JP2017004433A - Information processing apparatus and printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a result of test printing to be easily confirmed by a simple operation.SOLUTION: When N-up layout is specified in a print setting screen 50 displayed in a display unit 24 of a host computer 3, and normal-layout test printing is specified, a printing system 1 generates a test print job JT in a normal layout, then generates a specified print job JD in N-up layout to be combined with the test print job, and transmits it to a printer 2. The printer 2 executes test printing in the normal layout, in accordance with the test print job. The printing system 1 executes test printing in the normal layout without reducing an image, thereby allowing a user to visually confirm an enlarged image and determine whether to continue specified printing or not easily.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and a printing system, and is suitably applied to, for example, a printing system to which a host computer and a printer are connected.

  Conventionally, some printers have a function called test printing (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The trial printing is a test print of only one copy of the image data before performing the designated printing for printing the image data designated by the user in accordance with the printing conditions designated by the user. When the printer receives an instruction from the user who has confirmed the result of the trial printing, the printer prints the remaining number of copies by designated printing.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2006-231828 (FIG. 4)

  Incidentally, some printers have a function called “N-up layout” that reduces and arranges two or more images on one sheet as one item of a printing method that can be designated by the user. The printer can save the number of sheets to be consumed and the amount of toner by printing an image according to the N-up layout.

  However, in the printing system, when a relatively large number of images such as 16, for example, are arranged on one sheet by this N-up layout, the printer prints each image by greatly reducing the original size. It will be. For this reason, in the printing system, for example, as shown in FIG. 5F, there is a problem that it is difficult for the user to confirm the printing result by the trial printing.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to propose an information processing apparatus and a printing system capable of easily confirming the result of trial printing by a simple operation.

  In order to solve such a problem, in the information processing apparatus of the present invention, in the designated printing in which an image is printed on a medium by a predetermined printing apparatus in accordance with a condition designated by the user, a designation in which the number of images to be arranged on one medium is determined. In the specified layout setting unit that allows the user to set the layout and the trial printing in which the image is printed on the medium before performing the specified printing, the size of the image arranged on one medium is set to be equal to or larger than the size of the image in the specified layout. A test layout setting unit for setting a test layout, a test print job according to the test layout, and a specified print job according to the specified layout are generated and transmitted to the printing apparatus. The specified number of images to be printed on the medium and the specified print job is Based on Bed and so the number of images in accordance with the specified layout provided an information communication unit for printing on the medium.

  The printing system of the present invention is a printing system having a printing device that performs designated printing for printing an image on a medium according to a condition designated by a user, and an information processing device that causes the user to designate a condition. The apparatus includes a designated layout setting unit that allows a user to set a designated layout that defines the number and size of images to be arranged on one medium in designated printing, and trial printing that prints an image on a medium before performing designated printing. A test layout setting unit for setting a test layout in which the size of an image to be arranged on one medium is equal to or larger than the image size in the specified layout, a test print job according to the test layout, and a specified print according to the specified layout An information communication unit that generates a job and transmits the job to a printing apparatus. The printing apparatus includes a printing unit that prints an image on a medium; A print communication unit that receives a test print job and a designated print job from the information processing apparatus, a test print processing unit that prints images of the number and size according to the test layout on a medium by the printing unit based on the test print job, When an instruction to perform designated printing is received from the user, a designated print processing unit is provided that causes the printing unit to print images of the number and size according to the designated layout based on the designated print job.

  According to the present invention, by printing an image on a medium in accordance with a trial layout in trial printing, the user can visually check an image larger than the designated printing, and when an instruction is received from the user, the user is again in a condition. By performing the designated printing without designating the image, the image can be printed on the medium according to the designated layout desired by the user.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to realize an information processing apparatus and a printing system that can easily confirm a result of trial printing by a simple operation.

1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer. It is a basic block diagram which shows the structure of a host computer. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of a print setting screen. It is a basic diagram which shows an N-up layout. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a print job. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a print setting processing procedure in a host computer. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a printing processing procedure in a printer. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of a confirmation screen.

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

[1. Configuration of printing system]
As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system 1 has a configuration in which a printer 2 that prints an image on paper and a host computer 3 that supplies image data and a print command to the printer 2 are connected by a network 4. .

[1-1. Printer configuration]
As shown in the schematic block diagram of FIG. 2, the printer 2 as a printing apparatus includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a communication unit 13, a display operation unit 14, and an image printing unit 15 that are connected to each other via a bus 10. It is connected. The control unit 11 comprehensively controls the entire printer 2. The control unit 11 is configured around a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown), and performs various processes such as a printing process and a screen display process by reading and executing a predetermined program from the storage unit 12. .

  The storage unit 12 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a hard disk drive, a flash memory, and the like. Among these, the RAM is volatile so that the stored contents are erased when the printer 2 is powered off. On the other hand, the ROM, the hard disk drive, and the flash memory are non-volatile that retains stored contents even after the power is turned off.

  The storage unit 12 stores various programs for executing various processes such as a printing process and a screen display process in a non-volatile flash memory, and stores various information such as various setting values. Yes. The storage unit 12 causes the volatile RAM to function as a work area necessary for executing various programs and a storage area for information to be temporarily stored.

  The communication unit 13 conforms to a standard such as a wired LAN (Local Area Network) conforming to a standard such as IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.3u / ab or IEEE 802.11a / b / g / n / ac. The wireless LAN is connected to the network 4. The communication unit 13 supplies various information and data received from the host computer 3 to the control unit 11 while performing predetermined modulation processing, demodulation processing, and the like, and various information and data supplied from the control unit 11. Is transmitted to the host computer 3.

  The display operation unit 14 is configured by a combination of a touch panel and a physical key (not shown). Among these, the touch panel is formed by integrating a liquid crystal display for displaying various information and operation input screens and a touch sensor for inputting operation instructions by the user. The physical key is constituted by, for example, a numeric key, a direction key, an enter key, a cancel key, or the like.

  The image printing unit 15 includes an exposure device and a fixing device (not shown), a paper transport mechanism, and the like. The image printing unit 15 conveys the paper, forms an image with toner based on the print image data supplied from the control unit 11, and performs printing by transferring and fixing the toner image on the paper.

  Further, the control unit 11 configures the image processing unit 17 and the test print processing unit 18 as functional blocks by reading out and executing the printing program from the storage unit 12. The image processing unit 17 generates print image data in a format suitable for the image printing unit 15 based on the print job supplied from the host computer 3 (FIG. 1) and supplies the print image data to the image printing unit 15. The test print processing unit 18 performs processing related to test print described later.

[1-2. Host computer configuration]
As shown in the schematic block diagram of FIG. 3, the host computer 3 as the information processing apparatus includes a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, a communication unit 23, a display unit 24, and an operation unit 25 that are connected to each other via the bus 10. It is connected. The host computer 3 is configured in the same manner as a general personal computer.

  The control unit 21 comprehensively controls the entire host computer 3. Like the control unit 11 of the printer 2, the control unit 21 is mainly configured by a CPU (not shown). By reading a predetermined program from the storage unit 22 and executing it, various processes such as a printer driver execution process are performed. I do.

  Similar to the storage unit 12, the storage unit 22 includes a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk drive, a flash memory, and the like. This storage unit 22 stores various programs such as an operating system (OS), various application programs such as a word processor, and a printer driver in a non-volatile flash memory, as well as various setting values. It also stores information. Similarly to the storage unit 12, the storage unit 22 causes the volatile RAM to function as a work area necessary for executing various programs and a storage area for information to be temporarily stored.

  Similar to the communication unit 13, the communication unit 23 is connected to the network 4 by a wired LAN compliant with a standard such as IEEE 802.3u / ab or a wireless LAN compliant with a standard such as IEEE 802.11a / b / g / n / ac. It is connected. Similarly to the communication unit 13, the communication unit 23 transmits or receives various information and data supplied from the control unit 21 to the network 4 while performing predetermined modulation processing and demodulation processing. The display unit 24 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays various display screens so that the user can visually recognize the display screen. The operation unit 25 is composed of, for example, a keyboard and a mouse, and accepts user operation input.

  Further, the control unit 21 configures an operating system (OS) 30 as a functional block by reading and executing an operating system program from the storage unit 22.

  The operating system 30 executes various basic processes in the host computer 3 such as file management and program execution management. The operating system 30 reads out and executes a printer driver program from the storage unit 22 when printing processing is performed by an application program 31 such as a word processor executed on the operating system 30 based on a user operation. As a result, the operating system 30 configures the printer driver 32 as a functional block.

[1-3. Printer Driver Configuration]
The printer driver 32 displays a print setting screen 50 shown in FIG. 4 on the display unit 24 to allow the user to set conditions necessary for printing such as paper size (hereinafter also referred to as printing conditions). Yes. The print setting screen 50 is configured to allow the user to designate each content while presenting each item of the print condition to the user by a so-called GUI (Graphical User Interface). The print setting screen 50 is provided with a paper setting field 51, a print format setting field 52, a layout setting field 53, a test print layout setting field 54, a print button 55, and a cancel button 56.

  The paper setting field 51 allows the user to specify the paper size and paper feeding method as part of the printing conditions. The print format setting field 52 is used to specify whether or not to perform trial printing (displayed as “trial printing” on the print setting screen 50). This trial printing is a case where, when printing a plurality of copies mainly, the printer 2 interrupts the printing process when only one copy has been printed in advance, or the same image is printed in an N-up layout. In addition, the printing process is interrupted when only one image is printed in the printer 2. At this time, the printer 2 causes the user to confirm the printing result, receives an instruction from the user, and then performs printing according to the printing conditions (hereinafter referred to as designated printing).

  The print format setting field 52 is provided with alternative radio buttons 52A and 52B. The radio button 52A is displayed as “print only the designated number of copies”, and means that only the designated number of copies is printed without performing trial printing, that is, only designated printing is performed. The radio button 52 </ b> B is displayed as “trial printing”, and means that trial printing is performed.

  The layout setting field 53 is set for an N-up layout in which two or more images are reduced and arranged on one sheet. For example, in the case of a normal layout, the printer 2 arranges one image having a normal size on the paper P as shown in FIG. 5A. ), Two images having a size (area) of about half of the paper P are arranged.

  In addition, the printer 2 has a 1-up layout, an 8-up layout, and a 16-up layout, with respect to the paper P, as shown in FIGS. 5C, 5D, and 5E, respectively. Four, eight, and sixteen images having sizes (areas) of 4, 1/8, and 1/16 are arranged, respectively. Incidentally, as the number N of images per sheet in the N-up layout, the factorial of 2 is generally selected from the viewpoint of improving the arrangement efficiency on the sheet.

  The test print layout setting field 54 is provided with a check box 54C. In the test print layout setting field 54, whether or not the test print is performed in the normal layout when the N-up layout is set and the test print is performed is set. For convenience of explanation, the designation for performing the trial printing in the normal layout is hereinafter referred to as trial normal designation.

  The print button 55 receives from the user a print execution instruction for performing print processing by the printer 2 while reflecting various setting contents on the print setting screen 50. The cancel button 56 receives an instruction from the user to end the process of the printer driver 32 without performing the print process, that is, an instruction to delete the print setting screen 50.

  The printer driver 32 (FIG. 3) includes a layout processing unit 35, a test print processing unit 36, a designated print processing unit 37, and a data transmission unit 38 as functional blocks. When the N-up layout is set or canceled (that is, when the normal layout is set) on the print setting screen 50 (FIG. 4) for the image data passed from the application program 31, the layout processing unit 35 In addition, the size of each image is changed according to the set layout, and the orientation and arrangement of the images are adjusted.

  When the radio button 52B is selected in the print format setting field 52 of the print setting screen 50 (FIG. 4) and the setting for performing the test print is made, the test print processing unit 36 is based on the image data passed from the application program. Then, a test print job JT, which is a test print print job, is generated.

  The designated print processing unit 37 generates a designated print job JD that is a print job for designated printing based on the image data passed from the application program. At this time, the designated print processing unit 37 is generated by the test print processing unit 36 as shown in FIG. 6 when the setting for performing the test print is made in the print format setting field 52 of the print setting screen 50 (FIG. 4). The designated print job JD is combined after the trial print job JT.

  The data transmission unit 38 delivers to the communication unit 23 a print job supplied from the designated print processing unit 37, that is, only the designated print job JD or a combination of the designated print job JD and the trial print job JT. In response to this, the communication unit 23 transmits the print job to the printer 2 via the network 4 (FIG. 1).

[2. Print processing]
Next, the print setting process performed by the host computer 3 and the print process performed by the printer 2 when printing on the paper P in the printing system 1 will be described.

[2-1. Print setting processing by host computer]
When the control unit 21 of the host computer 3 receives a print instruction for application data (eg, document data) from the user in the application program 31 (FIG. 3), the control unit 21 reads the printer driver program from the storage unit 22 and executes it. Thereby, the control unit 21 configures a functional block of the printer driver 32 (FIG. 3), starts the print setting processing procedure RT1 shown in FIG. 7, and proceeds to step SP1.

  In step SP1, the control unit 21 causes the display unit 24 (FIG. 3) to display the print setting screen 50 (FIG. 4), and allows the user to make settings related to printing, and proceeds to the next step SP2. In step SP2, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the execution of the printing process is instructed by pressing the print button 55. If a negative result is obtained here, the control unit 21 waits for an operation of pressing the print button 55 by repeating this step SP2.

  On the other hand, if an affirmative result is obtained in step SP2, this means that the user has made necessary settings on the print setting screen 50 and then pressed the print button 55, that is, printing based on the setting contents on the print setting screen 50. This indicates that data should be generated and transmitted to the printer 2. At this time, the control unit 21 proceeds to the next step SP3.

  In step SP3, the control unit 21 determines whether or not to perform trial printing, that is, whether or not the radio button 52B is selected in the print format setting field 52 of the print setting screen 50 (FIG. 4) and the setting for performing trial printing has been made. To do. If a positive result is obtained here, this indicates that it is necessary to perform test printing in addition to designated printing. At this time, the control unit 21 proceeds to the next step SP4.

  In step SP4, the control unit 21 determines whether or not an N-up layout is set as a printing condition for designated printing, that is, whether or not an N-up layout (N is 2, 4, 8, or 16) is selected in the layout setting field 53. Determine whether or not. If an affirmative result is obtained here, this means that it is necessary to have an N-up layout at least in designated printing. At this time, the control unit 21 sets the print job to be generated to the N-up layout by the layout processing unit 35 (FIG. 3), and proceeds to the next step SP5.

  In step SP5, the control unit 21 determines whether or not there is a trial normal designation, that is, whether or not a check mark is added to the check box 54C of the trial print layout setting field 54. If a positive result is obtained here, this means an N-up layout (FIGS. 5B to 5E) in designated printing, and a normal layout (FIG. 5A) in trial printing. Means. At this time, the control unit 21 proceeds to the next step SP6.

  In step SP6, the control unit 21 sets the layout of the test print job to be generated to a normal layout (FIG. 5A) by the layout processing unit 35 (FIG. 3), that is, a relatively large 1 on the paper P. The setting is made so that only the image is allocated, and the process proceeds to the next step SP7.

  On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP4, this means that the normal layout (FIG. 5A) is used for both designated printing and trial printing, that is, the print job to be generated is changed to the N-up layout. It is not necessary to do. At this time, the control unit 21 proceeds to the next step SP7.

  On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP5, this means that the N-up layout (FIG. 5 (F)) is the same as that for the designated printing in the trial printing, in other words, it is not necessary to return to the normal layout. Represents. At this time, the control unit 21 proceeds to the next step SP7.

  In step SP7, the control unit 21 generates a test print job JT (FIG. 6) according to the layout set at this time (hereinafter also referred to as a test layout) by the test print processing unit 36 (FIG. 3). Control goes to step SP8. At this time, if there is a trial normal designation, the control unit 21 generates a trial print job JT with a normal layout. In the trial print job JT, the job type is set to “trial” so that the printer 2 can determine that it is a trial print job.

  If a negative result is obtained in step SP3, this indicates that only designated printing is performed without performing trial printing. At this time, the control unit 21 proceeds to the next step SP8.

  In step SP8, the control unit 21 generates the designated print job JD (FIG. 6) according to the layout designated in the layout setting field 53 (hereinafter also referred to as the designated layout) by the designated print processing unit 37 (FIG. 3). The process proceeds to next step SP9. In the designated print job JD, the job type is set to “normal” so that the printer 2 can determine that it is a designated print job. If the test print job has already been generated, the control unit 21 combines the designated print job JD after the test print job JT as shown in FIG.

  In step SP9, the control unit 21 transmits the print job generated so far as print data from the communication unit 23 to the printer 2 by the data transmission unit 38 (FIG. 3), and then proceeds to the next step SP10 to perform print settings. The processing procedure RT1 is terminated.

[2-2. Printing process by printer]
When the power is turned on, the control unit 11 of the printer 2 starts the print processing procedure RT2 shown in FIG. 8, and proceeds to step SP21. In step SP21, the control unit 11 waits for print data from the host computer 3 through the communication unit 13. When the print data is received from the host computer 3, the control unit 11 proceeds to the next step SP22.

  In step SP22, the control unit 11 determines whether the received print data includes a trial print job. At this time, if the job type included in the print job (FIG. 6) is “trial”, the control unit 11 determines that this print job is a trial print job. If a positive result is obtained here, the control unit 11 proceeds to the next step SP23.

  In step SP23, the control unit 11 uses the image processing unit 17 (FIG. 2) to generate print image data based on the test print job, and supplies the print image data to the image printing unit 15, thereby the size according to the test layout. Then, each image is printed on the paper P with the arrangement, and the process proceeds to the next step SP24.

  In step SP24, the control unit 11 causes the test print processing unit 18 (FIG. 2) to display the confirmation screen 60 shown in FIG. 9 on the display operation unit 14, and proceeds to the next step SP25. On this confirmation screen 60, a message 61 for visiting whether or not to perform designated printing continuously, a “Yes” button 62 indicating affirmation, and a “No” button 63 indicating denial are displayed.

  In step SP25, the control unit 11 determines whether or not to continue the printing process, that is, whether or not the “Yes” button 62 on the confirmation screen 60 has been pressed. If a positive result is obtained here, this indicates that the user has instructed the continuation of the printing process after confirming the result of the trial printing, that is, the printed paper P. At this time, the controller 11 proceeds to the next step SP26.

  On the other hand, when a negative result is obtained in step SP22, this indicates that only the designated print job is included in the print data. At this time, the control unit 11 proceeds to the next step SP26.

  In step SP26, the control unit 11 uses the image processing unit 17 (FIG. 2) to generate print image data based on the designated print job, and supplies the print image data to the image printing unit 15 so that the size conforms to the designated layout. And each image is printed on the paper P with the arrangement. Thereafter, the control unit 11 proceeds to the next step SP27 and ends the print processing procedure RT2.

  Further, when a negative result is obtained in step SP25, this means that the user can specify the subsequent designation because the user has found the location to be corrected when confirming the result of the trial printing, that is, the printed paper P. Indicates that an instruction to cancel printing is given. At this time, the control unit 11 proceeds to the next step SP27, and ends the print processing procedure RT2 without executing the designated print job.

[3. Effect]
In the above configuration, the host computer 3 of the printing system 1 provides the test print layout setting field 54 on the print setting screen 50 (FIG. 4) displayed on the display unit 24 by the printer driver 32 configured in the control unit 21. , You can now set whether or not to specify normal trial by the user's intention.

  When the N-up layout is designated on the print setting screen 50 and the trial normal designation is made, the printer driver 32 creates the trial print job JT having the normal layout and then the designated print job JD having the N-up layout. Are combined (FIG. 6) and transmitted to the printer 2. The printer 2 performs test printing in the normal layout according to the test print job, and allows the user to check the print result.

  For this reason, the printing system 1 allows the user to visually check an image printed in an easy-to-view size as a normal layout (FIG. 5A) that does not reduce the image in trial printing, and easily determines whether or not to continue designated printing. Can be judged.

  In addition, since the printer driver 32 includes the test print layout setting field 54 on the print setting screen 50, it is possible to change only the test print to the normal layout only by allowing the user to perform an operation of adding a check mark to the check box 54C. . On the other hand, if the user wants to use the N-up layout for trial printing, the printer driver 32 only needs to remove the check mark from the check box 54C, and can easily switch between them. it can.

  By the way, in the conventional printing system, when trial printing is performed, when N-up layout is set in designated printing, the trial printing is necessarily N-up layout. For example, when the 16-up layout is set, as shown in FIG. 5E or FIG. 5F, the test print is performed by reducing each image, and visual confirmation of the print result is not easy.

  In the conventional printing system, for example, the user performs two printing operations, of which only one copy is designated as designated printing in the normal layout, and the remaining is designated as designated printing in the N-up layout for the second time. However, it is possible to obtain printing results similar to the trial printing and designated printing in the present embodiment.

  However, in this case, since it is necessary for the user to perform the setting operation of each item on the print setting screen twice and to appropriately set the layout and the number of copies in each, it is necessary to correctly set the complicated operation and each to the user. Attention to do it was required.

  On the other hand, in the printing system 1 according to the present embodiment, the user sets the number of copies and the layout in accordance with the content of the designated printing that is the original purpose on the print setting screen 50, and then sets the print format setting field 52. In this case, it is only necessary to designate the trial printing and to perform an operation of adding a check mark to the check box 54C in the trial printing layout setting field 54. That is, in the printing system 1, only one print operation is received from the user on the print setting screen 50, and after a trial print of only one copy by the normal layout, the designated print of the designated number of copies by the designated layout is performed. Since it can be performed, it is not necessary for the user to repeat the printing operation.

  When the trial normal designation is made, the host computer 3 generates a normal layout trial print job JT and also creates a designated layout designated print job JD and combines them (FIG. 6). Was sent to. For this reason, the printer 2 only needs to execute the received print job according to the contents (“normal” or “trial”) of the set job type, and the special print for printing the trial print with a normal layout different from the designated print. There is no need to perform any processing.

  According to the above configuration, when the N-up layout is designated on the print setting screen 50 displayed on the display unit 24 of the host computer 3 and the trial normal designation is made, the printing system 1 performs the trial print job of the normal layout. After generating JT, a designated print job JD having an N-up layout is generated and combined, and transmitted to the printer 2. The printer 2 performs test printing with a normal layout according to the test print job. For this reason, in the printing system 1, by adopting a normal layout that does not reduce the image in the trial printing, it is possible to make the user visually check a large printed image and easily determine whether or not to continue the designated printing.

[4. Other Embodiments]
In the above-described embodiment, when a check mark is added to the check box 54C in the test print layout setting field 54 (FIG. 4), the layout in the test print is the normal layout (FIG. 5A). Stated. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the layout in the trial printing may be a 2-up layout or a 4-up layout (FIGS. 5B and 5C). In short, it is only necessary to facilitate visual confirmation by the user by setting the layout so that the image can be printed larger than the layout designated in the designated printing.

  Further, in these cases, for example, a test print layout setting field having the same configuration as the layout setting field 53 may be provided on the print setting screen 50 (FIG. 4) so that the user can select a layout for the test print. In this case, as an option, only a layout in which an image to be printed is equal to or larger than the designated printing may be displayed. Alternatively, for example, according to the selection result in the layout setting field 53, the initial state in the test print layout setting field may be a state in which a layout in which the printed image has a size equal to or larger than the designated printing is selected.

  In the embodiment described above, by providing the test print layout setting field 54 (FIG. 4) on the print setting screen 50, the user can determine whether the test print layout is the same as the normal print or the normal layout. The case where it can be made to select is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the layout in the trial printing may be forced to be the normal layout. Alternatively, for example, when the number of images in the designated layout is 8 or more, the test print may be a normal layout only when the number is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, and in other cases, the test print may be a layout equivalent to the designated print. .

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the confirmation screen 60 is displayed on the display operation unit 14 when the printer 2 performs the test printing has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the confirmation screen 60 may be displayed on the display unit 24 of the host computer 3 by appropriately transmitting and receiving information between the printer 2 and the host computer 3. In this case, when the user presses the “Yes” button 62 via the operation unit 25, the printer 2 may execute designated printing. In this case, only the trial print job may be transmitted to the printer 2 at the stage of performing the trial printing, and the designated print job may be transmitted to the printer 2 at the stage of performing the designated printing. Alternatively, the designated printing may be executed by displaying only the message 61 of the confirmation screen 60 on the display unit 24 of the host computer 3 and causing the user to operate the display operation unit 14 of the printer 2.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, in the print setting process of the host computer 3, the test print job JT and the designated print job JD (FIG. 6) are based on the contents set by the user via the print setting screen 50 (FIG. 4). ) Are generated and transmitted to the printer 2 to sequentially perform the printing process. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the setting contents on the print setting screen 50 are transmitted from the host computer 3 to the printer 2, and the test print job JT and the designated print job are transmitted to the control unit 11 (FIG. 2) of the printer 2. It is also possible to generate a JD and sequentially perform print processing according to these. In this case, the host computer 3 sends, for example, print data representing an image, a layout instruction in designated printing, an instruction to perform trial printing, a layout instruction in trial printing, and the like based on the setting contents on the print setting screen 50. To send to.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the printer 2 and the host computer 3 are connected via the network 4 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be connected by other methods such as a connection cable conforming to a standard such as USB (Universal Serial Bus).

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and other embodiments. That is, the scope of the present invention extends to embodiments in which some or all of the above-described embodiments and other embodiments described above are arbitrarily combined, and embodiments in which some are extracted. is there.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the printer 2 as the printing apparatus and the host computer 3 as the information processing apparatus constitute the printing system 1 as the printing system, and the information processing apparatus is laid out as a designated layout setting unit. A setting field 53 and layout processing unit 35, a test print layout setting field 54 and layout processing unit 35 as a test layout setting unit, a test print processing unit 36 as an information communication unit, a designated print processing unit 37, and a data transmission unit 38 And a communication unit 23, and the printing apparatus includes an image printing unit 15 as a printing unit, a communication unit 13 as a printing communication unit, a trial printing processing unit 18 and an image processing unit 17 as trial printing processing units, In the above description, the image processing unit 17 as the designated print processing unit is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a printing system is configured by a printing apparatus having various other configurations and an information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus has a designated layout setting unit having various other configurations, and a trial layout setting. The printing apparatus may include a printing unit having various configurations, a print communication unit, a test print processing unit, and a designated print processing unit.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the layout setting field 53 and the layout processing unit 35 as the designated layout setting unit, the test print layout setting field 54 and the layout processing unit 35 as the test layout setting unit, and the information communication unit. A case has been described in which the test print processing unit 36, the designated print processing unit 37, the data transmission unit 38, and the communication unit 23 constitute the host computer 3 as an information processing apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the information processing apparatus may be configured by a designated layout setting unit, a trial layout setting unit, and an information communication unit having various other configurations.

  The present invention can also be used in, for example, a printer that can print an image in an N-up layout and a host computer that supplies print data to the printer.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printing system, 2 ... Printer, 3 ... Host computer, 4 ... Network, 11 ... Control part, 12 ... Memory | storage part, 13 ... Communication part, 14 ... Display operation part, 15 ... Image printing unit, 17... Image processing unit, 18... Print processing unit, 21... Control unit, 22... Storage unit, 23. ... Printer driver, 35 ... Layout processing section, 36 ... Print processing section, 37 ... Designated print processing section, 38 ... Data transmission section, 50 ... Print setting screen, 51 ... Paper setting section, 52 ... Print format setting field, 53 ... Layout setting field, 54 ... Print layout setting field, 54 C ... Check box, 60 ... Confirmation screen, 61 ... Message, JD ... Designated print job, JT ... Print job, P: Paper.

Claims (8)

A designated layout setting unit that allows the user to set a designated layout that defines the number of images to be arranged on one medium in a designated printing in which an image is printed on a medium by a predetermined printing device according to a condition designated by the user;
In trial printing in which the image is printed on the medium before the designated printing is performed, a trial layout is set in which the size of the image arranged on one medium is equal to or larger than the size of the image in the designated layout. A trial layout setting section;
The test print job according to the test layout and the specified print job according to the specified layout are generated and transmitted to the printing apparatus, so that the number of the images according to the test layout is obtained based on the test print job. An information communication unit configured to print the number of images according to the designated layout on the medium based on the designated print job when receiving an instruction to perform the designated printing from the user. An information processing apparatus characterized by that. A printing system comprising: a printing device that performs designated printing for printing an image on a medium according to a condition designated by a user; and an information processing device that causes the user to designate the condition.
The information processing apparatus includes:
A designated layout setting unit that allows the user to set a designated layout that defines the number of images to be arranged on one medium in the designated printing;
In trial printing in which the image is printed on the medium before the designated printing is performed, a trial layout is set in which the size of the image arranged on one medium is equal to or larger than the size of the image in the designated layout. A trial layout setting section;
An information communication unit that transmits print data representing the image, an instruction for the designated layout, an instruction for the trial layout, and an instruction for the trial printing to the printing apparatus;
The printing apparatus includes:
A printing unit for printing the image on the medium;
A print communication unit that receives the print data, the designated layout instruction, the trial layout instruction, and the trial print instruction from the information processing apparatus;
A print job generation unit that generates a test print job according to the test layout and a specified print job according to the specified layout based on the print data, the specified layout instruction, the test layout instruction, and the test print instruction When,
Based on the test print job, a test print processing unit that causes the printing unit to print the number and size of the images according to the test layout on the medium;
A designated print processing unit that, when receiving an instruction to perform the designated printing from the user, causes the printing unit to print the number and size of the images according to the designated layout on the medium based on the designated print job; A printing system characterized by comprising: The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the trial layout setting unit sets the number of images arranged on one medium in the trial layout to 1. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the trial layout setting unit causes the user to set the number of images to be arranged on one medium in the trial layout. The trial layout setting unit sets the number of images in the trial layout to be smaller than the number of images in the designated layout when the number of images in the designated layout is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, and otherwise The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the trial layout is equivalent to the designated layout. The printing apparatus includes:
A display for displaying information;
And an operation unit for receiving the user's operation,
The designated print processing unit causes the display unit to display a confirmation screen for inquiring whether or not to perform the designated print to the user. When the operation instruction for performing the designated print is received by the operation unit, the designated print processing unit The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the number of the images according to the designated layout is printed on the medium by the printing unit based on a job. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the trial layout setting unit sets an initial value of the number of the media in the trial layout according to the number of the images set in the designated layout. When the number of the images set in the designated layout is less than a predetermined threshold, the trial layout setting unit determines an initial value of the number of the media in the trial layout as the number of the images in the designated layout. The printing system according to claim 7, wherein the number is the same as the number.

Images