JP6191499B2 - Information processing apparatus and information processing program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and an information processing program.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-26853 has a problem that a printer lists and holds relative distances from other printers. The printer acquires relative distances from other printers and uses them as an alternative printer list table. For example, when selecting a printer that requests alternative printing, the printer searches for the relative distance in this alternative printer list table and selects the printer with the closest relative distance as the alternative printer, thereby improving the efficiency. In particular, it is disclosed that a printer or the like that requires alternative printing can be selected.

  In Patent Document 2, it is an object to provide an efficient, simple, and low-cost print control system when outputting a document from a plurality of clients to a target printer in the Internet environment. A print attribute setting data file that matches the printer on the Internet selected / designated as the target printer is distributed from the host system to the client that issues the document print instruction, and the print attribute for the alternative printer of the target printer that prints upon request The setting data is converted, the print control processing is performed based on the print attribute setting data, the document is output, and the target printer is installed with little or no job waiting depending on the job scheduling and job output status of the target printer. Another close to You can perform document printing are disclosed in the printer.

JP 2004-102333 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-010753

  An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus and an information processing program which present an alternative image forming apparatus when a selected image forming apparatus cannot print a document.

The gist of the present invention for achieving the object lies in the inventions of the following items.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a selecting means for selecting an image forming apparatus, a converting means for converting a document registered by a user so that printing can be performed by the image forming apparatus selected by the selecting means, and the converting means. The image forming apparatus that has been used by the user if the distance from the image forming apparatus selected by the selecting means is within a predetermined value. An extraction means for extracting the document, a second conversion means for converting the document registered by the user so that the image can be printed by the image forming apparatus extracted by the extraction means, and a conversion by the second conversion means. it information about the image forming apparatus could include a presentation means for presenting to the user, the presenting means, for converting the said second converting means If the image forming apparatus is selected, the image forming apparatus selected by the selecting means can not print, and information indicating the installation position of the image forming apparatus that can be converted by the second converting means is presented to the user. It is an information processing apparatus characterized by doing.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the selection unit selects the image forming apparatus from among the image forming apparatuses having a usage record greater than or greater than a predetermined value. It is a processing device.

  A third aspect of the present invention is the information processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein the selection means performs a selection process when a document is registered by the user.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the presenting means can convert the information by the converting means, the information regarding the image forming apparatus selected by the selecting means is presented to the user, and the second conversion is performed. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if the image cannot be converted by the means, the user is notified that the image forming apparatus selected by the selecting means cannot perform printing. Information processing apparatus.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a selection unit for selecting an image forming apparatus, a conversion unit for converting a document registered by a user so that the computer can print with the image forming apparatus selected by the selection unit, If the image cannot be converted by the conversion unit, the image forming apparatus has been used by the user, and the distance from the image forming apparatus selected by the selection unit is within a predetermined value. Extraction means for extracting an image forming apparatus, second conversion means for converting a document registered by the user so that printing can be performed by the image forming apparatus extracted by the extraction means, and the second conversion means the information about the image forming apparatus can be converted to function as presentation means for presenting to the user by the presentation unit, the second variant If the image can be converted by the means, information indicating that printing cannot be performed by the image forming apparatus selected by the selecting means and the installation position of the image forming apparatus that has been converted by the second converting means This is an information processing program presented to the user .

  According to the information processing apparatus of the first aspect, when the document cannot be printed by the selected image forming apparatus, an alternative image forming apparatus can be presented.

  According to the information processing apparatus of the second aspect, the user can select from among image forming apparatuses having a usage record more than or more than a predetermined number of uses.

  According to the information processing apparatus of the third aspect, the selection process can be performed when the document is registered by the user.

  According to the information processing apparatus of the fourth aspect, the user can know information on whether or not printing is possible in the image forming apparatus selected by the selection unit.

  According to the information processing program of claim 5, when a document cannot be printed by the selected image forming apparatus, an alternative image forming apparatus can be presented.

It is a conceptual module block diagram about the structural example of this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the system configuration example in the case of implement | achieving this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process example by this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process example by this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process example by this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a data structure of a printing performance data table. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a data structure of an installation printer data table. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a data structure of a registration file table. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a data structure of the file table for converted printing. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a message. It is a flowchart which shows the process example by this Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware structural example of the computer which implement | achieves this Embodiment.

Hereinafter, an example of a preferred embodiment for realizing the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a conceptual module configuration diagram of a configuration example of the present embodiment.
The module generally refers to components such as software (computer program) and hardware that can be logically separated. Therefore, the module in the present embodiment indicates not only a module in a computer program but also a module in a hardware configuration. Therefore, the present embodiment is a computer program for causing these modules to function (a program for causing a computer to execute each procedure, a program for causing a computer to function as each means, and a function for each computer. This also serves as an explanation of the program and system and method for realizing the above. However, for the sake of explanation, the words “store”, “store”, and equivalents thereof are used. However, when the embodiment is a computer program, these words are stored in a storage device or stored in memory. It is the control to be stored in the device. Modules may correspond to functions one-to-one, but in mounting, one module may be configured by one program, or a plurality of modules may be configured by one program, and conversely, one module May be composed of a plurality of programs. The plurality of modules may be executed by one computer, or one module may be executed by a plurality of computers in a distributed or parallel environment. Note that one module may include other modules. Hereinafter, “connection” is used not only for physical connection but also for logical connection (data exchange, instruction, reference relationship between data, etc.). “Predetermined” means that the process is determined before the target process, and not only before the process according to this embodiment starts but also after the process according to this embodiment starts. In addition, if it is before the target processing, it is used in accordance with the situation / state at that time or with the intention to be decided according to the situation / state up to that point. When there are a plurality of “predetermined values”, they may be different values, or two or more values (of course, including all values) may be the same. In addition, the description having the meaning of “do B when it is A” is used in the meaning of “determine whether or not it is A and do B when it is judged as A”. However, the case where it is not necessary to determine whether or not A is excluded.
In addition, the system or device is configured by connecting a plurality of computers, hardware, devices, and the like by communication means such as a network (including one-to-one correspondence communication connection), etc., and one computer, hardware, device. The case where it implement | achieves by etc. is included. “Apparatus” and “system” are used as synonymous terms. Of course, the “system” does not include a social “mechanism” (social system) that is an artificial arrangement.
In addition, when performing a plurality of processes in each module or in each module, the target information is read from the storage device for each process, and the processing result is written to the storage device after performing the processing. is there. Therefore, description of reading from the storage device before processing and writing to the storage device after processing may be omitted. Here, the storage device may include a hard disk, a RAM (Random Access Memory), an external storage medium, a storage device via a communication line, a register in a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and the like.

The information processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment presents an alternative image forming apparatus when a document cannot be printed by the selected image forming apparatus. As shown in the example of FIG. The apparatus 100 includes a printing result reception module 105, a printing result storage module 110, an output count calculation module 115, an installed printer information storage module 120, a proximity printer extraction module 125, a high-frequency printer selection module 130, an alternative printer selection module 135, and file conversion. The module 140 includes a print file storage module 145, a print file transmission module 150, a file conversion control module 155, a file registration module 160, a conversion notification creation module 165, and a conversion result transmission module 170.
The present embodiment is intended for a printer (so-called arcade service) used by an unspecified person at a station, hotel, retail store, etc., rather than printing processing by a printer which is an image forming apparatus in an office. . In this case, if the present embodiment is not used, printing is performed by designating a printer, and therefore printing cannot be performed at a place where the user goes out of the office due to going out. In addition, an alternative printer for a printer that cannot print may be selected only by a short distance, and the installation location of the alternative printer may not be known. Further, whether or not the output can be performed by the printer is determined depending on whether or not the file can be converted into a print file for the printer, and may not be determined unless the file conversion is actually executed.

The print record receiving module 105 is connected to the print record storage module 110. The print record receiving module 105 receives print record data from the printer and stores it in the print record storage module 110.
The print record storage module 110 is connected to the print record reception module 105 and the output count calculation module 115. The print record storage module 110 stores print record data (print record data) received by the print record receiving module 105. For example, a print record data table 600 is stored. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the data structure of the print record data table 600. The print record data table 600 includes a date / time column 610, a file ID column 620, a printer ID column 630, a model ID column 640, a machine ID column 650, a printing surface number column 660, and a print setting column 670. The date / time column 610 may be the date / time (year, month, day, hour, minute, second, second or less, or a combination thereof) when printing is performed by the printer (the printer specified by the printer ID column 630). ) Is remembered. In the present embodiment, the file ID column 620 stores information (file ID: IDentification) for uniquely identifying a file that is a document. In the present embodiment, the printer ID column 630 stores information (printer ID) for uniquely identifying a printer. In the present embodiment, the model ID column 640 stores information (model ID) for uniquely identifying the model of the printer. In the present embodiment, the machine ID column 650 stores information (machine ID, serial number) for uniquely identifying the machine that is the printer. The number of printed pages column 660 stores the number of printed pages (number of pages in a file which is electronic data). The print setting column 670 stores print settings for the printing.

  The output count calculation module 115 is connected to the printing result storage module 110, the high-frequency printer selection module 130, and the alternative printer selection module 135. The output count calculation module 115 calculates a usage record, which is the output count of each file printer (user who registered the document), from the print record data in the print record storage module 110. For example, from a user file registration history (a table in which a file and a user ID are associated) and a print record data table 600 (especially the file ID column 620 and the printer ID column 630), the printer information is stored for each user. What is necessary is just to calculate the output frequency. The number of outputs may be the number of outputs in a predetermined period. The predetermined period is the past N months from the present (N is an integer of 1 or more).

  The installed printer information storage module 120 is connected to the proximity printer extraction module 125, the print file transmission module 150, and the conversion notification creation module 165. The installed printer information storage module 120 stores information on the installed printer. For example, an installed printer data table 700 is stored. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the data structure of the installed printer data table 700. The installed printer data table 700 has a printer ID column 710, a model ID column 720, a machine ID column 730, an installation location name column 740, a latitude column 750, and a longitude column 760. The printer ID column 710 stores a printer ID. The model ID column 720 stores a model ID indicating the model of the printer. The machine ID column 730 stores the machine ID of the printer. The installation location name column 740 stores the installation location name where the printer is installed. This field is used for presenting the position of the printer to the user. The latitude column 750 stores latitude. The longitude column 760 stores longitude. In other words, the latitude column 750 and the longitude column 760 store the position where the printer is installed.

The high-frequency printer selection module 130 is connected to the output count calculation module 115 and the file conversion control module 155. The high frequency printer selection module 130 selects a printer. For example, a printer designated by the operation of the user who registered the file may be selected. In addition, the high-frequency printer selection module 130 may select a printer from among printers that have a usage record greater than or greater than a predetermined value. A so-called frequently used printer may be selected. Specifically, a printer of “number of outputs> predetermined number of times” is selected for printers that have been used in the past by the user who registered the file. A plurality of printers may be selected. Note that the number of outputs is calculated using the output number calculation module 115. Further, the printer may be limited to a printer that has printed the same type of file as the registered file. This is because there is a high possibility of printing. The same type of file specifically refers to files having the same extension in the file name.
Further, the high-frequency printer selection module 130 may perform the selection process when a file is registered by the user (trigger). That is, a printer selection process is performed before an instruction for a printing process is actually performed.

The proximity printer extraction module 125 is connected to the installed printer information storage module 120 and the alternative printer selection module 135. The proximity printer extraction module 125 extracts a printer whose distance from the printer selected by the high-frequency printer selection module 130 is within a predetermined distance from the installed printer information in the installed printer information storage module 120.
The alternative printer selection module 135 is connected to the output count calculation module 115 and the file conversion control module 155. The alternative printer selection module 135 has a use record by the user when the file conversion control module 155 cannot convert the registered file into a print file that can be printed by the printer selected by the high-frequency printer selection module 130. A printer having a distance from the printer selected by the high-frequency printer selection module 130 within a predetermined value is extracted. Of course, the printer extracted by the alternative printer selection module 135 does not include the printer selected by the high-frequency printer selection module 130.
Specifically, the alternative printer selection module 135 extracts printers that satisfy the following conditions as alternative printer candidates and ranks them. This is because a printer that is close to the printer selected by the high-frequency printer selection module 130 and whose user knows the installation location is selected as an alternative printer. The ordering may be sorted in descending order of the number of output times, or distances may be sorted in ascending order.
(Condition A) The printer of the file registrant who has output “number of output times> 0”. This number of outputs is calculated using the output number calculation module 115.
(Condition B) The distance from the printer selected by the high-frequency printer selection module 130 is a printer within a predetermined value. Neighboring printers are extracted by the proximity printer extraction module 125.

The print file storage module 145 is connected to the file conversion module 140 and the print file transmission module 150. The print file storage module 145 stores a file that is converted from the registered file by the file conversion module 140 and that is to be printed by the printer. For example, it is managed by the converted print file table 900. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the data structure of the converted print file table 900. The converted print file table 900 has a file ID column 910 and a model ID column 920. In the present embodiment, the file ID column 910 stores a file ID that uniquely identifies a print file converted by the file conversion module 140. The model ID column 920 stores the model ID of the printer that prints the file. That is, the data structure is such that a print file can be determined according to the printer (model) to be transmitted.
The file conversion module 140 is connected to the installed printer information storage module 120, the print file storage module 145, the print file transmission module 150, and the file conversion control module 155. The file conversion module 140 is provided for each printer model. That is, there are a plurality of file conversion modules 140 corresponding to the models. In accordance with an instruction from the file conversion control module 155, the registered file is converted into a print file for printing with the printer of that model.
The file conversion control module 155 is connected to the high-frequency printer selection module 130, the alternative printer selection module 135, the file conversion module 140, the file registration module 160, and the conversion notification creation module 165. First, the file conversion control module 155 controls the file conversion module 140 to convert the file registered by the user so that printing can be performed by the printer selected by the high-frequency printer selection module 130. That is, the file conversion module 140 corresponding to the printer model selected by the high-frequency printer selection module 130 is selected, and the file conversion module 140 performs file conversion processing. Then, the file conversion control module 155 controls the file conversion module 140 to convert the file registered by the user so that it can be printed by the printer extracted by the alternative printer selection module 135.
Specifically, the file conversion control module 155 converts the registration file for each printer selected by the high-frequency printer selection module 130 into a print file using the file conversion module 140. For the printer that has failed to be converted, the alternative printer selection module 135 is instructed to acquire alternative printer candidates. Based on the ranking of alternative printer candidates selected by the alternative printer selection module 135, conversion is performed using the file conversion module 140 until the conversion is successful. If no alternative printer candidate has been successfully converted, the conversion notification creation module 165 creates a message indicating that the printer (especially, the printer selected by the high-frequency printer selection module 130) cannot be used. become.

The file registration module 160 is connected to the file conversion control module 155. The file registration module 160 receives a registration file transmitted from a file registration client (for example, a file registration terminal A 210 and a file registration terminal B 220 described later with reference to FIG. 2), and delivers them to the file conversion control module 155. For example, a registration file table 800 is generated and managed for registration files. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the data structure of the registration file table 800. The registered file table 800 includes a file ID column 810, a registrant ID column 820, a file name column 830, a file size column 840, and a default print setting column 850. In the present embodiment, the file ID column 810 stores a file ID that uniquely identifies a document to be printed. In this embodiment, registrant ID column 820 stores information (registrant ID) for uniquely identifying the registrant (user) of the document. The file name column 830 stores the file name of the document to be printed. The file size column 840 stores the file size of the document to be printed. The default print setting column 850 stores default print settings (for example, print paper size, monochrome / color designation, number of copies, etc.) for a document to be printed.
The print file transmission module 150 is connected to the installed printer information storage module 120, the file conversion module 140, and the print file storage module 145. The print file transmission module 150 transmits the print file to the finally extracted printer.

The conversion notification creation module 165 is connected to the installed printer information storage module 120, the file conversion control module 155, and the conversion result transmission module 170. The conversion notification creation module 165 creates a file conversion success / failure message for each printer that has performed file conversion. This is to make it possible for the user to know which printer can print and which printer cannot print out of the printers that know the installation location (printers that have been used).
Specifically, the conversion notification creation module 165 creates a file conversion success / failure notification for each high-frequency printer selected by the high-frequency printer selection module 130. At that time, the notification contents including conversion in the alternative printer are as follows. This is done for each frequently used printer in order to notify the availability of printing and the location of an alternative printer that can be used.
[High frequency printer: file conversion successful]: Notifies that printing is possible with the high frequency printer.
[High-frequency printer: file conversion failure, alternative printer: file conversion success]: Notifies that the high-frequency printer cannot print, and notifies the location of the printable alternative printer.
[High frequency printer: file conversion failure, alternative printer: file conversion failure]: Notify that printing cannot be performed with the high frequency printer.

  The conversion result transmission module 170 is connected to the conversion notification creation module 165. The conversion result transmission module 170 presents information about the printer that can be converted by the file conversion control module 155 to the user (the user who registered the file). Information relating to the printer includes, for example, the name of the place where the printer is installed (installed place name column 740 of the installed printer data table 700). The presentation here includes e-mail, chat, SNS notification, etc., with the content of information about the printer as text. Specifically, a file conversion notification is made to the file registration client with the contents created by the conversion notification creation module 165.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration when the present embodiment is realized.
The information processing apparatus 100, file registration terminal A 210, file registration terminal B 220, printer A 230, printer B 240, and printer C 250 are connected via a communication line 290. The file registration terminal A210 and the file registration terminal B220 are used by the user to instruct file registration and file printing. As described above, the printer A230, the printer B240, and the printer C250 are installed at stations, hotels, retail stores, and the like, and are printers that are used by unspecified persons. For example, the user of the file registration terminal A210 has a track record of frequently using the printer A230 (that is, the user knows the installation location of the printer A230), and the printer B240 and the printer C250 are in the vicinity of the printer A230. Assume that the printer B240 has been used. If the file registered by the user of the file registration terminal A210 cannot be printed by the printer A230, the information processing apparatus 100 has a record of use, and the file can be printed by the printer B240 close to the printer A230. And the verification result is notified to the file registration terminal A210. Note that the communication line 290 may be wireless, wired, or a combination thereof, for example, the Internet as a communication infrastructure.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart (overall flow of file conversion of the file conversion control module 155) showing an example of processing according to the present embodiment.
In step S302, the high-frequency printer selection module 130 acquires a high-frequency printer list.
In step S304, it is determined whether or not there is a high-frequency printer. If there is, the process proceeds to step S306, and if not, the process proceeds to step S318. As described above, the determination of whether or not there is a high-frequency printer is a printer with “output count> predetermined count” for printers that the user who registered the file has used in the past. Judge whether or not. If there is no high-frequency printer, a print file for a model with a large number of installed devices is created in the processing after step S318, and the creation of the conversion notification and the transmission of the conversion result are not performed.

In step S306, the model of each high-frequency printer is acquired from the installed printer data table 700.
In step S308, the file conversion module 140 of each model is selected.
In step S310, each file conversion module 140 converts the registered file into a print file.
In step S312, it is determined whether there is a high-frequency printer that has failed in file conversion. If there is, the process proceeds to step S314; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S316.
In step S314, the alternative printer flow shown in the example of FIG. 4 is activated for each high-frequency printer that failed to be converted.

In step S316, the conversion result is delivered to the conversion notification creation module 165. In step S316, the conversion notification creation module 165 creates a message as shown in the example of FIG. 10, and the conversion result transmission module 170 transmits the message to the user who registered the file. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a message. When printing is possible with the printer selected by the high-frequency printer selection module 130, for example, the following printers that are frequently used can be used as the printer notification text 1010. ・ ○○○ Library ・ ○○ ○ Create as “Library Annex”. The installation location may be extracted from the installation location name column 740 of the installation printer data table 700.
If printing is not possible with the printer selected by the high-frequency printer selection module 130, but printing is possible with the printer selected by the alternative printer selection module 135, the alternative printer notification text 1020 is, for example, “Well used. The following printers can not be used.I will guide you to the alternative printer. ・ Please use XXX line YYY station instead of XXX line XXX station [Map] ・ △ □□ Onsen Ryokan instead of △△△ hotel Please use it as [Map]. For the map of the installation location, the latitude column 750 and the longitude column 760 of the installation printer data table 700 may be passed to the map display program to generate a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) that displays the map of the installation location.
If the printer selected by the alternative printer selection module 135 cannot be printed, for example, “The following printers that are frequently used cannot be used. ・ Create an RRR Cultural Hall”. .

In step S318, the number of installed units for each model is calculated from the installed printer data table 700.
In step S320, several types of file conversion modules 140 with the highest installed number are selected. Here, “upper rank” means that it is up to a predetermined rank or more than a predetermined number.
In step S322, each file conversion module 140 converts the registered file into a print file.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart (alternative printer flow) showing an example of processing according to the present embodiment. This process is started for each high-frequency printer that failed in file conversion for the high-frequency printer in the overall flow shown in the example of FIG. 3 (step S314).
In step S402, the alternative printer selection module 135 acquires alternative printer candidates. An example of selection and ranking of alternative printer candidates by the alternative printer selection module 135 executed in step S402 is as follows.
(1) The output count calculation module 115 identifies printers with “output count> 0” and arranges them in descending order of output count.
(2) The printers acquired by the proximity printer extraction module 125 are arranged in order of distance. As an example of distance calculation between printers, there is a method of calculating distance by regarding latitude and longitude as plane coordinates.
(3) The printers appearing in both (1) and (2) are set as alternative printer candidates, and the average of the ranks in (1) and (2) is set as the candidate rank. Further, as a candidate rank, a method such as a weighted average of ranks (1) and (2) or a rank (1) or (2) may be employed.

In step S404, 1 is substituted into the variable R. N is the number of alternative printer candidates.
In step S406, it is determined whether or not there is an alternative printer candidate of rank = variable R. If there is, the process proceeds to step S408, and if not, the process ends (step S498).
In step S <b> 408, the model of the alternative printer with rank = variable R is acquired from the installed printer data table 700.

In step S410, the file conversion module 140 of the model is selected.
In step S412, the file conversion module 140 converts the registered file into a print file.
In step S414, it is determined whether or not the file conversion is successful. If the file conversion is successful, the process is terminated (step S499). Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S416.
In step S416, 1 is added to the variable R (increment), and the process returns to step S406.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart (file transmission flow of the print file transmission module 150) showing a processing example according to the present exemplary embodiment. This file transmission flow is triggered by a request for a print file from the printer.
In step S502, a print file request is received from the printer.
In step S504, the received printer model is acquired from the installed printer data table 700.
In step S506, it is determined whether or not there is a print file for the model, and if there is, the process proceeds to step S508, and if not, the process proceeds to step S510. For this determination, the converted print file table 900 may be used. When the user uses a printer other than the printer in the message transmitted by the conversion result transmission module 170, the process proceeds to step S510. If there is no print file for the printer model that requested the print file (No in step S506), a print file is created on-demand by the processing in step S510 and subsequent steps (processing after the request is made). To create).

In step S508, the print file is transmitted to the printer.
In step S510, the file conversion module 140 of the model is selected.
In step S512, the file conversion module 140 converts the registered file into a print file.
In step S514, it is determined whether or not the file conversion is successful. If successful, the process proceeds to step S508. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S516.
In step S516, an error is transmitted to the printer.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of processing according to the present embodiment. In the flowchart shown in the example of FIG. 3, it is determined whether there is no high-frequency printer (No in step S304), and even a printer with a large number of installed printers cannot perform printing. Therefore, the processing from step S1102 to S1122 is equivalent to the processing from step S302 to S322 in the flowchart shown in the example of FIG.
In step S1102, the high-frequency printer selection module 130 acquires a high-frequency printer list.
In step S1104, it is determined whether there is a high-frequency printer. If there is, the process proceeds to step S1106. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S1118.
In step S1106, the model of each high-frequency printer is acquired from the installed printer data table 700.
In step S1108, the file conversion module 140 of each model is selected.
In step S1110, each file conversion module 140 converts the registered file into a print file.

In step S1112, it is determined whether there is a high-frequency printer that has failed in file conversion. If so, the process proceeds to step S1114; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S1116.
In step S1114, an alternative printer flow is activated for each high-frequency printer that failed to be converted.
In step S1116, the conversion result is delivered to the conversion notification creation module 165.
In step S1118, the number of installed machines for each model is calculated from the installed printer data table 700.
In step S1120, several types of file conversion modules 140 with the highest installed number are selected.
In step S1122, each file conversion module 140 converts the registered file into a print file.

In step S1124, it is determined whether or not all file conversions have failed. If all file conversions have failed, the process proceeds to step S1126. Otherwise, the process ends (step S1199).
In step S1126, it is notified that there is no printer capable of printing. In step S1126, the file conversion module 140 of the lower model printer not selected in step S1120 converts the registered file into a print file. As a result, if all file conversions fail, printing can be performed. You may make it notify that there is no printer.

  Note that the hardware configuration of the computer on which the program according to the present embodiment is executed is a general computer, specifically a personal computer, a computer that can be a server, and the like, as illustrated in FIG. That is, as a specific example, the CPU 1201 is used as a processing unit (calculation unit), and the RAM 1202, the ROM 1203, and the HD 1204 are used as storage devices. For example, a hard disk may be used as the HD 1204. Print result reception module 105, output count calculation module 115, proximity printer extraction module 125, high frequency printer selection module 130, alternative printer selection module 135, file conversion module 140, print file transmission module 150, file conversion control module 155, file A CPU 1201 that executes programs such as a registration module 160, a conversion notification creation module 165, and a conversion result transmission module 170, a RAM 1202 that stores the programs and data, and a ROM 1203 that stores a program and the like for starting up the computer Receiving data based on user operations on the HD 1204, which is an auxiliary storage device (which may be a flash memory, etc.) and a keyboard, mouse, touch panel, etc. Receiving device 1206, an output device 1205 such as a CRT or a liquid crystal display, a communication line interface 1207 for connecting to a communication network such as a network interface card, and a bus 1208 for connecting them to exchange data. It is configured. A plurality of these computers may be connected to each other via a network.

Among the above-described embodiments, the computer program is a computer program that reads the computer program, which is software, in the hardware configuration system, and the software and hardware resources cooperate with each other. Is realized.
Note that the hardware configuration shown in FIG. 12 shows one configuration example, and the present embodiment is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 12, but is a configuration that can execute the modules described in the present embodiment. I just need it. For example, some modules may be configured by dedicated hardware (for example, ASIC), and some modules may be in an external system and connected via a communication line. A plurality of systems shown in FIG. 5 may be connected to each other via communication lines so as to cooperate with each other. In particular, in addition to personal computers, information appliances, copiers, fax machines, scanners, printers, and multifunction machines (image processing apparatuses having two or more functions of scanners, printers, copiers, fax machines, etc.) Etc. may be incorporated.

  Further, in the description of the above-described embodiment, “more than”, “less than”, “greater than”, and “less than (less than)” in a comparison with a predetermined value contradicts the combination. As long as the above does not occur, “larger”, “smaller (less than)”, “more than”, and “less than” may be used.

The program described above may be provided by being stored in a recording medium, or the program may be provided by communication means. In that case, for example, the above-described program may be regarded as an invention of a “computer-readable recording medium recording the program”.
The “computer-readable recording medium on which a program is recorded” refers to a computer-readable recording medium on which a program is recorded, which is used for program installation, execution, program distribution, and the like.
The recording medium is, for example, a digital versatile disc (DVD), which is a standard established by the DVD Forum, such as “DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-RAM,” and DVD + RW. Standard “DVD + R, DVD + RW, etc.”, compact disc (CD), read-only memory (CD-ROM), CD recordable (CD-R), CD rewritable (CD-RW), Blu-ray disc ( Blu-ray (registered trademark) Disc), magneto-optical disk (MO), flexible disk (FD), magnetic tape, hard disk, read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable and rewritable read-only memory (EEPROM (registered trademark)) )), Flash memory, Random access memory (RAM) SD (Secure Digital) memory card and the like.
The program or a part of the program may be recorded on the recording medium for storage or distribution. Also, by communication, for example, a local area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wired network used for the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, etc., or wireless communication It may be transmitted using a transmission medium such as a network or a combination of these, or may be carried on a carrier wave.
Furthermore, the program may be a part of another program, or may be recorded on a recording medium together with a separate program. Moreover, it may be divided and recorded on a plurality of recording media. Further, it may be recorded in any manner as long as it can be restored, such as compression or encryption.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Information processing apparatus 105 ... Print record receiving module 110 ... Print record storage module 115 ... Output frequency calculation module 120 ... Installed printer information storage module 125 ... Proximity printer extraction module 130 ... High frequency printer selection module 135 ... Alternative printer selection module 140 ... File conversion module 145 ... Print file storage module 150 ... Print file transmission module 155 ... File conversion control module 160 ... File registration module 165 ... Conversion notification creation module 170 ... Conversion result transmission module

Claims (5)

A selection means for selecting an image forming apparatus;
Conversion means for converting a document registered by the user so that the image can be printed by the image forming apparatus selected by the selection means;
If the image cannot be converted by the conversion unit, the image forming apparatus has been used by the user, and the distance from the image forming apparatus selected by the selection unit is within a predetermined value. Extraction means for extracting the image forming apparatus;
Second conversion means for converting a document registered by the user so that the image can be printed by the image forming apparatus extracted by the extraction means;
A presentation unit that presents information about the image forming apparatus that has been converted by the second conversion unit to the user ;
If the presenting means can be converted by the second converting means, it cannot be printed by the image forming apparatus selected by the selecting means, and the image can be converted by the second converting means. An information processing apparatus that presents information indicating an installation position of a forming apparatus to the user . The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit selects an image forming apparatus having a usage record greater than or more than a predetermined value by the user. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit performs selection processing when a document is registered by the user. Said presenting means, when it can be converted by the conversion means, information relating to an image forming apparatus selected by said selecting means to present to the user, can be converted by said second converting means The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein if there is not, the user is notified that the image forming apparatus selected by the selection unit cannot perform printing. Computer
A selection means for selecting an image forming apparatus;
Conversion means for converting a document registered by the user so that the image can be printed by the image forming apparatus selected by the selection means;
If the image cannot be converted by the conversion unit, the image forming apparatus has been used by the user, and the distance from the image forming apparatus selected by the selection unit is within a predetermined value. Extraction means for extracting the image forming apparatus;
Second conversion means for converting a document registered by the user so that the image can be printed by the image forming apparatus extracted by the extraction means;
Functioning as a presenting means for presenting information related to the image forming apparatus that has been converted by the second converting means to the user ;
If the presenting means can be converted by the second converting means, it cannot be printed by the image forming apparatus selected by the selecting means, and the image can be converted by the second converting means. Information indicating the installation position of the forming apparatus is presented to the user.
An information processing program characterized by that .

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