JP7006301B2 - Control program and program group - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a control program or the like that can be read by a computer of an information processing device that communicates with a device.

The following patent document describes a technique of transmitting the accepted setting parameter to the device when the information processing apparatus receives the input of the setting parameter of the image forming process by the device.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-159095

In recent years, many types of devices have been developed, and since the image forming function is different for each of these many types of devices, it is assumed that the setting parameters are also different for each type of device. On the other hand, it is unlikely that the techniques described in the above patent documents can adequately deal with such assumptions. Therefore, it is an issue to provide a control program or the like that can cope with the above assumptions.

In order to solve the above problems, the control program disclosed in the embodiment is a control program that can be read by a computer of the information processing apparatus, and the computer can identify the device driver installed in the information processing apparatus. This applies to the driver information acquisition means for acquiring various driver information and the corresponding program which is a program installed in the information processing apparatus in association with the device driver identified by the driver information acquired by the driver information acquisition means. The target device is a device to be instructed to form an image by a corresponding device driver, and the target device is a device to be instructed to form an image by the corresponding device driver. The corresponding device driver is a device driver associated with the corresponding program among the device drivers installed in the information processing apparatus, and the corresponding program provides the computer after the request by the requesting means. Reception control that enables reception of input of the function information acquisition means for acquiring the function information and the parameters of the image forming function indicated by the function information acquired by the function information acquisition means via the user interface of the information processing apparatus. The means, the reception means that accepts the reception enabled by the reception control means via the user interface, and the parameters received by the reception means are handled via the communication interface of the information processing apparatus. It is characterized in that it functions as a transmission means for transmitting to a device.

The control program disclosed in the embodiment requests the installed corresponding program together with the device driver corresponding to a predetermined device to provide functional information indicating an image forming function in which parameters can be set. Then, when the control program acquires the function information, the reception of the input of the parameter of the image forming function indicated by the function information is enabled. At this time, the control program 30 transmits the parameter received because the reception is enabled to the device. As a result, the image forming function is different for each of many types of devices, and even if the setting parameters are different for each type of device, only in the device in which the parameters of the predetermined image forming function can be set. The parameters of the predetermined image forming function can be set.

It is a block diagram of a printer system 1. It is a block diagram conceptually showing the relationship between the control program 30, the image formation program 32, the printer driver 34, the printer characteristic providing module 36, and the driver-dedicated file 40. It is a figure which shows the operation sequence of the printer system 1. It is a figure which shows the image data table 60 conceptually. It is a figure which shows the operation sequence of the printer system 1. It is a figure which shows the 3rd setting screen 70. It is a figure which shows the 4th setting screen 76. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of the control program 30. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of the control program 30.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. It goes without saying that the embodiments described below are merely examples of the present invention, and the embodiments of the present invention can be appropriately changed without changing the gist of the present invention. For example, the execution order of each process described later can be appropriately changed without changing the gist of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the printer system 1 according to the present embodiment. The printer system 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a PC (an example of an information processing device) 10 and a printer (an example of a device) 50a to d. The PC 10 mainly includes a CPU (an example of a computer) 12, a memory 14, an LCD (an example of a display interface) 16, an input I / F (an example of a user interface) 18, and a network I / F (an example of a communication interface) 20. ing. These components are made communicable with each other via the bus 22.

The PC 10 and the printers 50a to d can communicate with each other through the network I / F20 and the network 52. As a communication method, for example, a wired LAN, USB, Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark) can be adopted.

The printers 50a to 50d are, for example, label printers, which transmit and receive various information and instruction signals to and from the PC10, and create labels on which desired texts, images, and the like are printed based on the control by the PC10. The printers 50a to 50d print text or the like on a long tape such as a laminated film to create a label. Further, although the bar code readers 56a to c are connected to the printers 50a to c, the bar code reader is not connected to the printer 50d. The printers 50a to d have a parameter setting memory, and parameters related to the printing function are stored in the parameter setting memory.

The CPU 12 includes a control program (an example of a control program and a second control program) 30 in the memory 14, an image forming program (an example of the first control program) 32, printer drivers 34a to d, and a printer characteristic providing module (an example of a printer characteristic). Example of control program, corresponding program, and third control program) Process is executed according to 36a to d, OS37. The control program 30, which will be described in detail later, is a program for setting print conditions and the like when a print process using the bar code readers 56a to 56 (hereinafter, referred to as “bar code print process”) is executed. Is. The image forming program 32 is a program for forming image data. The image forming program 32 is an application for creating image data indicating a label image to be printed by a label printer. A document creation application, a spreadsheet application, an image editing application, or the like may be an example of the image forming program 32. Document data, spreadsheet data, etc. created by each application may be an example of image data. Each of the printer drivers 34a to d is a device driver corresponding to each of the printers 50a to 50d, and for example, the image data formed by the image forming program 32 is converted into print data in a format corresponding to the corresponding printer. It is a program.

Each of the printer characteristic providing modules 36a to d corresponds to each of the printer drivers 34a to d, and when the corresponding printer driver is installed on the PC10, it is installed on the PC10 together with the corresponding printer driver. The printer characteristic providing modules 36a to d are programs for providing information specific to the printer model corresponding to the corresponding printer driver.

The OS 37 is a program that provides basic functions used in the control program 30, the image forming program 32, and the like. OS37 is an operating system such as Windows (registered trademark), MacOS (registered trademark), Linux (registered trademark), Android (registered trademark), iOS (registered trademark) and the like. In the following description, the CPU 12 that executes the control program 30 and the like may be simply described by the program name. For example, the description "the control program 30 is" may mean "the CPU 12 that executes the control program 30".

Further, the memory 14 includes a data storage area 38. The data storage area 38 is an area for storing data and the like necessary for executing the control program 30 and the like. The memory 14 is configured by combining a RAM, a ROM, a flash memory, an HDD, a portable storage medium such as a USB memory attached to and detached from the PC 10, a buffer included in the CPU 12, and the like. Further, the memory 14 stores the driver-dedicated files (examples of the storage area) 40a to d dedicated to the printer drivers 34a to d. The files 40a to d dedicated to each driver are installed in the PC 10 together with the corresponding printer driver when the corresponding printer driver is installed in the PC 10. That is, each of the driver-dedicated files 40a to d and the printer characteristic providing modules 36a to d is installed on the PC10 together with the corresponding printer driver when the corresponding printer driver is installed on the PC10, and the respective printer drivers 34a to d are installed. The printer characteristic providing modules 36a to d and the driver-dedicated files 40a to d are associated with each other.

The printer drivers 34a to d are registered in the OS 37 by storing information indicating the printer driver in the registry defined by the OS 37. Further, the printer drivers 34a to d registered in the OS 37 are associated with the printer identification information that identifies the printers 50a to d. The image forming program 32 is configured to be able to select printer identification information and instruct printing of image data. When the image forming program 32 instructs printing, the OS 37 instructs the printer drivers 34a to d corresponding to the printer identification information to create print data based on the image data created by the image forming program 32, and the printer drivers 34a to By transmitting the print data created by d to the printers 50a to d, the printers 50a to d are printed. The fact that the printer drivers 34a to d pass the created print data to the OS 37 may be described as "the printer drivers 34a to d instruct the printers 50a to d to print".

When the installers of the printer drivers 34a to d register the printer drivers 34a to d in the OS37 and associate the printer drivers 34a to d with the printer identification information, the information indicating the printer drivers 34a to d and the printer characteristic providing module 36a Store in the registry in association with the file names of to d. As a result, the printer drivers 34a to d and the printer characteristic providing modules 36a to d are associated with each other. Since the printer characteristic providing modules 36a to d store the file names of the driver-dedicated files in the module, the printer characteristic providing modules 36a to d and the driver-dedicated files 40a to d are associated with each other at the time of installation. become.

When installing the printer driver, not only the driver-dedicated file and the printer characteristic providing module but also the driver-dedicated driver interface corresponding to the printer driver is installed, but the driver interface is not shown. Incidentally, in the files 40a to d dedicated to each driver, model information specific to the printer model corresponding to the corresponding printer driver, information on the printing paper that can be printed by the printer corresponding to the corresponding printer driver, and the like are stored.

The memory 14 may be a storage medium that can be read by a computer. A computer-readable storage medium is a non-transitional medium. In addition to the above examples, the non-transitory medium also includes recording media such as a CD-ROM and a DVD-ROM. The non-transitory medium is also a tangible medium. On the other hand, an electric signal that carries a program downloaded from a server on the Internet is a signal medium that can be read by a computer, which is a kind of medium that can be read by a computer, but is a storage that can be read by a non-transitory computer. Not included in the medium.

Further, FIG. 2 conceptually shows the relationship between each program such as the control program 30 and the image forming program 32 and the driver-dedicated files 40a to d. Specifically, the image forming program 32 is a program for creating image data for printing, creating image data for printing according to a user's operation, and using the created image data for printing in the printer drivers 34a to. It can be output to d. At this time, parameters used for printing specified by the user's operation can also be added to the image data. Then, the printer drivers 34a to d transmit the received image data and the print instruction to the corresponding printers 50a to d via the network I / F20. The printer driver processes the image data when creating the print data based on the parameters output by the image forming program 32 and the parameters specified by the user operation to the printer driver, and reflects them in the print instruction. can do. As a result, the printers 50a to d perform the printing process based on the received image data according to the parameters used for printing.

Further, the control program 30 is a program for setting print conditions and the like when the barcode printing process is executed. When the print conditions are set, the set print conditions are set via the network I / F20. Then, it is transmitted to the printers 50a to d. Then, in the printers 50a to d, the barcode printing process is executed according to the received printing conditions.

Further, the printer characteristic providing modules 36a to d include information specific to the model of the corresponding printer, and the printer characteristic providing modules 36a to d contain the included information in the control program 30 and image formation. Provided to program 32. It is also described as "programmed" that the module contains information. Further, the printer characteristic providing modules 36a to d acquire information from the corresponding driver-dedicated files 40a to d, and provide the acquired information to the control program 30 and the image forming program 32.

Further, the LCD 16 displays various information of the PC 10. The display of the present application is not limited to a liquid crystal display, and may be a display of another display method such as an organic EL display. The input I / F18 includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and is an interface for inputting user operations. The input I / F 18 is not limited to a keyboard or the like, and may be a film-shaped touch sensor superimposed on the display screen of the LCD 16.

In the printer system 1, a print process (hereinafter referred to as "PC print process") for printing by inputting print data created by the printer driver of the PC 10 into the printer, and image data stored in the memory of the printer. A printing process for printing image data specified by a bar code, that is, a bar code printing process, which is executed by reading a bar code that specifies which of these to print with a bar code reader connected to the printer. It is possible to execute and. The memory for storing the image data used for barcode printing may be a memory card mounted on the printer, or may be a memory such as a hard disk provided in a device capable of communicating with the printer. The image data stored in the memory may be described as template data. The barcode printing process may be described as a template printing process. Hereinafter, each printing process will be specifically described.

In this specification, basically, the processing of the CPU 12 according to the instruction described in the program is shown. That is, the processes such as "judgment", "extraction", "selection", "calculation", "decision", "specification", "acquisition", "acceptance", "control", and "setting" in the following description are performed by the CPU12. Represents the processing of. The processing by the CPU 12 also includes hardware control via the OS 38. Note that "acquisition" is used as a concept that does not require a request. That is, the process of receiving data without being requested by the CPU 12 is also included in the concept of "the CPU 12 acquires the data". Further, the "data" in the present specification is represented by a computer-readable bit string. Data having the same substantial meaning and different formats are treated as the same data. The same applies to "information" in the present specification. Further, processing such as "command", "response", and "request" is performed by communicating information indicating "command", "response", "request", and the like. In addition, words such as "command", "response", and "request" may be described in the sense of information itself indicating "command", "response", "request", and the like. Further, the process of determining whether or not the information A indicates that the information A is the matter B by the CPU is conceptually described as "determining whether or not the information A is the matter B from the information A". There is. The process of determining whether the information A indicates that the information A is the matter B or the matter C by the CPU is "determining from the information A whether the information A is the matter B or the matter C". It may be described conceptually as.

First, in the PC printing process, the image forming program 32 acquires printer identification information from the OS 37 that can identify the printer 50 that can communicate with the PC 10. Next, the image forming program 32 extracts the printer 50 that can be executed by the image forming program 32 among the printers 50 identified by the acquired printer identification information. Then, the image forming program 32 displays a selection screen (not shown) for selecting an arbitrary printer 50 from the extracted printers 50 on the CPU 12.

Subsequently, when the printer 50 is selected by the user operation on the selection screen, the image forming program 32 is transferred to the printer characteristic providing module 36 corresponding to the selected printer (hereinafter, referred to as “selected printer”). Information on the paper size that can be printed by the printer 50 (that is, the selected printer) corresponding to the printer characteristic providing module 36 (hereinafter, referred to as “paper information”) is requested (see FIG. 3: S100). Then, when the printer characteristic providing module 36 receives the request for the paper size information, the printer characteristic providing module 36 requests the paper information in the corresponding driver-dedicated file 40 (S102). Information is transmitted / received between the printer characteristic providing module 36 and the driver-dedicated file 40 via a driver interface (not shown).

The driver-dedicated file 40 stores the paper information of the corresponding printer 50, and the paper information is acquired by the printer characteristic providing module 36 at the request of the corresponding printer characteristic providing module 36 (S104). Then, the printer characteristic providing module 36 outputs the acquired paper information to the image forming program 32 (S106). Further, the image forming program 32 provides the characteristics related to the parameters used for printing, including whether or not the mirror printing process can be executed in the selected printer when the paper information is received, in the printer characteristic providing module corresponding to the selected printer. Inquire at 36 (S106). That is, the parameters of the mirror printing process are the parameters used for printing. Regarding whether or not the mirror printing process can be executed, there are cases where the mirror printing process can be executed only by the printer 50, cases where the mirror printing process can be executed by the printer 50 and the printer driver 34, and cases where the mirror printing process can be executed regardless of the presence or absence of the printer driver 34. The print process may not be executed. "The mirror printing process can be executed as a product" is a concept including both a case where the mirror printing process can be executed only by the printer 50 and a case where the mirror printing process can be executed by the printer 50 and the printer driver 34.

Specifically, in a printer that supports mirror printing processing, if there is image data for mirror printing, it is possible to execute mirror printing processing based on the image data for mirror printing. However, depending on the printer model, the printer cannot create image data for mirror printing, but there is a printer model in which the printer driver corresponding to the printer can create image data for mirror printing. do. In such a case, the mirror printing process cannot be executed only by the printer, but the mirror printing process can be executed by the printer 50 and the printer driver 34. On the other hand, depending on the model of the printer, there is a printer model in which the printer can create image data for mirror printing. In such a case, the mirror printing process can be executed only by the printer. Further, in a printer that does not support the mirror printing process, even if there is image data for mirror printing, it is impossible to execute the mirror printing process based on the image data for mirror printing. In such a case, the mirror printing process cannot be executed regardless of the presence or absence of the printer driver 34. That is, printers that support mirror printing processing include printers that can execute mirror printing processing by a product composed of a printer and a printer driver, and printers that can execute mirror printing processing only by a printer.

Based on such a premise, when the image forming program 32 receives the paper information, it inquires to the printer characteristic providing module 36 whether or not the selected printer supports the mirror printing process (S106). That is, the image forming program 32 determines whether the selected printer can execute the mirror printing process by the product composed of the printer and the printer driver, or can execute the mirror printing process only by the printer, in the printer characteristic providing module 36. Contact.

Information specific to the model of the corresponding printer (hereinafter referred to as "printer characteristic information") (an example of functional information and execution function information) is programmed in the printer characteristic providing module 36. This printer characteristic information includes information indicating whether or not the corresponding printer supports the mirror printing process, and further, when the corresponding printer supports the mirror printing process, for mirror printing. It also contains information indicating whether the image data of the printer is created by the printer or the printer driver. Then, the printer characteristic providing module 36 determines whether or not the corresponding printer supports the mirror printing process based on the printer characteristic information (S108), and outputs the determination result to the image forming program 32 (S110). ..

When the image forming program 32 receives the judgment result, the LCD 16 displays a setting screen for setting the printing conditions of the PC printing process based on the received judgment result and the paper information received in S105. Specifically, when the image forming program 32 receives the determination result, it determines whether or not the selected printer supports the mirror printing process based on the determination result (S112). That is, the image forming program 32 determines whether or not the selected printer can execute the mirror printing process as a product composed of the printer and the printer driver, or only by the printer.

Then, when the selected printer is a product composed of a printer and a printer driver, or when the mirror printing process can be executed only by the printer (S112: YES), the image forming program 32 is displayed on the first setting screen (S112: YES). (Not shown) is displayed on the LCD 16 (S114). On the first setting screen, a paper size selection button for selecting a paper size according to the paper information received in S105, a mirror print processing setting button for setting a mirror printing process, and the like are displayed. That is, on the first setting screen, the mirror print processing setting button is displayed in a state where the reception of the setting input of the mirror printing process is valid.

On the other hand, when the selected printer is a product composed of a printer and a printer driver, or when the mirror printing process cannot be executed only by the printer (S112: NO), that is, the selected printer supports the mirror printing process. If not, the image forming program 32 displays the second setting screen (not shown) on the LCD 16 (S116). On the second setting screen, the paper size selection button and the like for selecting the paper size according to the paper information received in S105 are displayed, but the mirror print processing setting button for setting the mirror print processing is not displayed. .. The mirror print processing setting button may be displayed on the second setting screen in an inoperable state, for example, in a grayed out state. That is, on the second setting screen, the mirror print processing setting button is displayed in a state where the acceptance of the setting input for the mirror printing process is invalid.

As a result, it is possible to select a paper size that can be printed by the selected printer on the setting screen, and to set the mirror printing process only when the selected printer is a printer that supports the mirror printing process. Then, when the print conditions are set on the first setting screen or the second setting screen, the image forming program 32 displays the image data of the image to be printed, that is, the image data created by the image forming program 32. It is output to the corresponding printer driver 34 together with the information regarding the print conditions set on the setting screen (hereinafter, referred to as "setting information") (S118).

Then, the printer driver 34 transmits the received image data and the setting information to the corresponding printer 50 (S120). If the selected printer supports mirror printing processing as a product, but the selected printer itself cannot create image data for mirror printing, the printer driver 34 is based on the image data received from the image forming program 32. Then, image data for mirror printing is created, and the image data for mirror printing is transmitted to the printer 50. Then, the printer 50 executes the PC printing process based on the received image data based on the received setting information (S122). Further, when the selected printer supports mirror printing processing as a product and the selected printer itself can create image data for mirror printing, the printer 50 performs mirror printing based on the image data received from the printer driver 34. Image data for mirror printing is created, and PC printing processing is executed based on the image data for mirror printing.

Next, the barcode printing process will be described. The image data table 60 shown in FIG. 4 is stored in the parameter setting memory of the printer capable of executing the barcode printing process. The image data table 60 is a table in which an image number is associated with each image data used for barcode printing. Further, each of the image data is associated with information regarding the size of the printing paper to be printed of the image based on each image data, that is, paper information. That is, in the image data table 60, the image data and the paper information are associated with each image number. The image data table 60 is stored in the data storage area 38 of the printer 50 by the user's operation. For example, when the user operates the image forming program 32 to select paper information and instructs the user to create image data for printing on the paper indicated by the paper information, the image forming program 32 has a size corresponding to the paper information. The image data of the above is created, and the image data and the paper information are associated with each other and stored in the data storage area 38. When the user operates the image data table transfer program operated on the PC 10, specifies the image data and the image number corresponding to the image data, and instructs the printer to send the image data, the image data table transfer program uses the image data. , The paper information is associated with the image number and sent to the printer. The printer stores the image data received via the image data table transfer program in the memory of the printer, and stores the image data table corresponding to the image data in the parameter setting memory. That is, it can be said that the image data table contains parameters required at the time of image data creation, but is not required at the time of image data creation and does not include parameters used at the time of printing.

Then, when the user reads the barcode using the barcode reader 56 connected to the printer 50, the user responds to the information read by the barcode reader 56 (hereinafter referred to as "bar code information"). The printing process, that is, the bar code printing process is executed. Specifically, information for designating an image number (hereinafter referred to as "number designation information") and command information for instructing execution of printing processing are written in the barcode. Therefore, by reading the barcode using the barcode reader 56, the printer 50 acquires the barcode information including the number designation information and the command information.

Then, the printer 50 specifies the image data and the paper information of the image number designated by the acquired number designation information based on the image data table 60. As a result, the printer 50 executes a barcode printing process for printing an image based on the specified image data on printing paper having a size corresponding to the specified paper information. The barcode information may include command information but not number designation information. In such a case, the printer 50 specifies the image data and the paper information corresponding to the image number set as the default value. Then, in the printer 50, the barcode printing process is executed based on the specified image data and the paper information.

However, the image data table 60 includes only paper information indicating the paper size of the printing paper as a printing condition. Further, the barcode information does not include information regarding printing conditions. Therefore, as the printing conditions for the barcode printing process, parameters such as the mirror printing process cannot be set in the image data table 60 and the barcode information. Therefore, in the printer system 1, the control program 30 of the PC 10 is used to set the mirror printing process and the like as the printing conditions of the bar code printing process. That is, it can be said that the control program 30 can set parameters that are not necessary when creating image data but are desired to be used when printing barcodes as printing conditions for barcode printing processing. It can also be said that the control program 30 can set parameters other than the parameters that the image forming program 32 can associate with the image data in the printer. It can also be said that the control program 30 can set parameters in the printer that do not correspond to the image data stored by the image forming program 32.

The control program 30 acquires information that can identify the printer 50 that can communicate with the PC 10, that is, printer identification information from the OS 37. Next, the control program 30 acquires the model information of the printer 50 identified by the acquired printer identification information, and extracts the printer 50 which is a model capable of executing the barcode printing process. Incidentally, in the printer system 1, the printers 50a to 50c are models capable of executing the barcode printing process, and the barcode readers 56a to c are connected to the printer system 1. The printer 50d is a model that cannot execute the barcode printing process.

Then, the control program 30 displays a selection screen (not shown) for selecting an arbitrary printer 50 from the extracted printers 50 on the CPU 12. Subsequently, when the printer 50 is selected by the user operation on the selection screen, the control program 30 selects the selected printer, that is, the control program 30 in the same manner as the image forming program 32 in order to acquire the printer characteristic information of the selected printer. The printer characteristic providing module 36 corresponding to the printer is inquired about whether or not the mirror printing process can be executed by the selected printer.

However, unlike the image forming program 32, the control program 30 is programmed with some printer characteristic information of the printers 50a to c, that is, information indicating whether or not the mirror printing process can be executed by the printer. Specifically, the printer characteristic information of the printer 50a is programmed in the control program 30, but the printer characteristic information of the printers 50b and c is not programmed. This is because, for example, the printer 50a is developed at the timing when the control program 30 is programmed, and the printers 50b and c are not developed.

Therefore, if the selected printer is the printer 50a, the control program 30 does not need to inquire of the printer characteristic providing module 36 whether or not the mirror printing process can be executed by the selected printer, and obtains the printer characteristic information programmed in itself. You just have to get it. On the other hand, if the selected printers are printers 50b and c, the control program 30 inquires of the printer characteristic providing module 36 whether or not the mirror printing process can be executed by the selected printer, and acquires the inquiry result from the printer characteristic providing module 36. There is a need.

Therefore, when a printer is selected on the selection screen, the control program 30 determines whether or not the printer characteristic information of the selected printer, that is, the selected printer is programmed in itself (see FIG. 5: S200). When the printer characteristic information of the selected printer is not programmed in the control program 30 (S200: NO), the control program 30 executes the mirror printing process by the selected printer on the printer characteristic providing module 36 corresponding to the selected printer. Inquire about the availability of. The image data to be the target of the bar code printing process is stored in the image data table 60 of the printer 50, and the bar code printing process is executed in the printer 50 based on the image data. Therefore, the printer driver 34 is not used during the barcode printing process. That is, at the time of the barcode printing process, the image data for mirror printing cannot be created by the printer driver 34, and it is necessary to create the image data for mirror printing in the printer 50.

Therefore, when the printer characteristic information of the selected printer is not programmed in the control program 30 (S200: NO), the control program 30 creates image data for mirror printing by the selected printer, and the created mirror printing is performed. The printer characteristic providing module 36 is inquired as to whether or not the mirror printing process can be executed based on the image data (S202). That is, the control program 30 inquires to the printer characteristic providing module 36 whether or not the mirror printing process can be executed only by the selected printer. Then, the printer characteristic providing module 36 determines whether or not the mirror printing process can be executed only by the printer based on the printer characteristic information (S204), and outputs the determination result to the control program 30 (S206). .. Then, the process proceeds to S208.

Further, in S200, when the printer characteristic information of the selected printer is programmed in the control program 30 (S200: YES), the control program 30 acquires the printer characteristic information of the selected printer programmed in itself (S207). ). Then, the process proceeds to S208.

Then, after receiving the determination result or acquiring the printer characteristic information programmed in itself, the control program 30 performs the barcode printing process based on the accepted determination result or the acquired determination result. The setting screen for setting the print condition of is displayed on the LCD 16. Specifically, the control program 30 determines whether or not the selected printer supports the mirror printing process based on the received determination result or the acquired printer characteristic information (S208). That is, the control program 30 determines whether or not the mirror printing process can be executed only by the selected printer.

Then, when the mirror printing process can be executed only by the selected printer (S208: YES), the image forming program 32 displays the third setting screen (an example of the first setting screen) 70 shown in FIG. 6 on the LCD 16. (S210). On the third setting screen 70, a mirror print process setting button 72 for setting the mirror print process and the like are displayed. That is, on the third setting screen 70, the mirror print processing setting button 72 is displayed in a state where the reception of the setting input for the mirror printing processing is valid.

On the other hand, when the mirror printing process cannot be executed only by the selected printer (S208: NO), that is, when the mirror printing process can be executed as a product composed of the printer and the printer driver, and when the printer performs the mirror printing process. When not supported, the control program 30 displays the fourth setting screen (an example of the second setting screen) 76 shown in FIG. 7 on the LCD 16 (S212). The mirror print process setting button 72 for setting the mirror print process is not displayed on the fourth setting screen 76.

As a result, the mirror printing process can be set only when the mirror printing process can be executed only by the selected printer on the setting screen. Subsequently, when the print conditions are set on the third setting screen 70 or the fourth setting screen 76, the control program 30 displays the third setting screen 70 or the fourth setting screen 76 as shown in FIG. Information about the print conditions set in the above, that is, the setting information is transmitted to the selected printer (S214). Then, the selected printer stores the received setting information in the parameter setting memory (S216).

Further, when the user reads the barcode using the barcode reader 56 in the selection printer, the selection printer accepts the barcode information (S218). Subsequently, the selection printer identifies the image data and the paper information based on the received barcode information (S220). Then, the selected printer executes the barcode printing process based on the image data and paper information specified in S220 and the setting information stored in S216 (S222). That is, the selected printer determines whether or not the mirror printing process is set based on the setting information. Then, when the mirror printing process is set, the selection driver creates image data for mirror printing based on the specified image data, and specifies the image based on the created image data for mirror printing. Print on printing paper according to the size of the paper. Further, when the mirror printing process is not set, the selection driver prints an image based on the specified image data on printing paper corresponding to the specified paper size.

As described above, the control program 30 is programmed with only the printer characteristic information of some of the printers 50a to 50c capable of executing the barcode printing process. Therefore, the control program 30 does not need to acquire the printer characteristic information of some of the printers from the outside, but acquires it from itself. Further, the control program 30 acquires the printer characteristic information of the printer that is not programmed by itself from the outside, that is, the printer characteristic providing module 36. This makes it possible to suppress the development and update of the control program 30 every time a new printer is developed.

Specifically, as described above, the control program 30 is programmed at the timing from the development of the printer 50a to the development of the printers 50b and c. Therefore, the printer characteristic information of the printer 50a is programmed in the control program 30, but the printer characteristic information of the printers 50b and c is not programmed. If such a control program 30 is configured so that the printer characteristic information of the printers 50b and c cannot be acquired from the outside, the control program 30 is updated and the like to control the printer characteristic information of the printers 50b and c. Need to program to 30. That is, every time a new printer is developed, it is necessary to update the control program 30, which causes various troubles such as a burden of development and a burden of updating.

Therefore, in the control program 30, unprogrammed printer characteristic information is acquired from the printer characteristic providing module 36. The printer characteristic providing module 36 is installed in the device together with the printer driver, and the printer characteristic providing module 36 stores the printer characteristic information of the corresponding printer. Therefore, when a new printer is developed, the control program 30 can acquire the printer characteristic information of the newly developed printer without updating the control program 30. As a result, it is not necessary to update the control program 30 every time a new printer is developed, and it is possible to reduce various troubles such as the burden of development and the burden of updating.

The setting of the mirror printing process in the bar code printing process is performed by executing the control program 30 in the CPU 12 of the PC 10. Hereinafter, processing when the flow of the control program 30 is executed will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

In this flow, first, as shown in FIG. 8, the control program 30 acquires the printer identification information of the printer 50 capable of communicating with the PC 10 from the OS 37 (S300). Next, the control program 30 extracts a printer capable of executing the barcode printing process from the printer identified by the acquired printer characteristic information, and displays a selection screen on the LCD 16 for selecting an arbitrary printer from the extracted printers. Display (S302). Then, the control program 30 determines whether or not the printer is selected on the selection screen (S304).

At this time, if the printer is not selected on the selection screen (S304: NO), the process of S304 is repeated. On the other hand, when the printer is selected on the selection screen (S304: YES), the control program 30 determines whether or not the printer characteristic information of the selected printer is programmed in itself (S306). Then, when the printer characteristic information of the selected printer is not programmed (S306: NO), the control program 30 acquires the file name of the printer characteristic providing module 36 corresponding to the selected printer from the registry (S308). Subsequently, the control program 30 accesses the printer characteristic providing module 36 by using the acquired file name, and inquires whether or not the mirror printing process can be executed only by the selected printer (S309). Then, the control program 30 acquires the determination result of the printer characteristic providing module 36 from the printer characteristic providing module 36 (S310). Then, the process proceeds to S312.

On the other hand, in S306, when the printer characteristic information of the selected printer is programmed (S306: YES), the control program 30 acquires the printer characteristic information of the selected printer programmed in itself (S314). Then, the process proceeds to S312.

In S312, as shown in FIG. 9, the control program 30 prints the mirror printing process only by the selected printer based on the determination result acquired from the printer characteristic providing module 36 or the printer characteristic information programmed in itself. It is determined whether or not it can be done (S312). At this time, when the mirror printing process can be executed only by the selected printer (S312; YES), the control program 30 displays the third setting screen 70 on the LCD 16 (S316). Then, the process proceeds to S320. On the other hand, when the mirror printing process cannot be executed only by the selected printer (S312; NO), the control program 30 displays the fourth setting screen 76 on the LCD 16 (S318). Then, the process proceeds to S320.

In S320, the control program 30 determines whether or not the print condition is set on the third setting screen 70 or the fourth setting screen 76 (S320). At this time, when the print condition is not set on the third setting screen 70 or the fourth setting screen 76 (S320: NO), the process of S320 is repeated. On the other hand, when the print condition is set on the third setting screen 70 or the fourth setting screen 76 (S320: YES), the control program 30 is displayed on the third setting screen 70 or the fourth setting screen 76. Information about the set print conditions, that is, the set condition information is transmitted to the selected printer (S322). As a result, this flow ends.

The CPU 12 that executes S300 is an example of the driver information acquisition means. The CPU 12 that executes S314 is an example of the function information acquisition means. The CPU 12 that executes S320 is an example of the receiving means. The CPU 12 that executes S202 and S309 is an example of the requesting means and the first executing means. The CPU 12 that executes S210 and S316 is an example of reception control means. The CPU 12 that executes S214 and S322 is an example of transmission means. The CPU 12 that executes S302 is an example of display control means. The CPU 12 that executes S204 is an example of the first acquisition means. The CPU 12 that executes S104 is an example of the second acquisition means. The CPU 12 that executes S206 is an example of the second execution means. The CPU 12 that executes S210, S212, S316, and S318 is an example of the third execution means. The CPU 12 that executes S106 is an example of the fourth execution means. The CPU 12 that executes S108 is an example of the fifth execution means. The CPU 12 that executes S114 and S116 is an example of the sixth execution means.

<Effect of Examples>
According to the above-described embodiment, the following effects are obtained.

The control program 30 inquires of the printer characteristic providing module 36 corresponding to the predetermined printer whether or not the mirror printing process can be executed by the predetermined printer. At this time, when the control program 30 receives information from the printer characteristic providing module 36 that the predetermined printer can execute the mirror printing process, the reception of the setting input of the mirror printing process is enabled. Then, when the control program 30 receives the setting input of the mirror printing process, the control program 30 transmits the setting information of the mirror printing process to the printer. As a result, the mirror printing process can be set only when the printer can execute the mirror printing process.

When the control program 30 receives information from the printer characteristic providing module 36 that the predetermined printer can execute the mirror printing process, the mirror print process setting button 72 is displayed on the LCD 16 to input the mirror print process setting. Enable reception. On the other hand, when the control program 30 receives information from the printer characteristic providing module 36 that the predetermined printer cannot execute the mirror printing process, the mirror printing process setting button 72 is not displayed on the LCD 16, so that the mirror printing process can be performed. Disables the acceptance of setting input. Thereby, whether or not the mirror printing process can be executed can be easily determined by the presence or absence of the mirror printing process setting button 72.

The control program 30 asks the printer characteristic providing module 36 corresponding to a predetermined printer whether or not the mirror printing process can be executed only by the printer without using the printer driver. As a result, the mirror printing process can be executed in the printer even when the printer acquires the image data without going through the printer driver.

The control program 30 displays a selection screen for selecting an arbitrary printer from the printer 50 capable of communicating with the PC 10 on the LCD 16. Then, the control program 30 asks the printer characteristic providing module 36 corresponding to the selected printer selected on the selection screen whether or not the mirror printing process can be executed by the selected printer. As a result, the mirror printing process can be suitably executed in the printer selected by the user.

The printer characteristic information of the printer 50a is programmed in the control program 30, but the printer characteristic information of the printers 50b and c is not programmed. Then, when the selected printer is the printer 50a, the control program 30 indicates that the printer characteristic information programmed in itself can execute the mirror printing process without inquiring to the printer characteristic providing module 36. If so, enable acceptance of setting input for mirror printing processing. Further, when the selected printers are the printers 50b and c, the control program 30 makes an inquiry to the printer characteristic providing module 36, and indicates that the determination result obtained by the inquiry can execute the mirror printing process. If so, the acceptance of the setting input of the mirror printing process is enabled. As a result, when the selected printer can execute the mirror printing process in both the printer in which the printer characteristic information is programmed in the control program 30 and the printer in which the printer characteristic information is not programmed in the control program 30. Only, it is possible to set the mirror printing process.

The printer characteristic providing module 36 is a printer indicating whether or not the printer can execute the mirror printing process without using the printer driver when the control program 30 receives an inquiry as to whether or not the printer can execute the mirror printing process. Acquire characteristic information. Then, the printer characteristic providing module 36 outputs the acquired printer characteristic information to the control program 30. Thereby, for example, the control program 30 makes it possible to set the mirror printing process only for the printer that can execute the mirror printing process only by the printer.

The printer characteristic information is programmed in the printer characteristic providing module 36. Then, when the printer characteristic providing module 36 receives an inquiry from the control program 30, it acquires the printer characteristic information programmed in itself and outputs the acquired printer characteristic information to the control program 30. As a result, the printer characteristic providing module 36 can surely acquire the printer characteristic information.

The PC 10 has a driver-dedicated file 40 dedicated to the installed printer driver 34 together with the printer characteristic providing module 36, and the printer characteristic providing module 36 controls information other than the printer characteristic information, for example, a request for paper information. When received from the program 30 or the image forming program 32, the paper information is acquired from the driver-dedicated file 40, and the acquired paper information is output to the control program 30 or the image forming program 32.

The printer driver 34 displays a setting screen or the like on the LCD 16 by using information stored in the driver-dedicated file 40, for example, paper information, without using the printer characteristic information. As a result, the paper size that can be printed by the printer corresponding to the printer driver 34 can be appropriately displayed on the LCD 16.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be carried out in various embodiments with various modifications and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art. Specifically, for example, in the above embodiment, the printer characteristic information is information indicating whether or not the mirror printing process can be executed by the printer, but is information indicating whether or not other processing can be executed. There may be. Specifically, for example, a process for arbitrarily setting the cut position of tape-shaped printing paper, a process for improving image quality, a printing process using special printing paper, and an image rotated 180 degrees. Information indicating whether or not various processes such as print processing in a state can be executed can be adopted as printer characteristic information.

Further, in the above embodiment, the paper information is stored in the driver-dedicated file 40, but it may be programmed in the printer characteristic providing module 36. Further, in the above embodiment, the printer characteristic information is programmed in the printer characteristic providing module 36, but may be stored in the driver-dedicated file 40. That is, the information regarding the printing conditions required for printing by the printer, that is, the printing condition information may be programmed in the printer characteristic providing module 36 or may be stored in the driver-dedicated file 40. However, ideally, the print process using the printer driver 34, that is, the print condition information used in the PC print process is stored in the driver-dedicated file 40, and the print condition information not used in the PC print process is the printer. It is preferable to be programmed in the characteristic providing module 36.

Further, in the above embodiment, the mirror print processing setting button 72 is displayed to enable the user operation input, and the mirror print process setting button 72 is not displayed to invalidate the user operation input. However, the input of the user operation may be invalidated by displaying the mirror print processing setting button 72 in gray. That is, by enabling the input operation, the input of the user operation may be valid, and by disabling the input operation, the input of the user operation may be invalidated. Further, in a state where the input operation can be performed, the input of the user operation may be valid by setting according to the input operation, and the input of the user operation may be invalidated by not performing the setting according to the input operation.

Further, in the above embodiment, the printer is adopted as the device, but other devices such as a scanner may be adopted. That is, although the printing function is adopted as a function related to image formation, other image forming functions such as a scanning function may be adopted.

Further, in the above embodiment, the printer driver 34 and the printer characteristic providing module 36 are separate programs, but one program may be configured by the printer driver 34 and the printer characteristic providing module 36.

Further, in the above embodiment, an example in which the processes shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 are executed by the CPU 12 has been described, but these processes are not limited to the CPU 12, and may be executed by an ASIC or another logic integrated circuit. , These processes may be executed by the cooperation of a CPU or the like, an ASIC, or another logic integrated circuit.

10: PC, 12: CPU, 16: LCD, 18: Input I / F, 20: Network I / F, 30: Control program, 32: Image formation program, 34: Printer driver, 36: Printer characteristic providing module, 40 : Driver-only file, 50: Printer

Claims (10)

A control program that can be read by the computer of the information processing device.
The computer
Driver information acquisition means for acquiring driver information that can identify the device driver installed in the information processing device, and
Parameters can be set in the parameter setting memory referenced by the target device in the corresponding program, which is a program installed in the information processing device in association with the device driver identified by the driver information acquired by the driver information acquisition means. The target device is a device that is the target of an image formation instruction by a compatible device driver, and the compatible device driver is installed in the information processing device. Among the device drivers that are available, the device driver to which the corresponding program is associated is
The computer
A function information acquisition means for acquiring the function information provided by the corresponding program after the request by the request means, and a function information acquisition means.
A reception control means for enabling reception of an input of an image forming function parameter indicated by the functional information acquired by the functional information acquisition means via the user interface of the information processing apparatus, and a reception control means.
A reception means that accepts a parameter for which reception is enabled by the reception control means via the user interface, and a reception means.
A transmission means for transmitting the parameters received by the reception means to the target device via the communication interface of the information processing device, and
A control program characterized by functioning. The reception control means is
When the function information acquisition means acquires the function information, by displaying the first setting screen in which the reception of the input of the parameter is valid, the reception of the input of the parameter via the user interface is received. By enabling and displaying the second setting screen in which the reception of the input of the parameter is invalidated when the function information acquisition means does not acquire the function information, the user interface of the parameter is displayed. The control program according to claim 1, wherein the reception of input is invalidated. The requesting means
A claim characterized in that the target device that receives an image formation request without going through the corresponding device driver requests the corresponding program information indicating the image formation function that can be executed according to the parameters as the function information. Item 2. The control program according to Item 1 or 2. The computer
When the driver information acquisition means acquires a plurality of the driver information, a selection screen for selecting an arbitrary device from a plurality of devices identified by the plurality of driver information is displayed on the display interface of the information processing apparatus. To function as a display control means to display
The requesting means
The control program according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which requests the functional information from the corresponding program associated with the device driver of the device selected on the selection screen. The functional information of a particular device is programmed into the control program.
When the device selected on the selection screen is the specific device,
The requesting means
Without requesting the functional information from the corresponding program
The reception control means is
The reception of input via the user interface of the parameter of the image forming function indicated by the function information programmed in the control program is enabled.
When the device selected on the selection screen is a device other than the specific device,
The requesting means
Request the functional information from the corresponding program and
The reception control means is
When the functional information is acquired in response to a request by the requesting means, the claim is characterized in that the reception of input of the parameter of the image forming function indicated by the acquired functional information via the user interface is enabled. Item 4. The control program according to item 4. A control program that can be read by the computer of the information processing device.
The control program is a program installed in the information processing device in association with the device driver, and requests functional information indicating an image forming function capable of setting parameters in the parameter setting memory referenced by the target device. It is configured to accept from a program different from the driver, and the target device is a device that is a target of an image formation instruction by the device driver.
The computer
When the control program receives the request for the function information, the execution function information indicating the image forming function that can be executed according to the parameters without using the device driver associated with the control program is used as the function information. The first acquisition means to acquire and
An output means for outputting the execution function information acquired by the first acquisition means to a program requesting the function information, and an output means.
A control program characterized by functioning. The executive function information is programmed in the control program, and the execution function information is programmed in the control program.
The first acquisition means is
The control program according to claim 6, wherein when the control program receives a request for the function information, the execution function information programmed in the control program is acquired as the function information. The information processing device includes a storage area dedicated to the device driver to which the control program is associated.
The computer
It is made to function as a second acquisition means for acquiring information other than the execution function information from the storage area.
The output means is
The control program according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the information acquired by the second acquisition means is output to the program requesting the functional information. The executive function information is programmed in the control program, and the execution function information is programmed in the control program.
The device driver associated with the control program displays a screen using the information stored in the storage area on the display interface of the information processing apparatus without using the execution function information programmed in the control program. The control program according to claim 8, wherein the control program is configured to be displayed on the screen. It is a program group composed of a first control program, a second control program, and a third control program that can be read by a computer of an information processing apparatus.
The first control program is configured to execute processing using a device driver.
The second control program is configured to execute processing without using the device driver.
The third control program is installed in the information processing apparatus in association with the device driver.
The computer
As the function information indicating the image forming function capable of setting parameters in the parameter setting memory referred to by the target device, the first execution function information indicating the image forming function that can be executed according to the parameters without using the device driver. The request to the control program 3 is made to function as a first execution means for causing the second control program to execute, and the target device is a device to be instructed to form an image by the device driver.
The computer
A second execution means for causing the second control program to accept the first execution function information in response to a request from the first execution means.
When the first execution function information received by the second execution means indicates that the image formation function can be executed without using the device driver, the parameters of the image formation function can be input. The display of the first setting screen on the display interface of the information processing apparatus is executed by the second control program, and the first execution function information received by the second execution means is the device driver. When it is shown that the image forming function cannot be executed without using, the display on the display interface of the second setting screen in which the input of the parameter of the image forming function is disabled is displayed in the second setting screen. The third execution means to make the control program execute,
A request to the third control program for the second execution function information indicating the image forming function that can be executed according to the parameters when the device driver is used as the function information or without using the device driver. , The fourth execution means to be executed by the first control program, and
A fifth execution means for causing the first control program to accept the second execution function information in response to a request from the fourth execution means.
The second execution function information received by the fifth execution means indicates that the image formation function can be executed with or without the device driver. The display of the setting screen of 1 on the display interface is executed by the first control program, and the second execution function information received by the fifth execution means is the image regardless of the use of the device driver. A sixth execution means for causing the first control program to execute the display of the second setting screen on the display interface when the formation function cannot be executed.
A group of programs characterized by functioning.

Images