JP2011060003A - Printer driver, printing method, information processing apparatus, information processing system, program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer driver, which can reduce waste of paper or time loss due to occupation of a printer by recognizing a reason for print cancellation when a user intentionally cancels printing, a printing method, an information processing apparatus, an information processing system, a program, and a recording medium. <P>SOLUTION: The printer driver includes: a print condition setting means; a print data generation means; an information management means managing print data information, print condition information, and print cancellation information; a print cancellation means which can input a reason for print cancellation when the print cancellation is instructed; a similarity determination means determining whether a current print pattern is similar to a print cancellation pattern in the past; and an information display output means displaying and outputting the list of reasons of print cancellation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer driver, an information processing apparatus, a printing method, an information processing system, a program, and a recording for converting document data on the application software into print data that can be processed by the printer when printing from the application software of the computer to the printer. It relates to the medium.

  When printing document data on application software, a printer driver that can ask the user to confirm printing continuation before generating print data to prevent printing errors and reduce unnecessary printing. Printing devices have been proposed.

  For example, when a print instruction is accepted, the printer driver of the print control apparatus of Patent Document 1 acquires document data, extracts a print failure history for similar document data, and presents the history to the user and cancels if there is a history. Judgment is made, and if it is not canceled, print data is transmitted to the printer. Thereafter, when an error notification is received, the failure history is created. If there is a failure history even if the failure is successful, the user's print evaluation is accepted, and if the evaluation is bad, the cause of success is created as a history. For this reason, it is described that an error to be generated can be avoided in advance, and a history of causes of printing failure and printing success created in advance can be presented to the user before printing.

  In addition, in the image forming apparatus of Patent Document 2, when a print start instruction is input, a display unit that performs display based on print setting information, a timer that measures a time after the display unit starts display, When the timer reaches a predetermined value, the conversion unit converts the print data into print control data based on the print setting information, and transmits the print control data to the image forming unit to perform image formation. For this reason, it is possible to notify the detailed setting by displaying a dialog for confirming or changing the details of the print setting after the printing process by the application is started, and obtain a desired print result. By doing so, it is possible to reduce wasteful printed matter, and when a dialog for confirming the details of print settings is displayed, printing is continued by continuing printing when a certain period of time has passed without any input. It is described that a delay can be avoided.

  In the print control apparatus of Patent Document 3, the print data is generated by operating an application program, and transmitted to the printing apparatus for printing. In the print control apparatus, identification information of processing data processed by the application program is obtained. An identification information storage unit to store, a history storage unit to store history information of processing data previously processed by the application program and transmitted to the printing apparatus, and the identification when the application program issues a print start instruction A comparison unit that compares information with the history information; and a notification unit that notifies the user of the application program of the fact when information that overlaps the identification information is detected in the history information. For this reason, it is described that it is possible to prevent the print data from being created a plurality of times in the host device.

  Further, the printer driver of Patent Document 4 displays a warning control screen before sending print data to a connected printer by a computer device, and allows the user to select whether or not to perform warning control of a print job. When the total number of printed sheets is selected as the warning condition, the total number of printed sheets of the print job is acquired, the acquired total number of printed sheets is compared with the threshold number, and a warning message is displayed when the total number of printed sheets exceeds the threshold number. Wait for instructions. When the user who has confirmed the warning message instructs to cancel the job, the current job is canceled, and when the user instructs to continue the job, the printing operation is started. For this reason, it is described that it is possible to automatically determine that data with a large load is printed, and to check whether the data to be printed is correct or not, thereby preventing unnecessary printing.

  Further, in Patent Document 5, as a means for solving a problem by detecting that a certain number of troubles have occurred by detecting that a certain number of cancel operations have been performed within a certain period of time. It is described that it is possible to provide an opportunity for effective use.

  However, in the print control device of Patent Document 1, it is possible to avoid a printing error based on a case where an abnormality occurs in printing by the printing device. However, when the user intentionally stops printing, why is the user There is a problem that it is impossible to grasp whether or not the printing is stopped, and the case where the printing is stopped cannot be used for the subsequent printing.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2, the print control apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 3, and the printer driver disclosed in Patent Document 4 can cancel print processing before transmitting print data to the printer, thereby reducing wasteful printed matter. However, there is a problem in that there is no mechanism for utilizing the printing process in the next and subsequent printing processes when the user intentionally stops printing.

  Further, Patent Document 5 has a problem that, if some trouble has occurred from the canceling operation, it only gives the user a chance to solve the trouble, and time waste cannot be suppressed.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and when a user intentionally cancels printing, the reason why the printing has been stopped is grasped, so that wasteful use of paper and a printer can be determined. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer driver, a printing method, an information processing apparatus, an information processing system, a program, and a recording medium that can suppress time waste due to occupation.

  In order to solve the above problems, the printer driver according to the present invention is a printer driver that operates on basic software when printing from a computer application software using a printer and receives a print job from the application software. Printing condition setting confirmation means for setting and confirming the printing conditions, printing condition information storage means for acquiring the contents of the printing conditions and storing them as a history, and document data received for the print job as the printing conditions A print data generation means for converting to print data, a print data information acquisition storage means for acquiring related information relating to printing of the print data and storing it as a history, a print stop and a print stop reason are input. A print cancel unit that receives print cancel information including the reason for print cancel when the print cancel is received, The print cancellation information storage means for storing the information, the information management means for storing and managing the print condition information, the print data information, and the print stop information in association with each other, and the past being stored and managed in association with the information management means Whether the reason for canceling the print, the content of the print data, and the content of the print condition, and the print data information of the received print job and the content of the print condition are similar according to a preset similarity determination method. A similarity determination unit that determines whether or not printing is continued and a print continuation input unit that displays whether to continue printing and inputs an instruction when it is determined by the similarity determination unit to be similar. It is characterized by that.

  The document data printing method using the printer driver according to the present invention is a document data printing method using a printer driver that operates on the basic software when printing from a computer application software using a printer. For the print job, a print condition setting confirmation step for setting and confirming a print condition when a print job is received from the application software, a print condition information storage step for acquiring the content of the print condition and storing it as a history, and A print data generation step of converting the document data received into the print data based on the print conditions, a print data information acquisition storage step of acquiring related information relating to printing of the print data and storing it as a history, and printing A print canceling process for receiving and inputting the cancel and the reason for canceling the print, and a print cancel process when the print cancel is received. A print cancel information storage step for acquiring print stop information including the history and storing it as a history, an information management step for storing and managing the print condition information, the print data information, and the print stop information in association with each other, and the information management The past reason for canceling the print, the print data information, the content of the print condition, and the print data information of the received print job and the content of the print condition, which are stored and managed in association with each other in advance, are set in advance. A similarity determination step for determining whether or not they are similar according to the determination method of the degree, and when it is determined that the similarity is similar by the similarity determination step, whether or not to continue printing is displayed and instructed And a print continuation input step for inputting.

  An information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes the printer driver described above.

  An information processing system according to the present invention is an information processing system in which an information processing apparatus having a printer driver that operates on basic software and a printer that prints image data transmit and receive data, the information processing apparatus Print condition setting confirmation means for setting and confirming print conditions when a print job is received from the application software, print condition information storage means for acquiring the contents of the print conditions and storing them as a history, and the print job Print data generating means for converting the received document data into print data based on the print conditions, print data transmitting means for transmitting the generated print data to the printer, and printing of the print data Enter the print data information acquisition storage means to acquire the related information and store it as history, the print stop and the reason for print stop Print canceling means, print cancel information storage means for acquiring print cancel information including a reason for print cancel and storing it as a history when the print cancel is accepted, the print condition information, the print data information, and the Information management means for storing and managing the print cancellation information in association with each other, the past print cancellation reasons, the print data information, and the contents of the printing conditions that have been stored and managed in association with the information management means, and the received information Similarity determination means for determining whether or not the print data information of the print job and the contents of the printing conditions are similar by a predetermined similarity determination method, and similarity by the similarity determination means If it is determined, a print continuation input means for displaying whether or not to continue printing and inputting an instruction, and information for instructing and inputting a list display output of the reason for stopping printing A printer driver having display output means, wherein the printer converts the received print data into image data that can be processed by a print engine, printing means for printing the image data, and the printer. And transmitting means for transmitting information to the information processing apparatus as to whether or not printing has been normally completed and whether or not a printing error has occurred in the printer.

  A program according to the present invention causes a computer to execute the document data printing method using the printer driver described above.

  A recording medium according to the present invention is a computer-readable medium on which the program described above is recorded.

  According to the present invention, when a user intentionally cancels printing, by grasping the reason for canceling printing, paper waste and time waste due to occupying a printer can be suppressed. It is possible to provide a printer driver, a printing method, an information processing apparatus, an information processing system, a program, and a recording medium.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer driver according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of information stored in an information management unit of a printer driver according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a figure which shows the flow of a process of the print cancellation process part which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the flow of a process of the print cancellation process part which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the screen which asks a user to input the reason for print cancellation. It is a figure which shows the example of the list output instruction | indication screen of the reason for printing cancellation. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a flow of a printing process of a printer driver according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the inquiry screen for confirming whether a user continues printing.

  The point of the present invention is to “eliminate useless printing due to the user's own habit” rather than the viewpoint of solving the user trouble as described in the conventional publication. For this reason, a means for obtaining the reason for “the user has voluntarily canceled printing” (having the user to input the reason) is provided, and the voluntary print cancellation data and the printing condition information are stored. This is characterized in that it is displayed when the print data has similar print conditions and informs the user of the cause of the past print stop.

Example 1
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an example printer driver according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of information stored in the information management unit of the printer driver.

  Basic software 6, application software 5, and a printer driver 7 are incorporated on the computer 1, and the computer 1 and the printer 2 are connected by the communication means 3.

  When printing the document data 4 with the printer 2, the application software 5 reads the document data 4 and instructs the printer driver 7 to print via the basic software 6. The printer driver 7 converts each drawing content of the document data 4 transmitted from the basic software 6 into print data 8 that can be processed by the printer 2 in accordance with the print condition 33 specified by the user. The print data 8 is transmitted to the printer 2 by the communication means 3 via the basic software 6.

  The printer 2 converts the received print data 8 into image data 12 that can be processed by the print engine 11, prints the content of the image data 12 on the paper fed from the paper feed unit 13, and places the paper on the paper discharge unit 14. Send it out. At this time, the printer driver 7 is notified via the communication means 3 of the printing status such as whether the printer 2 has normally completed printing or whether a printing error has occurred in the printer 2.

  The printer driver 7 according to the present invention includes a print condition setting unit 20, a print data generation unit 21, an information management unit 22, a print cancellation processing unit 23 that performs processing when an instruction to cancel printing is received, It has a similarity determination processing unit 24 that determines whether or not it is similar to the print cancellation pattern, and an information output unit 28 that outputs a list of reasons for the print cancellation.

  The print condition setting unit 20 displays a print condition setting screen in response to a request from the basic software 6 or the application software 5, and print conditions such as paper size, single-sided / double-sided printing, selection of a paper supply / discharge destination, and the number of copies to be printed. 33 can be set by the user.

  The print data generation unit 21 converts each drawing content of the document data 4 transmitted from the basic software 6 into print data 8 that can be processed by the printer 2 in accordance with the print condition 33 specified by the user. When the printer driver 7 receives an instruction to cancel printing, the conversion process to the print data 8 is stopped.

  The information management unit 22 holds print data information 25, print condition information 26, and print cancellation information 27 in the storage device of the computer 1.

  The print data information 25 includes a time stamp 30, a print result 36, a computer identifier 38, a user identifier 31, an application software name 32, a document data name 29, a print page range 34, reference information 26 'for print condition information, and the like. Hold.

  The printing condition information 26 holds printing conditions (paper size, single-sided / double-sided printing, paper supply / discharge destination, number of copies, etc.) 33, reference information 25 'to the print data information, and the like.

  The print cancel information 27 includes a time stamp 37, a print cancel reason 35, arbitrary information 39, reference information 25 'to the print data information, and the like.

  When the printer driver 7 receives a print instruction, the information management unit 22 sends the time stamp 30, computer identifier 38, user identifier 31, and application software name 32 from the document data 4 to the document data name via the basic software 6. 29, the print data information 25 such as the print page range 34 is acquired, and the content of the print data information 25 is held in the storage device together with the reference information 26 ′ to the print condition information.

  Further, the information management unit 22 prints the print conditions 33 such as the paper size, single-sided and double-sided printing, the selection of the paper supply / discharge destination, the number of copies, etc. delivered from the basic software 6 together with the document data 4 together with the reference information 25 ′ to the print data information. The contents are stored in the storage device as the printing condition information 26.

  Further, when the printer driver 7 receives an instruction to cancel printing, the information management unit 22 displays print cancellation information 27 such as a time stamp 37 and a print cancellation reason 35 passed from the print cancellation processing unit 23 as reference information 25 to the print data information. 'And keep it in storage.

  Whether the printer 2 has completed printing normally or a printing error has occurred in any of the computer 1, the communication unit 3, or the printer 2, the final print result is printed by the information management unit 22 as print data information 25. Recorded as result 36.

  Although the information management unit 22 is in the printer driver, the storage location of the print data information 25, the print condition information 26, and the print cancellation information 27 managed by the information management unit 22 is stored in each storage device for each computer. There is no limitation, and it may be installed in a specific storage device shared and used by a plurality of computers.

  In this case, the print data information 25, the print condition information 26, and the print cancellation information 27 managed by the information management unit 22 can be managed in an integrated manner, and each computer and each user can be identified based on the print data information 25. This is done by referring to the computer identifier 38 and the user identifier 31.

  In the case where the configuration is shared by a plurality of computers, “print data information 25”, “print condition information 26”, and “print stop information 27” are stored in storage means other than the computer 1 (for example, FIG. Other computers, printer servers, printer HDDs, etc. (not shown) are installed. In this case, the “information management unit 22” is configured to access the storage unit via the communication unit 3.

  In the printing process, the basic software 6 or the application software 5 can instruct the printer driver 7 to stop printing using predetermined means.

  In addition, even when a print cancel operation is performed using a user interface such as an operation panel provided in the printer 2, a print stop instruction notified from the printer 2 via the communication unit 3 is sent to the printer driver. 7 can be accepted.

  3 and 4 show the processing flow of the print cancel processing unit according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows the case where the print stop operation is performed by the basic software or the application software, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a flow of processing when a print cancel operation is performed in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, it is determined from where the print stop instruction is issued (step S101). When receiving a print cancel instruction from the basic software 6 or the application software 5 (YES in step S101), the print cancel processing unit 23 stops the conversion process from the document data 4 to the print data 8 in the print data generating unit 21. (Step S102).

  Further, it is determined whether or not the print data 8 has been transmitted to the printer 2 (step S103). If it has not been transmitted (step S103, NO), the process ends. If it has been transmitted (YES in step S103), the printer 2 is notified via the basic software 6 that an instruction to cancel printing has been issued (step S104). At this time, the printer 2 notified of the cancellation of printing stops the conversion process to the image data 12, and executes the cleanup process regarding the print data 8 and the paper discharge (step S105).

  When an instruction to cancel printing is received from the basic software 6 or the application software 5 (step S101, YES), a screen 40 for inputting the reason for printing cancellation is displayed in parallel with the above (step S106). When the input of the print cancel reason 41 is completed, the reason for the print cancel is notified to the information management unit 22 (step S107). Then, the information management unit 22 stores the print result 36 of the print cancellation information 27 and the print data information 25 (step S108).

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, when a print cancel operation is performed on the user interface provided in the printer 2 (step S201, YES), the printer 2 stops the conversion process to the image data 12, and print data 8 and a paper discharge cleanup process are executed (step S202), and an instruction to cancel printing is sent to the printer driver 7 via the communication means 3 (step S203).

  When receiving the print cancel instruction, the print cancel processing unit 23 of the printer driver 7 stops the conversion process from the document data 4 to the print data 8 in the print data generating unit 21 (step S204). Printing cancellation is also notified to the software 6 and the application software 5 (step S205).

  As in the case of FIG. 3, when the printer driver 7 receives a print cancellation notification from the printer 2 (step S <b> 203), a screen 40 for inputting the reason for print cancellation in parallel with the processing of steps S <b> 204 and S <b> 205. Is displayed (step S206), and when the input of the print cancel reason 41 is completed, the reason for the print cancel is notified to the information management unit 22 (step S207). Then, the information management unit 22 stores the print result 36 of the print cancellation information 27 and the print data information 25 (step S208).

  The flow for inputting the reason for canceling printing in FIGS. 3 and 4 is the same. When the print cancel processing unit 23 receives the print cancel instruction, the print cancel processing unit 23 performs the above-described print cancel processing, and displays a screen 40 for requesting the user to input the reason for the print cancel as illustrated in FIG. On the print cancel reason input screen, the user can select the reason 35 for print cancel or input arbitrary information 39.

  In general, the frequency at which the user intentionally cancels printing is less than the frequency at which normal printing is performed.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen that prompts the user to input the reason for canceling printing.

  Selection items for the reason 35 for canceling printing include “to change print settings” (change the print page range, change the number of copies, change the print paper size, change the paper source and paper discharge destination, and change the number of consolidations. , Change of monochrome printing or color printing, change of printing application, etc.) “Because the printing device cannot be used immediately” (during mass printing, a large number of print jobs are submitted, printer failure occurs, other printers Printing, etc.), “Other” (noticing that document data 4 needs to be re-corrected, noticing that it has already been printed and does not need to be printed. Etc.) are candidates.

  For example, when printing cancellation is instructed for the reason of "because of eco activities", printing is often canceled for "eco activities" on a specific day of the week. The reason for canceling the print job is to make it easier to statistically grasp the user's tendency and reduce waste in subsequent prints. It can be used.

  In the “other” column, the reason for canceling printing is left as a memo, and the user can check the contents when a list of reasons for canceling printing is output.

  Also, in the confirmation message before starting printing, it is now possible to display "Do you want to make print settings for eco-friendly activities" rather than just "Can the print settings remain as they are?" Thus, there is an advantage that the fact that printing has been canceled in the past and the current situation before starting printing are organically linked.

  When the input of the print cancellation reason 35 is completed, the print cancellation processing unit 23 notifies the information management unit 22 of the reason for the print cancellation, and the information management unit 22 receives the print cancellation information 27 such as the time stamp 37 and the print cancellation reason 35. The print data information is recorded together with the reference information 25 ′, and the print stop is also recorded in the print result 36 of the print data information 25.

  In order to avoid processing man-hours in case of trouble, the message shown in FIG. 5 is not displayed immediately after the instruction to cancel printing, but is displayed to the user in a situation where trouble is thought to be avoided, such as when printing is completed normally. It is also possible to adopt a configuration for checking.

  It is also possible to prevent the message shown in FIG. 5 from being closed unless the reason for canceling printing is selected.

  The information output unit 28 displays a list output instruction screen 45 of reasons for canceling printing as exemplified in FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a list output instruction screen for reasons for canceling printing.

  A display button 46 and a print button 47 are arranged on the output instruction screen 45. When the display button 46 is clicked, the information management unit 22 can refer to the print cancel information 27 and display the contents of the statistical processing of the print cancel information 27, the print data information 25, and the print condition information 26 on the screen.

  When the print button 47 is clicked, the print management information 27 is referred to from the information management unit 22, and the contents of the statistical processing of the print cancellation information 27, the print data information 25, and the print condition information 26 are sent to the print data generation unit 21. The data can be transferred to be converted into print data 8 and printed by the printer 2.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a flow of printing processing of the printer driver 7.

  When the printer driver 7 receives an instruction to start a print job, the print data generation unit 21 can process each drawing content of the document data 4 transmitted from the basic software 6 by the printer 2 in accordance with the print condition 33 specified by the user. The process of converting to the print data 8 is started (step S301), and at the same time, the information management unit 22 starts collecting the print data information 25 and the print condition information 26 regarding the accepted print job (step S302).

  When information collection by the information management unit 22 is performed, the similarity determination processing unit 24 also starts processing for determining whether the current print pattern is not similar to the past print stop pattern in parallel with the print data generation unit 21. (Step S303).

  The similarity determination processing unit 24 refers to the print cancel information 27 of the information management unit 22, print data information 25 associated with each print cancel reason 35, reference destination print condition information 26, current The similarity between the print data information 25 of the print job and the print condition information 26 is determined (step S304).

  The determination of the similarity is performed by a method for determining whether there is the print cancel reason 35, the print data information 25 or the print condition information 26 that matches the cancel reason, the print data information 25 and the print for the print cancel reason 35. A statistical method is used for the method of determining the similarity by weighting each parameter of the condition information 26, and the correlation between the occurrence frequency of the reason for canceling printing 35 and the parameters of the print data information 25 and the print condition information 26. The method of evaluating the similarity and determining the degree of similarity, and each parameter of the print data information 25 and the print condition information 26 when the print stop is instructed are compared with the print job immediately before the print stop and the print job immediately after the print stop. The method can be set flexibly according to the contents of the reason for canceling printing 35, such as a method of evaluating the transition by evaluating the transition.

  If it is determined that the current print pattern is not similar to any of the past print stop patterns (step S304, NO), the normal print processing is continued as it is. That is, the print data 8 output by the print data generation unit 21 is transmitted to the printer 2 by the communication unit 3 (step S307), and the printer 2 converts the received print data 8 into image data 12 that can be processed by the print engine 11, The contents of the image data 12 are printed on the paper fed from the paper feed unit 13 and the paper is sent to the paper discharge unit 14 (step S308).

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the current print pattern is similar to the past print stop pattern (step S304, YES), FIG. 8 is an example for confirming whether or not to continue printing to the user. Such an inquiry screen 50 is displayed (step S305).

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an inquiry screen for confirming whether or not to continue printing to the user.

  On the inquiry screen 50, there are arranged an explanatory text 51 on why the inquiry screen is displayed, a stop case button 52, a print stop button 53, and a print continuation button 54.

  When the cancel case button 52 is clicked, a past cancel case is displayed with reference to the print cancel information 27 from the information management unit 22, so that it can be used as a material for the user to determine whether or not to cancel printing. .

  When the print cancel button 53 is clicked (step S306, NO), the conversion process of the print data generation unit 21 is stopped in accordance with the “flow of processing of the print cancel processing unit” after step S102 shown in FIG. Then, the print cancel reason input screen 40 is displayed.

  The print processing unit 23 notifies the information management unit 22 of the reason for the input print cancellation, and the information management unit 22 displays the print cancellation information 27 such as the time stamp 37 and the print cancellation reason 35 as reference information 25 ′ to the print data information. Along with this, the printing stop is also recorded in the printing result 36 of the printing data information 25.

  Also, the conversion process from the document data 4 to the print data 8 in the print data generation unit 21 is stopped (step S102).

  Further, it is determined whether or not the print data 8 has been transmitted to the printer 2 (step S103). If it has not been transmitted (step S103, NO), the process ends. If it has been transmitted (YES in step S103), the printer 2 is notified via the basic software 6 that an instruction to cancel printing has been issued (step S104). At this time, the printer 2 notified of the cancellation of printing stops the conversion processing to the image data 12, executes the cleanup processing regarding the print data 8 and the paper discharge (step S105), and ends.

  When the print continuation button 54 is clicked, normal printing processing is continued as it is. That is, the print data 8 output from the print data generation unit 21 is transmitted to the printer 2 via the communication unit 3 (step S307), and the printer 2 converts the print data 8 into image data 12 that can be processed by the print engine 11, and the paper feed unit. The contents of the image data 12 are printed on the paper fed from 13 and sent to the paper discharge unit 14 (step S308).

  Even when the “continue printing” button is pressed, the print result (print log) is recorded in the print result 36 of the print data information 25. Inevitably, the information referred to by the similarity determination processing unit 24 varies. For this reason, it also affects the determination whether to display the inquiry screen 50 for continuing printing. Therefore, when displaying the inquiry screen 50 (step S305), the printer driver 7 can also display “Note that the previous time has continued” or the like.

  According to the above embodiment, when the user intentionally stops printing by using the printer driver according to the present invention, it is possible to grasp the reason for stopping printing. It is possible to suppress wasteful use of paper when a printing instruction is given, and time waste that consumes time available to others by occupying the printing apparatus.

  In addition, according to the above-described embodiment, since warning messages are not frequently displayed, it is possible to expect the effect of eliminating troublesome operations and reducing inadvertent mistakes in print settings.

  In addition, according to the above-described embodiment, the information at the time when printing is stopped is not limited to personal use, but can be shared by a plurality of computers or a plurality of users. Since it can be displayed in a list or printed, it can be used when the printer administrator knows the usage status of the printer, or when the user changes the computer used, information when printing is stopped Can be used as is.

  The storage unit of the information management unit of the printer driver according to the present invention is installed outside the computer and is shared by a plurality of computers and a plurality of users, and the information management unit includes the storage unit and the data It has the data transmission / reception means which transmits / receives.

  The printer driver according to the present invention is characterized by further comprising an information display output means for instructing and inputting the list display output of the reasons for stopping printing.

  An information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes the printer driver described above.

  The present invention can be applied to uses such as a printer driver, an information processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and an information processing system.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Computer 2 Printing apparatus 3 Communication means 4 Document data 5 Application software 6 Basic software 7 Printer driver 8 Print data 11 Print engine 12 Image data 13 Paper feed part 14 Paper discharge part 20 Print condition setting part 21 Print data generation part 22 Information management Unit 23 Print Cancel Processing Unit 24 Similarity Determination Processing Unit 25 Print Data Information 26 Print Condition Information 27 Print Cancel Information 28 Information Output Unit 29 Document Data Name 30 Print Data Information Time Stamp 31 User Identifier 32 Application Software Name 33 Print Condition 34 Print page range 35 Reason for print cancellation 36 Print result 37 Time stamp of print stop information 38 Computer identifier 39 Arbitrary information about the reason for print stop 40 Screen for prompting the user to input the reason for print stop 45 Instructing reason list output Screen 46 Button for instructing display 47 Button for instructing printing 50 Inquiry screen for confirming whether or not to continue printing to the user 51 Explanation of whether the inquiry screen is displayed 52 Cancellation example button 53 Print cancel button 54 Print continuation button

JP 2007-241609 A JP 2005-182396 A JP 2007-018152 A Japanese Patent No. 3618045 JP 2004-192234 A

Claims (8)

A printer driver that runs on the basic software when printing from a computer application software with a printer.
Print condition setting confirmation means for setting and confirming print conditions when a print job is received from the application software;
Printing condition information storage means for acquiring the contents of the printing conditions and storing them as a history;
Print data generating means for converting document data received for the print job into print data based on the print conditions;
Print data information acquisition storage means for acquiring related information related to printing of the print data and storing it as a history;
A print canceling means for accepting the print cancel and the reason for canceling the print;
A print cancel information storage unit that, when accepting the print cancel, acquires the print cancel information including the reason for the print cancel and stores it as a history;
Information management means for storing and managing the print condition information, the print data information, and the print cancellation information in association with each other;
The past reasons for canceling the print, the print data information, the contents of the print conditions, and the print data information of the received print job and the contents of the print conditions, which are stored and managed in association with the information management means, are set in advance. Similarity determination means for determining whether or not they are similar by the determined similarity determination method;
A print continuation input means for displaying whether or not to continue printing and inputting an instruction when it is determined by the similarity determination means to be similar;
A printer driver comprising: The storage unit of the information management unit is installed outside the computer and is shared by a plurality of computers and a plurality of users,
The printer driver according to claim 1, wherein the information management unit includes a data transmission / reception unit that transmits / receives data to / from the storage unit.   The printer driver according to claim 1, further comprising an information display output unit configured to instruct and input the list display output of the reason for canceling printing. A method of printing document data using a printer driver that operates on basic software when printing from a computer application software with a printer,
A printing condition setting confirmation step for setting and confirming printing conditions when a print job is received from the application software;
A printing condition information storage step of acquiring contents of the printing conditions and storing them as a history;
A print data generation step of converting document data received for the print job into print data based on the print conditions;
A print data information acquisition storage step of acquiring related information relating to printing of the print data and storing it as a history;
A print cancellation process for accepting the print cancellation and the reason for canceling the print;
A print cancel information storage step of acquiring print cancel information including a reason for print cancel and storing it as a history when the print cancel is accepted;
An information management step of storing and managing the print condition information, the print data information, and the print cancellation information in association with each other;
The past reasons for canceling the print, the print data information, the contents of the print conditions, and the print data information of the received print job and the contents of the print conditions, which are stored and managed in association with each other in the information management step, are set in advance. A similarity determination step for determining whether the similarity is similar by the similarity determination method performed;
A print continuation input step of displaying whether or not to continue printing and inputting an instruction when it is determined that the similarity is similar in the similarity determination step;
A method for printing document data using a printer driver.   An information processing apparatus comprising the printer driver according to claim 1. An information processing system in which an information processing apparatus having a printer driver that operates on basic software and a printer that prints image data transmit and receive data,
The information processing apparatus includes:
Print condition setting confirmation means for setting and confirming print conditions when a print job is received from the application software;
Printing condition information storage means for acquiring the contents of the printing conditions and storing them as a history;
Print data generating means for converting document data received for the print job into print data based on the print conditions;
Print data transmitting means for transmitting the generated print data to the printer;
Print data information acquisition storage means for acquiring related information related to printing of the print data and storing it as a history;
A print canceling means for accepting the print cancel and the reason for canceling the print;
A print cancel information storage unit that, when accepting the print cancel, acquires the print cancel information including the reason for the print cancel and stores it as a history;
Information management means for storing and managing the print condition information, the print data information, and the print cancellation information in association with each other;
The past reasons for canceling the print, the print data information, the contents of the print conditions, and the print data information of the received print job and the contents of the print conditions, which are stored and managed in association with the information management means, are set in advance. Similarity determination means for determining whether or not they are similar by the determined similarity determination method;
A print continuation input means for displaying whether or not to continue printing and inputting an instruction when it is determined by the similarity determination means to be similar;
Information display output means for instructing and inputting the list display output of the reason for canceling printing;
A printer driver having
The printer is
Image data conversion means for converting the received print data into image data that can be processed by a print engine;
Printing means for printing the image data;
Transmitting means for transmitting information to the information processing apparatus whether or not printing has been normally completed in the printer and whether or not a printing error has occurred in the printer;
An information processing system comprising:   A program for causing a computer to execute a document data printing method using the printer driver according to claim 4.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 7 is recorded.

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