JP2018097701A - Driver program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a driver program for an information processing terminal which can notify a proper execution condition of a print operation in accordance with change of a state in which a user uses a printer.SOLUTION: A driver program 66 makes an information terminal execute: acquiring processing (S32) for acquiring designated data from an edit program 65 through an OS 64; reading processing for reading a recommended condition information associated with a timing information including present date and time; display processing for displaying an execution condition indicated by the recommended condition information read out by the reading processing; reception processing (S33) for receiving, after execution of the display processing, a user operation designating an execution condition of an output operation directed to the designated data; and execution instructing processing (S34) for making an image output apparatus executing an operation of outputting the designated data in accordance with the execution condition designated in the reception processing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a program for an information processing terminal that causes an image output apparatus to execute an output operation.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a printer driver that allows a user to set print conditions through a print setting dialog in response to a print request acquired from an application, and causes the printer to execute printing according to the print conditions set by the user. ing. Further, the printer driver described in Patent Document 1 has a function of storing a print condition setting result by a user as statistical data and automatically setting the print condition based on the stored statistical data.

JP 2002-149365 A

  The printer driver disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-228561 uses automatic setting conditions that the setting frequency exceeds a specified frequency. However, since the usage mode of the printer often changes with the passage of time, it is difficult to simply say that the printing conditions according to the user's intention are automatically set by simply counting the setting frequencies.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a driver program for an information processing terminal capable of notifying an appropriate execution condition of a printing operation in accordance with a time change of a printer usage mode by a user. Is to provide.

  Various disclosures are provided herein. A driver program, which is one of the disclosed examples, can be read by an information processing terminal including a memory, a display, an input interface, and a communication interface. The memory stores a plurality of sets of time information indicating a time and condition information indicating an execution condition of an output operation to be executed by the image output apparatus. The driver program includes an acquisition process for acquiring specified data to be the target of the output operation from an external program installed in the information processing terminal, and a plurality of the condition information stored in the memory A reading process for reading the recommended condition information associated with the time information including the current date, a display process for displaying on the display the execution condition indicated by the recommended condition information read in the reading process, and the designation A reception process for receiving a user operation for specifying an execution condition of the output operation for data through the input interface after executing the display process, and an output for transmitting output instruction information to the image output apparatus through the communication interface The information processing terminal is caused to execute instruction processing. The output instruction information is information for executing the output operation for the specified data according to the execution condition specified in the reception process.

  According to the driver program according to the above disclosed example, the condition information stored in the memory in advance in association with the time information including the current date and time is read as the recommended condition information, so that the execution condition suitable for the current user usage mode Can be recognized.

  A driver program which is another disclosed example can be read by an information processing terminal including a memory and a communication interface. The memory stores a plurality of sets of time information indicating a time and condition information indicating an execution condition of an output operation to be executed by the image output apparatus. The driver program includes the current date and time among the plurality of condition information stored in the memory in response to a request for notification of recommended condition information from the external program installed in the information processing terminal through the OS. A read process for reading the recommended condition information associated with the time information, a notification process for notifying the external program via the OS of the recommended condition information read in the read process, and a target of the output operation Acquisition processing for acquiring the specified data and the specified condition information indicating the execution condition of the output operation from the external program via the OS, and the output instruction processing for transmitting the output instruction information to the image output device through the communication interface To the information processing terminal. The output instruction information is information for executing the output operation for the designated data according to an execution condition indicated by the designated condition information.

  A driver program which is another disclosed example can be read by an information processing terminal including a memory and a communication interface. The memory stores a plurality of sets of time information indicating a time and condition information indicating an execution condition of an output operation to be executed by the image output apparatus. The driver program includes an acquisition process for acquiring specified data to be the target of the output operation from an external program installed in the information processing terminal, and a plurality of the condition information stored in the memory Then, the information processing terminal is caused to execute read processing for reading recommended condition information associated with the time information including the current date and time, and output instruction processing for transmitting output instruction information to the image output device through the communication interface. The output instruction information is information for executing the output operation for the designated data according to an execution condition indicated by the recommended condition information.

  According to the driver program according to another disclosed example, the condition information stored in advance in the memory in association with the time information including the current date and time is read as the recommended condition information. Accordingly, the output operation can be executed under an appropriate execution condition.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the MFP 10 and the information processing terminal 50 constituting the system 100 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is an example of information stored in the memory 62, where (A) shows a setting condition list and (B) shows a history list. FIG. 3 is an example of the learning condition list stored in the memory 62, where (A) shows the initial state, (B) shows the state immediately after execution of S56, and (C) shows the state immediately after execution of S58. Show. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of processing in which the driver program 66 notifies the editing program 65 of condition information. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of processing in which the driver program 66 causes the MFP 10 to execute a printing operation in accordance with an instruction from the editing program 65. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the execution condition determination process. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the learning condition update process. FIG. 8 is a display example of the display 53, where (A) shows an editing screen and (B) shows a print screen. FIG. 9 is a display example of the execution condition editing screen, where (A) shows an initial state, and (B) shows a state in which parameters of items “color” and “layout” have been changed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. The embodiment described below is merely an example of the present invention, and it is needless to say that the embodiment of the present invention can be changed as appropriate without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the execution order of each process described below can be changed as appropriate without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system 100 according to the present embodiment. A system 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes an MFP 10 and an information processing terminal 50. Further, the system 100 may include a printer single-function device instead of the MFP 10. The MFP 10 and the information processing terminal 50 are configured to be able to communicate with each other through the communication network 101. Although the specific example of the communication network 101 is not specifically limited, For example, the internet, wired LAN, wireless LAN, or these combination may be sufficient. Alternatively, the MFP 10 and the information processing terminal 50 may be connected by a USB cable or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the MFP 10 mainly includes a printer 11, a FAX unit 13, a display 23, an input I / F 24, a communication I / F 25, a CPU 31, a memory 32, and a communication bus 33. Prepare. Each component constituting the MFP 10 is connected to each other through the communication bus 33. The MFP 10 is an example of an image output device. The printer 11 and the FAX unit 13 are examples of an image output unit.

  The printer 11 is hardware that executes a printing operation for recording an image indicated by image data on a sheet. As a recording method of the printer 11, a known method such as an ink jet method or an electrophotographic method can be employed. The FAX unit 13 is hardware that performs a FAX transmission operation for FAX transmission of image data to an external device and a FAX reception operation for FAX reception of image data from the external device. The MFP 10 may further include a scanner that reads an image recorded on a document and generates image data. The print operation and FAX transmission operation are examples of output operations.

  The printer 11 executes a printing operation according to the execution conditions. The execution condition is specified by a combination of a plurality of parameters corresponding to a plurality of items (for example, “size”, “color”, “layout”). The parameter of the item “size” indicates the size of the sheet on which the image is recorded (for example, “A4”, “A3”, “postcard”). The parameter of the item “color” indicates a color (for example, “color”, “monochrome”) used for recording an image on the sheet. The parameter of the item “layout” indicates the number of images to be recorded on one sheet (for example, “none”, “2 in 1”, “2 × 2”). However, the execution condition of the printing operation is not limited to the above example.

  Similarly, the FAX unit 13 executes a FAX transmission operation and a FAX reception operation according to the execution conditions. The execution condition of the FAX transmission operation is specified by, for example, a combination of an item “resolution” parameter (for example, “300 dpi” and “600 dpi”) and an item “destination” parameter (for example, a FAX number). The execution condition of the FAX reception operation is, for example, a combination of an item “color” parameter (eg, “color”, “monochrome”) and an item “output destination” parameter (eg, “sheet”, “memory”) Specified by.

  The display 23 is a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, or the like, and includes a display surface for displaying various information.

  The input I / F 24 is a user interface that receives an input operation by a user. Specifically, the input I / F 24 includes a button, and outputs various operation signals associated with the pressed button to the CPU 31. Further, the input I / F 24 may include a film-like touch sensor superimposed on the display surface of the display 23. An operation for designating an object displayed on the display surface of the display 23 and an operation for inputting a character string or a numeric string are examples of user operations. The “object” is, for example, a character string, icon, button, link, radio button, check box, pull-down menu, or the like displayed on the display 23.

  The input I / F 24 implemented as a touch sensor outputs position information indicating the position on the display surface touched by the user. Note that “touch” in this specification includes all operations for bringing an input medium into contact with a display surface. In addition, even if the input medium is not touching the display surface, “hover” or “floating touch” that brings the input medium close to a position where the distance to the display surface is very small is based on the concept of “touch” described above. May be included. Furthermore, the input medium may be a user's finger or a touch pen. The user operation for tapping the position of the object displayed on the display 23 is an example of a user operation for specifying the object.

  The communication I / F 25 is an interface that can communicate with an external device via the communication network 101. That is, the MFP 10 transmits various types of information to the external device through the communication I / F 25 and receives various types of information from the external device through the communication I / F 25. Although the specific communication procedure of communication I / F25 is not specifically limited, For example, Wi-Fi (trademark) is employable. Further, when the MFP 10 and the information processing terminal 50 are connected by a USB cable, the communication I / F 25 may be a USB interface to which the USB cable can be attached and detached.

  The CPU 31 controls the overall operation of the MFP 10. The CPU 31 acquires and executes various programs, which will be described later, from the memory 32 based on various information output from the input I / F 24, various information received from an external device through the communication I / F 25, and the like. The CPU 31 and the memory 32 constitute an example of a controller.

  The memory 32 stores an OS 34 and a device program 35. The device program 35 may be a single program or a collection of a plurality of programs. The memory 32 stores data or information necessary for executing the device program 35. The memory 32 is configured by, for example, a RAM, a ROM, an EEPROM, an HDD, a portable storage medium such as a USB memory attached to and detached from the MFP 10, a buffer provided in the CPU 31, or a combination thereof.

  The memory 32 may be a computer readable storage medium. A computer-readable storage medium is a non-transitory medium. Non-transitory media include recording media such as CD-ROM and DVD-ROM in addition to the above examples. A non-transitory medium is also a tangible medium. On the other hand, an electrical signal that carries a program downloaded from a server on the Internet is a computer-readable signal medium that is a kind of computer-readable medium, but a non-transitory computer-readable storage. Not included in the media. The same applies to the memory 62 of the information processing terminal 50 described later.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing terminal 50 mainly includes a display 53, an input I / F 54, a communication I / F 55, a CPU 61, a memory 62, and a communication bus 63. The display 53, input I / F 54, communication I / F 55, CPU 61, memory 62, and communication bus 63 included in the information processing terminal 50 are the display 23, input I / F 24, communication I / F 25, CPU 31, included in the MFP 10. Since the configuration is the same as that of the memory 32 and the communication bus 33, the description thereof is omitted. The CPU 61 and the memory 62 are an example of a controller.

  The information processing terminal 50 may be, for example, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a PC. The memory 62 stores an OS 64, an editing program 65, and a driver program 66. Furthermore, the memory 62 can store a setting condition list shown in FIG. 2A, a history list shown in FIG. 2B, and a learning condition list shown in FIG. Part or all of the setting condition list, history list, and learning condition list may be stored in a server (not shown) on the Internet.

  The editing program 65 is an example of an external program that edits content data in accordance with a user operation. For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, the editing program 65 displays the image indicated by the designated content data on the display 53, accepts a user operation for instructing editing of the content data through the input I / F 54, Edit the content data according to the received user operation. Examples of the content data format include a text format, an image format, a spreadsheet format, and a presentation format.

  The driver program 66 is a program for causing the MFP 10 to execute the print operation for the image data designated from the editing program 65 installed in the information processing terminal 50. More specifically, the driver program 66 acquires image data to be printed from the editing program 65 and transmits print instruction information to the MFP 10 through the communication I / F 55. The print instruction information is an example of output instruction information that instructs execution of a print operation for specified image data.

  The setting condition list includes one or more setting condition records. The setting condition record includes time information and setting condition information. For example, the setting condition record may be stored in the memory 62 when the driver program 66 is installed, or may be added after the driver program 66 is installed. The combination of the time information and the setting condition information included in the setting condition record is set by the developer of the driver program 66, for example. The setting condition record is an example of a set of time information and condition information.

  The time information indicates a time of an arbitrary length. The term “time” refers to, for example, a time width specified by a combination of a start date and time and an end date and time. That is, the start date / time “March 15” to the end date / time “April 15”, and the start date / time “15:00” to the end date / time “15:59” are examples of the time. However, the method for specifying the time is not limited to the above example, and may be June (June 1 to June 30), morning (9: 00 to 11: 59), or the like. On the other hand, the length of time for which the start date and time and the end date and time are not specified (for example, one month, one hour, etc.) is not included in the “time” of this specification.

  The setting condition information indicates execution conditions for the printing operation suitable for the time indicated by the time information. As an example, the period “March 15 to April 15” including April 1 is specified by a combination of parameters “A4”, “monochrome”, and “2 in 1” because a large amount of manuals and the like are printed. Execution conditions are considered suitable. As another example, during the period when many festivals are held “October 1st to October 31st”, large-sized posters are printed, so the parameters “A3”, “Color”, and “2 × 2” are combined. The specified execution conditions are considered suitable. As another example, since the year-end period “December 1st to December 25th” prepares a New Year's card, the execution condition specified by the combination of the parameters “postcard”, “color”, and “none” is It is considered suitable.

  The history list includes one or more history records. The history record includes date and time information and history condition information. The date / time information indicates an execution date / time of an output instruction process described later. The history condition information indicates execution conditions for the printing operation that is executed by the MFP 10 in the output instruction process. The history record is registered by the driver program 66 in S51 described later. A history record is an example of history information.

  The learning condition list includes one or more learning condition records. The data structure of the learning condition record is common to the setting condition record. On the other hand, the learning condition record is different from the setting condition record in that the driver program 66 generates the learning condition update process described later. The setting condition record is an example of a set of time information and condition information.

[Operation of System 100]
With reference to FIG.4 and FIG.7, operation | movement of the system 100 which concerns on this embodiment is demonstrated. It is assumed that the learning condition list shown in FIG. 3A is stored in the memory 62 at the start of the process shown in FIG.

  The flowchart in this specification basically shows the processing of the CPUs 31 and 61 in accordance with the instructions described in the program. That is, processes such as “determination”, “extraction”, “selection”, “calculation”, “decision”, “specification”, and “control” in the following description represent processes of the CPUs 31 and 61. The processing by the CPU 61 includes hardware control via the OS 64. Further, “data” in this specification is represented by a bit string readable by a computer. Data having substantially the same semantic content but different formats are handled as the same data. The same applies to “information” in this specification.

  In this embodiment, the OS 64, the editing program 65, and the driver program 66 call the functions defined in each program in steps S12, S13, S21, S22, S31, and S32, thereby specifying the information specified as the argument of the function. Hand over. Here, one or more functions may be called at each step described above. Further, the information to be transferred may be specified as an argument of the same function, or may be specified as an argument of a different function.

  First, the editing program 65 of the information processing terminal 50 displays the editing screen shown in FIG. The edit screen includes a read instruction icon 111, a print instruction icon 113, and an edited image 114. Then, the editing program 65 receives a user operation on the editing screen through the input I / F 54.

  The editing program 65 displays a list of readable content data on the display 53 in response to accepting the designation of the readout instruction icon 111 through the input I / F 54, and the edited image 114 indicated by the content data designated by the user. Is displayed on the display 53. The editing program 65 edits the content data in response to receiving a user operation for instructing editing of the edited image 114 through the input I / F 54.

  Further, the editing program 65 temporarily stores in the memory 62 a data ID for identifying the content data being edited in response to receiving the designation of the print instruction icon 113 through the input I / F 54 (S11). Hereinafter, the temporarily stored data ID is denoted as “designated data ID”, and the content data identified by the designated data ID is denoted as “designated data”. The editing program 65 secures a memory area (hereinafter referred to as “designated area”) necessary for storing the condition information in the memory 62.

  Further, the editing program 65 designates the first pointer as an argument and calls a read function defined in the OS 64 (S12). The first pointer indicates the start address of the designated area secured in the memory 62. Hereinafter, the function called in step Sxx may be referred to as “function Sxx”. Next, in response to the calling of the reading function S12, the OS 64 specifies the first pointer specified as the argument of the reading function S12 as an argument and calls the reading function S13 defined in the driver program 66 ( S13).

  Next, the driver program 66 obtains the first pointer specified as an argument of the read function S13 in response to the read function S13 being called. The calling of the read function S13 is an example of a request for notification of recommended condition information from an external program. Further, the driver program 66 acquires date / time information indicating the current date / time “2016/4/10 16:00” from a system clock (not shown).

  Next, the driver program 66 reads from the memory 62 a setting condition record whose time information includes the current date and time among the setting condition records shown in FIG. Then, the driver program 66 stores the setting condition information “A4”, “monochrome”, “2in1” included in the read setting condition record in the designated area indicated by the first pointer as recommended condition information (S14). . The process of S14 is an example of a read process.

  Next, the driver program 66 ends the read function S13 (S15). Further, the OS 64 ends the read function S12 in response to the end of the read function S13 (S15) (S16). Further, the editing program 65 reads the recommended condition information stored in the designated area in response to the end of the reading function S12 (S16). That is, the processing of S14 to S16 is an example of notification processing in which the driver program 66 notifies the editing program 65 of recommended condition information and the like via the OS 64.

  Next, the editing program 65 displays the print screen shown in FIG. 8B on the display 53 (S17). The print screen includes pull-down menus 121, 122, and 123, an [OK] icon 124, a [driver] icon 125, and a preview image 126. Then, the editing program 65 receives a user operation on the print screen through the input I / F 54 (S18).

  The pull-down menus 121 to 123 are examples of item objects for allowing the user to specify parameters corresponding to a plurality of items “size”, “color”, and “layout” that constitute the execution condition. In the pull-down menus 121 to 123 of the print screen that is displayed first, recommended condition information “A4”, “monochrome”, and “2 in 1” stored in the designated area are designated.

  The pull-down menu 121 corresponding to the item “size” has three options corresponding to parameter candidates “A4”, “A3”, and “postcard”. The pull-down menu 122 corresponding to the item “color” has two options corresponding to parameter candidates “color” and “monochrome”. The pull-down menu 123 corresponding to the item “layout” has three options corresponding to parameter candidates “none”, “2 in 1”, and “2 × 2”.

  Then, the editing program 65 overwrites the parameter stored in the specified area with the newly specified parameter in response to accepting the change of the parameter specified in the pull-down menu 121 to 123 through the input I / F 54. . Then, the editing program 65 causes the display 53 to display a print screen including pull-down menus 121 to 123 on which newly designated parameters are displayed. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the user has changed the parameter of the item “layout” from “2 in 1” to “none” through the pull-down menu 123.

  Next, in response to accepting the designation of the [OK] icon 124 through the input I / F 54 (S18: OK), the editing program 65 designates the first pointer and the second pointer as arguments and defines them in the OS 64. The first print instruction function is called (S21). The second pointer indicates the start address of the memory area that stores the designated data. Alternatively, instead of the second pointer, a designated data ID may be designated as an argument.

  Next, in response to the first print instruction function S21 being called, the OS 64 specifies the first pointer and the second pointer specified as arguments of the first print instruction function S21 as arguments, and the driver program 66 The first print instruction function defined in (1) is called (S22). Next, in response to the first print instruction function S22 being called, the driver program 66 acquires the first pointer and the second pointer specified as arguments of the first print instruction function S22 (S22).

  The driver program 66 reads the condition information “A4”, “monochrome”, and “none” from the designated area indicated by the first pointer, and reads the designated data from the memory area indicated by the second pointer. That is, the driver program 66 acquires condition information and designated data from the editing program 65 via the OS 64. The condition information stored in the designated area indicated by the first pointer acquired in step S22 is an example of designated condition information received by the external program through the input I / F 54. The process in which the driver program 66 acquires the first pointer and the second pointer in step S22 is an example of an acquisition process.

  Next, the driver program 66 executes a learning condition update process described later (S23). In addition, the driver program 66 transmits print instruction information to the MFP 10 through the communication I / F 55 (S24). The print instruction information is information for instructing to execute the print operation for the designated data according to the execution condition indicated by the designated condition information. The print instruction information includes, for example, designated data and designated condition information. The process of S24 is an example of an output instruction process. Next, the driver program 66 ends the first print instruction function S22. Further, the OS 64 ends the first print instruction function S21 in response to the end of the first print instruction function S22.

  On the other hand, although not shown, the apparatus program 35 of the MFP 10 receives print instruction information from the information processing terminal 50 through the communication I / F 25. Then, the apparatus program 35 causes the printer 11 to execute a printing operation according to the print instruction information (S25). That is, the printer 11 records the image indicated by the designated data in monochrome on an A4 size sheet.

  Returning to FIG. 4, the editing program 65 receives the designation of the [driver] icon 125 through the input I / F 54 (S18: driver), designates the second pointer as an argument, and defines it in the OS 64. The designated second print instruction function is called (S31). Next, in response to the second print instruction function S31 being called, the OS 64 specifies the second pointer specified as the argument of the second print instruction function S31 as an argument and is defined in the driver program 66. The second print instruction function is called (S32).

  Next, the driver program 66 acquires the second pointer designated as an argument of the second print instruction function S32 in response to the second print instruction function S32 being called (S32). Next, the driver program 66 reads designated data from the memory area indicated by the second pointer. That is, the driver program 66 acquires specified data from the editing program 65 via the OS 64. The process in which the driver program 66 acquires the second pointer in step S32 is an example of an acquisition process.

  Next, the driver program 66 executes execution condition determination processing (S33). The execution condition determination process is a process for determining specified condition information to be included in the print instruction information in accordance with a user instruction. Details of the execution condition determination process will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the driver program 66 acquires date / time information indicating the current date / time “2016/12/10 16:15” from a system clock (not shown). Next, the driver program 66 reads from the memory 62 a setting condition record whose time information includes the current date and time among the setting condition records shown in FIG. 2A (S41). Also, the driver program 66 reads from the memory 62 a learning condition record whose time information includes the current date and time among the learning condition records shown in FIG. 3A (S41).

  The setting condition information “postcard”, “color”, “none” included in the read setting condition record, and the learning condition information “A4”, “monochrome”, “2 in 1” included in the read learning condition record are recommended conditions. It is an example of information. The process of S41 is an example of a reading process. Then, the driver program 66 temporarily stores the learning condition information included in the read learning condition record in the memory 62 as the specified condition information.

  Next, the driver program 66 displays the execution condition editing screen shown in FIG. 9A on the display 53 (S42). The execution condition editing screen includes an editing area 131 that allows the user to edit the execution condition of the printing operation, and a notification area 132 that notifies the setting condition information. Then, the driver program 66 receives a user operation for the execution condition editing screen through the input I / F 54 (S43). The process of S42 is an example of a display process, and the process of S43 is an example of a reception process.

  The editing area 131 includes pull-down menus 133, 134, and 135 that are examples of item objects, and an [OK] icon 136. In the pull-down menus 133 to 135, the designation condition information “A4”, “monochrome”, and “2 in 1” temporarily stored in the memory 62 are designated. The notification area 132 includes a character string indicating the setting condition information “postcard”, “color”, and “none” read in S41, and a [batch] icon 137 that is an example of a batch object.

  The driver program 66, for example, in response to accepting a change in the parameter specified in the pull-down menu 133-135 through the input I / F 54 (S43: pull-down menu), the parameter of the specified condition information temporarily stored in the memory 62. Are overwritten with the newly designated parameters (S44). Then, the driver program 66 causes the display 53 to display an execution condition editing screen including pull-down menus 133 to 135 on which newly designated parameters are displayed (S42).

  Further, in response to accepting designation of the [collective] icon 137 through the input I / F 54 (S43: collective), the driver program 66 overwrites the designated condition information with the setting condition information read in S42 (S45). The process of S45 is an example of a batch change process. Then, the driver program 66 causes the display 53 to display an execution condition editing screen including pull-down menus 133 to 135 on which setting condition information “postcard”, “color”, and “none” is displayed (S42).

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9B, the user changes the parameter of the item “layout” from “monochrome” to “color” through the pull-down menu 134, and from “2 in 1” through the pull-down menu 135. It shall be changed to “None”. Then, the driver program 66 executes a learning condition update process described later (S46) in response to accepting the designation of the [OK] icon 136 through the input I / F 54 (S43: OK).

  Returning to FIG. 4, the driver program 66 transmits print instruction information to the MFP 10 through the communication I / F 55 (S34). The process of S34 is an example of an output instruction process. Then, the apparatus program 35 of the MFP 10 causes the printer 11 to execute a printing operation according to the print instruction information received from the information processing terminal 50 (S35). The processes of S34 and S35 may be the same as S24 and S25.

  Next, the learning condition update process will be described with reference to FIG. Hereinafter, an example of the learning condition update process executed in S46 will be described, but the same applies to the learning condition update process executed in S23.

  First, the driver program 66 acquires date / time information indicating the current date / time “2016/12/10 16:15” from a system clock (not shown). Then, the driver program 66 registers a history record including the acquired date / time information and the specified condition information “A4”, “color”, and “none” stored in the memory 62 at the time of S46 in the history list ( S51). The process of S51 is an example of a first storage process.

  Next, the driver program 66 reads from the memory 62 a learning condition record whose time information includes the current date and time among the learning condition records shown in FIG. Next, the driver program 66 sets the designated condition information “A4”, “color”, “none” at the time of execution of the learning condition update process, and learning condition information “A4”, “monochrome” included in the read learning condition record. , “2 in 1” is determined (S52).

  Next, when the driver program 66 determines that the specified condition information and the learning condition information are different (S52: different), whether or not a plurality of history records that match the extraction condition are registered in the history list. Is determined (S53). The extraction condition according to the present embodiment includes date and time information within a threshold time (for example, one hour) from the current date and time “2016/12/10 16:15”, and specified condition information “A4”, “color”, and “none”. And the same history condition information.

  Then, in response to determining that a plurality of history records that match the extraction condition are registered in the history list (S53: Yes), the driver program 66 extracts all history records that match the extraction condition from the history list. read out. Then, the driver program 66 uses the time information indicating the time from the earliest execution date and time “15:21” to the latest execution date and time “16:15” in the date and time information of the read history record, and the read history record A learning condition record is generated with the history condition information “A4”, “color”, and “none” as learning condition information. The processing of S52 and S53 is an example of generation processing.

  Next, the driver program 66 registers the generated learning condition record in the learning condition list (S54). The process of S54 is an example of a second storage process. In addition, the driver program 66 determines whether or not another learning condition record whose time indicated by the time information of the learning condition record registered in S54 is registered in the learning condition list (S55). Then, when the driver program 66 determines that another learning condition record having a duplicate time is registered (S55: Yes), as shown in FIG. The time information is reduced so as not to overlap with the time information of the learning condition record registered in S54 (S56).

  In the above example, the driver program 66 includes the timing information “15:21 to 16:15” and the learning condition information “A4” between the learning condition records on the first and second lines in FIG. , “Color” and “None” are newly added as learning condition records (S54). Further, the driver program 66 reduces the end date and time of the timing information on the first line in FIG. 3B from “15:59” to “15:20”, and the timing information on the third line in FIG. 3B. Is reduced from “16:00” to “16:16” (S56).

  Next, the driver program 66 determines whether or not the learning condition information of the learning condition record registered in S54 is the same as the learning condition information of another learning condition record adjacent to the learning condition record (S57). Then, when the driver program 66 determines that the learning condition information of the learning condition record with which the time information is adjacent is the same (S57: Yes), the time information is adjacent as shown in FIG. The learning condition records to be merged are merged (S58). More specifically, the driver program 66 sets the learning condition records on the first and second lines in FIG. 3B to the end of the learning condition record after the start date and time “15:00” of the previous learning condition record. It merges into one learning condition record including time information indicating the time until the date and time “16:15”.

  On the other hand, if the driver program 66 determines that the learning condition information of the adjacent learning condition records is different (S57: No), the driver program 66 skips the process of S58 and ends the learning condition update process. Further, the driver program 66 skips the processing of S56 to S58 and terminates the learning condition update processing in response to determining that no other learning condition records with overlapping times are registered (S55: No). To do. Further, when the driver program 66 determines that a plurality of history records that match the extraction condition are not registered in the history list (S53: No), the processing of S54 to S58 is skipped, and the learning condition is updated. The process ends. Furthermore, when the driver program 66 determines that the specified condition information and the learning condition information are the same (S52: the same), the driver program 66 skips the processes of S53 to S58 and ends the learning condition update process.

[Operational effects of this embodiment]
According to the above embodiment, the condition information stored in advance in the memory 62 in association with the time information including the current date and time is displayed on the display 53 as the recommended condition information. Thereby, the user can be made to recognize the execution conditions suitable for the current usage mode. In addition, the user can designate a desired execution condition based on the recommended condition information through the print screen or the execution condition editing screen. Thereby, user operation which designates execution conditions can be simplified. The condition information notified to the editing program 65 in S14 to S16 is not limited to setting condition information, and may be learning condition information.

  In addition, according to the above-described embodiment, the setting condition information is displayed in the notification area to allow the user to recognize the parameter, and the parameter included in the setting condition information can be selected from the pull-down menu 133 only by the user operation specifying the [batch] icon 137. ~ 135 can be set at once. Thereby, the user operation which designates the execution condition suitable for the usage mode of the current user can be simplified. The layout of the execution condition editing screen is not limited to the above example. For example, the parameters included in the setting condition information read in S41 may be set in the pull-down menus 133 to 135, or the notification area 132 may be omitted.

  In addition, according to the above embodiment, when the output operation is repeatedly executed using the same designated condition information within the threshold time, the time information generated from the execution date and time of the output instruction process and the designated condition information are included. A learning condition record is registered in the learning condition list. Accordingly, it is possible to notify an appropriate execution condition of the output operation in accordance with the time change of the usage mode of the MFP 10 by the user. However, the generation method of the learning condition record is not limited to the example of FIG. 7, and another method using a history list may be adopted.

  In the above embodiment, the example in which the setting condition information and the learning condition information read in S41 are notified to the user as the recommended condition information has been described. However, the handling of the recommended condition information is not limited to the above example. For example, the driver program 66 may cause the MFP 10 to execute a printing operation for the designated data acquired from the editing program 65 in accordance with the recommended condition information read in S41. Accordingly, the output operation can be executed under an appropriate execution condition in accordance with the time change of the usage mode of the MFP 10 by the user.

  In addition, in the MFP 10 and the information processing terminal 50 according to the above-described embodiment, an example in which each process executed by the controller of the present invention is realized by the CPUs 31 and 61 executing various programs stored in the memories 32 and 62. Explained. However, the configuration of the controller is not limited to this, and part or all of the configuration may be realized by hardware such as an integrated circuit.

  Furthermore, the present invention may be realized not only as the MFP 10 and the information processing terminal 50 but also as a program that causes the MFP 10 and the information processing terminal 50 to execute processing. Then, the program may be provided by being recorded on a non-transitory recording medium. The non-transitory recording medium may include a storage unit mounted on a server that can be connected to the MFP 10 and the information processing terminal 50 through a communication network, in addition to a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, and the like. And the program memorize | stored in the memory | storage part of the server may be distributed through communication networks, such as the internet, as the information or signal which shows the said program.

10 ... MFP
11 ... Printer 13 ... FAX 23, 53 ... Display 24,54 ... Input I / F
25, 55 ... Communication I / F
31, 61 ... CPU
32, 62 ... Memory 34, 64 ... OS
35 ... Device program 50 ... Information processing terminal 65 ... Editing program 66 ... Driver program

Claims (7)

A driver program readable by an information processing terminal comprising a memory, a display, an input interface, and a communication interface,
The memory stores a plurality of sets of time information indicating a time and condition information indicating an execution condition of an output operation to be executed by the image output apparatus,
The driver program is
An acquisition process for acquiring specified data to be the target of the output operation from an external program installed in the information processing terminal via the OS;
A reading process of reading recommended condition information associated with the time information including the current date and time among the plurality of condition information stored in the memory;
A display process for causing the display to display an execution condition indicated by the recommended condition information read in the read process;
A reception process for receiving a user operation for specifying an execution condition of the output operation for the specified data through the input interface after executing the display process;
And causing the information processing terminal to execute an output instruction process for transmitting output instruction information to the image output device through the communication interface, and the output instruction information includes the output operation for the specified data in the reception process. A driver program that is information to be executed according to specified execution conditions. The condition information includes a plurality of parameters corresponding to a plurality of items,
In the display process, the driver program displays a plurality of item objects each corresponding to one of the plurality of items on the display, and the parameter included in the recommended condition information is specified for the item object. The state
The driver program is
In the reception process, a user operation for changing the parameter specified in the item object is received through the input interface;
2. The driver program according to claim 1, wherein, in the output instruction process, the image output apparatus executes the output operation in accordance with an execution condition indicated by a combination of the plurality of parameters specified by each of the plurality of item objects. The condition information includes a plurality of parameters corresponding to a plurality of items,
In the display process, the driver program includes a plurality of item objects each corresponding to one of the plurality of items, a plurality of parameters included in the recommended condition information in a region different from the item object, and a collective object Is displayed on the display, and the item object is in a state in which one of a plurality of the parameters that can be specified for the corresponding item is specified,
The driver program is
In response to the batch object being designated in the acceptance process, batch change processing for batch-changing a plurality of the item objects to a state in which the parameter indicated by the recommended condition information is designated is performed as the information processing. Let the terminal run,
2. The driver program according to claim 1, wherein, in the output instruction process, the image output apparatus executes the output operation in accordance with an execution condition indicated by a combination of the plurality of parameters specified by each of the plurality of item objects. The driver program is
A first storage process for storing history information including date and time information indicating an execution date and time of the output instruction process and history condition information indicating an execution condition of the output operation instructed in the output instruction process in the memory;
A generation process for generating a set of the time information and the condition information based on a plurality of the history information stored in the first storage process;
4. The driver program according to claim 1, wherein the information processing terminal causes the information processing terminal to execute a second storage process of storing the set of the time information and the condition information generated in the generation process in the memory. 5.   In the generation process, the driver program is stored in the memory with a plurality of pieces of history information including the same history condition information whose execution date and time indicated by the date and time information is within a threshold time. 5. The set of the time information indicating the time from the earliest execution date to the latest execution date among the date information included in the history information and the history condition information included in the history information is generated. Driver program described in. A driver program readable by an information processing terminal comprising a memory and a communication interface,
The memory stores a plurality of sets of time information indicating a time and condition information indicating an execution condition of an output operation to be executed by the image output apparatus,
The driver program is
Responding to the time information including the current date and time among the plurality of condition information stored in the memory in response to a request for notification of recommended condition information through the OS from an external program installed in the information processing terminal Read processing for reading the recommended condition information attached,
A notification process for notifying the external program of the recommended condition information read in the read process via the OS;
Acquisition processing for acquiring specified data to be subjected to the output operation and specified condition information indicating an execution condition of the output operation from the external program via the OS;
Causing the information processing terminal to execute an output instruction process for transmitting output instruction information to the image output device through the communication interface, wherein the output instruction information includes the output condition for the specified data as the specified condition information. A driver program that is information to be executed according to the execution condition indicated by. A driver program readable by an information processing terminal comprising a memory and a communication interface,
The memory stores a plurality of sets of time information indicating a time and condition information indicating an execution condition of an output operation to be executed by the image output apparatus,
The driver program is
An acquisition process for acquiring specified data to be the target of the output operation from an external program installed in the information processing terminal via the OS;
A reading process of reading recommended condition information associated with the time information including the current date and time among the plurality of condition information stored in the memory;
Causing the information processing terminal to execute an output instruction process for transmitting output instruction information to the image output apparatus through the communication interface, and the output instruction information includes the recommended condition information and the output operation for the specified data. A driver program that is information to be executed according to the execution condition indicated by.

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