JP2015176293A - Information processor, printing system, control method and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor which specifies an item to be changed together with an item with setting changed from a history of print setting when setting change is done to recommended print setting, and displays the specified item as recommended print setting.SOLUTION: An information processor displays recommended print setting on the basis of print data, receives change of a first print setting item of the print setting, specifies a second print setting item to be changed together with the change of the first print setting item on the basis of the history of used print setting when receiving the change of the print setting, and performs display that recommends the change of the specified second print setting item.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus printing system, a control method, and a computer program that provide recommended print settings based on accumulated print information.

  Conventionally, an image forming apparatus performs printing based on print settings by a user. Here, in order to improve the flexibility of print settings by the user, an image forming apparatus that provides print settings recommended for each user has been proposed. Patent Document 1 discloses an information processing apparatus that accumulates print settings set by a user as a history and presents recommended print settings to the user for a print job to be processed based on the accumulated history. Yes. The information processing apparatus analyzes the drawing data in the print job, determines the character size of the drawing data, and determines the readable page aggregation number, thereby presenting the recommended print settings suitable for the print job to the user.

JP 2012-252473 A

  The information processing apparatus disclosed in Patent Literature 1 presents a recommended setting for item A from a setting history related to a specific print setting item (item A) among the print settings. However, in this information processing apparatus, when a user changes a setting for a recommended setting that is not intended, processing for other print setting items that can be recommended in accordance with the change is not considered.

  According to the present invention, when a setting change for a recommended print setting is made, another item to be changed is specified from the print setting history together with the changed item, and the specified other item is set as a recommended print setting. An object is to provide an information processing apparatus for display.

  An information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a display unit that displays recommended print settings based on print data, a reception unit that receives a change in a first print setting item of the print settings, and the print settings. And specifying means for specifying the second print setting item to be changed together with the change of the first print setting item based on the history of the used print setting when the change is received. The display means performs a display for recommending the change of the specified second print setting item.

  According to the information processing apparatus of the present invention, when the setting change for the recommended print setting is made, the other items to be changed are specified together with the changed item from the print setting history, and the other specified items are specified. Items can be displayed as recommended print settings. Print settings recommended for the print settings after the setting change are provided, and the resetting process for items that may be required in accordance with the setting change is reduced, improving the convenience for the user.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of a printing system. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration example of a printing system. 6 is a flowchart illustrating recommended print setting display processing of the printing system. 6 is a flowchart of recommended print setting determination processing based on the characteristics of a print job. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a statistical information management table managed by the printing system. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a combination information management table managed by the printing system. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a recommended print setting screen displayed by the printing system. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a combination information management table managed by the printing system. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an alternative condition management table managed by the printing system. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing related to recommended print settings. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram of recommended print setting determination processing by a client. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a recommended print setting screen displayed by the printing system. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a switching process of recommended print setting display processing. It is a figure which shows an example of an influence setting item management table. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing related to recommended print settings.

Example 1
Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment. The printing system includes MFPs (Multi Function Peripherals) 100 and 101, a client computer 102, a mobile terminal 103, and a server 104. The MFP 100, the MFP 101 having the same function as the MFP 100, the client computer 102, the mobile terminal 103, and the server 104 are connected via the network 105 and can transmit and receive data.

  The MFP 100 functions as an information processing apparatus or an image forming apparatus of the present invention. The MFP 100 has functions such as electronic document printing, hard copy of output contents, or facsimile communication. The MFP 100 can read a document image and transmit the read image data to each device on the network 105. The MFP 100 can receive the image data read by the MFP 101 via the network 105, save the image data in a designated storage area in the MFP 100, and print out the image data saved in the storage area.

  In addition, MFP 100 has a PDL processing function, performs image processing on job data received from each device on network 105, saves it in a designated storage area in MFP 100, and stores the image data saved in the storage area. Can be printed out. In addition, the MFP 100 acquires a document information list from the server 104 and displays the document information list on the operation display, and previews job data selected by a user operation from the document information list displayed on the operation display and changes print settings. Then, the MFP 100 acquires job data selected by the user's operation from the server 104 and performs printout.

  A client computer (hereinafter referred to as a client) 102 or a mobile terminal 103 functions as an information processing apparatus of the present invention, and converts a document selected by a user operation into a data format printable by the MFP 100. The client 102 or the mobile terminal 103 transmits the converted data to the MFP 100 or the server 104 as job data. The client 102 or the mobile terminal 103 can receive the image data read by the MFP 100 via the network 105, and can process and edit the received image data. For example, the client 102 acquires a document information list from the server 104 and displays it on the operation display. The client 102 can preview the job data selected by the user operation from the document information list, change the print settings, and instruct the MFP 100 to print out the job data.

  The server 104 is a service providing apparatus that manages job data received from the client 102 or the mobile terminal 103, manages document information of the job data, and provides a print service. The server 104 transmits the target document information list to the MFP 100, the client 102, or the mobile terminal 103 in response to the document information list acquisition request. Further, server 104 transmits job data targeted for MFP 100 to MFP 100 in response to a job data acquisition request.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the printing system according to the present exemplary embodiment. The information processing apparatus 213 has a hardware configuration of the client 102, the mobile terminal 103, and the server 104. The print processing apparatus 200 has a hardware configuration of the MFP 100 and the MFP 101. In FIG. 2, the information processing apparatus 213 includes a CPU 214, a ROM 215 as a storage unit, a RAM 216, an HDD 217, and an operation unit I / F 219 network I / F 220. Each processing unit is connected by an internal bus 218. Note that CPU, ROM 215, RAM 216, and HDD are abbreviations for Central Processing Unit, Read Only Memory, Random Access Memory, and Hard Disk Drive, respectively.

  The CPU 214 controls the overall operation of the information processing apparatus 213. The CPU 214 executes various processes by executing various programs stored in the ROM 215 or the HDD 217. The RAM 216 is used as a work memory necessary for the CPU 214 to operate. The RAM 216 can temporarily store various data. The ROM 215 and HDD 217 can store programs and various data before being loaded into the RAM 216. The network I / F 220 is an interface for performing various communications with various devices on the network 105 via the network 105.

  The operation unit I / F 219 is an interface for performing various communications with a display device 221 that is an external display or a built-in display as display means, and an input device 222 that is a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel as input means. The CPU 214 receives various operations from the user via the operation unit I / F 219, and displays a processing result corresponding to the operation on the screen.

  Next, a hardware configuration example of the print processing apparatus 200 will be described. The print processing apparatus 200 includes a CPU 201, ROM 202, RAM 203, HDD 204, network I / F 206, operation unit I / F 207, and device I / F 208. Each processing unit is connected by an internal bus 205.

  The CPU 201 controls the overall operation of the print processing apparatus 200. The CPU 201 executes various processes by executing various programs stored in the ROM 202 or the HDD 204. The RAM 203 is used as a work memory necessary for the CPU 201 to operate. Various data can be temporarily stored in the RAM 203. The ROM 202 and the HDD 204 can store programs and various data before being loaded into the RAM 203. A network I / F 206 is an interface for performing various communications with various devices on the network 105 connected to the network 105.

  The operation unit I / F 207 is an interface for performing various communications with a display device 209 that is an external display or a built-in display as a display unit, and a hard key and an input device 210 that is a touch panel as an input unit. The CPU 201 receives various operations from the user via the operation unit I / F 207, and displays a processing result corresponding to the operation on the screen. The device I / F 208 is an interface for performing various communications with the scanner 211 and the printer 212 that function as image reading means. The CPU 201 reads image data from the scanner 211 via the device I / F 208 and prints out the image data via the printer 212.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration example of the printing system according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 3, the client control unit 313 has a functional configuration processed by the client 102 and the mobile terminal 103. The server control unit 321 has a functional configuration processed by the server 104. The print control unit 300 has a functional configuration processed by the MFP 100 or the MFP 101. The various functions shown in FIG. 3 are realized by the CPUs 214 and 201 executing programs stored in the ROMs 215 and 202 of the respective devices.

  First, functions provided in the print control unit 300 will be described. The print control unit 300 includes a communication unit 306, an operation unit 301, a job information analysis unit 302, a PDL data analysis unit 303, a data drawing unit 304, an output control unit 305, a communication unit 306, a job data management unit 307, and a print setting management unit. 308 and a print data management unit 309. The print control unit 300 also includes a recommended setting determination unit 310, a setting statistics management unit 311, and a combination statistics management unit 312. The operation unit 301 receives various operations from the user via the operation unit I / F 207 and displays various statuses of the print processing apparatus 200. The communication unit 306 communicates with other devices via the network I / F 206. The job information analysis unit 302 analyzes document information and print settings from job attributes of job data managed by the job data management unit 307.

  The PDL data analysis unit 303 analyzes each page data of the job data and performs conversion processing to intermediate data (display list or the like). The PDL data analysis unit 303 accumulates and stores the converted intermediate data in a storage area in the RAM 203. Further, the PDL data analysis unit 303 extracts feature information of character drawing data, graphic drawing data, and image drawing data in each page data. The feature information includes the character size of character drawing data, the number of pass points of graphic drawing data, the resolution of image drawing data, and the like. The data drawing unit 304 performs conversion processing from the accumulated and saved intermediate data to bitmap data in page units, and accumulates and saves it in the print data management unit 309.

  The output control unit 305 converts bitmap data in page units into a video signal, forms an image signal to the printer 212 via the device I / F 208, and performs print output. A job data management unit 307 stores and manages job data input from the communication unit 306 in the RAM 203 or the HDD 204. A job data management unit 307 manages job information and various states of job data.

  A print setting management unit 308 manages print settings for job data from the job attributes analyzed by the job information analysis unit 302. The print setting management unit 308 manages the feature information extracted by the PDL data analysis unit 303. A print data management unit 309 stores and manages image data that has been bitmap-converted from each page of job data in the HDD 204.

  The recommended setting determination unit 310 uses the print settings and feature information of the job data managed by the print setting management unit 308 and the statistical information of the print settings of the job data used in the past managed by the setting statistics management unit 311. Determine the recommended print settings for the job data. Further, the recommended setting determination unit 310 receives a combination of job data used in the past managed by the combination statistics management unit 312 in response to a print setting change instruction for an arbitrary setting item input from the operation unit 301 by the user. Recommended related setting items are determined from the statistical information.

  A setting statistics management unit 311 manages print settings of job data used in the past by the MFP 100 or the MFP 101 as a history, and manages statistical information statistically based on the history. The combination statistics management unit 312 manages information related to each setting item of print settings of job data used in the past by the MFP 100 or the MFP 101. Specifically, when a change of any setting item is accepted for the recommended print setting, the combination statistics management unit 326 associates and manages another setting item that is changed in conjunction with the change. The combination statistics management unit 326 statistics the combinations of setting items managed in association with each other and manages them as combination statistics information.

  Next, functions provided in the client control unit 313 will be described. The client control unit 313 includes a job data generation unit 314, a job information generation unit 315, a PDL data generation unit 316, a communication unit 317, a print setting management unit 318, a recommended setting determination unit 319, and an operation unit 320. The operation unit 320 receives various operations from the user via the operation unit I / F 219, and displays a processing result corresponding to the operation on the screen. The communication unit 317 communicates with other devices via the network I / F 220.

  The job data generation unit 314 generates job data from the job information generated by the job information generation unit 315 and the PDL data generated by the PDL data generation unit 316. The job information generation unit 315 generates job attributes of job data from the print settings managed by the print setting management unit 318. The PDL data generation unit 316 generates PDL data that is a data format printable by the print control unit 300. In addition, the PDL data generation unit 316 extracts character drawing data, graphic drawing data, and feature information of image drawing data in each page data of the PDL data. For example, the feature information includes the character size of the character drawing data, the number of pass points of the graphic drawing data, and the resolution of the image drawing data.

  A print setting management unit 318 manages print settings for job data input from the operation unit 320. The print setting management unit 318 manages the feature information extracted by the PDL data generation unit 316. The recommended setting determination unit 319 determines the job from the print settings and feature information of the job data managed by the print setting management unit 308 and the statistical information of the print settings of the job data output from the server control unit 321 in the past. Determine the recommended print settings for the data.

  Next, functions provided in the server control unit 321 will be described. The server control unit 321 includes a job data management unit 322, a document information management unit 323, a communication unit 324, a setting statistics management unit 325, a combination statistics management unit 326, and an operation unit 327. The operation unit 327 receives various operations from the user via the operation unit I / F 219 and displays a processing result corresponding to the operation on the screen. The communication unit 324 communicates with other devices via the network I / F 220. The job data management unit 322 stores and manages job data received from the client control unit 313 in the HDD 217.

  The document information management unit 323 stores and manages the job data document information managed by the job data management unit 322 in the HDD 217. Here, the document information includes user information that has input the document, generation application information, date and time information of the input document, and the like indicated by the corresponding job data.

  A setting statistics management unit 325 manages print settings of job data used in the past by the MFP 100 or the MFP 101 as a history, and manages statistical information statistically based on the history. A combination statistics management unit 326 manages information regarding each setting item of print settings of job data used in the past by the MFP 100 or the MFP 101. Specifically, when a change of any setting item is accepted for the recommended print setting, the combination statistics management unit 326 associates and manages another setting item that is changed in conjunction with the change. The combination statistics management unit 326 statistics the combinations of setting items managed in association with each other and manages them as combination statistics information.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart of recommended print setting processing by the print processing apparatus 200 according to the first embodiment. This flowchart is realized by the CPU 201 executing it based on a program stored in the ROM 202. It is assumed that job data generated by the mobile terminal 103 is input to the MFP 100 in advance and is managed by the job data management unit 307. In step S <b> 401 of FIG. 4, when the print control unit 300 receives a job data print instruction managed by the job data management unit 307 from the user via the operation unit 301, the print data management unit 308 receives the job data feature information from the print setting management unit 308. Is read. Then, the recommended setting determination unit 310 determines a recommended print setting.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart of recommended print setting determination processing based on the characteristics of the print job by the recommended setting determination unit 310. In this example, the recommended setting determination unit 310 refers to the character size (number of points) of the character drawing data as the feature information of the job data, and N of the reduced layout (Nin1) for printing a plurality of pages in one page. Determine the number. However, the determination method for determining the recommended print setting is not limited to this, and the determination may be made with reference to feature information of graphic drawing data or image drawing data. Further, the recommended print setting is not limited to the reduced layout, and may be set based on other information such as resolution.

  In FIG. 8, the recommended setting determination unit 310 determines whether the character size is less than 8 points (S801). If the character size is less than 8 points, the recommended setting determination unit 310 determines 1 in 1 as the recommended print setting, and ends the process (S802). If the character size is not less than 8 points, the recommended setting determination unit 310 determines whether the character size is less than 16 points (S803). If the character size is less than 16 points, the recommended setting determination unit 310 determines 2in1 as the recommended print setting, and ends the process (S802). If the character size is not less than 16 points, the recommended setting determination unit 310 determines 4 in 1 as the recommended print setting and ends the process. (S803) Although the determination of the character size uses 8 points in S801 and 16 points in S803, it is not limited thereto, and other points may be used.

  Returning to FIG. 4, the recommended setting determination unit 310 determines whether the print setting that can present the recommended print setting for the read job data has been saved in the statistical information managed by the setting statistics management unit 311. Determine (S402). FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a statistical information management table related to print settings managed by the setting statistical management unit 311. The statistical information management table shown in FIG. 6 includes print job information 500, print settings 501, and usage frequency 502. In the print job information 500, “user ID” and “application information” are managed as job type identification information based on the job information analyzed by the job information analysis unit 302.

  “User ID” is identification information for identifying the user who has input the job data. The “application information” is identification information for identifying the application from which the job data is generated. The “application information” is, for example, ppt (Microsoft Office PowerPoint, a product name of Microsoft Corporation) or doc (Microsoft Office Word, a product name of Microsoft Corporation). In the print setting 501, as the print setting information based on the job information analyzed by the job information analysis unit 302, “number of copies”, “page aggregation”, “color mode”, “double-sided”, “finish”, “finish position” Is managed. The frequency 502 manages the usage frequency at which the job type identified by the print job information 500 is output according to the setting contents of the print setting 501.

Statistical information 503 to 506 indicate the statistical information of jobs generated by the user ID = USER1 using the application information = ppt. Further, in the statistical information 503 to 506, for the job data of the used application ppt, the use frequency 502 of the print setting of the record 503 is the highest at 60%. For example, when the page aggregation set in S401 is 4in1, user ID = USER1, and application information = ppt, the recommended setting determination unit 310 presents the following print settings as recommended print settings to the user.
・ Number of copies = 1
・ Page aggregation = 4in1
-Color mode = BW
・ Both sides = Both sides ・ Finish = None ・ Finish position = None

  As job type identification information of job data, instead of identification for each user, a group consisting of a plurality of users may be identified, and the usage frequency of the group may be statistical information. In this case, the recommended print settings in the group can be presented to a new user. Further, the usage frequency for each MFP 100 or MFP 101 that prints out job data may be used as statistical information. In this case, the recommended print setting can be presented by switching between the MFP 100 and the MFP 101 that print the job data.

  In S402, in the statistical information managed by the setting statistics management unit 311, if the print setting that can present the recommended print setting for the read job data has been saved, the recommended setting determination unit 310 determines in S401. The determined recommended print setting is corrected (S403). In S402, when the print settings that can present the recommended print settings have not been saved, the recommended setting determination unit 310 determines the recommended print settings determined in S401 as recommended print settings.

  Next, the print control unit 300 notifies the operation unit 301 of the recommended print settings determined by the recommended setting determination unit 310 and displays them (S404). Next, the operation unit 301 receives a print setting change from the user via the operation unit I / F 207 (S405).

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a recommended print setting screen displayed by the operation unit 301. As shown in FIG. 8A, the recommended print setting screen 700 displays a job data preview 709 based on recommended print settings, setting item names and setting values 701 to 706 for each print setting item. In this screen example, each print setting of the statistical information 503 is determined to be optimal from the print setting statistical information managed by the setting statistical management unit 311 and is displayed as a recommended print setting. In the recommended print setting screen 700, each displayed print setting item is configured to accept a print setting change from the user. FIG. 8B shows a state in which the number of copies 710 among the setting items is changed from “1” to “10” from FIG. 8A.

  Next, when receiving a print setting change from the user from the operation unit 301, the print control unit 300 notifies the recommended setting determination unit 310 of the changed setting item and setting value. The recommended setting determination unit 310 determines whether or not the print setting that can present the recommended print setting as the related setting item linked to the changed setting item has been saved in the statistical information managed by the combination statistical management unit 312. (S406).

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print setting combination statistical information management table managed by the combination statistical management unit 312. As shown in FIG. 7A, the combination statistical information management table includes print job information 600, a change item 601, a related item 602, and a frequency 603. In the print job information 600, “user ID” and “application information” are managed as job type identification information based on the job information analyzed by the job information analysis unit 302. In the change item 601, the changed setting item and the value before and after the change of the setting value are managed. A record 604 indicates a case where “number of copies” is changed as the setting item from the value “1” before the change to the value “greater than 1” after the change. Similarly, for other setting items, values before and after the change of the setting values are managed. As for the set value, values in the reverse direction (in this case, from “over 1” to “1”) are also managed before and after the change. In the related item 602, setting items changed in conjunction with the change item 601 are managed in association with each other. In the frequency 603, the use frequency of the setting item that is changed in conjunction with the change item 601 is managed. Here, with respect to the change item 601, priority related items are determined in descending order of frequency.

  FIG. 7B is a combination statistical information management table for each change item. In the management table shown in FIG. 7B, for the change contents 609 of the change items, the change contents 610 of the related items and the respective usage frequencies 611 are managed. Here, from the combination statistics of FIG. 7A, the change of “color mode” is the highest at 40% (604) with respect to the change of “number of copies” from “1” to “1 or more”. Therefore, the recommended setting determination unit 310 determines that the print setting item (priority related item) to be changed together with the change in the “number of copies” is the “color mode”. Further, the recommended setting determination unit 310 presents a change from “BW” to “CL”, which has the highest frequency, as the recommended print setting for the “color mode” of the related item from the combination statistics of FIG.

  Next, in S <b> 406, if the print information that can present the recommended print setting as the related setting item linked to the changed setting item in the statistical information managed by the combination statistical management unit 312 has been saved, The control unit 300 performs the following processing. That is, the print control unit 300 notifies the operation unit 301 of the associated related item determined by the recommended setting determination unit 310 and highlights the related item (S407).

  FIG. 8C shows a recommended print setting screen 700 displayed as a result of the processing in S407. On the screen 700 shown in FIG. 8C, a message 712 recommending the change of the related item is displayed. Further, the change contents of the setting values of the related items are highlighted 711. Here, the highlighting can be performed by “inversion”, “flashing”, “bold”, or the like. In addition, the change of the related items can be emphasized by changing the arrangement order of the setting item display and displaying the related items near the setting item changed by the user.

  The operation unit 301 continues to accept a print setting change from the user until a print execution instruction by the “print” button 708 or a print cancel instruction by the “cancel” button 707 is notified on the recommended print setting screen 700 ( S408). When a change of another setting item is instructed by the user, the processing is repeated from S406 to S407, and the recommended setting display of related items to be linked is performed. Next, when print execution or print cancel is instructed from the operation unit 301, the print control unit 300 performs a process for determining whether a print process has been executed (S409). When the print processing is executed, the print control unit 300 performs update processing of statistical information managed by the setting statistics management unit 311 (S410). Finally, the print control unit 300 performs a process of updating the combination statistical information managed by the combination statistical management unit 312 (S411).

  As described above, when a setting change is made for the recommended print settings, other items to be changed are specified from the print setting history together with the changed items, and the specified other items are provided as recommended print settings. It becomes possible to do. By statistically managing the setting items that have been changed in conjunction with the change of any setting item as related setting item information, when a change to any setting item is accepted, the recommended setting for the related setting item Can be presented.

(Example 2)
In the first exemplary embodiment, the recommended setting determination unit 310 sets a frequently used setting value as a related setting item that is linked to the changed setting item based on the statistical information managed by the combination statistical management unit 312, as a recommended print setting. Was presented as. In the second embodiment, the combination statistics management unit 312 manages the alternative setting conditions of each setting item, and determines the optimum setting value of the related item from the job information of the job data and the alternative setting condition.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print setting combination statistical information management table managed by the combination statistical management unit 312 in the second embodiment. The difference from FIG. 7 is that an alternative condition 900 is added, and whether or not the alternative condition managed in advance as device information is applicable to each related item 602 is managed. When the alternative condition 900 is “Yes”, it indicates that the alternative condition can be applied to the related setting item.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an alternative condition management table managed by the combination statistics management unit 312. As shown in FIG. 10, in the alternative condition management table, job information 1002 serving as an alternative condition and conditions 1003 to 1005 for the job information 1002 are managed as alternative conditions 1001 for the setting values 1000 that can be set for the setting items. Has been. Here, the following combination is managed as an alternative condition for “finishing” as the setting item.
"Finishing" = "None": "Number of sheets" = "1 sheet"
・ "Finish" = "No needle": "Number of sheets" = "1 or more and less than 5"
“Finish” = “stapling”: “number of sheets” = “5 sheets or more”
As described above, when the number of output sheets is less than 5 as job information, and the related item is “finishing”, “no needle” can be presented as a recommended setting as the setting value of “finishing”.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating recommended print setting display processing according to the second embodiment. For the sake of brevity, only the differences from FIG. 4 will be described. If the print settings that can present the recommended print settings have been stored in S406, the print control unit 300 further determines whether the alternative condition is applicable (S1101). If the alternative condition is applicable, the print control unit 300 notifies the operation unit 301 of the alternative setting value for the associated related item determined by the recommended setting determination unit 310 and highlights the related item (S1102). ).

  For example, in the example shown in FIG. 8, the number of copies 710 is changed from 1 to 10 copies. Accordingly, the finish 705 is changed from “none” to “staple” in conjunction with the changed setting item. Note that, as in the first embodiment, the setting items that are changed preferentially are changed in conjunction with the changed setting items, and then the print setting combination statistical information management table shown in FIG. It is good also as a structure which specifies. In this case, both the color mode and finishing setting items are changed in conjunction with the change in the number of copies. In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, there is only one alternative condition “Yes”. However, if there are a plurality of alternative conditions, the print control unit 300 determines whether all the alternative conditions are applicable, and is determined to be applicable. It is good also as a structure which changes all items.

  As described above, based on the alternative condition, it is possible to identify the setting item whose setting has been changed in conjunction with the change of the arbitrary setting item in accordance with the change of the arbitrary setting item and present the optimum recommended setting.

(Example 3)
In the first and second embodiments, the print control unit 300 determines and displays recommended print settings for job data input to the MFP 100 in advance. This processing can also be performed as job data print setting processing before the client 102 or the mobile terminal 103 transmits job data to the MFP 100.

  FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram in which the client control unit 313 obtains statistical information from the server control unit 321 and performs recommended print setting display processing in the printing system according to the third embodiment. In FIG. 12, the client control unit 313 receives an instruction to print a document selected by a user operation via the operation unit 320. Then, the PDL data generation unit 316 extracts character drawing data, graphic drawing data, and feature information of image drawing data in each page data of the PDL data. Next, the recommended setting determination unit 319 determines a print setting recommended by the recommended setting determination unit 319 from the feature information extracted by the PDL data generation unit 316 (S1201). When the recommended print setting is determined, the client control unit 313 requests the server control unit 321 via the communication unit 317 to send statistical information on print settings of job data output in the past (S1202).

  When receiving the statistical information transmission request from the client control unit 313, the server control unit 321 reads the statistical information managed by the setting statistical management unit 325 (S1203). When the reading of the statistical information managed by the setting statistical management unit 325 is completed, the server control unit 321 performs transmission processing of statistical information to the client control unit 313 via the communication unit 324 (S1204).

  When the client control unit 313 acquires the statistical information of the print setting of the job data output in the past from the server control unit 321, the client control unit 313 temporarily stores it in the print setting management unit 318, and recommends the recommended print setting determined based on the feature information. Correction is performed (S1205). Next, for each setting item of print settings for job data output in the past via the communication unit 317, the client control unit 313 displays related setting items that have been changed in conjunction with changes in arbitrary setting items. A combination statistical information transmission request is sent to the server control unit 321 (S1206).

  When receiving the combination statistical information transmission request from the client control unit 313, the server control unit 321 reads the combination statistical information managed by the combination statistical management unit 326 (S1207). Next, when the reading of the combination statistical information managed by the combination statistical management unit 326 is completed, the server control unit 321 performs transmission processing of the combination statistical information to the client control unit 313 via the communication unit 324 (S1208). ).

  Upon acquiring the combination statistical information from the server control unit 321, the client control unit 313 temporarily stores it in the print setting management unit 318, and displays the recommended print settings corrected in S1204 via the operation unit 320 (S1209). The client control unit 313 receives a print setting change from the user via the operation unit 320 (S1210).

  Here, the recommended setting determination unit 319 determines the print setting item to be changed in conjunction with the combination statistical information temporarily stored in the print setting management unit 318 according to the change of the print setting from the user. The client control unit 313 highlights the print setting item to be changed in conjunction with the operation unit 320. Further, the client control unit 313 performs update processing of the statistical information and combination statistical information temporarily stored in the print setting management unit 318 according to the determined print setting item.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a recommended print setting screen displayed on the operation unit 320 in the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 13A, the recommended print setting screen 1300 displays job data previews 1301 based on recommended print settings, setting item names and setting values 1304 to 1305 for each print setting item. Further, the recommended print setting screen 1300 is configured to accept a print setting change from the user for each print setting item.

  FIG. 13B is a screen displayed when the setting value of the setting item “number of copies” 1310 is changed from “1” to “10” from FIG. A setting item “color mode” 1309 is highlighted as a related item for the setting item “number of copies” 1310. When all print setting items are displayed on a small screen such as a portable terminal, visibility decreases. Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 13B, the display from the page aggregation 1304 is switched to the color mode 1309 and highlighted.

  Next, when the client control unit 313 receives print execution from the user via the operation unit 320, the job data generation unit 314 generates job data. The client control unit 313 transmits the generated job data to the print control unit 300 via the communication unit 324 (S1211).

  Upon receiving job data from the client control unit 313, the print control unit 300 performs print output processing (S1212). When the print output process of job data is completed, the print control unit 300 notifies the client control unit 313 of the completion of print output of job data (S1213).

  Upon receipt of the job data print output completion notification from the print control unit 300, the client control unit 313 sends the statistical information and combination statistical information temporarily stored in the print setting management unit 318 to the server control unit 321. A statistical information update request is made (S1214).

  When receiving the statistical information update request from the client control unit 313, the server control unit 321 updates the statistical information managed by the setting statistical management unit 325 and the combination statistical information managed by the combination statistical management unit 326 (S1215). ). When the update is completed, the server control unit 321 notifies the client control unit 313 that the statistical information update has been completed (S1216).

  In the above example, the client control unit 313 acquires the print setting statistical information and the combination statistical information from the server control unit 321, but the present invention is not limited to this. The client control unit 313 may acquire print setting statistical information and combination statistical information from the print control unit 300 instead of the server control unit 321.

  As described above, the client 102 or the mobile terminal 103 acquires the statistical information from the server 104, specifies the print setting item to be changed in conjunction with the changed print setting item before sending the job data, and recommends Print settings can be presented.

Example 4
In the first, second, and third embodiments, the recommended print settings can be displayed before the job data transmission from the client 102 or the mobile terminal 103 and before the print output by the MFP 100, respectively. Here, it is possible to switch between displaying the recommended print settings sequentially or only when outputting from the MFP 100 according to the print instruction content from the client 102 or the mobile terminal 103.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating switching processing of recommended print setting display processing according to the fourth embodiment. In step S1401, when the client control unit 313 receives a document print instruction via the operation unit 320, the client control unit 313 determines whether the job data is a BOX job. The BOX job refers to a job that temporarily stores job data in a storage unit provided in a device such as the HDD of the MFP 100 without immediately printing out the job data.

  If the job data is a BOX job in step S1401, the client control unit 313 skips the recommended print setting display process because the print control unit 300 performs recommended print settings when outputting the job data. If the job is not a BOX job in S1401, the client control unit 313 determines that the output is print output, and acquires a print mode in S1402. The print mode is a device setting managed by the job data management unit 307 of the print control unit 300, and includes at least a normal output mode and a storage mode. In the storage mode, job data is temporarily stored on the server or in the main body of the MFP 100. This is a mode in which actual print output is performed when the user issues an output instruction from the MFP 100.

  When the client control unit 313 acquires the print mode from the print control unit 300, the client control unit 313 determines whether the print mode is the normal output mode or the reserve printing (S1403). When the print mode is the retention mode, the print control unit 300 accepts the user's print instruction and performs recommended print settings, so the recommended print setting display process in the client control unit 313 is skipped. Next, the client control unit 313 performs a recommended print setting display process for the job data when the reservation mode is not set (S1404).

  As described above, according to the print instruction content from the client 102 or the mobile terminal 103, it is possible to switch between displaying the recommended print settings sequentially or performing only when outputting from the MFP 100.

(Example 5)
In the first embodiment, the recommended setting determination unit 310 sets frequently used setting values as related setting items that are changed in conjunction with the changed setting items based on the statistical information managed by the combination statistics management unit 312. Presented as recommended print settings. Here, the combination statistics management unit 312 manages the influence setting item of each setting item, and sets the setting value of the related item necessary independently of the use frequency from the job information of the job data and the influence setting item. It can also be configured to determine.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of an influence setting item management table managed by the combination statistics management unit 312 in the printing system according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 15A, the change item 1500 is managed in association with the setting values before and after “page aggregation” and the “paper orientation” as the influence setting item 1501 for each setting value in association with each other. Yes. In FIG. 15B, the change item 1502 is managed in association with the setting value before and after the “finishing position” is changed, and the “paper orientation” as the influence setting item 1503 for each setting value. Yes. As described above, it is possible to present the recommended print setting using “page aggregation” and “finishing position” as related setting items via the influence setting item “paper orientation”.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating recommended print setting processing according to the fifth embodiment. For the sake of brevity, only the differences from FIG. 4 will be described. In S <b> 406, if the recommended print setting that can be presented is not saved in the statistical information managed by the combination statistics management unit 312, the recommended setting determination unit 310 determines whether there is an influence setting item in the changed setting item ( S1601). When there is an influence setting item in the changed setting item, the recommended setting determining unit 310 highlights the related setting item changed by the influence setting item (S1602). Finally, the print control unit 300 updates the related setting item changed by the changed setting item and the influence setting item as the combination statistics target in the statistical information managed by the combination statistical management unit 312 (S1603). .

  As described above, it is possible to present a recommended setting of related setting items necessary independently of the use frequency based on the influence setting items.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (computer program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media. Then, the computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads out and executes the program. In this case, the program and the storage medium storing the program constitute the present invention.

Claims (11)

Display means for displaying recommended print settings based on the print data;
Accepting means for accepting a change in a first print setting item of the print settings;
And a specifying unit for specifying a second print setting item to be changed together with the change of the first print setting item based on the history of the used print setting when the change of the print setting is received. And
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit performs a display for recommending the change of the specified second print setting item. The specifying unit specifies the second print setting item based on a usage frequency of the print setting item that is changed together with the change of the first print setting item, which is statistically determined from the history of the used print setting. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: A storage unit that preliminarily stores setting value conditions that can be set for print setting items according to print job information;
The specifying unit further specifies a setting value that satisfies a setting value condition that can be set for the second print setting item, stored in the storage unit, based on information about the print job to be executed,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the specified setting value as a setting value that recommends setting for the second print setting item. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the change of the first print setting item is received, the specifying unit further specifies a print setting item that is affected by the change. 5. The information processing apparatus described. A printing system comprising an information processing device and a service providing device that provides a print service to the information processing device,
The information processing apparatus includes:
Display means for displaying recommended print settings based on the print data;
Accepting means for accepting a change in a first print setting item of the print settings;
Request means for requesting the service providing apparatus for statistical information that is statistically based on the used print settings;
A specifying means for specifying a second print setting item to be changed together with the change of the first print setting item based on the statistical information when the change of the print setting is received;
The service providing apparatus includes:
In response to the request, the statistical information is transmitted to the information processing apparatus,
The printing system, wherein the display unit performs a display for recommending the change of the specified second print setting item. The specifying unit specifies the second print setting item based on a usage frequency of the print setting item that is changed together with the change of the first print setting item, which is statistically determined from the history of the used print setting. The printing system according to claim 5, wherein: The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the service providing apparatus further includes a management unit that manages the print setting history for each application that generates the print data. A printing system comprising: a print processing device that executes printing; and an information processing device that instructs the print processing device to print,
The information processing apparatus includes:
Display means for displaying recommended print settings based on the print data;
Accepting means for accepting a change in a first print setting item of the print settings;
Requesting means for requesting the print processing device statistical information that is statistically based on the used print settings;
A specifying means for specifying a second print setting item to be changed together with the change of the first print setting item based on the statistical information when the change of the print setting is received;
The print processing apparatus includes:
In response to the request, the statistical information is transmitted to the information processing apparatus,
The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the display unit performs a display for recommending the change of the specified second print setting item. The information processing apparatus includes a determination unit that determines whether the received print instruction is a reserved print,
The requesting unit does not request the information related to the second print setting item when the print instruction is a reserve print.
The second print setting item to be changed together with the change of the first print setting item based on the statistical information when the specifying unit provided in the image forming apparatus accepts the change of the print setting in the own apparatus. The printing system according to claim 8, wherein the printing system is specified. A display process for displaying recommended print settings based on print data;
An accepting step of accepting a change of a first print setting item among the print settings;
And a specifying step of specifying a second print setting item to be changed together with the change of the first print setting item based on the history of the used print setting when the change of the print setting is received. And
In the display step, a display for recommending the change of the specified second print setting item is performed.   A computer program for executing the control method according to claim 10 by a computer.

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