JP2011133995A - Print control unit and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To change prohibition setting corresponding to needs of a user while avoiding occurrence of trouble in print processing. <P>SOLUTION: When the prohibition setting is changed by a manager, a print control unit makes the manager set a print condition (e.g. a print condition corresponding to the prohibition setting of a release target) in a state of stopping processing for making a print condition not corresponding to the prohibition setting be designated (100, 102), and makes printing be performed under the set print condition (104, 106). When an error does not occur in a printer (NO in 108) and when the change (release) of the prohibition setting according with the set print condition is instructed by the manager having confirmed a print result (YES in 120), the print control unit generates and registers prohibition setting collateral information for changing (releasing) the prohibition setting (124 or 130). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a print control apparatus and a print control program.

  In Patent Document 1, a document management client server that creates a print setting inquires of a document management server that executes printing whether or not there is an unrealizable combination with the created print setting. A technique is disclosed in which the management server determines whether print settings created by the document management client server are appropriate, and if the combination is not feasible, it is changed to a feasible print setting combination and passed to the document management client server. .

  In Patent Document 2, it is determined whether the print job data spooled in the spooler should perform authentication processing related to the print restriction function for restricting the use of the print function. A technique is disclosed in which function restriction information is acquired by inquiring an Agent, and warning processing is performed based on the acquired function restriction information.

JP 2002-215353 A JP 2007-328450 A

  An object of the present invention is to obtain a print control apparatus and a print control program capable of realizing prohibition setting change according to the needs of a user while avoiding occurrence of problems in print processing.

  In order to achieve the above object, a printing control apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention represents a prohibition setting that prescribes a prohibition target printing condition among printing conditions that can be specified in a printing process and that is stored in a storage unit. Based on the prohibition setting information, a prohibition application process for causing the user to specify a print condition that does not correspond to the prohibition target print condition as a print condition for the print process via the reception unit, and specified via the reception unit A first control unit that causes the printing unit to perform the printing process under a printing condition, and a designation by a user through the receiving unit while the prohibition application process is stopped while the printing condition is designated A second control unit that causes the printing unit to perform the printing process under the specified printing condition, and a prohibition represented by the prohibition setting information based on a result of the printing process under the specific printing condition. It is configured to include a changing unit for changing a constant, a.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the changing unit may be configured to change the prohibition setting when no error occurs in the printing process under the specific printing condition. A process of excluding the printing conditions included in the specific printing conditions and defined as the prohibited object in the prohibited settings represented by the prohibited setting information from the prohibited object is performed.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the changing means is based on a result of the printing process under the specific printing condition and is included in the specific printing condition and represented by the prohibition setting information. When the exclusion of the printing condition defined as a prohibition target in the setting is instructed by the user via the accepting means, the processing for changing the prohibition setting is included in the specific printing condition and Processing for excluding from the prohibition target the printing conditions defined as the prohibition target in the prohibition setting represented by the prohibition setting information is performed.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, the change means changes the prohibition setting before the change and the prohibition after the change as a process of changing the prohibition setting. When the difference information is stored in the storage means, the information corresponding to the difference with the setting is stored as the difference information in the storage means separately from the prohibition setting information, and when the difference information is stored in the storage means, Based on the prohibition setting information and the difference information stored in the storage unit, the changed prohibition setting is recognized.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the changing means includes a prohibition setting before the change and a prohibition setting after the change included in the specific printing condition. As a process for changing the prohibition setting when an application condition indicating a condition to be treated as a prohibition target or an exclusion condition indicating a condition to be excluded from the prohibition target is specified via the accepting unit with respect to the printing condition corresponding to the difference The storage unit also stores the specified application condition or exclusion condition specified as condition information, and the first control unit performs the processing when the condition information is stored in the storage unit. Based on the information, it is determined whether the printing condition corresponding to the difference is treated as a prohibited object or excluded from the prohibited object.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claim 5, wherein the application condition or the exclusion condition represented by the condition information is instructed by a user through a specific application in which the printing process is set in advance. And at least one of whether or not a specific word set in advance is included in the name of the file to be printed.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control program that stores a computer in a prohibition setting information that represents a prohibition setting that defines a prohibition target print condition among print conditions that can be specified in print processing, stored in a storage unit. Based on the print condition of the print process, a prohibition application process is performed for allowing the user to specify a print condition that does not correspond to the prohibition target print condition through the reception unit, and the print condition specified through the reception unit is A first control unit configured to perform the printing process by a printing unit; a specific printing condition designated by a user via the receiving unit while the prohibition application process is stopped while a printing condition is designated And a second control unit that causes the printing unit to perform the printing process, and a prohibition that the prohibition setting information represents based on a result of the printing process under the specific printing condition. To function as changing means for changing the constant.

  The inventions according to claims 1 and 7 have the effect that it is possible to change the prohibition setting according to the needs of the user while avoiding the occurrence of problems in the printing process.

  The invention described in claim 2 has an effect that it is possible to realize, with a simple operation, excluding the printing condition in which no error has occurred in the printing process from the prohibited object.

  The invention described in claim 3 has the effect that it is possible to avoid excluding the printing condition in which an error does not occur in the printing process and other trouble has occurred from being prohibited.

  The invention described in claim 4 has an effect that it is not necessary to change the prohibition setting information itself when changing the prohibition setting.

  In the inventions described in claims 5 and 6, it is possible to add a condition to be treated as a prohibition setting or a condition to be excluded from the prohibition setting for a printing condition corresponding to the difference between the prohibition setting before the change and the prohibition setting after the change. It has the effect of becoming.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment. 6 is a flowchart showing the contents of a printing condition setting process. It is an image figure which shows an example of a printing condition setting screen. (A) is an example of prohibition setting information, and (B) is a schematic diagram showing an example of prohibition setting supplementary information. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the content of a prohibition setting update process. (A) is a warning screen, (B) is a prohibition setting change confirmation screen, and (C) is an image diagram showing an example of a prohibition setting change application condition setting screen.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a printing system 10 according to the present embodiment. The printing system 10 is configured by connecting a printing device 12 and a plurality of terminal devices 20 to each other via a communication line 30.

  The printing apparatus 12 includes a microcomputer 14 and a main body control unit 14 including a CPU 14A, a memory 14B, a non-volatile storage unit 14C including an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a flash memory, and the like, and a communication I / F (interface) unit 14D. It has. The printing apparatus 12 is connected to the communication line 30 via the communication I / F unit 14D. The main body control unit 14 is provided with an image printing unit 16 that prints an image represented by the input image data for printing on recording paper, a display unit 18A composed of an LCD or the like, and an operation unit 18B composed of a numeric keypad or a touch panel. An operation panel 18 is connected to each other.

  The image printing unit 16 may have a configuration in which an image is formed by electrophotography based on printing image data, and the formed image is transferred to and fixed on a recording sheet. Inkjet printing may be performed on the basis of printing image data. The system may be configured to eject ink droplets from a plurality of nozzles according to a method and record an image on recording paper, and any of various known methods can be applied as a method for recording an image on recording paper. It is.

  On the other hand, the terminal device 20 includes a personal computer (PC) and the like, and a terminal main body 22 including a CPU 22A, a memory 22B, a nonvolatile storage unit 22C including an HDD, a flash memory, and the like, and a communication I / F unit 22D. The terminal body 22 is connected to the communication line 30 via the communication I / F unit 22D. In addition, a display 24, a keyboard 26, and a mouse 28 are connected to the terminal main body 22 of the terminal device 20.

  In the present embodiment, among the plurality of terminal devices 20 provided in the printing system 10, there are a terminal device 20 operated by a general user and a terminal device 20 operated by an administrator of the printing system 10. In the storage unit 22C of the terminal device 20 operated by a general user, an application program (indicated as “APL” in FIG. 1) for creating a document to be printed and instructing printing, and the terminal device 20 The printer driver programs each including a printing condition setting program for performing a printing condition setting process described later are installed, and prohibition setting information (described later) is also stored. In addition to the above application program and printer driver program, the storage unit 22C of the terminal device 20 operated by the administrator also has a prohibition setting update program for causing the terminal device 20 to perform prohibition setting update processing described later. It is installed and prohibition setting information (described later) is also stored.

  The print condition setting program and the prohibition setting update program are examples of the print control program according to the seventh aspect, and the terminal device 20 operated by the administrator includes the print condition setting program and the prohibition by the CPU 22A of the terminal body 22. By executing the setting update program, it functions as an example of a print control apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, the prohibition setting update program is shown separately from the printer driver program. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the prohibition setting update program can be activated only by a user having the authority as an administrator. As a possible program, it may be included in the printer driver program. Further, FIG. 1 shows a state in which prohibition setting supplementary information is also stored in the storage unit 22C of each terminal device 20, but this prohibition setting supplementary information is shown in FIG. It is not initially stored in the storage unit 22C of the device 20, but is additionally stored by the administrator performing work (details will be described later) including starting the prohibition setting update program.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. Generally, when a user instructs printing by a printing apparatus, printing is performed by setting desired setting values for each item (for example, paper size, number of copies, etc.) constituting the printing conditions via a printer driver. Although conditions are specified, among the conditions that can be specified as printing conditions, there are conditions that try to use functions that cannot be used physically at the same time, or conditions that cause or are highly likely to cause problems in the printing apparatus 12 Also exist. For this reason, in the prohibition setting information stored in the storage unit 22C of each terminal device 20, as shown in FIG. 4A as an example, a plurality of printing conditions that are not desirably specified by the user are set as prohibition settings. Each is registered. The prohibition setting information is provided to the customer who purchased the printing apparatus 12 from the manufacturer of the printing apparatus 12 together with the printer driver program, and is stored in the storage unit 22C when the printer driver program is installed in the terminal apparatus 20. The

  Next, the printing condition setting process performed by the terminal device 20 will be described with reference to FIG. In this print condition setting process, the user operating the terminal device 20 designates the print condition and instructs printing by the printing device 12, so that the printer driver via an arbitrary application on the terminal device 20 is used. This is realized by executing a printing condition setting program by the CPU 22A, triggered by the operation for starting the.

  In the print condition setting process, first, in step 50, the print condition setting screen shown in FIG. 3 as an example is displayed on the display 24 of the terminal device 20. This print condition setting screen is a screen in which it is possible to check the current set value for each item constituting the print condition and change the set value as necessary. FIG. For each item of “original size”, “output paper size”, “original orientation”, “magnification”, “number of copies”, “double-sided printing mode” and “multiple image printing mode” (shown as “collectively one sheet” in the figure) The screen state in which the setting value is displayed and the current setting value displayed can be changed is shown.

  Also, the print condition setting screen shown in FIG. 3 is provided with a plurality of tabs 46. The tab 46 to be displayed on the front side is switched, and the screen associated with the tab 46 after the switching is displayed on the front side. It is also possible to switch to a screen state in which setting values can be changed for other items constituting the. For example, FIG. 3A shows a state in which a screen associated with the tab 46 labeled “basic” is displayed on the front, and FIG. 3B shows a tab 46 labeled “tray / discharge”. The accompanying screen (screen that displays the current setting values for each item such as `` paper tray selection '', `` manual feed setting '', `` punch '', and allows you to change the displayed current setting values) The state displayed on the front is shown.

  In the next step 52, the user operating the terminal device 20 performs an operation for changing the setting value for any item constituting the printing condition via the printing condition setting screen displayed on the display 24. It is determined whether or not If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 80, and it is determined whether or not the printing condition setting by the user has been completed. If this determination is also negative, the process returns to step 52, and steps 52 and 60 are repeated until either determination is affirmed. When the user operating the terminal device 20 displays the print condition setting screen on the display 24 of the terminal device 20, each item constituting the print condition while switching the front display target tab 46 as necessary. Check the current setting value and find an item for which the current setting value should be changed.If you want to change the setting value for that item (such as entering the changed setting value or To select the option different from the option corresponding to the current setting value), the printing condition is set.

  When the user performs an operation to change the setting value of any item constituting the printing condition, the determination in step 52 is affirmed and the process proceeds to step 54, and the prohibition setting supplementary information is stored in the storage unit 22C. It is determined whether or not. Here, the description will be made assuming that the prohibition setting supplementary information is not stored in the storage unit 22C. If the prohibition setting supplementary information is not stored in the storage unit 22C, the determination in step 54 is negative, the process proceeds to step 66, the prohibition setting information is read from the storage unit 22C to the memory 22B, and the changed setting value is included. Each current prohibition setting is collated with each prohibition setting registered in the prohibition setting information read out. In step 68, it is determined whether or not the current printing condition matches any prohibition setting registered in the prohibition setting information.

  If it is determined in step 68 that the current printing conditions do not match any of the prohibition settings registered in the prohibition setting information, the determination is negative and the routine proceeds to step 80. In addition, if the current printing conditions match any of the prohibited settings registered in the prohibited setting information, that is, the printing conditions that match the prohibited settings registered in the prohibited setting information are specified by the user. If the result is YES, the determination in step 68 is affirmed and the process proceeds to step 70. As an example, a warning screen shown in FIG. 6A (prohibition setting that matches specified printing conditions (printing conditions that are not desired by the user) ) Is displayed on the display 24, and for the specific item whose set value has been changed immediately before the determination in step 52 is affirmed, the set value is returned to the value before the change, and then the process returns to step 52.

  As a result, the printing condition that matches the prohibition setting registered in the prohibition setting information (in the example shown in FIG. 6A, “tray 5 (manual feed)” is set in the “paper tray selection” item and “manual feed” The printing condition specified by the user is set to any prohibition setting registered in the prohibition setting information. The printing condition is set to “thick paper 2” in the “paper type” item. Are also corrected to print conditions that do not match. Note that the above-described Step 52, Step 54, and Step 66 to Step 70 are an example of the prohibition application processing according to the present invention, together with Step 56 to Step 64 described later.

  When the user operating the terminal device 20 completes the setting of the printing condition, the user sets the printing condition by selecting the button 48 provided in the printing condition setting screen, and further determines the document to be printed. An operation for instructing printing is performed. When this operation is performed, the determination in step 80 is affirmed and the process proceeds to step 82, where data of the document to be printed (printed document data) and information indicating the printing conditions set by the user (printing condition information) are obtained. The data is transmitted to the printing apparatus 12 via the communication line 30. In the next step 84, it is determined whether a response has been received from the printing apparatus 12, and step 84 is repeated until the determination is affirmed.

  When the main body control unit 14 of the printing apparatus 12 receives the print original data and the printing condition information from the terminal apparatus 20 via the communication line 30, the image represented by the received print original data is received according to the printing conditions received from the terminal apparatus 20. The image printing unit 16 performs a printing process for printing on a recording sheet, and transmits information notifying the completion of printing to the terminal device 20. When printing completion is notified from the printing apparatus 12, in the printing condition setting process (FIG. 2) executed in the terminal apparatus 20, the determination in step 84 is affirmed, the process proceeds to step 86, and the process ends. In this case, the message displayed on the display 24 recognizes that the user who is operating the terminal device 20 has successfully printed the document to be printed.

  By the way, the prohibition setting information is information provided from the manufacturer of the printing apparatus 12 to the customer who purchased the printing apparatus 12, and generally the same prohibition setting is applied to each customer who purchased the printing apparatus 12. Information (information in which the same prohibition setting is registered) is provided, but the usage mode of the printing device 12 (for example, the usage environment of the printing device 12 and the type and content of the document printed by the printing device 12) is individual customer. Therefore, some customers who have purchased the printing apparatus 12 desire to change the prohibition setting registered in the prohibition setting information according to the usage mode of the printing apparatus 12 and other circumstances. There are also customers.

  The manufacturer of the printing apparatus 12 generates and provides the customer-specific prohibition setting information in which the prohibition setting is changed according to a request from the customer to a customer who wants to change the prohibition setting. For example, if a customer creates a new manuscript that should be printed under new printing conditions that are prohibited by the current prohibition settings, the prohibition rule is changed. It has been difficult to quickly generate and provide setting information as desired by customers. In addition, if the customer (administrator) configures the printer driver so that the prohibition setting can be changed freely, the prohibition setting is changed by the administrator so that the specified printing conditions can be specified. (When some prohibition settings are canceled), the printing conditions for which the prohibition settings have been canceled are inappropriate printing conditions, so printing is performed each time printing is performed by other users. There is a possibility that an error occurs in the apparatus 12 or that the printing apparatus 12 is damaged due to frequent use of printing under the printing conditions or the life of the printing apparatus 12 is shortened.

  For this reason, in this embodiment, when it is desired to change the prohibition setting (cancel some prohibition settings), the administrator performs an operation of starting the prohibition setting update program on the terminal device 20, The terminal device 20 performs the prohibition setting update process shown in FIG. In the prohibition setting update process, first, in step 100, the print condition setting screen shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the display 24 of the terminal device 20 as an example, similarly to step 50 of the print condition setting process (FIG. 2) described above. Let In the next step 102, it is determined whether or not the setting of printing conditions by the administrator is completed, and step 102 is repeated until the setting of printing conditions is completed.

  As described above, in the prohibition setting update process, the process corresponding to step 52 to step 70 in the print condition setting process (FIG. 2) described above, that is, the setting value of any item constituting the print condition is changed. Each time an operation is performed, it is determined whether or not the current printing conditions including the changed setting value match any of the prohibition settings registered in the prohibition setting information, and a warning is given if the determination is affirmed Since the process of displaying the screen on the display 24 and returning the setting value of the specific item whose setting value has been changed immediately before to the value before the change is omitted, the administrator can register all the information registered in the prohibition setting information. It is possible to specify desired printing conditions in a state where the prohibition setting is released.

  When the administrator completes the designation of desired printing conditions, the administrator selects the button 48 in the printing condition setting screen, and further performs an operation for instructing printing of the document to be printed. As a result, the determination in step 102 is affirmed, the process proceeds to step 104, and the print document data and the print condition information are transmitted to the printing apparatus 12 via the communication line 30. In the next step 106, it is determined whether a response is received from the printing apparatus 12, and step 106 is repeated until the determination is affirmed.

  When the main body control unit 14 of the printing apparatus 12 receives the print original data and the print condition information from the terminal apparatus 20 via the communication line 30, the image represented by the received print original data is received from the terminal apparatus 20 as described above. The image printing unit 16 performs a printing process for printing on a recording sheet in accordance with the printing conditions, and transmits information notifying the completion of printing to the terminal device 20. However, since the printing conditions specified in the prohibition setting update process (FIG. 5) are the printing conditions specified in a state where all the prohibition settings registered in the prohibition setting information are canceled as described above, the terminal The print condition information received from the apparatus 20 may be a print condition that attempts to use a function that cannot be physically used at the same time, or a print condition that causes a problem in the printing apparatus 12. In this case, the main body control unit 14 transmits information notifying that an error has occurred in the printing process to the terminal device 20 when an error has occurred in the printing process by the image printing unit 16.

  When any information is received from the printing apparatus 12, in the prohibition setting update process (FIG. 5) executed in the terminal apparatus 20, the determination in step 106 is affirmed and the process proceeds to step 108, and the information received from the printing apparatus 12 is received. It is determined whether or not the information notifies the occurrence of an error. If this determination is affirmed, it can be determined that the same error is likely to occur again if the administrator performs the printing process again under the printing conditions specified previously. For this reason, if the determination in step 108 is affirmed, the process proceeds to step 110, and it is not appropriate to change the prohibition setting (cancel some prohibition settings) based on the printing conditions specified by the administrator earlier. A message notifying that is displayed on the display 24, and the prohibition setting update process is terminated.

  Instead of the processing of step 110, among the items constituting the printing conditions specified by the administrator earlier, a combination of setting values of a plurality of items that caused an error in the printing processing is specified and specified. It is determined whether or not a combination of setting values of multiple items is registered in the prohibition setting information as a prohibition setting, and if not registered, the combination of setting values of the specified multiple items is additionally registered in the prohibition setting information as a prohibition setting. Processing may be performed. Possible causes of errors in printing under printing conditions that are not registered as prohibition settings in the prohibition setting information include, for example, deterioration over time of components that constitute the printing apparatus 12. Specifying a combination of setting values of a plurality of items that has caused an error in the printing process, for example, causes the printing apparatus 12 to transmit the type of error that occurred when notifying the occurrence of an error to the terminal apparatus 20. In addition, a table in which combinations of setting values of a plurality of items that cause the error are stored in the storage unit 22C in advance for each type of error that may occur in the printing apparatus 12, and the printing apparatus 12 can be realized by performing a process of reading a combination of setting values of a plurality of items corresponding to the type of error received from the table.

  On the other hand, when information notifying the completion of printing is received from the printing apparatus 12, the determination in step 108 is denied and the process proceeds to step 112, where the printing condition (first the administrator) (Printing conditions specified by) are respectively compared with the individual prohibition settings registered in the prohibition setting information, and in the next step 114, the above printing conditions match any of the prohibition settings registered in the prohibition setting information. Determine if you are doing it. If the printing condition represented by the printing condition information transmitted to the printing apparatus 12 does not match any of the prohibition settings, the determination in step 114 is denied and the process proceeds to step 116, and the printing condition specified by the administrator first. Does not match any of the prohibition settings registered in the prohibition setting information, so a message notifying that the prohibition setting change (cancellation of some prohibition settings) is unnecessary is displayed on the display 24, The prohibition setting update process is terminated.

  In addition, when the printing condition represented by the printing condition information transmitted to the printing apparatus 12 matches any prohibition setting, that is, the printing condition that matches the prohibition setting registered in the prohibition setting information is designated by the administrator. If yes, the determination in step 114 is affirmed and the routine proceeds to step 118, where a prohibition setting change confirmation screen is displayed that clearly shows the prohibition setting that matches the printing conditions specified by the administrator (an example of FIG. 6B). Is displayed on the display 24, and in the next step 120, it is determined whether or not a continuous change of the prohibition setting has been instructed.

  In the prohibition setting change confirmation screen shown in FIG. 6B, the prohibition setting content that matches the printing conditions specified by the administrator (in the example of FIG. 6B, the item “paper tray selection” is displayed. A message confirming the continuous change of the prohibition setting, with “Tray 5 (manual feed)” set and “Thick paper 2” set in the “Manual paper type” item is clearly specified ("Do you want to apply this prohibition setting change continuously? Please select after confirming the print results"), button 150 for instructing to continue prohibition setting change, prohibition setting A button 152 for instructing setting of the application condition of the change and a button 154 for instructing cancellation of the prohibition setting change are provided.

  When the administrator who operates the terminal device 20 displays the prohibition setting change confirmation screen shown in FIG. 6B on the display 24, the administrator recognizes that the printing processing by the printing device 12 has been completed, and print results. Confirm. In the present embodiment, the prohibition setting change confirmation screen shown in FIG. 6B is a screen that is displayed when no error has occurred in the printing process in the printing apparatus 12, but an error has occurred in the printing process. Even if not, problems such as blurring of printing may occur. In the case where a defect such as fading has occurred in the print result, the administrator performs an operation of selecting the button 154 in the prohibition setting change confirmation screen in order to instruct to cancel the prohibition setting change. If this operation is performed, the determination in step 120 is negative, and the prohibition setting update process is terminated without changing the prohibition setting.

  In addition, when there is no problem such as blurring of printing in the printing result, the administrator uniformly cancels the prohibition setting specified on the prohibition setting change confirmation screen for all the documents printed by the printing device 12. In order to apply the cancellation of the prohibition setting only to a part of the document printed by the printing apparatus 12, it is determined whether to set the application condition of the prohibition setting change, and change the prohibition setting. An operation of selecting the button 150 or the button 152 in the confirmation screen according to the result of the determination is performed. When the button 150 or button 152 is selected by the administrator, the determination in step 120 is affirmed and the process proceeds to step 122 to determine whether or not the setting of the application condition for prohibition setting change is instructed.

  Here, when the administrator desires to apply the cancellation of the prohibition setting uniformly to all the originals printed by the printing apparatus 12, an operation of selecting the button 150 is performed by the administrator. The determination of step 122 is denied, and the process proceeds to step 124, where the prohibition setting change information for releasing the prohibition setting specified on the prohibition setting change confirmation screen without applying the prohibition setting change is generated and generated. The prohibition setting change information is stored in the storage unit 22C as prohibition setting supplementary information, and the prohibition setting update process is terminated. As shown in FIG. 4B, the prohibition setting supplementary information includes “change type” indicating whether the prohibition setting change is cancellation or addition of the prohibition, “condition” indicating the prohibition setting change target printing condition, and prohibition setting change. In step 124, information indicating the cancellation of the prohibition as “change type”, and information indicating the prohibition setting clearly indicated on the prohibition setting change confirmation screen as “condition”. Are set, and for the “applicable condition”, forbidden setting supplementary information with no setting indicating no applicable condition is generated and stored. When the prohibition setting supplementary information is already stored in the storage unit 22C, the prohibition setting supplementary information generated in step 124 is added to the existing prohibition setting supplementary information.

  In addition, when the administrator desires to apply the prohibition setting cancellation only to a part of the document printed by the printing apparatus 12, an operation for selecting the button 152 is performed by the administrator. Thus, the determination at step 122 is affirmed, and the routine proceeds to step 126, where the prohibition setting change application condition setting screen shown in FIG. In the next step 128, it is determined whether or not the setting of the application condition by the administrator is completed, and step 128 is repeated until the determination is affirmed.

  In the prohibition setting change application condition setting screen shown in FIG. 6C, the contents of the prohibition setting to be canceled (in the example shown in FIG. 6C, “tray 5 (manual feed)” is added to the item of “paper tray selection”. The printing condition in which “thick paper 2” is set in the “manual paper type” item is specified. In addition, on the prohibition setting change application condition setting screen shown in FIG. 6 (C), as the prohibition setting cancellation application condition, a condition (first condition) for canceling the prohibition setting only when a printing instruction is issued from a specific application, and , A condition (second condition) for “cancellation of prohibition setting only when printing a file with a file name including a specific keyword” can be set, and whether or not the first condition is applied corresponding to the first condition. A selection field 156 for selecting the above and a designation field 158 for designating a specific application (executable file) are respectively provided, and it is selected whether or not to apply the second condition corresponding to the second condition. A selection column 160 for inputting a specific keyword and an input column 162 for inputting a specific keyword are provided, respectively, and a button 164 for confirming the set condition is also provided.

  When the prohibition setting change application condition setting screen shown in FIG. 6C is displayed on the display 24, the administrator selects the prohibition setting change application condition setting screen according to the characteristics of the original whose prohibition setting is to be canceled. To set at least one of the first condition and the second condition. Specifically, when a certain application instructs to print a document whose prohibition setting is to be canceled, the selection field 156 is selected and the location and name of the execution file of the certain application are input into the designation field 158. The first condition is set by performing the operation to be performed by the administrator. In addition, when a certain keyword is included in the file name of the document whose prohibition setting is to be canceled, the administrator performs an operation of selecting the selection field 160 and inputting the certain keyword into the input field 162. The second condition is set. Then, when the setting of the application condition for canceling the prohibition setting is completed, the administrator performs an operation of selecting the button 164 in order to confirm the set condition.

  When the administrator performs an operation of selecting the button 164, the determination in step 128 is affirmed and the process proceeds to step 130, and the prohibition setting change for canceling the prohibition setting to be canceled with the application condition of the prohibition setting change is performed. Information is generated, the generated prohibition setting change information is stored as prohibition setting supplementary information in the storage unit 22C, and the prohibition setting update process is terminated. In step 130, the information indicating the prohibition cancellation is set as the “change type” and the information indicating the prohibition setting explicitly indicated on the prohibition setting change confirmation screen as the “condition” is set as the “applicable condition” by the administrator. Forbidden setting supplementary information in which information indicating the application conditions for prohibition setting cancellation is set and generated. Further, when prohibition setting supplementary information is already stored in the storage unit 22C, the prohibition setting supplementary information generated in step 130 is added to the existing prohibition setting supplementary information.

  In the prohibition setting update process described above, steps 100 to 106 are an example of processes realized by the second control unit according to the present invention, and steps 108 to 130 are realized by the changing unit according to the present invention. It is an example of a process.

  Through the prohibition setting update process described above, prohibition setting supplementary information is newly stored in the storage unit 22C of the terminal device 20 operated by the administrator, or existing prohibition setting supplementary information is added with new prohibition setting supplementary information. Thus, when the existing prohibition setting supplementary information is updated, the administrator operates the individual terminal device 20 operated by the general user on the prohibition setting supplementary information stored in the storage unit 22C of the terminal device 20 operated by the administrator. Are distributed to each other and stored in the storage unit 22C of the distribution destination terminal device 20 (overwrite storage if the prohibition setting supplementary information is already stored) is performed. As a result, the same prohibition setting supplementary information is stored in the storage unit 22 </ b> C of each terminal device 20 provided in the printing system 10.

  Thereafter, a general user operating the terminal device 20 passes through an arbitrary application that opens the document to be printed on the terminal device 20 in order to cause the printing device 12 to print the desired document with the desired printing conditions. In the printing condition setting process (FIG. 2), the prohibition setting supplementary information is stored in the storage unit 22C, so that the determination in step 54 is affirmed and the process proceeds to step 56. Then, the prohibition setting supplementary information is read from the storage unit 22C to the memory 22B, and the current printing condition including the changed setting value is read, and the individual printing conditions (prohibitions) registered as “conditions” in the prohibition setting supplementary information are read. Match each setting). In step 58, it is determined whether or not the current printing condition matches any printing condition (prohibition setting) registered as “condition” in the prohibition setting supplementary information.

  If the determination in step 58 is negative, it can be determined that the current printing condition is not a printing condition that matches the prohibition setting changed in the prohibition setting update process performed in the past, so the process proceeds from step 58 to step 66. Then, the processing after step 66 described above is performed. If the determination in step 58 is affirmative, the current printing condition matches the prohibition setting changed in the prohibition setting update process performed in the past, so the process proceeds from step 58 to step 60. In step 58, it is determined whether or not any information is registered in the prohibition setting supplementary information as the “applicable condition” corresponding to the “condition” determined to match the current printing condition. If the determination in step 60 is affirmed, the process proceeds to step 62, and the information registered in the prohibition setting supplementary information as the “applicable condition” corresponding to the “condition” determined to match the current printing condition. Based on the above, it is determined whether or not the current print instruction matches the application condition represented by the information.

  For example, when the above-described first condition is set as the “applicable condition”, the determination in step 62 is performed for the application program that is the current print instruction source (printer driver activation source). This can be done by determining whether the location and name match the location and name specified in the first condition. For example, when the above-mentioned second condition is set as the “applicable condition”, the determination in step 62 is that the keyword specified in the second condition is included in the file name of the document instructed to be printed this time. This can be done by determining whether or not. If the determination in step 62 is negative, it can be determined that the current print instruction does not match the application conditions registered in the prohibition setting supplementary information, so the process proceeds from step 62 to step 66, and the steps described above. Processes after 66 are performed.

  On the other hand, if the determination in step 62 is affirmative, the current print instruction matches the application condition registered in the prohibition setting supplementary information, and the prohibition setting change registered in the prohibition setting supplementary information is applied. Since it can be determined that it should be performed, the process proceeds from step 62 to step 64. Also, if the determination in step 60 is negative, it can be determined that the prohibition setting change registered in the prohibition setting supplementary information should be applied, and therefore the process proceeds from step 60 to step 64. In step 64, it is determined whether or not the “change type” registered in the prohibition setting supplementary information in association with the “condition” determined to match the current printing conditions is “prohibition of prohibition”. If this determination is denied, the process proceeds to step 70 and a warning screen is displayed on the display 24. If the determination in step 64 is affirmed, the process proceeds to step 60 without displaying the warning screen or the like. The print condition setting process including the above-described steps 54 to 66 is an example of a process realized by the first control unit according to the present invention.

  By the above-described processing, for example, a printing condition in which “tray 5 (manual feed)” is set in the “paper tray selection” item and “thick paper 2” is set in the “manual paper type” item is set as the prohibited printing condition. On the other hand, it is registered in the prohibition setting information (see FIG. 4A). On the other hand, the above printing condition is registered by the user with the prohibition setting incidental information as the prohibition cancellation target printing condition. When specified, the information registered in the prohibition setting supplementary information is given priority over the information registered in the prohibition setting information, so that the warning screen shown in FIG. 6A is specified without being displayed. The printing process is performed under the printing conditions. In addition, the above printing conditions are specified by the user in the state where the above printing conditions are registered as prohibition cancellation target printing conditions in the prohibition setting supplementary information and the corresponding application conditions are also registered in the prohibition setting supplementary information. In this case, if the print instruction matches the application condition, the print process is performed under the specified print condition without displaying the warning screen shown in FIG. In addition, when the printing process is performed under the above-described printing conditions, the above-described prohibition setting update process is performed to prevent an error from occurring in the printing apparatus 12 or a problem such as blurring of printing from the printing result. In the same manner, no error occurs in the printing apparatus 12 or a problem such as a faint printing in the printing result does not occur.

  In the above description, as a process for causing the user to specify a printing condition that does not match the prohibition setting, when the printing condition specified by the user matches the prohibition setting, a warning screen shown in FIG. Although the mode of performing the process of correcting the specified printing condition to the printing condition that does not match the prohibition setting has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and among the options in the individual items constituting the printing condition For an option corresponding to the prohibition setting, a process for blocking selection by the user may be performed. Specifically, for example, when the prohibition setting includes “when the setting value a is set in the item A”, the option corresponding to the setting value a is displayed when the option of the item A is displayed. Is displayed so that it is recognized that it cannot be displayed or selected (for example, grayed out). For example, in the prohibition setting, “setting value b is set in item B constituting the printing condition and set in item C”. In the case where “when value c is set” is included, after setting value b is set in item B, the option corresponding to setting value c is not displayed when the option of item C is displayed. Alternatively, display is made so that it is recognized that selection is impossible (when the setting value c is set in the item C first, the same processing as described above is performed for the setting value b in the item B). May be.

  Further, in the above, information corresponding to the difference between the prohibition setting before the change and the prohibition setting after the change is stored as prohibition setting supplementary information in the storage unit 22C, so that the prohibition setting information itself is not changed and remains in the initial state. Although the aspect of saving has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the prohibition setting information itself may be updated when the prohibition setting is changed.

  In the above description, the mode in which all prohibition settings are canceled while the administrator sets the printing conditions in the prohibition setting update processing has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the prohibition setting represented by the prohibition setting information, prohibition setting for restricting a printing condition in which an error is surely generated in the printing apparatus 12 or a printing condition for using a function that cannot be physically used at the same time is restricted. There are prohibition settings, and these prohibition settings may not be canceled even when the administrator sets the printing conditions in the prohibition setting update process.

  In addition, as an example of the application conditions for prohibition setting change in the above, “Apply prohibition setting change only when printing from specific application” or “Change prohibition setting change only when printing a file with a file name including a specific keyword” Although the conditions for “apply” have been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and as an application condition for prohibition setting change (cancellation or addition), for example, “another item D constituting the printing condition is the set value d. Settings for other items that make up printing conditions, such as “Apply forbidden setting changes only when applied” or “Apply forbidden setting changes only when other item E that configures printing conditions is not set value e” A condition for switching whether to apply the prohibition setting change according to the value may be used.

  Further, in the above description, as an example of the condition for changing the prohibition setting, the aspect in which the condition for applying the prohibition setting change is specified, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the prohibition setting change (cancellation or addition). For example, “Do not apply prohibition setting change when printing from specific application”, “Do not apply prohibition setting change when printing a file with a specific keyword”, “Configure printing conditions The prohibition setting change is not applied when another item D is the setting value d, and the prohibition setting change is not applied when another item E constituting the printing condition is other than the setting value e. Conditions that do not apply changes (examples of exclusion conditions described in claims 5 and 6) may be specified, or the administrator can select whether to specify application conditions or exclusion conditions Good.

  In the above description, the printing condition setting program and the prohibition setting update program, which are examples of the printing control program according to the present invention, have been stored (installed) in the storage unit 22C of the terminal device 20 in advance. Such a print control program can be provided in a form recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Printing system 12 Printing apparatus 16 Image printing part 20 Terminal apparatus 22C Storage part 30 Communication line

Claims (7)

Based on prohibition setting information that represents prohibition settings that specify prohibition target print conditions among print conditions that can be specified in print processing, stored in the storage unit, the print conditions of the prohibition target are set as print conditions for print processing. A first control unit that performs a prohibition application process that allows a user to specify a printing condition that does not apply via a receiving unit, and that causes the printing unit to perform the printing process under a printing condition that is specified through the receiving unit;
Second control for causing the printing unit to perform the printing process under a specific printing condition specified by the user via the receiving unit while the prohibition application process is stopped while the printing condition is specified. Means,
Based on the result of the printing process under the specific printing conditions, changing means for changing the prohibition setting represented by the prohibition setting information;
Including a printing control device.   The changing means includes a prohibition setting included in the specific printing condition and represented by the prohibition setting information as a process of changing the prohibition setting when an error does not occur in the printing process under the specific printing condition. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a process for excluding printing conditions defined as a prohibited object from the prohibited object is performed.   The changing means is based on a result of the printing process under the specific printing condition, and is included in the specific printing condition and from the prohibition target of the printing condition defined as the prohibition target in the prohibition setting represented by the prohibition setting information. When exclusion is instructed by the user via the accepting means, the prohibition setting is included in the specific printing condition and is specified as a prohibition target in the prohibition setting information indicated by the prohibition setting information as a process of changing the prohibition setting. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein processing for excluding printing conditions from being prohibited is performed. The changing means stores, as a process for changing the prohibition setting, information corresponding to a difference between the prohibition setting before the change and the prohibition setting after the change is stored in the storage means as difference information separately from the prohibition setting information. Process,
In the case where the difference information is stored in the storage unit, the first control unit performs the change of the prohibition setting based on the prohibition setting information and the difference information stored in the storage unit. The printing control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is recognized. The changing means excludes the printing condition included in the specific printing condition and corresponding to the difference between the prohibition setting before the change and the prohibition setting after the change from the application condition or the prohibition object representing the condition to be treated as the prohibition object. When an exclusion condition representing a condition is designated via the accepting means, a process for storing the designated application condition or the exclusion condition as condition information in the storage means as a process for changing the prohibition setting. Done
When the condition information is stored in the storage unit, the first control unit sets a printing condition corresponding to the difference as a prohibited object based on whether or not the condition represented by the condition information is met. The print control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein it is determined whether to handle or exclude from a prohibited object.   The application condition or the exclusion condition represented by the condition information is set in advance as to whether or not the print process is instructed by a user through a specific application set in advance and the name of the target file for the print process. The print control apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising at least one of whether or not a specific phrase is included. Computer
Based on prohibition setting information that represents prohibition settings that specify prohibition target print conditions among print conditions that can be specified in print processing, stored in the storage unit, the print conditions of the prohibition target are set as print conditions for print processing. A first control unit that performs a prohibition application process that allows a user to specify a printing condition that does not apply via a receiving unit, and that causes the printing unit to perform the printing process under a printing condition that is specified through the receiving unit;
Second control for causing the printing unit to perform the printing process under a specific printing condition specified by the user via the receiving unit while the prohibition application process is stopped while the printing condition is specified. means,
And a print control program for functioning as a changing unit that changes the prohibition setting represented by the prohibition setting information based on the result of the printing process under the specific printing condition.

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