JP4893326B2 - Printing apparatus, printing method, printing program, and printing system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for performing printing in a printing apparatus such as a printer or a copier on the go.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, net prints and media prints that perform printing using a printer in a convenience store or an office outside the office have become widespread. In net printing, print data uploaded by a user in advance to a server on the network is downloaded from a printer on the go, and the print data is printed. On the other hand, in media printing, a user saves print data on a medium such as a memory card, and prints the print data saved on the medium with a printer on the go. When using net print or media print, the user operates a control panel displayed on a liquid crystal panel of a printer on the go and performs print settings such as a paper size, a color mode, and the number of prints.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228688 provides an image forming apparatus that can acquire an operation mode that can be appropriately executed from another image forming apparatus. According to Patent Document 1, it has a download function for acquiring the contents of a mode memory registered in another digital copying machine on the LAN and registering it in the mode memory of its own apparatus. When it is determined that the acquired setting contents of the mode memory can be processed by the own apparatus, this mode memory is registered.

JP 2005-349657

  With the spread of net printing and media printing, there are increasing opportunities to use printers installed in offices and convenience stores outside the office, instead of printers that are usually used. A printer outside the office has a different print function that can be used from a printer that is normally used, and even if the print function is the same, the function display on the display may be different. It is difficult for the user to immediately understand the difference in printing functions from the printer he / she normally uses in printers that he / she is unfamiliar with, and as a result, the user needs more time than necessary to set the print settings. In some cases, the desired print settings could not be made, resulting in misprinting.

  The present invention solves such a problem, presents a difference in printing function from an external printing apparatus, and allows a user to easily perform print settings, a printing method, a printing program, and printing. The purpose is to provide a system.

  The printing apparatus according to the present invention is configured to acquire first printing function information obtained from a printing function possessed by an external printing apparatus and printing information that is a target of the first printing function information; An extraction means for comparing the first printing function information with the second printing function information obtained from the printing function owned by itself and extracting difference information between the first and second printing function information; and the extracted difference Display control means for creating a print setting screen based on the information and the second print function information and displaying the print setting screen on a display. The printing apparatus is an electronic apparatus such as a printer or a copying machine having a printing function.

  Preferably, the display control unit adds an identification display for identifying a print function included in the first print function information but not included in the second print function information to the print setting screen. The display control means adds an identification display for identifying a print function included in the second print function information but not included in the first print function information to the print setting screen. Furthermore, the display control means changes the first display format to the second display format when the first display format of the print function based on the first print function information is different from the second display format of the print function based on the second print function information. Match the display format.

  Preferably, the first and second print function information is created in an XML format, and includes a function definition section including a command defining a print function and a display character string definition section including a command defining a character displayed on the display. Including. The extraction means compares the function definition portion and the display character string definition portion of the first and second print function information, respectively, and extracts difference information between the function definition portion and the display character string definition portion.

  Preferably, the printing apparatus further includes a print setting unit that sets a print function based on the print setting screen, and an output unit that outputs print information based on the set print function.

  The printing method according to the present invention includes a step of obtaining first print function information obtained from a print function possessed by an external printing apparatus and print information that is a target of the first print function information, and the obtained first print function information. Comparing the first print function information with the second print function information obtained from the print function owned by itself, extracting difference information between the first and second print function information, Creating a print function screen based on the second print function information, and displaying the print setting screen on a display.

  The printing program according to the present invention obtains the first printing function information obtained from the printing function possessed by the external printing apparatus and the printing information that is the target of the first printing function information, and the obtained first printing function information. Comparing the first print function information with the second print function information obtained from the print function owned by itself, extracting difference information between the first and second print function information, Creating a print setting screen based on the second print function information, and displaying the print setting screen on a display.

  The printing system according to the present invention includes an external printing apparatus, first printing function information obtained from a printing function possessed by the outside printing apparatus, and electronic information for creating printing information that is a target of the first printing function information. And a printing device connected to the electronic device, wherein the printing device acquires first printing function information and printing information created by the electronic device, and acquired first printing function information And the second printing function information obtained from the printing function held by itself and extracting the difference information between the first and second printing function information, the extracted difference information and the second printing Display control means for creating a print setting screen based on the function information and displaying the print setting screen on a display.

  According to the printing apparatus, the printing method, the printing program, and the printing system of the present invention, the user can easily recognize the difference in the printing function by adding the difference in the printing function with the external printing apparatus to the print setting screen. Simple and quick print setting and printing.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printing system 10 includes a user PC 12 that creates print data such as a document file and an image file, an image forming apparatus 14 that is a printing apparatus installed in a convenience store or an office outside the office, and a network or a dedicated cable. The printer 16 is connected to the PC 12, and the server 18 is connected to the user PC 12 and the image forming apparatus 14 via a network or the like.

  The user PC 12 can upload the print data to the server 18 connected to the network, and the user downloads the print data from the server 18 to the image forming apparatus 14 to use the net print in the image forming apparatus 14. can do. In addition, print data can be stored on the medium 20 in the user PC 12, and the user can carry out media print for printing the print data on the image forming apparatus 14 by carrying the medium 20. As the medium 20, a medium for storing print data such as a memory card, a USB memory, a CD, or a DVD can be used.

  In the printing system 10 according to the present embodiment, when performing net printing or media printing, the user PC 12 creates driver function information from a printer driver that controls the printer 16 that is normally used. The driver function information is information indicating the printing function of the printer, for example, information such as printing color, document size, printing scale, number of printings, and the like. The driver function information is associated with the print data in the user PC 12 and stored together with the print data. Further, the print data and the driver function information are stored in the server 18 or the medium 20 for net printing or media printing. The driver function information created in the user PC 12 is referred to as first driver function information in order to distinguish it from that of the image forming apparatus 14 described later.

  On the other hand, the image forming apparatus 14 acquires print data and first driver function information stored in the server 18 or the medium 20 at the time of net printing or media printing. The image forming apparatus 14 extracts difference information between the driver function information obtained from the printer driver owned by the image forming apparatus 14 (hereinafter referred to as second driver function information) and the first driver function information. Then, the print setting screen reflecting the difference information is displayed on the display of the image forming apparatus 14, whereby the user can easily use the print function that can be used by the printer 16 and the print function that cannot be used in the image forming apparatus 14. It is possible to easily set the print settings.

Details of each part will be described below. FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration example of the user PC. The user PC 12 includes an input unit 30 for inputting information by operating a keyboard or the like, a display unit 32 for displaying information such as characters and graphics on a display, a ROM or a RAM, and a program for performing printer print settings and various A main storage unit 34 for storing data and the like, a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk, a storage unit 36 for storing files such as print data, connected to a network or a media device, and storing print data on the server 18 or the media 20 Interface 38, a central processing unit (CPU) 40 for controlling each part in accordance with a program stored in the main storage unit 34, and a bus 42 for connecting them.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the user PC according to the present embodiment. The user PC 12 receives print data creation means 50 for creating print data such as a document file and an image file, a printer driver holding unit 52 for holding a printer driver for controlling the printer 16, and first driver function information from the printer driver. Driver function information creation means 54 to be created and storage means 56 for associating and saving the print data created by the print data creation means 50 and the first driver function information created by the driver function information creation means 54 Have. The storage unit 56 further has a function of storing the print data and the first driver function information in the server 18 or the medium 20 via the interface 38.

  The printer driver holding unit 52 holds a printer driver for driving the printer 16, and the printer driver displays print information such as a color to be printed, the number of pages printed on each sheet (scale ratio), a document size, and the like. Have. The driver function creating unit 54 creates first driver function information from the printer driver held by the printer driver holding unit 52. The created first driver function information includes information indicating various printing functions, information on a display character string displayed on the display, and the like.

  When performing net printing or media printing, the CPU 40 displays a print setting screen 60 as shown in FIG. 4 on the display. The print setting screen 60 includes a printer setting screen corresponding to the printer driver or the first driver function information. For example, an input button 62 for selecting a printing color and a page to be printed on one sheet. An input button 64 for selecting and an input button 66 for selecting a document size to be printed are included. The user can perform print settings by operating the input unit 30 according to the print setting screen 60.

  When the user PC 12 prepares for net printing or media printing, an application for creating driver function information can be activated. For example, this application may be automatically started when the user instructs net printing or media printing. When the application is activated, a driver data acquisition tool screen as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display. The driver data acquisition tool screen 70 includes an input button 72 for selecting a printer driver and an input button 74 for selecting or instructing an output destination (storage destination) of the created first driver function information. The user designates a printer driver from the input unit 30 in accordance with the displayed driver acquisition tool screen 70, and instructs an output destination (storage destination) of driver function information of the designated printer driver.

  FIG. 6 is a hardware configuration example of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus 14 operates a touch panel and other keys to input an instruction from a user, a display unit 82 that displays a print setting screen for performing print settings and the like, a document, an image, and the like. A reading unit 84 that reads an original and converts it into image data, a printing unit 86 that prints print data on a medium such as paper, and the server 18 and the medium 20 are connected to acquire print data and first driver function information from the outside. A large amount of printing collected via a network or the like, including an interface 88, ROM or RAM, a main storage unit 90 for storing a program for performing print settings, various data, and a mass storage device such as a hard disk It includes a storage unit 92 that stores data, a CPU 94 that controls each unit according to a program, and a bus 96 that connects them. They are out.

  The user can instruct print settings such as selection of the paper size and designation of the number of prints by operating the input unit 80 such as a touch panel or a keypad according to the print setting screen displayed on the display unit 82. The image forming apparatus 14 is connected to the server 18 or the media device on the network via the interface 88, and can acquire the print data and the first driver function information stored in the server 18 or the medium 20.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. The image forming apparatus 14 includes a print data acquisition unit 100 that acquires print data from the server 18 or the medium 20, a driver function information acquisition unit 102 that acquires first driver function information, and a printer driver that the image forming apparatus 14 has. A printer driver holding unit 104 that holds the first driver function information, a driver function information creating unit 106 that creates second driver function information that is a printing function from the printer driver, and the first driver function information and driver acquired from the driver information acquiring unit 102 A function information comparison unit 108 that compares the second driver function information created by the function information creation unit 106; a difference information extraction unit 110 that extracts difference information based on the function information compared by the function information comparison unit 108; Second driver function information based on the extracted difference information Difference addition means 112 for adding difference information, display character string replacement means 114 for replacing the display character string described in the first driver function information with the display character string of the second driver function information, and difference addition means 112 The print setting screen display means 116 for displaying the print setting screen on the display section 82 based on the second driver function information updated by the display character string replacing means 114, and the input section 80+ via the print setting screen. The print setting means 118 for instructing print settings in accordance with the received instructions, and the print means 120 for printing print data on a medium such as paper in accordance with the print settings set by the print setting means 118.

  A print setting screen displayed on the image forming apparatus when performing net print or media print will be described. FIG. 8A shows a print setting screen when a difference between the first driver function information is added, and FIG. 8B shows a print setting screen before the first driver function information is added. is there. The print setting screen 140 shown in FIG. 8B includes an input button 132 for selecting “original size”, an input button 134 for selecting printing on “double-sided”, and “collectively one sheet”. An input button 138 for selecting the notation and the number of pages for reduction printing on one page of paper is included. On the other hand, in the print setting screen 130 shown in FIG. 8A, the difference from the print function of the printer 16 can be seen at a glance by adding a difference with the first driver function information.

  That is, the print setting screen 130 clearly presents the difference between the print function that can be used by the image forming apparatus 14 and the print function that can be used by the printer 16. Here, an identification mark “NEW” is displayed for a printing function that cannot be used by the printer 16 but can be used by the image forming apparatus 14, and a printing function that can be used by the printer 16 but cannot be used by the image forming apparatus 14 includes: An identification mark “NG” is displayed. For example, the function of selecting a printing color can be used by the printer 16 but cannot be used by the image forming apparatus 14, so an “NG” identification mark and its input button 136 are displayed. Although the duplex printing function cannot be used in the printer 16, it can be used in the image forming apparatus 14, and therefore, a “NEW” identification mark and its input button 134 are displayed. Similarly, in the function of reducing and printing a plurality of pages into one page (so-called N-up function), “NEW” is displayed as the 8-up function being used by the image forming apparatus 14, and the 6-up and 9-up functions are image forming “NG” is displayed as an item that cannot be used by the device 14. Furthermore, even if the display function is the same print function, if the display character string displayed on the display is different, the display character string used in the image forming apparatus 14 is unified and displayed.

  The print setting unit 118 completes the print setting when the user gives an instruction from the input unit 80 according to the print setting screen 130. The printing unit 120 prints the print data on a medium such as paper based on the print setting set by the print setting unit 118.

  Next, the printing operation of the image forming apparatus 14 in this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B are examples of text data indicating the first driver function information. 11A and 11B are examples of text data indicating the second driver function information. The driver function information is created in a format representing the print setting function of the printer driver created in an XML format called, for example, Print Capabilities. For example, various printing functions for setting “original size”, “color”, and the like are defined by commands called “Features”. The data portion defined by Feature includes a command called Option. For example, if the Feature portion defines a function for setting “original size”, “A4 size” or “B4” indicating “original size” options. “Size” and the like are defined by the Option command. Furthermore, the display character string displayed on the print setting screen 130 is defined by a command called Display Name.

  First, the CPU 94 reads the first driver function information and the second driver function information, and determines whether or not there is the same Feature by the function information comparison unit 108 (step S101). When there is the same feature, the CPU 94 performs, for example, SAME marking on the data portions 202 and 208 of the first driver function information and the data portions 222 and 224 of the second driver function information that are the same feature (step S102). ).

  Next, the CPU 94 determines whether or not there is the same Display Name in the Feature by the function information comparison unit 108 (Step S103). If the Display Names are not the same, the CPU 94 causes the display character string replacement unit 114 to replace the display character string of the first driver function information with the display character string of the second driver function information (step S104). The CPU 94 displays, for example, the display character string “page for each sheet”, which is the Display name described in the data portion 206 of the first driver function information, described in the data portion 226 of the second driver function information. Replace with the string “one piece together”.

  Next, the CPU 94 determines whether or not the same Option exists in the same Feature portion by the function information comparison unit 108 (step S105). When there is the same Option, the CPU 94 performs, for example, SAME marking on the data part 208 of the first driver function information and the data part 228 of the second driver function information that are the same Option (step S106).

  Next, the CPU 94 determines whether there is the same Display Name in Option (step S107). If the Display Names are not the same, the CPU 94 causes the display character string replacement unit 114 to replace the display character string of the first driver function information with the display character string of the second driver function information (step S108). The CPU 94, for example, displays the display character strings “1”, “2”, and “4” that are Display names described in the data portion 208 of the first driver function information in the data portion 228 of the second driver function information. The displayed character string “N not up”, “2 up”, or “4 up” is replaced.

  Next, the CPU 94 determines whether or not it is the last option (step S109). If it is not the last option, the process returns to step S105 to perform a series of operations. If it is the last option, the CPU 94 extracts the option without the SAME marking as the difference information by the difference information extraction unit 110, and for example, in the option data portion 210 only in the first driver function information, An NG mark is added, and a NEW mark is added to the option data section 230 only in the second driver function information section (step S110).

  Next, the CPU 94 determines whether or not it is the last feature (step S111). If it is not the last feature, the process returns to step S101 to perform a series of operations. If it is the last feature, the CPU 94 extracts the feature without the SAME marking as the difference information by the difference information extraction unit 110. For example, in the feature data portion 200 only in the first driver function information, An NG marking is added, and a NEW mark is added to the data portion 220 of the Feature that is only in the second driver function information (step S112).

  Finally, the CPU 94 adds the data portion 200 of the Feature in the first driver function information to which the NG mark is added to the second driver function information by the difference adding unit 112, and updates the second driver function information. (Step S113).

  12A to 12C are examples of text data indicating the updated second driver function information. New marks 240, 246, and 250 are added to the notation of printing functions that can not be used by the printer 16 but can be used by the image forming apparatus 14, and can be used by the printer 16 but cannot be used by the image forming apparatus 14. Are added with NG marks 244, 248, 252. Also, different display character strings with the same print function are replaced with display character strings based on the second driver function information as shown in the display character string 242, and the display format is unified.

  The print setting screen display unit 118 creates a print setting screen 130 as shown in FIG. 8A based on the updated second driver function information as shown in FIGS.

  According to the printing apparatus, the printing method, the printing program, and the printing system of the present invention, the user can easily recognize the difference in the printing function by adding the difference in the printing function with the external printing apparatus to the print setting screen. Simple and quick print setting and printing.

  In the above embodiment, the driver function information is created by the user PC 50. However, various printer drivers are stored in advance in the server 18 or the image forming apparatus 14, and the driver of the external printing apparatus is used in the image forming apparatus 14 based on a user instruction. Functional information may be created. Further, the image forming apparatus 14 can compare two or more pieces of driver function information and reflect them on the print setting screen. Further, the printing apparatus of the above embodiment is not limited to the image forming apparatus 14 but may be another electronic apparatus having a printing function such as a printer or a copying machine.

  The above-described embodiments are illustrative, and the scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited thereto, and can be realized by other methods within the scope satisfying the constituent requirements of the present invention. Needless to say.

  The printing system according to the present invention can be used in a printing setting of a printing apparatus installed on the go in net printing or media printing.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the printing system which concerns on this invention. It is a structural example of the hardware of a user PC. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structural example of user PC which concerns on a present Example. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a print setting display. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of an application. 2 is a configuration example of hardware of an image forming apparatus. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating a print setting screen when the difference of the first driver function information is added. FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating a print setting screen before the first driver function information is added. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a printing operation of the image forming apparatus. It is text data which shows 1st driver function information. It is text data which shows 1st driver function information. It is text data which shows 2nd driver function information. It is text data which shows 2nd driver function information. It is text data which shows the updated 2nd driver function information. It is text data which shows the updated 2nd driver function information. It is text data which shows the updated 2nd driver function information.

10: Printing system 12: User PC
14: Image forming apparatus 16: Printer 18: Server 20: Media 50: Print data creation means 52: Printer driver holding unit 54: Driver function information creation means 56: Storage means 100: Print data acquisition means 102: Driver function information acquisition means 104: Printer driver holding unit 106: Driver function information creation unit 108: Function information comparison unit 110: Difference information extraction unit 112: Difference addition unit 114: Display character string replacement unit 116: Print setting screen display unit 118: Print setting unit 120 : Printing method

Claims (6)

A printing apparatus that performs print settings via a print setting screen,
Acquisition means for acquiring first print function information obtained from a print function held by an external printing apparatus and print information that is a target of the first print function information;
The acquired first printing function information is compared with the second printing function information obtained from the printing function held by itself, and a command defining the printing function is included in the first and second printing function information. Extracting means for extracting difference information of each of the function definition part including the display character string definition part including a command defining the character displayed on the display ;
Based on the extracted difference information and updates the second print function information, to create a print setting screen based on the second print function information updated, have a display control means for displaying the print setting screen on the display And
The difference information is character string information for replacing the display character string defined in the display character string definition section of the first print function information with the display character string defined in the display character string definition section of the second print function information. First identification information for identifying a function definition part included in the first print function information but not included in the second print function information, and first print function information included in the second print function information Including second identification information for identifying a function definition part not included in
The display control means adds an identification display for identifying a print function that is included in the first print function information but not included in the second print function information based on the first identification information to the print setting screen. An identification display for identifying a print function that is included in the second print function information but not included in the first print function information is added to the print setting screen based on the identification information of the print information, and further printing using the first print function information is performed. When the first display format of the function is different from the second display format of the print function based on the second print function information, the first display format on the print setting screen is changed to the second display format based on the character string information. Match the printing device. The first and second print function information, Ru created by XML format, the printing apparatus according to claim 1. Printing apparatus further includes a print setting means for setting a printing function on the basis of the print setting screen, and output means for outputting print information based on the set print function, printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. A printing method for performing print settings of a printing device via a print setting screen,
Obtaining first print function information obtained from a print function possessed by an external printing apparatus and print information that is a target of the first print function information;
The acquired first printing function information is compared with the second printing function information obtained from the printing function held by itself, and a command defining the printing function is included in the first and second printing function information. The function definition section and the display string definition section of the display character string definition section including the commands that define the characters displayed on the display are compared with each other. Extracting difference information; and
Updating the second print function information based on the extracted difference information , creating a print function screen based on the updated second print function information, and displaying the print setting screen on a display ,
The difference information is character string information for replacing the display character string defined in the display character string definition section of the first print function information with the display character string defined in the display character string definition section of the second print function information. First identification information for identifying a function definition part included in the first print function information but not included in the second print function information, and first print function information included in the second print function information Including second identification information for identifying a function definition part not included in
In the displaying step, an identification display for identifying a print function that is included in the first print function information but not included in the second print function information based on the first identification information is added to the print setting screen. An identification display for identifying a print function that is included in the second print function information but not included in the first print function information is added to the print setting screen based on the identification information of the print information, and further printing using the first print function information is performed. When the first display format of the function is different from the second display format of the print function based on the second print function information, the first display format on the print setting screen is changed to the second display format based on the character string information. Match the printing method. A print program for performing print settings of a printing apparatus via a print setting screen,
Obtaining first print function information obtained from a print function possessed by an external printing apparatus and print information that is a target of the first print function information;
The acquired first printing function information is compared with the second printing function information obtained from the printing function held by itself, and a command defining the printing function is included in the first and second printing function information. The function definition section and the display string definition section of the display character string definition section including the commands that define the characters displayed on the display are compared with each other. Extracting difference information; and
Updating the second print function information based on the extracted difference information , creating a print function screen based on the updated second print function information, and displaying the print setting screen on a display ,
The difference information is character string information for replacing the display character string defined in the display character string definition section of the first print function information with the display character string defined in the display character string definition section of the second print function information. First identification information for identifying a function definition part included in the first print function information but not included in the second print function information, and first print function information included in the second print function information Including second identification information for identifying a function definition part not included in
In the displaying step, an identification display for identifying a print function that is included in the first print function information but not included in the second print function information based on the first identification information is added to the print setting screen. An identification display for identifying a print function that is included in the second print function information but not included in the first print function information is added to the print setting screen based on the identification information of the print information, and further printing using the first print function information is performed. When the first display format of the function is different from the second display format of the print function based on the second print function information, the first display format on the print setting screen is changed to the second display format based on the character string information. A print program that matches . A printing system for performing print settings of a printing apparatus via a print setting screen,
An external printing device;
An electronic device for creating first print function information obtained from a print function held by an external printing device and print information that is a target of the first print function information;
A printing device connected to the electronic device,
The printing apparatus includes: an acquisition unit that acquires first print function information and print information created by the electronic device;
The acquired first printing function information is compared with the second printing function information obtained from the printing function held by itself, and a command defining the printing function is included in the first and second printing function information. Extracting means for extracting difference information of each of the function definition part including the display character string definition part including a command defining the character displayed on the display ;
Based on the extracted difference information and updates the second print function information, to create a print setting screen based on the second print function information updated, have a display control means for displaying the print setting screen on the display And
The difference information is character string information for replacing the display character string defined in the display character string definition section of the first print function information with the display character string defined in the display character string definition section of the second print function information. First identification information for identifying a function definition part included in the first print function information but not included in the second print function information, and first print function information included in the second print function information Including second identification information for identifying a function definition part not included in
The display control means adds an identification display for identifying a print function that is included in the first print function information but not included in the second print function information based on the first identification information to the print setting screen. An identification display for identifying a print function that is included in the second print function information but not included in the first print function information is added to the print setting screen based on the identification information of the print information, and further printing using the first print function information is performed. When the first display format of the function is different from the second display format of the print function based on the second print function information, the first display format on the print setting screen is changed to the second display format based on the character string information. Align printing system.

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