JP7035998B2 - Information processing equipment and printing system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and a printing system.

Conventionally, printing devices such as printers, copiers, facsimiles, and multifunction devices, for example, printers edit print data to generate image data when print data is sent from a host computer as an information processing device, and image data. Printing is performed according to the above.

As the printer, for example, A3 size printing that prints on A3 size paper, double-sided printing, color printing, high-speed printing, high-quality printing, and paper size are selected and printed according to the purpose of printing, user needs, and the like. Paper selection printing and other functions have been developed by manufacturers and are being offered to the market.

Then, the user selects and purchases a predetermined printer based on the price, running cost, installation conditions, printing purpose, printing amount, and the like.

Therefore, in the office, various types of printers having different functions depending on the time of development by the manufacturer, the time of purchase by the user, and the like are installed, and the host computer and each printer are connected to form a printing system.

In the printing system, when an operator creates a document on the host computer, a printer having a function necessary for printing the created document is searched among a plurality of printers installed in the office, and the host computer is searched for. Since it is displayed on the display unit, the operator can select a predetermined printer from the printers displayed on the display unit. (See, for example, Patent Document 1.).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-293465

However, in the conventional printing system, in selecting the most suitable printer for printing the created document, the operator needs to fully understand the characteristics of the created document, the functions of the printer, and the like. It is difficult to select the most suitable printer among the displayed printers.

An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing device and a printing system capable of solving the problems of the conventional printing system and easily selecting the optimum printing device for printing the created document. And.

Therefore, in the information processing apparatus of the present invention, an application for creating a document of a document file of various document types and a document instructing printing of the document of the document file by calling the document printing processing unit of the application are called. It has a printing application and a printing driver that prints a document of a document file by a printing device.

Then, the document printing application is based on the document information representing the analysis result by the document content analysis processing unit that analyzes the document content of the document file and the device function information representing the function of each printing device. Extract the most suitable printing device for printing, and add the extracted printing device to the context menu as the recommended printing device.

According to the present invention, in the information processing apparatus, an application for creating a document of a document file of various document types and a document for calling a document printing processing unit of the application and instructing printing of the document of the document file are instructed. It has a printing application and a printing driver that prints a document of a document file by a printing device.

Then, the document printing application prints the document of the document file based on the document information representing the analysis result by the document content analysis processing unit that analyzes the document content of the document file and the device function information representing the function of the printing device. Extract the most suitable printing device for printing, and add the extracted printing device to the context menu as the recommended printing device.

In this case, the document printing application extracts the best printing device for printing the document of the document file and adds it to the context menu as the recommended printing device, so that the operator can check the characteristics of the created document and the printing device. Even if you do not fully understand the functions and the like, you can easily select the most suitable printing device for printing the created document.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the printing system in embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the printing system in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the feature of the document produced by the application in embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the document printing application in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the function which a printer has in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the document information and the characteristic of a document of a document file in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation of the installer of the document printing application in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation of the document printing application in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the context menu displayed on the display part in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the subroutine of the printer extraction processing in embodiment of this invention. It is the first figure which shows the subroutine of the characteristic determination processing in embodiment of this invention. It is a 2nd figure which shows the subroutine of the characteristic determination processing in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the subroutine of the matching table search process in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the subroutine of the print instruction processing in embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this case, a host computer as an information processing device and a printing system will be described.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a document created by an application according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the features of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a document printing application according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a function of a printer according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the document information of the document file, and the characteristic of a document in an embodiment of.

In the figure, Sy is a printing system, 11 is a host computer as an information processing device and a higher-level device, Pti (i = 1, 2, ... 5) is a printer as a printing device, and Nt is a host computer 11. It is a network such as a LAN that connects the printer Pti and each printer Pti.

In addition, Apj (j = 1, 2, ...,), Apx, Apy are used to create documents of various document types (file formats) Fej (j = 1, 2, ...,), Flex document files. The application, Dcf, installed on the host computer 11 is a document folder, and each document file is categorized for each document and saved in the document folder Dcf.

Then, Pap is a document printing application that calls each of the above applications Apj, Apx, and Apy to perform various processes, the OS is an operating system that operates the host computer 11, and Spr is a print spooler.

The application Apj includes a document display processing unit Praj (j = 1, 2, ...) That displays a document of a document file on a display unit (not shown) of the host computer 11, and a document printing processing unit Prbj that prints a document of each document type Fej. (J = 1, 2, ...), Document content analysis processing unit Prcj (j = 1, 2, ...) That analyzes the content of the document of each document type Fej, document display processing unit Praj, document printing processing unit Prbj, and The document content analysis processing unit Prcj is provided with an interface (not shown) for calling the document content analysis processing unit Prcj from the outside, and in the present embodiment, from the document printing application Pap.

The application Apx includes a document display processing unit Prax that displays the created document on the display unit, a document printing processing unit Prbx that prints a document of document type Fix, and the document display processing unit Prax and the document printing processing unit Prbx. Although it has an interface (not shown) for calling from the document printing application Pap, it cannot analyze the contents of a document of document type Fix because it does not have a document content analysis processing unit. Therefore, an application Apy different from the application Apx is installed as a plug-in on the host computer 11, and the contents of the document of the document type Fix are analyzed by the document content analysis processing unit Prcy included in the application Apy.

As shown in FIG. 3, the document created by the operator on the host computer 11 has different characteristics depending on the applications Apj and Apx used. For example, the "configuration" is "mainly characters". , Includes but few figures ”,“ Similar to letters and figures ”,“ Table format such as ruled lines and fills, many letters ”,“ Only a single figure ”,“ Only letters ”, etc. "Color / monochrome" has features such as "with color", "color only", and "monochrome only", and "paper size" includes "multiple paper sizes / vertical / horizontal mixture" and "single". It has characteristics such as "paper size" and "number of pages" such as "large" and "small".

Further, the operating system OS records setting information in the graphic device interface (Graphic Device Interface (GDI)) 15 which is an interface for document printing processing by the document printing processing unit Prbj and Prbx of each application Apj and Apx, and the operating system OS. It is provided with a registry 16 which is a database to be used, and a shell extension 17.

Normally, the operating system OS has a context menu function so that various processes can be performed on the document, and when the document folder Dcf is displayed on the screen of the display unit on the host computer 11, the operator Performs a predetermined operation on a document file, such as right-clicking the icon of a document file of a predetermined document type among the document types Fej and Fex stored in the document folder Dcf, for example, a document type Fe1. For a document in a file, a context menu consisting of multiple items such as "Open", "Edit", "Print", "Send", "Cut", "Copy", and "Create shortcut" is opened, and the specified items are specified. For example, when "Print" is selected, the printing process for the document of the document file is performed by the printer set as the default among the printers Pti connected to the host computer 11.

Then, the print spooler Spr calls the printer driver Dri (i = 1, 2, ..., 4) as the print driver of each printer Pti by the print command of the graphic device interface 15, and processes the data of the document file.

Each printer driver Dri is connected to each printer Pti via a printer interface (printer IF), and prints by each printer Pti.

By the way, since the characteristics of the document created by the operator on the host computer 11 differ depending on the applications Apj and Apx used, the function of the printer set as the default may not be able to print properly.

In that case, the operator can select a printer other than the default printer for printing, but if he / she does not understand the functions of each printer Pti, he / she may select the optimum printer Pti. Can not.

For example, in the case of a document having many figures, the image quality can be improved by forming a high-definition color image. Therefore, it is preferable to select a printer Pti having a high-quality printing function, but each printer Pti Without knowing the functions of the printer, the operator cannot select the optimum printer Pti.

Further, in the case of a document having many characters and a large number of pages, it is preferable to select a printer Pti having a low cost of consumables such as paper and toner and a function of double-sided printing and high-speed printing, but each printer Pti has. Without understanding the functions, the operator cannot select the optimum printer Pti, and the cost of consumables increases.

In order to know the functions of each printer Pti, it is necessary to refer to the instruction manual, catalog, etc., or open the setting screen of the printer driver Dri of each printer Pti, but the work for that is only troublesome. However, it is difficult to accurately know the functions of each printer Pti.

Furthermore, even documents created with the same application may have different characteristics such as "composition", "color / monochrome", "paper size", and "number of pages" for each document file, which is optimal for the operator. Unable to select printer Pti.

In addition, in order to know the characteristics of the document of each document file, it is necessary to open each document file with an application and visually check the document displayed on the display unit, but the work for that is not only troublesome but also. It is difficult to know the exact document characteristics of each document file.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the document printing application Pap allows the context menu to be edited via the interface provided in the shell extension function 17.

Therefore, the document printing application Pap is most suitable for determining the characteristics of a document based on the document information represented by the characteristics of the document and printing the document based on the characteristics of the document and the functions of each printer Pti. The printer is extracted, and the printing by the extracted printer is added as an item of the context menu via the shell extension function 17.

Next, the document printing application Pap will be described.

When the operator opens the context menu, the document printing application Pap calls the document content analysis processing units Prcj and Prcy of each application Apj and Apy, and the shell extension function 17 sets the item of the printing operation by the document printing application Pap. Edit and update the context menu by adding, and register the updated context menu. When the operator selects the added item, the document printing application Pap calls the document printing processing units Prbj and Prbx of each application Apj and Apy, sends a print command to the printer driver Dri via the graphic device interface 15, and each of them. Printing is performed by the printer Pti.

Therefore, the document printing application Pap has a document information acquisition processing unit Pr1, a printer information acquisition processing unit Pr2 as a device information acquisition processing unit, a printer extraction processing unit Pr3 as a device extraction processing unit, and a context menu as a menu editing processing unit. It includes an edit processing unit Pr4, a context menu update processing unit Pr5 as a menu update processing unit, a print instruction processing unit Pr6, a matching table Tbm as a storage device, and the like.

The printer extraction processing unit Pr3 includes a characteristic determination unit Pr31 and a matching table search processing unit Pr32 as a device determination unit, and the print instruction processing unit Pr6 includes a print setting unit Pr61 and a document print instruction unit Pr62. ..

The document information acquisition processing unit Pr1 calls the document content analysis processing units Prcj and Prcy of the applications Apj and Apy, and acquires the analysis result of the document contents of the document file by the document content analysis processing units Prcj and Prcy as document information. ..

The document content analysis processing unit Prcj is called via the interface included in the application Application, and the document content analysis processing unit Prcy is called via an interface (not shown) included in the application Application.

Further, the printer information acquisition processing unit Pr2 acquires and analyzes the information of the printer Pti from the printer driver Dri and the function of the printer Pti in the present embodiment, and obtains the printer function information as the device function information. Record in the matching table Tbm.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, each printer Pti has each function of "A3 size printing", "double-sided printing", "color printing", "high-speed printing", "high-definition printing", and "paper selection printing". Of these, it has a function to which ○ is given.

Then, the printer extraction processing unit Pr3 extracts the printer Pti based on the document information acquired by the document information acquisition processing unit Pr1.

Therefore, the characteristic determination unit Pr31 of the printer extraction processing unit Pr3 reads the document information acquired by the document information acquisition processing unit Pr1 and determines the characteristics of the document based on the document information.

For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the document information acquired by the document information acquisition processing unit Pr1 includes "paper size", "number of pages", "presence / absence of color data", "presence / absence of graphic data", and the like. The characteristics of the document determined based on the document information are, for example, "A3 size printing / double-sided printing / color printing / high-quality printing", "color printing / high-quality printing", "double-sided printing / high-speed printing", and "double-sided printing". It consists of "printing / high-speed printing / paper selection printing" and the like.

Further, the matching table search processing unit Pr32 of the printer extraction processing unit Pr3 determines whether or not each printer Pti has a function corresponding to the characteristics of the document by referring to the printer function information recorded in the matching table Tbm. Then, based on the judgment result, the most suitable printer for printing the document of the document file of the document type Fej and Fex is extracted.

Then, the context menu editing processing unit Pr4 makes the printer Pti extracted by the printer extraction processing unit Pr3 a recommended printer as a recommended printing device, and adds an item of the recommended printer and an item of the function possessed by the recommended printer. , Edit the context menu.

Further, the context menu update processing unit Pr5 updates the context menu edited by the context menu editing processing unit Pr4 and registers it in the registry 16.

Therefore, the operator opens the context menu by right-clicking the icon of the document file of the document type Fej, Fex, selects the printer Pti, selects each function of the printer Pti, and selects the document of the document file. You can print.

Then, when the item of the context menu is selected, the printer Pti is selected, and the function is selected, the print instruction processing unit Pr6 calls the document printing processing units Prbj and Prbx of the applications Apj and Apx, and the document printing processing unit. Instructs Prbj and Prbx to print by the printer Pti extracted by the printer extraction processing unit Pr3.

Therefore, when the operator selects the printer Pti, which is the recommended printer, from the updated context menu and selects the function of the printer Pti, the print setting unit Pr61 prints the printer Pti according to the characteristics of the document. Set the settings in the printer driver Dri. Further, the document print instruction unit Pr62 of the print instruction processing unit Pr6 prints the document of the document file to the document print processing units Prbj and Prbx with the print settings set in the printer driver Dri by the print setting unit Pr61. Instruct.

In this case, the printer extraction processing unit Pr3 extracts the optimum printer for printing the document of the document file based on the document information acquired by the document information acquisition processing unit Pr1 and the function of each printer Pti. Can select the optimum printer Pti without opening the applications Apj and Apx.

Next, the operation of the installer when the document printing application Pap is installed will be described.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the installer of the document printing application according to the embodiment of the present invention.

When the installer installs the document printing application Pap, the file association information that associates the document of the document file with the document printing application Pap in the registry 16 referenced by the shell extension 17 in order to add an item of the context menu. To write.

As a result, when the document of the document file is selected, the document printing application Pap is called.

Next, the flowchart will be described.
Step S1 The installer writes the file association information to the registry 16 and ends the process.

Next, when the operation of the document printing application Pap, that is, when the operator selects a document file to be printed on the document from the document files displayed on the display unit of the host computer 11, each printer Pti The operation of extracting a predetermined printer and editing the context menu for the extracted printer will be described. In this case, the case where the operator selects the document file of the document type Fe1 among the document types Fej and Fix will be described.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the document printing application according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a context menu displayed on the display unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, ds1 is a screen formed on the display unit, and Fe1 to Fe6 are document types of document files stored in the document folder Dcf (FIG. 1) displayed on the screen ds1.

When the operator selects a document file of document type Fe1 on the screen ds1 formed on the display unit and right-clicks the icon, the document information acquisition processing unit Pr1 (FIG. 4) performs the document information acquisition process and is selected. Select the application Ap1 corresponding to the document type Fe1 of the document file, call the document content analysis processing unit Prc1 via the interface of the application Ap1, and acquire the analysis result of the document content by the document content analysis processing unit Prc1 as document information. do.

Subsequently, the printer information acquisition processing unit Pr2 performs printer information acquisition processing, acquires the function of the printer Pti from the printer driver Dri, analyzes it, generates the printer function information, and records it in the matching table Tbm.

Next, the printer extraction processing unit Pr3 performs the printer extraction processing, determines the characteristics of the document based on the document information acquired by the document information acquisition processing unit Pr1, and has a function corresponding to the characteristics of the document. Extract the best printer for printing.

When a printer suitable for the characteristics of the document is extracted, the context menu editing processing unit Pr4 performs the context menu editing processing, and the recommended printer which is the printer Pti extracted by the printer extraction processing unit Pr3 and the recommended printer have. Edit the context menu Men by adding a feature item.

Then, the context menu update processing unit Pr5 updates the context menu Men edited by the context menu editing processing unit Pr4 and registers it in the registry 16.

Therefore, when the icon of the document file of the document type Fe1 is right-clicked on the screen ds1, the context menu Men is edited, the updated context menu Men is opened, and the first menu q1 of the context menu Men is displayed as " Open (T) ”,“ Edit (U) ”,“ Print (V) ”,“ Print with OKI Printer (O) ”,“ Send (W) ”,“ Cut (X) ”,“ Copy (Y) ” , "Create shortcut (Z)" and other items are displayed.

In this case, "Print with OKI printer (O)" is an item indicating that the recommended printer has been extracted by the printer extraction processing unit Pr3, and when the operator selects the item of "Print with OKI printer (O)". , The second menu q2 of the context menu Men is opened, and in the second menu q2, "Recommended printer: C841 (C)", "Print with A3 printer (A)", "Print in color (W)" , "Print on both sides (X)", "Print neatly (Y)", "Print eco-friendly (Z)", "All OKI printers (O)" and so on are displayed.

In this case, "Recommended printer: C841 (C)" is an item representing the extracted recommended printer, and is "Print with A3 printer (A)", "Print with color (W)", and "Print on both sides (Print on both sides)". "X)", "Print cleanly (Y)", "Print eco-friendly (Z)", "All OKI printers (O)" and the like are items representing each function of the extracted recommended printer.

Then, when the operator specifies a predetermined item among the items whose functions are displayed in the second menu q2, the predetermined function among the functions is selected, and the print instruction processing unit Pr6 gives a print instruction. After processing, the print setting unit Pr61 sets the printer settings according to the characteristics of the document for the recommended printer selected in the context menu Men, and based on the selected function, to the document print instruction unit Pr62. Calls the document print processing unit Prb1 and instructs the document print processing unit Prb1 to print with the print settings set by the recommended printer.

Next, the flowchart will be described.
Step S11 The operator selects a document file.
Step S12 The document information acquisition processing unit Pr1 performs the document information acquisition processing.
Step S13 The printer information acquisition processing unit Pr2 performs printer information acquisition processing.
Step S14 The printer extraction processing unit Pr3 performs the printer extraction processing.
Step S15 The context menu editing processing unit Pr4 performs the context menu editing processing.
Step S16 The context menu update processing unit Pr5 updates the context menu Men.
Step S17 The print instruction processing unit Pr6 performs print instruction processing and ends the processing.

Next, the printer extraction process by the printer extraction process unit Pr3 will be described.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a subroutine of printer extraction processing according to the embodiment of the present invention.

First, the characteristic determination unit Pr31 of the printer extraction processing unit Pr3 performs characteristic determination processing, reads the document information acquired by the document information acquisition processing unit Pr1, and determines the characteristics of the document based on the document information.

Next, the matching table search processing unit Pr32 of the printer extraction processing unit Pr3 performs the matching table search processing, and with reference to the printer function information recorded in the matching table Tbm, each printer Pti is subjected to the characteristic determination unit Pr31. It is determined whether or not it has a function corresponding to the characteristics of the determined document, and a predetermined printer is extracted based on the determination result.

Next, the flowchart will be described.
Step S14-1 The characteristic determination unit Pr31 performs a characteristic determination process.
Step S14-2 The matching table search processing unit Pr32 performs the matching table search process and returns.

Next, the characteristic determination process by the characteristic determination unit Pr31 will be described.

FIG. 11 is a first diagram showing a subroutine of characteristic determination processing according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 12 is a second diagram showing a subroutine of characteristic determination processing according to the embodiment of the present invention.

First, the characteristic determination unit Pr31 reads the document information acquired by the document information acquisition processing unit Pr1 and determines whether or not the number of pages is two or more. If the number of pages is two or more, the characteristic of the document is It is determined that double-sided printing is performed, and then whether or not the paper size is A4 size or larger is determined. If the paper size is A4 size or larger, it is determined that the characteristic of the document is A3 size printing.

Further, the characteristic determination unit Pr31 determines whether or not there is graphic data, and if there is graphic data, further determines whether or not there is a large amount of graphic data, and if there is graphic data and there is a large amount of graphic data, the characteristics of the document are high. Judged as high quality printing.

Then, the characteristic determination unit Pr31 determines whether or not there is color data, and if there is color data, determines that the characteristic of the document is color printing, and then determines whether or not the number of pages is large, and the page. If the number is large, it is determined that the characteristic of the document is high-speed printing, and if the number of pages is 200 or more, it is determined. If the number of pages is 200 or more, the characteristic of the document is paper selection printing. Is determined to be.

Next, the flowchart will be described.
Step S14-1-1 The characteristic determination unit Pr31 determines whether or not the number of pages is two or more. If the number of pages is two or more, the process proceeds to step S14-1-2, and if the number of pages is less than two, the process proceeds to step S14-1--3.
Step S14-1-2 The characteristic determination unit Pr31 determines that the characteristic of the document is double-sided printing.
Step S14-1-3 The characteristic determination unit Pr31 determines whether or not the paper size is A4 size or larger. If the paper size is A4 size or larger, the process proceeds to step S14-1-4, and if the paper size is smaller than the A4 size, the process proceeds to step S14-1-5.
Step S14-1-4 The characteristic determination unit Pr31 determines that the characteristic of the document is A3 size printing.
Step S14-1-5 The characteristic determination unit Pr31 determines whether or not there is graphic data. If there is graphic data, the process proceeds to step S14-1-6, and if there is no graphic data, the process proceeds to step S14-1-8.
Step S14-1-6 The characteristic determination unit Pr31 determines whether or not there is a large amount of graphic data. If there is a lot of graphic data, the process proceeds to step S14-1-7, and if there is little graphic data, the process proceeds to step S14-1-8.
Step S14-1-7 The characteristic determination unit Pr31 determines that the characteristic of the document is high-quality printing.
Step S14-1-8 The characteristic determination unit Pr31 determines whether or not there is color data. If there is color data, the process proceeds to step S14-1-9, and if there is no color data, the process proceeds to step S14-1-10.
Step S14-1-9 The characteristic determination unit Pr31 determines that the characteristic of the document is color printing.
Step S14-1-10 The characteristic determination unit Pr31 determines whether or not the number of pages is large. If the number of pages is large, the process proceeds to step S14-1-11, and if the number of pages is small, the process returns.
Step S14-111 The characteristic determination unit Pr31 determines that the characteristic of the document is high-speed printing.
Step S14-1-12 The characteristic determination unit Pr31 determines whether or not the number of pages is 200 or more. If the number of pages is 200 or more, the process proceeds to step S14-1-13, and if the number of pages is less than 200, the process returns.
Step S14-1-13 The characteristic determination unit Pr31 determines that the characteristic of the document is paper selection printing, and returns.

Next, the matching table search processing by the matching table search processing unit Pr32 will be described.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a subroutine of matching table search processing according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The matching table search processing unit Pr32 of the printer extraction processing unit Pr3 sets 1 in the variable m representing each printer Pti, reads the printer function information recorded in the matching table Tbm, and searches the matching table in each printer Pti. For the first printer to be processed, the characteristics of the document determined by the characteristic determination unit Pr31 are compared with the functions of the printer, and the number of functions matching the characteristics of the document is calculated as the matching number.

Subsequently, the matching table search processing unit Pr32 determines whether or not the variable m exceeds M, which is the number of printers Pti, and if the variable m does not exceed M, which is the number of printers Pti, increments the variable m. For the next printer, the characteristics of the document and the functions of the printer are compared, and the number of functions that match the characteristics of the document is calculated as the matching number.

In this way, the number of matchings is calculated for all printers Pti, and when the variable m exceeds M, which is the number of printers Pti, the matching table search processing unit Pr32 has the largest number of matchings among each printer Pti. Extract the printer Pti.

Next, the flowchart will be described.
Step S14-2-1 The matching table search processing unit Pr32 sets the variable m to 1.
Step S14-2-2 The matching table search processing unit Pr32 reads the printer function information.
Step S14-2-3 The matching table search processing unit Pr32 calculates the number of matching functions that match the characteristics of the document.
Step S14-2-4 The matching table search processing unit Pr32 determines whether or not the variable m exceeds M, which is the number of printers Pti. If the variable m exceeds M, the process proceeds to step S14-2-6, and if the variable m does not exceed M, the process proceeds to step S14-2-5.
Step S14-2-5 The matching table search processing unit Pr32 increments the variable m and returns to step S14-2-3.
Step S14-2-6 The matching table search processing unit Pr32 extracts and returns the printer Pti having the largest number of matchings among the printer Pti.

Next, the print instruction processing by the print instruction processing unit Pr4 will be described.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a subroutine of print instruction processing according to the embodiment of the present invention. In this case, the printer Pti extracted by the printer extraction processing unit Pr3 will be described as the printer Pt1.

First, the print setting unit Pr61 of the print instruction processing unit Pr6 performs print setting processing, acquires the name of the printer Pt1 extracted by the printer extraction processing unit Pr3, that is, the printer name, and the printer Pt1 performs a double-sided printing function. If the printer Pt1 has a double-sided printing function, the printer driver Dr1 of the printer Pt1 is set to print settings for double-sided printing.

Subsequently, the print setting unit Pr61 determines whether or not the printer Pt1 has a high-quality printing function, and if the printer Pt1 has a high-quality printing function, the printer driver Dr1 of the printer Pt1 is set to print high-quality printing. If the printer Pt1 does not have the high-definition printing function, it is determined whether the printer Pt1 has the high-speed printing function, and if the printer Pt1 has the high-speed printing function, the printer driver of the printer Pt1 is set. Set the print settings for high-speed printing in Dr1.

When the print settings are set in the driver of the printer Pt1 in this way, the print setting unit Pr61 records the print settings in a predetermined storage unit, or in the present embodiment, in the matching table Tbm.

Subsequently, the document print instruction processing unit Pr62 of the print instruction processing unit Pr6 calls the document print processing unit Prb1, reads the print settings for the document of the document file from the matching table Tbm, and determines the read print settings in the printer Pt1. Instruct printing.

Next, the flowchart will be described.
Step S17-1 The print setting unit Pr61 acquires the printer name.
Step S17-2 The print setting unit Pr61 determines whether or not the printer Pt1 has a double-sided printing function. If the printer Pt1 has a double-sided printing function, the process proceeds to step S17-3, and if the printer Pt1 does not have a double-sided printing function, the process proceeds to step S17-4.
Step S17-3 The print setting unit Pr61 sets the print settings for double-sided printing.
Step S17-4 The print setting unit Pr61 determines whether or not the printer Pt1 has a high-quality printing function. If the printer Pt1 has a high-quality printing function, the process proceeds to step S17-6, and if the printer Pt1 does not have a high-quality printing function, the process proceeds to step S17-5.
Step S17-5 The print setting unit Pr61 determines whether or not the printer Pt1 has a high-speed printing function. If the printer Pt1 has a high-speed printing function, the process proceeds to step S17-7, and if the printer Pt1 does not have a high-speed printing function, the process proceeds to step S17-8.
Step S17-6 The print setting unit Pr61 sets the print settings for high-quality printing.
Step S17-7 The print setting unit Pr61 sets the print settings for high-speed printing.
Step S17-8 The print setting unit Pr61 records the print settings in the matching table Tbm.
Step S17-9 The document print instruction processing unit Pr62 calls the document print processing unit Prb1 and instructs the printer Pt1 to print.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the document printing application Pap has the document information representing the analysis result by the document content analysis processing unit Prcj of the application Apj and the document content analysis processing unit Prcy of the application Apy, and each printer Pti. Based on the printer function information that represents the function that it has, the optimum printer for printing the document of the document file is extracted, and the extracted printer is added to the context menu Men as the recommended printer, so that the operator can use the created document. Even if you do not fully understand the characteristics and functions of the printer, you can easily select the optimum printer Pti for printing the created document without opening the applications Apj and Apx.

Further, the operator can open the document files of the document types Fej and Fex in the applications Apj and Apx, and easily select the printer without visually confirming the document displayed on the display unit.

In the above-described embodiment, the printing system Sy including the host computer 11 and the printer Pti is described, but the present invention is applied to an information processing device and a printing system including a printing device such as a copying machine, a facsimile, and a multifunction device. Can be applied.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made based on the gist of the present invention, and these are not excluded from the scope of the present invention.

11 Host computer Apj, Apx application Dri printer driver Fej, Flex document type Men context menu Pap document printing application Prbj, Prbx document printing processing unit Prcj, Prcy document content analysis processing unit Pti printer

Claims (7)

(A) Applications for creating documents for document files of various document types, and
(B) A document printing application that calls the document printing processing unit of the application and instructs printing of the document of the document file.
(C) It has a print driver that prints a document of a document file by a printing device, and also has a print driver.
(D) The document printing application is based on the document information representing the analysis result by the document content analysis processing unit that analyzes the document content of the document file and the device function information representing the function of the printing device. An information processing device characterized by extracting the most suitable printing device for printing and adding the extracted printing device to the context menu as a recommended printing device. (A) The document content analysis processing unit is arranged in the application.
(B) The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the document printing application calls a document content analysis processing unit via an interface provided in the application to acquire document information. (A) The document content analysis processing unit is arranged in an application installed as a plug-in separately from the application.
(B) The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the document printing application calls a document content analysis processing unit of the application installed as a plug-in to acquire document information. The document printing application determines the characteristics of a document based on the document information, determines whether or not each printing apparatus has a function corresponding to the characteristics of the document, and extracts the printing apparatus according to claims 1 to 3. The information processing apparatus according to any one of the following items. The information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the document printing application edits a context menu by adding an item of the extracted printing device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the document printing application edits a context menu by using a shell extension function of an operating system. A printing system comprising the information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and a printing device connected to the information processing device.

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