JP2015138304A - Information processor, information processing method, information processing system, and program for executing information processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To correctly notify a user, in an application for controlling a plurality of print control units, of the paper information for a paper feeding drawer of each print control unit, and of that wrong paper is set in a paper feeding drawer.SOLUTION: An information processor includes: acceptance means for accepting paper information to be registered in a print control unit together with first identification information for identifying the paper; storage means for storing the paper information accepted; transfer means for transferring the paper information to a plurality of print control units; identification information acquisition means for acquiring second identification information contained in the paper information registered in the print control unit, and storing it in the storage means; paper feeding part information acquisition means for acquiring paper setting information containing the second identification information in feeding parts of the plurality of print control units; retrieval means for retrieving the first identification information according to each print control unit on the basis of the second identification information acquired by the paper feeding part information acquisition means; and notification means for converting the setting information in each paper feeding part to the first identification information and notifying an application of it.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, an information processing system, and a program for executing an information processing method for handling resource objects necessary for printing print data in a print control apparatus.

  Conventionally, in a form in which print data is printed by a print control apparatus, resource objects (for example, output paper parameters and image data) necessary for printing the print data are registered in advance in the print control apparatus, and printing is executed. A system has been realized (Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2).

  In addition, by acquiring and displaying information on output paper (hereinafter simply referred to as paper) that is a printing medium set in the paper feed stage in the print control device, it is possible to check the paper storage status from a remote environment. A system for confirmation is realized (Patent Document 3).

JP 2001-306424 A JP 2012-83921 A JP 2010-273272 A

  However, the above-described system does not consider the case where the identification information (ID) of the resource object registered in the print control apparatus is different for each print control apparatus.

  As the paper operation in the resource object, paper information (including paper size and paper type information) is registered in advance in the information processing apparatus that transmits the print data to the print control apparatus, and the user who uses the information processing apparatus is registered. The selected paper is selected and printing is instructed. At this time, a sheet (sheet size or sheet type) that is not registered in the print control apparatus is synchronized by being registered in the print control apparatus from the information processing apparatus.

  On the other hand, a user who uses the information processing apparatus refers to information (paper size, paper type, number of sheets, etc.) regarding paper set in the paper feed stage of the print control device before issuing a print instruction, and then performs printing. By executing the instructions, the printing process is operated correctly.

  In such an operation, in the print control apparatus, management of registered paper (paper size or paper type) is distinguished by identification information assigned in the print control apparatus. This identification information is unique within the print control apparatus, but there are cases where resource objects (paper size or paper type) indicated by the same identification information differ between print control apparatuses. For this reason, when information about the paper set in the paper feed stage is acquired from the information processing apparatus, it may not be correctly associated with the paper information registered in the information processing apparatus. That is, there arises a problem that the information processing apparatus provides the user with paper information of an incorrect paper feed stage.

  Also, in a print control apparatus that can set information on the paper size and paper type to the paper feed stage of the print control apparatus, the combination of the paper size and paper type set in the paper feed stage is an information processing device. May not be registered with. In such a case, there is a problem that even if output paper registered in the print control apparatus is selected and printing is performed, a desired output cannot be obtained, for example, output on the wrong paper in the print control apparatus. Occur.

  Under such an object, the first invention is an information processing apparatus for registering information on paper used for printing by a print control apparatus, and accepts paper information to be registered together with first identification information for identifying paper. Receiving means; storage means for storing paper information received by the receiving means; transfer means for transferring the paper information to a plurality of print control devices; and second information included in the paper information registered in the print control device. ID information acquisition means for acquiring the identification information of the paper and storing it in the storage means, and paper feed section information acquisition for acquiring paper setting information including the second identification information in the paper feed sections of the plurality of print control devices Search means for searching the first identification information for each print control device from the second identification information acquired by the paper supply unit information acquisition means, and setting information in the paper supply unit. And having a notifying means for notifying is converted into serial first identification information.

  The paper information set in the paper feed stage of the printer is provided to the user who uses the information processing apparatus by identifying different identification information for each printer, so that the user can select and print the appropriate paper. Can be instructed. Further, the user can recognize that an incorrect sheet that is not registered in the information processing apparatus is set in the paper feed stage of the printer.

It is a system configuration figure of an information processing system in the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the network computer in FIG. 5 is a memory map when a program is expanded from the FD shown in FIG. 4 to the RAM in FIG. 3 is a memory map representing data inside the FD in FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows the relationship with FD inserted with respect to the FD drive in this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the software configuration of the information processing system in this invention. It is a figure which shows the format of the paper information data in this invention. It is a figure which shows the format of the paper information data in this invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a format of job data for paper information registration and printing in the present invention. It is a figure which shows the format of the paper feed stage data in this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the registration process of the paper information of the information processing system of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the notification process of the paper feed stage information of the information processing system of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the user interface for displaying the paper feed stage information of the information processing system of this invention.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<Configuration example of information processing system>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an information processing system according to the present invention. It should be noted that the environment of the entire information processing system in the following description is for facilitating understanding of the description of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these environments.

  In the figure, reference numerals 101, 102, and 103 denote network computers (hereinafter simply referred to as computers) that are connected to the network 106 and can communicate with each other, and are typically personal computers (PCs). Each is connected to the network 106 by a network cable such as Ethernet (registered trademark), and can execute various programs such as an application program. The computers 101, 102, and 103 have a function of transferring job data and resource data (paper information, font data, etc.) generated by the computers 101, 102, and 103 to the network printers 104 and 105. The computers 101, 102, and 103 can acquire, display, and edit job data information received and processed or stored by the network printers 104 and 105 via the network 106. Furthermore, it is possible to acquire, display, and edit resource data information stored in the network printers 104 and 105.

  Reference numerals 104 and 105 denote network printers (hereinafter simply referred to as printers) as print control apparatuses, which are connected to the network 106 via a network interface (not shown). The printers 104 and 105 analyze job data including print data transmitted from the computers 101, 102, and 103, convert each page into a dot image, and print. The job data received from the computers 101, 102, and 103 is displayed on the user interface of the printers 104 and 105. Further, it is transmitted to the computers 101, 102, 103 by e-mail or the like, or is faxed to a facsimile apparatus (not shown). Furthermore, resource data received from the computers 101, 102, and 103 is stored and used as parameters when printing job data. Hereinafter, when it is necessary to distinguish between the printers 104 and 105, they are referred to as printer A and printer B, respectively. Note that the functions of each printer may be different. Reference numeral 106 denotes a network, which is connected to computers 101, 102, 103, printers 104, 105, and the like.

<Example of hardware configuration of network computer>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the computers 101, 102, and 103.

  In FIG. 2, a CPU 200 controls the entire apparatus, and executes an application program, a printer driver program, an OS, an information processing program of the present embodiment, and the like stored in a hard disk (HD) 205. Also, control is performed to temporarily store information, files, and the like necessary for program execution in the RAM 202.

  Reference numeral 201 denotes a ROM as storage means, which stores various data such as programs such as basic I / O programs, font data used in document processing, and template data. Reference numeral 202 denotes a RAM as temporary storage means, which functions as a main memory, work area, and the like of the CPU 200.

  Reference numeral 203 denotes a floppy disk drive as storage medium reading means, and a program or the like stored in an FD 204 as a storage medium can be loaded into a computer through the FD drive 203 as shown in FIG. Reference numeral 204 denotes a floppy disk (FD) as a storage medium, which is a storage medium in which a program is stored so as to be readable by a computer. Note that the storage medium is not limited to the FD, and may be any CD-ROM, CDR, CDRW, PC card, DVD, IC memory card, MO, memory stick, and the like.

  Reference numeral 205 denotes one of external storage means, which is a hard disk (HD) that functions as a large-capacity memory, and stores an application program, a printer driver program, an OS, an information processing program, related programs, and the like.

  Reference numeral 206 denotes a keyboard which is an instruction input unit. The operator instructs the computer to input device control command instructions and the like. A display 207 is a display unit that displays commands input from the keyboard 206, the status of the printer, and the like.

  A system bus 208 controls the flow of data in the computer.

  Reference numeral 209 denotes an interface which is an input / output unit, and the information processing apparatus exchanges data with an external apparatus via the interface 209. Note that the configuration of the computer is an example thereof, and is not limited to the configuration example of FIG. For example, the storage location of data and programs can be changed by ROM, RAM, HD, etc. according to the characteristics.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the memory map of the RAM 202 shown in FIG. 2, in which the information processing program for controlling the information processing system of the present invention loaded from the FD 204 is loaded into the RAM 202 and can be executed. This is a memory map.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which an information processing program and related data are loaded directly from the FD 204 to the RAM 202 and executed is shown. However, in addition to this, every time the information processing program is operated, the information processing program may be loaded into the RAM 202 from the HD 205 already installed from the FD 204. The medium for storing the information processing program may be a CD-ROM, CDR, PC card, DVD, or IC memory card in addition to the FD. Further, it is possible to store the information processing program in the ROM 201, configure it as a part of the memory map, and execute it directly by the CPU 200. In addition, software that realizes the same function as each of the above devices can be used as an alternative to a hardware device.

  In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes a basic I / O program, which is an area including a program having an initial program loading function for starting the OS operation when the OS is read from the HD 205 into the RAM 202 when the computer is turned on. It is. Reference numeral 302 denotes an operating system (OS), and reference numeral 303 denotes an information processing program described in the present embodiment, which is stored in an area secured on the RAM 202. Reference numeral 304 denotes related data, which is stored in an area secured on the RAM 202. Reference numeral 305 denotes a work area in which an area for the CPU 200 to execute the information processing program is secured.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a memory map of the FD 204 illustrated in FIG.

  In FIG. 4, 401 is volume information indicating data information, 402 is directory information, 403 is an information processing program described in this embodiment, and 404 is related data. The information processing program 403 is programmed based on a flowchart described in the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a relationship with the FD 204 inserted into the FD drive 203 shown in FIG. 2, and the same components as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In FIG. 5, the FD 204 stores an information processing program and related data described in the present embodiment.

<Example of software configuration in this embodiment>
FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the information processing system in the information processing apparatus of the present embodiment for each functional module. Each module has a function for realizing each means in the claims of the present invention, and executes the processes of FIGS.

  Reference numeral 601 denotes an application in which a user using the computers 101, 102, and 103 issues a print instruction to the printer 104 or 105. The application 601 edits document data to be printed, instructs print settings (such as the number of copies to be printed, output paper, single / double-sided, and finishing settings) and print execution instructions for printing with a printer. Also, an interface (not shown) for setting resources such as paper information to be registered in the printer 104 or 105 and instructing registration execution is provided. When the application 601 receives a paper resource setting and registration instruction from the user, the application 601 receives a paper information data (a job ticket file defining a resource type and the like and a paper information file including paper information to be registered) as shown in FIG. Including). Further, the application 601 receives the paper information set in the paper feed stages of the printers 104 and 105 in the format shown in FIG. 9 and displays it on the interface shown in FIG.

  A data transmission / reception unit 602 receives paper information data as shown in FIG. 7A generated by the application 601 and transmits paper feed stage data as shown in FIG. 9 in the printers 104 and 105 to the application 601. The data transmission / reception unit 602 also has a function of receiving print data (not shown) for printing by the printers 104 and 105 from the application 601.

  A data conversion unit 603 converts paper information data and print data received from the data transmission / reception unit 602 into printer-dependent job data that can be received by the printers 104 and 105 as shown in FIG.

  A transmission queue 604 controls the order for transmitting job data to the printers 104 and 105. The transmission queue 604 sequentially transmits job data received from the data conversion unit 603 to a printer communication unit 605 described later at an appropriate timing according to the processing status in the printers 104 and 105.

  A printer communication unit 605 transmits job data received from the transmission queue 604 via a printer driver 606 described later, or communicates with the printers 104 and 105 to acquire status information and the like. The printer communication unit 605 obtains status information from the printers 104 and 105 by a method such as polling for obtaining the information at regular intervals and an event for receiving notification at a status update timing.

  Reference numeral 606 denotes a printer driver for transmitting job data for printing received from the information processing system to the printers 104 and 105.

  A data management unit 607 manages paper information data received by the data transmission / reception unit 602. The data management unit 607 stores paper information data in a data storage unit 608 described later, and updates the content of the paper information data in accordance with an instruction from the printer communication unit 605.

  Reference numeral 608 denotes a data storage unit for storing paper information data.

  Reference numeral 609 denotes a paper feed stage for generating paper feed stage data as shown in FIG. 9 for notifying the application 601 of paper information set in the paper feed stage of the printers 104 and 105 acquired by the printer communication unit 605. An information generation unit.

<Example of paper information data in this embodiment>
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a format of paper information data that is received by the data transmission / reception unit 602 from the application 601 and stored in the data storage unit 608 in the information processing system according to the present exemplary embodiment. The paper information data is received from the application 601 in a format independent of the printer 104 or 105, and then updated by the printer communication unit 605 according to the information received from the printers 104 and 105 (created as individual data for each printer). ).

  FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating sheet information data received from an application. The sheet information data includes a job ticket file 701 and a sheet information file 702 in which the contents of a plurality of sheets are defined.

  The job ticket file 701 includes information indicating the type of resource (paper information, image data, etc.) and link information indicating the path to the paper information file.

  The paper information file 702 includes, as parameters for each paper, media code 703 for the user or application 601 to specify the paper, paper size 704, and paper type 705.

  FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating a paper information file 702 that is updated by the data management unit 607 with information acquired by the printer communication unit 605. In the paper information file 702, as a result of registering the paper information in the printer, PaperCode 707 for specifying the paper in the printer is recorded by an instruction from the data management unit 607. At this time, since the value of PaperCode 707 differs depending on the printer (PaperCode of Custom1 is “1111” for printer A and “5555” for printer B), the paper information file 702 is created separately for each printer. In the paper information file 702, a printer name 706 for identifying the printer is recorded.

<Example of job data in this embodiment>
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a format of job data 801 and 804 generated by the data conversion unit 603 in the information processing system according to the present embodiment. The job data 801 and 804 are created in a format that can be processed by the target output destination printer. Therefore, when there are a plurality of printers designated as output destinations, they are created for each printer as necessary.

  In FIG. 8 a, job data 801 includes data necessary for registering paper information in the printers 104 and 105.

  Reference numeral 802 denotes header information including information necessary for transmitting paper information by communicating with the printers 104 and 105.

  Reference numeral 803 denotes paper information including paper parameters to be registered in the printers 104 and 105. In the paper information, paper size and paper type parameters are recorded in a format that can be processed by the printers 104 and 105 based on the contents of the paper information file 702.

  In FIG. 8 b, job data 804 includes data necessary to execute printing by the printers 104 and 105.

  Reference numeral 805 denotes header information including information necessary for transmitting print job data to the printers 104 and 105 and information of job data to be transmitted.

  Reference numeral 806 denotes output setting information including output settings for instructing the printers 104 and 105. The output setting information is generated from the print setting information instructed by the application 601. That is, the print settings include, for example, the number of copies to be printed, output paper, single-sided / double-sided, finishing settings, paper settings, and the like. Reference numeral 807 includes drawing information of output data to be drawn by the printers 104 and 105.

  Note that the job data 801 and 804 are not limited to the above format, and any format that can identify paper information and any format that can identify print setting information and drawing information of print data to be printed. It may be in the form.

<Example of paper feed stage information in this embodiment>
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the format of the paper feed stage data 901 and 905 generated by the paper feed stage information generation unit 609 in the information processing system of the present embodiment.

  FIG. 9 a illustrates the paper feed stage data 901 in the printer A. The paper feed stage data 901 includes a paper feed stage (Drawer) name 902 in the printer A and MediaCode 903 that can be identified by the application 601. MediaCode 903 is converted by searching a paper information file 702 held by the data storage unit 608 based on information (PaperCode) received from the printer A by the printer communication unit 605. The paper feed stage data 901 also stores a value 904 (% value indicating the number of sheets or the ratio) indicating the remaining amount of paper stored in the paper feed stage.

  FIG. 9B illustrates the paper feed stage data 905 in the printer B. In the paper feed stage data 905, the same information as the paper feed stage data 901 (name of the paper feed stage, MediaCode, remaining amount) is stored.

  Here, when a sheet that is not stored in the data storage unit 608 is set in the paper feed stage, such as Drawer 2, a sheet that is not registered in the information processing system is set in the paper feed stage. The indicated value is set in MediaCode 906 (eg, “Not Registered”).

  In such a case, the paper size 907 and paper type 908 parameters actually set in the paper feed stage of the printer are set in the paper feed stage data 905, respectively.

  <Sequence of Paper Information Registration Process of Information Processing System in This Embodiment> FIG. 10 shows a job relating to paper information to the printers 104 and 105 after receiving a paper information registration instruction from the application 601 in the information processing system of this embodiment. The flow of processing until data transmission is described.

  A program related to each flow is stored in the hard disk 205 of the computers 101, 102, and 103, read into the RAM 202, and executed by the CPU 200.

  In this embodiment, a process for registering paper information in the order of printer A and printer B will be described as an example.

  In step 1001, it is determined whether the data transmitting / receiving unit 602 has received a paper information registration instruction from the application 601. If a registration instruction is accepted, the process proceeds to step S1002. At this time, an instruction of a printer to be registered may be received.

  In step S <b> 1002, the data transmission / reception unit 602 creates paper information data for a printer to be registered via the data management unit 607, stores it in the data storage unit 608, and transmits it to the data conversion unit 603.

  In step S1003, the data conversion unit 603 generates job data 801 in a format receivable by the registration target printer A based on the paper information data received in step S1002.

  In step S1004, the transmission queue 604 transmits job data 801 to the printer A via the printer communication unit 605.

  In step S1005, the printer communication unit 605 acquires the value of PaperCode assigned by the printer A together with the registration result in step S1004.

  In step S <b> 1006, the data management unit 607 sets the value of PaperCode received from the printer communication unit 605 in the paper information file 702 stored in the data storage unit 608.

  In step S1007, the data management unit 607 determines whether registration of paper information has been completed for all printers. If completed, the process ends. If not completed, the process proceeds to step S1002 (the same process is executed for printer B).

<Sheet feed stage information notification sequence of information processing system in this embodiment>
FIG. 11 illustrates the flow of processing for notifying the application 601 of paper information at the paper feed stages of the printer 104 and the printer 105 in the information processing system of this embodiment.

  A program related to each flow is stored in the hard disk 205 of the computers 101, 102, and 103, read into the RAM 202, and executed by the CPU 200.

  In this embodiment, a process for notifying information about the paper feed stages in the order of printer A and printer B will be described as an example.

  In step S1101, the printer communication unit 605 determines whether it is a polling timing for acquiring information from the printer (whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the previous acquisition of information). If the polling timing is reached, the process proceeds to step S1102. When event notification is used as an information acquisition method, it is determined whether an event notification has been made.

  In step S <b> 1102, the printer communication unit 605 acquires paper feed stage information (a value indicating the paper size, paper type, and remaining amount set for each paper feed stage of the printer A) from the printer A.

  In step S <b> 1103, the paper feed stage information generation unit 609 corresponds from the paper information file 702 of the printer A stored in the data storage unit 608 based on the paper feed stage information (PaperCode) received from the printer communication unit 605. Search for MediaCode to be performed.

  In step S1104, the paper feed stage information generation unit 609 determines whether the corresponding MediaCode is found as a result of the search in step S1103. If found, the process proceeds to step S1105, and if not found, the process proceeds to step S1106.

  In step S1105, the paper feed stage information generation unit 609 sets information such as MediaCode found in step S1103 for the paper feed stage data.

  In step S1106, the paper feed stage information generation unit 609 sets a value (“Not registered”) indicating that the paper is not registered, paper size, paper type information, and the like for the paper feed stage data. .

  In step S <b> 1107, the paper feed stage information generation unit 609 determines whether information setting for the paper feed stage data has been completed for all paper feed stages. If completed, the process proceeds to step S1108. If not completed, the process proceeds to step S1103.

  In step S <b> 1108, the data transmission / reception unit 607 notifies the application 601 of the paper feed stage data of the printer A.

  In step S1109, the paper feed stage information generation unit 609 determines whether the notification of paper feed stage information of all printers has been completed. If completed, the process ends. If not completed, the process proceeds to step S1102 (the same process is executed for the printer B).

<Processing sequence of job movement between printing bases of information processing system in this embodiment>
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface 1200 for displaying the paper feed stage information in the printer 104 and the printer 105 displayed by the application 601 in the information processing system of the present embodiment.

  The application 601 displays paper information 1201 set for the paper feed stages in the printers 104 and 105 based on the paper feed stage data 901 and 905 received from the data transmission / reception unit 602.

  As described above, the paper information set in the paper feed stage of the printer is notified to the application by absorbing different identification information for each printer, so that the user selects an appropriate paper from the application 601. Printing instructions can be given. Further, the user can easily identify that an incorrect sheet is set in the paper feed stage of the printer.

101, 102, 103 Network computer 104, 105 Printer 106 Network 601 Application 602 Data transmission / reception unit 603 Data conversion unit 604 Transmission queue 605 Printer communication unit 606 Printer driver 607 Data management unit 608 Data storage unit 609 Paper feed stage information generation unit

Claims (2)

An information processing apparatus for registering information on paper used for printing in a print control apparatus,
Receiving means (602) for receiving paper information to be registered together with first identification information for identifying paper;
Storage means (608) for storing paper information received by the receiving means;
Transfer means (605) for transferring the paper information to a plurality of print control devices;
Identification information acquisition means (607) for acquiring second identification information included in the paper information registered in the print control apparatus and storing it in the storage means;
Paper feed unit information acquisition means (605) for acquiring paper setting information including the second identification information in the paper feed units of the plurality of print control devices;
Search means (609) for searching the first identification information for each print control device from the second identification information acquired by the paper feed section information acquisition means;
A notification means (609) for converting the setting information in the sheet feeding unit into the first identification information and notifying it;
An information processing apparatus comprising: When the notification means (609) cannot convert the information to the first identification information, the paper received by the receiving means together with the paper setting information in the paper feed stage of the print control apparatus is the paper feed of the print control apparatus. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus notifies that the information is not set in the section.