JP2019061621A - Program and printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a technology of reducing the time and effort for setting operation when there are multiple paths between printers and an information processing apparatus.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus 2 has a first path and a second path, as paths for processing data for print instruction to printing devices 1, via a network interface 27. The information processing apparatus 2 reads an application table 242 formed by associating printer names for identifying each of the printing devices 1, application names of application programs having output print instructions to printers, and processing paths used by printing of the print instructions. The information processing apparatus 2 displays the printer names and the associated application names, and receives a selection of a printer from among the displayed printers. The information processing apparatus 2 determines a processing path so as to use a processing path associated with the selected printer.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to a program and a printing system incorporated in an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a printer. More specifically, the present invention relates to a technology for determining a processing path for image data between a printer and an information processing apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art In an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a device such as a printer, there is known a technology for receiving various settings relating to printing via a user interface provided by an application program or a printer driver. For example, in patent document 1, a user-defined name is given to each of a port number, a printer driver name, and a printing parameter, and is registered in a table, and at the time of printing, these settings are performed using the user-defined name. It is disclosed.

JP-A-9-188007

  In recent years, as represented by, for example, AirPrint (registered trademark), there has been provided an information processing apparatus having a so-called driverless printing function that performs printing without using a printer driver according to a predetermined printing standard. The information processing apparatus transmits image data to be printed to the printer according to a predetermined print standard by using a general-purpose print control function provided by an operating system (OS). Then, the printer performs printing in accordance with a predetermined printing standard by a program incorporated in the printer.

  In the case of using a general-purpose print control function, available print setting items tend to be small, and it may not be possible to provide printing of the quality desired by the user. As an example for solving this, it is conceivable to separately provide a specific print control function corresponding to a specific printer in order to enable more detailed print settings. An information processing apparatus having a specific print control function processes image data to be printed using a program dedicated to the printer. In this case, the printer prints using dedicated data processed by the dedicated program. An information processing apparatus having both of these two types of print control functions has a plurality of processing paths for printing, even in the case of causing the same printer to print using the same communication interface. .

  As described above, in the case of having a plurality of processing routes, since the items that can be set for each route are different, a configuration in which the user can select a route in advance can be considered. However, many users do not require advanced print settings, and it is often not important which path is used for printing. For such users, increasing the number of operations for selecting a route is bothersome and cumbersome.

  The present invention has been made to solve the problems associated with the above-described process selection operation. That is, the problem is to provide a technology capable of reducing the time and effort of setting operation when there are a plurality of processing paths between the printer and the information processing apparatus.

  A program made for the purpose of solving the problem includes a storage unit, a display unit, an operation unit, and a communication interface, and is connected to the printer through the communication interface, and the printer is further connected through the communication interface. In the information processing apparatus having a first path and a second path as processing paths for processing data instructing printing based on image data to be printed, the identification information for identifying individual printers is used. Identification information of an application program that has output a print instruction to a printer specified by the identification information and identification information of a processing path used in printing based on the print instruction, which is related information associated with each other, the storage A reading process for reading out the related information stored in the storage unit, and a printer identified by the Display processing to be displayed on the display unit together with an application program associated with the printer, and selection processing for accepting selection of one printer from among the printers displayed by the display processing by an operation on the operation unit And a determination process of determining a process path as a process path associated with the printer selected by the selection process.

  An information processing apparatus in which a program disclosed in the present specification is incorporated stores related information in which an application program and a processing path are associated with each printer. Then, the information processing apparatus displays the printer and the application program together based on the related information, and receives a printer selection operation from among the displayed printers. Further, the information processing apparatus determines the processing path as the processing path stored in the related information in association with the selected printer.

  By executing the program disclosed in this specification, when selecting a printer, the user can refer to an application program displayed alongside the printer. Since the selection of the printer determines the processing route, the user is not aware of the selection of the processing route. Then, by simply selecting a printer, there is a high possibility that the processing path is determined as the processing path suitable for the user.

  According to the present invention, in the case where there are a plurality of processing paths between the printer and the information processing apparatus, a technology capable of reducing the time and effort of setting operation is realized.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a program for printing of the information processing apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the path | route of two types of processes. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a path | route table. It is an explanatory view showing an example of an edit screen. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing an example of a printer selection screen. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of an application table. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of an image edit process. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of printer selection processing. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a table update process. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing an example of a printer selection screen.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a printing system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a printing system including a printing apparatus and an information processing apparatus which can communicate with each other.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system 100 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of printing apparatuses 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D, and an information processing apparatus 2 and is communicably connected to each other. The printing apparatuses 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D are all apparatuses capable of printing on a medium to be printed, and are, for example, a label printer, a page printer, a copier, and a multifunction machine. Hereinafter, when there is no need to make a distinction, it is simply referred to as the printing apparatus 1.

  The information processing device 2 is a device that performs generation and processing of image data to be printed by the printing device 1, transmission of a print execution instruction to the printing device 1, and the like, and is, for example, a smartphone, a personal computer, or a tablet computer. The number of printing apparatuses 1 and information processing apparatuses 2 constituting the printing system 100 is not limited to the example shown in FIG.

  The printing apparatus 1 has a controller 11, an image forming unit 12, an operation panel 13, and a network interface 14, as shown as a representative of the printing apparatus 1A in FIG. The controller 11 includes a CPU, a memory, and the like, and controls each component of the printing apparatus 1. Note that the controller 11 in FIG. 1 is a general term for hardware used to control the printing apparatus 1 and does not necessarily represent a single piece of hardware actually present in the printing apparatus 1.

  The image forming unit 12 is a configuration for printing an image on a medium to be printed. The image forming method of the image forming unit 12 may be an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method. The printing apparatus 1 may be an apparatus capable of forming a color image, or may be an apparatus performing only monochrome printing. The operation panel 13 is, for example, a touch panel, and receives an input from the user and displays information. The operation panel 13 may include various display lamps and buttons. The network interface 14 includes hardware for communicating with the information processing device 2.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing apparatus 2 includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, a non-volatile memory 24, an operation display unit 26, and a network interface 27. The ROM 22 stores an activation program and the like for activating the information processing apparatus 2. The RAM 23 is used as a work area when various processes are executed, or as a storage area for temporarily storing data. The nonvolatile memory 24 is, for example, an HDD or a flash memory, and stores various programs and data. The non-volatile memory 24 is an example of a storage unit, and the operation display unit 26 is an example of a configuration that doubles as an operation unit and a display unit.

  The CPU 21 executes various processes in accordance with programs read out from the ROM 22 and the non-volatile memory 24. The operation display unit 26 is, for example, a touch panel, and receives an input from the user and displays information. The operation display unit 26 may include a keyboard, a mouse, a display, and the like. The network interface 27 includes hardware for communicating with the printing apparatus 1. The network interface 27 is an example of a communication interface.

  In the printing system 100 according to the present embodiment, the information processing apparatus 2 and the printing apparatus 1 perform wireless communication compliant with the Wi-Fi (registered trademark) standard via the common access point 3. That is, both of the network interfaces 14 and 27 are interfaces that enable wireless communication according to the Wi-Fi (registered trademark) standard. More specifically, it is an interface that enables wireless communication based on the IEEE 802.11 standard and a standard conforming thereto. The communication mode of the present embodiment is an example, and is not limited to the above-described mode. For example, the information processing apparatus 2 and the printing apparatus 1 may communicate by wireless communication by direct connection not via the access point 3.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the non-volatile memory 24 of the information processing apparatus 2 includes an application program for image editing (image editing application) 41, an image data generation program 42, a dedicated printing control program 43, and an operating system OS) 44 is stored. Further, the OS 44 of the information processing apparatus 2 incorporates a general-purpose print control program 45 and a communication program 46. Hereinafter, the application program is referred to as an "application". In FIG. 2, the directions in which various data flow are indicated by solid arrows.

  The image editing application 41 is, for example, a program having a function of receiving a user's instruction, a function of displaying an image, and a function of editing and saving an image. The image editing application 41 further has a function of reading a generated image file, a function of receiving a print instruction, and a function of receiving various settings at the time of printing. The image editing application 41 also has a function of acquiring the status information of the apparatus from the printing apparatus 1 via the dedicated printing control program 43 or the general-purpose printing control program 45, as indicated by an alternate long and short dash line in FIG. Examples of the status information of the apparatus include print completion notification and error notification.

  The image data generation program 42 is a program having a function of generating an image file for printing. In the information processing apparatus 2 of the present embodiment, the image data generation program 42 generates a label image file based on the editing instruction accepted by the image editing application 41, for example. The label image file is a data file for printing on a tape-like label medium.

  The dedicated printing control program 43 has, for example, a function of rasterizing image data included in a label image file to generate rasterized data, and a function of controlling the communication program 46 to transmit the generated rasterized data to the printing apparatus 1 It is a program. The dedicated print control program 43 is a dedicated program corresponding to a specific model of printing apparatus, and does not correspond to printing apparatuses other than a specific model such as models of other manufacturers.

  The general-purpose print control program 45 is a program having a function of generating printing standard data based on a predetermined printing standard, and a function of controlling the communication program 46 to transmit the generated standard data to the printing apparatus 1. The general-purpose print control program 45 is a standard program provided by the OS 44 in order to realize the print control function. The standard data transmitted by the general-purpose print control program 45 is data conforming to a standard suitable for general-purpose rasterization processing included in the printing apparatus 1 and is data not rasterized.

  The general-purpose print control program 45 is a general-purpose program corresponding to various printing apparatuses that support a predetermined printing standard. Therefore, if it is a printing apparatus having a function corresponding to the general-purpose printing control program 45, printing based on the standard data can be executed by any printing apparatus of any manufacturer. Since the general-purpose print control program 45 is a general-purpose program corresponding to a plurality of models, acceptable print settings are limited to general ones. Therefore, the general-purpose print control program 45 does not necessarily receive all print settings that can be executed by the printing apparatus 1. As a printing system using the general-purpose printing control program 45, for example, there are AirPrint and Mopria (both registered trademarks).

  The communication program 46 is a program having a function of controlling the network interface 27 to communicate with a device of the communication partner. For example, the dedicated print control program 43 passes the generated rasterized data to the OS 44. The OS 44 of the information processing apparatus 2 transmits the rasterized data to the printing apparatus 1 through the network interface 27 by the communication program 46. The communication program 46 is also a standard program provided by the OS 44. A part of the communication program 46 may be stored in the ROM 22.

  The printing system 100 according to the present embodiment has two types of paths as shown in FIG. 3 as processing paths for processing data instructing printing for causing the printing apparatus 1 to perform printing. The two types of paths are a first path in which the information processing apparatus 2 performs rasterization processing and a second path in which the printing apparatus 1 performs rasterization processing. The first path is an example of a first path, and the second path is an example of a second path.

  When making the printing apparatus 1 print using the first path, as shown in FIG. 3, the information processing apparatus 2 executes rasterization processing to rasterize the image data included in the label image file, and after rasterization The rasterized data of is transmitted to the printing apparatus 1. The printing apparatus 1 receives rasterized data and prints based on the received rasterized data. In the first path, the information processing apparatus 2 rasterizes image data to be printed using the dedicated print control program 43 shown in FIG. The rasterization process performed by the information processing apparatus 2 is an example of a first rasterization process, and rasterized data transmitted from the information processing apparatus 2 to the printing apparatus 1 through the first route is an example of first data.

  When making the printing apparatus 1 print using the second path, as shown in FIG. 3, the information processing apparatus 2 normalizes the image data included in the label image file in the standardization process, and the standard data is It is sent to the printing apparatus 1. The printing apparatus 1 performs general-purpose rasterization processing that rasterizes standard data, and prints based on data rasterized by the general-purpose rasterization processing. In the second path, the information processing apparatus 2 normalizes the image data to be printed using the general-purpose print control program 45 shown in FIG. The general-purpose rasterization process performed by the printing apparatus 1 is an example of a second rasterization process, and the data rasterized by the general-purpose rasterization process is an example of second data.

  The first route and the second route differ in the processing subject that rasterizes image data to be printed. That is, the first path is a path for causing the information processing apparatus 2 to perform rasterization, and the second path is a path for causing the printing apparatus 1 to perform rasterization.

  The printing apparatus 1 may be compatible with data processed by any of the first and second paths, and may be compatible with only one of them. The information processing apparatus 2 can determine which path the printing apparatus can support based on the model name of the printing apparatus, the model number, the firmware version, and the like. The information processing apparatus 2 transmits data using wireless communication by the network interface 27 in both the first route and the second route. That is, the communication mode may be the same as the first route or the second route.

  For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the information processing apparatus 2 stores, in the non-volatile memory 24, a path table 241 indicating the relationship between paths that can be supported by each printing apparatus. In the printing system 100 according to the present embodiment, for example, the printing apparatus 1A is an apparatus compatible with only the first path, the printing apparatus 1B is an apparatus compatible with only the second path, and the printing apparatuses 1C and 1D are , And a device capable of coping with both the first and second paths.

  The dedicated print control program 43 of this embodiment is a dedicated program for performing processing in the first path. The dedicated printing control program 43 generates rasterized data of a format compatible with the printing apparatus 1 corresponding to the first path. The dedicated print control program 43 may be different for each model of the printing apparatus that executes printing, or may support multiple models. The information processing apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment includes both a dedicated printing control program 43 corresponding to the printing apparatus 1A, a dedicated printing control program 43 corresponding to the printing apparatus 1C, and a dedicated printing control program 43 corresponding to the printing apparatus 1D. Any of the apparatuses can print using the first path.

  The dedicated print control program 43 is not included in the OS 44. When printing by the first route, the information processing apparatus 2 does not use the print control function (for example, the general-purpose print control program 45) included in the OS 44. The first path uses the dedicated print control program 43, and thus corresponds to all print settings that can be handled by each printing apparatus 1.

  Since the second path uses the general-purpose print control program 45 which is a print control function included in the OS 44, it can not necessarily correspond to all the functions provided in a specific printing apparatus (for example, the printing apparatus 1C). The general-purpose print control program 45 accepts only print settings that can be supported by many models as valid settings. For example, the general-purpose print control program 45 does not correspond to high-resolution print settings that can be supported only by a specific model.

  The algorithm of rasterization processing is different between the first path and the second path, and the processing result may be different. That is, the first path is a path for performing rasterization that can correspond to detailed print settings, and the second path is a path for performing rasterization in which some print settings are limited. Further, the type and data format of data to be transmitted from the information processing device 2 to the printing device 1 are different between the first path and the second path. As a result, even if the printed matter is based on the same label image file, the printed result may differ between the printed matter according to the first pass and the printed matter according to the second pass.

  Then, when the image editing application 41 of the present embodiment receives a print instruction, the image editing application 41 determines the processing route as either the first route or the second route. Since the printing apparatus 1A corresponds to only the first path, the image editing application 41 performs processing in the first path when printing on the printing apparatus 1A. That is, when the image editing application 41 receives a print instruction, and the printing apparatus 1A is selected, exclusive printing is performed using a label image file suitable for the exclusive printing control program 43 for the printing apparatus 1A. The control program 43 performs rasterization processing. Then, the information processing device 2 outputs the data after the rasterization process to the printing device 1A.

  Further, since the printing apparatus 1B corresponds to only the second route, the image editing application 41 uses the second route when making the printing apparatus 1B print. That is, when the image editing application 41 receives a print instruction, and the printing apparatus 1B is selected, printing on the printing apparatus 1B is performed using a label image file that conforms to the general-purpose print control program 45. Output the instruction.

  On the other hand, since the printing apparatuses 1C and 1D correspond to both paths, the processing path can not be determined just by selecting the apparatus. The image editing application 41 can, for example, cause the printing apparatus 1C or 1D to print using the first path, or cause the printing apparatus 1C or 1D to print using the second path. The image editing application 41 determines, for example, a processing path based on the received instruction, and processes data instructing printing using the determined processing path. The method of determining the processing path will be described later.

  Subsequently, the printing operation by the printing system 100 of the present embodiment will be described. A user who wants to print based on a label image file in the printing system 100 activates the image editing application 41 in the information processing apparatus 2 and edits the image data to be printed.

  When the image editing application 41 is activated, the information processing device 2 displays an editing screen 51 as shown in FIG. 5, for example. The editing screen 51 includes, for example, a print image 52, a printer selection area 53, and a print button 56, as shown in FIG. The print image 52 is a view showing an image of a printed matter to be output. The printer selection area 53 is an area for receiving the selection of the printing apparatus 1 by the user. The print button 56 is a button for receiving a print execution instruction.

  When the image editing application 41 according to the present embodiment receives an instruction to display options in the printer selection area 53, for example, as shown in FIG. Display the list 531. In the example of FIG. 6, “printer A” to “printer D” are displayed in the printer list 531 as printer names indicating the printing apparatuses 1A to 1D. The printer name is a name such as a node name or a model name of the printer that can distinguish the individual printing apparatuses 1.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, the image editing application 41 displays the application along with the name of each printing device 1 for the printing devices 1 corresponding to a plurality of routes. The application to be written together is the application for which the printing instruction has been issued when the printing device 1 has previously instructed printing. The user can select the printing apparatus 1 based on the application described in the printer name, with reference to the print result when printing was previously performed. The image editing application 41 receives a selection operation to the printer list 531, and determines the selected printing device as a device that executes printing. The example of FIG. 6 shows a state in which the printer C is selected.

  Then, when the printing apparatus 1 in which the application is described is selected, the image editing application 41 uses the route of the process at the time of printing execution when using the displayed application to print before. Decide on. On the other hand, when the printing apparatus 1 corresponding to only one path is selected, the image editing application 41 determines the processing path as a path that the printing apparatus 1 can support.

  In order to display the printer list 531, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the information processing apparatus 2 stores in the non-volatile memory 24 an application table 242 that associates the printing apparatus 1 with an application. The information processing apparatus 2 may be shared by a plurality of users. In that case, the information processing device 2 can receive the login operation of the user, and can specify the user based on the received login operation. The image editing application 41 creates, for example, the application table 242 of each user in the current directory of the logged-in user. The current directory of the user is the top of a dedicated storage area provided for each user, and is an area accessible by a plurality of applications. That is, the information processing device 2 stores the application table 242 for each user in association with the individual user.

  In the application table 242, for example, the printer name of the printing apparatus 1 on which each user printed, the serial number of the printing apparatus 1, and the application executed when printing was performed on the printing apparatus 1 The application name, the path of the process used for printing in the application, and the print setting at the time of printing are stored in association with each other. The application table 242 is an example of related information. The serial number of the printing apparatus 1 is a code different from one printing apparatus 1 to another, and is, for example, a serial number assigned when the printing apparatus 1 is manufactured. The serial number is an example of identification information that identifies each printer, and the application name is an example of identification information of an application program. The identification number of the printer is not limited to the serial number, and may be, for example, a MAC address. For example, in FIG. 7, the printing apparatus 1C whose printer name is "printer C" indicates that the serial number is "N003".

  Then, when an instruction to display an option in the printer selection area 53 is received, the information processing apparatus 2 refers to the application table 242 stored in the current directory of the logged-in user, and displays the name of the application to be displayed. decide. In FIG. 7, the user associated with the application table 242 has previously issued a print instruction from the “application C” and has made the printing apparatus 1 C execute printing, and the route of the process used at that time Is shown to be the first route.

  The image editing application 41 receives the selection of the printing apparatus 1 that is to execute printing by an operation on the printer list 531. Then, when the printing device 1 corresponding to a plurality of routes is selected, the image editing application 41 determines a route stored in the application table 242 in association with the printing device 1 as a processing route. For example, in the example of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, when “printer C” is selected and the printing instruction is accepted, the image editing application 41 executes the process using the first route, and the image to be printed is The data is sent to the printing apparatus 1C.

  Subsequently, the procedure of the image editing process executed by the information processing apparatus 2 in order to realize the above-described printing operation in the printing system 100 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The image editing process is executed by the CPU 21 of the information processing device 2 when the image editing application 41 is activated. The image editing process and the printer selection process described later are processes included in the image editing application 41.

  In the image editing process, the CPU 21 first controls the operation display unit 26 to display the editing screen 51 shown in FIG. 5 (S101). In S101, if image data is designated as an edit target, the CPU 21 displays a print image 52 based on the image data. Further, the CPU 21 displays, for example, the name of the printer set as default in the printer selection area 53.

  Then, the CPU 21 receives an operation on each button on the editing screen 51. The CPU 21 determines whether an operation of a printer selection button for displaying an option to the printer selection area 53 has been received (S102). When it is determined that the operation of the printer selection button has not been received (S102: NO), the CPU 21 determines whether the operation to the print button 56 has been received (S103). If it is determined that the operation on the print button 56 has not been received (S103: NO), the CPU 21 determines whether the operation on the other button has been received (S104).

  When it is determined that the operation of the other button has not been received (S104: NO), the CPU 21 determines whether an instruction to end the application has been received (S105). If it is determined that the instruction to end the application has not been received (S105: NO), the CPU 21 returns to S102 and repeats the determination of S102 to S105 until any operation is received.

  When it is determined that the operation of the printer selection button has been received (S102: YES), the CPU 21 executes the printer selection process (S106). The procedure of the printer selection process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In the printer selection process, the CPU 21 determines whether the application table 242 is stored in the current directory of the user in use (S201). If it is determined that the application table 242 is stored (S201: YES), the CPU 21 reads the content of the application table 242 (S202). S202 is an example of the reading process. Since the use mode of the printer is different for each user, the information processing apparatus 2 is provided with the application table 242 for each user, and the selection of the processing path to be described later is performed for each user.

  Further, the CPU 21 performs printer search using the function of the OS 44 (S203). S203 is an example of a search process. The CPU 21 controls the network interface 27 by the device search function of the OS 44, for example, and transmits a signal for searching for the printing apparatus 1 that can communicate with the information processing apparatus 2. Then, the CPU 21 determines whether a printer that is a communicable printing apparatus 1 has been found (S204). When it is determined that the printer is found (S204: YES), the CPU 21 determines whether the found printer corresponds to a plurality of routes based on the route table 241 (see FIG. 4) (S205).

  If it is determined that it corresponds to a plurality of paths (S205: YES), the CPU 21 determines whether the information of the found printer is included in the application table 242 read in S202 (S206). If it is determined that it is included in the application table 242 (S206: YES), the CPU 21 controls the operation display unit 26 to store the printer name of the found printer and the application stored in the application table 242 in association with the printer. The name is displayed on the printer list 531 (see FIG. 6) in the printer selection area 53 (S207). S207 is an example of display processing.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that it is not included in the application table 242 (S206: NO), the CPU 21 controls the operation display unit 26 to find the printer name of the found printer and the word indicating "not in use" It is displayed on the printer list 531 of the selection area 53 (S208). A printer whose information is not stored in the application table 242 is the printing apparatus 1 that has not been used for printing by the user. Even in the case of a printer which has not been printed, displaying selectable items increases the number of printer options and improves the freedom of selection.

  If it is determined that it does not correspond to a plurality of paths (S205: NO), the CPU 21 controls the operation display unit 26 to display the printer name of the found printer in the printer list 531 of the printer selection area 53 (S209) . In S209, the CPU 21 does not write the application name at the same time. If it is necessary to select a processing path, there are a plurality of processing paths, and if it is decided that there is only one processing path, it is less necessary to display the application name. Therefore, by not displaying the application name, the display content is simplified, and the user can more easily select a printer.

  Then, after any one of S207, S208, and S209, the CPU 21 continues the search. Then, the CPU 21 returns to S204 and determines whether the next printer is found.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the application table 242 of the user in use is not stored (S201: NO), the CPU 21 searches for a printer (S210). S210 is the same process as S203. Then, the CPU 21 determines whether a printer has been found (S211). If it is determined that the printer has been found (S211: YES), the CPU 21 controls the operation display unit 26 to display the printer name of the found printer in the printer list 531 of the printer selection area 53 (S212). In S212, the CPU 21 displays the field of the application name with blank spaces. In the case of a user whose application table 242 is not stored, application names of all printers are blank.

  Then, when it is determined that the search for all connected printers is completed and no other printer can be found (S204: NO or S211: NO), the CPU 21 performs a selection operation on the displayed printer list 531. Accept. Further, the CPU 21 determines whether a selection operation has been received (S215). S215 is an example of selection processing.

  If it is determined that the selection operation has been received (S215: YES), the CPU 21 acquires the path of the selected printer as a processing path (S216). If the selected printer corresponds to only one of the first path and the second path, the corresponding path is acquired as a processing path. Further, in the case where information of a route is stored in the application table 242 in association with the selected printer, the stored route is acquired as a processing route. Further, in the case where a printer corresponding to a plurality of paths is not stored with path information in the application table 242, the first path is used as a processing path. In the case where a printer corresponding to a plurality of paths is not stored with path information in the application table 242, the user may be inquired of the paths.

  Furthermore, if the selected printer is a printer whose information is stored in the application table 242, the CPU 21 reads the print setting stored in association with the selected printer, and reads the default value of the print setting. It is set to the value of the print setting (S217). S217 is an example of default value setting processing.

  In the information processing apparatus 2, as described later, after printing is performed, setting information of print settings used for printing is stored in the application table 242. That is, the setting information stored in the application table 242 is each setting value used as a print setting when the user in use executes printing with the application having the application name described in the printer list 531. . Since the user refers to the application name described in the printer list 531 to select a printer, there is a high possibility that he / she desires the print setting used for printing in the written application as it is. For example, the print density setting is likely to reflect the preference of the user. By setting the value of stored setting information as a default value when selecting a printer, and taking over part of the print settings used in the previous printing, the user can save time and effort in print settings. .

  The print settings stored in the application table 242 may be only specific items. The specific item is, for example, an item estimated to have different preferences for each user, or an item which is likely to repeat printing with the same setting. Specific items include, for example, density, paper size, paper orientation (longitudinal, horizontal), and print quality.

  If it is determined that the selection operation has not been received (S215: NO), the CPU 21 determines whether an operation to end the printer selection has been received (S218). For example, when receiving an operation to select another item, the CPU 21 determines that the operation to end the printer selection has been received.

  After S217, or when it is determined that the operation for ending the printer selection has not been received (S218: NO), the CPU 21 returns to S215, and determines whether the selection operation has been received. On the other hand, when it is determined that the operation of ending the printer selection has been received (S218: YES), the CPU 21 ends the printer selection process. The CPU 21 may stop the display of the printer list 531 before ending the printer selection process.

  Returning to the description of the image editing process of FIG. 8, after the printer selection process of S106 ends, the process returns to S102, and further, the operation of each button is accepted. When it is determined that the operation to the print button 56 has been received (S103: YES), the CPU 21 executes a table update process (S107). The procedure of the table update process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In the table update process, the CPU 21 first determines a process path in the current printing (S301). S301 is an example of the determination process. The CPU 21 determines the processing route acquired for the printer selected last in the printer selection processing as the processing route of this time. Further, the CPU 21 generates data instructing printing based on the determined processing path, and transmits the data to the selected printer (S302). S302 is an example of print processing and output processing.

  The printing apparatus 1 that has received the image data including the print instruction executes printing based on the received data. Then, when printing is completed, the printing apparatus 1 transmits a notification of printing completion to the information processing apparatus 2. On the other hand, when the printing can not be completed, the printing apparatus 1 transmits an error notification to the information processing apparatus 2.

  In the information processing apparatus 2, the CPU 21 determines whether a notification of print completion has been received from the printer of the transmission destination that has transmitted the data for printing (S303). If it is determined that the notification of print completion has not been received (S303: NO), the CPU 21 determines whether an error notification has been received (S304). If it is determined that an error notification has not been received (S304: NO), the CPU 21 returns to S303 and waits until it receives a notification of printing completion or an error notification.

  If it is determined that the notification of printing completion has been received (S303: YES), the CPU 21 determines whether the application table 242 is present in the current directory of the user who has executed printing this time (S305). If it is determined that there is no application table 242 of the user in use (S305: NO), the CPU 21 newly creates the application table 242 in the current directory of the user in use (S306).

  Then, if it is determined that there is the application table 242 of the user in use (S305: YES), or after S306, the CPU 21 associates the printing of this time with the printer name of the printing apparatus 1 that has made printing. The application name (in this case, the image editing application 41) and the processing path are stored in the application table 242 (S307). S307 is an example of storage processing. By storing the information of the image editing application 41 itself, the name of the image editing application 41 is displayed on the printer list 531, and the user can easily select the printer.

  Although application information is stored for all the printing apparatuses 1 that have executed printing in FIG. 7, information may be stored only for the printing apparatuses 1 corresponding to a plurality of paths. That is, for the printing apparatus 1 corresponding to only one path, the information on the application name and the path may not be stored.

  Furthermore, the CPU 21 associates the print setting used in the current printing with the printer name of the printing apparatus 1 that has made the printing, stores the setting in the application table 242 (S308), and ends the table update process. Note that what is stored in S308 may be only the specific item described above. In step S308, the print setting item and its setting value are associated and stored.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the notification of the error has been received (S304: YES), the CPU 21 controls the operation display unit 26 to display a message notifying that an error has occurred (S310), and updates the table. finish. If an error occurs, the application table 242 is not updated, so the printer list 531 displays the name of the application for which the printed matter is output.

  Returning to the description of the image editing process of FIG. 8, after the table updating process of S107 is completed, the CPU 21 returns to S102 and further accepts the operation of each button. In addition, when it is determined that the operation to the other button is received (S104: YES), the CPU 21 executes the other operation (S108). As another operation, for example, the CPU 21 receives an instruction to change the path of processing stored in association with the selected printer. By accepting the change, a user who wants to select a processing route can select a favorite route. After S108, the CPU 21 returns to S102 and further accepts the operation of each button.

  When it is determined that the instruction to end the application has been received (S105: YES), the CPU 21 ends the image editing process.

  As described above in detail, according to the printing system 100 of the present embodiment, the information processing apparatus 2 stores the application table 242 for each user. In the application table 242, the printer name for identifying the printing apparatus 1, the application name of the application for which printing is performed by the printing apparatus 1, and the path of processing when printing from the application are associated with each other. It is memorized. The information processing apparatus 2 reads out the information stored in the application table 242, and displays the printer name and the application name on the printer list 531, which is a display screen for receiving the selection of the printer by the user. Therefore, the user can select the printer while referring to the print result when printing is performed by the application. Further, the information processing apparatus 2 determines, as the printer is selected, a processing route as the processing route when printing is performed by the application. As a result, without making the user aware of the selection of the processing route, the processing route is determined to be a processing route suitable for the user by a simple printer selection operation.

  The present embodiment is merely an example and does not limit the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is naturally capable of various improvements and modifications without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the printing apparatus 1 may not include the operation panel 13. The information processing device 2 is not limited to the non-volatile memory 24 and may have any type of mass storage device.

  Further, the communication method between the printing apparatus 1 and the information processing apparatus 2 is not limited to the wireless communication conforming to the Wi-Fi (registered trademark) standard. For example, wired communication using a LAN cable, USB cable or the like may be used, or wireless communication based on another standard such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) may be used. In addition, multiple communication functions may be provided.

  Further, the image file to be printed is not limited to the label image file for printing on the label. For example, a PDF file, a compressed file such as JPEG, or a bitmap file may be used. When an image file other than the label image file is to be processed, an image editing application 41 or a dedicated print control program 43 may be used which conforms to the image file to be processed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, in the second path, rasterization is performed by the printing device 1, but it may be a path different from the first path, and may be a path that is rasterized in the information processing device 2. For example, if the general-purpose print control program 45 has a rasterization function, rasterization may be performed by the rasterization function. Even in this case, the algorithm of rasterization processing differs between the first path and the second path. Even in this case, the first path is a path not using the print control function of the OS 44, and the second path is a path using the print control function of the OS 44.

  Further, although in the present embodiment, there are two types of paths, the first path and the second path, as paths that can be handled by the printing system 100, there may be other paths. Other routes include, for example, a route for printing using a device-specific driver, and a route for printing using a Unix, macOS, Linux (registered trademark) print driver CUPS. The device-dedicated driver and CUPS are programs incorporated in the OS 44 (see FIG. 2) of the information processing apparatus 2 to rasterize image data. Further, the present invention is not limited to the combination of the first path and the second path, and is applicable to any printing system having two or more of the first path, the second path, and the other path. is there.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the application name is described simultaneously only for the printing apparatuses 1 corresponding to a plurality of paths in the printer list 531, but may be described simultaneously for all the printing apparatuses 1 that have performed printing. . For example, when the application table 242 stores an application for which printing is performed by the printer A or the printer B as shown in FIG. 7, for example, as shown in FIG. And the printer B may also be displayed together with the application name. By displaying the application name regardless of the route, it becomes a reference for the user's printer selection.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when the application table 242 is not created, it is created after the printing is completed, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when it is determined that the application table 242 is not present (when it is determined NO in S201 of the printer selection process), the application table 242 may be created immediately. Alternatively, when a print instruction is accepted, it may be created before printing is completed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, only the information of the printing apparatus 1 that has executed printing is stored in the application table 242, but the information of the connected printing apparatus 1 is stored regardless of the presence or absence of printing execution. It is also good. In addition, when the respective printing apparatuses 1 can be distinguished by the printer name of the application table 242, the serial number may be absent. The storage location of the application table 242 is not limited to the current directory, and may be an area accessible by each application.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the image editing application 41 has a function of editing an image, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, image editing may be performed by another general-purpose application, and the image editing application 41 may have a function of printing a file created by the general-purpose application.

  Also, the processes disclosed in the embodiments may be executed by a single CPU, multiple CPUs, hardware such as an ASIC, or a combination thereof. Also, the process disclosed in the embodiment can be realized in various modes such as a recording medium recording a program for executing the process or a method.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 printing apparatus 2 information processing apparatus 24 non-volatile memory 26 operation display part 27 network interface 41 image editing application 100 printing system

Claims (12)

A storage unit, a display unit, an operation unit, and a communication interface are connected, and the printer is connected to the printer via the communication interface, and the printer is instructed to print based on image data to be printed via the communication interface. In an information processing apparatus having a first path and a second path as paths of processing for processing data,
Identification information of an application program that has output a print instruction to the printer specified by the identification information, identification information of a process path used in printing based on the print instruction, and identification information for identifying each printer; Is a related information associated with each other, and a reading process for reading the related information stored in the storage unit;
Display processing for displaying the printer identified by the related information on the display unit together with an application program associated with the printer;
Selection processing for receiving selection of one of the printers displayed by the display processing by an operation on the operation unit;
A determination process of determining a process path as a process path associated with the printer selected by the selection process;
A program characterized by causing In the program according to claim 1,
Print processing for instructing the printer selected by the selection processing to print;
When the printing by the printing process is completed, the identification information of the application program and the identification information of the path of the process used for printing are stored in the related information including the identification information of the printer that executed the printing. Causing the information processing apparatus to execute storage processing;
A program characterized by In the program described in claim 1 or claim 2,
In the related information, setting information of a specific item in the print setting is further associated with identification information of the printer,
A default value setting process for setting a default value of the specific item in the print setting to a value of setting information associated with the printer selected by the selection process, when the printer is selected by the selection process; , Causing the information processing apparatus to execute;
A program characterized by In the program according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
In the reading process, the related information stored as information for each user is read out.
A program characterized by In the program according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
In the display process,
If the printer identified by the related information corresponds to both the first path and the second path, it is displayed together with the application program;
If the printer identified by the related information corresponds to only one of the first path and the second path, the application program is not displayed.
A program characterized by In the program according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
Causing the information processing apparatus to execute search processing for searching for a printer connected to the information processing apparatus;
In the display process,
When the printer searched by the search process is included in the printer identified by the related information, an application program is displayed together with the printer searched by the search process;
When the printer searched by the search process is not included in the printer identified by the related information, information indicating that there is no associated application program is displayed together with the printer searched by the search process. Do,
A program characterized by In the program according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
One of the first path and the second path is a path for causing the printer to print image data to be printed via a first rasterization process,
The other of the first path and the second path is a path for causing the printer to print image data to be printed via a second rasterization process different from the first rasterization process. ,
A program characterized by In the program according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
One of the first path and the second path is a path that causes the information processing apparatus to perform rasterization,
The other of the first path and the second path is a path that causes the printer to rasterize.
A program characterized by The program according to any one of claims 1 to 8.
The operating system of the information processing apparatus has a print control function,
One of the first path and the second path is a path for causing the printer to print without using the print control function,
The other of the first path and the second path is a path for causing the printer to print using the print control function.
A program characterized by In the program according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
When the printer is selected by the selection process, the information processing apparatus is caused to execute the determination process.
A program characterized by The program according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
An output process for outputting, to the printer selected by the selection process, data instructing printing that has been processed in the processing route determined in the determination process when an instruction to execute printing is received by an operation on the operation unit. Causing the information processing apparatus to execute
A program characterized by A printing system comprising: an information processing apparatus including a storage unit, a display unit, an operation unit, and a communication interface; and a printer, wherein communication is performed between the information processing apparatus and the printer via the communication interface In
As a processing path for processing data instructing printing based on image data to be printed using the communication interface,
A first path in which the information processing apparatus executes a first rasterization process and the printer receives and prints first rasterized data;
A second path in which the printer executes a second rasterization process and prints using the second rasterized data;
Have
The information processing apparatus is
Identification information of an application program that has output a print instruction to the printer specified by the identification information, identification information of a process path used in printing based on the print instruction, and identification information for identifying each printer; Is a related information associated with the information, and the reading means for reading the related information stored in the storage unit;
Display means for displaying the printer identified by the related information on the display unit together with an application program associated with the printer;
Selection means for receiving selection of one of the printers displayed by the display means by an operation on the operation unit;
A determining unit configured to determine a processing route as a processing route associated with the printer selected by the selecting unit;
Equipped with
A printing system characterized by

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