JP2015132924A - Printing system, control method thereof, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide, in the present invention, a printing system which increases user convenience by allowing a user to select the initial display mode of a printer selection screen.SOLUTION: A print server 102 receives present position information of a portable information terminal 101 and a printer retrieval condition, retrieves image forming apparatuses which meet the present position information and printer retrieval condition received, and transmits the information on the image forming apparatuses retrieved to the portable information terminal 101. Then, when displaying the information on the image forming apparatuses received, the portable information terminal 101 determines a display mode among a plurality of display modes with reference to the information associating the present position information of the portable information terminal 101 with a display mode, and accepts the selection of an image forming apparatus for printing among the information on image forming apparatuses displayed.

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system, a control method therefor, and a program, and more particularly, to a display technology for a printer selection screen displayed when a print instruction is issued from a portable information terminal to an image forming apparatus.

  When the portable information terminal instructs the printer to print, a list of printer installation locations is always displayed as an initial display form of a printer selection screen (printer selection screen) (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-195765 A

  However, in Patent Document 1, if the initial display form of the printer selection screen cannot be selected and the user is dissatisfied with the initial display form, the user needs to manually switch the display form each time printing is performed. .

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a display technique that makes it possible to select an initial display form of a printer selection screen and improve user convenience.

  In order to achieve the above object, a printing system according to the present invention is a printing system in which an image forming apparatus, an information terminal, and an information processing apparatus are connected via a network, and the information processing apparatus includes a position of the image forming apparatus. Storage means for storing information and attribute information; receiving means for receiving current position information of the information terminal and search conditions for the image forming apparatus; and position information and attributes of the image forming apparatus stored in the storage means Search means for referring to information and searching for an image forming apparatus that matches the received current position information and search conditions; and transmission means for transmitting information about the image forming apparatus searched by the search means to the information terminal. And when the information terminal receives the information of the image forming apparatus and displays the information on the display means, the information terminal displays the current position information of the information terminal and the display means. Printing from the information associated with the display form, the determining means for determining the display form from a plurality of display forms, and the information on the image forming apparatus displayed on the display means in the display form determined by the determining means Selecting means for accepting selection of an image forming apparatus that performs the operation.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to select the initial display form of the printer selection screen, and the convenience for the user is improved.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a portable information terminal in FIG. 1, FIG. 2B is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a print server in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2C is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printer in FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of printing processing in the printing system of FIG. 1. FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating an example of current position information transmitted to a print server, and FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating an example of a printer information table. (A) The figure which shows an example of the display screen at the time of registering list display area information with a portable information terminal, (b) The figure which shows an example of the display screen at the time of registering an area with a portable information terminal. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen when a list of printer information stored in a storage unit is displayed as a list on an operation display unit. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of a display screen when the printer information preserve | saved at the memory | storage part is displayed as a map on the operation display part. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen at the time of registering initial display form information to a portable information terminal. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the printing process of the printing system in the 2nd this embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, in the printing system 100, a portable information terminal 101, a print server 102, and a plurality of printers 103, 104, and 105 are connected to each other via a network 106. A method of connecting each device to the network 106 is realized by a wired LAN (wired area network) or a wireless LAN (wireless LAN).

  The portable information terminal 101 is an electronic device such as a notebook PC, a tablet PC, or a smartphone.

  The print server 102 has a function of receiving, storing, and managing print data transmitted from the portable information terminal 101. The print server 102 transmits print data to any of the printers 103 to 105 on the network 106 in response to a print instruction from the portable information terminal 101.

  The printers 103 to 105 are printers that can be connected to the network 106, receive print data transmitted from the portable information terminal 101 or the print server 102, and print on a paper medium (paper).

  FIG. 2A is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the portable information terminal 101 in FIG.

  In FIG. 2A, the portable information terminal 101 has the following configuration. The network IF unit 200 is an interface corresponding to a wireless LAN such as IEEE802.11g, IEEE802.11b, and IEEE802.11a. Data is exchanged with an external device such as a printer or a print server via the wireless LAN. The network IF unit 200 may be a wired LAN interface.

  The operation display unit 201 is a device such as a touch panel that has both a display function and an operation function, and functions as a user interface of the portable information terminal 101. Note that the operation display unit 201 may be configured by combining a liquid crystal display and hard keys.

  The storage unit 202 is a storage device such as a hard disk or a flash memory, and stores image data and print data. It also functions as an auxiliary storage device of the control unit 204 described later. Also, initial search conditions, list display area information, and printer usage history information at the time of printer search described later are held.

  The position acquisition unit 203 has a function for detecting the current position of the portable information terminal 101. The position acquisition unit 203 includes, for example, an antenna (not shown) that receives a GPS (Global Positioning System) signal and a GPS signal processing unit (not shown) that calculates position information from the received GPS signal. Note that the position acquisition unit 203 may include an IMES signal processing unit that receives an IMES (Indoor Messaging System) signal by an antenna and calculates position information from the received IMES signal. Further, the position acquisition unit 203 may be realized by a WiFi position information processing unit that calculates current position information based on the radio LAN radio field intensity received from the network IF unit 200. In addition, since any position information acquisition method is publicly known, description thereof will be omitted.

  The control unit 204 is a central processing unit for controlling the portable information terminal 101.

  FIG. 2B is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the print server 102 in FIG.

  In FIG. 2B, the print server 102 has the following configuration. The network IF unit 205 is an interface corresponding to a wired LAN such as Gigabit Ethernet (registered trademark), and exchanges data with an external device such as a portable information terminal or a printer via the wired LAN.

  The storage unit 206 is a storage device such as a hard disk or an SSD (Solid State Drive), and stores print data and the like. It also functions as an auxiliary storage device for the control unit 207 described later.

  The control unit 207 is a central processing unit for controlling the print server 102.

  FIG. 2C is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the printers 103 to 105 in FIG. Note that the printers 103 to 105 have substantially the same configuration, and the configuration of the printer 103 will be described as a representative.

  In FIG. 2C, the printer 103 has the following configuration. The network IF unit 208 is an interface compatible with a wired LAN such as Gigabit Ethernet (registered trademark), and exchanges data with an external device such as a portable information terminal or a print server via the wired LAN. The network IF unit 208 may be a wireless LAN interface.

  The operation display unit 209 is a device such as a touch panel that has both a display function and an operation function, and functions as a user interface. Note that the operation display unit 209 may be configured by combining a liquid crystal display and hard keys.

  The storage unit 210 is a storage device such as a hard disk or an SSD (Solid State Drive), and stores print data and the like. It also functions as an auxiliary storage device for the control unit 212 described later.

  The image forming unit 211 includes a device that forms an image based on print data on a paper medium. For example, in the case of a laser printer system, it is composed of a paper transport device, a photosensitive drum, a fixing device, and the like.

  The control unit 212 is a central processing unit for controlling the printer 103.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of printing processing in the printing system of FIG.

  First, in step S300, the control unit 204 of the portable information terminal 101 receives designation of print data from the user.

  Next, in step S <b> 301, the control unit 204 of the portable information terminal 101 generates a condition for searching for a printer that prints the print data designated by the user, and transmits it to the print server 102 as a printer search condition. Examples of printer search conditions are related to functions and performance conditions held by the printer, such as “color printing is possible, exists within a radius of 100 meters from the current position, and is on the same floor”, and position information of the portable information terminal. Conditions are included. Note that the number of printers that match the search condition may be designated. The printer search condition may be input every time the user gives a print instruction, or the initial search condition may be stored in the storage unit 202 and used.

  In step S <b> 302, the control unit 207 of the print server 102 stores the printer search condition received from the portable information terminal 101 in the storage unit 206.

  In step S303, the position acquisition unit 203 of the portable information terminal 101 acquires the current position information of the portable information terminal 101 itself. Then, the control unit 204 transmits the current position information acquired by the position acquisition unit 203 to the print server 102. In addition, the control unit 204 stores the current position information in the storage unit 202. An example of the current position information to be transmitted is shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 4A, the current position information is composed of latitude, longitude, altitude, or floor number. The number of floors is, for example, the number of floors of a building.

  Returning to FIG. 3, in step S <b> 304, the control unit 207 of the print server 102 stores the current position information received from the portable information terminal 101 in the storage unit 206. In this embodiment, the printer search condition and the current position information are transmitted as separate data in step S301 and step S302, but may be configured to be transmitted as a single data in a single step. .

  In step S <b> 305, the control unit 207 of the print server 102 searches the printer search condition stored in the storage unit 206 and the current position information of the portable information terminal 101 for a printer that matches the printer search condition. Specifically, the control unit 207 of the print server 102 refers to the printer information table stored in the storage unit 206 and determines whether there is a printer that matches the printer search condition and the current position information. An example of the printer information table is shown in FIG.

  4B, the printer information table includes a printer name, a printer IP address, printer position information (latitude, longitude, altitude or floor number), and printer attributes. The printer attributes include, for example, whether or not color printing is possible, whether or not stapling is possible, and the printing speed, but is not limited thereto. Note that registration of information in the printer information table is performed in advance by the system administrator.

  Returning to FIG. 3, if it is determined in step S305 that there is a printer that matches the printer search condition, the process proceeds to step S306. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S305 that there is no printer that matches the printer search condition, this process ends. Here, the control unit 207 of the print server 102 transmits to the portable information terminal 101 that there is no printer that matches the printer search condition, and the control unit 204 of the portable information terminal 101 informs the operation display unit 201 of that fact. You may comprise so that it may display. Alternatively, the control unit 207 of the print server 102 transmits to the portable information terminal 101 that there is no printer that matches the printer search condition, and the control unit 204 of the portable information terminal 101 returns to step S301 and sets the printer search condition. You may comprise so that it may reproduce | regenerate.

  In step S <b> 306, the control unit 207 of the print server 102 transmits printer information of the printer that matches the printer search condition to the portable information terminal 101. Note that the printer information transmitted to the portable information terminal 101 may include the operating status of the printer, the installation location name, and the like in addition to the information included in the printer information table shown in FIG.

  In step S <b> 307, the control unit 204 of the portable information terminal 101 stores the printer information received from the print server 102 in the storage unit 202.

  In step S308, the control unit 204 of the portable information terminal 101 compares the current position information stored in the storage unit 202 with the list display area information, and determines whether or not the current position is included in the list display area. In the list display area information, the printer information of the printer searched on the printer selection screen is associated with the position range of the area for list display. As an example of the list display area information, a list display area is a two-dimensional position range specified by latitude and longitude, such as “range from latitude aaa to bbb, longitude ccc to ddd, and number of floors is first floor”. It is possible. There may be a plurality of list display areas. In this case, the current position information is compared with all list display area information.

  If it is determined in step S308 that the current position is included in the list display area, the process proceeds to step S309. If it is determined that the current position is not included in the list display area, the process proceeds to step S310. The list display area information is registered in the portable information terminal 101 in advance by the user. An example of the display screen of the operation display unit 201 when registering the list display area information in the portable information terminal 101 is shown in FIG.

  On the display screen shown in FIG. 5A, for example, it is possible to select whether or not to register in the list display area with area names such as business office A, business office B, and business office C. An example of the display screen of the operation display unit 201 when registering an area in the portable information terminal 101 is shown in FIG.

  On the display screen shown in FIG. 5B, for example, the user inputs a two-dimensional position range designated from the area name, latitude, and longitude. The area information is stored in the storage unit 202 of the portable information terminal 101. The system administrator may create area information and register it in the storage unit 206 of the print server 102, and the portable information terminal 101 may acquire area information from the print server 102. Thus, the user does not select whether to register in the list display area based on information such as latitude and longitude, but whether to register in the list display area based on intuitively understandable information such as area name. Can be selected. As a result, selection mistakes by the user are reduced, and the trouble of checking the latitude and longitude information can be saved, thereby improving the convenience for the user.

  Returning to FIG. 3, in step S309, the control unit 204 of the portable information terminal 101 displays a list of printer information stored in the storage unit 202 on the operation display unit 201 (list display form) on the printer selection screen. . An example of the printer information list displayed on the operation display unit 201 is shown in FIG.

  In the display screen shown in FIG. 6, the printer name, operation status, and location are displayed as a list as printer information. In this way, by displaying printer information in a list in an area where the user desires to display a list, it is possible to realize a display mode of a printer selection screen suited to the user's intention. Compared with a map display described later, processing such as acquisition of map information and display of map information on the operation display unit 201 is omitted, so that printer information can be displayed faster.

  Returning to FIG. 3, in step S <b> 310, the control unit 204 of the portable information terminal 101 compares the printer information stored in the storage unit 202 with the printer usage history information, and the printer having the usage history is included in the received printer information. Determine if it exists. The printer usage history information includes information that can identify the printer, such as the printer name of the printer that the user has used in the past. Note that the number of printer usage histories stored in the storage unit 202 may be limited, and in this case, the oldest usage history is deleted.

  If it is determined in step S310 that there is a printer having a use history in the received printer information, the process proceeds to step S309, and the printer information is displayed in a list on the printer selection screen. Even if the current position is not included in the list display area, if a printer with a usage history meets the search conditions, it is possible to easily select a printer with a usage history by displaying the printer information in a list. Become.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S310 that there is no printer having a usage history in the received printer information, the process proceeds to step S312.

  In step S311, the control unit 204 of the portable information terminal 101 displays a map of the printer information stored in the storage unit 202 on the printer selection screen on the operation display unit 201 (map display form). An example of the map display is shown in FIG.

  In the map display shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 204 of the portable information terminal 101 requests a map information storage server (not shown) to acquire map information around the current position, and acquires the acquired map information, current position, and printer. Are superimposed and displayed on the operation display unit 201 (superimposed display). The icon 800 is arranged at a position corresponding to the current position information of the portable information terminal 101.

  The icon 801 is arranged at a position corresponding to the position information of the printer 103, and the icon 802 is arranged at a position corresponding to the position information of the printer 104.

  It is desirable that the control unit 204 of the portable information terminal 101 acquires only the map information of the search position range included in the printer search condition. Thereby, the time for receiving redundant map information and the time for displaying the received map information on the operation display unit 201 can be omitted, and the convenience for the user is improved.

  Also, the portable information terminal 101 displays the printer information as a map when the current position is not included in the list display area and there is no printer having a usage history. As a result, the position of the printer can be easily grasped, and the display mode of the printer selection screen intended by the user can be realized.

  Returning to FIG. 3, in step S <b> 312, the control unit 204 of the portable information terminal 101 accepts a printer selection from the user. In the present embodiment, assuming that the printer 103 is selected, print data is transmitted to the selected printer 103.

  In step S313, the control unit 212 and the image forming unit 211 of the printer 103 that have received the print data execute printing based on the received print data.

  As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, the initial display form of the printer selection screen, which is a list display or a map display, can be selected from the current position information of the portable information terminal and the printer usage history. Thereby, user convenience improves.

  In addition, when a location that the user normally uses is registered in the list display area, a printer selection screen is displayed in a list at the location that is normally used. Since the user knows information such as the position and attributes of the printer at the place where the user usually uses, the convenience of the user can be improved by displaying the list.

  Further, when a place that the user normally uses is registered in the list display area, the printer selection screen is displayed in a map at an unfamiliar place that is not usually used. In locations where the user is unfamiliar, the user does not know the printer position information, attribute information, and the like, so that the map display can improve the convenience of the user.

[Second Embodiment]
In the second embodiment of the present invention, the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 (a) to 2 (c) is the same as that of the first embodiment, and is the same as that of the first embodiment. About the part, the description is abbreviate | omitted using the same code | symbol. Only differences from the first embodiment will be described below.

  In the first embodiment, the initial display form of the printer selection screen, which is list display or map display, is selected from the current position information of the portable information terminal 101 and the printer usage history information. In the second embodiment, an example in which the initial display form of the printer selection screen is selected according to the initial display form information stored in the portable information terminal 101 will be described.

  In the present embodiment, initial display form information is stored in the storage unit 202 of the portable information terminal 101. In the initial display form information, an initial display form for displaying printer information on the printer selection screen is defined. For example, list display or map display is selected as the initial display form information. It is assumed that the initial display form information is stored in the portable information terminal 101 in advance by the user. An example of the display screen of the operation display unit 201 when registering the initial display form information in the portable information terminal 101 is shown in FIG. On the display screen shown in FIG. 8, the initial display form is selected from list display or map display.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of the printing process of the printing system in the second embodiment of the present invention. Steps S300 to S307 and steps S309 to S313 are the same as the steps described in FIG.

  In step S1000, the control unit 204 of the portable information terminal 101 refers to the initial display form information stored in the storage unit 202, and determines whether or not the initial display form is a list display. If it is determined that the initial display form is list display, the process proceeds to step S309. If it is determined that the initial display form is not list display, the process proceeds to step S311.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the initial display form of the printer selection screen, which is the list display or the map display, can be selected from the initial display form information registered in advance by the user. This improves the convenience for the user.

  The conditions for determining the display form on the operation display unit 201 of the portable information terminal 101 may be stored in the portable information terminal 101. The conditions for determining the display form are registered in advance in the portable information terminal 101 by the user. For example, as a condition for determining the display form, a list display can be considered if the number of received printer information is five or more. Thereby, based on the conditions for determining the display form registered in advance by the user, it is possible to select the initial display form of the printer selection screen, which is a list display or a map display.

  In this embodiment, the portable information terminal 101 directly transmits print data to the printers 103 to 105, but may be transmitted to the print server 102. This enables printing even when the portable information terminal 101 is not equipped with driver software for controlling the printers 103 to 105.

  In the present embodiment, the printing system 100 including the print server 102 has been described. However, the portable information terminal 101 may replace the function of the print server 102. In that case, the printer information table is stored in the storage unit 202 of the portable information terminal 101, and the portable information terminal 101 searches for printer information. This eliminates the need for construction and management of the print server 102 and makes it possible to implement a printing system more easily. Note that the portable information terminal 101 can be realized with a configuration in which the position acquisition unit 203 is omitted.

  The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Portable information terminal 102 Print server 103,104,105 Printer 106 Network 201,209 Operation display part 203 Position acquisition part 204,207,212 Control part

Claims (13)

In a printing system in which an image forming apparatus, an information terminal, and an information processing apparatus are connected via a network,
The information processing apparatus includes:
Storage means for storing position information and attribute information of the image forming apparatus;
Receiving means for receiving current position information of the information terminal and search conditions of the image forming apparatus;
Search means for searching for an image forming apparatus that matches the received current position information and search conditions with reference to position information and attribute information of the image forming apparatus stored in the storage means;
Transmission means for transmitting information of the image forming apparatus searched by the search means to the information terminal,
The information terminal
When receiving the information of the image forming apparatus and displaying it on the display means, the display form is determined from a plurality of display forms by referring to the information relating the current position information of the information terminal and the display form on the display means A decision means to
A printing system comprising: selection means for receiving selection of an image forming apparatus to perform printing from information on the image forming apparatus displayed on the display means in the display form determined by the determining means. In a printing system in which an image forming apparatus, an information terminal, and an information processing apparatus are connected via a network,
The information processing apparatus includes:
Storage means for storing position information and attribute information of the image forming apparatus;
Receiving means for receiving current position information of the information terminal and search conditions of the image forming apparatus;
Search means for searching for an image forming apparatus that matches the received current position information and search conditions with reference to position information and attribute information of the image forming apparatus stored in the storage means;
Transmission means for transmitting information of the image forming apparatus searched by the search means to the information terminal,
The information terminal
Determining means for determining a display form from a plurality of display forms in accordance with initial display form information registered in advance when receiving information on the image forming apparatus and displaying the information on the display means;
A printing system comprising: selection means for receiving selection of an image forming apparatus to perform printing from information on the image forming apparatus displayed on the display means in the display form determined by the determining means. In a printing system in which an image forming apparatus, an information terminal, and an information processing apparatus are connected via a network,
The information processing apparatus includes:
Storage means for storing position information and attribute information of the image forming apparatus;
Receiving means for receiving current position information of the information terminal and search conditions of the image forming apparatus;
Search means for searching for an image forming apparatus that matches the received current position information and search conditions with reference to position information and attribute information of the image forming apparatus stored in the storage means;
Transmission means for transmitting information of the image forming apparatus searched by the search means to the information terminal,
The information terminal
A determination unit that determines a display form from a plurality of display forms with reference to a condition for determining a display form when the information of the image forming apparatus is received and displayed on the display unit;
A printing system comprising: selection means for receiving selection of an image forming apparatus to perform printing from information on the image forming apparatus displayed on the display means in the display form determined by the determining means. The information terminal
Storage means for storing conditions for determining the display form;
The determination unit refers to information associating current position information of the information terminal with a display form on the display unit when receiving information on the image forming apparatus and displaying the information on the display unit, and further displays the display form. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein a display form is determined from a plurality of display forms with reference to a condition to be determined.   The search condition of the image forming apparatus includes a condition related to position information of the information terminal, a condition related to functions and performance held by the image forming apparatus, and the like. The printing system described in.   The display forms determined by the determining unit include a list display form for displaying a list of information on the image forming apparatus, and a map display form for displaying the surrounding map information and the position information on the image forming apparatus in a superimposed manner. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein: In an information terminal connected to a plurality of image forming apparatuses via a network,
Storage means for storing position information and attribute information of the plurality of image forming apparatuses;
Obtaining means for obtaining current position information of the information terminal;
Generating means for generating a search condition including a condition relating to the current position information of the information terminal, a condition relating to the function and performance held by the image forming apparatus;
Search means for searching for an image forming apparatus that matches the acquired current position information and the generated search condition with reference to position information and attribute information of a plurality of image forming apparatuses stored in the storage means;
When displaying the information of the image forming apparatus retrieved by the retrieval unit on the display unit, the information on the current position of the information terminal and the information associated with the display form on the display unit are referred to and displayed from a plurality of display forms. Determining means for determining the form;
An information terminal comprising: selection means for accepting selection of an image forming apparatus to perform printing from information on the image forming apparatus displayed on the display means in the display form determined by the determining means. In an information terminal connected to a plurality of image forming apparatuses via a network,
Storage means for storing position information and attribute information of the plurality of image forming apparatuses;
Obtaining means for obtaining current position information of the information terminal;
Generating means for generating a search condition including a condition relating to the current position information of the information terminal, a condition relating to the function and performance held by the image forming apparatus;
Search means for searching for an image forming apparatus that matches the acquired current position information and the generated search condition with reference to position information and attribute information of a plurality of image forming apparatuses stored in the storage means;
A determination means for determining a display form from a plurality of display forms according to the initial display form information registered in advance when displaying information of the image forming apparatus searched by the search means on the display means;
An information terminal comprising: selection means for accepting selection of an image forming apparatus to perform printing from information on the image forming apparatus displayed on the display means in the display form determined by the determining means. In an information terminal connected to a plurality of image forming apparatuses via a network,
Storage means for storing position information and attribute information of the plurality of image forming apparatuses;
Obtaining means for obtaining current position information of the information terminal;
Generating means for generating a search condition including a condition relating to the current position information of the information terminal, a condition relating to the function and performance held by the image forming apparatus;
Search means for searching for an image forming apparatus that matches the acquired current position information and the generated search condition with reference to position information and attribute information of a plurality of image forming apparatuses stored in the storage means;
A determination unit that determines a display form from a plurality of display forms with reference to a condition for determining a display form when displaying information on the image forming apparatus searched by the search unit on a display unit;
An information terminal comprising: selection means for accepting selection of an image forming apparatus to perform printing from information on the image forming apparatus displayed on the display means in the display form determined by the determining means. In a control method of a printing system in which an image forming apparatus, an information terminal, and an information processing apparatus are connected via a network,
A receiving step in which the receiving means of the information processing apparatus receives the current position information of the information terminal and the search condition of the image forming apparatus;
A search step in which the search unit of the information processing apparatus refers to the position information and attribute information of the image forming apparatus stored in the storage unit and searches for an image forming apparatus that matches the received current position information and search conditions. When,
A transmission step in which a transmission unit of the information processing apparatus transmits information of the image forming apparatus searched in the search step to the information terminal;
When the information terminal determination unit receives the information of the image forming apparatus and displays the information on the display unit, the information terminal determination unit refers to information associating the current position information of the information terminal with the display form on the display unit, and A determining step of determining a display form from the display form of
A selection step of receiving a selection of an image forming apparatus to perform printing from the information of the image forming apparatus displayed on the display unit in the display form determined in the determination step; A control method characterized by the above. In a control method of a printing system in which an image forming apparatus, an information terminal, and an information processing apparatus are connected via a network,
A receiving step in which the receiving means of the information processing apparatus receives the current position information of the information terminal and the search condition of the image forming apparatus;
A search step in which the search unit of the information processing apparatus refers to the position information and attribute information of the image forming apparatus stored in the storage unit and searches for an image forming apparatus that matches the received current position information and search conditions. When,
A transmission step in which a transmission unit of the information processing apparatus transmits information of the image forming apparatus searched in the search step to the information terminal;
A determination step of determining a display form from a plurality of display forms in accordance with the initial display form information registered in advance when the information terminal determining means receives the information of the image forming apparatus and displays the information on the display means;
A selection step of receiving a selection of an image forming apparatus to perform printing from the information of the image forming apparatus displayed on the display unit in the display form determined in the determination step; A control method characterized by the above. In a control method of a printing system in which an image forming apparatus, an information terminal, and an information processing apparatus are connected via a network,
A receiving step in which the receiving means of the information processing apparatus receives the current position information of the information terminal and the search condition of the image forming apparatus;
A search step in which the search unit of the information processing apparatus refers to the position information and attribute information of the image forming apparatus stored in the storage unit and searches for an image forming apparatus that matches the received current position information and search conditions. When,
A transmission step in which a transmission unit of the information processing apparatus transmits information of the image forming apparatus searched in the search step to the information terminal;
A determination step of determining a display form from a plurality of display forms with reference to a condition for determining a display form when the determining unit of the information terminal receives the information of the image forming apparatus and displays the information on the display unit;
The selection unit of the information terminal includes a selection unit that receives selection of an image forming apparatus that performs printing from information on the image forming apparatus displayed on the display unit in the display form determined in the determining step. A control method characterized by the above.   A computer-readable program for causing a control method according to any one of claims 10 to 12 to be executed.