JP2016033771A - Image formation control device and image formation control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To limit a route for processing in using a plurality of image forming apparatuses from an information processing apparatus while enabling the use of the plurality of image forming apparatuses depending on the purpose via a network.SOLUTION: A print server 1 having a plurality of printer drivers installed therein is used to cause image processing apparatuses 3 connected via a network to execute formation and output of images, and an image formation control device includes: a virtual printer driver 211 that is associated with a language monitor 115 of the print server 1 and performs control related to formation and output of images; and a distribution application 217 that acquires list information on a real printer driver of the print server 1 via the language monitor 115 and displays a selection screen, receives selection between the image processing apparatuses 3 according to an operation to the screen, and transmits information for causing the selected image processing apparatus 3 to execute formation and output of images via the language monitor 115.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to an image formation control apparatus and an image formation control system.

  In recent years, there has been a tendency to digitize information, and image processing apparatuses such as printers and facsimiles used for outputting digitized information and scanners used for digitizing documents have become indispensable devices. Such an image processing apparatus is configured as an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) that can be used as a printer, a facsimile, a scanner, and a copier by providing an imaging function, an image forming function, a communication function, and the like. Many.

  Among such image processing apparatuses, an image forming apparatus such as a printer used to output an electronic document executes print output based on a print job generated by an information processing apparatus such as a PC (Personal Computer). Printers are generally used. In general, as a software program that realizes a function for generating a print job to be input to a printer, a printer driver corresponding to the function of each printer is installed in the information processing apparatus.

  On the other hand, there is a mode in which a part of the functions is entrusted to the server instead of all the functions of the above-described printer driver on the PC side. For example, in a mechanism called Point & Print, the information constituting the printer driver installed on the server is copied to the PC under the control of the OS (Operating System), and the function is shared between the PC and the server. The image forming output from the printer is realized.

  In addition, in order to dynamically assign a printer to which a print job is to be transmitted, a first function for generating a high-order image format such as XPS (XML Parser Specification) and the generated high-order image format data are transmitted to the printer. A printer driver having the second function is proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  In general, the above-described printer is shared by a plurality of information processing apparatuses by being connected via a network. In addition, when a plurality of printers are connected on the network, the plurality of printers may be used depending on the application.

  On the other hand, in order to understand the operating status and ensure security, it may be required to centrally understand the printer usage status of each information processing apparatus. When using the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, the output destination from each information processing apparatus is specified, but a specific printer is associated with a specific user or a specific information processing apparatus. The point of using a plurality of printers properly is not taken into consideration.

  When a plurality of printers are used properly, various methods such as a method of separately installing a printer driver corresponding to each printer and a method of using the above-described Point & Print mechanism can be used. However, in such a state, there are various processing paths from the information processing apparatus as the starting point of processing until image formation output is executed by the printer, and a unified understanding of the usage status of the printer as described above can be obtained. Have difficulty.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and allows a plurality of image forming apparatuses to be selectively used via a network, and a processing path when using the image forming apparatus from the information processing apparatus. It aims at limiting.

  In order to solve the above problems, one embodiment of the present invention is a function of another information processing apparatus that generates an output command for causing an image forming apparatus connected via a network to execute an image forming output. An image forming control apparatus for causing an image forming apparatus connected via the network to execute an image forming output by using the instruction generating function, wherein the instruction generating function operates in the other information processing apparatus. A list of image forming output control units associated with the processing transfer unit provided to control the image forming output in the image forming control device, and the command generation function included in the other information processing device. Information is acquired via the processing transfer unit, and screen information for selecting the command generation function is generated, and an image is displayed according to an operation on the screen. A selection receiving unit that receives a selection of an image forming apparatus that executes the formation output, and information indicating the image forming apparatus that has received the selection and the output command to cause the image forming apparatus that has received the selection to execute the image forming output And an information transmission unit that transmits information for generating the information to the other information processing apparatus via the processing transmission unit.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to limit a processing path when using an image forming apparatus from an information processing apparatus while enabling a plurality of image forming apparatuses to be used through a network.

It is a figure which shows the operation | use form of the system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows typically the hardware constitutions of the information processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the function structure of PC concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the function structure of the print server which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an overall function of a printer driver according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of functions realized on both the PC side and the driver server side of the printer driver according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the process before and behind the language monitor which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the utilization aspect of the language monitor via the spooler which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of GUI which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of functions realized on both the PC side and the driver server side of the printer driver according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of GUI which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the management table of the preservation | save data which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, in an image forming control system including an information processing apparatus such as a PC (Personal Computer) and an image forming apparatus such as a printer or an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral), a plurality of image forming apparatuses are formed from one information processing apparatus. It is possible to use different devices. In this case, it is possible to limit the processing path when using the image forming apparatus from the information processing apparatus.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an operation mode of the image forming output control system according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, in the image forming output control system according to the present embodiment, a print server 1, a PC 2, and a plurality of image processing apparatuses 3a, 3b, 3c (hereinafter collectively referred to as “image processing apparatus 3”) are LANs. It is configured to be connected via a network such as (Local Area Network).

  The print server 1 is an information processing apparatus in which a printer driver that is a software program for using various image processing apparatuses including the image processing apparatus 3 is installed for each target image processing apparatus. The image processing devices to be used in the present embodiment are the image processing devices 3a, 3b, and 3c. The PC 2 can use the image processing apparatuses 3a, 3b, and 3c properly by using the function of the printer driver installed in the print server 1. That is, the PC 2 functions as an image formation control device, and the print server 1 functions as an output command generation device. The PC 2 also functions as an image information processing apparatus that processes information of an image to be imaged and output by using various application functions.

  The PC 2 is a general information processing apparatus. In the system according to this embodiment, the PC 2 is installed in the print server 1 by the function of a virtual printer driver that behaves as a printer driver based on the specifications of an OS (Operating System) that is basic software. It is possible to use the image processing apparatuses 3a, 3b, and 3c properly by using the functions of a plurality of printer drivers.

  The image processing apparatus 3 is an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) that can be used as a printer, a facsimile, a scanner, and a copier by providing an imaging function, an image forming function, a communication function, and the like.

  Next, a hardware configuration of apparatuses such as the print server 1, the PC 2, and the image processing apparatus 3 included in the system according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the PC 2 according to the present embodiment, but the print server 1 and the image processing apparatus 3 have the same configuration. As shown in FIG. 2, the PC 2 according to the present embodiment has a general configuration as an information processing apparatus.

  That is, in the PC 2 according to the present embodiment, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 20, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 30, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 40, and an I / F 50 are connected via the bus 80. Connected. Further, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 60 and an operation unit 70 are connected to the I / F 50. In addition, the image processing apparatus 3 includes an engine that executes image formation output and scanning.

  The CPU 10 is a calculation means and controls the operation of the entire PC 2. The RAM 20 is a volatile storage medium capable of reading and writing information at high speed, and is used as a work area when the CPU 10 processes information. The ROM 30 is a read-only nonvolatile storage medium and stores a program such as firmware. The HDD 40 is a non-volatile storage medium that can read and write information, and stores an OS (Operating System), various control programs, application programs, and the like.

  The I / F 50 connects and controls the bus 80 and various hardware and networks. The LCD 60 is a visual user interface for the user to check the state of the PC 2. The operation unit 70 is a user interface for a user to input information to the image processing apparatus 3 such as a keyboard, a mouse, various hard buttons, and a touch panel. Since the print server 1 is operated as a server, user interfaces such as the LCD 60 and the operation unit 70 can be omitted.

  In such a hardware configuration, a program stored in a storage medium such as the ROM 30, the HDD 40, or an optical disk (not shown) is read into the RAM 20, and the software control unit is configured by the CPU 10 performing calculations according to those programs. . A combination of the software control unit configured in this way and hardware constitutes a functional block that realizes the function of each device constituting the system according to the present embodiment.

  Next, functions relating to image formation output in the PC 2 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of functions related to image formation output among the functions of the PC 2 according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the PC 2 according to the present embodiment includes an application 201, an OS 202, a network I / F 203, and a printer driver 210.

  The application 201 is a software module configured by installing a corresponding software program on the PC 2, and is general application software such as word processing software, spreadsheet software, image editing software, and the like. The application 201 activates a GUI (Graphical User Interface) of the printer driver 210 according to a user's operation, acquires print output setting information set via the GUI, and outputs the print output setting information together with information about an output target image. .

  The OS 202 is basic software that controls the entire PC 2. The OS 202 includes a function related to control when the PC 2 executes image formation output using the image processing apparatus 3. The network I / F 203 is an interface for the PC 2 to communicate with other devices via the network.

  The printer driver 210 is a software module for using the image processing apparatus 3 from the PC 2 and is configured by installing a corresponding software program on the PC 2. The “printer driver” refers to a software module that generates a print job for causing the image processing apparatus 3 to execute printing in a narrow sense, but the printer driver 210 connects the image processing apparatus 3 from the PC 2 via the print server 1. Fig. 4 shows a group of various software modules provided for use. Functions included in the printer driver 210 will be described in detail later.

  Next, the functional configuration of the print server 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the print server 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the print server 1 according to the present embodiment includes an OS 101, a network I / F 102, and a printer driver 110.

  The OS 101 is basic software that controls the entire print server 1. Similarly to the OS 202 of the PC 2, the OS 101 includes a function related to control when executing image formation output using the image processing apparatus 3. Similar to the network I / F 203, the network I / F 102 is an interface for the print server 1 to communicate with other devices via the network.

  The printer driver 110 is a software module group for using the image processing apparatus 3 in the same manner as the printer driver 210 in the PC 2. However, in principle, the print server 1 does not generate an image forming output by using the image processing apparatus 3 alone, and basically operates the image processing apparatus 3 in conjunction with the PC 2.

  Here, functions included in the printer drivers 210 and 110 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the entire functions realized by the printer drivers 210 and 110 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the functions realized by the printer drivers 210 and 110 according to this embodiment include a virtual printer driver 300, intermediate data 301, a distribution application 302, a language monitor 303, and a plurality of actual printer drivers 304 and 305. 306.

  The virtual printer driver 300 includes a print setting unit 310, an intermediate data generation unit 320, and an event transmission unit 330. The print setting unit 310 provides a GUI for performing various settings when the user causes the image processing apparatus 3 to perform printing, and acquires print settings according to user operations. The intermediate data generation unit 320 generates intermediate data 301 before generating a print job based on information about a document to be printed and an image that is a target image for image formation output. The event transmission unit 330 notifies an event such as the start or end of the printing process to a subsequent module.

  The intermediate data 301 according to the present embodiment is general-purpose data format information that can be processed by a plurality of software modules such as XPS (XML Paper Specification) and PDF (Portable Document Format), and an image is laid out for each page. Information. Thereby, the latter module can be realized by a module corresponding to a general-purpose data format, and the versatility of the system can be improved.

  The distribution application 302 has a function of acquiring information on a list in which the actual printer drivers 304, 305, and 306 are listed through the language monitor 303, and displaying the acquired list information on the GUI. As a result, the user can check a list of image processing apparatuses 3 that are usable printers via the GUI of the distribution application 302.

  When the user selects the image processing apparatus 3 via the GUI of the distribution application 302, the distribution application 302 acquires the selection result and notifies the language monitor 303 of the selection result. The distribution application 302 includes a function for receiving an event transmitted by the event transmission unit 330 of the virtual printer driver 300.

  The language monitor 303 is a software module that operates in association with the virtual printer driver 300, and as an operation related to a specific printer driver, an interface for reading and writing data using a specific key, and a communication function via a network Have That is, the language monitor 303 is a processing transmission unit provided to operate the actual printer driver.

  The actual printer drivers 304, 305, and 306 are printer drivers in the narrow sense described above, and are print commands that are output commands for causing the image processing apparatus 3 to execute printing based on the intermediate data 301 generated by the intermediate data generation unit 320. An output command generation unit that generates a job. The actual printer driver uses a PDL (Page Description Language Print) generated in a format corresponding to the image processing apparatus 3, such as PCL (Printer Control Language) 6, PS (PostScript), and RPCS (Refined Printing Command Stream). To do. At this time, since the intermediate data is configured in a general-purpose data format, a printer driver provided corresponding to the image processing apparatus 3 may be used as an actual printer driver when the system according to the present embodiment is realized. Is possible.

  In the system according to the present embodiment, as described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, printer drivers are provided in the print server 1 and the PC 2, respectively. Then, the print driver 1 and the printer driver of the PC 2 work together to execute image formation output. That is, the configuration shown in FIG. 5 is realized by being distributed between the PC 2 and the print server 1.

  Next, a function distribution mode of the printer driver 210 on the PC 2 side and the printer driver 110 on the print server 1 side according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the printer driver 210 on the PC 2 side includes a virtual printer driver 211 and a distribution application 217. The printer driver 110 on the print server 1 side includes a virtual printer driver 111, a language monitor 115, and actual printer drivers 116, 117, and 118.

  As described in FIG. 5, the virtual printer driver 211 includes the print setting unit 212, the intermediate data generation unit 213, and the event transmission unit 214, and the virtual printer driver 111 on the printer driver 110 side includes the intermediate data generation unit 113. . Further, the virtual printer driver 211 and the virtual printer driver 111 include an information sharing unit 215 and an information sharing unit 112, respectively. The information sharing unit 215 and the information sharing unit 112 exchange information via the network, so that the virtual printer driver 211 and the virtual printer driver 111 can behave as if they are operating as one module. .

  The virtual printer driver 211 is an image formation output control unit that performs control relating to image formation output in the PC 2. The intermediate data generation unit 213 is an intermediate image information generation unit that generates intermediate data that is intermediate image information used to generate a print job.

  The language monitor 115 is associated with the virtual printer driver 211 and the virtual printer driver 111. In other words, the software modules operating on the PC 2 and the print server 1 can use the functions of the language monitor 115 by specifying the identifiers of the virtual printer driver 211 and the virtual printer driver 111, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the virtual printer driver 211 is provided with an intermediate data generation unit 213, and the virtual printer driver 111 is provided with an intermediate data generation unit 113. In the system according to the present embodiment, intermediate data is generated by either the printer driver 210 or the printer driver 110. Therefore, when the intermediate data is generated in the printer driver 210, the intermediate data generation unit 213 generates the intermediate data 216. When the intermediate data is generated in the printer driver 110, the intermediate data generation unit 113 Data 114 is generated.

  Here, the function of the language monitor 115 will be described. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the processing order of modules in the printing process. As shown in FIG. 7, the print data output by the printer driver is passed to a spooler that is one of the functions of the OS. The language monitor 115 is a module that is called and operates by the spooler, acquires print data from the spooler, and stores the print data in a predetermined area in accordance with a designated key.

  The print data stored by the language monitor is transferred to the port monitor in normal print processing, and the port monitor transmits the print data to a printer such as the image processing apparatus 3 via the port driver. As a result, printing by the printer is executed.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the relationship between the language monitor 115 in the system according to this embodiment, the spooler in each of the PC 2 and the print server 1. The language monitor 115 can accept a request from a software module with the configuration shown in FIG. 8 in addition to the case where it is used for the exchange of print data in the image forming output as described above.

  In this embodiment, the distribution application 217 operating on the PC 2 can use the function of the language monitor 115 operating on the print server 1 by specifying the identifier of the virtual printer driver 211 and making a request to the spooler 221. It is. On the print server 1 side as well, various applications can use the function of the language monitor 115 by making a request to the spooler 121 by specifying the identifier of the virtual printer driver 111. With such a configuration, the same language monitor 115 can be accessed on the PC 2 side or the print server 1 side.

  In the present embodiment, only the virtual printer driver 211 is recognized and installed as a printer driver by the OS in the PC 2. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the management of the printer driver in the PC 2 from becoming complicated. The virtual printer driver 211 is associated with the language monitor 115, and the PC 2 can use the function of the language monitor 115 by specifying the identifier of the virtual printer driver 211.

  In contrast, a plurality of actual printer drivers 116, 117, and 118 are installed in the print server 1, and at least in the print server 1, the plurality of image processing apparatuses 3 execute image formation output. It is possible. When image forming output from the plurality of image processing apparatuses 3 is also possible in the PC 2, conventionally, for example, the actual printer driver 116 is set to the PC 2 by setting the actual printer drivers 116, 117, and 118 as shared printers. The image processing apparatus 3 can be used from the PC 2 by copying a part or all of the functions 117 and 118.

  However, in such a case, a plurality of printer drivers are installed in the PC 2, and management of printer drivers in the PC 2 becomes complicated. Further, when each image processing apparatus 3 is used from the PC 2, it is difficult to grasp the usage status collectively because the processing paths are the actual printer drivers 116, 117, and 118, respectively.

  On the other hand, in the system according to the present embodiment, by using the language monitor function described above, the printer driver installed on the PC 2 can be virtualized without sharing the actual printer drivers 116, 117, and 118. Only the printer driver 211 is used.

  An operation when image formation output is executed in the system according to the present embodiment will be described. As described above, in the present embodiment, there are two cases: the case where the intermediate data 216 is generated on the PC 2 side, and the case where the intermediate data 114 is generated on the print server 1 side. First, the case where the intermediate data 216 is generated on the PC 2 side will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the printing process is started by a user operation on the application 201 (S901). By starting the printing process, the application 201 notifies the virtual printer driver 211 of a print start request. In the virtual printer driver 211 that has received the print start request, the print setting unit 212 acquires the print settings set by the user (S902).

  Further, the intermediate data generation unit 213 acquires a job ID for identifying the print job to be started (S903), the event transmission unit 214 notifies the distribution application 217 of the job ID (S904), and the image to be printed. Generation of intermediate data is started based on the data (S905). Thereby, the intermediate data 216 is generated and stored in the storage medium in the PC 2. Here, in the present embodiment, the intermediate data generation unit 213 stores the intermediate data in the storage medium in association with the job ID acquired in S903.

  Upon receiving the job ID notification, the distribution application 217 is installed in the print server 1 with respect to the language monitor 115 by specifying the identifier of the virtual printer driver 211 and accessing the spooler as described in FIG. An inquiry is made about the list of actual printer drivers that are currently in use (S907).

  Through the processing in S907, an inquiry about the actual printer driver list is executed from the PC 2 to the print server 1 via the network. The language monitor 115 that has received an inquiry about the actual printer driver list from the PC 2 acquires and returns information on the list of actual printer drivers acquired by the function of the OS 101 in the print server 1 (S908).

  Upon receiving the actual printer driver list from the language monitor 115, the distribution application 217 displays the received actual printer driver list on the display unit of the PC 2 via the GUI (S909). FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a GUI displayed in S909.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the GUI of the distribution application 217 displays a check box for selecting one of the lists indicating the actual printer drivers 116, 117, and 118 installed in the print server 1. . The user selects one of the actual printer drivers by operating the PC 2 and checking these check boxes. As a result, the image processing apparatus 3 that actually executes the image forming output is selected. As a result, the distribution application 217 receives selection of the actual printer driver (S910). That is, in the processing from S907 to S910, the distribution application 217 functions as a selection receiving unit.

  On the other hand, when the generation of the intermediate data started in S905 is completed, the event transmission unit 214 of the virtual printer driver 211 notifies the distribution application 217 of the completion of generation of the intermediate data (S906). Upon receiving the intermediate data generation completion notification, the distribution application 217 reads out and acquires the intermediate data associated with the job ID notified in S904 from the storage medium (S911), and selects the actual printer driver that received the selection in S910. The identifier is transmitted to the language monitor 115 together with the identifier (S912). That is, in S912, the distribution application 217 functions as an information transmission unit.

  The language monitor 115 that has received the identifier and intermediate data of the actual printer driver causes the corresponding actual printer driver to execute image formation output based on the received intermediate data in accordance with the acquired identifier of the actual printer driver (S913). By such processing, one aspect of the image forming output operation according to the present embodiment is completed.

  Next, a case where the intermediate data 114 is generated on the print server 1 side will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 11, the processing from S1101 to S1103 is executed in the same manner as S901 to S903 in FIG. Here, as described above, the virtual printer driver 211 on the PC 2 side and the virtual printer driver 111 on the print server 1 side exchange information via the information sharing unit 215 and the information sharing unit 112, respectively. Share. Accordingly, when the virtual printer driver 211 acquires a job ID in S1103, the virtual printer driver 111 also acquires a job ID in the same manner (S1104).

  Also in S1105 and S1106, processing is executed in the same manner as S904 and S905 in FIG. If the virtual printer driver 211 determines in S1106 that intermediate data generation is started, the virtual printer driver 111 starts generating intermediate data (S1107). Thereafter, the processing from S1108 to S1111 is executed in the same manner as S907 to S910 in FIG.

  When the generation of the intermediate data started in S1107 is completed, the event transmission unit 214 of the virtual printer driver 211 that has shared information with the virtual printer driver 111 notifies the distribution application 217 that the intermediate data has been generated ( S1112). Upon receiving the intermediate data generation completion notification, the distribution application 217 notifies the language monitor 115 of the job ID notified in S1105 and the identifier of the actual printer driver that received the selection in S1111 (S1113).

  Upon receiving the job ID notification, the language monitor 115 acquires the intermediate data generated by the virtual printer driver 111 according to the notified job ID (S1114). That is, the job ID is used as an identifier for identifying intermediate data in the print server 1. When the language monitor 115 acquires the intermediate data, the language monitor 115 executes image formation output based on the intermediate data (S1115). By such processing, the image forming output operation when intermediate data is generated on the print server 1 side is completed.

  As described above, according to the system according to the present embodiment, the distribution application 217 operating on the PC 2 side communicates with the language monitor 115 on the print server 1 side by designating the identifier of the virtual printer driver 211 that also operates on the PC 2 side. I do. The language monitor 115 transmits a list of actual printer drivers installed on the print server 1 side in response to a request from the distribution application 217.

  With such a configuration, on the PC 2 side, it is possible to obtain a list of actual printer drivers that are installed in the print server 1 but are not disclosed on the network as shared. It is possible to select the printer to be executed. In the print server 1, by receiving information via the language monitor 115, it is possible to execute image formation output by the selected actual printer driver.

  According to the configuration of the system according to the present embodiment, since only the virtual printer driver 211 is installed on the PC 2 side, it is possible to prevent the management of the printer driver from becoming complicated. Further, the real printer driver installed in the print server 1 can be realized without setting it to be sharable via the network. For this reason, it is possible to limit the route when using the image processing apparatus 3 from the PC 2 side to the route via the virtual printer driver 211, and it is possible to facilitate the collective grasp of the usage status.

  Note that the virtual printer driver 211 according to the present embodiment executes processing as shown in FIG. 9 when generating intermediate data on the PC 2 side when generating intermediate data, and generates intermediate data on the print server 1 side. In this case, as shown in FIG. 11, the virtual printer driver 111 on the print server 1 side is caused to execute processing. This determination is executed by a user setting operation on the virtual printer driver 211, for example. In addition, the determination may be made based on image data to be printed, such as a data format and a data capacity.

  Further, the distribution application 217 according to the present embodiment executes processing as shown in FIG. 9 when intermediate data is generated on the PC 2 side after completion of selection reception of the actual printer driver and generation of intermediate data. When intermediate data is generated on the print server 1 side, processing is executed as shown in FIG. This determination can be executed based on, for example, whether the storage medium of the PC 2 is searched based on the job ID notified from the virtual printer driver 211 and intermediate data associated with the job ID is stored. .

  That is, when the intermediate data associated with the notified job ID is stored in the PC 2, the process of FIG. 9 is executed, and when the intermediate data is not stored, the process of FIG. 11 is executed. In addition, the virtual printer driver 211 may notify the distribution application 217 which of the PC 2 and the print server 1 has generated the intermediate data.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the distribution application 217 is provided as a software module different from the virtual printer driver 211 has been described as an example. However, a configuration corresponding to the distribution application 217 can be realized as one function included in the virtual printer driver 211. Such an example will be described below.

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration in a case where a function corresponding to the distribution application 217 illustrated in FIG. 6 is realized as a function included in the virtual printer driver 211. As shown in FIG. 12, in the printer driver 210, a data transmission unit 219 and an actual driver selection unit 218 are provided inside the virtual printer driver 211 instead of the distribution application 217. A data transmission unit 119 is provided inside the virtual printer driver 111.

  The actual driver selection unit 218 has a function for acquiring a list of actual printer drivers installed in the print server 1 via the language monitor of the print server 1 instead of the distribution application 217 and allowing the user to select the list. The data transmission unit 219 has a function of transmitting data to the print server 1 via the language monitor 115 instead of the distribution application 217. The data transmission unit 119 has a function of acquiring the generated intermediate data and transmitting it to the language monitor 115 when the intermediate data is generated on the print server 1 side.

  Next, the operation of the system in the configuration as shown in FIG. 12 will be described. First, the case where the intermediate data 216 is generated on the PC 2 side will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 13, print setting is started by a user operation on the application 201 (S1301). As a result, the virtual printer driver 211 is called from the application 201 and print setting is started.

  After the virtual printer driver 211 is called for print settings, the actual driver selection unit 218 executes processing for selecting the actual printer driver in the same manner as S907 to S910 in FIG. 9 (S1302 to S1305). When the user completes the print settings including the selection of the actual printer driver, the user operates the GUI to perform an operation for starting printing. As a result, the application 201 executes print start processing (S1306).

  In response to the print start process by the application 201, the intermediate data generation unit 213 of the virtual printer driver 211 starts generating intermediate data (S1307). Then, the data transmission unit 219 transmits the intermediate data and the identifier of the actual printer driver whose selection is accepted in S1305 to the language monitor 115 (S1308).

  The language monitor 115 that has received the actual printer driver identifier and the intermediate data causes the corresponding actual printer driver to execute image formation output based on the received intermediate data in accordance with the acquired actual printer driver identifier (S1309). By such processing, one aspect of the image forming output operation according to the present embodiment is completed.

  Next, a case where the intermediate data 114 is generated on the print server 1 side will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 14, from S1401 to S1406, processing is executed in the same manner as S1301 to S306 of FIG.

  In response to the print start process by the application 201, the intermediate data generation unit 213 of the virtual printer driver 211 starts generating intermediate data (S1407). As a result, the intermediate data generation unit 113 on the virtual printer driver 111 side that has shared the information via the information sharing units 215 and 112 starts generating intermediate data (S1408). At this time, the identifier of the actual printer driver that received the selection in S1405 is also shared.

  Then, the data transmission unit 119 transmits the intermediate data and the identifier of the actual printer driver whose selection has been received in S1405 to the language monitor 115 (S1409). The language monitor 115 that has received the identifier of the actual printer driver and the intermediate data causes the corresponding actual printer driver to execute image formation output based on the received intermediate data in accordance with the acquired identifier of the actual printer driver (S1410). By such processing, the operation when intermediate data is generated on the print server 1 side is completed.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the first embodiment, the case where image formation output is executed in response to an operation via the application 201 has been described as an example. In the present embodiment, an operation will be described in which data is saved in the print server 1 when image formation output is executed, and image formation output having the same contents can be re-executed using the saved data. In addition, about the structure which attaches | subjects the same code | symbol as Embodiment 1, it shall show the same or an equivalent part, and abbreviate | omits detailed description.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration of FIG. 6 will be described as an example. As in the first embodiment, the modules included in the virtual printer drivers 211 and 111 are included in the distribution application 217 even in the configuration of FIG. It can be similarly realized by assuming the function. As a premise of the operation according to the present embodiment, data is stored in the storage medium of the print server 1 when image formation output is executed according to an operation via the application 201.

  For example, in the case of the operation of FIG. 9, when the language monitor 115 executes image formation output via the actual printer driver in S913, the intermediate data received from the virtual printer driver 211 is stored in the storage medium. The storage destination of the intermediate data is typically a storage medium provided in the print server 1, but can be an external storage medium connected to the print server 1 as long as the language monitor 115 can access the storage medium. It is.

  In the case of the operation of FIG. 11, when the language monitor 115 executes image formation output via the actual printer driver in S1115, the intermediate data acquired in S1114 is stored in the storage medium. In the case of the operation of FIG. 13, when the language monitor 115 executes image formation output via the actual printer driver in S1309, the intermediate data received from the virtual printer driver 211 is stored in the storage medium.

  In the case of the operation of FIG. 14, when the language monitor 115 executes image formation output via the actual printer driver in S1410, the intermediate data received from the virtual printer driver 111 is stored in the storage medium. With such an operation, data is stored in the storage medium of the print server 1 when an image forming output is executed in response to an operation via the application 201.

  An operation in the case where the same image forming output is re-executed using the data stored in the storage medium of the print server 1 in this way will be described with reference to FIG. The user requests printing of data stored in the print server 1 (hereinafter referred to as “stored data”) by operating the GUI of the virtual printer driver 211. As a result, the virtual printer driver 211 sends a storage data print request notification to the distribution application 217 (S1501).

  Upon receiving the storage data print request notification, the distribution application 217 inquires about a list of actual printer drivers installed in the print server 1 and a list of storage data stored in the print server 1 (S1502). By the process of S1502, an inquiry is executed from the PC 2 to the print server 1 via the network.

  The language monitor 115 that has received the inquiry of S1502 from the PC 2 acquires the information of the list of the actual printer driver and the information of the list of saved data acquired by the function of the OS 101 in the print server 1 and returns them (S1503). The distribution application 217 that has received the respective lists from the language monitor 115 displays the received lists on the display unit of the PC 2 via the GUI (S1504). FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a GUI displayed in S1504.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the GUI of the distribution application 217 displays a check box for selecting one of the lists indicating the actual printer drivers 116, 117, and 118 installed in the print server 1. . In addition to the list of stored data stored in the print server 1, a check box for selecting one is displayed as a list of stored data.

  FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a management table for stored data stored in the storage medium of the print server 1. As shown in FIG. 17, the management table is a table in which “saved data name”, “creation date”, and “file path” are associated with each other. In step S1503, the language monitor 115 acquires table information as illustrated in FIG. 17 and transmits the information to the distribution application 217 as a list.

  The user selects one of the actual printer drivers and saved data by operating the PC 2 and checking the check box shown in FIG. As a result, the image processing apparatus 3 that actually executes the image forming output is selected, and the storage data to be image formed and output is selected. As a result, the distribution application 217 accepts selection of the actual printer driver and saved data (S1505). That is, the distribution application 217 also functions as a stored information selection receiving unit.

  When receiving the selection of the actual printer driver and the storage data, the distribution application 217 transmits the identifier of the selected actual printer driver and the identifier of the storage data to the language monitor 115 (S1508). The language monitor 115 that has received the identifier of the actual printer driver and the identifier of the stored data reads the stored data from the storage medium based on the received identifier of the stored data (S1507).

  Then, the language monitor 115 causes the corresponding actual printer driver to execute image formation output based on the read stored data in accordance with the received identifier of the actual printer driver (S1508). By such processing, the image forming output operation based on the stored data stored in the print server 1 is completed.

  As described above, according to the system according to the present embodiment, the image formation output based on the storage data stored in the storage medium when the image formation output is executed according to the operation via the application 201 can be performed. It is possible to obtain the same effect as in the first embodiment.

1 Print server 2 PC
3 Image processing device 10 CPU
20 RAM
30 ROM
40 HDD
50 I / F
60 LCD
70 Operation unit 80 Bus 101 OS
102 Network I / F
110 Printer Driver 111 Virtual Printer Driver 112 Information Sharing Unit 113 Intermediate Data Generation Unit 114 Intermediate Data 115 Language Monitor 116, 117, 118 Real Printer Driver 119 Data Transmission Unit 201 Application 202 OS
203 Network I / F
210 printer driver 211 virtual printer driver 212 print setting unit 213 intermediate data generation unit 214 event transmission unit 215 information sharing unit 216 intermediate data 217 distribution application 218 real driver selection unit 219 data transmission unit 300 virtual printer driver 301 intermediate data 302 distribution application 303 Language monitor 304, 305, 306 Actual printer driver 310 Print setting unit 320 Intermediate data generation unit 330 Event transmission unit

JP 2010-286873 A

Claims (7)

By using a command generation function that is a function of another information processing apparatus and that generates an output command for causing an image forming apparatus connected via a network to execute an image forming output, An image forming control apparatus for causing an image forming apparatus connected to perform image forming output,
An image forming output control unit that is associated with a processing transfer unit provided for operating the command generation function in the other information processing apparatus, and that controls the image forming output in the image forming control apparatus;
A list information of the command generation function included in the other information processing apparatus is acquired via the processing transfer unit to generate screen information for selecting the command generation function, and according to an operation on the screen A selection accepting unit that accepts selection of an image forming apparatus that executes image formation output;
In order to cause the image forming apparatus that has received the selection to execute an image forming output, information indicating the image forming apparatus that has received the selection and information for generating the output command are transmitted via the processing transfer unit to the other An image forming control apparatus comprising: an information transmission unit that transmits to an information processing apparatus. The image formation output control unit includes a function of generating intermediate image information that is image information for generating the output command based on information of an image to be imaged and output.
The image forming control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information transmitting unit transmits information indicating the image forming apparatus that has received a selection and the intermediate image information. The other information processing apparatus shares intermediate image information, which is image information for generating the output command, based on information on an image to be imaged and output by sharing information with the image forming output control unit. Including the ability to generate,
The information transmission unit transmits information indicating the image forming apparatus that has received a selection and information for identifying the intermediate image information that is a target for generating the output command. Image forming control apparatus. The image formation output control unit acquires an identifier for identifying an image formation output operation when starting control of image formation output;
The function of generating the intermediate image information in the other information processing apparatus generates the intermediate image information in association with the identifier,
The image formation control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the information transmission unit transmits the identifier as information for identifying the intermediate image information. The other information processing apparatus includes a function of storing information on an image related to the generated output command in a storage medium as saved information,
The screen information for selecting the storage information by acquiring the storage information list information through the processing transmission unit is generated, and the storage information is selected to execute the image formation output according to the operation on the screen. Including a storage information selection reception section
5. The image forming control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information transmission unit transmits information indicating the stored information that has been selected as information for generating the output command. 6. . An image information processing apparatus for processing information of an image to be imaged and output, an image forming apparatus connected via a network, and an image forming apparatus connected via the network for executing image forming output An image forming control system including an output command generating device including a command generating function that is a function of generating an output command, and causing an image forming device connected via a network to execute image forming output,
The output command generation device includes:
A plurality of output command generation units that are functions for generating the output command;
A processing transmission unit provided for operating the output command generation unit,
The image information processing apparatus includes:
An image formation output control unit that is associated with the process transfer unit and performs control related to the image formation output;
An image that obtains the list information of the output command generation unit via the processing transfer unit, generates screen information for selecting the output command generation unit, and executes image formation output according to an operation on the screen A selection accepting unit for accepting selection of a forming apparatus;
In order to cause the image forming apparatus that has received the selection to execute an image forming output, information indicating the image forming apparatus that has received the selection and information for generating the output command are transmitted via the processing transfer unit to the other An image forming control system comprising: an information transmitting unit that transmits to an information processing apparatus.   The image forming control system according to claim 6, wherein the processing transfer unit acquires list information of the output command generation unit by a function of basic software in the output command generation device.