to the function of the other printing device. Requesting the other printing device driver to issue a first job and a second job and issue a third job including settings different from the settings of the first job and the second job, and the first job and the second job And the second difference between the first job and the third job is extracted, and the data portion corresponding to the first difference is excluded from the second difference. And determining the instructions included in the instruction information.

  The information processing apparatus according to claim 3 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the conversion unit performs a job size conversion process to the one printing apparatus before converting the job using the filter. Alternatively, the dividing process is executed.

  The information processing apparatus according to claim 4 is the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the filter corresponds to a function of the one printing apparatus that the other printing apparatus does not have. The instruction for the one printing apparatus is converted into an empty instruction for the other printing apparatus.

  The information processing apparatus according to claim 5 is the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the filter is a setting related to a function of the one printing apparatus that the other printing apparatus does not have. The command for the one printing device corresponding to the above is converted into the command for the other printing device corresponding to another setting relating to the same function of the other printing device.

  The information processing apparatus according to claim 6 is the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the filter corresponds to the function of the one printing apparatus, a setting related to the function, and the setting. When the instruction to be performed is the same as that of the other printing apparatus, the instruction for the one printing apparatus is not converted into the instruction for the other printing apparatus.

  An information processing apparatus according to a seventh aspect is the information processing apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, further comprising editing means for editing the command information.

  The information processing system according to claim 8 includes an acquisition unit that acquires, for each printing device, command information including a function of each printing device, a setting related to the function, and a command corresponding to the setting, and Based on the command information, a filter for converting a command for one printing device into a command for the other printing device is created, and the command included in the job to the one printing device is created using the created filter. One of the server and the client includes conversion means for converting a command into a command included in a job to the other printing apparatus.

  The program according to claim 9 is a program that acquires, for each printing apparatus, a command for each printing apparatus, including a function of each printing apparatus, a setting related to the function, and instruction information including a command corresponding to the setting. Based on the command information, a filter for converting a command for one printing device into a command for the other printing device is created, and the created filter is used to include the filter in the job to the one printing device. It is characterized by functioning as a conversion means for converting an instruction into an instruction included in a job to the other printing apparatus.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer driver that causes a computer to function as an acquisition unit that acquires, for each printing apparatus, command information including a function of each printing apparatus, a setting related to the function, and a command corresponding to the setting. .

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a job for one printing apparatus can be automatically converted into a job for the other printing apparatus.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, even when the command included in the command information of the printing apparatus is unknown, the command information of the printing apparatus can be determined.

  According to the invention of claim 3, a job that cannot be processed by the other printing apparatus can be changed to a job that can be processed.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to avoid sending a command corresponding to a function that the other printing apparatus does not have to the other printing apparatus.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, a command corresponding to a setting related to a function that the other printing apparatus does not have can be converted into another setting related to the same function of the other printing apparatus.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, unnecessary conversion processing can be reduced.

  According to the invention of claim 7, the user can freely edit the command information.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, a job for one printing apparatus can be automatically converted into a job for the other printing apparatus.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, a job for one printing apparatus can be automatically converted into a job for the other printing apparatus.

  According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to acquire command information necessary for creating a filter for automatically converting a job for one printing apparatus into a job for the other printing apparatus from each printing apparatus.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the information processing system containing the information processing apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a server 1 and clients 2 and 3. FIG. (A) is a diagram showing an example of command information including each function of the printer 4, a range of options or values that can be set for each function, and a command corresponding to the range of options or values. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of command information including each function of the printer 5, options or value ranges that can be set for each function, and commands corresponding to the options or value ranges. It is a flowchart which shows the preparation method of an AtoB filter. It is a figure which shows an example of the AtoB filter produced by the control part. (A), (B) is a figure which shows an example of the command information of the printer 5 concerning 2nd Embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing for creating command information of the printer 5. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a correspondence relationship between job A, job B, and job C structures.

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

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information processing system including an information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The information processing system shown in FIG. 1 includes a server 1 and clients 2 and 3, and printers 4 and 5 each configured by a computer. The server 1 is connected between the clients 2 and 3 and the printers 4 and 5.

  A driver B for the printer 5 is installed on the client 2, and a driver A for the printer 4 is installed on the client 3. The printer 4 prints a job from the driver A, and the printer 5 prints a job from the driver B.

  The server 1 includes a storage unit 11, an input unit 12 (input unit, editing unit), and a control unit 13 (acquisition unit, conversion unit). The control unit 13 is connected to the storage unit 11 and the input unit 12.

  A driver A and a driver B are installed in the storage unit 11. The control unit 13 creates an AtoB filter that converts a job to the printer 4 into a job to the printer 5 and a BtoA filter that converts a job to the printer 5 into a job to the printer 4. A method for creating the AtoB filter and the BtoA filter will be described later. Further, the control unit 13 converts a job to the printer 4 into a job to the printer 5 using the AtoB filter and converts a job to the printer 5 into a job to the printer 4 using the BtoA filter. The input unit 12 inputs data, information, or a command or inputs an instruction to the control unit 13.

  For example, when a job for the printer 5 is input from the client 2, the control unit 13 does not perform conversion of the job because the job is output from the driver B for the printer 5. On the other hand, when a job to the printer 4 is input from the client 2, since the job is output from the driver B for the printer 5, the control unit 13 uses the BtoA filter to execute the job to the printer 5. Conversion to a job for the printer 4. As a result, the job for the printer 4 is printed by the printer 4.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the server 1 and the clients 2 and 3.

  Since the hardware configuration of the server 1 is the same as that of each of the clients 2 and 3, the hardware configuration of the server 1 will be described here. In FIG. 2, reference numerals 101 to 109 indicate constituent elements of the server 1, reference numerals 201 to 209 indicate constituent elements of the client 2, and reference numerals 301 to 309 indicate the constituent elements of the client 3. Indicates an element.

  The server 1 includes a CPU 101 for controlling the entire apparatus, a ROM 102 having a control program, a RAM 103 functioning as a working area, a hard disk drive (HDD) 104 having various information and programs, a PS / 2 interface 105 for connecting a mouse and a keyboard, A network interface 106 for connecting to another computer, a video interface 107 for connecting a display device, and a USB (universal serial bus) interface 108 for connecting to a USB device (not shown) are provided. The CPU 101 is connected to a ROM 102, a RAM 103, a hard disk drive (HDD) 104, a PS / 2 interface 105, a network interface 106, a video interface 107, and a USB interface 108 via a system bus 109.

  The storage unit 11 corresponds to the HDD 104, and the input unit 12 corresponds to the PS / 2 interface 105. The control unit 13 includes a CPU 101, a ROM 102 and a RAM 103 necessary for executing a control program, and a network interface 106 for connecting to the clients 2 and 3 and the printers 4 and 5.

  3A is a diagram illustrating an example of command information including each function of the printer 4, options or value ranges that can be set for each function, and commands corresponding to the options or value ranges. FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating an example of command information including each function of the printer 5, options or value ranges that can be set for each function, and commands corresponding to the options or value ranges.

  The command information of the printer 4 and the printer 5 is installed in the storage unit 11 at the same time when the drivers A and B are installed in the storage unit 11. Alternatively, the control unit 13 reads out the drivers A and B from the storage unit 11, and based on the functions of the printers 4 and 5 input from the input unit 12 and the range of options or values that can be set for each function, the driver A , B may be acquired and command information for the printer 4 and the printer 5 may be created. The created command information is stored in the storage unit 11 or the control unit 13.

  The user may edit functions, options or value ranges, and commands included in the command information via the input unit 12.

  The driver A has a command that is output when each function of the printer 4 and a choice or a range of values that can be set for each function are input, and the driver B has each function of the printer 5 and It has a command that is output when an option or a range of values that can be set for each function is input.

  Hereinafter, a method in which the control unit 13 creates an AtoB filter based on the command information of the printer 4 and the printer 5 will be described. Note that the method for creating the BtoA filter can be diverted from the method for creating the AtoB filter, and the description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for creating an AtoB filter, and FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an AtoB filter created by the control unit 13.

  First, the control unit 13 compares the command information of the printer 4 with the command information of the printer 5 (step S1).

  Next, the control unit 13 determines whether there is a function of the printer 4 that is not supported by the printer 5 (step S2). If YES in step S2, the control unit 13 converts the command of the printer 4 corresponding to the function of the printer 4 that is not supported by the printer 5 into an empty command (step S3), and returns to step S1. For example, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the printer 4 has a stapling function, but the printer 5 does not have a stapling function. In this case, the control unit 13 inputs a command (that is, @ H = 0, H = 1) corresponding to the stapling function in the input field of the AtoB filter in FIG. 5 and an empty command (that is, in the output field of the AtoB filter). , Null).

  If NO in step S2, the control unit 13 determines whether there is an option or value range of the printer 4 that is not supported by the printer 5 (step S4). In the case of YES in step S4, the control unit 13 corresponds to another option or value range included in the same function in the command corresponding to the option or value range of the printer 4 that is not supported by the printer 5. A command to be assigned is assigned (step S5), and the process returns to step S1.

  For example, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the printer 4 has a short-side binding option for the duplex printing function, but the printer 5 does not have a short-side binding option. In this case, the control unit 13 inputs a command (that is, @ D = 2) corresponding to the short edge binding option in the input field of the AtoB filter in FIG. 5 and corresponds to the single-sided option in the output field of the AtoB filter. Enter the command (ie @ D = 0). Here, the control unit 13 inputs a command corresponding to the single-sided option in the output column of the AtoB filter, but the option input in the output column of the AtoB filter may be either single-sided or long binding. Further, the control unit 13 may cause the user to select an option to be input to the output field of the AtoB filter via the input unit 12.

  In the case of NO in step S4, the control unit 13 determines whether the commands of the printers 4 and 5 are the same when the functions of the printers 4 and 5 and the range of options or values are the same ( Step S6). If YES in step S6, the control unit 13 inputs the same command in the input column and output column of the AtoB filter (step S7), and returns to step S1. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 13 inputs a command (that is, @ Q = 1) corresponding to the “standard” option included in the image quality function in the input column and output column of the AtoB filter.

  If NO in step S6, the control unit 13 converts the command of the printer 4 into a corresponding command of the printer 5 (step S8), and returns to step S1. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the control unit 13 inputs a command (that is, @ Q = 2) corresponding to an option of “high image quality” included in the image quality function in the input field of the AtoB filter, and In the output field, enter a command (ie, @ Q = 3) corresponding to the “high image quality” option included in the image quality function.

  In the above AtoB filter creation method, the printer 4 has the option “A3” included in the paper size function, but the printer 5 does not have the option “A3”. In this case, the control unit 13 executes size conversion processing for reducing a job (for example, an image) including a command corresponding to the option “A3” to the “A4” size or the “B4” size, and the “A3” The command corresponding to the option “A4” or “B4” of the printer 5 may be assigned to the command corresponding to the option. Further, the control unit 13 divides a job (for example, an image) including a command corresponding to the option “A3” into two jobs of “A4” size, and assigns a command corresponding to the option “A3” to the printer. Two commands corresponding to the option “A4” of 5 may be assigned.

  According to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the printer 4 can set up to a maximum of 100 copies, but the printer B can set up to a maximum of 10 copies. When a job exceeding the maximum number of copies (here, 10 copies) is input to the printer B, the control unit 13 divides the job into a plurality of jobs, and uses a command corresponding to the “copy” option of the printer 4. A plurality of commands corresponding to “copy number” options of the printer 5 may be assigned.

  As described above, the control unit 13 applies a predetermined command of the printer 4 (for example, a command corresponding to the option “A3” or a command corresponding to the option “number of copies”) to the size conversion process or the division process. Special processing may be executed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the control unit 13 transmits the command information including the function of each printer, the option or value range related to the function, and the command corresponding to the option or value range for each printer. Based on the acquired command information for each printer, a filter (that is, an AtoB filter or a BtoA filter) that converts a command for one printer into an instruction for the other printer is created. A filter is used to convert a command included in a job to one printer into a command included in a job to the other printer. Therefore, a job for one printer is automatically converted into a job for the other printer.

  In the present embodiment, since the server 1 converts a job for one printer into a job for the other printer, a printer that does not have a job conversion module can also print the job. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, it is not necessary to develop a driver that is compatible with all servers and clients, so that the development cost of the print driver is reduced.

(Second Embodiment)
In the first embodiment, command information of the printer 5 is stored in the storage unit 11 in advance, or each function of the printer 5 that is input from the input unit 12 by the control unit 13 and options that can be set for each function or Based on the value range, the command output from the driver B is acquired, and the command information of the printer 5 is created. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the command information of the printer 5 is unknown.

  The configurations of the information processing system, the server 1, the clients 2 and 3, and the printers 4 and 5 are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating examples of command information of the printer 5 according to the second embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, among the command information of the printer 5, each function and a range of options or values that can be set for each function are input from the input unit 12 by the user, or the control unit 13 is a driver. It is input by automatically operating the user interface (not shown) of B. At this time, the command corresponding to each option or value range is unknown.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing for creating command information of the printer 5.

  First, the input unit 12 or the control unit 13 inputs each function of the command information of the printer 5 and a range of options or values that can be set for each function (step S11).

  Next, the control unit 13 requests the driver B to issue a plurality of jobs, and accumulates the plurality of jobs received from the driver B (step S12). For example, in FIG. 6A, since the commands corresponding to the choices of “standard” and “high quality” are unknown, the control unit 13 has two jobs (hereinafter referred to as job A and job) with the image quality function set to “standard”. B), and the driver B is requested to issue one job (hereinafter referred to as job C) with the image quality function set to “high quality”, and a plurality of jobs received from the driver B (that is, jobs A to C). ).

  Next, the control unit 13 extracts a first difference between two jobs (job A and job B) having the same setting (step S13). Here, FIG. 8 shows the correspondence between the structures of job A, job B, and job C. The first difference extracted in step S13 is data not related to the commands corresponding to the options of “standard” and “high quality” (for example, the issue times of job A and job B as shown in FIG. 8). Data).

  Next, the control unit 13 extracts a second difference between any one job (for example, job A) having the same setting and a job having a different setting (for example, job C), and the first difference is extracted from the second difference. The data portion corresponding to the difference is excluded (step S14). As a result, the control unit 13 uses common data between the job A and the job B and only the job B is different, that is, commands corresponding to “standard” and “high image quality” options as shown in FIG. To get.

  The control unit 13 determines whether or not all commands corresponding to the option or value range input in step S11 have been acquired (step S15). If NO in step S15, the process returns to step S12. By the loop processing from step S12 to step 15, the control unit 13 repeats acquisition of commands corresponding to other function options or value ranges. For example, in FIG. 6A, the command corresponding to the “number of copies” option is also unknown. The control unit 13 requests the driver B to issue two jobs with the number of copies set to “1” and issue one job with the number of copies set to “10”, and executes the processing of steps S12 to S15. As a result, the command corresponding to the option “number of copies” is acquired.

  If YES in step S15, the process ends. At this time, since the command information of the printer 5 is determined as shown in FIG. 6B, the control unit 13 creates an AtoB filter or a BtoA filter by using a method as shown in FIG. Also good.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the control included when the command included in the command information of the printer 5 is unknown and the function of the printer 5 and the range of options or values related to the function are input. The unit 13 issues a job A and a job B that have the same option or value range regarding the function of the printer 5 and issues a job C that includes a different option or value range from the job A and job B options or value ranges. To the driver B for the printer 5, extracts the first difference between job A and job B and the second difference between job A and job C, and excludes the data portion corresponding to the first difference from the second difference. Thus, the command included in the command information of the printer 5 is determined. Therefore, even when the command included in the command information of the printer 5 is unknown, the command information of the printer 5 is determined.

  In the first and second embodiments, the server 1 executes job conversion. However, the client 2 or 3 includes the storage unit 11, the input unit 12, and the control unit 13, and executes job conversion. You may make it do. In this case, the client 2 or 3 is connected to the printer 4 or 5 directly or via the server 1.

  A program in which a software program for realizing the functions of the server 1 or the clients 2 and 3 is recorded is supplied to the server 1 or the clients 2 and 3, and the CPU 101, 201 or 301 is stored in the storage medium The same effect as in the above embodiment can also be obtained by reading and executing. Examples of the storage medium for supplying the program include a CD-ROM, a DVD, or an SD card.

  Also, the CPU 101 or the CPUs 201 and 301 of the clients 2 and 3 of the server 1 execute the software program for realizing the functions of the server 1 or the clients 2 and 3, and the same effects as in the above embodiment are obtained. Play.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.

1 Server 2, 3 Client 4, 5 Printer 11 Storage Unit 12 Input Unit 13 Control Unit 101, 201, 301 CPU
102, 202, 302 ROM
103, 203, 303 RAM
104, 204, 304 Hard disk drive (HDD)
105, 205, 305 PS / 2 interface 106, 206, 306 Network interface 107, 207, 307 Video interface 108, 208, 308 USB interface

Claims (10)

An acquisition unit that acquires, for each printing device, the function of each printing device, settings related to the function, and command information including a command corresponding to the setting;
Based on the acquired command information for each printing device, a filter for converting a command for one printing device into a command for the other printing device is created, and the one printing is performed using the created filter. An information processing apparatus comprising: conversion means for converting an instruction included in the job to the apparatus into an instruction included in the job to the other printing apparatus. A function of each printing device included in the command information, and an input unit for inputting settings related to the function,
When the command included in the command information of the other printing device is unknown and the function of the other printing device and the setting related to the function are input, the conversion unit relates to the function of the other printing device. Requesting the driver for the other printing apparatus to issue a first job and a second job having the same settings, and issue a third job including settings different from the settings of the first job and the second job; Extracting the first difference between the first job and the second job and the second difference between the first job and the third job, and excluding the data portion corresponding to the first difference from the second difference; The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an instruction included in the instruction information of the printing apparatus is determined.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conversion unit executes a job size conversion process or a division process for the one printing apparatus before converting the job using the filter. .   The filter converts the command for the one printing device corresponding to the function of the one printing device that the other printing device does not have into an empty command for the other printing device. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   The filter corresponds to a command for the one printing device corresponding to a setting related to the function of the one printing device that the other printing device does not have, and another setting related to the same function of the other printing device. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the instruction is converted into an instruction for the other printing apparatus.   When the function of the one printing device, the setting related to the function, and the command corresponding to the setting are the same as those of the other printing device, the filter outputs the command for the one printing device. 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is not converted into an instruction for the other printing apparatus.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising editing means for editing the command information. An acquisition unit that acquires, for each printing device, the function of each printing device, settings related to the function, and command information including a command corresponding to the setting;
Based on the acquired command information for each printing device, a filter for converting a command for one printing device into a command for the other printing device is created, and the one printing is performed using the created filter. One of the server and the client includes a conversion unit that converts an instruction included in the job to the apparatus into an instruction included in the job to the other printing apparatus. Computer
One of the printing devices based on the acquired command information for each printing device, the function for each printing device, the setting related to the function, and the command information including the command corresponding to the setting for each printing device. A filter for converting a command for a device into a command for the other printing device is created, and using the created filter, a command included in the job for the one printing device is transferred to the job for the other printing device. A program which functions as a conversion means for converting into an instruction included in. Computer
A printer driver that functions as an acquisition unit that acquires, for each printing apparatus, function information of each printing apparatus, setting related to the function, and instruction information including an instruction corresponding to the setting.

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