JP2012014345A - Information processor, program and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor, a program and a storage medium for printing and sorting a print job ordered by a client to different output destinations in accordance with a specified condition.SOLUTION: The information processor 110 includes: means 224 for determining, in response to a print request, an output condition corresponding to an input condition which the print request matches, in accordance with a rule 238 that relates an output condition for prescribing modification of a print setting to an input condition for conditioning application of the output condition; means 224 for determining whether or not the determined output condition prescribes the use of the set print setting data structure that reflects the modification of the print setting; and means 226 for writing a print setting specified by the print request over part of the corresponding already set print setting data structure if the use is prescribed, or over part of the standard print setting data structure obtained from a corresponding print control program if the use is not prescribed.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, and more particularly, to an information processing apparatus, a program, and a recording medium for printing a print job instructed from a client terminal by assigning output destinations according to specific conditions.

  In recent years, in office environments such as government offices and companies, multiple image forming apparatuses such as MFPs (Multi-Function Peripheral) and laser printers are connected to a network, and these multiple image forming apparatuses can be used from various locations. There is a lot going on. On the other hand, in an environment where a plurality of image forming apparatuses can be used from a plurality of locations as described above, an inconvenience is caused by a specification mistake when selecting a desired output destination from a plurality of output destinations on the network. Or may cause problems such as information leakage. From such a background, there is a demand to automatically distribute to an appropriate output destination according to the identification information of the terminal.

  In an environment where the plurality of image forming apparatuses can be used, from an administrator's point of view, the functions of the image forming apparatuses on the network are not released to users indefinitely, but the functions are limited. In addition, there was a request to provide to each user.

  In order to meet the above-mentioned demands, in recent years, there has been a development of technology for forcibly changing output destinations and print settings in accordance with terminal identification information, print settings, etc., and sorting output destinations and limiting functions. Has been tried. In addition, since the office environment described above often has a mixture of printers provided by multiple vendors, so-called multi-vendor compatible systems that can be used regardless of differences in vendor, printer language, and model have been developed. Has been tried.

  For example, Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-143161 filed by the applicant of the present application receives job data from the application execution means, generates image data for each page, and sets imposition information and print settings extracted from the job data. Virtual printer driver means for writing and generating print setting data, and output condition control means for rewriting data generated by the virtual printer driver means according to rules for conditioning output destination selection and output contents and determining the output destination And a sending means for sending the data to the determined output destination as a job whose contents have been changed in accordance with the rewritten image data and print setting data.

  In the above prior art, image data in a common format is generated once for each page from the received job data, imposition information extracted from the job data and print setting data describing the print settings are generated, and an output destination is determined. After that, the configuration in which the image data and the print setting data are used as a job to be sent to the output destination makes it possible to forcibly change the print setting and distribute the output destination regardless of the difference in the vendor.

  However, some functions corresponding to the public part of the DEVMODE structure, which is a general-purpose data structure describing the print settings, can be changed relatively easily, but other than the public part. Since the private part including information specific to the printer driver can be freely decided between vendors, it is difficult to change mechanically correctly. In addition, some functions of the public part are not supported by some printer drivers. In this case, the settings are stored in the private part, so the function must be changed correctly mechanically as described above. It is difficult. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to cope with all functions of printer drivers of all models unless any modification is made in dynamically changing the print settings.

  As a technique corresponding to setting conditions that differ for each model, there is a technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-228202 (Patent Document 1). Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-151826 is carried out for setting the driving conditions of the peripheral device when setting the driving conditions of the peripheral device driven by a computer for the purpose of easily and accurately setting different driving conditions for each model. The processing procedure data corresponding to the model of the peripheral device to be used is referred to from the recording medium on which the processing procedure data determined for each model of the peripheral device is recorded. To receive the execution process data indicating the process to be performed in order to set the driving condition of the peripheral device, and refer to the process procedure data for the process received in the execution process data reception process, Disclosed is a drive condition setting device characterized in that the drive condition is set by executing a process according to the above.

  However, in the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to prepare processing procedure data for each model, and it is difficult to obtain cooperation from all vendors. It is not realistic to prepare process procedure data covering all models. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a technology that can support various types of printer drivers for general purposes, instead of individually supporting all existing types of printer drivers.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems. The present invention forcibly changes print settings in accordance with predetermined conditions and distributes them to a desired output destination image forming apparatus. Provided are an information processing apparatus, a program, and a recording medium capable of correctly changing print settings according to the predetermined condition even if the setting item to be changed is specific to the determined output destination printer driver The purpose is to do.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an information processing apparatus having the following features. In response to a print request, the information processing apparatus of the present invention sets an input condition that matches the print request based on a rule that associates an output condition that defines a change in print settings with an input condition that conditions the application of the output condition. A corresponding output condition is determined, and it is determined whether the determined output condition defines the use of a set print setting data structure that reflects a change in print settings. The information processing apparatus prints the corresponding print setting data structure that has been set when use is prescribed, and the standard print setting data structure obtained from the corresponding print control program when use is not prescribed, Partially overwrite the print settings specified in the request. Thus, the print setting specified by the user is changed according to the rule, the print request is processed, and the changed print setting is notified to the print control program.

  Further, the present invention can provide an information processing apparatus that creates definition data that defines the rule for processing a print request by changing a designated print setting. The information processing apparatus receives an input of an output condition that defines a change in print settings and an input condition that conditions the application of the output condition, and the output condition is between vendors defined in the public part of the print setting data structure. It is determined whether it corresponds to a common setting item or a unique setting item defined in the private part of the print setting data structure. When the information processing apparatus corresponds to a specific setting item, the information processing apparatus requests the print control program of the output destination to display the print setting screen, acquires the set print setting data structure via the print setting screen, The set print setting data structure is written in the definition data in association with the input condition.

  Furthermore, the present invention can provide a computer-executable program for realizing the information processing apparatus having the above characteristics, and a computer-readable recording medium for storing the program.

  According to the above configuration, when the print request is processed, if the output condition corresponding to the input condition that matches the print request defines the use of the set print setting data structure, the set print setting data Since the structure is used, even if the output condition stipulates a change in the setting item specific to the vendor or the model, the change in the conditioned print setting can be reflected in the final print setting. Furthermore, according to the above configuration, when creating the definition data that defines the rule, the output destination prints when the output condition conditions a change in the specific setting item defined in the private part of the print setting data structure. Since the print setting data structure that has been set is acquired using the control program and the use is written to the definition data, a rule that regulates the change of the setting item specific to the vendor or the model can be created.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a print system according to an embodiment. 1 is a schematic functional block diagram of a printing system according to an embodiment. 1 is a detailed functional block diagram of a print system according to an embodiment. The flowchart which shows the rule definition process which produces rule definition data and a set DEVMODE structure. The figure which illustrates the input condition setting screen for setting the input condition displayed on a display apparatus. The figure which illustrates the output condition setting screen for setting the output condition displayed on a display apparatus. 6 is a diagram illustrating a print setting screen of a printer driver UI displayed on a display device. FIG. The figure which illustrates the data structure of (A) rule definition data and (B) set DEVMODE structure. 6 is a flowchart illustrating print job processing according to rule definition data.

  Hereinafter, although this invention is demonstrated with embodiment, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned later. In the following embodiment, an information processing apparatus that creates rule definition data for processing a print request by changing a specified print setting, and processes the print request by changing the print setting according to the rule definition data. As an information processing apparatus for notifying the print control program of the changed print settings, an application server 110 constituting the print system 100 will be described as an example.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a printing system 100 according to the present embodiment. A print system 100 shown in FIG. 1 is configured by connecting a plurality of clients 112, 114, 116, 118 and an application server 110 disposed in an office or the like to a network 102, and the application server 110 is configured as described above. The client 112 to 118 are provided with an application function such as a document viewer and a function of a virtual printer driver (details will be described later) of this embodiment.

  In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, an MFP 122, laser printers 124 and 126, an inkjet printer 128, and the like are further connected to the network 102. In the present embodiment, the MFP 122, the laser printers 124 and 126, and the ink jet printer 128 are hereinafter collectively referred to as remote printers. A printer server 130 is connected to the network 102, and the printer server 130 manages the remote printers 124 to 128. In the embodiment to be described, the printer server 130 is described as being implemented as an independent dedicated server. However, in other embodiments, the printer server 130 may be mounted on any client of the application server 110.

  The application server 110 processes an application service request received from each of the clients 112 to 118 on the network 102 and returns the processing result to the requesting client. In the embodiment to be described, the service request can include, for example, an instruction to open a predetermined document on the viewer, an instruction for print setting, an instruction to print a document, and the like.

  When print settings are specified by the user and a print instruction is issued at the client, the application server 110 receives the print instruction from the client and creates print data as a print job (print request) with the client as the request source. To do. Then, the application server 110 appropriately determines the change of the output destination and the print setting according to the given rule, notifies the printer server 130 of the changed print setting and instructs the execution of the print job. In response to the print job execution command, the printer server 130 causes the remote printer determined as the output destination to execute the print job.

  As an example, the remote printer as the output destination can be determined corresponding to the clients 112 to 118. For example, a remote printer placed in a location where each client is installed or a nearby location can be determined as an output destination. Such correspondence can be defined by the administrator of the print system 100.

  In FIG. 1, areas 140, 150, and 160 surrounded by a dotted line represent bases that are regarded as the same location. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the client 112 and the remote printer 122 are associated with each other to configure the location 140, and the other clients and the respective printers are associated with each other to configure the locations 150 and 160. Note that a plurality of clients and remote printers may exist in each of the locations 140 to 160, and there may be locations for only the client or only the remote printer.

  The application server 110 is implemented as a server, a workstation, or a personal computer, and includes a single-core and multi-core CPU, ROM, RAM that provides an execution space, a hard disk device, and the like. A Windows (registered trademark) 200X server, UNIX ( Under the control of an operating system (OS) such as registered trademark (registered trademark), LINUX (registered trademark), or Solaris (registered trademark), each functional unit described later is realized, and print settings and output destinations are controlled for each print job. The printer server 130 can have the same configuration as the application server 110 in terms of hardware configuration and OS configuration.

  Each of the clients 112 to 118 has the same configuration, and can be implemented as a so-called thin client. The thin client exclusively implements a function of issuing a service request and receiving a processing result to the application server 110 using an appropriate remote connection protocol such as RDP. When the clients 112 to 118 are implemented as thin clients, the clients 112 to 118 are equipped with a single-core and multi-core CPU, include a RAM, a ROM, a network interface card (NIC), and Windows (registered trademark). It operates under an appropriate OS such as UNIX (registered trademark), LINUX (registered trademark), Mac OS (registered trademark), and issues a print instruction to the application server 110 as a service request.

  In another embodiment, the clients 112 to 118 can be composed of fat clients, for example, personal computers, workstations, portable terminals, etc. each of which implements an application program and completes various processes. A client implemented as a fat client reads an application program and data from a hard disk device, a flash memory, or the like into a RAM and causes the CPU to execute the application program, thereby operating under an appropriate OS. In this case, the fat client creates print data as a print job having the client as a request source from the electronic data of the document on the application on the fat client, and transmits the print data to the application server 110. it can.

  The network 102 can be configured to include an Ethernet (registered trademark) such as 1000Base-TX, an optical network, and a wireless network of a standard such as IEEE 802.11, and can communicate with each other by frame communication or packet communication based on the TPC / IP protocol. I do. The network 102 may include a wide area network such as the Internet constructed in a secure environment such as a VPN (Virtual Private Network) in addition to the LAN.

  FIG. 2 shows schematic functional blocks of the printing system 100 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the application server 110 according to the present embodiment includes a virtual printer driver 220 that centrally processes print jobs by an application 210 such as a document viewer and an application 210 instructed from a plurality of clients 112 to 118. It is comprised including. On the printer server 130, printer drivers 260 </ b> A to 260 </ b> D of remote printers installed in the printing system 100 are operating. The printer driver 260 constitutes the print control program of this embodiment.

  The virtual printer driver 220 includes rule definition data 238 in which rules for conditioning output destination and print setting changes are defined. The details of changes to the output destination and print settings will be described later, but the output conditions that define the changes to the output destination and print settings are the client MAC address (Media Access Control Address), IP address (Internet Protocol Address), etc. Various key items such as terminal-specific information, user-specific information such as login user name and user authority, each setting item in the print settings specified by the user, and job content information related to the contents of the print job such as document name and number of pages Corresponding to the input conditions set for this.

  When the application 210 receives an instruction to print a predetermined document from the clients 112 to 118 via the network 102, the application 210 creates print data of the print job through an API call such as GDI, and then calls the virtual printer driver 220 to create the print data. The print data is transmitted to instruct processing of the print job.

  In response to the call from the application 210, the virtual printer driver 220 receives print data from the application 210 and starts processing for the print job. When the process for the print job is started, the virtual printer driver 220 refers to the rule definition data 238 and identifies the identification information (such as terminal-specific information and user-specific information) of the request source of the print instruction and the print setting specified by the user. The output condition associated with the matching input condition is acquired using the setting item in the list as a key, the output destination is determined, the change contents of the print setting are determined, and the print setting of the print job is determined. Subsequently, the virtual printer driver 220 calls the determined output destination printer driver 260, notifies the print setting after the change, and instructs the execution of the print job.

  For example, when the client 116 and the remote printer 126 in the location 150 are associated in the rule definition data 238, when the client 116 issues a print instruction to the application 210, the virtual printer driver 220 causes the remote printer 126 to An output destination is determined, and a print job is commanded to the remote printer 126 at the same location 150 via the corresponding printer driver 260A on the printer server 130. In this case, the user A can obtain the printed material from the remote printer 126 installed at his / her location 150. Similarly, when the client 118 and the remote printer 128 in the location 160 are associated with each other, when a print instruction is issued from the client 118, the virtual printer driver 220 determines the remote printer 128 as an output destination and The printed matter can be acquired from the remote printer 128 installed at the location 160.

  FIG. 3 shows detailed functional blocks of the printing system 100 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the virtual printer driver 220 according to the present embodiment is more specifically configured to include a print acceptance unit 222, an output information creation unit 224, a print processing unit 226, an intermediate data storage unit 228, and a rule definition. A storage unit 236 and a DEVMODE storage unit 240 are included.

  In this embodiment, when a print instruction is issued from the client 116 to the application 210, the print reception unit 222 of the virtual printer driver 220 receives print data of a print job including a DEVMODE structure having a user-specified print setting from the application 210. The received print job is processed in accordance with the rule definition data 238 in cooperation with the output information creation unit 224 and the print processing unit 226.

  The rule definition data 238 is stored in the rule definition storage unit 236, and the rule definition data 238 is preferably provided as a user-definable file according to a specific application. The rule definition storage unit 236 reads the rule definition data 238 in response to a request from the output information creation unit 224. In the rule definition data 238, input conditions such as terminal-specific information, user-specific information, user-specified print setting setting items or job content information, and print condition change contents and output conditions that define the output destination are associated with each other. The output conditions to be applied are conditioned by the output conditions. When processing a print job, an output condition associated with an input condition that matches the print job is specified, thereby determining an output destination and changing print settings.

  The user-specified print setting setting items include the common print setting setting items among the vendors corresponding to the public part of the DEVMODE structure so as to correspond to various models provided by various vendors. It is also used as an input condition. Examples of the common setting items include color settings and designation of double-sided printing. On the other hand, the setting items of the print settings specified as the output conditions in the rule definition data 238 can use the vendor-specific or model-specific functions in addition to the common setting items corresponding to the public part of the DEVMODE structure. Therefore, a vendor or model-specific setting item corresponding to the private part of the DEVMODE structure can also be included.

  When a common setting item of the public part is defined as an output condition, since the specification of this setting item is defined in common among vendors, the value of the corresponding setting item in the DEVMODE structure is set as described above. By overwriting a given value after the change (for example, overwriting Color = color with Color = monochrome), the setting item can be easily changed. However, the specifications for the specific setting items are not commonly defined among the vendors, and the print settings cannot always be correctly changed by the same processing.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, when defining a change of a unique setting item, a DEVMODE structure in which the content of the unique setting item is set is prepared in advance. When processing a print job, if a change to a specific setting item is conditioned, it is conditioned by reading a set DEVMODE structure that has been saved in advance by reflecting the change and using it. Reflect the changed print settings.

  In addition, some setting items for the public part are not supported by some printer drivers. In this case, the setting is saved in the private part. The print settings cannot always be changed correctly. Therefore, in this embodiment, when defining a change of a setting item, if a printer driver that is a common setting item but is determined as an output destination does not support the common setting item, the contents of the common setting item are A set DEVMODE structure is prepared in advance. When processing an unsupported setting item is conditioned when processing a print job, the set DEVMODE structure is read and used.

  The use of the set DEVMODE structure as described above is specified as an output condition of the rule definition data 238. In the rule definition data 238, information for specifying the set DEVMODE structure (an ID or ID for identifying the DEVMODE structure) , A storage destination path and a file name, etc.) are described, and the input condition is associated with the set DEVMODE structure. The DEVMODE storage unit 240 stores the set DEVMODE structure 242 created when defining the change of the setting item, and reads the set DEVMODE structure 242 in response to a request from the output information creation unit 224.

  In order to create the rule definition data 238 and the set DEVMODE structure 242, the application server 110 of the present embodiment further includes a setting input receiving unit 252, a rule definition data writing unit 254, a printer driver / user interface. (Hereinafter, the user interface is simply referred to as UI).

  The setting input receiving unit 252 can be accessed via an input device 250 such as a keyboard and a mouse connected to the application server 110 or a remote interface such as a NIC, and the input from the system administrator. Accepts input for setting conditions and output conditions. The setting input reception unit 252 requires processing for setting a setting item unique to the specified remote printer (that is, a function other than that corresponding to the public part of the DEVMODE structure) as a print setting change content by the administrator. If the printer driver UI is operated, the printer driver UI operation unit 256 is called.

  The printer driver UI operation unit 256 receives the printer driver name of the designated remote printer from the setting input reception unit 252, calls the corresponding printer driver, and displays the print setting UI on the display used by the administrator. For example, when the OS is Windows (registered trademark), the print setting UI can be displayed by calling the DocumentProperties () API function. When the administrator inputs a setting in the print setting UI of the printer driver and closes the UI, the printer driver UI operation unit 256 receives the set DEVMODE structure and returns it to the setting input reception unit 252. More specifically, when the OS is Windows (registered trademark), when the UI is displayed by calling the DocumentProperties () API function, the DEVMODE structure set in the memory area specified in advance by the argument is used. Is saved and returned, so that the set DEVMODE structure can be obtained.

  If the administrator requests a change to the common setting items of the public part as the print setting change contents, and the common setting item to be changed is not supported by the specified remote printer Similarly, the setting input receiving unit 252 can call the printer driver UI operation unit 256. Also in this case, when the administrator performs setting input in the print setting UI of the printer driver and closes the UI, the printer driver UI operation unit 256 receives the set DEVMODE structure and returns it to the setting input reception unit 252. Whether or not the printer driver of the specified remote printer supports the setting item to be changed is determined based on the DEVMODE structure obtained by calling the DocumentProperties () API function when the OS is Windows (registered trademark). This can be determined by referring to the dmField member. The dmFields member is a flag indicating which member of the structure the printer driver uses. Note that the method for determining the presence / absence of support is not limited to the reference of the dmField member. For example, the administrator changes the setting item in the public part of the DEVMODE structure and actually prints it. It is also possible to check whether or not is reflected and wait for manual input of the result to make a judgment.

  When receiving the setting input of the input condition and the output condition from the administrator, the setting input receiving unit 252 passes the input condition and the output condition to the rule definition data writing unit 254 and requests the writing. Further, when the setting input receiving unit 252 receives the set DEVMODE structure from the printer driver UI operation unit 256, the setting input receiving unit 252 sends the set DEVMODE structure together with the input condition and the output condition to the rule definition data writing unit 254. hand over.

  The rule definition data writing unit 254 receives the request from the setting input receiving unit 252 and writes the passed input conditions and output conditions to the rule definition data 238 according to a predetermined format. When the rule definition data writing unit 254 receives the set DEVMODE structure, the rule definition data writing unit 254 stores the set DEVMODE structure in the DEVMODE storage unit 240 and sets the set DEVMODE structure as an output condition of the rule definition data 238. Information for specifying the DEVMODE structure, for example, a storage path and a file name is described.

  The rule definition data 238 and the set DEVMODE structure 242 do not need to be held inside the application server 110 as long as they can be appropriately accessed from the output information creation unit 224 and the rule definition data writing unit 254. For example, it can be placed in a form that is easy to use, such as being placed on a shared file server accessible by the administrator, thereby improving maintainability. Furthermore, security can be suitably ensured by setting a change authority only to the administrator for the file of the rule definition data 238.

  In addition, when the installed printer driver is updated, the set DEVMODE structure may have to be created again. Therefore, the rule definition data creation program monitors the version of each printer driver, It is preferable to provide a function for notifying the administrator of the necessity of updating the print setting structure that has been set when an updated printer driver is found. Such notification can be performed by, for example, an e-mail, a warning message displayed when accessing the rule definition data creation program next time, or the like.

  Furthermore, when creating rule definition data, it is possible to determine the vendor or model of the output destination printer driver, and to set only the printer driver of a predetermined vendor or model using the print setting UI of the printer driver.

  Hereinafter, processing for creating the rule definition data 238 and the set DEVMODE structure 242 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a rule definition process for creating the rule definition data 238 and the set DEVMODE structure 242. The rule definition process shown in FIG. 4 starts from step S100 in response to the activation of the rule definition data creation program. In step S101, the setting input reception unit 252 displays a setting screen for setting input conditions on the display device ( Displayed on the application server 110 or a remotely connected terminal).

  FIG. 5 illustrates an input condition setting screen 300 for setting input conditions displayed on the display device. The input condition setting screen 300 shown in FIG. 5 includes a text box group 302 for inputting an IP address as an input condition, and a radio button 304 for instructing that the IP address is not an input condition. The input condition setting screen 300 also designates a color printing value (color or monochrome) as an input condition, or a radio button group 306 for instructing that color printing is not an input condition, and duplex printing as an input condition. A radio button group 308 for designating a value (ON or OFF) or instructing that double-sided printing is not used as an input condition, and an OK button 310 for proceeding with the setting procedure.

  When an input condition is set and input via the UI parts 302 to 308 and the OK button 310 is clicked, each value of the input condition set and input via the input condition setting screen 300 is input to the setting input receiving unit 252. Returned. Referring to FIG. 4 again, the setting input receiving unit 252 receives input of input conditions via the input condition setting screen 300 in step S102, and displays a setting screen for setting output conditions in step S103. Display above.

  FIG. 6 illustrates an output condition setting screen 320 for setting an output condition displayed on the display device. The output condition setting screen 320 shown in FIG. 6 includes a pull-down menu 322 for selecting an output destination remote printer from the installed printer group, and a radio button 324 for designating that printing is not performed as an output condition. The output condition setting screen 320 also designates a value (color or monochrome) after the color printing specified as an output condition, or a radio button group 326 for instructing that color printing is not an output condition, When specifying a value (ON or OFF) after changing double-sided printing specified as an output condition, or a radio button group 328 for instructing that double-sided printing is not an output condition, and an output destination remote printer In addition, a check box 330 for requesting output using a function unique to the printer and an OK button 332 for proceeding to the next setting procedure are included.

  When an output condition is set and input via the UI parts 322 to 330 and the OK button 332 is clicked, each value of the output condition set and input via the output condition setting screen 320 is input to the setting input receiving unit 252. Returned. Referring to FIG. 4 again, the setting input receiving unit 252 receives an input of an output condition via the output condition setting screen 320 in step S104, and advances the process to step S105.

  In step S <b> 105, the setting input reception unit 252 determines whether “Do not print” is selected by the radio button 324 of the output condition setting screen 320. If it is determined in step S105 that “Do not print” is not selected (NO), the process proceeds to step S106. In step S106, the setting input reception unit 252 further determines whether or not a change in common setting items in the public part of the DEVMODE structure is designated. If it is determined in step S106 that the common setting item has been changed (YES), the process proceeds to step S107. In step S107, the setting input reception unit 252 confirms whether the printer driver of the specified remote printer supports the setting item by, for example, calling the DocumentProperties () API function by specifying the printer driver name.

  If it is supported in step S108 (YES), the process branches to step S109. If it is determined in step S106 that there is no change in common setting items (NO), the process proceeds to step S109. In step S109, the setting input receiving unit 252 further determines whether or not a change of a setting item unique to the private part of the DEVMODE structure is designated. If it is determined in step S109 that the unique setting item has been changed (YES), the process proceeds to step S110 in order to receive setting by the administrator via the UI of the printer driver. If it is determined in step S108 that the printer driver does not support common setting items (NO), the process directly proceeds to step S110.

  In step S110, the setting input reception unit 252 calls the printer driver UI operation unit 256, and the printer driver UI operation unit 256 displays the print setting UI of the printer driver on the display device. FIG. 7 illustrates a print setting screen 340 of the printer driver UI displayed on the display device. The print setting screen 340 shown in FIG. 7 includes a UI component group 342 for setting each setting item of print settings, and an OK button 344 for proceeding with the setting procedure. When a value of a setting item is input via the UI component group 342 and the OK button 344 is clicked, a set DEVMODE structure in which each value of the setting item input via the print setting screen 340 is set Is returned to the printer driver UI operation unit 256. The setting items set via the print setting screen 340 may be shared or unique. Referring to FIG. 4 again, in step S111, the printer driver UI operation unit 256 acquires the returned set DEVMODE structure, returns it to the setting input reception unit 252, and proceeds to step S112.

  If it is determined in step S109 that there is no change in the common setting item (NO), or if it is determined in step S105 that “no printing” is selected (YES), the process directly goes to step S112. Processing proceeds. In step S112, the setting input receiving unit 252 passes the input condition set and input by the administrator, the output condition, and the appropriately set DEVMODE structure to the rule definition data writing unit 254, and requests writing of definition data. . In step S112, in response to the request, the rule definition data writing unit 254 associates the passed input condition, output condition, and appropriately set DEVMODE structure, and writes the rule definition data 238 as appropriate. The DEVMODE structure is stored in the DEVMODE storage unit 240.

  In step S113, the setting input reception unit 252 inquires of the administrator whether or not the definition content of the rule definition data needs to be further added, and if the addition is necessary and the process cannot be completed (NO), Loop again to S101. On the other hand, if it is not necessary to add definition contents in step S113 and the process is terminated (YES), the process is branched to step S114, and the present process is terminated.

  FIG. 8A illustrates the data structure of rule definition data. In the rule definition data 360 shown in FIG. 8A, input conditions are defined at [Condition 1] and [Condition 2], and output conditions are defined at [Setting 1] and [Setting 2]. Then, the input condition and the output condition are associated with each other at the location indicated by [Command]. In the example shown in FIG. 8A, the input condition “IP = xxx.xxx.xxx.001” and the output condition “Printer = printerA” are associated, and the request source IP address of the print instruction is “xxx.xxx. In the case of “xxx.001”, the remote printer identified by the printer name “printerA” is determined as the output destination. Furthermore, the input condition “IP = xxx.xxx.xxx.001” and the output condition “Devmode = c: \ AA \ BB \ DevmodeA” are associated, and the request source IP address of the print instruction is “xxx.xxx.xxx In the case of “.001”, use of the set DEVMODE structure specified by “c: \ AA \ BB \ DevmodeA” is further specified. Further, in the example of FIG. 8A, an input condition “Color = color” and an output condition “Color = monochrome” are associated, and color setting in user-specified print settings (this is a shared setting item). ) Is set to “color”, the color setting is forcibly changed to “monochrome”.

  Note that the data structure of the rule definition data 238 shown in FIG. 8A is for illustrative purposes, and it goes without saying that various rules can be defined according to a specific application. The rule definition data will be described below. As input conditions that can be defined, in addition to the above IP address and user name, other user-specific information such as a role, group, and authority given to the user, other client MAC address, client name IP address range, etc. Jobs such as terminal-specific information, color settings and double-sided printing setting items, print setting items such as stapling, punching, stamping, and print quality settings, number of pages, document name, and job issue time Content information can be included.

  Also, the definable output conditions include restrictions on double-sided printing, restrictions on monochrome mode, restrictions on tint block printing, restrictions on adding stamps, restrictions on adding digital watermarks, restrictions on aggregate printing of a predetermined layout, etc. Can be included. As an example of changing the print setting using the user-specific information, for example, a rule may be given such that an administrator user is permitted to perform color printing and a general user is limited to monochrome printing. As an example of changing the print settings using the setting items of the print settings, when color mode printing is designated, if the number of pages is greater than or equal to the predetermined number of pages, the print is consolidated in 2 in 1 and further exceeds the predetermined number of pages. In this case, a rule such as collective printing with 4 in 1 can be given.

  As described above, the rule definition data 238 and the set DEVMODE structure 242 that are referred to when the print job is processed are created by the above-described definition process. Hereinafter, processing executed with reference to the rule definition data 238 when a print instruction is received will be described with reference to FIG. 3 again.

  When a print instruction is issued from the client 116 to the application 210, the print reception unit 222 receives print data of a print job from the application 210. This print data includes a DEVMODE structure that stores user-specified print settings. In the present embodiment, the DEVMODE structure holds setting items for user-specified print settings corresponding to the public part so as to correspond to models provided by various vendors.

  Upon receiving the print data, the print accepting unit 222 creates a page image (drawing data for each page) as intermediate data, and the client identification information (terminal-specific information) that identifies the intermediate data 230 and the client that requested the print instruction Information, user-specific information) 232 and a public part (hereinafter referred to as a DEVMODE public part) 234 of a DEVMODE structure that stores user-specified print settings are requested to the intermediate data storage part 228 and further output. The information creation unit 224 is called. Since the output destination is not determined at this stage, this intermediate data is data in a common format that can be processed by various types of printer drivers. An example of such common format data is EMF (Enhanced Metafile). In response to the save request, the intermediate data storage unit 228 associates the intermediate data 230, the client identification information 232, and the DEVMODE public unit 234 with each other and stores them in a storage device such as a hard disk device.

  The output information creation unit 224 calls the intermediate data storage unit 228, and reads the stored intermediate data 230, client identification information 232, and DEVMODE public unit 234. Further, the output information creation unit 224 calls the rule definition storage unit 236, acquires the corresponding output condition using the setting items of the client identification information and the DEVMODE public unit 234 as keys, and displays the change contents of the output destination and the print setting. judge. The output information creation unit 224 determines whether or not the use of the set DEVMODE structure is defined in the specified output condition. If the specified output condition is defined, the output information creation unit 224 determines the necessary set DEVMODE structure from the DEVMODE storage unit 240. Read the body. Then, the output information creation unit 224 calls the print processing unit 226 after the output destination and the print settings are confirmed and necessary data is prepared. Note that the output information creation unit 224 constitutes means for determining an output condition corresponding to an input condition that matches a print request and means for determining whether to use a print setting data structure in this embodiment.

  When the use of the set DEVMODE structure is not defined in the rule definition data 238, the print processing unit 226 acquires a standard (default) DEVMODE structure from the determined output destination printer driver 260. FIG. 8B illustrates the data structure of the acquired DEVMODE structure. A DEVMODE structure 380 shown in FIG. 8B includes a public part 382 including designation of color settings (Color) and duplex printing (Duplex), and a private including designation of unique functions (Specific X to Z) of the remote printer. Part 384. The print processing unit 226 partially overwrites the acquired standard DEVMODE structure or the set DEVMODE structure read from the DEVMODE storage unit 240 with a DEVMODE public unit 234 that defines user-specified print settings. When the change of the setting items common to the output conditions is specified, a part of the setting item to be changed is overwritten. Note that the print processing unit 226 constitutes means for partially overwriting the print settings of the present embodiment.

  When the print setting after the change is confirmed, the print processing unit 226 uses the final DEVMODE structure overwritten to the printer driver 260 corresponding to the determined output destination remote printer on the printer server 130. On the other hand, it instructs the execution of the print job. At this time, the printer driver is notified of the changed print settings held by the final DEVMODE structure. Using the corresponding printer driver 260, the printer server 130 causes the remote printer determined as the output destination to execute the print job in response to the print job execution command.

  Hereinafter, the print job processing according to the rule definition data will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing print job processing according to the rule definition data 238. The print job processing shown in FIG. 9 starts from step S200 in response to a print instruction from the client 116 to the application 210 and the application 210 transmitting print data of the print job to the print reception unit 222. In step S201, the print reception unit 222 receives print data of the print job from the application 210. In step S202, the print reception unit 222 requests the intermediate data storage unit 228 to save the intermediate data 230, the client identification information 232, and the DEVMODE public unit 234. In step S203, the output information creation unit 224 is called.

  In step S204, the output information creation unit 224 reads the intermediate data 230, the client identification information 232, and the DRVMODE public unit 234 stored in step S202 from the intermediate data storage unit 228. In step S205, the output information creation unit 224 searches the rule definition storage unit 236 for the rule definition data 238, and the output conditions (output destination, output destination, 234) are matched with the input conditions that match the client identification information 232 and the DRVMODE public unit 234. Change the print settings) and create output information. Here, the output information refers to information necessary for output including the intermediate data 230, the client identification information 232, the DEVMODE public unit 234, and the output conditions. In step S206, the output information creation unit 224 determines whether or not the use of the set DEVMODE structure 242 is defined in the output condition.

  If it is determined in step S206 that the set DEVMODE structure 242 is used (YES), the process proceeds to step S207. In step S207, the output information creation unit 224 reads the set DEVMODE structure corresponding to the output condition from the DEVMODE storage unit 240, and proceeds to step S208. If it is determined in step S206 that the set DEVMODE structure 242 is not used (NO), the process proceeds directly to step S208. In step S208, the output information creation unit 224 passes the output information and the appropriately set DEVMODE structure, and calls the print processing unit 226.

  In step S209, the print processing unit 226 determines whether there is a set DEVMODE structure. If it is determined in step S209 that there is no set DEVMODE structure (NO), the process proceeds to step S210. In step S210, the print processing unit 226 acquires a standard DEVMODE structure from the output destination printer driver 260 defined in the output condition, and proceeds to step S211. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S209 that there is a set DEVMODE structure (YES), the process proceeds directly to step S211.

  In step S211, the print processing unit 226 overwrites the standard DEVMODE structure acquired in step S210 or the set DEVMODE structure read in step S207 with the DEVMODE public unit 234 that holds user-specified print settings. In step S212, the setting item to be changed specified in the output condition is further overwritten. In step S213, the print processing unit 226 uses the DEVMODE structure that holds the intermediate data and the final print setting after the change, and instructs the printer driver 260 to execute a print job. In step S214, the print processing unit 226 performs this process. Terminate.

  As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, when a print setting is forcibly changed according to a predetermined condition and distributed to a desired output destination image forming apparatus, the setting item to be changed However, it is possible to provide an information processing apparatus, a program, and a recording medium that can change print settings correctly in accordance with the predetermined condition even if it is unique to the determined output destination printer driver.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to change not only the setting items common among vendors among various print settings, but also the setting items unique to the vendor or the model according to the predefined rule. It becomes. Also, some setting items that are common among vendors are not supported depending on the model, but even in such a case, changes can be made according to the rules. Therefore, it is possible to easily cope with image forming apparatuses provided by a wide range of vendors.

  Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus, a program, and a recording medium for creating rule definition data that can condition a change of a setting item unique to a determined output destination printer driver can do. In the above-described embodiments, the DEVMODE structure has been described as an example of the print setting data structure that holds the print settings. However, when print data in the XPS (XML Paper Specification) format is adopted, the PrinterTicket format is used. The data structure can also be adopted.

  In addition, according to the embodiment of the present invention, in a network print environment in which a personal computer or a thin client can access a plurality of image forming apparatuses, user-specific information, terminal-specific information, print settings, and job contents are stored. It is possible to change and restrict job output destinations and print settings flexibly according to the rules defined in relation to them, and output them from an appropriate printer, making management for each output job more efficient and improving information security possible. It becomes possible.

  The above functions of the present embodiment can be realized by a device executable program described in an object-oriented programming language such as C, C ++, C #, Java (registered trademark), etc. It can be stored and distributed on a device-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, MO, DVD, flexible disk, EEPROM, EPROM, etc., and can be transmitted via a network in a format that other devices can.

  Although the present embodiment has been described so far, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and other embodiments, additions, changes, deletions, and the like can be conceived by those skilled in the art. As long as the effects of the present invention are exhibited in any aspect, the present invention is included in the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Print system, 102 ... Network, 110 ... Application server, 112, 114, 116, 118 ... Client, 122, 124, 126, 128 ... Remote printer, 130 ... Printer server, 140, 150, 160 ... Location, 210 ... Application, 220 ... Virtual printer driver, 222 ... Print reception unit, 224 ... Output information creation unit, 226 ... Print processing unit, 228 ... Intermediate data storage unit, 230 ... Intermediate data, 232 ... Client identification information, 234 ... DEVMODE public , 236 ... rule definition storage unit, 238 ... rule definition data, 240 ... DEVMODE storage unit, 242 ... set DEVMODE structure, 250 ... input device, 252 ... setting input receiving unit, 254 ... rule definition data writing unit, 56 ... Printer driver UI operation unit, 260 ... Printer driver, 300 ... Input condition setting screen, 302 ... Text box group, 304 ... Radio button, 306, 308 ... Radio button group, 310 ... OK button, 320 ... Output condition setting screen 322 ... Pull-down menu, 324 ... Radio button, 326, 328 ... Radio button group, 330 ... Check box, 332 ... OK button, 340 ... Print setting screen, 342 ... UI parts group, 344 ... OK button, 360 ... Rule Definition data, 380 ... DEVMODE structure, 382 ... Public part, 384 ... Private part

JP 2005-228202 A

Claims (21)

An information processing apparatus that changes a specified print setting according to a rule, processes a print request, and notifies the print control program of the changed print setting,
Means for determining an output condition corresponding to an input condition that matches the print request based on a rule that associates an output condition that prescribes a change in print settings and an input condition that conditions the application of the output condition in response to the print request When,
Means for determining whether the determined output condition stipulates use of a set print setting data structure that reflects a change in print settings;
The print setting data structure corresponding to the specified print setting data when the use is specified, or the standard print setting data structure acquired from the corresponding print control program when the use is not specified is specified in the print request. An information processing apparatus including means for partially overwriting with settings.   The rule includes an output destination designation as the output condition, and the corresponding set print setting data structure includes a private part for storing a setting item unique to the print control program of the output destination. The information processing apparatus described.   If the output condition corresponding to the input condition that matches the print request defines a change in the setting item common to the vendors in the public part of the print setting data structure, the print setting specified in the print request is overwritten. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for overwriting the print setting data structure for the common setting item.   A print control program using means for receiving print data related to a print request from an application means and storing the intermediate data and the public part of the print setting data structure, the intermediate data, and the overwritten print setting data structure The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a unit that notifies the print setting after the change and commands printing.   5. The information processing according to claim 1, wherein the input condition includes a request source identification value for identifying a request source of a print request or a condition for a print setting setting item specified in the print request. apparatus.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print setting data structure is data in a DEVMODE structure or a PrinterTicket format. A computer-executable program for changing a specified print setting according to a rule, processing a print request, and notifying the print control program of the changed print setting,
Means for determining an output condition corresponding to an input condition that matches the print request based on a rule that associates an output condition that prescribes a change in print settings and an input condition that conditions the application of the output condition in response to the print request ,
Means for determining whether the determined output condition stipulates the use of the set print setting data structure reflecting the change of the print setting, and if the use is specified, the corresponding set print setting data Computer execution for realizing in the computer means for partially overwriting the standard print setting data structure obtained from the corresponding print control program when the use is not specified with the print setting specified in the print request Possible program.   The rule includes an output destination designation as the output condition, and the corresponding set print setting data structure includes a private part for storing a setting item unique to the print control program of the output destination. The program described.   If the output condition corresponding to the input condition that matches the print request defines a change in the setting item common to the vendors in the public part of the print setting data structure, the print setting specified in the print request is overwritten. 9. The program according to claim 7, further comprising a computer for overwriting the print setting data structure with respect to the common setting item.   The computer-readable recording medium which stores the program of any one of Claims 7-9. An information processing apparatus that creates definition data that defines a rule for processing a print request by changing a specified print setting,
Receiving means for receiving an input of an output condition that prescribes a change in print settings and an input condition that conditions application of the output condition;
It is determined whether the output condition corresponds to a setting item common to the vendors specified in the public part of the print setting data structure or a specific setting item specified in the private part of the print setting data structure Means,
A request means for requesting the print control program of the output destination to display a print setting screen when corresponding to the specific setting item;
And a writing unit that writes the set print setting data structure in the definition data in association with the input condition when the set print setting data structure is acquired via the print setting screen. apparatus.   When the output condition corresponds to the common setting item and the output destination print control program does not support the common setting item, the requesting unit applies the request to the output destination print control program. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the information processing apparatus requests display of a print setting screen.   13. The request unit according to claim 11 or 12, wherein a flag indicating which setting item of the print setting structure is used by the print control program is read from the print setting structure, and the presence or absence of the support is determined. The information processing apparatus described.   The version of the print control program that can be determined as the output destination is monitored, and if an updated print control program is found, the administrator is notified of the necessity of updating the set print setting structure. Item 14. The information processing device according to any one of Items 11 to 13.   The input condition is a request source identification value for identifying a request source of a print request and a condition for a print setting setting item in the print request. The output condition includes designation of an output destination, and the set print setting The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the data structure includes a private part that stores setting items unique to an output destination print control program.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the print setting data structure is data in a DEVMODE structure or a PrinterTicket format. A computer-executable program for creating definition data that defines rules for processing a print request by changing specified print settings,
Receiving means for receiving input of an output condition that prescribes a change in print settings and an input condition that conditions the application of the output condition;
It is determined whether the output condition corresponds to a setting item common to the vendors specified in the public part of the print setting data structure or a specific setting item specified in the private part of the print setting data structure means,
Request means for requesting the print control program of the output destination to display a print setting screen when the specific setting item is applicable, and when a print setting data structure that has been set is acquired via the print setting screen A computer-executable program for realizing in a computer writing means for writing the set print setting data structure in the definition data in association with the input condition.   The requesting unit further includes the output destination print control program even when the output condition corresponds to the common setting item and the output destination print control program does not support the common setting item. The program according to claim 17, wherein the program requests the display of a print setting screen.   19. The requesting unit according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the request unit reads a flag indicating which member of the print setting structure is used by the print control program from the print setting structure, and determines whether or not the support is provided. Program.   The computer-readable recording medium which stores the program of any one of Claims 17-19. A print control program that creates definition data that defines a rule for processing a print request by changing a specified print setting, changes the specified print setting according to the rule, and processes the print request An information processing apparatus for notifying the print setting after the change,
Receiving means for receiving an input of an output condition that prescribes a change in print settings and an input condition that conditions application of the output condition;
It is determined whether the output condition corresponds to a setting item common to the vendors specified in the public part of the print setting data structure or a specific setting item specified in the private part of the print setting data structure Means,
A request means for requesting the print control program of the output destination to display a print setting screen when corresponding to the specific setting item;
A writing unit that writes the set print setting data structure in the definition data in association with the input condition when the set print setting data structure is acquired via the print setting screen;
Means for determining an output condition corresponding to an input condition that matches the print request based on a rule that associates an output condition that prescribes a change in print settings and an input condition that conditions the application of the output condition in response to the print request When,
Means for determining whether the determined output condition stipulates use of a set print setting data structure that reflects a change in print settings;
The print setting data structure corresponding to the specified print setting data when the use is specified, or the standard print setting data structure acquired from the corresponding print control program when the use is not specified is specified in the print request. An information processing apparatus including means for partially overwriting with settings.