JP6880921B2 - Setting processor and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a setting processing device capable of executing setting processing related to a job and a technique related thereto.

There is a technology that can execute the setting process related to the job. For example, in a printing system, a user may set a plurality of setting items related to a print job by using a printer driver running on a personal computer. When the printer driver generates a print job and sends it to the printer according to the setting contents (specified contents) by the user, the printer executes print output according to the setting contents specified by the received print job.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-235332

By the way, regarding a plurality of setting items related to a job, there are setting contents that cannot be set in combination with each other due to the specifications of a printer device (printing device) or the like (see Patent Document 1 and the like). For example, for a certain printer device, it is prohibited to set the combination of the setting content "booklet" of the setting item "print type" and the setting content "page unit setting (valid)" of the setting item "page unit setting". Has been done. The combination of prohibited setting contents is also expressed as kinsoku setting (kinsoku condition).

Further, as such a prohibition setting, a plurality of types of prohibition settings may occur at the same time. For example, a combination of the setting content (setting value) q11 of a certain setting item Q1 and the setting content (setting value) q21 of another setting item Q2 causes a prohibition setting (also referred to as a first type of prohibition setting). , The combination of the setting content (setting value) q21 of the setting item Q2 and the setting content (setting value) q31 of yet another setting item Q3 may cause a prohibition setting (also referred to as a second type of prohibition setting).

Conventionally, when multiple types of prohibition settings occur, the multiple types of prohibition settings are individually and sequentially resolved (without considering the influence of other types of prohibition settings occurring at the same time). Exists.

Specifically, first, the first type of prohibition setting is eliminated, and then the second type of prohibition setting is eliminated. For example, first, by changing the setting content (setting value) q11 of the setting item Q1 to the setting content q12, the first type of prohibition setting is eliminated. Then, by changing the setting content (setting value) q31 of the setting item Q3 to the setting content q32, the second type of prohibition setting is eliminated.

However, such a prohibition elimination method is not always efficient. This is because, in this case, by first changing the setting content q21 of the setting item Q2 to another selection content q22, the two types of prohibition settings can be eliminated at once (both).

In order to eliminate the prohibition setting, the setting contents are changed in order from the prohibition factor item having the lowest "priority" among the setting items (prohibition factor items) that are the factors of the prohibition in each prohibition setting. It is possible that it will be done. The "priority" is a predetermined priority for each setting item as a degree to which the setting content should be maintained with priority, and is a relative priority between the setting items. For example, of the two setting items (prohibited items), the setting item "watermark" and the setting item "paper size", the setting item "paper size" (specifically, the setting contents) should be given more importance. Therefore, it is considered that the setting content (setting content of the setting item "paper size") should be maintained preferentially (the setting content of another setting item "watermark" should be changed first). In this case, the priority of the setting item "paper size" is set to a value higher than the priority of the setting item "watermark". As described above, the "priority" is an index value indicating the relative priority between the plurality of setting items, and a method of determining the change order for the plurality of setting items by using the priority can be considered. For example, when the priority of the setting item Q1 is the lowest and the priority of the setting item Q2 is the highest among the priorities of the three setting items Q1, Q3, and Q2, the lowest priority is as described above. The setting content of the setting item Q1 having the following may be changed first, and the setting content of the setting item Q3 having the next priority may be changed next. In particular, when the order of changing the setting items is determined by preferentially using the "priority", the above-mentioned inefficient prohibition resolution processing can be performed.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a technique capable of efficiently eliminating a plurality of types of prohibition settings.

In order to solve the above problem, the invention of claim 1 is a setting processing device capable of executing a setting process related to a job, and is combined with a receiving means for receiving a setting operation related to the job according to the setting operation. A determination means for determining whether or not a forbidden setting, which is a combination of two or more setting contents that are prohibited to be set, is generated, and when multiple types of forbidden settings are generated, each forbidden setting is performed. In the setting, the forbidden item which is a setting item related to the forbidden factor is specified, and the common forbidden item which is a forbidden item common to at least a part of two or more kinds of forbidden settings among the plurality of types of forbidden settings is extracted. It is provided with an extraction means and a determination means for determining the common prohibition item as the most promising candidate for the setting change target item, which is a setting change target setting item for eliminating the plurality of types of prohibition settings. It is characterized by.

The invention of claim 2 is the setting processing apparatus according to the invention of claim 1, wherein when a plurality of common prohibition items are extracted by the extraction means, the determination means is the largest number among the plurality of common prohibition items. It is characterized in that the most common items, which are common prohibition items common to the types of prohibition settings, are determined as the most promising candidates for the setting change target items.

The invention of claim 3 is the setting processing apparatus according to the invention of claim 2, wherein the determination means has two or more common prohibitions as the most common prohibition items when a plurality of common prohibition items are extracted by the extraction means. When an item exists, it is a priority degree predetermined for each setting item as the degree to which the setting content should be maintained preferentially among the two or more common prohibition items, and is relative to each other. The common prohibition item having the lowest priority is determined as the most promising candidate for the setting change target item.

The invention of claim 4 is the setting processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the determination means relates to the common prohibition item determined as the most promising candidate for the setting change target item. It is characterized in that one setting content that can reduce the number of prohibited items most by changing the setting is determined, and it is determined that the setting content of the common prohibited item should be changed to the one setting content.

The invention of claim 5 is a setting processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the determination means is a first mode as a prohibition cancellation mode for canceling the plurality of types of prohibition settings. And a second mode, and the first mode is described by preferentially changing the setting contents of the common prohibition item among the plurality of prohibition items in the plurality of types of prohibition settings. It is a mode for canceling a plurality of types of prohibition settings, and the second mode is a priority between the plurality of prohibition items, and is a degree at which the setting contents of each prohibition item should be maintained preferentially. The mode is a mode in which the plurality of types of prohibition settings are canceled by preferentially changing the setting contents of the prohibition item having the lowest priority for each prohibition item, and the determination means is the first mode. It is characterized in that the most promising candidate of the setting change target item is determined by using the mode designated by the user among the second mode and the second mode.

The invention of claim 6 further includes a display means for displaying a first screen showing the current prohibition occurrence status in the setting processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, said first. Is a screen showing the common prohibition items relating to at least a part of the two or more types of prohibition settings.

The invention of claim 7 is a first screen showing the current prohibition occurrence status in the setting processing device according to any of the inventions of claims 1 to 5, and includes two or more prohibition items related to each prohibition setting. A display means for displaying a first screen including a plurality of corresponding display elements is further provided, and the first screen is a prohibition item other than the common prohibition item and the common prohibition item with respect to the plurality of types of prohibition settings. It is a screen showing the relationship with, and is a screen showing the common prohibition item as one common display element with respect to the at least a part of two or more kinds of prohibition settings.

The invention of claim 8 is the setting processing apparatus according to the invention of claim 7, wherein the display means connects two or more display elements corresponding to two or more prohibition items related to one kind of prohibition setting with a line. By doing so, it is characterized in that the setting contents of the setting items corresponding to the two or more display elements are the factors of the one kind of prohibition setting.

The invention of claim 9 is the setting processing apparatus according to the invention of claim 8, wherein the display means displays two or more for each of the plurality of types of prohibition settings, corresponding to two or more prohibited items of each prohibition setting. By connecting the elements with a line and displaying them, it is shown that the setting contents of the setting items corresponding to the two or more display elements are the factors of the respective prohibition settings, and the lines for each of the plurality of types of prohibition settings are displayed. Is displayed in a unique color determined for each of the prohibition settings, thereby distinguishing the plurality of types of prohibition settings from each other.

The invention of claim 10 is the setting processing device according to the invention of claim 7, wherein the display means displays two or more display elements corresponding to two or more prohibition items related to one kind of prohibition setting by enclosing them in a frame. By doing so, it is characterized in that the setting contents of the setting items corresponding to the two or more display elements are the factors of the one kind of prohibition setting.

The invention of claim 11 is the setting processing apparatus according to the invention of claim 10, wherein the display means displays two or more for each of the plurality of types of prohibition settings, corresponding to two or more prohibited items of each prohibition setting. By enclosing the elements in a frame and displaying them, it is shown that the setting contents of the setting items corresponding to the two or more display elements are the factors of the respective prohibition settings, and the frame for each of the plurality of types of prohibition settings is displayed. Is displayed in a unique color determined for each of the prohibition settings, thereby distinguishing the plurality of types of prohibition settings from each other.

The invention of claim 12 is the setting processing apparatus according to the invention of claim 7, wherein the display means is the same inside or near two or more display elements corresponding to two or more prohibition items related to one kind of prohibition setting. By displaying the identification label of the above, it is shown that the setting contents of the setting items corresponding to the two or more display elements are the factors of the one kind of prohibition setting.

The invention of claim 13 is the setting processing apparatus according to the invention of claim 12, wherein the display means displays two or more corresponding to two or more prohibited items of each prohibited setting for each of the plurality of types of prohibited settings. By displaying the same identification label inside or in the vicinity of the element, it is shown that the setting content of the setting item corresponding to the two or more display elements is a factor of each of the prohibition settings, and the plurality of types are described. It is characterized in that the plurality of types of prohibition settings are distinguished from each other by assigning a unique identification label determined for each prohibition setting as an identification label for each prohibition setting.

The invention of claim 14 is a setting processing apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 13, wherein the display means sets the setting contents as a priority between the two or more prohibited items. The first screen is characterized in that a predetermined priority for each setting item is also shown as a priority to be maintained.

The invention of claim 15 is the setting processing apparatus according to the invention of claim 14, wherein the first screen is a screen showing a current prohibition occurrence situation by using a directed graph representation, and the display means is the plurality of display means. It is characterized in that the priority degree between the two or more prohibited items is indicated by the direction of the arrow attached to the line connecting the display elements to each other.

The invention of claim 16 is the setting processing device according to any one of claims 7 to 15, wherein the display means is selected from the plurality of display elements according to a user's selection operation. Regarding the display element of, the change candidate of the setting content of the one setting item corresponding to the one display element and the number of forbidden claims in which the change candidate is involved after the change to the change candidate are displayed on the first screen. It is characterized by.

The invention of claim 17 is the setting processing apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 16, wherein the display means displays a second screen showing a state after the setting contents of the common prohibition items are changed. It is characterized by displaying.

The invention of claim 18 is a setting change instruction for eliminating the prohibition occurrence situation displayed on the first screen in the setting processing device according to any one of claims 6 to 16. It is further provided with an input means for receiving a setting change instruction regarding the setting item of the above, and a setting changing means for changing the setting content regarding the common prohibition item based on the setting change instruction.

The invention of claim 19 modifies the setting contents of the common prohibition item determined as the most promising candidate of the setting change target item in the setting processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 16. It is characterized by further providing a setting changing means for canceling the prohibition setting regarding the common prohibition item.

The invention of claim 20 is the setting processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the determination means currently sets the setting content of one of the plurality of setting items related to the job. It is characterized in that the forbidden setting generated by changing from the set value of is changed to the changed set value is detected by using a matrix in which information on the forbidden setting between a plurality of setting items is described in advance.

The invention of claim 21 is the setting processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the determination means currently sets the setting content of one of the plurality of setting items related to the job. The forbidden setting generated by changing from the set value of to the changed set value is a two-dimensional forbidden matrix in which information on the forbidden setting between two setting items is described in advance and a mutual forbidden setting of three or more setting items. It is characterized in that the information regarding the setting of the forbiddenness between them is detected by using the multidimensional forbidden matrix described in advance.

The invention of claim 22 is a combination of a) a step of accepting a setting operation related to a job and b) two or more setting contents for which it is prohibited to combine and set according to the setting operation. When it is determined in step b) that a step of determining whether or not a prohibition setting has occurred and c) that multiple types of prohibition settings have occurred, the setting related to the prohibition factor in each prohibition setting A step of specifying a prohibited item that is an item and extracting a common prohibited item that is a prohibited item common to at least a part of two or more types of prohibited settings among the plurality of types of prohibited settings, and d) the plurality of prohibited items. It is a program to execute the step of determining the common prohibition item and the step of determining the common prohibition item as the most promising candidate of the setting change target item which is the setting change target setting item for eliminating the prohibition setting of the type of. It is a feature.

According to the invention of claim 23, in the program according to the invention of claim 22, e) a desired mode among a first mode and a second mode as a prohibition cancellation mode for canceling the plurality of types of prohibition settings. The step of accepting the designation of is further executed by the computer, and in the first mode, the setting contents of the common prohibition item among the plurality of prohibition items in the plurality of types of prohibition settings are preferentially changed. This is a mode for eliminating the plurality of types of prohibition settings, and the second mode is a priority between the plurality of prohibition items, and the setting contents of each prohibition item should be maintained preferentially. In this mode, the plurality of types of prohibition settings are canceled by preferentially changing the setting contents of the prohibition item having the lowest priority predetermined for each prohibition item as the degree, and the first step e). When the mode 1 is specified, the step d) is executed, and when the second mode is specified in the step e), the most promising candidate of the setting change target item sets the second mode. It is characterized by being determined using.

The invention of claim 24 is, in the program according to the invention of claim 22 or 23, f) a first screen showing the current prohibition occurrence situation, and a plurality of prohibition items corresponding to two or more prohibition items related to each prohibition setting. The computer is further executed to display a first screen including the display element of the above, and the first screen is a prohibition item other than the common prohibition item and the common prohibition item with respect to the plurality of types of prohibition settings. It is a screen showing each of the relationships with the above, and is a screen showing the common prohibition item as one common display element with respect to the at least a part of two or more kinds of prohibition settings.

The invention of claim 25 is the program according to the invention of claim 24, wherein step f) relates to one display element selected from the plurality of display elements according to a user's selection operation. It has a step of displaying on the first screen the change candidate of the setting content of the one setting item corresponding to the one display element and the number of forbidden rules in which the change candidate is involved after the change to the change candidate. It is characterized by.

The invention of claim 26 further comprises, in the program according to claim 24 or claim 25, g) a step of displaying a second screen showing the changed state of the setting contents of the common prohibition items. It is characterized by having the computer execute.

The invention of claim 27 is specified as a setting change instruction for eliminating the prohibition occurrence situation displayed on the first screen in the program according to any of the inventions of claims 24 to 26. It is characterized in that the computer further executes a step of receiving a setting change instruction regarding the setting item of the above and a step of changing the setting content of the common prohibition item based on the setting change instruction of i).

The invention of claim 28 is a program according to any one of claims 22 to 26, in which j) the setting contents of the common prohibition item determined as the most promising candidate of the setting change target item are changed. It is characterized in that the computer further executes the step of canceling the prohibition setting regarding the common prohibition item.

According to the inventions of claims 1 to 28, a common kinsoku item, which is a kinsoku item common to at least a part of two or more kinds of kinsoku settings among a plurality of types of kinsoku settings, is extracted, and a plurality of common kinsoku items are extracted. Since the common prohibition item is determined as the most promising candidate for the setting change target item for eliminating the type of prohibition setting, it is possible to efficiently eliminate the plurality of types of prohibition setting.

In particular, according to the invention of claim 2, when a plurality of common prohibition items are extracted, the most common item among the plurality of common prohibition items is determined as the most promising candidate for the setting change target item. It is possible to eliminate multiple types of prohibition settings very efficiently.

Further, in particular, according to the invention of claim 3, when a plurality of common prohibition items are extracted and there are two or more common prohibition items as the most common prohibition items, the two or more common prohibition items thereof. Since the common kinsoku item with the lowest priority is determined as the most promising candidate for the setting change target item, it is possible to efficiently eliminate a plurality of types of kinsoku settings in consideration of the priority.

Further, in particular, according to the invention of claim 5, since the most promising candidate of the setting change target item is determined using the mode designated by the user among the first mode and the second mode, the user. It is possible to obtain various kinsoku rules as compared with the case where the second mode is used exclusively.

Further, in particular, according to the invention of claim 6, since the screen showing the current prohibition occurrence status and the screen showing the common prohibition item is displayed, the user can know the existence of the common prohibition item. , It is possible to perform prohibition elimination processing using the common prohibition item.

Further, in particular, according to the invention of claim 16, a change candidate of the setting content of one setting item and a prohibition number in which the change candidate is involved when the setting content of the one setting item is changed to the change candidate are displayed. Therefore, the user can easily know the change in the number of prohibitions according to the change to the change candidate.

It is the schematic which shows the structure of a print system. It is a functional block diagram of the MFP. It is a functional block diagram of an information processing apparatus (print instruction apparatus). It is a flowchart which shows the operation of a printer driver. It is a flowchart which shows a part of the operation of a printer driver. It is a flowchart which shows a part of the operation of a printer driver. It is a flowchart which shows a part of the operation of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows a part of the operation of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows a part of the operation of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows a part of the operation of a printer driver. It is a figure which expresses 2D prohibition. It is a figure which expresses 2D prohibition. It is a figure which shows the adjacency matrix for two-dimensional prohibition. It is a figure which expresses a multidimensional prohibition. It is a figure which expresses a multidimensional prohibition. It is a figure which shows the multidimensional kinsoku matrix. It is a figure which shows the present prohibition state matrix. It is a figure which shows the change process (priority change process) of the adjacency matrix for two-dimensional prohibition. It is a figure which shows the change process (priority change process) of a multidimensional kinsoku matrix. It is a figure which shows the setting screen of a printer driver. It is a figure which shows the display screen about the prohibition occurrence situation (the prohibition non-occurrence state). It is a figure which shows the display screen about the prohibition occurrence situation (the state immediately after the prohibition occurrence). It is a figure which shows the display screen about the current prohibition occurrence situation. It is a figure which shows the display screen about the situation after the prohibition is lifted. It is a figure which shows the state which clicked a certain vertex on the display screen about the current prohibition occurrence situation. It is a figure which shows the state which clicked another vertex on the display screen about the current prohibition occurrence situation. It is a figure which shows the state which clicked another vertex on the display screen about the current prohibition occurrence situation. It is a figure which shows the display screen about the prohibition occurrence situation after the priority change operation. It is a figure which shows the display screen about the prohibition occurrence situation after a mode switching operation. It is a figure which shows the display screen which concerns on the modification. It is a figure which shows the display screen which concerns on the modification (graph display using a frame). It is a figure which shows the display screen which concerns on the modification (graph display using a label). It is a figure which shows the display screen which concerns on the modification (a mode in which a common prohibition item and the like are shown by a character).

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<1. System configuration outline>
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a print system 1 including a Multi-Functional Peripheral (also abbreviated as MFP) 10 and a print instruction device 50.

<Configuration of MFP10>
The MFP 10 functions as an image forming apparatus. More specifically, the MFP 10 is configured as a device (also referred to as a multifunction device) having a scanner function, a printer function, a copy function, a facsimile communication function, and the like.

The MFP 10 is connected to the print instruction device 50 via the network 108, and data can be transmitted and received to and from the print instruction device 50. The network 108 includes various networks such as LAN (Local Area Network) and the Internet.

In particular, the MFP 10 functions as a printer that executes a print job from the print instruction device 50. Specifically, the print instruction device 50 transmits a print job to the MFP 10 via a printer driver (software program) or the like installed in the print instruction device 50. On the other hand, the MFP 10 receives the print job transmitted from the print instruction device 50 and executes the print job. As a result, the print output process by the MFP 10 is executed.

Specifically, as shown in the functional block diagram of FIG. 2, the MFP 10 includes an image reading unit 2, a print output unit 3, a communication unit 4, a storage unit 5, an input / output unit 6, a controller 9, and the like. Various functions are realized by operating each of these parts in a complex manner.

The image reading unit 2 is a processing unit that optically reads a document placed at a predetermined position of the MFP 10 and generates image data (also referred to as a document image) of the document.

The print output unit 3 is an output unit that prints and outputs an image on various media such as paper based on image data related to the target image.

The communication unit 4 is a processing unit capable of performing facsimile communication via a public line or the like. Further, the communication unit 4 can also perform network communication via the network 108. In this network communication, for example, various protocols such as TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) are used. By using the network communication, the MFP 10 can exchange various data with and from a desired destination device. Further, the MFP 10 can also receive a print job from the print instruction device 50 by using this network communication. The communication unit 4 has a transmission unit 4a for transmitting various data and a reception unit 4b for receiving various data.

The storage unit 5 is composed of a storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) and a semiconductor memory. The original image (image data) generated by the image reading unit 2 or the like is stored in the storage unit 5. Further, in the storage unit 5, the print job transmitted from the print instruction device 50 is temporarily stored.

The operation unit 6 includes an operation input unit 6a that receives an operation input to the MFP 10 and a display unit 6b that displays and outputs various information.

The MFP 10 is provided with a substantially plate-shaped operation panel portion 6c (see FIG. 1). Further, the operation panel unit 6c has a touch panel 25 (see FIG. 1) on the front side thereof. The touch panel 25 functions as a part of the operation input unit 6a and also as a part of the display unit 6b. The touch panel 25 is configured by embedding various sensors and the like in a liquid crystal display panel, and can display various information and receive various operation inputs from the operator.

The controller (control unit) 9 is a control device that is built in the MFP 10 and controls the MFP 10 in an integrated manner. The controller 9 is configured as a computer system including a CPU and various semiconductor memories (RAM and ROM). The controller 9 realizes various processing units by executing a predetermined software program (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a program) stored in a ROM (for example, EEPROM (registered trademark)) in the CPU. The program (specifically, a program module group) may be recorded on a portable recording medium such as a USB memory, read from the recording medium, and installed in the MFP 10. Alternatively, the program may be downloaded via a network or the like and installed in the MFP 10.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the controller 9 realizes various processing units including a communication control unit 11, an input control unit 12, a display control unit 13, and an operation control unit 15 by executing the program. To do.

The communication control unit 11 is a processing unit that controls communication operations with other devices in cooperation with the communication unit 4 and the like. The communication control unit 11 includes a transmission control unit that controls the transmission operation of various data and a reception control unit that controls the reception operation of various data.

The input control unit 12 is a control unit that controls the operation of accepting operation input from the user with respect to the operation input unit 6a (touch panel 25 or the like).

The display control unit 13 is a processing unit that controls the display operation on the display unit 6b (touch panel 25 or the like). The display control unit 13 displays an operation screen or the like for operating the MFP 10 on the touch panel 25.

The operation control unit 15 is a processing unit that executes an operation (print output operation, etc.) related to a print job or the like transmitted from the print instruction device 50.

<Configuration of information processing device 50>
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information processing device 50 (also referred to as a print instruction device or a setting processing device). The information processing device 50 is composed of a so-called personal computer or the like.

As shown in the functional block diagram of FIG. 3, the information processing device 50 includes a communication unit 54, a storage unit 55, an operation unit 56, a controller (control unit) 59, and the like, and each of these units is operated in a complex manner. By doing so, various functions are realized.

The communication unit 54 can perform network communication via the network. In this network communication, for example, various protocols such as TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) are used. By using the network communication, the information processing apparatus 50 can exchange various data with and from a desired destination (MFP10, etc.). The communication unit 54 has a transmission unit 54a for transmitting various data and a reception unit 54b for receiving various data.

The storage unit 55 is composed of a storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) and / or a semiconductor memory.

The operation unit 56 includes an operation input unit 56a that receives an operation input to the information processing device 50, and a display unit 56b that displays and outputs various information. The operation unit 56 has a touch panel 75 (see FIG. 1). The touch panel 75 functions as a part of the operation input unit 56a and also as a part of the display unit 56b. The touch panel 75 is configured by embedding various sensors and the like in a liquid crystal display panel, and can display various information and receive various operation inputs from the operator.

The controller (control unit) 59 of FIG. 3 is a control device built in the information processing device 50 and comprehensively controls the information processing device 50. The controller 59 is configured as a computer system including a CPU and various semiconductor memories (RAM and ROM). The controller 59 realizes various processing units by executing a predetermined program (printer driver or the like) stored in the storage unit (semiconductor memory or the like) in the CPU. The program (specifically, a program module group) may be recorded on a portable recording medium such as a USB memory, read from the recording medium, and installed in the information processing apparatus 50. Alternatively, the program may be downloaded via a network or the like and installed in the information processing apparatus 50.

Specifically, the controller 59 includes a communication control unit 61, an input control unit 62, a display control unit 63, a determination unit 64, an extraction unit 65, a determination unit 66, and a setting control unit 67 by executing the program or the like. Realize various processing units.

The communication control unit 61 is a processing unit that controls the communication operation with the MFP 10 and the like in cooperation with the communication unit 54 and the like.

The input control unit 62 is a control unit that controls an operation input operation or the like for the operation input unit 56a (touch panel 75 or the like).

The display control unit 63 is a processing unit that controls the display operation of various information on the display unit 56b (touch panel 75, etc.).

The determination unit 64 is a processing unit that determines whether or not a prohibition setting has occurred.

When a plurality of types of kinsoku settings have occurred, the extraction unit 65 sets a "common kinsoku item" (a kinsoku item common to at least some two or more types of kinsoku settings among the plurality of types of kinsoku settings). It is a processing unit to extract.

The determination unit 66 is a processing unit that determines the most promising candidate of the setting change target setting item (setting change target item) for eliminating the plurality of types of prohibition settings.

The setting control unit 67 is a processing unit that changes various setting values related to print settings based on a setting change instruction from the user or the like. For example, the setting control unit 67 sets the setting value of a certain setting item (“print paper size”, etc.) to the default value (“A4”” based on the usage setting change instruction using the setting screen displayed by the printer driver. Change from size) to another value (“B5” size). Further, the setting control unit 67 is a processing unit that changes the setting for canceling the prohibition setting when the prohibition setting occurs. As the setting change operation, there are a "manual change operation" and an "automatic change operation". "Manual change operation" is an operation that eliminates the prohibition setting by changing the setting item (specific setting item) specified by the user to the specified value (specified setting content (setting value)). is there. The "automatic change operation" is an operation in which the prohibition setting is automatically canceled based on a predetermined standard.

The information processing device 50 operates as a setting processing device capable of executing setting processing (print setting processing, etc.) related to a job (print job, etc.).

<2. Operation overview>
Next, the operation in the print system 1 will be described.

4 to 10 are flowcharts showing the operation in the print system 1 (more specifically, the operation of the printer driver of the print instruction device 50).

As shown in FIG. 4, the printer driver (print control program operated by the print instruction device 50) accepts a job-related setting operation (setting change operation by the user) using the setting screen as shown in FIG. 20. (Step S11) and determination processing (step S12 (described later)) regarding whether or not the prohibition setting has occurred according to the setting operation are executed.

After that, when it is determined (confirmed) in step S13 that the prohibition setting has occurred, the process proceeds from step S13 to step S14.

In step S14, a screen 300 (see FIGS. 22 and 23 (described later)) indicating that the prohibition setting has occurred is displayed.

After that, various operations (user operation for solving the prohibition, etc.) (step S20) (see also FIG. 5) are performed according to the operation or the like on the screen 300. In particular, in step S21 (see also FIG. 10) of step S20, processing or the like for canceling the prohibition setting is performed. Further, in the process, a solution for prohibition setting or the like is presented to the user, and processing for canceling the prohibition setting or the like is executed according to the permission (instruction) of the user.

In the following, such an operation will be described in detail.

<3. Kinsoku Shori Judgment processing, etc. (S12)>
As described above, when the printer driver receives the setting operation (setting operation by the user) related to the job, the printer driver determines whether or not the prohibition setting is generated according to the setting operation (setting change operation) (step S12). ) Is executed.

Hereinafter, the detailed operation in step S12 (also referred to as S200) will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the details of the process of step S200. As shown in FIG. 6, in step S200, the process of step S210 (two-dimensional kinsoku search process, etc.) (see FIG. 7), the process of step S230 (multidimensional kinsoku search process, etc.) (see FIG. 8) and step. The processing of S250 (kinsoku shori calculation processing, etc.) (see FIG. 9) is performed.

<About prohibition setting>
"Prohibition setting" is a combination of two or more setting contents (both setting prohibition combination and combination prohibition setting) which are prohibited to be set in combination with each other among a plurality of setting contents related to a plurality of setting items related to a job. ). There are a wide variety of "prohibition settings" (combination prohibition settings) depending on the device configuration and the like.

For example, in the MFP 10, it is prohibited to set both the setting content "two places" of a certain setting item "staple" and the setting content "middle fold" of another setting item "fold" in combination with each other. In this case, both setting contents (“two places” and “middle fold”) constitute “prohibition setting”. Then, when both of the setting contents are set in the printer driver of the print instruction device 50 according to the user operation, the prohibition setting occurs.

Further, in this embodiment, the concept of "dimension" of kinsoku setting is introduced. The kinsoku setting dimension (also referred to as kinsoku dimension) means the number of setting items (also referred to as kinsoku items or kinsoku factor items) related to kinsoku setting factors among a plurality of setting items related to a job.

For example, the prohibition setting according to the above example has two setting items (“staple” and “fold”) as prohibition factor items (prohibition items), and the dimension of the prohibition setting is “2”. That is, the prohibition setting is a two-dimensional prohibition setting. Similarly, the dimension of the prohibition setting having three setting items (“output paper size”, “paper passage direction”, and “punch hole”) as described later as prohibition factor items (prohibition items) is “3”. .. That is, the kinsoku setting composed of the three kinsoku items is a three-dimensional kinsoku setting. The same applies to higher-dimensional prohibition settings.

Generalized, the prohibition setting composed of the combination of the setting contents q (i, j) of N setting items (prohibited items) Q (i) (however, i = 1, ..., N) is N. It is a dimensional prohibition setting. Hereinafter, the setting item Q (i) is also simply referred to as Qi, and the setting content q (i, j) is also simply referred to as qij. The setting item Qi is the i-th setting item, and the setting content qi is the setting content (the j-th setting value) related to the i-th setting item. Further, the partial combination of the N-dimensional kinsoku setting (among the combinations related to the N-dimensional kinsoku setting, the (N-1) dimensional partial combination, etc.) is not the kinsoku setting.

For example, if a prohibition setting occurs when a combination of four setting contents of Q1 = q11, Q2 = q21, Q3 = q31, and Q4 = q41 is set, the combination of the four setting contents is four-dimensional. It is a prohibition setting. It should be noted that some combinations of the four-dimensional kinsoku settings, for example, combinations of three setting contents of Q2 = q21 and Q3 = q31 and Q4 = q41 (or two combinations of Q2 = q21 and Q4 = q41). (Combination of setting contents, etc.) is not a prohibited setting.

Further, in this embodiment, a two-dimensional kinsoku and a three-dimensional or more kinsoku (also referred to as a multidimensional kinsoku) are expressed by using different matrices or the like.

<Two-dimensional prohibition>
First, two-dimensional kinsoku (two-dimensional kinsoku) will be described.

11 and 12 are diagrams showing two-dimensional kinsoku using directed graphs. FIG. 11 shows a generalized expression, and FIG. 12 shows a concrete expression example.

For example, in the directed graph of FIG. 12, a certain setting item Q1 (prohibited item) "staple" setting content (prohibited setting content) "two places" (q11) and another setting item Q2 (prohibited item) "fold" It is shown that the setting content (prohibition setting content) "middle fold" (q21) constitutes the prohibition setting.

Further, in the directed graph of FIG. 11, the same contents are generalized and shown. Specifically, it is shown that the two setting contents (prohibited setting contents) q11 and q21 relating to the two setting items (prohibited items) Q1 and Q2 constitute the prohibition setting.

Here, each setting item (specifically, the setting content) is described at a vertex (also referred to as a node or a node) in the directed graph representation. The vertices are represented here by an elliptical figure. In addition, the sides (also referred to as branches or edges) connecting a plurality of vertices (nodes) in the directed graph representation are represented by lines (straight lines).

Further, in the directed graph of FIG. 11, an arrow is attached to the line connecting the two vertices to each other, and the concept of "direction" is used. In this directed graph, the magnitude relationship of "priority" is shown by using the direction of this arrow. Specifically, of the two vertices, the vertices (elliptical figures) corresponding to the setting items having a relatively high (large) priority to the vertices corresponding to the setting items having a relatively low (small) priority (the vertices) ( An arrow is added so as to go to the elliptical figure).

Here, the "priority" is a priority that is predetermined for each setting item as the degree to which the setting content should be maintained preferentially, and is a relative priority between the setting items. For example, of the two setting items (prohibited items), the setting item "watermark" and the setting item "paper size", the setting item "paper size" (specifically, the setting contents) should be given more importance. It is also said that the setting contents (setting contents of the setting item "paper size") should be maintained preferentially (in other words, the setting contents of another setting item "watermark" should be changed first). Conceivable. In this case, the priority of the setting item "paper size" is set to a value higher than the priority of the setting item "watermark". As described above, the "priority" is an index value indicating the relative priority between the plurality of setting items. The priority is predetermined in the device, for example. Further, as will be described later, the user can change the priority.

Thus, the two-dimensional kinsoku is expressed using directed graphs (see FIGS. 11 and 12). Such two-dimensional kinsoku setting is also expressed as kinsoku setting (Q1 = q11, Q2 = q21).

Further, FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a two-dimensional kinsoku matrix in which information regarding kinsoku setting between two setting items is described in advance. In FIG. 13, the two-dimensional prohibition setting is represented by an adjacency matrix (“adjacency matrix” in graph theory). An adjacency matrix related to two-dimensional kinsoku setting is also referred to as "two-dimensional kinsoku adjacency matrix". In this embodiment, a directed graph or the like related to two-dimensional kinsoku is generated based on the two-dimensional kinsoku adjacency matrix M2. Specifically, the printer driver can detect the occurrence of the two-dimensional kinsoku based on the two-dimensional kinsoku adjacency matrix M2 and the setting contents set by the user. Then, the printer driver displays the detected two-dimensional prohibition using the above-mentioned directed graph.

In the vertical direction of the two-dimensional adjacency matrix M2 (in other words, each column of the two-dimensional adjacency matrix M2), all the setting contents (setting values) related to all the setting items Q1, Q2, Q3, ... ) Information (prohibited information) regarding q11, q12, ...., q21, q22, ...., q31, q32, ...., is listed. Similarly, in the horizontal direction of the two-dimensional adjacency matrix M2 (in other words, each row of the two-dimensional adjacency matrix M2), all the setting contents (settings) relating to all the setting items Q1, Q2, Q3, ... Values) Information about q11, q12, ...., q21, q22, ...., q31, q32, ...., is listed.

In the two-dimensional kinsoku adjacency matrix M2, the diagonal block portion (the component of the portion marked with “−” in FIG. 13) corresponding to the same setting item Qi (in the row and column) is an invalid portion. Each component of the invalid portion may be "0". Further, the component excluding the diagonal block portion (component such as the portion marked with “*” in FIG. 13) is “0” or “1”.

Here, the component value "1" in the two-dimensional kinsoku adjacency matrix M2 means that kinsoku setting occurs. Further, the component value "0" in the two-dimensional kinsoku adjacency matrix M2 indicates that the kinsoku does not occur, or that the kinsoku setting in the opposite direction (the kinsoku setting having the opposite priority) occurs.

Specifically, when the combination of the setting content q (i, j) (also simply referred to as qij) and the setting content q (k, l) (also simply referred to as qkl) does not correspond to the two-dimensional kinsoku setting, 2 In the dimension prohibition adjacency matrix M2, the component value of the intersection of the row corresponding to the setting content qij and the column corresponding to the setting content qkl is set to "0". Further, the component value of the intersection of the "column" corresponding to the setting content qj and the "row" corresponding to the setting content qkl is also set to "0".

On the other hand, the combination of the setting content qj and the setting content qkl corresponds to the two-dimensional prohibition setting, and the priority of the setting content qij (setting item Qi) is higher than the priority of the setting content qkl (setting item Qk). If is also large, the following settings are made in the two-dimensional kinsoku adjacency matrix M2. Specifically, the component value of the intersection of the row corresponding to the setting content qj and the column corresponding to the setting content qkl is set to "1". On the other hand, the component value of the intersection of the "column" corresponding to the setting content qj and the "row" corresponding to the setting content qkl is set to "0".

In other words, the combination of the setting content qj and the setting content qkl corresponds to the two-dimensional prohibition setting, and the priority of the setting content qij (setting item Qi) is higher than the priority of the setting content qkl (setting item Qk). If it is small, the following settings are made in the two-dimensional kinsoku adjacency matrix M2. Specifically, the component value of the intersection of the "column" corresponding to the setting content qj and the "row" corresponding to the setting content qkl is set to "1". On the other hand, the component value of the intersection of the row corresponding to the setting content qj and the column corresponding to the setting content qkl is set to "0".

In this way, when "1" exists at the intersection of the predetermined row (row corresponding to the setting content qij) and the predetermined column (column corresponding to the setting content qkl) of the two-dimensional kinsoku adjacency matrix M2, the setting content It is shown that qij and the setting content qkl are prohibited settings, and the priority of the setting content qj is higher than the priority of the setting content qkl. In other words, it is shown that the priority of the prohibition item Qi is higher than the priority of the prohibition item Qk.

For example, if "1" exists at the intersection of the predetermined row (row corresponding to the q11 component) and the predetermined column (column corresponding to the q21 component) of the two-dimensional kinsoku adjacency matrix M2, the setting content q11 It is shown that the setting content q21 is a prohibition setting and the priority of the setting content q11 is higher than the priority of the setting content q21. In other words, it is shown that the priority of the prohibition item Q1 is higher than the priority of the prohibition item Q2.

More specifically, when the setting item Q1 is changed from the setting content (also referred to as the setting value) q13 to the setting content q11 in response to the user's setting change operation, a predetermined row of the two-dimensional kinsoku adjacency matrix M2 (FIG. 13). In (row corresponding to setting content q11), "1" is detected at an intersection with a predetermined column (row corresponding to setting content q21) of the two-dimensional kinsoku adjacency matrix M2. As a result, as described above, it is detected that the two-dimensional prohibition setting regarding the setting content q11 and the setting content q21 has occurred (and the magnitude relationship of the priorities regarding both the setting items Q1 and Q2).

Then, when such prohibition is detected, a directed graph as shown in FIG. 11 is generated. Specifically, the two display elements are connected by a line (here, a straight line) having an arrow pointing from the display element indicating the setting content q11 (here, an elliptical figure) to the display element indicating the setting content q21. A directed graph is created.

Conversely, it corresponds to a predetermined column (row corresponding to the qij component (q (i, j) component)) and a predetermined row (qkl component (q (k, l (L) component)) of the adjacency matrix M2 for two-dimensional prohibition. When "1" exists at the intersection with the setting content qkl, the setting content qj and the setting content qkl are prohibited settings, and the priority of the setting content qj is smaller than the priority of the setting content qkl. It is shown. In other words, it is shown that the priority of the kinsoku item Qi is lower than the priority of the kinsoku item Qk.

For example, if "1" exists at the intersection of the predetermined column (column corresponding to the q11 component) and the predetermined row (row corresponding to the q21 component) of the two-dimensional kinsoku adjacency matrix M2, the setting content q11 It is shown that the setting content q21 is a prohibition setting and the priority of the setting content q11 is smaller than the priority of the setting content q21. In other words, it is shown that the priority of the prohibition item Q1 is lower than the priority of the prohibition item Q2.

Then, in this case, a directed graph connected by an arrow line in the opposite direction to the directed graph of FIG. 11 is generated. Specifically, a directed graph in which the two display elements are connected by a line (straight line, etc.) having an arrow in the direction from the display element (elliptical figure, etc.) indicating the setting content q21 to the display element indicating the setting content q11. Created.

In step S210 of FIG. 6 (see also FIG. 7), such a process is executed.

More specifically, first, in step S211, it exists at the intersection of the changed value (changed value (also referred to as attention setting content, etc.)) qij of the changed item Qi and the current set value qkl of the other setting item Qk. The value "1" to be used is searched. More specifically, the component value "1" is searched in the row corresponding to the changed value qij in the two-dimensional kinsoku adjacency matrix M2, and the component value "1" is searched in the column corresponding to the changed value qij. To. Specifically, in the row corresponding to the change value qij, it is sequentially determined whether or not "1" exists at the intersection with the column corresponding to the current set value qkl of each of the plurality of other setting items Qk. Will be done. Further, in the column corresponding to the change value qij, it is sequentially determined whether or not "1" exists at the intersection with the row corresponding to the current set value qkl of each of the plurality of other setting items Qk. ..

When the value "1" exists at the intersection, it is determined that the two-dimensional prohibition has occurred, and the process proceeds from step S212 to step S214. In step S214, it is determined whether the value "1" exists in the row corresponding to the change value (attention setting content) qij in the two-dimensional kinsoku adjacency matrix M2 or the column corresponding to the change value qij. .. If the value "1" exists in the row corresponding to the change value qij, the process proceeds to step S215. On the other hand, if the value "1" exists in the column corresponding to the changed value qij, the process proceeds to step S217.

In step S215, the setting value qij of the setting item Qi and the setting value qkl of the setting item Qk are prohibited settings, and the priority of the setting item Qi (setting value qij) is the priority of the setting item Qk (setting value qkl). It is judged that the degree is higher than the degree. Further, in step S216, for example, a directed graph as shown in FIG. 11 (a directed graph having an arrow from the set value qj to the set value qkl) is generated. Then, the process proceeds to step S219.

On the other hand, in step S217, the setting value qij of the setting item Qi and the setting value qkl of the setting item Qk are prohibited settings, and the priority of the setting item Qi (setting value qij) is the setting item Qk (setting value qkl). It is determined that the priority is lower than that of. Further, in step S218, a directed graph in the opposite direction to the directed graph generated in step S216 (a directed graph having an arrow from the set value qkl to the set value qij) (for example, a directed graph having an arrow opposite to that in FIG. 11) Will be generated. Then, the process proceeds to step S219.

In step S219, the same search operation as in step S211 is continued. Then, based on the search result, the determination process of step S212 is performed. When the value "1" is further searched for in the above-mentioned intersection (the intersection of the changed value qij and the set value qkl), the process proceeds to step S214 or later. On the other hand, if the value "1" is not searched for at the intersection, the process of step S210 ends.

In this way, when it is determined whether or not the two-dimensional prohibition has occurred using the adjacency matrix M2 for the two-dimensional prohibition (steps S211, S212, S219), it is determined that the two-dimensional prohibition has occurred. A two-dimensional directed graph is generated in (steps S216 and S218). If Z two-dimensional prohibitions are detected in step S210, Z two-dimensional directed graphs are generated, and if no two-dimensional prohibitions are detected in step S210, no two-dimensional directed graph is generated.

<Multi-dimensional prohibition>
Next, a multidimensional prohibition (a prohibition of three or more dimensions) will be described.

14 and 15 are diagrams showing multidimensional kinsoku using directed graphs. FIG. 14 shows a generalized expression, and FIG. 15 shows a concrete expression example. The number of vertices of the directed graph increases as the number of dimensions of the prohibition increases.

For example, in the directed graph of FIG. 15, two types of three-dimensional kinsoku occurrence states are shown.

The first three-dimensional prohibition is the first setting item Q1 (prohibited item) "output paper size" setting content (prohibited setting content) "B5 (JIS)" (q11) and the second setting item Q2 (). Prohibition item) "Prohibition direction" setting content (prohibition setting content) "Short edge feed (SEF)" (q21) and third setting item Q3 (prohibition item) "punch hole" setting content (Prohibition setting contents) It is composed of "3 holes" (q31).

The second three-dimensional prohibition is the first setting item Q1 (prohibited item) "output paper size" setting content (prohibited setting content) "B5 (JIS)" (q11) and the second setting item Q2 (). Prohibition item) "Prohibition direction" setting content (prohibition setting content) "Short edge feed (SEF)" (q21) and third setting item Q4 (prohibition item) "folding" setting content (prohibited item) Prohibition setting contents) It is composed of "middle fold" (q41).

Further, in the directed graph of FIG. 14, the same contents are generalized and shown.

Specifically, regarding the first three-dimensional prohibition, three setting items (prohibition items) Q1, Q2, and Q3 (prohibition setting contents) q11, q21, and q31 may constitute the prohibition setting. It is shown.

Further, regarding the second three-dimensional prohibition, it is shown that three setting items (prohibited items) Q1, Q2, and Q4 (prohibited setting contents) q11, q21, and q41 constitute the prohibition setting. There is.

The first three-dimensional kinsoku setting is also expressed as kinsoku setting (Q1 = q11, Q2 = q21, Q3 = q31), and the second three-dimensional kinsoku setting (Q1 = q11, Q2 =) It is also expressed as q21, Q4 = q41).

Further, in FIG. 14 and the like, three displays corresponding to three prohibition items Q1, Q2, and Q3 (three setting contents q11, q21, q31) relating to one type of prohibition setting (first three-dimensional prohibition). By connecting the elements with a line and displaying them, it is presented that the setting contents of the three setting items corresponding to the three display elements are the factors of one kind of prohibition setting. In addition, three display elements corresponding to the three prohibition items Q1, Q2, and Q4 (three setting contents q11, q21, q41) related to other types of prohibition settings (second three-dimensional prohibition) are connected by a line. By displaying, it is presented that the setting contents of the three setting items corresponding to the three display elements are the factors of the other types of prohibition setting. In this way, for each prohibition setting, by connecting two or more display elements corresponding to the two or more prohibited items of each prohibition setting with a line and displaying them, the setting contents of the setting items corresponding to the two or more display elements are displayed. Is presented as a factor in the setting of each prohibition. Further, in such a case, the lines for each of the plurality of types of kinsoku settings are displayed in a unique color determined for each kinsoku setting, so that the plurality of types of kinsoku settings are distinguished from each other. Is preferable (see FIG. 30 (described later)).

Further, the identification label "1" is attached to the first three-dimensional prohibition. Specifically, the identification label "1" includes the vicinity of the connection line (directly above) connecting the vertices of the setting content q11 and the vertices of the setting content q21, and the vertices of the setting content q21 and the vertices of the setting content q31. It is displayed near (the part directly above) the connection line that connects. On the other hand, another identification label "5" is attached to the second three-dimensional prohibition. Specifically, the identification label "5" indicates the vicinity of the connection line (directly below) between the apex of the setting content q11 and the apex of the setting content q21, and the connection between the apex of the setting content q21 and the apex of the setting content q41. It is displayed near the line (the part directly below). In this way, the same identification label is assigned to the same type of prohibition setting (multidimensional prohibition), and a different identification label is assigned to different types of prohibition setting (multidimensional prohibition). As a result, a plurality of types of kinsoku settings (multidimensional kinsoku) are distinguished from each other. In this embodiment, the identification label is given only for the multidimensional prohibition, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the identification label may be given for the two-dimensional prohibition in the same manner.

Further, as shown in FIG. 14, if there are common prohibition items (common prohibition items) Q1 and Q2 in the two types of prohibition settings, the common prohibition items Q1 and Q2 (specifically, the setting contents). q11, q21) are shown as common display elements (common vertices (nodes)). More specifically, the common kinsoku item Q1 is displayed as one common display element in two systems of directed graphs showing two types of kinsoku settings. Similarly, the common prohibition item Q2 is also displayed as one common display element in the directed graphs of the two systems. In this way, when there is a common prohibition item (common prohibition item) in at least a part of two or more types of prohibition settings among the plurality of types of prohibition settings, the common prohibition item is used as a common display element. Shown.

Further, in the directed graph of FIG. 14 (directed graph showing three-dimensional prohibition), an arrow is attached to a line connecting two adjacent elements among the three vertices constituting the same prohibition setting. .. In this directed graph, the magnitude relationship of "priority" is shown by using the direction of this arrow. Specifically, of the two adjacent vertices, the vertex (elliptical figure) corresponding to the setting item having a relatively high (large) priority corresponds to the setting item having a relatively low (small) priority. Arrows are added toward the vertices (elliptical figures).

As described above, in this embodiment, the multidimensional prohibition is expressed using a directed graph (see FIGS. 14 and 15).

Further, FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a matrix in which information regarding prohibition setting between three or more setting items is described in advance. In other words, in FIG. 16, a matrix (also referred to as “multidimensional kinsoku matrix”) representing a multidimensional kinsoku setting is shown.

In this embodiment, a directed graph or the like related to the multidimensional kinsoku is generated based on the multidimensional kinsoku matrix Mn. Specifically, the printer driver can detect the occurrence of the multidimensional prohibition based on the multidimensional prohibition matrix Mn and the setting contents set by the user. Then, the printer driver displays the detected multidimensional prohibition using the above-mentioned directed graph (see FIGS. 14 and 15 and the like).

In the vertical direction of the multidimensional forbidden matrix Mn (in other words, each column of the multidimensional forbidden matrix Mn), all the setting contents (setting values) q11, q12 for all the setting items Q1, Q2, Q3, ... , ...., q21, q22, ...., q31, q32, ...., information (prohibited information) is listed.

For example, in the leftmost column (one column in the vertical direction) (first column) of FIG. 16, three setting items (prohibited items) Q1, Q2, and Q3 are set (prohibited setting contents) q11, q21, q31. Each row position corresponding to has a value other than "0". This indicates that the three setting items (prohibited items) Q1, Q2, and Q3 (prohibited setting contents) q11, q21, and q31 constitute the prohibition setting (three-dimensional prohibition setting).

More specifically, "3/3" is displayed in the line corresponding to the setting content q11 of the setting item Q1, and "2/3" is displayed in the line corresponding to the setting content q21 of the setting item Q2.
"1/3" is displayed in the line corresponding to the setting content q31 of the setting item Q3. Here, each of these values is expressed as a fraction, the denominator of the fractional expression indicates the "dimensional" number of the prohibition setting, and the numerator of the fractional expression is a plurality of prohibitions constituting the prohibition setting. Indicates the "priority" between items.

For example, the value "3/3" of the position corresponding to the setting content q11 of the setting item Q1 is "3/3" in which the setting content q11 is the prohibition setting content of the three-dimensional prohibition and has the highest priority among the three prohibition items. It shows that it is "3". Similarly, the value "1/3" of the position corresponding to the setting content q31 of the setting item Q3 is that the setting content q31 is the prohibition setting content of the three-dimensional prohibition and has the lowest priority among the three prohibition items. It indicates that it is "1".

In the multidimensional kinsoku matrix Mn, the multidimensional kinsoku information is similarly described for each column in the second and subsequent columns arranged on the right side of the first column described above. In FIG. 16, each value is omitted (indicated by an asterisk), but in reality, each component value is represented by "0" or a fraction as described above.

The horizontal size (column size (number of columns)) of the multidimensional kinsoku matrix Mn is the same as the number of existing multidimensional kinsoku.

By using such a multidimensional kinsoku matrix Mn, the multidimensional kinsoku is detected and a directed graph expressing the multidimensional kinsoku is generated. Hereinafter, such an operation (step S230) will be described with reference to the flowchart and the like shown in FIG.

More specifically, when a certain setting item Q is changed from the original setting content (also referred to as a setting value) to a new setting content according to the user's setting change operation, a plurality of columns in the multidimensional kinsoku matrix Mn. A kinsoku candidate column (a column in which a "value other than 0" exists in the row corresponding to the new setting content) is searched from among the columns (step S231). Then, in the searched kinsoku candidate column (also referred to as attention kinsoku candidate column), a row in which a "value other than 0" exists is searched, and whether or not the setting content corresponding to the row is the current setting content is determined. It is judged. As a result, if the setting contents corresponding to all the remaining rows (for example, the remaining two rows) in which the "non-zero value" exists in the kinsoku candidate column are the current setting values, it is multidimensional. Occurrence of prohibition (three-dimensional prohibition) is detected (step S231).

Then, when such prohibition is detected, the process proceeds from step S232 to step S233, and the directed graph shown in FIG. 14 (see also FIG. 15) (for example, the directed graph of the upper one system) is generated.

After that, the process proceeds from step S235 (FIG. 8) to step S239, and the same search as in step S231 is continued. Then, the process returns to step S232 and the same operation is executed. When the search operation of step S231 (, S239) is completed for all the columns in the multidimensional kinsoku matrix Mn, it is determined in step S235 that the processing of the subroutine S230 should be terminated, and the processing of the subroutine S230 is completed. ..

For example, when the setting item Q1 is changed from the original setting content (also referred to as the setting value) q13 to the new setting content q11 in response to the user's setting change operation, the prohibition candidate column (the new) in the multidimensional kinsoku matrix Mn. The "column") in which the "value other than 0" exists in the row corresponding to the setting content q11 is searched. Then, in the searched kinsoku candidate columns (for example, the first column and the fifth column (see FIG. 16)), the row in which the "value other than 0" exists is searched, and the setting content corresponding to the kinsoku candidate column is set. It is determined whether or not it is the current setting content. As a result, the setting contents (setting contents q21, q31) corresponding to all the remaining rows (for example, the remaining two rows) in which the "value other than 0" exists in the first column are the current setting values. In that case, the occurrence of multi-dimensional kinsoku (three-dimensional kinsoku) is detected. Similarly, the setting contents (setting contents q21, q41) corresponding to all the remaining rows (for example, the remaining two rows) in which the "value other than 0" exists in the fifth column are the current setting values. In that case, the occurrence of multi-dimensional kinsoku (three-dimensional kinsoku) is detected.

In this way, it is determined by using the multidimensional kinsoku matrix Mn whether or not the three-dimensional kinsoku is generated (steps S231 and S239), and when it is determined that the multidimensional kinsoku is generated, there are many cases. A dimensional directed graph is generated (step S233). If no multidimensional prohibition is detected in step S230, the multidimensional directed graph is not generated. Further, when Z multidimensional prohibitions are detected in step S230, Z multidimensional directed graphs are generated. FIG. 14 shows a situation in which two types of 3D kinsoku are detected and two 3D directed graphs are generated.

In this embodiment, the two-dimensional kinsoku and the multidimensional kinsoku are expressed by using different matrices. The adjacency matrix M2 for two-dimensional kinsoku has a characteristic that it is possible to express two-dimensional kinsoku relatively easily and without omission. In consideration of such characteristics, the adjacency matrix M2 for two-dimensional prohibition is used to express a relatively large number of two-dimensional prohibitions, and the remaining multidimensional prohibitions are supplementarily expressed using Mn. There is. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, both the two-dimensional kinsoku and the multidimensional kinsoku may be expressed by using the same matrix as the above-mentioned multidimensional kinsoku matrix Mn.

<Currently prohibited state matrix>
As shown in FIG. 6, after the above-mentioned processing (steps S210 and S230), the processing of step S250 (currently prohibited state matrix G (next description) calculation processing and the like) (see FIG. 9) is performed.

In step S250, a matrix as shown in FIG. 17 is calculated. This matrix is a matrix showing the current kinsoku state, and is also referred to as the current kinsoku state matrix G.

This currently prohibited state matrix G has three columns. In the vertical direction of the currently prohibited state matrix G (in other words, each column of the currently prohibited state matrix G), all the setting contents (setting values) q11 regarding all the setting items Q1, Q2, Q3, ... , Q12, ...., q21, q22, ...., q31, q32, ...., are listed.

Information (flag information) related to the "current value" is listed in the leftmost column. The component of the corresponding position (corresponding line position) of the setting content (setting value) set as the current value is set to "1". The component of the corresponding position of the setting content (setting value) that is not set as the current value is set to "0".

For example, regarding the setting item Q1, when the setting content q11 is set as the current value, the component in the top row of the "current value" column (leftmost column) (the component at the position corresponding to the setting content q11) is Set to "1". In addition, the components in the second row from the top of the "current value" column (leftmost column) (components at positions corresponding to other setting contents q12, q13, q14, etc. of the setting item Q1) are set to "0". Set.

By executing such processing for all the setting items, each component value of the leftmost column of the currently prohibited state matrix G is obtained.

Further, in the second column (center column) from the left end, information on "kinsoku number" (specifically, the number of kinsoku numbers in which each corresponding element (each setting content) is involved) is listed. Specifically, the setting content (attention setting content) of a certain setting item (attention setting item) is involved as a prohibition factor, and the prohibition currently occurring (attention setting content of the attention setting item and the current status of other setting items) The number of values (prohibitions between values (current settings)) is shown. For example, when the setting content q21 is involved and two types of prohibition settings are generated, the number of prohibitions of the setting content q21 is "2".

This "kinsoku number" is obtained by using the two-dimensional kinsoku matrix M2 and the multidimensional kinsoku matrix Mn. More specifically, assuming that the attention setting content is changed as a new setting content (“change value”), the prohibition detection process and the like in steps S210 and S230 described above (however, the directed graph generation process (step S216)). , S218, S233)) is executed. Then, the number of detected kinsoku (the total number of the number of two-dimensional kinsoku detected and the number of multidimensional kinsoku detected) is obtained as the "prohibited number" of the attention setting content.

By executing such processing for all the setting contents of all the setting items, each component value of the central column (“prohibited number”) of the currently prohibited state matrix G is obtained.

Further, in the third column from the left end (the rightmost column), information on the "detailed state" is listed. Specifically, the prohibition that is currently occurring due to the setting content (attention setting content) of a certain setting item (attention setting item) (current value of the setting content and other setting items (current setting content)) The detailed state (flag value) regarding the prohibition between and is shown.

Specifically, first, if there is no prohibition between the setting content of the attention setting item (attention setting content) and the current value of other setting items (current setting content), the flag value is "0". , If not, the flag value is set to "1" or "2".

When the priority of the attention setting item (attention prohibition item) is the lowest among the plurality of prohibition items in any of the prohibition settings in which the attention setting content (attention prohibition setting content) is involved as a prohibition factor, the flag value is ". 2 ”is set. In other words, if there is a kinsoku setting in which the kinsoku setting item has the lowest priority among one or more types of kinsoku settings in which the kinsoku setting item is involved as a kinsoku factor, the flag value is set to "2". Set. Otherwise, the flag value is set to "1".

For example, in the directed graph of FIG. 14, in the prohibition of the identification label “1”, the setting content q31 is the setting content of the most downstream setting item (the setting item having the lowest priority). In other words, there is a prohibition setting (prohibition of the identification label "1") in which the attention setting item Q3 corresponding to the attention setting content q31 has the lowest priority. Therefore, the component value (flag value of the "detailed state") corresponding to the setting content q31 is set to "2". On the other hand, the setting content q21 is not the setting content of the setting item having the lowest priority in any of the two types of prohibited settings. Therefore, the component value (flag value of the "detailed state") corresponding to the setting content q21 is set to "1".

By executing such processing for all the setting contents of all the setting items, each component value of the rightmost column (“detailed state”) of the currently prohibited state matrix G is obtained.

As will be described later, in the "priority priority mode MD2", the prohibition item having the lowest priority among one or a plurality of prohibition items having the setting content of the flag value of "detailed state" of "2" is in order. , The setting content (setting value) is changed. Further, as shown in FIG. 29, on the display screen 300, the vertices (elliptical figures) corresponding to the setting contents q31 and a41 of the flag value "2" are displayed in color.

Here, the above-mentioned values (“current value”, “prohibited number”, “detailed state”) are obtained for all the setting contents (setting values) of all the setting items, and the current prohibition state matrix G is obtained. It has been generated, but is not limited to this. For example, for only the prohibited items detected in steps S210 and S230 (for example, only the four prohibited items Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4) (specifically, only the setting values of the four setting items), the respective values are The currently prohibited state matrix G may be generated by each of them.

<4. Prohibition occurrence status presentation processing (S14)>
After that, when it is determined (confirmed) in step S13 that the prohibition setting has occurred based on the processing result in step S12 (FIG. 4), the process proceeds from step S13 to step S14.

In step S14, first, the screen 300 (302) as shown in FIG. 22 is displayed. In step S11, in addition to the setting screen 400 (see FIG. 20) that accepts setting changes from the user in step S11, it is assumed that the screen 300 (301) as shown in FIG. 21 is displayed in advance. Then, in step S14, the screen 302 of FIG. 22 is displayed instead of the screen 301 of FIG. 21 and 22 are views showing a display screen 300 relating to the prohibition occurrence status. FIG. 21 shows a state in which the prohibition setting has not yet occurred (initial state before the prohibition occurs), and FIG. 22 shows a state in which the prohibition setting has occurred (initial state after the prohibition occurs).

On this screen 302, a large display area 332 related to the "Initial Conflict View" is secured, and the state of occurrence of the prohibition setting (initial state after the occurrence of the prohibition) is shown in the display area 332. A directed graph is shown. In FIG. 22 (screen 302), the above-mentioned two three-dimensional prohibitions (Q1 = q11, Q2 = q21, Q3 = q31) and (Q1 = q11, Q2 = q21, Q4 = q41) are generated. Is shown using a directed graph of (see FIGS. 14 and 15).

Further, on the screen 300, in addition to the display area 332 (see FIG. 22) related to the “Initial Conflict View”, the display area 352 (see FIG. 23) related to the “current kinsoku state display (Temporary Conflict View)”. And a display area 372 (see FIG. 24) relating to the “solution view”.

The display areas 332 and 352 are enlarged (displayed in an expanded state) by clicking the corresponding bar areas 331 and 351 with the mouse, respectively. For example, when the bar area 351 is clicked with the mouse on the screen 300 (302) of FIG. 22, the display area 352 is displayed large in the screen 300 (303) as shown in FIG. 23. The screen 300 (303) of FIG. 23 shows the current prohibition occurrence status, and the display area 352 is a display area for displaying the current prohibition state. For example, when the prohibition setting is gradually (sequentially) canceled according to the user's operation, the prohibited state (prohibited state at the current stage) at that time (each stage) is displayed in the display area 352. Will be done. Further, as will be described later, the display area 372 is displayed in a large size (displayed in an expanded state) in response to the pressing of the solution candidate display button 353 in the display area 352, for example (see FIG. 24). Even when the bar area 371 is clicked with the mouse, the display area 372 is displayed large.

In the following, it is assumed that various operations are performed in a state where the screen 303 (FIG. 23) is displayed (a state in which the display area 352 related to the “currently prohibited state display (Temporary Conflict View)” is displayed in a large size). In the display area 352, the current forbidden state is displayed using a directed graph.

Further, in this state, the prohibition elimination mode is set to the efficiency priority mode MD1 (described later), and the display area 352 is first changed to eliminate the prohibition in the efficiency priority mode MD1 among a plurality of prohibition items. The vertices (nodes) corresponding to the setting items to be set are highlighted. For example, as shown in FIG. 23 and the like, among a plurality of vertices indicating a plurality of prohibited items, the vertices having the maximum number of prohibited items (vertices corresponding to the setting item Q2 (setting content q21)) are displayed in color. According to such highlighting, the user can easily visually recognize the most promising candidate to be changed in the efficiency priority mode MD1.

<Prohibition resolution mode>
Here, the "prohibition elimination mode" will be described.

The printer driver has two modes MD1 and MD2 as a prohibition elimination mode for eliminating a plurality of types of prohibition settings. One mode is the efficiency priority mode MD1. The other mode is the priority priority mode MD2.

The efficiency priority mode MD1 preferentially changes the setting contents of the common prohibition items among the plurality of prohibition items related to the plurality of types of prohibition settings when a plurality of types of prohibition settings are generated. This is a mode for canceling the plurality of types of prohibition settings. In the efficiency priority mode MD1, the setting items (prohibition items) related to the prohibition factors in each prohibition setting are specified, and are common to at least some two or more types of prohibition settings among the plurality of types of prohibition settings. Kinsoku items (“common kinsoku items”) are extracted. Then, the setting contents of the common prohibition items are changed preferentially.

On the other hand, in the priority priority mode MD2, when a plurality of types of prohibition settings have occurred, the setting contents of the prohibition item having the lowest priority among the plurality of prohibition items related to the plurality of types of prohibition settings are set. This is a mode in which the plurality of types of prohibition settings are canceled by preferentially changing. In the priority priority mode MD2, when changing the setting content of any of the prohibition items related to the prohibition setting in order to eliminate the prohibition setting, a relatively high priority is given as described later. The setting contents of the setting items to have are maintained without being changed as much as possible, and the setting contents of the setting items having a relatively low priority are changed first. In short, the setting contents are changed in order from the setting item with the lowest priority.

The user can specify the mode to be used among the two modes MD1 and MD2. Specifically, the user can specify the prohibition elimination mode to be used by selecting one of the two radio buttons 312 and 313 provided in the mode designation field 311 on the screen 300. When the radio button 312 is clicked, the efficiency priority mode MD1 is designated, and when the radio button 313 is clicked, the priority priority mode MD2 is designated. In the default state, the efficiency priority mode MD1 is selected as the prohibition elimination mode.

<5. Solution presentation process, etc. (S20)>
<Operation when the solution candidate display button is pressed>
The process of step S20 following step S14 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing (step S20) (see also FIG. 4) corresponding to various operations.

In the following, first, a case where the solution candidate display button 353 is pressed on the screen 303 (FIG. 23) will be described.

When the solution candidate display button 353 is pressed, the process proceeds from step S15 to step S21 (also referred to as S50) (see FIG. 10). FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the detailed operation of step S50.

In step S51, it is determined whether the selected mode is one of the two modes MD1 and MD2. When the efficiency priority mode MD1 is selected, the process proceeds from step S51 to step S52. On the other hand, when the priority priority mode MD2 is selected, the process proceeds from step S51 to step S57.

In steps S57 and S58, the prohibition breaking operation by the priority priority mode MD2 is executed. Specifically, in step S57, the setting contents of the prohibition item having the lowest priority are first changed. For example, the setting content q41 (see also FIG. 29) of the setting item (prohibition item) Q4 having the lowest priority among the plurality of prohibition items related to the two types of prohibition settings is changed to another setting content q42. As a result, the corresponding prohibition setting (prohibition setting of the identification label “5”) is eliminated. Next, in step S58, it is determined whether or not all the prohibition settings have been resolved. If the prohibition setting that has not been resolved remains, the process returns to step S57 again. Then, this time, in another remaining prohibition setting (prohibition setting of the identification label "1"), the setting content q31 of the setting item Q3 having the lowest priority is changed to another setting content q32. The prohibition is lifted by executing these two setting changes.

On the other hand, in steps S52 to S55, the prohibition breaking operation by the efficiency priority mode MD1 is executed.

In step S52, it is determined whether the number of prohibition setting contents having the maximum “prohibition number” is plural or singular.

For example, when a plurality of types of prohibition settings have occurred, among the plurality of prohibition setting contents (plural vertices) related to the plurality of types of prohibition settings, the “prohibition number” is “2 or more”. Is extracted. In other words, a common kinsoku item, which is a kinsoku item common to at least a part of two or more types of kinsoku settings among a plurality of types of kinsoku settings, is extracted. Further, here, the vertex (node) having the maximum "prohibited number" among the plurality of vertices (nodes) is determined as the setting item (setting content) to be changed first (the highest priority should be changed). Will be done. In other words, the common prohibition item (also referred to as the most common item) common to the most types of prohibition settings is determined as the most promising candidate (first candidate) of the setting change target item. The number of prohibited vertices at each vertex may be determined based on the current prohibited state matrix G. Specifically, the kinsoku number of each vertex (kinsoku item) may be obtained as the "kinsoku number" of the position corresponding to the currently set value of each kinsoku item in the current kinsoku state matrix G.

In the prohibition occurrence situation as shown in FIG. 23, the prohibition setting contents q11 and q21 having the “prohibition number” of “2 or more” are extracted as the prohibition setting contents having the maximum prohibition number. Specifically, two vertices (kinsoku setting contents) q11 and q21 having "kinsoku number = 2" are extracted as kinsoku setting contents having the maximum kinsoku number. In other words, among the plurality of common kinsoku items Q1 and Q2, the most common kinsoku items Q1 and Q2, which are common kinsoku items common to the most types of kinsoku settings, are determined as the most promising candidates for the setting change target items.

Then, it is determined that the number of vertices having the maximum kinsoku number "2" (prohibition setting contents related to the kinsoku setting of two (maximum kinsoku number)) is a plurality (here, two).

When it is determined that the number of vertices having the maximum number of prohibited vertices is a plurality, the process proceeds from step S52 to step S53.

In step S53, among the plurality of vertices (prohibition setting contents) q11 and q21 having the maximum kinsoku number "2", the vertex q21 having the lowest priority is determined as the change target (setting change target content). Specifically, the common prohibition item Q2 having the lowest priority is determined as the most promising candidate for the item to be changed.

Further, the setting content of the setting item Q2 corresponding to the prohibition setting content q21 is changed to the setting content that reduces the "prohibited number" most (for example, the setting content q22 that reduces the "prohibited number" by two to zero). It is decided what to do. In detail, with respect to the common prohibition item Q2 determined as the most promising candidate for the item to be changed, one setting content q22 that can reduce the number of prohibitions most by changing the setting is obtained (determined) and is common. It is determined that the setting content of the prohibition item Q2 should be changed to one setting content q22. Then, the process proceeds to step S55.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the number of prohibition setting contents having the maximum number of prohibitions is singular, the process proceeds from step S52 to step S54. In step S54, the prohibition setting content having the maximum number of prohibitions is determined as the change target. Then, the setting content of the setting item corresponding to the prohibition setting content is changed to the setting content that reduces the "prohibited number" most. Then, the process proceeds to step S55.

In step S55, it is determined whether or not all the prohibitions have been resolved. If the prohibition setting that has not been resolved remains, the process returns to step S52 again. Then, the operations of steps S52 to S55 are executed again. In steps S52 to S55, the same operation as described above is performed for the remaining prohibition.

In the efficiency priority mode MD1, the setting content of the setting item Q2 corresponding to the prohibition setting content q21 is the setting content that reduces the "prohibited number" most (for example, the setting content q22 that reduces the "prohibited number" by two to zero. ), The two types of prohibition settings (prohibitions of labels "1" and "5") are canceled at the same time. Therefore, efficient change processing is performed.

Then, in step S59, the state after the prohibition is resolved (and the prohibition resolution measures) is displayed. For example, the state after the change of the setting contents of the common prohibition item is displayed.

For example, as shown in FIG. 24, the state after the prohibition is resolved is displayed in the display area 372. FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a state after the prohibition is resolved. Specifically, in the display area 372 of FIG. 24, each vertex of the directed graph is indicated by a broken line, and the line and the identification label (“1” and “5”) displayed on the branch (edge) portion connecting the vertices. ") And have been deleted. As can be seen by comparing with the display content (display content before the change) of the display area 352 of FIG. 24 (and FIG. 23), it is shown by such display change that the prohibition setting has been eliminated.

After that, when the change button 373 in the display area 372 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S35 (FIG. 4). In step S35, the solution displayed in the display area 372 or the like is actually executed. That is, one or more setting changes presented as solution candidates are actually executed. For example, in the efficiency priority mode MD1, setting change processing including a process of changing the setting contents of the common prohibition item determined as the most promising candidate of the setting change target item and canceling the prohibition setting related to the common prohibition item is performed.

As described above, an automatic setting change operation (“automatic change”) for automatically canceling the prohibition setting based on a predetermined standard is executed. In this embodiment, before the change operation is actually performed, the screen 303 showing the current prohibition occurrence state as shown in FIG. 23 and the screen 304 showing the state after the prohibition is resolved as shown in FIG. 24 are displayed. To. By visually recognizing these screens 303 and 304, the user can know "what kind of prohibition has occurred" and / or "how the prohibition is resolved" and the like.

Further, in this embodiment, it is prohibited based on a setting change instruction from the user regarding a specific setting item (specifically, an instruction to change the setting item specified by the user to the setting content (setting value) specified by the user). It is also possible to execute a setting change operation (“manual change”) that cancels the setting. By visually recognizing the screen 300 (303, etc.) showing the current prohibition occurrence state as shown in FIG. 23, the user can try to eliminate the prohibition while knowing the currently occurring prohibition. is there.

In the following, the operation of canceling the prohibition setting by the user's manual operation will be described.

<Operation during manual operation (vertex click)>
First, when the click operation (selection operation for selecting a desired display element from a plurality of display elements (vertices)) is performed on the vertices (nodes) while the screen 303 (see FIG. 23) is displayed. Will be described.

When the click operation is performed, the process proceeds from step S15 to step S22 (FIG. 5). In step S22, the following operations are performed.

Specifically, instead of the screen 303, the screen 300 (305) as shown in FIG. 25 is displayed. On the screen 305, a balloon image is added to the clicked vertex (specifically, the setting item Q2 (setting content q21)). Inside the balloon image (also referred to as a superimposed image), information regarding each of the plurality of setting contents q21, q22, and q23 regarding the setting item Q2 (information based on the current prohibition state matrix G in FIG. 17) is displayed. Specifically, information on the "detailed state" of each setting content q21, q22, q23, information on the "prohibited number" after changing to each setting content q21, q22, q23, and the like are displayed.

In detail, the detailed state "0" of the setting content q22 (see FIG. 17) and the forbidden number "0" after changing to the setting content q22 are displayed. The detailed state "0" is indicated by a circle in FIG. 25.

Further, the detailed state "1" (see FIG. 17) of the setting content q23 and the forbidden number "3" after changing to each setting content q23 are displayed. The detailed state "1" is indicated by a triangular mark in FIG. 25. The detailed state "2" (see FIG. 17) of the setting contents is indicated by other symbols or the like (for example, "x" mark or the like) (see FIGS. 26 and 27).

When each of the other vertices is clicked, the information about each vertex is displayed in the same manner. The user can obtain the required information by clicking on some vertices.

<Operation during manual operation (change of change target item)>
Next, manual change of the change target item will be described.

For example, in a state where the screen 305 of FIG. 25 is displayed in response to the above-mentioned click operation on the vertices, the description portion of the desired setting content (for example, setting content q22) in the balloon image is clicked (selected). Then, it is determined that the instruction to change the setting change target item (Q2) to the desired setting content (q22) has been accepted, and the process proceeds from step S15 to step S24. In step S24, the same operations as in step S12 (step S200) (FIG. 6) (prohibition generation determination processing, prohibition graph generation processing, etc.) are performed, and the display contents are updated. Further, the actual setting change process based on the instruction is also performed. The updated display content (updated directed graph, etc.) is displayed in the display area 352 or the like.

Specifically, the setting content of the setting item Q2 is changed from the original setting content q21 to the desired setting content (q22 or the like). When the setting content is changed to q22, the same content as the above-mentioned changed content (display content of the display area 372 in FIG. 24) is displayed in the display area 352.

In the display area 352 of FIG. 23 (or FIG. 25) or the like, the user clicks a vertex indicating a setting item Q1 different from the setting item Q2 to display a balloon image (see screen 306 of FIG. 26). By selecting the desired setting content q12 in the balloon image, the setting content of the setting item Q1 can be changed from the original setting content q11 to the desired setting content q12. That is, it is also possible to eliminate the prohibition state by such a manual operation.

Similarly, the user clicks on a vertex indicating yet another setting item Q4 in the display area 352 of FIG. 23 (or FIG. 25) or the like to display a balloon image (see screen 307 of FIG. 27), and the balloon is displayed. By selecting the desired setting content q42 in the image, the setting content of the setting item Q4 can be changed from the original setting content q41 to the desired setting content q42.

In FIG. 27, the detailed state information “2” (see the currently prohibited state matrix G in FIG. 17) of the setting contents (q41 and q43) is indicated by an “x” mark. For example, even when the user visually recognizes the screen 300 (the screen of the efficiency priority mode MD1) of FIG. 27 and grasps the existence of the “common prohibition item”, the user changes the prohibition item Q4 having the lowest priority. It is also possible to intentionally (daringly) adopt a prohibition-solving measure (setting change to setting content q42 (setting content marked with "x")).

When such a change operation of the change target item is performed, the process proceeds from step S24 to step S31. In step S31, it is determined whether or not all the prohibition settings have been resolved. If the prohibition setting that has not been resolved remains, the process returns to step S15 again. On the other hand, when all the prohibition settings are cleared, the process of this step S20 ends.

<Operation during manual operation (change of priority)>
Next, the manual change of the priority will be described.

The user selects two setting items (specifically, corresponding vertices) whose priority is to be changed. Specifically, while pressing the control key on the keyboard of the print instruction device 50, the two vertices corresponding to the two setting items Q1 and Q2 are sequentially left-clicked with the mouse on the screen 300 to perform the two vertices. It is possible to select the setting items Q1 and Q2. Then, in this state, select the menu item of "Priority change (priority change)" from the submenu screen displayed by clicking the right mouse button. In response to such a selection operation (replacement instruction operation), the priorities of the two setting items Q1 and Q2 are exchanged.

Specifically, when such a replacement instruction operation is detected, the process proceeds from step S15 to step S23 (FIG. 5). In step S23, the priority change process as described below is performed. After that, the process of step S24 is performed, and the display content is updated.

For example, when the priority of the two setting items Q1 and Q2 is exchanged, the priority change process (step S23) is performed. For example, when the priority of the setting item Q1 is higher than the priority of the setting item Q2 (see FIGS. 11 and 14) and the replacement instruction is given, the priority of the setting item Q1 becomes the priority of the setting item Q2. Change processing (priority replacement processing) that is lower than the degree is performed.

More specifically, when the setting items Q1 and Q2 related to the priority replacement target are two-dimensional kinsoku items, the processing as shown in FIG. 18 (change processing of the two-dimensional kinsoku adjacency matrix M2) is performed. Will be done. On the other hand, when the setting items Q1 and Q2 related to the priority replacement target are the prohibition items of the multidimensional prohibition, the processing shown in FIG. 19 (change processing of the multidimensional prohibition matrix Mn) is performed. Note that FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a change process (priority change process) of the two-dimensional kinsoku matrix M2, and FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a change process (priority change process) of the multidimensional kinsoku matrix Mn. is there.

Below, first, the change process (priority change process) of the adjacency matrix for two-dimensional prohibition will be described.

The change processing (see FIG. 18) of the two-dimensional adjacency matrix M2 is performed in the original (before change) two-dimensional adjacency matrix M2 (FIG. 13) with the (v, w) component and the (w, v) component. It is realized by exchanging with. The values v and w are natural numbers that are different from each other. Here, the value v indicates a position (row position or column position) corresponding to the setting content (prohibition setting content) (for example, q11) of one setting item (for example, Q1) to be replaced, and the value w is the other. The position (column position or row position) corresponding to the setting content (prohibited setting content) (for example, q21) of the setting item (for example, Q2) to be replaced is shown.

As described above, in the two-dimensional adjacency matrix M2 (FIG. 13) before the change, the vth row (row corresponding to the set value q11) and the wth column (in the set value q21) of the two-dimensional adjacency matrix M2. There is a "1" at the intersection with the corresponding column). That is, the (v, w) component is "1". The (w, v) component is "0".

On the other hand, in the modified two-dimensional kinsoku adjacency matrix M2 (FIG. 18), the wth row (row corresponding to the set value q21) and the vth column (set value, contrary to FIG. 13). There is a "1" at the intersection with the column (column corresponding to q11). That is, the (w, v) component is "1". The (v, w) component is "0".

In this way, the two-dimensional kinsoku adjacency matrix M2 in which the (v, w) component and the (w, v) component are exchanged is generated. By performing the two-dimensional prohibition detection process (step S24) using the two-dimensional prohibition adjacency matrix M2 after the replacement (after the update), the two-dimensional prohibition detection process reflecting the priority after the replacement and the two-dimensional prohibition detection process and Two-dimensional directed graph generation processing and the like are executed.

Next, a change process (priority change process) of the multidimensional kinsoku matrix Mn will be described.

The change processing (see FIG. 19) of the multidimensional kinsoku matrix Mn is performed in the original (before change) multidimensional kinsoku matrix Mn (FIG. 16) with respect to the (x, c) component with respect to the cth prohibition (column c). It is realized by exchanging and (y, c) components. Here, the value x indicates the line position corresponding to the setting content (prohibition setting content) (for example, q11) of one setting item (for example, Q1) of the replacement target, and the value y is the setting item (for example) of the other replacement target. For example, the line position corresponding to the setting content (prohibition setting content) (for example, q21) of Q2) is shown. The values x, y, and c are natural numbers, respectively.

As described above, in the multidimensional kinsoku matrix Mn (FIG. 16) before the change, "3/3" is added to the xth row (row corresponding to the q11 component) with respect to the kinsoku in the first column (c = 1). It exists, and "2/3" exists in the yth row (the row corresponding to the q21 component). In other words, the (x, c) component is "3/3" and the (y, c) component is "2/3".

On the other hand, in the modified multidimensional kinsoku matrix Mn (FIG. 19), "2/3" is added to the xth row (row corresponding to the q11 component) with respect to the kinsoku in the first column (c = 1). It exists, and "3/3" exists in the yth row (the row corresponding to the q21 component). In other words, the (x, c) component is "2/3" and the (y, c) component is "3/3".

Similarly, the same replacement process is performed for the prohibition in the fifth column (c = 5). Specifically, the (x, c) component is changed to "2/3", and the (y, c) component is changed to "3/3".

In this way, a multidimensional kinsoku matrix Mn (FIG. 19) in which the (x, c) component and the (y, c) component are exchanged is generated. By performing the multidimensional kinsoku detection process (step S24) using the multidimensional kinsoku matrix Mn after the replacement, the multidimensional kinsoku detection process and the multidimensional directed graph generation process that reflect the priority after the replacement are performed. Is executed.

As described above, the two-dimensional kinsoku adjacency matrix M2 or the multidimensional kinsoku matrix Mn is changed.

After that, the process of step S24 is performed based on the changed (after replacement) matrix (M2 or Mn), and the displayed contents are updated. As a result, for example, as shown in FIG. 28, in the display area 352, the two vertices corresponding to the two setting items Q1 and Q2 are displayed interchangeably. FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a display screen 300 (308) regarding the prohibition occurrence status after the priority change operation. In detail, in this screen 308, the setting item Q2 (setting content q21) is displayed in place of the setting item Q1 on the far right side, and the setting item Q1 (setting content q11) is displayed in place of the setting item Q2 in the center. Is displayed. In other words, the setting items Q2, Q1 and Q3 are arranged in this order from the right side to the left side.

<Operation during manual operation (press the button to return to the previous state)>
Further, when the "return to the previous state" button 354 on the screen 300 (308 or the like) is pressed, the process proceeds from step S15 to step S25 (FIG. 5). In step S25, a process of returning to the "previous state" is performed.

For example, if the "Return to previous state" button 354 is pressed immediately after the change operation of the change target item, the process for returning to the state before the change target item is changed (setting contents). A process of returning to the previous state, a process of generating a directed graph showing the previous state, etc.) are performed. Then, the directed graph corresponding to the "previous state" is displayed in the display area 352.

Alternatively, if the "return to previous state" button 354 is pressed immediately after the priority change operation, a process for returning to the state before the priority is changed (priority change (change of priority (change of priority)). (Replacement) The process of returning to the previous state, the process of generating a directed graph showing the state before the change, etc.) are performed. As the process of returning to the state before the priority change (replacement), a process of returning the two-dimensional kinsoku matrix M2 or the multidimensional kinsoku matrix Mn to the state before the change is performed. Then, the directed graph corresponding to the "previous state" is displayed in the display area 352.

<Operation during manual operation (press the button to return to the initial state)>
Further, when the "return to initial state" button 355 on the screen 300 (308 or the like) is pressed, the process proceeds from step S15 to step S26. In step S26, a process of returning to the "initial state" is performed. Specifically, all the changes made by the manual operation up to that point are discarded, various setting contents are returned to the initial state (state in step S14), and a directed graph showing the initial state is generated. Then, the directed graph corresponding to the "initial state" (initial prohibition occurrence state) is displayed in the display area 352.

<Operation during manual operation (press the mode change button)>
Further, when any of the radio buttons 312 and 313 on the screen 300 (303, etc.) is pressed, the process proceeds from step S15 to step S27. In step S27, it is determined which mode the transition instruction has been accepted (which radio buttons 312 and 313 have been pressed). When the instruction to shift to the efficiency priority mode MD1 is received (the radio button 312 is pressed), the process proceeds to step S28. On the other hand, when the instruction to shift to the priority priority mode MD2 is received (the radio button 313 is pressed), the process proceeds to step S29.

In step S28, the prohibition elimination mode is set to the efficiency priority mode MD1. Further, in step S28, among the plurality of prohibited items, the vertex corresponding to the setting item (setting content) to be changed first in order to eliminate the prohibition in the efficiency priority mode MD1 is specified, and the vertex is highlighted. (Here, it is displayed with a background color of a specific color (for example, yellow)). For example, as shown in FIG. 23 and the like, among a plurality of vertices indicating a plurality of prohibited items, the vertex q21 having the maximum number of prohibited items is colored and displayed (in the figure, it is shown with sandy hatching). When there are a plurality of vertices having the maximum number of forbidden numbers, the vertex (q21) having the lowest priority among the plurality of vertices (q21 and q22) is the setting item to be changed first. It is colored and displayed as the most promising candidate for (item to be changed). According to such highlighting (colored display, etc.), the user can easily visually recognize the most promising candidate to be changed in the efficiency priority mode MD1.

In step S29, the prohibition elimination mode is set to the priority destination mode MD2. Further, in step S29, among the plurality of prohibited items, the vertex corresponding to the setting item (setting content) to be changed first in order to eliminate the prohibition in the priority destination mode MD2 is specified, and the vertex is highlighted. (Here, it is displayed with a background color of a specific color (for example, yellow)). For example, as shown in FIG. 29 and the like, prohibited items (for example, q31 and q41) having the lowest priority in each prohibited setting are displayed in color (shown with sand hatching in the figure). FIG. 29 is a diagram showing a display screen 300 (309) regarding the prohibition occurrence status after the mode switching operation (after the switching operation to the priority priority mode MD2). According to such highlighting, the user can easily visually recognize the most promising candidate to be changed in the priority destination mode MD2.

As described above, this printer driver can also execute the prohibition elimination process by the user's manual operation.

Further, after changing some settings manually by the user, it is also possible to automatically perform the subsequent prohibition cancellation operation while maintaining the changes made by the manual operation. More specifically, for example, the user manually swaps the priorities of two specific vertices (nodes) (and / or manually changes the settings of a specific vertex to the new settings by a manual operation as described above. After changing by operation), the solution candidate display button 353 may be pressed. In response to such an operation, the printer driver automatically determines a further solution while maintaining the manual setting change, and displays the solution in the display area 372. The user confirms the solution, and if he / she approves the solution, presses the change button 373. The printer driver executes the actual setting change according to the solution in response to the pressing of the change button 373. In this way, it is also possible to eliminate the prohibition setting by combining the setting change by manual operation and the automatic setting change.

<6. Effects of the embodiment, etc.>
According to the above operation (particularly, see steps S51 to S55 and S59 in FIG. 10 and step S28 in FIG. 5), in the efficiency priority mode MD1, "common prohibition items" (among a plurality of types of prohibition settings). At least some prohibited items that are common to two or more types of prohibited settings) are extracted. Specifically, when a vertex having two or more kinsoku numbers (prohibited item) exists as the "maximum kinsoku item", there is a kinsoku item (common kinsoku item) common to the two or more types of kinsoku settings. , The common prohibition item is extracted. Then, the common prohibition item is determined as a candidate (most promising candidate) for the setting change target item for eliminating the plurality of types of prohibition settings (steps S53 and S54). Therefore, it is possible to efficiently eliminate a plurality of types of prohibition settings.

In addition, when a plurality of common kinsoku items are extracted, the most common item (common kinsoku item common to the most types of kinsoku settings) among the plurality of common kinsoku items is determined as the most promising candidate for the setting change target item. (See step S53). For example, if a vertex (forbidden item) Q7 having two forbidden numbers and a vertex (forbidden item) Q8 having three forbidden numbers exist, the vertex (forbidden item) Q8 having three forbidden numbers is "forbidden number". Determined as the "maximum vertex". Then, the vertex having the three kinsoku numbers (in other words, the kinsoku item common to the three types of kinsoku settings (common kinsoku item)) Q8 is the setting change target for eliminating the plurality of types of kinsoku settings. It is determined as the most promising candidate for the item (steps S53, S54). Compared to the case where the setting of the prohibition item Q7 is changed, by changing the setting of the prohibition item Q8, a relatively large number (three here) of the prohibition settings can be canceled at one time, so that a plurality of prohibition items can be resolved at one time. It is possible to eliminate the kind of prohibition setting very efficiently.

In addition, when a plurality of common kinsoku items are extracted and there are two or more common kinsoku items as the most common items, the priority of the two or more common kinsoku items (for example, kinsoku setting Q1 and Q2). The common prohibition item (for example, Q2) having the lowest value is determined as the most promising candidate for the setting change target item (step S53). According to this, it is possible to efficiently eliminate a plurality of types of prohibition settings in consideration of the priority.

Further, the user can select (designate) a desired mode from the two modes MD1 and MD2 by using the mode designation field 311 (see FIGS. 23 and 29, etc.) in the screen 300. .. Then, the most promising candidate for the setting change target item can be determined using the mode specified by the user. Since the user can use, for example, the efficiency priority mode MD1, it is possible to obtain various prohibition-solving measures as compared with the case of exclusively using the priority destination mode MD2.

Further, as shown in FIG. 23, when a prohibition occurs, a screen 300 showing the current prohibition occurrence status is displayed, and in the efficiency priority mode MD1, a common prohibition item (Q2, etc.) is displayed on the screen 300. Is done. Therefore, the user can know the existence of the common prohibition item and perform the prohibition elimination process using the common prohibition item.

In particular, since each prohibition item is visualized and displayed as each corresponding display element (graphic element), the prohibition occurrence status is visualized and the prohibition setting can be easily grasped. Further, regarding a plurality of types of kinsoku settings, the common kinsoku item Q2 common to a predetermined number of types (for example, two types) of kinsoku settings is one display element (graphic element) common to the predetermined number of types of kinsoku settings. Since it is shown as, the user can intuitively understand that the prohibited item corresponding to the one display element is a common prohibited item.

Further, as shown in FIG. 25, the user has one vertex (one setting item) (for example, Q2).
When clicked, each change candidate (q21, q22, q23, etc.) of the setting content of the one setting item (Q2) and each prohibition in which the change candidate is involved when the one setting content is changed to each change candidate. The number ("2", "0", "3") is displayed. Therefore, the user can easily know the change in the number of prohibitions according to the change to the change candidate.

Further, on the screen 300 (304) of FIG. 24 (particularly, the display area 372 (Solution View column) on the lower side thereof), improvement measures (state after the change) accompanied by the change of the setting contents of the common prohibition items are displayed. Will be done. Therefore, the user can confirm the improvement measure. More specifically, the user can easily know how the kinsoku is lifted by the improvement measure.

Further, in this embodiment, it is possible to execute a setting change operation (“manual change”) for eliminating the prohibition setting based on the setting change instruction from the user regarding a specific setting item. More specifically, it is possible to change the setting contents related to the common prohibition items. Therefore, it is possible to adopt a prohibition-solving measure that appropriately reflects the user's intention.

Further, in this embodiment, every time the setting content of one of the plurality of prohibited items is changed, the change status of the prohibition setting due to the change of the setting content is dynamically detected. Specifically, by using the two-dimensional forbidden matrix (specifically, the two-dimensional forbidden adjacency matrix M2) and the multidimensional forbidden matrix Mn, the setting content of one of the plurality of setting items related to the job can be set. The prohibition occurrence status after the change from the current set value to the changed set value is detected (see steps S21, S24, etc.). Therefore, when the setting contents of a plurality of setting items are changed in sequence, it is possible to grasp the prohibition occurrence status at the time of each setting change at any time.

In addition, the user can intuitively grasp the prohibition occurrence status by visualizing the prohibition occurrence status at the time of each setting change using a directed graph or the like.

<7. Deformation example, etc.>
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the contents described above.

For example, in the above-described embodiment and the like, an elliptical figure is exemplified as a display element indicating a setting item (and setting contents) (see FIGS. 11 and 14 and the like), but the display element is not limited to this. , Other graphic elements. Specifically, the display element may be a relatively basic graphic element such as a circle, a rectangle, a rhombus, or a star, or a relatively complicated graphic element such as a three-dimensional button image. You may. Further, the display element may be a control element (button, list box, combo box, etc.) used for setting in the printer driver.

Further, in the above-described embodiment and the like, two-dimensional prohibition and multidimensional prohibition are expressed using a directed graph, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, two-dimensional kinsoku and multi-dimensional kinsoku may be expressed using undirected graphs.

Further, in the above-described embodiment and the like, as shown in FIG. 14 and the like, two types of prohibition settings (particularly two types of prohibition settings having a common prohibition item) are attached to each other with identification labels (“1” and “5)”. It is distinguished, but not limited to this.

For example, as shown in FIG. 30, the lines for each of the plurality of types of kinsoku settings are displayed in a unique color determined for each kinsoku setting, so that the plurality of types of kinsoku settings are distinguished from each other. You may do so. More specifically, a plurality of setting items related to the first type of prohibition setting are connected by a "blue" line, and a plurality of setting items related to the second type of prohibition setting are connected by a "red" line. You may do so. In FIG. 30 (and FIG. 31 described below), the difference in line color (difference between blue and red) is expressed by the difference in line type (difference between broken line and solid line). Further, the present invention is not limited to this, and in fact, a plurality of types of prohibition settings may be distinguished from each other by a difference in line type instead of a difference in line color.

Further, in the above embodiment and the like, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 14, in the directed graph, two or more display elements corresponding to two or more prohibition items related to each prohibition setting are connected by a line and displayed. , It is presented that the setting contents of the setting items corresponding to the two or more display elements are the factors of each prohibition setting. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, as shown in FIG. 31, setting of setting items corresponding to the two or more display elements is performed by enclosing two or more display elements corresponding to the two or more prohibition items related to each prohibition setting in a frame. It may be presented that the content is a factor in each prohibition setting. FIG. 31 is a diagram showing an example of a graph display (undirected graph display) using a frame.

In FIG. 31, three display elements corresponding to three prohibition items Q1, Q2, Q3 (three setting contents q11, q21, q31) relating to one type of prohibition setting are displayed by enclosing them in a frame. It is presented that the setting contents of the setting items corresponding to one display element are the factors of one kind of prohibition setting. In addition, the three display elements corresponding to the three prohibition items Q1, Q2, and Q4 (three setting contents q11, q21, q41) related to other types of prohibition settings are displayed by enclosing them in a frame. It is presented that the setting contents of the setting items corresponding to the elements are the factors of the other types of prohibition setting. In this way, by displaying two or more display elements corresponding to two or more prohibited items of each prohibited setting in a frame for each prohibited setting, the setting contents of the setting items corresponding to the two or more display elements are displayed. Is presented as a factor in the setting of each prohibition. Further, in such a case, the frames for each of the plurality of types of kinsoku settings are displayed in a unique color determined for each kinsoku setting, so that the plurality of types of kinsoku settings are distinguished from each other. Is preferable.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 32, it may be shown that a plurality of display elements (plurality of setting items) are factors of prohibition setting without using a line or a frame. Specifically, the same identification label is displayed in the vicinity (or may be inside) of two or more display elements corresponding to two or more prohibited items related to each prohibition setting, thereby corresponding to the two or more display elements. It may be presented that the setting content of the setting item is a factor of each prohibition setting. FIG. 32 is a diagram showing an example of a graph display (undirected graph display) using a label.

In FIG. 32, it is the same in the vicinity (specifically, the upper neighborhood) of the three display elements corresponding to the three prohibition items Q1, Q2, Q3 (three setting contents q11, q21, q31) relating to one type of prohibition setting. By displaying the identification label (“1”) of the above, it is presented that the setting contents of the setting items corresponding to the three display elements are the factors of the one kind of prohibition setting. In addition, the same identification is made in the vicinity (specifically, the upper neighborhood) of the three display elements corresponding to the three prohibition items Q1, Q2, and Q4 (three setting contents q11, q21, q41) related to other types of prohibition settings. By displaying the label (“5”), it is presented that the setting contents of the setting items corresponding to the three display elements are the factors of the other types of prohibition setting. In this way, for each kinsoku setting, the same identification label (“1”) is displayed in the vicinity (specifically, the upper neighborhood) of two or more display elements corresponding to the two or more kinsoku items in each kinsoku setting. It is presented that the setting contents of the setting items corresponding to the two or more display elements are the factors of the prohibition setting. In particular, by assigning unique identification labels (“1” and “5”) determined for each prohibition setting as identification labels for each of the plurality of types of prohibition settings, a plurality of types of prohibition settings can be set. They are identified from each other.

Further, in the above-described embodiment and the like, the occurrence status of the prohibition is presented using figures (directed graphs and the like), but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 33, it may be represented by a character (character string). In particular, in FIG. 33, when there is a common prohibition item (common prohibition item) in at least a part of two or more types of prohibition settings among the plurality of types of prohibition settings, the common prohibition item (common factor). Is specified using letters. More specifically, there is a common kinsoku item Q2 common to the two types of kinsoku settings by the character string expression "common factor: kinsoku number = 2 setting value: Q2 = q21, Q1 = q11". (And its kinsoku setting content q21), and the existence of a common kinsoku item Q1 common to the two types of kinsoku setting (and its kinsoku setting content q11) are shown. Actually, "Q1" and "Q2" are composed of character strings ("output paper size", "paper passing direction", etc.) indicating the names of setting items (prohibited items), respectively, and are composed of "q11" and "q11". The "q21" may be composed of character strings ("B5", "short side", etc.) indicating the setting contents (setting values), respectively.

Further, in the above-described embodiment and the like, the priority between the setting items is expressed by the direction of the arrow in the directed graph representation, but the priority is not limited to this. For example, the priority between the setting items may be indicated by the relative position of each vertex (each setting item) of the directed graph or the undirected graph on the screen in a specific direction (horizontal direction, etc.). More specifically, within the display area 352 (332, 372, etc.), the setting item having a relatively high priority among the plurality of setting items may be arranged on a relatively one side (for example, the right side). In this case, the priority priority mode MD2 is changed in order from the setting items corresponding to the vertices (nodes) (vertices having the lowest priority) located on the leftmost side of the plurality of setting items. The same kinsoku-releasing operation as above can be realized.

Further, in the above-described embodiment and the like, an embodiment in which the idea of the present invention is applied to the print setting process using the printer driver executed by the information processing apparatus 50 is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the same idea may be applied to the print setting process performed on the operation panel unit 6c of the MFP 10. In this case, the controller 9 of the MFP 10 or the controller (not shown) in the operation panel unit 6c may execute the program reflecting the above idea.

Further, in the above-described embodiment and the like, an embodiment in which the idea of the present invention is applied to the print setting process related to the print job is described, but the present invention describes the setting related to other jobs (for example, copy job or scan job). It can also be applied to processing. More specifically, the above idea may be applied to a copy setting operation (or a scan setting operation or the like) using the operation panel unit 6c of the MFP 10.

1 Print system 10 MFP
50 Information processing device (print instruction device)
MD1 efficiency priority mode MD2 priority priority mode Qi setting item qi setting contents (setting value)

Claims (28)

It is a setting processing device that can execute setting processing related to jobs.
A reception means that accepts setting operations related to jobs,
A determination means for determining whether or not a prohibition setting, which is a combination of two or more setting contents prohibited to be set in combination, has occurred according to the setting operation.
When multiple types of kinsoku settings have occurred, the kinsoku items that are setting items related to the kinsoku factors are specified in each kinsoku setting, and at least two or more of the plurality of types of kinsoku settings are specified. Extraction means for extracting common kinsoku items, which are kinsoku items common to kinsoku settings,
As the most promising candidate for the setting change target item, which is the setting change target setting item for eliminating the plurality of types of prohibition settings, the determination means for determining the common prohibition item and
Equipped with a,
When a plurality of common kinsoku items are extracted by the extraction means, the determination means sets the most common kinsoku items, which are common kinsoku items common to the most types of kinsoku settings, among the plurality of common kinsoku items. A setting processing device characterized in that it is determined as the most promising candidate for the item to be changed. In the setting processing apparatus according to claim 1,
When a plurality of common kinsoku items are extracted by the extraction means and there are two or more common kinsoku items as the most common items, the determination means sets the contents of the two or more common kinsoku items. Is a common prohibition item that has a predetermined priority for each setting item and has the lowest relative priority between the setting items as the degree to be maintained with priority, as the most promising candidate for the setting change target item. A setting processing device characterized by determining. In the setting processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.
The determining means determines one setting content capable of reducing the number of prohibited items most by changing the setting of the common prohibited item determined as the most promising candidate for the setting change target item, and determines the common prohibited item. A setting processing device for determining that an item setting content should be changed to the above-mentioned one setting content. It is a setting processing device that can execute setting processing related to jobs.
A reception means that accepts setting operations related to jobs,
A determination means for determining whether or not a prohibition setting, which is a combination of two or more setting contents prohibited to be set in combination, has occurred according to the setting operation.
When multiple types of kinsoku settings have occurred, the kinsoku items that are setting items related to the kinsoku factors are specified in each kinsoku setting, and at least two or more of the plurality of types of kinsoku settings are specified. Extraction means for extracting common kinsoku items, which are kinsoku items common to kinsoku settings,
As the most promising candidate for the setting change target item, which is the setting change target setting item for eliminating the plurality of types of prohibition settings, the determination means for determining the common prohibition item and
With
The determining means determines one setting content capable of reducing the number of prohibited items most by changing the setting of the common prohibited item determined as the most promising candidate for the setting change target item, and determines the common prohibited item. A setting processing device for determining that an item setting content should be changed to the above-mentioned one setting content. In the setting processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
The determination means has a first mode and a second mode as a prohibition elimination mode for eliminating the plurality of types of prohibition settings.
The first mode is a mode for canceling the plurality of types of prohibition settings by preferentially changing the setting contents of the common prohibition items among the plurality of prohibition items in the plurality of types of prohibition settings. ,
The second mode is the mutual priority of the plurality of prohibited items, and the predetermined priority for each prohibited item is the lowest as the degree to which the setting contents of each prohibited item should be maintained preferentially. This is a mode in which the plurality of types of prohibition settings are canceled by preferentially changing the setting contents of the prohibition items.
The determination means is a setting processing device characterized in that the most promising candidate of the setting change target item is determined by using a mode designated by a user among the first mode and the second mode. In the setting processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
Display means to display the first screen showing the current prohibition occurrence status,
With more
The setting processing device is characterized in that the first screen is a screen showing the common prohibition items relating to at least a part of the two or more types of prohibition settings. In the setting processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
A display means for displaying a first screen showing the current kinsoku occurrence status and including a plurality of display elements corresponding to two or more kinsoku items related to each kinsoku setting.
With more
The first screen is a screen showing the relationship between the common prohibition item and the prohibition item other than the common prohibition item with respect to the plurality of types of prohibition setting, and is related to at least a part of the two or more types of prohibition setting. A setting processing device characterized in that the screen shows the common prohibited items as one common display element. In the setting processing apparatus according to claim 7.
The display means displays by connecting two or more display elements corresponding to two or more prohibited items related to one type of prohibition setting with a line, so that the setting contents of the setting items corresponding to the two or more display elements can be displayed. A setting processing device characterized by presenting that it is a factor of the above-mentioned one type of prohibition setting. In the setting processing apparatus according to claim 8,
The display means
For each of the plurality of types of prohibition settings, the setting items corresponding to the two or more display elements are set by connecting two or more display elements corresponding to the two or more prohibited items of each prohibition setting with a line. In addition to presenting that the content is a factor in setting each of the above prohibitions,
A setting processing device for distinguishing the plurality of types of kinsoku settings from each other by displaying lines for each of the plurality of types of kinsoku settings in a unique color determined for each of the kinsoku settings. In the setting processing apparatus according to claim 7.
The display means displays by enclosing two or more display elements corresponding to two or more prohibited items related to one type of prohibition setting in a frame, so that the setting contents of the setting items corresponding to the two or more display elements can be set. A setting processing device characterized by presenting that it is a factor of the above-mentioned one type of prohibition setting. In the setting processing apparatus according to claim 10,
The display means
For each of the plurality of types of prohibition settings, the setting items corresponding to the two or more display elements are set by displaying two or more display elements corresponding to the two or more prohibited items of each prohibition setting in a frame. In addition to presenting that the content is a factor in setting each of the above prohibitions,
A setting processing device for distinguishing the plurality of types of prohibition settings from each other by displaying a frame for each of the plurality of types of prohibition settings in a unique color determined for each of the prohibition settings. In the setting processing apparatus according to claim 7.
The display means is set to correspond to the two or more display elements by displaying the same identification label inside or near the two or more display elements corresponding to the two or more prohibited items related to one kind of prohibition setting. A setting processing device for presenting that the setting content of an item is a factor of the above-mentioned one type of prohibition setting. In the setting processing apparatus according to claim 12,
The display means
For each of the plurality of types of prohibition settings, the same identification label is displayed inside or near the two or more display elements corresponding to the two or more prohibited items of each prohibition setting, thereby corresponding to the two or more display elements. In addition to presenting that the setting contents of the setting items to be set are the factors for setting each prohibition,
A setting process characterized in that the plurality of types of prohibition settings are distinguished from each other by assigning a unique identification label determined for each of the plurality of types of prohibition settings as an identification label for each of the plurality of types of prohibition settings. apparatus. In the setting processing apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 13.
The display means also displays a predetermined priority for each setting item as a priority between the two or more prohibited items and the setting content should be maintained preferentially on the first screen. A setting processing device characterized in that: In the setting processing apparatus according to claim 14,
The first screen is a screen showing the current prohibition occurrence status using a directed graph representation.
The display means is a setting processing device, characterized in that the priority degree between the two or more prohibited items is indicated by the direction of an arrow attached to a line connecting the plurality of display elements to each other. In the setting processing device according to any one of claims 7 to 15.
With respect to one display element selected according to a user's selection operation from the plurality of display elements, the display means can change the setting contents of one setting item corresponding to the one display element and the change. A setting processing device characterized in that the number of prohibitions involved in the change candidate after the change to the candidate is displayed on the first screen. In the setting processing apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 16.
The display means is a setting processing device characterized by displaying a second screen showing a state after a change in the setting contents of the common prohibition item. In the setting processing apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 16.
An input means for receiving a setting change instruction related to a specific setting item from the user, which is a setting change instruction for eliminating the prohibition occurrence situation displayed on the first screen.
A setting changing means for changing the setting contents related to the common prohibition item based on the setting changing instruction, and
A setting processing device characterized by further comprising. In the setting processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 16.
A setting changing means for changing the setting contents of the common prohibition item determined as the most promising candidate for the setting change target item and canceling the prohibition setting related to the common prohibition item.
A setting processing device characterized by further comprising. In the setting processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 19.
The determination means sets the prohibition setting generated by changing the setting content of one of the plurality of setting items related to the job from the current setting value to the changed setting value of the plurality of setting items. A setting processing device characterized in that information related to mutual prohibition setting is detected using a matrix in which a description is described in advance. In the setting processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 19.
The determination means sets the prohibition setting generated by changing the setting content of one of the plurality of setting items related to the job from the current setting value to the changed setting value of the two setting items. A setting characterized in that detection is performed using a two-dimensional kinsoku matrix in which information regarding kinsoku setting between each other is described in advance and a multidimensional kinsoku matrix in which information regarding kinsoku setting between three or more setting items is described in advance. Processing equipment. On the computer
a) Steps to accept setting operations related to jobs and
b) A step of determining whether or not a prohibition setting, which is a combination of two or more setting contents prohibited to be set in combination, has occurred according to the setting operation.
c) When it is determined in step b) that a plurality of types of prohibition settings have occurred, the prohibition items that are setting items related to the prohibition factors are specified in each prohibition setting, and the plurality of types of the prohibition items are specified. A step of extracting a common kinsoku item, which is a kinsoku item common to at least some two or more types of kinsoku settings,
d) A step of determining the common kinsoku item as the most promising candidate for the setting change target item, which is a setting change target setting item for eliminating the plurality of types of kinsoku settings .
e) A step of accepting the designation of a desired mode among the first mode and the second mode as the prohibition elimination mode for eliminating the plurality of types of prohibition settings.
To run,
The first mode is a mode for canceling the plurality of types of prohibition settings by preferentially changing the setting contents of the common prohibition items among the plurality of prohibition items in the plurality of types of prohibition settings. ,
The second mode is the mutual priority of the plurality of prohibited items, and the predetermined priority for each prohibited item is the lowest as the degree to which the setting contents of each prohibited item should be maintained preferentially. This is a mode in which the plurality of types of prohibition settings are canceled by preferentially changing the setting contents of the prohibition items.
If the first mode is specified in step e), step d) is executed.
When the second mode is specified in step e), the program is characterized in that the most promising candidate for the setting change target item is determined using the second mode. In the program of claim 22,
f) A step of displaying a first screen showing the current prohibition occurrence status and including a plurality of display elements corresponding to two or more prohibition items related to each prohibition setting.
Is further executed by the computer,
The first screen is a screen showing the relationship between the common prohibition item and the prohibition item other than the common prohibition item with respect to the plurality of types of prohibition setting, and is a screen showing at least a part of the two or more types of prohibition setting. A program characterized by a screen showing the common prohibited items as one common display element. In the program of claim 23
In step f),
f-1) With respect to one display element selected from the plurality of display elements according to a user's selection operation, a change candidate of the setting content of one setting item corresponding to the one display element and the change candidate. The step of displaying the number of prohibitions in which the change candidate is involved after the change to the first screen.
A program characterized by having. In the program according to claim 23 or 24.
g) A step of displaying a second screen showing the changed state of the setting contents of the common prohibition item,
A program characterized by causing the computer to execute the above. In the program according to any one of claims 23 to 25.
h) A step of receiving a setting change instruction related to a specific setting item from a user, which is a setting change instruction for eliminating the prohibition occurrence status displayed on the first screen.
i) Based on the setting change instruction, the step of changing the setting contents related to the common prohibition item and
A program characterized by causing the computer to execute the above. In the program according to any one of claims 22 to 25.
j) A step of changing the setting contents of the common prohibition item determined as the most promising candidate of the setting change target item to eliminate the prohibition setting related to the common prohibition item.
A program characterized by causing the computer to execute the above. On the computer
a) Steps to accept setting operations related to jobs and
b) A step of determining whether or not a prohibition setting, which is a combination of two or more setting contents prohibited to be set in combination, has occurred according to the setting operation.
c) When it is determined in step b) that a plurality of types of prohibition settings have occurred, the prohibition items that are setting items related to the prohibition factors are specified in each prohibition setting, and the plurality of types of the prohibition items are specified. A step of extracting a common kinsoku item, which is a kinsoku item common to at least some two or more types of kinsoku settings,
d) A step of determining the common kinsoku item as the most promising candidate for the setting change target item, which is a setting change target setting item for eliminating the plurality of types of kinsoku settings.
j ) A step of changing the setting contents of the common prohibition item determined as the most promising candidate of the setting change target item to eliminate the prohibition setting related to the common prohibition item.
A program for causing runs.

Images