JP2013084137A - Information processing system, information processing device, and information processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform print setting which uses functions provided in a printing device connected through a management device, using an existing printer driver.SOLUTION: A client device 10 performs the steps of: acquiring information about functions of a cloud printer 30 from a cloud printer management server 20; comparing the acquired information about functions of the cloud printer 30 with information about functions of a preinstalled printer driver; extracting information about functions which can be set by the printer driver; generating first print data by the printer driver on the basis of print setting designated for the extracted information about functions and information about a print image; converting the first print data into second print data of a form which is interpretable by the cloud printer 30 on the basis of correspondence information which indicates correspondence between the information about functions of the printer driver and the information about functions of the cloud printer 30; and transmitting the second print data to the cloud printer management server 20.

Description

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

  When printing with a printer connected to the client device, a printer driver corresponding to the printer is installed on the client device, print data is generated using the printer driver, and the generated print data is output to the printer for printing. It is common to do.

  On the other hand, in order to enable printing even when the printer driver is not installed in the client device, the print data received from the client device by the server that communicates with the client device and the printer is converted into print data corresponding to the printer. There is a system in which data is converted and output to a printer (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below).

  Since the print data sent from the client device to the server needs to be converted into a format that can be interpreted by the server, the existing printer driver cannot be used when printing from an application used on the client device. Action was required.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-284828

  An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing system, an information processing apparatus, and an information processing program capable of performing print settings using a function provided in a printing apparatus connected via a management apparatus using an existing printer driver. Is to provide.

  To achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 includes an information processing device, a management device that communicates with the information processing device, and a printing device that communicates with the management device. Obtains the function information of the printing device from the management device, and the function information of the printing device obtained by the obtaining device, the function of the printer driver previously installed in the information processing device. Based on the extraction means for extracting function information settable by the printer driver compared to the information, the print setting designated for the function information extracted by the extraction means, and the print image information, Correspondence between generating means for generating first print data by the printer driver, function information of the printer driver, and function information of the printing apparatus. Conversion means for converting the first print data into second print data in a format interpretable by the printing apparatus based on the correspondence information; and transmission means for transmitting the second print data to the management apparatus The management device includes a transfer unit that transfers the second print data transmitted by the transmission unit to the printing device, and the printing device transfers the second print data transferred by the transfer unit. An information processing system including a printing unit that prints based on the print data of No. 2.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the setting screen relating to the function information of the printer driver, the print setting for setting the print setting based on the information input about the function information extracted by the extracting unit The information processing system according to claim 1, further comprising means.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the setting screen relating to the function information of the printer driver, the print setting means only outputs function information extracted by the extraction means among the function information of the printer driver. The information processing system according to claim 2, wherein control is performed so that input is possible.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the acquisition unit that acquires the function information of the printing apparatus from the management apparatus that manages the printing apparatus, and the function information of the printing apparatus acquired by the acquisition unit are stored in advance. Extraction means for extracting function information that can be set by the printer driver in comparison with function information of the installed printer driver, print settings designated for the function information extracted by the extraction means, and printing On the basis of image information, correspondence information indicating correspondence between the means for acquiring the first print data generated by the printer driver, the function information of the printer driver, and the function information of the printing apparatus Conversion means for converting the first print data into second print data in a format interpretable by the printing apparatus, and the second print data An information processing apparatus which comprises a transmission means for transmitting to said management apparatus.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the acquisition unit that acquires the function information of the printing apparatus from a management apparatus that manages the printing apparatus, and the function information of the printing apparatus acquired by the acquisition unit are stored in advance. Extraction means for extracting function information that can be set by the printer driver in comparison with function information of the installed printer driver, print settings designated for the function information extracted by the extraction means, and printing On the basis of image information, correspondence information indicating correspondence between the means for acquiring the first print data generated by the printer driver, the function information of the printer driver, and the function information of the printing apparatus Conversion means for converting the first print data into second print data in a format interpretable by the printing apparatus, and the second print data An information processing program for causing a computer to function as transmission means for transmitting to said management apparatus.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to perform printing by performing print setting using a function provided in a printing apparatus connected via the management apparatus using an existing printer driver.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to perform print setting using a function provided in a printing apparatus connected via the management apparatus, using an existing printer driver setting screen.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to selectively input functions that can be used in a printing apparatus connected via the management apparatus on the setting screen of an existing printer driver.

  According to the fourth and fifth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to perform print setting using a function provided in a printing apparatus connected via the management apparatus, using an existing printer driver.

1 is a system configuration diagram of a printing system according to an embodiment. It is a functional block diagram which shows an example of the function with which the client apparatus was equipped. It is a figure which shows an example of local printer information. It is a figure which shows an example of cloud printer information. It is a figure which shows an example of correspondence data. It is a figure explaining the example of conversion from local format print data to cloud format print data. It is a figure which shows an example of the functional block diagram of a cloud printer management server. It is a figure which shows an example of user information. It is a figure which shows an example of cloud printer information. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating a series of processes performed in the printing system. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating a series of processes performed in the printing system. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print setting screen. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of a detailed setting screen.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a system configuration diagram of a printing system 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system 1 includes a client device 10, a cloud printer management server 20, and a cloud printer 30, and each of the client device 10, the cloud printer management server 20, and the cloud printer 30 is connected to a network 40 such as the Internet. It is connected.

  The client device 10 is a computer operated by a user. In this embodiment, when the client device 10 receives a print request specifying the cloud printer 30 from the user, the client device 10 uses the information of the cloud printer 30 acquired by communicating with the cloud printer management server 20 to the cloud printer management server 20. After the print data (print job) to be processed by the cloud printer 30 is generated, the generated print data is transmitted to the cloud printer management server 20. Details of processing performed in the client device 10 will be described later.

  The cloud printer management server 20 is a computer that manages user information for each user and cloud printer information for each cloud printer 30. In the present embodiment, the user information includes, for example, a user ID for identifying the user, a password, and cloud printer identification information for identifying the cloud printer 30 registered by the user (for example, a cloud printer name or a cloud printer ID). The cloud printer information may include, for example, cloud printer identification information, a network address of the cloud printer 30, model information of the cloud printer 30, and function information provided in the cloud printer 30.

  In the present embodiment, the cloud printer management server 20 performs an authentication process based on a set of user ID and password received from the client device 10 and is designated among the cloud printer identification information associated with the authenticated user ID. The function information indicating the function provided by the cloud printer 30 in the cloud printer identification information is transmitted to the client device 10. Thereafter, when the cloud printer management server 20 receives print data to be transferred from the client device 10 to the cloud printer 30, the cloud printer management server 20 transfers the received print data to the cloud printer 30. Details of processing performed in the cloud printer management server 20 will be described later.

  The cloud printer 30 communicates with the cloud printer management server 20 via the network 40, notifies the cloud printer management server 20 of function information provided in the cloud printer 30, and receives print data from the cloud printer management server 20. The image forming apparatus executes print processing based on received print data.

  Hereinafter, examples of functions provided in the client device 10 and the cloud printer management server 20 will be described in order.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of functions provided in the client device 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the client device 10 includes a control unit 100, a storage unit 102, an input reception unit 104, a display control unit 106, a communication unit 108, an application data processing unit 110, a local printer control unit 112, and a cloud printer. A control unit 114 is provided.

  The functions of the above-described units included in the client device 10 are information storage media that can be read by a computer including a control unit such as a CPU, a storage unit such as a memory, and an input / output unit that transmits and receives data to and from an external device. It may be realized by reading and executing the program stored in the. The program may be supplied to the client device 10 that is a computer by an information storage medium such as an optical disk, a magnetic disk, a magnetic tape, a magneto-optical disk, or a flash memory, or may be supplied via a data communication network such as the Internet. It is also good to do.

  The control unit 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), executes various arithmetic processes based on programs and data stored in the storage unit 102, and controls each unit of the client device 10.

  The storage unit 102 stores a program (including an operating system) and data describing processing executed by the client device 10, and is also used as a work memory of the control unit 100.

  The input receiving unit 104 is connected to input means such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel, and receives user information input from the input means.

  The display control unit 106 is connected to display means such as a liquid crystal display built in or externally connected to the client device 10, and causes the display means to display a result (screen) of information processing in the client device 10.

  The communication unit 108 includes a network interface, connects to the network 40 via the network interface, and performs data communication with other devices (for example, the cloud printer management server 20) connected to the network 40.

  The application data processing unit 110 processes application data stored in the storage unit 102, for example, according to the information input received by the input receiving unit 104 and the application program. The application program may be a program such as a web browser, a document creation / editing program, a chart creation / editing program, or the like. In this embodiment, the application data processing unit 110 outputs a print instruction to the local printer control unit 112 when the input reception unit 104 receives a print request for application data from the user.

  The local printer control unit 112 is realized by a printer driver installed in the client device 10 in advance. Specifically, the local printer control unit 112 is referred to as a printer connected to the client device 10 directly or via communication means (hereinafter referred to as a local printer for distinction from the cloud printer 30). And print data that can be interpreted by the local printer. Hereinafter, a configuration example of the local printer control unit 112 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the local printer control unit 112 according to the present embodiment includes a local printer information storage unit 112A, an available function information acquisition unit 112B, a print setting control unit 112C, and a local format print data generation unit 112D. . Details of each part will be described below.

  The local printer information storage unit 112A stores local printer information (local printer information). For example, the local printer information includes information on functions that can be used by the local printer. The local printer information storage unit 112A may further store a display control program for displaying a setting screen at the time of print setting.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of local printer information stored in the local printer information storage unit 112A. The local printer information shown in FIG. 3 includes a local printer name that identifies a local printer, a function name that identifies each function installed in the local printer, and a list of parameters that can be set for the function. Stored in association. The parameters may be described in a language format (for example, PJL) that can be interpreted by the local printer.

  The available function information acquisition unit 112 </ b> B acquires function information (usable function information) that can be commonly used by the local printer and the cloud printer 30 from the cloud printer control unit 114.

  The print setting control unit 112C receives a parameter specification for the available function information acquired by the available function information acquisition unit 112B, and performs print settings based on the received parameter. In the present embodiment, the print setting control unit 112C includes only a designation column for designating parameters of each function indicated in the available function information acquired by the available function information acquisition unit 112B on the setting screen for setting print parameters. It is possible to specify the function and display the setting screen after making other specification impossible, and to set the parameters of each function indicated in the available function information based on the information input on the displayed setting screen .

  The local format print data generation unit 112D generates print data (print job) corresponding to the local printer based on the print image based on the application data to be printed and the print settings set by the print setting control unit 112C. . For example, the local format print data generation unit 112D may generate a print image with bitmap or PDF format data and generate print settings with data in a language format (for example, PJL) supported by the local printer. The print settings may include parameters for each function acquired by the available function information acquisition unit 112B.

  The cloud printer control unit 114 functions as a driver (hereinafter, a cloud printer compatible driver) that connects the printer driver interface of the local printer and the interface of the cloud printer management server 20. Specifically, the cloud printer control unit 114 acquires the function information of the cloud printer 30 from the cloud printer management server 20 and extracts the functions usable by the printer driver of the local printer from the acquired functions of the cloud printer 30. Then, the extracted function information (available function information) is notified to the local printer control unit 112. Further, the cloud printer control unit 114 acquires print data corresponding to the local printer from the local printer control unit 112, converts the acquired print data into a data format that can be interpreted by the cloud printer 30, and converts the converted print data. Is transmitted to the cloud printer management server 20. Hereinafter, a configuration example of the cloud printer control unit 114 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the cloud printer control unit 114 according to the present embodiment includes a user information acquisition unit 114 </ b> A, a cloud printer information acquisition unit 114 </ b> B, a local printer information acquisition unit 114 </ b> C, a function association information storage unit 114 </ b> D, and usable. A function information extraction unit 114E, a local format print data acquisition unit 114F, a cloud format print data generation unit 114G, and a cloud format print data transmission unit 114H are included. Details of each part will be described below.

  The user information acquisition unit 114 </ b> A acquires user information in the cloud printer management server 20 for a user who has issued a print instruction to the application data processing unit 110. For example, the user information acquisition unit 114A acquires a user ID for identifying a user, a password, and a cloud printer name (logical printer name or virtual printer name) designated by the user. Such information may be acquired by reading information stored in advance in the cloud printer control unit 114 or the storage unit 102, or may be acquired based on information input from the user by the input receiving unit 104.

  The cloud printer information acquisition unit 114B logs in to the cloud printer management server 20 based on the user information acquired by the user information acquisition unit 114A, and then the cloud printer 30 corresponding to the cloud printer name specified by the user from the cloud printer management server 20 Get cloud printer information including the function.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of cloud printer information acquired by the cloud printer information acquisition unit 114B. The cloud printer information illustrated in FIG. 4 stores a cloud printer name, model information of the cloud printer 30, a function name of the cloud printer 30, and a list of parameters that can be set for the function. The parameters may be described in a language format that can be interpreted by the cloud printer 30 (for example, PrintTicket, etc.). The format corresponding to the local printer (local compatible format) and the format corresponding to the cloud printer 30 (cloud compatible) The format may be different from the format.

  The local printer information acquisition unit 114C acquires the function information of the local printer stored in the local printer information storage unit 112A from the local printer control unit 112.

  The function association information storage unit 114D has a function described in a language description format (local support format) supported by the local printer and a function described in a language description format (cloud compatible format) supported by the cloud printer 30. Correspondence relation data indicating the correspondence relation is stored.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of correspondence data stored in the function association information storage unit 114D. The correspondence relationship data shown in FIG. 5 shows an example in which the local correspondence format is PJL and the cloud correspondence format is PrintTicket. In the correspondence data, the function name and parameter list in the local correspondence format and the function name and parameter list in the cloud correspondence format corresponding to them are stored in association with each other.

  The usable function information extraction unit 114E is configured to obtain the function information of the cloud printer 30 acquired by the cloud printer information acquisition unit 114B and the local printer information acquisition unit based on the correspondence data stored in the function association information storage unit 114D. The function information of the local printer acquired in 114C is compared, and the functions supported by both are extracted as usable functions. Then, the usable function information extraction unit 114E notifies the local printer control unit 112 of the extracted function.

  The local format print data acquisition unit 114F acquires the print data (local format print data) generated by the local format print data generation unit 112D from the local printer control unit 112.

  The cloud format print data generation unit 114G converts the local format print data acquired by the local format print data acquisition unit 114F into print data (cloud format print data) that can be interpreted by the cloud printer 30.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of conversion from local format print data to cloud format print data. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the print data includes print setting information and print image information (page data). The cloud format print data generation unit 114G converts print parameters in the PJL format in the print setting information into print parameters in the PrintTicket format specified based on the correspondence data, and generates print setting information of the cloud format print data. If it is determined that the print image information is not in a format compatible with the cloud printer 30, the print image information is converted into a format compatible with the cloud printer 30 (for example, PDF) to generate print image information of the cloud format print data. As good as

  The cloud format print data transmission unit 114H transmits the cloud format print data generated by the cloud format print data generation unit 114G to the cloud printer management server 20 via the communication unit 108.

  Next, an example of functions provided in the cloud printer management server 20 will be described.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of a functional block diagram of the cloud printer management server 20. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the cloud printer management server 20 includes a communication unit 200, a user information management unit 202, a cloud printer information management unit 204, a cloud printer information transmission unit 206, and a print data relay unit 208.

  The functions of the above-described units included in the cloud printer management server 20 are information that can be read by a computer including a control unit such as a CPU, a storage unit such as a memory, and an input / output unit that transmits and receives data to and from an external device. It may be realized by reading and executing a program stored in a storage medium. The program may be supplied to the cloud printer management server 20 as a computer by an information storage medium such as an optical disk, a magnetic disk, a magnetic tape, a magneto-optical disk, or a flash memory, or via a data communication network such as the Internet. It may be supplied.

  The communication unit 200 includes a network interface, connects to the network 40 via the network interface, and performs data communication with other devices (for example, the client device 10 and the cloud printer 30) connected to the network 40.

  The user information management unit 202 manages user information of a user managed by the cloud printer management server 20 and cloud printer information registered by the user.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of user information managed by the user information management unit 202. In the user information shown in FIG. 8, a user ID for identifying the user, a password, and a cloud printer name for identifying the cloud printer 30 registered by the user are stored in association with each other.

  The cloud printer information management unit 204 holds and manages information on the cloud printer 30 managed by the cloud printer management server 20.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of cloud printer information managed by the cloud printer information management unit 204. The cloud printer information shown in FIG. 9 includes a cloud printer name for identifying the cloud printer 30, network information such as the IP address of the cloud printer 30, model information of the cloud printer 30, functions provided in the cloud printer 30, and the functions concerned A list of parameters that can be set is stored in association with each other.

  The cloud printer information transmission unit 206 searches the cloud printer information from the cloud printer information management unit 204 using the user ID and cloud printer name specified based on the information received from the client device 10 as keys, and the searched cloud printer information Is transmitted to the client device 10. The cloud printer information includes information on functions provided in the cloud printer 30.

  The print data relay unit 208 receives the cloud format print data received from the client device 10 and transfers the received cloud format print data to the destination cloud printer 30. The destination information may be included in the print data, or may be specified separately in the print data.

  Next, a series of processes performed in the printing system 1 will be described with reference to the sequence diagrams shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B.

  First, as shown in FIG. 10A, the application data processing unit 110 notifies the local printer control unit 112 of a print request received from the user (S1001), and the local printer control unit 112 displays a print setting screen (see FIG. 11). Reference) is displayed (S1002).

  When the cloud printer 30 is specified on the print setting screen, the local printer control unit 112 notifies the cloud printer control unit 114 of the user ID, password, and cloud printer name information (login information) (S1003), and the cloud printer control. The unit 114 logs into the cloud printer management server 20 based on the notified information (S1004). The cloud printer management server 20 notifies the success or failure of login to the cloud printer control unit 114 (S1005). In the example of this sequence, the description will be continued assuming that the login is successful.

  The cloud printer control unit 114 transmits the name of the cloud printer that requests the function information to the cloud printer management server 20 (S1006), and acquires the function information of the cloud printer 30 from the cloud printer management server 20 (S1007).

  The cloud printer control unit 114 compares the function information of the cloud printer 30 acquired in S <b> 1007 with the function information that can be set by the local printer control unit 112, and the function information (available function information) supported by both of them. Is extracted (S1008). The cloud printer control unit 114 notifies the local printer control unit 112 of the usable function information extracted in S1008 (S1009).

  Next, as illustrated in FIG. 10B, when the “detailed setting” button on the print setting screen is pressed, the local printer control unit 112 displays only the setting items corresponding to the usable function information notified in step S <b> 1009. The detailed setting screen (see FIG. 12) is displayed after changing to enable input (S1010), and print setting information is generated based on the information input on the displayed detailed setting screen (S1011).

  The local printer control unit 112 generates print data (hereinafter referred to as first print data) corresponding to the local printer based on the print setting information generated in S1011 and the print image based on the application data (S1012). One print data is output to the cloud printer control unit 114 (S1013).

  The cloud printer control unit 114 converts the first print data input from the local printer control unit 112 into print data (hereinafter referred to as second print data) corresponding to the cloud printer 30 (S1014), and converts the second print data to the cloud. The data is transmitted to the printer management server 20 (S1015).

  The cloud printer management server 20 transfers the second print data received from the client device 10 to the cloud printer 30 (S1016).

  The cloud printer 30 executes print processing based on the second print data received from the cloud printer management server 20 (S1017), and ends the processing.

  In the printing system 1 described above, customization corresponding to the cloud printer 30 for each application is not necessary, and a print setting screen by an existing printer driver can be used for print settings for printing performed by the cloud printer 30.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the timing at which the cloud printer control unit 114 acquires the function information of the cloud printer 30 is not limited after receiving a print request, and may be acquired in advance before receiving a print request.

  1 printing system, 10 client device, 20 cloud printer management server, 30 cloud printer, 40 network, 100 control unit, 102 storage unit, 104 input reception unit, 106 display control unit, 108 communication unit, 110 application data processing unit, 112 Local printer control unit, 112A Local printer information storage unit, 112B Available function information acquisition unit, 112C Print setting control unit, 112D Local format print data generation unit, 114 Cloud printer control unit, 114A User information acquisition unit, 114B Cloud printer information Acquisition unit, 114C local printer information acquisition unit, 114D function association information storage unit, 114E usable function information extraction unit, 114F local format print data acquisition unit, 114G cloud format Printing data generating unit, 114H cloud format print data transmission unit, 200 communication unit, 202 user information management unit, 204 cloud printer information management unit, 206 cloud printer information transmitting unit, 208 the print data relay unit.

Claims (5)

An information processing device, a management device that communicates with the information processing device, and a printing device that communicates with the management device,
The information processing apparatus includes:
Obtaining means for obtaining information on the function of the printing device from the management device;
Extraction that extracts information on functions that can be set by the printer driver by comparing information on the functions of the printing device acquired by the acquisition unit with information on the functions of the printer driver installed in the information processing apparatus in advance. Means,
Generating means for generating first print data by the printer driver based on the print setting specified for the function information extracted by the extracting means and the information of the print image;
Based on correspondence information indicating correspondence between the function information of the printer driver and the function information of the printing device, the first print data is converted into second print data in a format interpretable by the printing device. Conversion means to
Transmitting means for transmitting the second print data to the management device,
The management device
Transfer means for transferring the second print data transmitted by the transmission means to the printing apparatus;
The printing apparatus includes:
An information processing system comprising: a printing unit that prints based on the second print data transferred by the transfer unit. The setting screen for the function information of the printer driver further includes a print setting unit configured to set the print setting based on information input with respect to the function information extracted by the extraction unit. 1. The information processing system according to 1. The print setting unit performs control so that only the function information extracted by the extraction unit among the function information of the printer driver can be input on the setting screen related to the function information of the printer driver. The information processing system according to claim 2. Acquisition means for acquiring information on the function of the printing apparatus from a management apparatus that manages the printing apparatus;
Extraction means for extracting function information that can be set by the printer driver by comparing the function information of the printing device acquired by the acquisition means with information on the function of the printer driver installed in advance;
Means for acquiring the first print data generated by the printer driver based on the print settings designated for the function information extracted by the extraction means and the print image information;
Based on correspondence information indicating correspondence between the function information of the printer driver and the function information of the printing device, the first print data is converted into second print data in a format interpretable by the printing device. Conversion means to
An information processing apparatus comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit the second print data to the management apparatus. Acquisition means for acquiring information on the function of the printing apparatus from a management apparatus that manages the printing apparatus;
Extraction means for extracting function information that can be set by the printer driver by comparing the function information of the printing device acquired by the acquisition means with information on the function of the printer driver installed in advance;
Means for acquiring the first print data generated by the printer driver based on the print settings designated for the function information extracted by the extraction means and the print image information;
Based on correspondence information indicating correspondence between the function information of the printer driver and the function information of the printing device, the first print data is converted into second print data in a format interpretable by the printing device. Conversion means to
An information processing program for causing a computer to function as transmission means for transmitting the second print data to the management apparatus.

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