JP4654909B2 - Terminal device, system, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an apparatus capable of setting the image quality of an output image and the operation of the apparatus in accordance with user preferences, and a setting method thereof.

  In general, in an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a user can make various settings such as density, contrast, and hue in an output image. Regarding the operation of the apparatus, it is possible to make settings according to the user's preference, such as giving priority to image quality or giving priority to output speed over image quality. As the functions of the image forming apparatus are improved, the items of output setting and environment setting increase, and complicated contents can be set, so that the user's preference can be dealt with in detail.

  However, if the setting items increase and complicated settings become possible, the setting work becomes complicated and an excessive burden is imposed on the user. For this reason, conventionally, a method for simplifying the output setting and environment setting operations of the image forming apparatus has been proposed. For example, the conventional techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 enable settings that easily match the user's preference through an interactive interface.

JP 2003-150341 A JP 2003-233479 A

  Nowadays, in offices and the like, an environment in which a plurality of computers and a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected via a network and a computer user can select an arbitrary image forming apparatus and print out a document or the like has become widespread. Yes. In addition, image forming devices include those that balance productivity and image quality, those that emphasize one of them, those that have a variety of image quality functions, and those that have limited image quality functions. There are models with various functions and performance based on the orientation. Therefore, in order for the user to perform output that suits his / her preference, the user needs to make settings that suit his / her preference within the range of functions and performance of the selected image forming apparatus. .

  In addition, when the user uses an image forming apparatus installed on the go, in order for the user to perform an output that suits his / her preference, the user must also be within the range of functions and performance of the installed apparatus, It is necessary to make settings that match your preferences.

  As described above, there are conventional techniques such as using an interactive interface in order to reduce the burden on the user when performing output setting and environment setting in the image forming apparatus. However, even in such a conventional technique, in the above situation, the user must perform a setting operation every time the apparatus is used, and the burden on the user is not greatly reduced. Furthermore, there are cases where the parameter designation method for performing the setting that suits the user's preference differs depending on the function and performance of the image forming apparatus to be used, and the user may be confused during the setting operation.

  The above description is intended for the case where the user performs output that suits his / her preference, but the same problem can be considered when conditions such as the image quality of the output image and the external environment are strictly specified. For example, depending on the type of business, such as printing work and design work, it may be necessary to fix the external environment such as the type of paper used and lighting in order to unify the evaluation conditions for output images. Then, it is necessary to perform image quality setting and operation setting so as to perform appropriate output for such an external environment. If an output satisfying such a strict condition is performed by an image forming apparatus installed outside the user, it may be necessary to perform a very complicated setting operation.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it is possible to quickly and easily set an image forming apparatus according to a user's preference or request. It is to reduce the burden on the user in the setting work.

  In order to achieve such an object, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus, a terminal device connected to the image forming apparatus via a network and causing the image forming apparatus to execute a print job, and an image forming apparatus also via the network. And a file management server that is connected to the terminal device and manages a printing condition file that is created for each user who uses the terminal device and describes the conditions for the output image. In this system, the terminal device includes an acquisition unit (storage unit) that acquires and stores a print condition file from a file management server, and settable items and ranges of an image forming apparatus selected as a print job execution apparatus. A setting unit that generates setting information for setting the image forming apparatus so as to satisfy the printing conditions described in the acquired printing condition file, and sends a print job execution instruction and the generated setting information to the image forming apparatus And a print instruction unit that causes the image forming apparatus to execute a print job with settings according to the setting information. The image forming apparatus sets its own apparatus based on the setting information received from the terminal apparatus, and executes the print job according to the print job execution instruction similarly received from the terminal apparatus.

  Here, more preferably, the printing condition file is created for each user who uses the terminal device. The acquisition unit receives an input of a user ID, and acquires a print condition file specified by the received user ID from the file management server. The setting unit generates setting information based on the printing condition file corresponding to the user ID.

  More specifically, information indicating which of productivity and image quality is important is described in the print condition file, and the setting unit generates setting information so as to switch the resolution of the output image in accordance with this information. In addition, information indicating the image quality item and the degree thereof is described in the print condition file, and the setting unit sets the setting information so that the image quality described in the print condition file is satisfied in the settable items and range of the image forming apparatus. Is generated. In addition, information indicating the type of the print medium is described in the print condition file, and the setting unit sets the image quality suitable for the print medium described in the print condition file in the settable items and range of the image forming apparatus. Generate setting information.

  Another aspect of the present invention that achieves the above object is also realized as an image forming apparatus configured as follows. The image forming apparatus acquires an input unit that receives an input of a user ID, and acquires a print condition file specified by the input user ID from among print condition files created for each user and describing conditions for an output image And a setting unit for setting the own apparatus so as to satisfy the printing conditions described in the acquired printing condition file within the settable items and range of the own apparatus.

  Furthermore, the present invention is also realized as a program that controls a computer to realize the functions of the terminal device described above. This program can be provided by being stored and distributed in a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a semiconductor memory, or other recording medium, or distributed via a network.

  According to the present invention configured as described above, the image forming apparatus can be quickly and easily set according to the user's preference and request. Thereby, the burden on the user in the setting work can be reduced.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as an embodiment) will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the present embodiment, a file in which abstract print conditions such as user preferences and external environment such as lighting are initially described is created. Then, this file is read at the time of image output, and operation settings are made so as to satisfy the printing conditions according to the function and performance of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a printing system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
As shown in FIG. 1, the system of the present embodiment includes a user terminal 10, a file management server 20, and an image forming apparatus 30 that are connected to each other via a network.
The user terminal 10 is realized by a personal computer, for example, and instructs the image forming apparatus 30 to execute a print job. In the present embodiment, information for setting the image forming apparatus 30 that is performed when a print job is executed is input to create a print condition file.
The file management server 20 is realized by a personal computer or a workstation, for example, and stores a printing condition file created by the user terminal 10.
The image forming apparatus 30 prints an image in response to a print instruction from the user terminal 10.
In FIG. 1, one user terminal 10 and one image forming apparatus 30 are shown, but in practice, a plurality of user terminals 10 and image forming apparatuses 30 can be connected via a network. Needless to say.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a hardware configuration example of a computer suitable for realizing the user terminal 10 and the file management server 20 shown in FIG.
The computer shown in FIG. 2 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101 that is a calculation means, a main memory 102 that is a storage means, and a magnetic disk device (HDD: Hard Disk Drive) 103. The network interface 104, a graphics display mechanism 105 including a video memory and a display, and an input device 106 such as a keyboard and a mouse are provided. Note that FIG. 2 merely illustrates the hardware configuration of the computer apparatus that implements the present embodiment, and other various configurations can be employed as long as the present embodiment is applicable.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the user terminal 10.
As shown in FIG. 3, the user terminal 10 includes a printing condition file creation unit 11 that creates a printing condition file, a printing condition file acquisition unit 12 that sets the image forming apparatus 30 based on the printing condition file, and an image. The image forming apparatus 30 includes a forming apparatus setting unit 13 and a print instruction unit 14 that issues a print instruction to the image forming apparatus 30. These constituent elements shown in FIG. 3 are realized by a program-controlled CPU 101 when the user terminal 10 is constituted by the computer shown in FIG.

  The printing condition file creation unit 11 receives a user input and creates a printing condition file. This print condition file is a file that describes abstract conditions such as user preferences and external environment for the output image. The printing condition file is created for each user who uses the user terminal 10, and is sent to the file management server 20 and stored together with a user ID that identifies the user. The print condition file can be created, for example, by displaying an input screen showing setting items on the display and inputting a desired value for the parameter of each item by the user using an input device such as a keyboard.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print condition file.
The print condition file shown in FIG. 4 includes priority, image quality preference-character, image quality preference-photograph, image quality preference-graphics, environment-1 (paper category used), environment-2 (display category), environment-3 (light source). Information (conditions) is described for seven items of (environment category). As shown in the file content column of FIG. 4, the priority specifies whether to output with an emphasis on productivity or with an emphasis on image quality regarding the operation mode of the image forming apparatus 30. In the image quality preference-character, the thickness of the line for printing the character is specified in five levels. In the image quality preference-photograph, the image quality when printing a photo is designated in five levels from sharp contrast to high contrast. In the image quality preference-graphics, the image quality in the case of printing a graphic is designated in five levels from a sharp image quality to a smooth image quality. Environment-1 (used paper category) describes the type of paper to be used for printing. The type of paper is specified by, for example, whiteness, surface property, formation index, and the like. It is also possible to specify a print medium other than paper such as an OHP sheet. Environment-2 (display category) describes the type and characteristics (for example, s-RGB, CIE-RGB, etc.) of the display device to be used when the output image is displayed on the display. In environment-3 (light source environment category), a preferable light source environment (for example, color temperature) when viewing the output image is designated.

  Among the items shown in the print condition file in FIG. 4, the priority sets the operation mode of the image forming apparatus 30 and is registered by the user based on the desired operation mode. Since the three items of image quality preference are set based on the user's abstract preference, the value of the parameter for the user to obtain the image quality suitable for his / her preference is obtained by the method of simply inputting a value to the parameter of the item. It is difficult to identify. Therefore, this embodiment proposes a method of inputting using a chart for setting image quality preferences. Details of this method will be described later. Since the contents of the three items of environment are specified according to the actual use environment of the image forming apparatus 30, it is sufficient to input parameter values according to the contents. Also, depending on the model of the image forming apparatus 30, there is a type that registers the type when setting paper. In this case, the printing condition file creation unit 11 can obtain information to be registered in the environment-1 from the information on the paper type registered in the image forming apparatus 30, and can automatically register the information. . In addition, the printing condition file creation unit 11 can also obtain information from the display driver installed in the user terminal 10 and automatically register the information on the display of environment-2.

  The print condition file acquisition unit 12 acquires the above-described print condition file from the file management server 20 and stores it in a storage unit such as the magnetic disk device 103 shown in FIG. As described above, the print condition file is created for each user and stored in the file management server 20 in association with the user ID. Accordingly, the print condition file acquisition unit 12 receives a user ID input by the user, sends a print condition file acquisition request together with the input user ID to the file management server 20, and prints for this user from the file management server 20. Get a condition file. The acquired printing condition file can be stored and stored in the storage means. From the next time onward, the printing condition file corresponding to the input user ID may be read from the storage means. There is no need to get from.

  The image forming apparatus setting unit 13 reads out the printing condition file acquired by the printing condition file acquisition unit 12 from the storage unit, and sets the setting of the image forming apparatus 30 selected as the print job execution apparatus based on the printing condition file. Generate setting information to do. Selection of the image forming apparatus 30 as a print job execution apparatus is performed on, for example, an OS (Operating System). The image forming apparatus 30 often has different settable items and ranges based on the manufacturer and model, and depending on the function and performance of the apparatus. Furthermore, the print condition file describes abstract conditions such as user preferences and the external environment of the image forming apparatus 30 as described above. Therefore, the image forming apparatus setting unit 13 sets the image forming apparatus 30 so as to satisfy the contents of the print condition file as much as possible within the settable items and range of the image forming apparatus 30 selected as the print job execution apparatus. Generate information.

  For example, regarding the priority item of the print condition file, setting information is generated so that the resolution and the bit number of the image are switched according to the designated operation mode. In addition, with respect to the item of environment-1 for specifying the paper to be used, the drawing material so that an appropriate image can be output according to characteristics such as whiteness and surface property of the paper, characteristics of a printing medium other than paper, and the like. The setting information is generated so as to adjust the usage amount, color processing, etc. In addition, regarding the item of environment-2 for specifying a display device to be used when the output image is displayed on the display, the display image is faithfully reproduced in the printed output image according to the method and characteristics of the display used. In this way, setting information relating to image quality is generated. Furthermore, regarding the item of environment-3 for specifying the light source environment, setting information regarding image quality is generated so that an image suitable for the light source environment used when viewing the output image (for example, faithful to the original) is obtained.

  The generation of the setting information based on the print condition file is preferably performed when the driver of the image forming apparatus 30 is installed, but can be performed independently regardless of the driver installation. This makes it possible to update the setting information at any time and execute a print job with appropriate settings when the user's preference or the external environment changes.

  In order to convert the description content of the print condition file into the setting content of the image forming apparatus 30 and generate the setting information, the image forming apparatus setting unit 13, for example, sets the setting item and the setting range for each model of the image forming apparatus 30. Corresponding information (such as a comparison table) with the description of the printing condition file is prepared and referenced. This correspondence information can be acquired together with the driver program when the driver of the corresponding image forming apparatus 30 is installed, for example, and stored in a storage unit such as the magnetic disk device 103 in FIG.

  Here, when the setting information of the image forming apparatus 30 is actually generated, the description content of the printing condition file may not be accurately reflected. For example, depending on the item and range of image quality setting in the image forming apparatus 30, the character line thickness set in the print condition file may not be reproduced. In such a case, the correspondence information is associated with a setting for forming a character with a thickness closest to the thickness of the character line set in the print condition file. In addition, depending on the model of the image forming apparatus 30, it may be impossible to set an apparatus corresponding to environmental conditions such as the type of paper. In such a case, the corresponding item in the print condition file is ignored, and only the settable item is set.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of setting information generation operation by the image forming apparatus setting unit 13. Note that the printing condition file of the user who uses the user terminal 10 is created in advance and stored in the file management server 20.
Referring to FIG. 5, first, the image forming apparatus setting unit 13 transmits a print condition file transmission request together with the user ID from the user terminal 10 to the file management server 20 (step 501). In response to this transmission request, the file management server 20 reads the printing condition file specified by the user ID from the storage means and returns it to the user terminal 10. When receiving the print condition file from the file management server 20 (step 502), the user terminal 10 analyzes the print condition file (step 503), and forms an image according to the contents of the print condition file according to the correspondence information described above. Setting information of the device 30 is generated (step 504).

  In the operation example shown in FIG. 5, the print condition file is acquired from the file management server 20 in steps 501 and 502, but the input print condition file of the user ID is stored in the storage unit such as the magnetic disk device 103 in FIG. If it is already stored, the corresponding print condition file may be read from the storage means (that is, the print condition file acquisition unit 12 also functions as a storage unit for the acquired print condition file). In addition, once the setting information is generated based on the print condition file, the setting information may be stored in the storage unit in association with the user ID. In this way, immediately after the user ID is input, the setting information corresponding to the user ID is read out and sent to the image forming apparatus 30 together with the print instruction, and it is necessary to generate the setting information from the print condition file. Disappears.

  The print instruction unit 14 generates a print job execution instruction for the image forming apparatus 30 and transmits the print job execution instruction to the image forming apparatus 30 together with image data to be printed. In this embodiment, the setting information generated by the image forming apparatus setting unit 13 is added to the print job execution command and transmitted. The image forming apparatus 30 that has received these instructions and information performs operation setting and image quality setting of the apparatus according to the setting information, and prints out the image.

  The file management server 20 receives the printing condition file from the user terminal 10 and stores it in a storage means such as the magnetic disk device 103 shown in FIG. And it manages for every user. When the file management server 20 receives the print condition file transmission request together with the user ID from the user terminal 10, the file management server 20 returns the print condition file corresponding to the received user ID to the user terminal 10 that transmitted the transmission request.

  The image forming apparatus 30 generates an image using a drawing material such as toner based on the image data received from the user terminal 10 and forms the image on a sheet as a print medium, and after the sheet is conveyed and the image is formed. And a control unit 31 that controls the image forming unit and the transport unit (see FIG. 1). Although not particularly illustrated, the image forming apparatus 30 includes a network interface for receiving a print instruction from the user terminal 10 via the network. The control unit 31 is realized by a CPU controlled by a program stored in a memory such as a ROM. In the present embodiment, the control unit 31 sets the image quality and the operation mode according to the setting information received from the user terminal 10 together with the print job execution command, and executes the print job. The image forming method may be any method such as an ink jet method, an electrophotographic method, or an electrostatic induction method.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another configuration example of the printing system to which the present exemplary embodiment is applied.
In the system configuration shown in FIG. 1, the print condition file is stored in the file management server 20, but in the configuration shown in FIG. 6, the user owns his / her print condition file. The printing condition file may be stored in a storage device (HDD: hard disk drive) or the like of a portable user terminal 10 (for example, a notebook personal computer) used by the user as shown in the figure, or a recording medium such as a flash memory You can also store it in your possession.

  In the system as shown in FIG. 6, when the user performs image output using the image forming apparatus 30 installed at the place, such as on the go, this is based on the print condition file before issuing a print instruction. Setting information corresponding to the image forming apparatus 30 is generated. The setting information may be generated at a desired timing when installing the driver of the image forming apparatus 30 to be used or before giving a print instruction. If the driver of the image forming apparatus 30 to be used is already installed and the setting information for the image forming apparatus 30 has already been generated, this can be used. Then, as described above with respect to the system shown in FIG. 1, setting information is added to the print job execution command from the print instruction unit 14 and transmitted to the image forming apparatus 30. As a result, the image forming apparatus 30 performs image quality setting and operation setting according to the setting information, and executes the print job.

  As described above, when the user possesses only the recording medium storing the printing condition file, the recording condition file stored by attaching the recording medium to the user terminal 10 connected to the image forming apparatus 30 is stored. The setting information of the image forming apparatus 30 is generated based on the above.

  When image output is performed using a printing environment outside the office, it may be impossible to print under exactly the same conditions as the system that the user normally uses. For example, this is the case where the model of the image forming apparatus 30 is different or the paper used is different. However, by setting the image forming apparatus 30 based on the print condition file, it is possible to perform output with settings as close as possible to the user's preference.

Next, a method for generating a print condition file used in this embodiment will be described.
The condition items of the print condition file include items indicating the user's abstract preferences, such as three items of image quality preferences in the example shown in FIG. It is difficult to specify the values of these items by a method such as a user inputting numerical values as in general setting contents. In view of this, the present embodiment proposes a method for inputting user preferences using an image quality preference setting chart.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image quality preference setting chart.
In the chart shown in FIG. 7, five types of images with different image quality are presented for each of four types of images, ie, a character image, a line image, a photographic image, and a graphics image. Specifically, for character images, five levels of line thicknesses from “thick” to “thin” can be selected. For line images, five levels of line thickness can be selected from “thick” to “thin”. For a photographic image, five levels of image quality can be selected from “high tone” to “soft tone”. For the graphics image, five levels of image quality can be selected from a sharp image quality (described as “strong” in FIG. 7) to a smooth image quality (described as “weak” in FIG. 7).

  The image quality preference setting chart shown in FIG. 7 is provided by printing on paper, for example. The user refers to the image quality preference setting chart and selects the character and line thickness, the picture quality, and the graphics quality that suit his / her preference. Then, by operating the input means of the user terminal 10 (for example, the input device 106 shown in FIG. 2), the parameters attached to each image in FIG. 7 are input, and the image quality preference item of the print condition file is set. .

  Further, the image quality preference setting chart screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed by the display means (for example, the graphics display mechanism 105 shown in FIG. 2) of the user terminal 10 to realize an input means by GUI (Graphical User Interface). You can also. In this case, the user refers to the image quality preference setting chart displayed on the display, and operates a pointing device such as a mouse or a cursor key of the keyboard, so that the character, line thickness, or photo Select image quality and graphics quality. Thereby, an item of image quality preference of the print condition file corresponding to the image quality selected on the screen is set.

  In the above embodiment, the user terminal 10 generates setting information corresponding to the setting method of the image forming apparatus 30 from the print condition file, and transmits the setting information together with the print job execution command to set the image forming apparatus 30. went. On the other hand, it is also possible to employ a configuration in which the user terminal is not required and the image forming apparatus performs settings according to the own apparatus from the printing condition file. For example, when the image forming apparatus is a copying machine, normally, various operations such as inputting a job execution command are performed by a control panel provided in the image forming apparatus, and an image to be output is input by the image forming apparatus. This is performed by the reading unit (scanner). Therefore, it is preferable that the setting based on the print condition file can be performed by an operation from the image forming apparatus without using a user terminal.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a printing system to which another embodiment of the present invention as described above is applied.
The system shown in FIG. 8 includes an image forming apparatus 40 and a file management server 20 connected to each other via a network.
In addition, since the function of the file management server 20 in this embodiment is the same as that of the file management server 20 shown in FIG. 1, it attaches | subjects the same code | symbol and abbreviate | omits description. The file management server 20 can be connected to a plurality of image forming apparatuses 40 via a network, as in the case of the embodiment shown in FIG.

  The image forming apparatus 40 includes an image forming unit that forms an image to be printed on a paper that is a printing medium using an image forming material such as toner, and a transport unit that transports the paper and discharges it after the image is formed. And a control unit 41 that controls the image forming unit and the conveying unit. The control unit 41 is realized by a CPU controlled by a program stored in a memory such as a ROM. Although not particularly illustrated, the image forming apparatus 40 includes a network interface for exchanging data with the file management server 20 via a network, a RAM for holding received data, a magnetic disk device, and the like. And a randomly accessible storage device. Then, the print condition file is acquired from the file management server 20 and held, and the setting is made according to the function and performance of the own apparatus to print the image.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the control unit 41 of the image forming apparatus 40.
As illustrated in FIG. 9, the control unit 41 includes a printing condition file acquisition unit 411, a setting unit 412, and an operation control unit 413.
The print condition file acquisition unit 411 acquires the print condition file from the file management server 20 via the network and stores it in the storage device. As described above, the print condition file is a file that abstractly describes information such as user preferences, and is created for each user. Therefore, the user first inputs a user ID for identifying himself / herself using an input unit such as a control panel of the image forming apparatus 40. Then, the print condition file acquisition unit 411 sends a print condition file acquisition request together with the input user ID to the file management server 20, and acquires the print condition file for this user from the file management server 20. If the printing condition file corresponding to the input user ID is already stored in the storage device, it is not necessary to acquire the printing condition file from the file management server 20 again.

  The setting unit 412 sets the image quality and the operation mode so that the contents of the print condition file acquired from the file management server 20 are satisfied as much as possible based on the setting items and setting range of the own apparatus. In order to convert the description contents of the printing condition file into the setting contents of the image forming apparatus 40, the setting unit 412, for example, correspondence information (such as a comparison table) between the setting items and setting ranges of the own apparatus and the description of the printing condition file. Prepare for reference. In the present embodiment, unlike the image forming apparatus setting unit 13 shown in FIG. 3, the setting unit 412 only sets its own apparatus, so that correspondence information can be stored in a ROM or the like in advance.

  The operation control unit 413 executes a print job according to the setting by the setting unit 412. The image forming method may be any method such as an ink jet method, an electrophotographic method, or an electrostatic induction method.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of operations when performing image output according to this embodiment. It is assumed that the printing condition file of the user who wants to output an image is created in advance and stored in the file management server 20.
Referring to FIG. 10, the user first operates the control panel of the image forming apparatus 40 and inputs his / her user ID (step 1001). When the control unit 41 of the image forming apparatus 40 receives an input of a user ID, the printing condition file acquisition unit 411 accesses the file management server 20 and acquires a printing condition file of the input user ID (step 1002). Then, the setting unit 412 changes the setting of the own apparatus as necessary so as to reflect the contents of the acquired printing condition file (step 1003).
Next, when the user operates the control panel of the image forming apparatus 40 to issue a print instruction (step 1004), the operation control unit 413 receives the print instruction and executes a print job according to the setting by the setting unit 412. Execute (step 1005).

  In the operation example shown in FIG. 10, the print condition file is acquired from the file management server 20 in step 1002, but the input print condition file of the user ID is already stored in the storage device of the image forming apparatus 40. In this case, the corresponding print condition file may be read from the storage device. In addition, once the setting is made based on the print condition file, information on the setting itself (setting information) may be stored in the storage device. In this way, as soon as the user ID is input, the image forming apparatus 40 is set based on the setting information corresponding to the user ID, and the setting of the image forming apparatus 40 is determined from the description in the print condition file. No need to convert to content.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is the figure which showed typically the hardware structural example of the computer suitable for implement | achieving the user terminal and file management server which were shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the function structure of the user terminal of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the printing condition file used by this embodiment. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of setting information generation operation by an image forming apparatus setting unit according to the present exemplary embodiment. It is a figure which shows the other structural example of the printing system to which this embodiment is applied. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the chart for an image quality preference setting used by this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the printing system with which other embodiment of this invention is applied. It is a figure explaining the functional structure of the control part of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of operation | movement at the time of performing image output by this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... User terminal, 11 ... Print condition file creation part, 12 ... Print condition file acquisition part, 13 ... Image formation apparatus setting part, 14 ... Print instruction | indication part, 20 ... File management server, 30, 40 ... Image formation apparatus, 31 , 41 ... control unit, 411 ... printing condition file acquisition unit, 412 ... setting unit, 413 ... operation control unit

Claims (12)

In a terminal device that selects an image forming apparatus connected via a network and executes a print job,
A storage unit that stores a print condition file that is created in advance for each user who uses a terminal device as a print job execution apparatus and that describes a condition for an output image in association with a user ID ;
It accepts the input of a user ID, and satisfies the print conditions described in the print condition file specified by the user ID in the settable items and range of the image forming apparatus selected as the print job execution apparatus A setting unit for generating setting information for setting the image forming apparatus;
A print instruction unit that transmits a print job execution instruction and setting information generated by the setting unit to the image forming apparatus, and causes the image forming apparatus to execute the print job with settings according to the setting information; ,
If there is a print condition that cannot be reflected by the image forming apparatus among the print conditions described in the specified print condition file, the setting item included in the setting information corresponding to the print condition that cannot be reflected is the image A terminal device, characterized in that it is set to be close to the print conditions that cannot be reflected within the items and range that can be set by the forming device .   The terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising correspondence information between a setting item and setting range of the own device and a description of the printing condition file.   The print condition file describes information indicating which of the productivity and the image quality is important, and the setting unit generates the setting information so as to switch the resolution of the output image according to the information. The terminal device according to claim 1.   Information indicating the image quality item and its degree is described in the print condition file, and the setting unit satisfies the image quality described in the print condition file in the settable items and range of the image forming apparatus. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the setting information is generated.   Information indicating the type of print medium is described in the print condition file, and the setting unit has an image quality suitable for the print medium described in the print condition file in the settable items and ranges of the image forming apparatus. The terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting information is generated as follows.   The printing condition file is stored in a file management server connected to a terminal device via a network, and the storage unit acquires the printing condition file corresponding to the user ID from the file management server and stores it. The terminal device according to claim 5, wherein: An image forming apparatus;
A terminal device connected to the image forming apparatus via a network and causing the image forming apparatus to execute a print job;
A file that is connected to the image forming apparatus and the terminal device via the network and is created in advance for each user who uses the terminal device, and manages a print condition file in which a condition for an output image is described in association with a user ID With a management server,
The terminal device accepts an input of a user ID, acquires the print condition file specified by the user ID from the file management server, and is a settable item of the image forming apparatus selected as a print job execution apparatus Generating setting information for setting the image forming apparatus so as to satisfy the printing conditions described in the printing condition file, and transmitting the print job execution instruction and the setting information to the image forming apparatus And
The image forming apparatus performs setting of the apparatus based on the setting information received from the terminal apparatus, executes a print job according to an instruction to execute the print job ,
If there is a print condition that cannot be reflected by the image forming apparatus among the print conditions described in the specified print condition file, the setting item included in the setting information corresponding to the print condition that cannot be reflected is the image A system that is set to be close to the printing conditions that cannot be reflected within items and ranges that can be set by the forming apparatus . In an image forming apparatus capable of changing function settings,
An input unit for receiving an input of a user ID;
A file acquisition unit for acquiring a print condition file specified by the input user ID among print condition files created in advance for each user and describing conditions for an output image;
A setting unit configured to set the own apparatus so as to satisfy the printing conditions described in the acquired printing condition file in the settable items and range of the own apparatus ;
If there is a print condition that cannot be reflected by the own device among the print conditions described in the specified print condition file, setting items included in the setting information corresponding to the print condition that cannot be reflected can be set by the own device. Is set to be close to the printing conditions that cannot be reflected within the appropriate items and range
An image forming apparatus.   The print condition file is stored in a file management server connected to the image forming apparatus via a network, and the file acquisition unit transmits the user ID to the file management server and corresponds to the user ID. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the print condition file is acquired. On the computer,
A function of selecting an image forming apparatus as an execution apparatus for a print job from among image forming apparatuses connected via a network;
A function of acquiring a print condition file created in advance for each user who uses the image forming apparatus as a print job execution apparatus and describing a condition for an output image in association with a user ID ;
It accepts an input of a user ID, and satisfies the print conditions described in the print condition file specified by the user ID in the settable items and range of the image forming apparatus selected as the print job execution apparatus A function for generating setting information for setting the image forming apparatus,
If there is a print condition that cannot be reflected by the image forming apparatus among the print conditions described in the specified print condition file, the setting item included in the setting information corresponding to the print condition that cannot be reflected is the image An item that can be set by the forming apparatus and a function for setting the printing condition so as to be close to the printing condition that cannot be reflected within the range;
A function of transmitting a print job execution instruction and setting information generated by the setting unit to the image forming apparatus, and causing the image forming apparatus to execute the print job with settings according to the setting information. A program characterized by   The printing condition file is created for each user who uses the terminal device, and the function for acquiring the printing condition file receives an input of a user ID and acquires the printing condition file specified by the user ID. The program according to claim 10.   The print condition file is stored in a file management server provided on the network, and the function for acquiring the print condition file acquires the print condition file corresponding to the user ID from the file management server. The program according to claim 10.

Images