JP7342493B2 - program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a program that accepts print instructions.

Patent Document 1 discloses a printing system including a printing device (printer) and a print control device that provides print data to the printing device. The print control device stores the setting values input by the user in the storage area.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-61691

Even if the user instructs the printer to print using the print control device, if the printer is not in a state where it can print according to the print settings instructed by the user, the printer cannot print.

An example of a state in which the printer cannot print according to the print settings specified by the user will be described. The printer must be operating in a normal state capable of performing both color printing (using all inks) and monochrome printing (printing using only black ink), or when there is no ink other than black. There are some printers that operate in a special state that only performs monochrome printing. When the printer is in a special state, even if the user instructs color printing, the printer cannot print according to the user's instruction.

When a user instructs a printer to print, it is desirable to notify the user of appropriate countermeasures depending on the status of the printer. However, Patent Document 1 does not disclose a technique for notifying a user of an appropriate countermeasure depending on the printer status.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a program that can notify a user of appropriate countermeasures depending on the status of a printer.

Various disclosures are made herein. The program of the disclosed example is executed by a computer of an information processing device having an output interface and an input interface, and has a plurality of pieces of broadcast information with different contents. The program in the disclosed example is transmitted by a printer capable of executing at least two types of print processing: an image data acquisition process for acquiring image data, a first print process, and a second print process different from the first print process. first mode information indicating that both the first printing process and the second printing process are executable, or information indicating that only the second printing process is executable. mode information acquisition processing for acquiring mode information including either second mode information or third mode information indicating that the first printing process and the second printing process cannot be executed; a first setting that is a setting that causes the printer to execute the process; a second setting that is a setting that causes the printer to execute the second print process; and a third setting that indicates that the type of print process that the printer is to execute is delegated. a specified setting acquisition process of acquiring a specified setting that is one of the settings through the input interface, and when the acquired mode information includes the second mode information, based on the type of the acquired specified setting, The computer is caused to perform an output process of specifying notification information to be outputted from among the plurality of notification information and outputting the specified notification information through the output interface.

In the program of the disclosed example, when the acquired mode information includes second mode information, the program specifies the broadcast information to be output from a plurality of broadcast information based on the type of the acquired specified setting, and outputs the specified broadcast information to the output interface. Output through. Therefore, the program can notify the user of an appropriate countermeasure depending on the settings specified by the user and the status of the printer.

1 is a functional block diagram of an information processing device 10 and a printer 11. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of mode information storage processing executed by the control program 57 of the printer 11. FIG. (A) is a diagram explaining the processing executed by the program 37 and the control program 57 of the printer 11, and (B) is a part of the flowchart of the preview display processing. This is part of a flowchart of preview display processing. This is part of a flowchart of preview display processing. (A) is a diagram showing a first confirmation screen, and (B) is a diagram showing a second confirmation screen. (A) is a diagram showing the fifth confirmation screen, and (B) is a diagram showing the sixth confirmation screen. (A) is a diagram showing a preview screen, and (B) is a diagram showing an error screen.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. Note that the embodiments described below are merely examples of the present invention, and it goes without saying that the embodiments of the present invention can be modified as appropriate without changing the gist of the present invention. For example, the execution order of each process described below can be changed as appropriate without changing the gist of the present invention. Alternatively, some of the processes described below can be omitted as appropriate without changing the gist of the present invention.

In this embodiment, a program 37 implemented in the information processing device 10 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The information processing device 10 is a mobile terminal, a tablet, a personal computer, or the like, and has a function of communicating with a printer 11 such as printers 11A, 11B, and 11C. When the information processing device 10 is a mobile terminal or a tablet, the information processing device 10 is communicably connected to the printer 11 through an access point 14 provided in a local network 13 to which the printer 11 is connected. The local network 13 is configured of, for example, a wired LAN, a wireless LAN, a WAN, or a combination thereof. When the information processing device 10 is a personal computer, the information processing device 10 is communicably connected to the printer 11 via a USB cable or a local network 13 . In the following, an example will be described in which the information processing device 10 is a mobile terminal and the printer 11 is connected to the local network 13.

The program 37 installed in the information processing device 10 is a program that accepts user input for causing the printer 11 to execute printing. The program 37 causes the display panel 24 of the information processing device 10 to display various screens that accept user input. This will be explained in detail below.

The printer 11 includes a controller 41, a touch panel 42, a communication I/F 43, and a print engine 44. "I/F" is an abbreviation for "interface." The communication I/F 43 is connected to the local network 13 described above.

The touch panel 42 includes a display panel and a transparent film-like touch sensor superimposed on the display panel. The touch sensor outputs position information indicating the position on the display panel. The position information output by the touch sensor is input to the controller 41. The controller 41 determines that an icon displayed on the display panel has been selected based on the position information input from the touch sensor.

Print engine 44 has the function of printing an image on a sheet by ejecting ink droplets onto the sheet. Alternatively, the print engine 44 has the function of printing an image on a sheet by transferring toner to the sheet. That is, the printer 11 is a so-called inkjet printer, a laser printer, or the like. Further, the printer 11 may be a so-called embroidery sewing machine that forms an image on cloth or the like by embroidery, a laser marker that forms an image on an object using laser light, or an OM (abbreviation for Organized Microfibrillation). It may also be a printer that forms images in structural colors using technology. That is, in this specification, image formation by various methods such as inkjet, electrophotography, thermal, embroidery, laser marker, and structural color is treated as printing. An example in which the printer 11 is an inkjet printer will be described below.

The print engine 44 has a mounting case into which a plurality of cartridges are mounted or a plurality of ink tanks that store ink. In the following, a case will be described in which the print engine 44 has a mounting case.

Each cartridge stores, for example, magenta ink, cyan ink, yellow ink, and black ink, respectively. That is, the printer 11 is a so-called color printer that can print color images on sheets.

The controller 41 receives the print data transmitted by the information processing device 10, inputs the received print data to the print engine 44, and causes the print engine 44 to execute printing. If the print data received by the controller 41 is color print data that includes color data for each color of magenta, cyan, yellow, and black, the print engine 44 prints the sheet using ink of a plurality of colors. Print the image. If the print data received by the controller 41 is monochrome print data that includes only black color data, the print engine 44 prints the image on the sheet using black ink. In the following explanation, an image printed with ink of a plurality of colors will be described as a "color image", and an image printed with only black ink will be described as a "monochrome image". Furthermore, the printing of a color image on a sheet by the print engine 44 will be described as "color printing", and the printing of a monochrome image on a sheet by the print engine 44 will be described as "monochrome printing".

The controller 41 includes a CPU 51 that is a central processing unit, a memory 52, and a bus 53. The CPU 51 executes multiple programs such as the OS 56 and the control program 57, which will be described later, in pseudo-parallel through so-called multitasking processing. The same applies to the CPU 31, which will be described later.

The CPU 51 and memory 52, the touch panel 42, the communication I/F 43, and the print engine 44 described above are connected to a bus 53. That is, the CPU 51 can store information and data in the memory 52 through the bus 53, or read information and data from the memory 52. Further, the CPU 51 receives position information from the touch sensor of the touch panel 42 via the bus 53, or inputs screen data to the display panel of the touch panel 42, and causes the display panel to display a screen indicated by the screen data. Further, the CPU 51 transmits information and data to the information processing device 10 via the bus 53, the communication I/F 43, and the above-mentioned local network 13, and transmits the information and data transmitted by the information processing device 10 to the local network 13, the communication I/F 43, and the above-mentioned local network 13. /F and is received via bus 53. Further, the CPU 51 inputs print data to the print engine 44 via the bus 53.

The memory 52 has a program storage area 54 where programs are stored, and a data storage area 55 where data necessary for executing the program is stored. The memory 52 is, for example, a ROM, a RAM, a HDD, a portable storage medium such as a USB memory, an EEPROM, a buffer included in the CPU 51, or the like.

Memory 52 may be a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable storage medium is a non-transitory medium. In addition to the above-mentioned examples, non-transitory media also include recording media such as CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs. Furthermore, non-transitory media are also tangible media. The same applies to the memory 32, which will be described later.

The program storage area 54 stores an OS 56, which is an operating system, and a control program 57. The control program 57 is a program that causes the CPU 51 to execute print processing by inputting print data into the print engine 44 and causing the print engine 44 to execute printing.

The data storage area 55 stores printer identification information, printer name, mode information, date and time information, and threshold period. The printer identification information is, for example, a MAC address assigned to the printer 11 in advance, a private IP address assigned to the printer 11 on the local network 13, etc., and is capable of identifying the printers 11A, 11B, and 11C on the local network 13. It is information. The printer name is the model name of the printer 11, the name given to the printer 11 by the user, or the like.

The mode information is information indicating first mode information, second mode information, or third mode information. The first mode information indicates that the printer 11 is in a state in which it is capable of executing either a color printing process, which is a process of printing a color image, or a monochrome printing process, which is a process of printing a monochrome image. The second mode information indicates that the printer 11 cannot perform color printing processing, but is in a state where monochrome printing processing can be performed. The third mode information indicates that the printer 11 is in a state where it cannot perform color printing processing or monochrome printing processing. In the following, a state in which the printer 11 can perform both color printing processing and monochrome printing processing is referred to as a first mode, and a state in which the printer 11 cannot perform color printing processing but can perform monochrome printing processing is referred to as the first mode. will be described as the second mode. The color printing process is an example of the first printing process. The monochrome printing process is an example of the second printing process.

The date and time information is information indicating the date and time when the control program 57 caused the second mode information to be stored in the data storage area 55. The threshold period is used to calculate the number of days remaining. The details will be described later.

The information processing device 10 includes a controller 21, a touch panel 22, and a communication I/F 23. The touch panel 22 has a similar configuration to the touch panel 42 of the printer 11 and includes a display panel 24 and a touch sensor 25. The communication I/F 23 is connected to the local network 13 described above. The display panel 24 is an example of an output interface. Touch sensor 25 is an example of an input interface.

The controller 21 includes a CPU 31 that is a central processing unit, a memory 32, and a bus 33. The CPU 31 and memory 32, as well as the above-mentioned touch panel 22 and communication I/F 23, are connected to a bus 33. CPU31 is an example of a computer.

The memory 32 has a program storage area 34 and a data storage area 35. The program storage area 34 stores an OS 36 that is an operating system, a program 37, and a generation program 39.

The OS 36 is, for example, WindowsPhone (registered trademark), iOS (registered trademark), AndroidOS (registered trademark), BLACKBerryOS (registered trademark), or the like. When the information processing device 10 is a personal computer, the OS 36 is Windows (registered trademark), MacOS (registered trademark), Unix (registered trademark), Linux (registered trademark), or the like.

The generation program 39 is a program that generates print data to be sent to the printer 11. The program 37 is a program that accepts input of print settings, which are settings necessary for the generation program 39 to generate print data. The program 37 includes a plurality of screen data indicating screens for accepting input of print settings. Various screens indicated by the screen data will be described later. The plurality of screen data is an example of the plurality of notification information.

The program 37 acquires image data indicating an image specified by the user and specified settings. The program 37 also acquires mode information indicating the state of the printer 11. The program 37 causes the display panel 24 of the information processing device 10 to display a screen corresponding to the acquired mode information and the specified settings specified by the user, and allows the user to specify appropriate settings according to the state of the printer 11. Then, the program 37 passes the specified appropriate settings and the acquired image data to the generation program 39, and causes the generation program 39 to generate appropriate print data according to the state of the printer 11.

The data storage area 35 stores the printer names of the printers 11A, 11B, and 11C. For example, the OS 36 multicasts a command to the local network 13 via the communication I/F 23 and the access point 14, requesting that the printer name be returned. Then, the OS 36 causes the memory 32 to store the printer names returned by the printers 11A, 11B, and 11C.

A process in which the program 37 receives user input and instructs the generation program 39 to generate print data will be described below.

Note that this specification basically describes the processing of the CPU 31 according to instructions written in a program. In other words, the processes such as "judgment", "extraction", "selection", "calculation", "determination", "identification", "acquisition", "reception", "control", "setting", etc. in the following explanation are as follows: It represents the processing of the CPU 31. The processing by the CPU 31 also includes hardware control via the OS 36. Note that "acquisition" is used as a concept that does not require a request. That is, the process of receiving data without a request from the CPU 31 is also included in the concept of "the CPU 31 obtains data." Furthermore, "data" in this specification is represented by a computer-readable bit string. Furthermore, data having substantially the same meaning and content but different formats shall be treated as the same data. The same applies to "information" in this specification. Processing such as "command", "response", "request", etc. is performed by communicating information indicating "command", "response", "request", etc. Further, words such as "command", "response", "request", etc. may be written to mean the information itself indicating "command", "response", "request", etc.

Further, the processing of the CPU 31 in accordance with instructions written in a program may be described in abbreviated terms. For example, it may be described as "performed by the CPU 31," "performed by the controller 21," or "performed by the program 37."

Further, the process of determining whether information A indicates matter B by the CPU 31 may be conceptually described as "determining whether information A is matter B or not." There is. The process of determining whether information A indicates matter B or matter C by the CPU 31 is referred to as "determining whether information A is matter B or matter C." It may be described conceptually as follows.

Furthermore, "data" and "information" in this specification have in common that they are bits or bit strings that can be handled by a computer. "Data" refers to something that can be handled by a computer without considering the meaning indicated by each bit. On the other hand, "information" refers to something that causes computer operations to diverge depending on the meaning and content indicated by each bit. Furthermore, an "instruction" is a control signal that prompts the destination device to perform the next operation, and may contain information and itself has the characteristics of information. There is also.

Furthermore, even if the format (e.g. text format, binary format, flag format, etc.) changes from computer to computer, "data" and "information" are the same data and information as long as they are recognized as having the same meaning and content. be treated as such. For example, information indicating that there are "two" is stored on one computer as text format information such as "0x32" in ASCII code, and on another computer as information in binary format as "10" in binary notation. may be done.

However, the above-mentioned distinction between "data" and "information" is not strict, and exceptional handling is permitted. For example, data may be temporarily treated as information, or information may be temporarily treated as data. Further, what is treated as data in one device may be treated as information in another device. Furthermore, information may be extracted from data, or data may be extracted from information.

In addition, "based on" and "according to" in this specification mean that if the condition described before the character string is met, the process described after the character string is executed. Show that. Note that the timing at which the process is executed may be after the condition is met, and does not necessarily need to be immediately after the condition is met.

In the following description, magenta, cyan, and yellow inks will be collectively referred to as color inks. In addition, in the following, magenta color ink will be described as "M", cyan color ink will be described as "C", yellow color ink will be described as "Y", and black color ink will be described as "Y". Sometimes it is written as "K" for explanation.

First, mode information storage processing in which the control program 57 of the printer 11 stores mode information, date and time information, and the number of remaining days in the memory 52 will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the control program 57 periodically executes, for example, mode information storage processing at predetermined time intervals.

The control program 57 of the printer 11 stores the first mode information in the data storage area 55 of the memory 52 (S10). Next, the control program 57 determines whether black empty, which indicates that the black ink stored in the cartridge has run out or that the amount of black ink has decreased, has been detected (S11). When the control program 57 determines that black empty is detected (S11: Yes), it stores the black empty information in the data storage area 55 of the memory 52 (S12). Specifically, the control program 57 causes the data storage area 55 to store a black empty flag with a value of “ON”. Furthermore, the control program 57 causes the third mode information to be stored in the data storage area 55 of the memory 52 (S20). Specifically, the control program 57 causes the data storage area 55 to store the second mode flag with a value of “ON”.

When the control program 57 determines that black empty has not been detected (S11: No), it has detected color empty, which indicates that the color ink stored in the cartridge has run out or that the amount of color ink has decreased. It is determined whether or not (S13). When the control program 57 determines that color empty is detected (S13: Yes), it stores the color empty information in the data storage area 55 of the memory 52 (S14). Specifically, the control program 57 causes the data storage area 55 to store a color empty flag with a value of “ON”. If the control program 57 determines that color empty is not detected (S13: No), it skips the process of step S14.

The control program 57 determines whether a user instruction to operate in the second mode has been input from the touch panel 42 with the color empty information stored in the memory 52 (S15). If the control program 57 determines that the designation has not been input from the touch panel 42 (S15: No), it skips the processing of steps S16 and S17, which will be described later. When the control program 57 determines that the designation has been input from the touch panel 42 (S15: Yes), the control program 57 stores the second mode information in the data storage area 55 of the memory 52 (S16). Specifically, the control program 57 causes the data storage area 55 to store a first mode flag with a value of “ON”.

By operating in the second mode in response to a user's instruction, the printer 11 can suppress the consumption of resources such as ink used for printing. For example, the printer 11 operating in the second mode prints an image represented by image data input from an attached portable storage medium as a monochrome image, thereby suppressing color ink consumption. Further, if the printer 10 is a multifunction device and has a scanner or a fax machine, the printer 11 operating in the second mode converts image data generated by the scanner or image data received by the fax machine into a monochrome image. Printing reduces consumption of color ink. Note that the image data input from a portable recording medium, scanner, or fax machine is data in a format that can be changed into print data by the control program 57.

Next, the control program 57 causes the data storage area 55 of the memory 52 to store date and time information indicating the date and time when the second mode information was stored in the memory 52 (S17). Specifically, the control program 57 causes the data storage area 55 of the memory 52 to store date and time information output by a clock IC (not shown).

Next, the control program 57 calculates the number of remaining days and stores the calculated number of remaining days in the data storage area 55 of the memory 52 (S18). Specifically, the control program 57 calculates the elapsed period from the date and time indicated by the date and time information stored in the memory 52 to the current date and time. The control program 57 subtracts the calculated elapsed period from the permitted period stored in the memory 52 to calculate the number of remaining days. The permission period indicates the maximum period during which the printer 11 allows the user to perform monochrome printing after the color ink runs out. The permission period is, for example, 60 days. The remaining number of days indicates the remaining period during which the printer 11 can perform monochrome printing.

The control program 57 determines whether the calculated number of remaining days is greater than zero (S19). When the control program 57 determines that the calculated number of remaining days is less than or equal to zero (S19: No), the control program 57 stores the third mode information in the data storage area 55 of the memory 52 (S20). On the other hand, if the control program 57 determines that the calculated number of remaining days is greater than zero (S19: Yes), it skips the process of step S20.

Next, the control program 57 determines whether the cartridge that has run out of ink has been replaced with a new cartridge that stores ink (S21). When the control program 57 determines that the cartridge has been replaced (S21: Yes), it stores the first mode information in the data storage area 55 of the memory 52 and deletes the third mode information from the data storage area 55 of the memory 52 ( S22). Specifically, the control program 57 causes the data storage area 55 to store a first mode flag and a second mode flag with a value of “OFF”. If the control program 57 determines that the cartridge has not been replaced (S21: No), it skips the process of step S22 and ends the mode information storage process.

Next, the processing executed by the program 37 and the generation program 39 installed in the information processing device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 3(A). The program 37 is started, for example, by a start instruction from the OS 36 in accordance with a user's instruction (S31). The activated program 37 displays an image selection screen (not shown) on the display panel 24 of the information processing device 10 (S32). The image selection screen has a plurality of file name icons representing images or a plurality of thumbnail image icons representing images. The user selects one icon from a plurality of file name icons or a plurality of thumbnail image icons displayed on the image selection screen. The program 37 obtains the file path indicated by the selected icon (S33). The file path is a path indicating the image data of the image indicated by the selected icon. Hereinafter, the fact that a program such as the program 37 acquires a file path indicating image data will be simply described as "obtaining image data."

Next, the program 37 displays a preview selection screen (not shown) on the display panel 24 (S34). The preview selection screen has a preview icon that accepts a user's instruction to display a preview screen. The program 37 executes preview display processing based on receiving the selection of the preview icon (S36). The preview display process will be described with reference to FIG. 4, FIG. 3(B), and FIGS. 5 to 9.

First, the program 37 reads and acquires the initial settings from the memory 32, as shown in FIG. 4 (S53). The initial settings are the settings stored in the data storage area 35 of the memory 32 in step S99 when the program 37 was last started. The initial settings include at least a "printer name" and a "specified setting" that is one of "color", "monochrome", and "auto". Note that the initial settings may include settings such as the size of the sheet to be printed by the printer 11 and the type of sheet. Furthermore, if the initial settings are not stored in the memory 32, the program 37 may acquire its own default designated settings. In the following description, it will be assumed that the printer 11 indicated by the printer name acquired by the program 37 in step S53 is the printer 11A. The process in step S53 in which the program 37 acquires specified settings is an example of specified setting acquisition processing.

The program 37 also acquires the printer names of the printers 11A, 11B, and 11C, which are the printers 11 with which the information processing apparatus 10 can communicate via the access point 14 and the local network 13 (S54). For example, the program 37 inputs a command to the OS 36 requesting that the printer name of the printer 11 with which communication is possible be returned, and obtains the printer name that the OS 36 returns. The printer name acquired in step S54 is used as a selection item in the pull-down menu 63 displayed on the first confirmation screen (FIG. 6(A)) or the like. The details will be described later.

The program 37 acquires mode information and the number of remaining days from the printer 11A indicated by the printer name acquired in step S53 (S55). To explain in detail, the program 37 inputs to the OS 36 an instruction command including the printer name acquired in step S53 and a command to be input to the printer 11A. The OS 36 that has received the instruction command transmits the command included in the instruction command to the printer 11A indicated by the printer name included in the instruction command through the communication I/F 23, the access point 14, and the local network 13. Based on receiving the command, the control program 57 of the printer 11A reads the mode information and the number of remaining days from the memory 52, and transmits the read mode information and the number of remaining days to the communication I/F 43, the local network 13, and the access point. 14 to the information processing device 10. The OS 36 of the information processing device 10 receives the mode information and the number of remaining days transmitted by the printer 11A, and passes the received mode information and the number of remaining days to the program 37. The program 37 acquires the mode information and the number of remaining days passed from the OS 36. The process in step S55 in which the program 37 acquires mode information is an example of mode information acquisition process. The process in step S55 in which the program 37 acquires the number of remaining days is an example of the remaining days acquisition process.

The program 37 determines whether the type of the acquired mode information is third mode information (S56). That is, in step S56, it is determined whether the printer 11A is in a state where it can print. When the program 37 determines that the type of the acquired mode information is third mode information and that the printer 11A is in a state where it cannot print (S56: Yes), it causes the display panel 24 to display the first confirmation screen ( S57). The first confirmation screen is an example of the sixth screen.

As shown in FIG. 6(A), the first confirmation screen includes a message 81 that reads "The printer is out of ink." and a message 82 that reads "Do you want to replace the cartridge?" , a message 83 in the form of characters ``Do you want to change the printer?'', a cartridge replacement icon 61, a printer change icon 62, and a pull-down menu 63. The icon 61 is an icon that accepts a user's instruction to replace a cartridge in the printer 11A. The icon 62 is an icon that accepts a user's instruction to change the printer 11A to another printer 11, such as the printer 11B or 11C. The pull-down menu 63 is a pull-down menu that displays the printer names of the printers 11 with which the information processing device 10 can communicate as selection items. The program 37 displays the printer name acquired in step S54 as a selection item in the pull-down menu 63. Message 81 is an example of the tenth object. Message 82 is an example of the eleventh object. The icon 61 is an example of the twelfth object. Message 83 is an example of the fourteenth object. The icon 62 is an example of the fifteenth object. The pull-down menu 63 is an example of the 16th object. The printer name, which is a selection item displayed in the pull-down menu 63, is an example of printer identification information.

If the user wishes to replace the cartridge and have the printer 11A perform printing, the user selects the icon 61. If the user wishes to have the printer 11B or printer 11C, which is another printer 11, perform printing, the user selects the name of the printer to be caused to perform printing in the pull-down menu 63, and then selects the icon 62.

The program 37 determines whether the icon 61 or the icon 62 is selected on the first confirmation screen (S58). When the program 37 determines that the icon 61 has been selected (S58: Cartridge replacement), the program 37 displays a sixth confirmation screen on the display panel 24 (S59). The process of "step S58: Cartridge exchange" in which the program 37 accepts the selection of the icon 61 is an example of the fifth reception process.

As shown in FIG. 7(B), the sixth confirmation screen includes a message 89 that reads "Please replace the cartridge. Have you replaced the cartridge?", an OK icon 71, and a return icon 72. , has. The user selects the icon 71 after replacing the cartridge in the printer 11A. The user selects the icon 72, for example, when there are no new cartridges. The sixth confirmation screen is an example of the seventh screen. The icon 71 is an example of the thirteenth object.

Although not shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4, the program 37 causes the first confirmation screen to be displayed on the display panel 24 again based on the selection of the icon 72 being accepted on the sixth confirmation screen. The program 37 re-executes the process from step S55 on the basis of having accepted the selection of the icon 71 on the sixth confirmation screen (S60: Yes). Note that if the icon 71 is selected in a state where the cartridge has not been replaced in the printer 11A, the first confirmation screen is displayed again on the display panel 24 (S56: Yes, S57).

When the program 37 determines that the icon 62 has been selected in step S58 (S58: change printer), the program 37 acquires the name of the printer selected from the pull-down menu 63 (S61). Then, the program 37 acquires the mode information and the number of remaining days from the printer 11 indicated by the acquired printer name (S55). Then, the program 37 determines whether the newly acquired mode information is the third mode information (S56). The process of "step S58: change printer" in which the program 37 accepts the selection of the icon 62 and the process of step S61 in which the program 37 acquires the printer name are examples of the sixth reception process.

If the program 37 determines that the mode information acquired in step S55 is not the third mode information (S56: No), the program 37 determines whether the image indicated by the image data acquired in step S33 (FIG. 3) is a color image or a monochrome image. It is determined whether the image is (S62). For example, the program 37 adds first information indicating that the image is a color image to the acquired image data, or adds second information indicating that the image is a monochrome image to the acquired image data. The acquired image is determined to be a color image based on the fact that it is not a color image. Alternatively, the program 37 determines that the acquired image is a monochrome image based on the fact that the first information is not attached to the image data or that the second information is attached to the image data. The first information or the second information is included in, for example, header information added to the image data.

Alternatively, the program 37 determines that the image indicated by the image data is a color image based on the fact that the data format of the acquired image data is a specific data format such as JPG, BMP, or PNG, and then displays the acquired image. It may be determined that the image indicated by the image data is a monochrome image based on the fact that the data format of the data is not a specific data format. Alternatively, the program 37 determines that the image indicated by the image data is a monochrome image based on the fact that the acquired image data is text data including a character code, and determines that the image indicated by the image data is a monochrome image based on the fact that the acquired image data is not text data. Therefore, it may be determined that the image indicated by the image data is a color image. Alternatively, the image indicated by the image data is determined to be a color image based on the fact that the settings acquired in step S53 include a setting such as "photo" indicating that the image to be printed is a color image. It may be determined that the image indicated by the image data is a monochrome image based on the fact that the image to be printed includes a setting such as "text" indicating that the image to be printed is a monochrome image. Settings such as "photo" and "text" may be input on a screen displayed on the display panel 24 by the program 37, or may be passed to the program 37 from another program via the OS 36. Alternatively, the program 37 may analyze color data included in the image data and determine whether the image indicated by the image data is a color image or a monochrome image.

When the program 37 determines that the acquired image is a monochrome image (S62: monochrome), the program 37 determines whether the mode information acquired in step S55 is the first mode information or the second mode information (FIG. 3 (B) S63). As shown in FIG. 3B, when the program 37 determines that the acquired mode information is the first mode information (S63: first mode information), it instructs the generation program 39 to generate color print data ( S64).

To explain in detail, the program 37 calls, for example, a generation API provided by the generation program 39, and passes the obtained file path and the first value indicating "color" to the generation program 39 through the called generation API. The generation program 39 generates color print data based on the image data and first value indicated by the passed file path. Specifically, the generation program 39 converts color data of each RBG color included in the image indicated by the image data into color data of each MCYK color, and generates color print data. The generation program 39 passes the generated color print data to the program 37. Note that the color print data generated by the generation program 39 according to the instruction in step S64 is color print data that includes MCYK color data, but the image that the printer 11 prints on the sheet based on the color print data is visually This is a monochrome image.

The program 37 acquires the color print data generated by the generation program 39 (S65). On the other hand, if the program 37 determines in step S63 that the acquired mode information is the second mode information (S63: second mode information), the type of specified setting acquired in step S53 (FIG. 4) is "color". or "monochrome" (S66). When the program 37 determines that the type of specified setting is "color" (S66: color), the program 37 causes the display panel 24 to display a fifth confirmation screen (S67). That is, the image that the user has instructed to print is a monochrome image expressed in black, the printer 11A is in the second mode and is capable of executing only monochrome printing, and the specified setting is "color". If so, a fifth confirmation screen is displayed on the display panel 24.

As shown in FIG. 7A, the fifth confirmation screen includes a message 88 that reads "The print image is a monochrome image. Do you want to perform monochrome printing?", an OK icon 71, and a return icon 72. ``The printer is capable of black-and-white printing for ``N days'' remaining.'' ” message 85. “N days” is the number of remaining days that the program 37 acquired in step S55 (FIG. 4). For example, the program 37 includes format data used to generate screen data showing the fifth confirmation screen. The format data has an input field given the field name "Number of days remaining". The program 37 inputs the remaining number of days obtained in step S55 into the input field, and generates screen data indicating the fifth confirmation screen. Then, the program 37 inputs the generated screen data to the display panel 24 and causes the display panel 24 to display the fifth confirmation screen shown in FIG. 8(A). In the illustrated example, "Nth day" is "45th day". The number of remaining days displayed on the fifth confirmation screen allows the user to recognize the remaining number of days in which monochrome printing can be executed in the specified printer 11A when color ink is used up. The processing in steps S67, S76, S90, S85, and S95 in which the program 37 displays the fifth confirmation screen, second confirmation screen, third confirmation screen, fourth confirmation screen, and preview screen including the number of days remaining is the number of days remaining. This is an example of output processing.

The user who visually recognized the fifth confirmation screen selects the icon 71 if he wants the printer 11A to perform monochrome printing. If the user does not want the printer 11 to perform monochrome printing, the user selects the icon 72. Although not shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. 3B, when the program 37 determines that the icon 72 has been selected, it causes the preview selection screen to be displayed again on the display panel 24 (S34 in FIG. 3).

When the program 37 determines that the icon 71 is selected on the fifth confirmation screen (S68: Yes), it instructs the generation program 39 to generate monochrome print data (S69). To explain in detail, the program 37 calls the generation API provided by the generation program 39, and passes the obtained file path and the second value indicating "monochrome" to the generation program 39 through the called generation API. The generation program 39 generates monochrome print data based on the image data and second value indicated by the passed file path. Specifically, the generation program 39 converts color data of each RBG color included in the image data into K (black) color data to generate monochrome print data. The generation program 39 passes the generated monochrome print data to the program 37.

The program 37 acquires the monochrome print data generated by the generation program 39 (S70). On the other hand, if the program 37 determines in step S66 that the type of designated setting is "monochrome" (S66: monochrome), it skips the processes in steps S67 and S68 and executes the processes in steps S69 and S70. That is, if the printer 11A is in the second mode in which only monochrome printing can be performed and the specified setting is "monochrome", the program 37 instructs the generation program 39 to generate monochrome print data (S69), and performs monochrome printing. Data is acquired (S70).

When the program 37 determines in step S62 of FIG. 4 that the image indicated by the acquired image data is a color image (S62: color), the program 37 determines whether the type of mode information acquired in step S55 is first mode information. It is determined whether it is second mode information (S71). When the program 37 determines that the type of the acquired mode information is second mode information (S71: second mode information), as shown in FIG. It is determined whether or not the color is "color" (S72). The process in step S72 is an example of a determination process.

When the program 37 determines that the type of the acquired specified setting is "color" (S72: color), it determines whether the value of the confirmation flag is "ON" (S73). The confirmation flag is a flag whose initial value is "OFF" and is turned "ON" when the user inputs an input to cause the printer 11 to perform monochrome printing. The processes of steps S74 and S75 that are executed when the value of the confirmation flag is "ON" (S73: Yes) will be explained after the explanation of the processes of steps S83 and S87 in which the confirmation flag is set to "ON". .

When the program 37 determines that the value of the confirmation flag is "OFF" (S73: No), the program 37 displays a second confirmation screen on the display panel 24 (S76). That is, the program 37 specifies that the acquired image is a color image (S62: color), the printer 11A is in the second mode in which only monochrome printing can be performed (S71: second mode), and the specified settings are is "color" (S72: color), a second confirmation screen is displayed on the display panel 24 (S76). The second confirmation screen is an example of the first screen, second screen, and fourth screen. The process in step S76 in which the program 37 displays the second confirmation screen on the display panel 24 is an example of an output process.

The second confirmation screen, as shown in FIG. 6(B), includes message 86 that reads "The printer is out of color ink.", messages 82 and 83, and "Do you want to print in monochrome?" ” message 84. Further, the second confirmation screen includes icons 61 and 62, a pull-down menu 63, a monochrome print icon 64, and a message 85. Message 84 is an example of a first object. The icon 64 is an example of the second object. Message 82 is an example of a third object. The icon 61 is an example of the fourth object. Message 83 is an example of the sixth object. The icon 62 is an example of the seventh object. The pull-down menu 63 is an example of the eighth object.

The user selects the icon 61 when replacing the cartridge in the printer 11A that has run out of color ink and causing the printer 11A to perform color printing. If the user wants to change the printer 11A that has run out of color ink to the printer 11B or 11C to perform color printing, the user selects the printer name of the printer 11B or 11C from the pull-down menu 63, and then selects the icon 62. If the user wants the printer 11A to perform monochrome printing by converting a color image into a monochrome image, the user selects the icon 64. The printer name whose selection is accepted in the pull-down menu 63 is an example of printer identification information.

The program 37 determines whether the selected icon is the icon 61, as shown in FIG. 5 (S77). When the program 37 determines that the selected icon is the icon 61 (S77: Yes), the program 37 displays the above-mentioned sixth confirmation screen on the display panel 24 (S78). The process in which the program 37 accepts the selection of the icon 61 in step S77: Yes is an example of the second reception process. The sixth confirmation screen displayed on the display panel 24 in step S78 is an example of the third screen. The icon 71 included in the sixth confirmation screen is an example of the fifth object.

Although not shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, when the program 37 determines that the icon 72 has been selected on the sixth confirmation screen, it causes the second confirmation screen to be displayed on the display panel 24 again. When the program 37 determines that the icon 71 has been selected on the sixth confirmation screen (S79: Yes), it re-executes the process of step S55 to obtain the mode information and the number of remaining days. The mode information and the number of remaining days that are acquired in the process of step S55 that is executed again by the program 37 are the mode information and the number of remaining days that are transmitted by the printer 11A whose cartridge has been replaced. That is, the program 37 acquires mode information indicating the first mode information in step S55, which is executed again. Note that since the printer 11A is in the first mode, it does not transmit the number of remaining days to the information processing device 10. The process in which the program 37 accepts the selection of the icon 71 on the sixth confirmation screen is an example of the third reception process. The process in step S54 in which the program 37 reacquires mode information is an example of mode information reacquisition processing.

Note that if the user selects the icon 71 on the sixth confirmation screen before replacing the cartridge in the printer 11A, the program 37 displays the second confirmation screen on the display panel 24 after executing steps S71, S72, and S73. is displayed again (S76).

When the program 37 determines in step S77 that the icon 61 is not selected (S77: No), the program 37 determines whether the icon 62 or the icon 64 has been selected (S80). When the program 37 determines that the icon 62 has been selected (S80: change printer), the program 37 acquires the printer name selected from the pull-down menu 63 (S81), and extracts the mode information and remaining days from the printer 11 indicated by the acquired printer name. (S55 in FIG. 4). Step S80, in which the program 37 accepts the selection of the icon 62: the process of changing the printer, and the process of step S81, in which the printer name is acquired, are an example of the fourth reception process.

When the program 37 determines that the icon 64 has been selected in step S80 (S80: monochrome printing), the program 37 temporarily stores monochrome information in the data storage area 35 of the memory 32. The temporary monochrome information is, for example, a temporary monochrome flag with a value of "ON" or "OFF". An example in which the temporary monochrome information is a temporary monochrome flag will be described below. The program 37 stores a temporary monochrome flag with a value of "ON" in the memory 32 (S82). Then, the program 37 re-executes the processing from step S55 onwards. Step S80 in which the program 37 accepts the selection of the icon 64: Monochrome printing processing is an example of the first reception processing. The process in step S82 in which the program 37 stores a temporary monochrome flag with a value of "ON" in the memory 32 is an example of a setting change process.

The temporary monochrome flag will be explained in more detail. In steps S66 (FIG. 3(B)) and S72 described above, and step S84 described later, in which the type of specified setting is determined, the program 37 temporarily sets the value of the monochrome flag to "ON" before determining the type of specified setting. ”. When the program 37 determines that the value of the temporary monochrome flag is "ON," it determines that the designated setting is "monochrome" regardless of the type of designated setting acquired in step S53. When the program 37 determines that the value of the temporary monochrome flag is "OFF," it determines that the type of specified setting is the type indicated by the specified setting acquired in step S53. The temporary monochrome flag is turned "OFF" in step S98 (FIG. 4), which will be described later. That is, the temporary monochrome flag is a flag that temporarily sets the designated setting to "monochrome."

The program 37 determines that the icon 64 is selected in step S80 (S80: monochrome printing), and sets the value of the confirmation flag to "ON" based on the fact that the value of the temporary monochrome flag is set to "ON" (S82). (S83). That is, the confirmation flag is turned "ON" based on the user specifying monochrome printing.

If the program 37 determines in step S72 that the designated setting is not "color" (S72: monochrome/auto), it determines whether the type of the designated setting is "monochrome" or "auto" (S84). When the program 37 determines that the type of specified setting is "auto" (S84: auto), the program 37 displays a fourth confirmation screen (not shown) on the display panel 24 (S85). That is, the program 37 specifies that the image indicated by the acquired image data is a color image (S62: color), and that the printer 11A is in a second mode in which only monochrome printing can be executed (S71: second mode information). ), and the designated setting is "auto" (S84: auto), a fourth confirmation screen is displayed on the display panel 24 (S85). The fourth confirmation screen is an example of the eighth screen.

The fourth confirmation screen includes the text "Since there is no color ink, monochrome printing will be performed.", an OK icon, a return icon, and a message 85 (FIG. 6(B)). If the user wants the printer 11A to perform monochrome printing, the user selects the OK icon. The text "Since there is no color ink, monochrome printing will be performed." is an example of the 17th object. When the program 37 determines that the OK icon has been selected on the fourth confirmation screen (S86: Yes), it sets the value of the confirmation flag to "ON" (S87). That is, the confirmation flag is turned "ON" based on the user specifying monochrome printing.

After setting the value of the confirmation flag to "ON", the program 37 instructs the generation program 39 to generate monochrome print data (S88), and acquires the monochrome print data generated by the generation program 39 (S89). The processing in steps S88 and S89 is executed in the same manner as the processing in steps S69 and S70 (FIG. 3(B)) described above.

When the program 37 determines that the type of designated setting is "monochrome" in step S84 (S84: monochrome), it displays a third confirmation screen (not shown) on the display panel 24 (S90). That is, the program 37 specifies that the image indicated by the acquired image data is a color image (S62: color), and that the printer 11A is in a second mode in which only monochrome printing can be executed (S71: second mode information). ), and if the designated setting is "monochrome" (S84: monochrome), the third confirmation screen is displayed on the display panel 24 (S90). The third confirmation screen is an example of the eighth screen.

The third confirmation screen includes the words "Print monochrome", an OK icon, a return icon, and a message 85. If the user wants the printer 11A to perform monochrome printing, the user selects the OK icon. The characters "Print monochrome" are an example of the 17th object. When the program 37 determines that the OK icon has been selected on the third confirmation screen (S91: Yes), it executes the processes of steps S87, S88, and S89 described above.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the program 37 determines in step S71 that the type of the acquired mode information is first mode information (S71: first mode information), the generation program 37 generates color print data. (S92), and acquires the color print data generated by the generation program 39 (S93). The processes in steps S92 and S93 are executed in the same manner as the processes in steps S64 and S65 (FIG. 3(B)) described above.

The program 37 generates preview screen data based on the acquired print data in response to acquiring the print data in steps S65, S70, S89, and S93 (S94). To explain in detail, the program 37 has format data of a preview screen. The format data has an input field that accepts input of data corresponding to the print data. The program 37 inputs data corresponding to the acquired print data into the input field of the format data, and generates preview screen data. The data corresponding to the print data may be the print data itself, or may be data processed to reduce the resolution of the image represented by the print data. Note that in steps S64, S69, S88, and S92 described above, the program 37 may instruct the generation program 39 to generate "data corresponding to the print data" to be input into the input field described above in addition to the print data. .

The program 37 inputs the generated preview screen data to the display panel 24, and causes the display panel 24 to display the preview screen indicated by the preview screen data (S95). FIG. 8(A) shows a preview screen. The preview screen has a preview image 73. The preview image 73 is a color image when the print data acquired by the program 37 is the color print data acquired in step S93 (FIG. 4). The preview image 73 is a monochrome image when the print data acquired by the program 37 is the color print data acquired in step S65 (FIG. 3(B)). The preview image is a monochrome image when the print data acquired by the program 37 is the monochrome print data acquired in steps S70 (FIG. 3(B)) and S89 (FIG. 5).

The preview screen also includes the words "change printer", the words "change color mode", pull-down menus 63 and 74, a change icon 75, a print icon 76, and a message 85. The pull-down menu 74 has selection items of "color", "monochrome", and "auto". That is, the pull-down menu 74 is a menu that accepts specified settings. The icon 76 is an icon that accepts a print execution instruction. The preview screen is an example of the fifth screen. The pull-down menu 74 is an example of the ninth object.

The user selects the icon 76 to cause the printer 11 to print. When the user wants to change the printer 11 to be used for printing, the user selects the printer name from the pull-down menu 63 and then selects the icon 75. When changing the type of specified setting, the user selects the type of specified setting from the pull-down menu 74 and then selects the icon 75.

As shown in FIG. 4, the program 37 determines whether the type of the icon selected on the preview screen is the icon 76 or the icon 75 (S96). When the program 37 determines that the type of the selected icon is the icon 75 (S96: change), the program 37 acquires the printer name and specified settings selected in the pull-down menus 63 and 74 (S97), and processes from step S55 onwards. Execute again. The process in step S97 in which the program 37 acquires designated settings is an example of designated settings acquisition processing.

A description will be given of the process that the program 37 executes when "color" is selected in the pull-down menu 74 of the preview screen and the icon 75 is selected after the value of the confirmation flag is set to "ON" in step S83 or step S87. do. The program 37 executes the processes of steps S55, S56, S62, S71, S72, and S73 again based on the selection of the icon 75 (S96: change). Then, in step S73, the program 37 determines that the value of the confirmation flag is "ON" (S73: Yes). Based on determining that the value of the confirmation flag is "ON" (S73: Yes), the program 37 displays an error screen on the display panel 24 (S74). That is, the error screen is displayed on the display panel 24 when the user specifies monochrome printing and then specifies the "color" designation setting on the preview screen, and the user's designation is inconsistent.

As shown in Figure 8 (B), the error screen displays the following message: ``The printer is currently only capable of monochrome printing and cannot print in color. Would you like to set the color mode to ``color''? ” message 90, an icon 71, and an icon 72.

As shown in FIG. 5, the program 37 determines whether the icon 71 or the icon 72 has been selected on the error screen (S75). When the program 37 determines that the icon 72 has been selected (S75: Return), the program 37 causes the display panel 24 to display the preview screen again (S95). When the program 37 determines that the icon 71 has been selected (S75: OK), it re-executes the processing from step S55 (FIG. 4) onward.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the program 37 determines that the selected icon is the icon 76 in step S96 (S96: print), the program 37 saves the temporary monochrome flag and confirmation flag with a value of "OFF" in the memory 32. It is stored in the data storage area 35 (S98). The process in step S98 is an example of a setting change cancellation process. Note that the program 37 may cause the data storage area 35 of the memory 32 to store a temporary monochrome flag and a confirmation flag with a value of "OFF" based on the fact that the program 37 has been started. In that case, the process of step S98 may be omitted. The process of causing the memory 32 to store a temporary monochrome flag with a value of "OFF" based on the program 37 being started is an example of a setting change cancellation process.

After executing the process in step S98, the program 37 stores the designation setting of "color", "monochrome", or "auto" selected by the user and the printer name selected by the user in the data storage area 35 of the memory 32. It is stored (S99), and the preview display process ends. The specified settings and printer name stored in the memory 32 in step S99 are used as initial settings when the program 37 is started next time.

As shown in FIG. 3A, after executing the preview display process (S36), the program 37 transmits the acquired print data to the printer 11 via the communication I/F 23, the access point 14, and the local network 13 ( S37). For example, the program 37 inputs a command including a file path indicating print data and a printer name to the OS 36. The OS 36 that receives the command transmits the print data indicated by the file path included in the command to the printer 11 indicated by the printer name included in the command. Alternatively, the program 37 calls a communication API provided by the OS 36, inputs a file path indicating print data and a printer name into the called communication API, and sends the print data to the printer 11 using the communication API. Alternatively, the program 37 instructs the generation program 39 to send print data to the printer 11. The generation program 39 that has received the instruction transmits print data to the printer 11 through the OS 36 or through a communication API provided by the OS 36. Note that the program 37 may store the acquired print data in a predetermined area of the data storage area of the memory 32. The user specifies print data stored in the memory 32 on an input screen displayed on the display panel 24 by the OS 36 or another program implemented by the information processing device 10, and sends the specified print data to the printer 11. This is instructed to the OS 36 or the other program.

The control program 57 of the printer 11 receives print data through the communication I/F 43 (S37). The control program 57 causes the print engine 44 to execute printing based on the received print data (S38). The print engine 44 prints a color image on a sheet when the input print data is color print data, and prints a monochrome image on the sheet when the input print data is monochrome print data.

[Operations and effects of embodiment]
When the acquired mode information includes second mode information, the program 37 identifies screen data to be output from a plurality of screen data and format data used to generate screen data, based on the type of the acquired specified settings. Alternatively, the specified or generated screen data is output to the display panel 24, and the screen indicated by the screen data is displayed on the display panel 24. Therefore, the program 37 can make the user aware of an appropriate countermeasure even if the printer 11 is unable to print according to the specified settings of the type specified by the user. Note that the status of the printer 11 does not refer to whether or not the printer 11 has the function to print with the settings specified by the user, but rather whether the printer 11 has the function to print with the settings specified by the user. However, it means that the printer 11 is in a state where it can or cannot perform printing according to the settings specified by the user.

If the program 37 determines that the printer 11 is in the second mode and can perform only monochrome printing, and the specified setting specified by the user is "color", the program 37 displays the message "Do you want to perform monochrome printing?" A second confirmation screen having the following information is displayed on the display panel 24. Therefore, the program 37 can make the user aware that monochrome printing is executable.

When the program 37 receives the user's selection of the icon 64 on the second confirmation screen, it sets the value of the temporary monochrome flag to "ON", temporarily sets the type of specified setting to "monochrome", and performs the process of step S84. . Further, the program 37 returns the value of the temporary monochrome flag to "OFF" based on the acquisition of the print data generated by the generation program 39. Therefore, the program 37 can cause the printer 11 to print an image specified by the user in monochrome, and the initial specified settings when the program is started next time are the specified settings originally specified by the user. It can be made "color". That is, the program 37 can cause the printer 11 to perform monochrome printing without changing the user's designated settings.

If the program 37 determines that the printer 11 is in the second mode and can perform only monochrome printing, and the specified setting specified by the user is "color," the program 37 displays the message "Do you want to replace the cartridge?" A second confirmation screen including the following is displayed on the display panel 24. Therefore, the program 37 can make the user aware that the printer 11 can perform color printing by replacing the cartridge.

Since the program 37 causes the display panel 24 to display a sixth confirmation screen having an icon 71 that accepts input of information indicating that the cartridge has been replaced, the user can determine whether or not the cartridge has been replaced.

When the program 37 receives the selection of the icon 71 on the sixth confirmation screen, it reacquires the mode information from the printer 11. When the cartridge has been replaced in the printer 11, the mode information reacquired by the program 37 includes the first mode information. The program 37 can cause the printer 11 to perform color printing based on the first mode information included in the re-acquired mode information. Therefore, the program 37 can cause the printer to print the image specified by the user in color.

If the program 37 determines that the printer 11 is in the second mode and can only perform monochrome printing, and that the specified setting specified by the user is "color," the program 37 displays the message "Do you want to change printer?" A second confirmation screen having the following information is displayed on the display panel 24. Therefore, the program 37 can make the user aware that color printing is possible by changing the printer 11 to another printer 11.

When the program 37 receives the user's selection of the icon 62 on the second confirmation screen, the program 37 acquires the changed mode information of the printer 11 specified by the user. The program 37 specifies screen data indicating a screen to be displayed on the display panel 24 based on the type of the acquired mode information, and causes the display panel to display the screen indicated by the specified screen data. Therefore, the program 37 can notify the user of an appropriate countermeasure for the changed printer 11 specified by the user, based on the specified settings specified by the user and the status of the printer 11.

The program 37 sets the value of the confirmation flag to "ON" based on receiving the user's input affirming execution of monochrome printing (S83, S87). Then, the program 37 displays an error screen on the display panel 24 based on the fact that the value of the confirmation flag is "ON" and the selection of the "color" designation setting is accepted in the pull-down menu 74 of the preview screen. . The program 37 notifies the user on the error screen that the printer 11 cannot perform color printing processing even if the designated setting type is set to "color". Therefore, the program 37 can make the user recognize that the user's instruction to affirm the execution of monochrome printing processing and the user's instruction to set the designated setting to "color" are contradictory.

The program 37 displays on the second confirmation screen, third confirmation screen, fourth confirmation screen, fifth confirmation screen, and preview screen the number of days remaining for monochrome printing when the printer 11 runs out of color ink. The user can be made aware of the number of days remaining for printing.

Based on the fact that the mode information acquired from the printer 11 is the third mode information, the program 37 causes the display panel 24 to display a first confirmation screen having the words "The printer is out of ink." Therefore, the program 37 can make the user aware that the printer 11 cannot perform printing.

Based on the fact that the mode information acquired from the printer 11 is the third mode information, the program 37 causes the display panel 24 to display a first confirmation screen having the words "Do you want to replace the cartridge?". Therefore, the program 37 can make the user aware that color printing can be performed in the printer 11 by replacing the cartridge.

The program 37 causes the display panel 24 to display a first confirmation screen having an icon 61 based on the fact that the mode information acquired from the printer 11 is the third mode information. Therefore, the program 37 can accept the user's designation to replace the cartridge.

The program 37 causes the display panel 24 to display a sixth confirmation screen including the message 89 and the icon 71 based on acceptance of the selection of the icon 61 on the first confirmation screen. Then, based on receiving the selection of the icon 71 (S79: Yes), the program 37 reacquires the mode information from the printer 11 (S55). Therefore, the program 37 can reacquire mode information from the printer 11 after the user has replaced the cartridge.

Based on the fact that the mode information acquired from the printer 11 is the third mode information, the program 37 causes the display panel 24 to display a first confirmation screen having the words "Do you want to change the printer?". Therefore, the program 37 can make the user aware that color printing can be performed by changing the printer 11 to another printer 11.

The program 37 causes the display panel 24 to display a first confirmation screen having an icon 62 and a pull-down menu 63 based on the fact that the mode information acquired from the printer 11 is the third mode information. Then, based on the selection of the icon 62, the program 37 acquires the mode information and the number of remaining days from the printer 11 indicated by the printer name selected in the pull-down menu 63. Therefore, the program 37 can display an appropriate screen on the display panel 24 according to the changed state of the printer 11 specified by the user and the type of specified settings specified by the user.

The program 37 displays a third confirmation screen or a fourth confirmation screen containing the words "Print monochrome" and an OK icon based on whether the type of setting specified by the user is "monochrome" or "auto." A confirmation screen is displayed on the display panel 24. Then, selection of an OK icon instructing to perform monochrome printing is accepted. Therefore, the program 37 can make the user aware that monochrome printing is to be performed, in which the image specified by the user is printed as a monochrome image, and can confirm the user's intention to perform monochrome printing.

[Modified example]
In the embodiment described above, an example has been described in which the program 37 notifies the user through various notification screens displayed on the display panel 24, and also receives input of settings from the user. However, the program 37 may notify the user by voice, and may also accept input of the user's settings by voice.

In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the program 37 accepts changes to specified settings in the preview display process. However, the program 37 may accept the designated settings or change the designated settings through a process other than the preview display process. For example, the program 37 may execute a reception process that accepts print settings including specified settings. The program 37 includes a print setting icon in the preview selection screen displayed on the display panel 24 in step S34. When the program 37 determines that the print setting icon has been selected, it executes the processes from steps S53 to S93 and from steps S96 to S99. Then, the program 37 causes the display panel 24 to display a reception screen including a preview icon based on the acquisition of the print data, and displays the preview screen on the display panel 24 based on the reception of the selection of the preview icon. let

In the embodiment described above, an example has been described in which the program 37 and the generation program 39 transfer image data and print data using a file path. However, the program 37 and the generation program 39 may pass the image data itself or the print data itself without using the file path.

In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the program 37 accepts input of user settings using the pull-down menus 63 and 74. However, the program 37 may accept input of user settings using other methods such as check boxes.

In the embodiment described above, an example has been described in which the program 37 causes the display panel 24 to display the second confirmation screen having the icons 61, 62, and 64. However, the program 37 may divide the second confirmation screen into a plurality of screens and display them on the display panel 24. For example, instead of displaying the second confirmation screen on the display panel 24 in step S72, the program 37 may display a seventh confirmation screen, an eighth confirmation screen, and a ninth confirmation screen on the display panel 24. The seventh confirmation screen includes messages 81 and 82, an icon 61, and a next icon. When the program 37 determines that the next icon has been selected, it causes the display panel 24 to display an eighth confirmation screen. The eighth confirmation screen includes messages 81 and 83, an icon 62, a pull-down menu 63, a next icon, and a return icon. When the program 37 determines that the return icon has been selected on the eighth confirmation screen, it causes the display panel 24 to display a seventh confirmation screen. When the program 37 determines that the next icon has been selected on the eighth confirmation screen, it causes the display panel 24 to display a ninth confirmation screen. The ninth confirmation screen includes messages 81 and 84, an icon 64, and a return icon. When the program 37 determines that the return icon has been selected on the ninth confirmation screen, it causes the display panel 24 to display an eighth confirmation screen. When the program 37 determines that the icon 61 is selected on the seventh confirmation screen, it executes the process of step S74 (FIG. 5). When the program 37 determines that the icon 62 has been selected on the eighth confirmation screen, it executes the process of step S77 (FIG. 5). When the program 37 determines that the icon 64 is selected on the ninth confirmation screen, it executes the process of step S78 (FIG. 5). The seventh confirmation screen is an example of the second screen. The eighth confirmation screen is an example of the fourth screen. The ninth confirmation screen is an example of the first screen.

In the embodiment described above, an example has been described in which the program 37 causes the display panel 24 to display the first confirmation screen having the icons 61 and 62. However, the program 37 may divide the first confirmation screen into a plurality of screens and display them on the display panel 24. For example, instead of displaying the first confirmation screen on the display panel 24 in step S56, the program 37 may display a tenth confirmation screen and an eleventh confirmation screen on the display panel 24. The tenth confirmation screen includes messages 81 and 82, an icon 61, and a next icon. When the program 37 determines that the next icon has been selected, it causes the display panel 24 to display an eleventh confirmation screen. The eleventh confirmation screen includes messages 81 and 83, an icon 62, a pull-down menu 63, and a return icon. When the program 37 determines that the return icon has been selected on the eleventh confirmation screen, it causes the display panel 24 to display the tenth confirmation screen. When the program 37 determines that the icon 61 has been selected on the tenth confirmation screen, it executes the process of step S58 (FIG. 4). When the program 37 determines that the icon 62 has been selected on the eleventh confirmation screen, it executes the process of step S60 (FIG. 4).

In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the control program 57 of the printer 11 calculates the number of remaining days (S18 in FIG. 2), and the program 37 acquires the number of remaining days transmitted by the printer 11 in step S54. However, the control program 57 of the printer 11 transmits the date and time information and the permission period, and the program 37 receives the date and time information and the permission period, and calculates the remaining days based on the received date and time information and the permission period in the same manner as in step S18. You may obtain the number of remaining days by calculating . In that case, the date and time information and permission period that the program 37 receives are examples of remaining days information indicating the remaining days. The process in which the program 37 calculates the number of remaining days based on the received date and time information is an example of a process for obtaining the number of remaining days.

In the embodiment described above, when the user selects the icon 64 on the second confirmation screen (FIG. 6(B)) (S80: monochrome printing), the value of the temporary monochrome flag is set to "ON" (S82), and the temporary monochrome flag is set to "ON" (S82). An example has been described in which the program 37 determines that the designated setting is "monochrome" when the value of is "ON". However, the program 37 may overwrite the designated setting stored in the data storage area 55 of the memory 32 with "monochrome" instead of the process in step S82 that temporarily sets the value of the monochrome flag to "ON". In that case, the program 37 stores and saves the specified setting before overwriting it to "monochrome" in a predetermined storage area of the data storage area of the memory 52. Then, the program 37 overwrites "monochrome" stored in the data storage area 55 of the memory 32 with the saved specified setting, instead of the process in step S98. That is, the program 37 restores the specified settings.

In the embodiment described above, when the user selects the icon 64 on the second confirmation screen (FIG. 6(B)) (S80: monochrome printing), the value of the temporary monochrome flag is set to "ON" (S82), and the temporary monochrome flag is set to "ON" (S82). An example has been described in which the program 37 determines that the designated setting is "monochrome" when the value of is "ON". However, the program 37 may determine that the designated setting is "auto" when the temporary monochrome flag is "ON". In that case, the program 37 determines in step S84 that the type of specified setting is "auto" (S84: auto), and displays the fourth confirmation screen on the display panel 24 instead of the third confirmation screen (S90). (S85).

In the embodiment described above, an example has been described in which the message 85 is displayed on the display panel 24 on the second confirmation screen, the third confirmation screen, the fourth confirmation screen, the fifth confirmation screen, and the preview screen. However, on the second confirmation screen, third confirmation screen, fourth confirmation screen, fifth confirmation screen, and preview screen, the program 37 displays, for example, "There is only a short period remaining in which monochrome printing can be executed." instead of the message 85. .Please replace the cartridge.'' may be displayed on the display panel 24 when predetermined conditions are met. The predetermined condition is, for example, when the remaining number of days is less than the threshold period stored in the memory 32. The threshold period is, for example, "3 days".

In the embodiment described above, an example has been described in which the message 85 is displayed on the display panel 24 on the second confirmation screen, the third confirmation screen, the fourth confirmation screen, the fifth confirmation screen, and the preview screen. However, the program 37 may display the message 85 on one or more of the second confirmation screen, third confirmation screen, fourth confirmation screen, fifth confirmation screen, and preview screen. Furthermore, the program 37 may cause the display panel 24 to display another screen having the message 85 instead of the second confirmation screen, third confirmation screen, fourth confirmation screen, fifth confirmation screen, and preview screen.

In the embodiments described above, color printing processing has been described as an example of the first printing processing, and monochrome printing processing has been described as an example of the second printing processing. However, the first print process and the second print process are not limited to color print process and monochrome print process. For example, the first printing process may be a color printing process, and the second printing process may be a monochrome printing process. Monocolor printing processing is printing processing performed using ink of one color among color inks. The control program 57 of the printer 11 inputs the fourth mode information into the memory 52 based on, for example, receiving a user input specifying monochrome printing through the touch panel 42 . The control program 57 transmits the above-described first mode information or fourth mode information to the information processing device 10 through the communication I/F 43 and the local network 13. The program 37 specifies screen data indicating a screen to be displayed on the display panel 24 based on the type of mode information transmitted by the printer 11 and the specified settings specified by the user, and displays the screen indicated by the specified screen data. It is displayed on the panel 24. Further, the second print process may be a draft print process, and the first print process may be a print process other than the draft print process. The draft printing process is a printing process in which the control program 57 of the printer 11 performs printing by lowering the resolution of input print data. The control program 57 inputs the fifth mode information into the memory 52 based on, for example, receiving a user input specifying draft printing through the touch panel 42 . The control program 57 transmits the above-described first mode information or fifth mode information to the information processing device 10 through the communication I/F 43 and the local network 13. The program 37 specifies screen data indicating a screen to be displayed on the display panel 24 based on the type of mode information transmitted by the printer 11 and the specified settings specified by the user, and displays the screen indicated by the specified screen data. It is displayed on the panel 24.

In the embodiments described above, an example has been described in which the mode information transmitted by the printer 11 indicates any one of the first mode information, the second mode information, and the third mode information. However, the mode information transmitted by the printer 11 may indicate the first mode information or the second mode information, and may not indicate the third mode information. In that case, the program 37 omits the processing from steps S56 to S61.

In the embodiment described above, an example has been described in which the program 37 instructs the generation program 39 to generate print data. However, the program 37 may be a so-called printer driver that has a function of generating print data. In that case, the program 37 executes a process of generating print data instead of the processes of steps S64, S69, S88, and S92. Further, in that case, the program 37 may generate print data according to instructions from the generation program 38.

In the embodiment described above, an example has been described in which the program 37 sends print data to the printer 11 through the OS 36. However, the generation program 39 may be a so-called printer driver, and the generation program 39 may send print data to the printer 11. For example, the program 37 instructs the generation program 39 to send print data to the printer 11 using an API provided by the generation program 39. The generation program 39 that has received the instruction transmits print data to the printer 11 through the OS 36.

10... Information processing device 11... Printer 23... Communication interface 24... Display panel 25... Touch sensor 31... CPU
32...Memory 37...Program 39...Generated program

Claims (16)

A program executed by a computer of an information processing device having an output interface and an input interface, the program having a plurality of pieces of notification information with different contents,
image data acquisition processing for acquiring image data;
Information transmitted by a printer capable of executing at least two types of print processing: a first print process and a second print process different from the first print process, the first print process and the second print process first mode information indicating that either of the print processes can be executed, or second mode information indicating that only the second print process can be executed, or the first print process and the second print process mode information acquisition processing that acquires mode information including any of the third mode information indicating that it is not possible to execute;
a first setting that is a setting that causes the printer to execute the first print process; a second setting that is a setting that causes the printer to execute the second print process; and delegation of the type of print process that the printer is to execute. a specified setting acquisition process of acquiring, through the input interface, a specified setting that is one of the settings along with a third setting indicating that the specified setting is to be performed;
When the acquired mode information includes the second mode information, specifying broadcast information to be output from the plurality of broadcast information based on the type of the acquired specified setting, and transmitting the specified broadcast information to the output interface. causing the computer to perform output processing to output through the
Remaining days acquisition processing that acquires remaining days information, which is information transmitted by the printer that is in a state where only the second printing process can be executed, and indicates the remaining number of days in which the second printing process can be executed;
A program that causes the computer to further execute a remaining days output process of outputting the acquired remaining days information through the output interface . the output interface is a display panel;
The broadcast information is information to be displayed on the output interface,
The output processing is
a determination process for determining whether the acquired specified setting is the first setting;
Based on the determination that the acquired specified setting is the first setting, the notification information includes a first object that inquires whether or not to cause the printer to execute the second printing process from among the plurality of notification information. 2. The program according to claim 1, further comprising: specifying the first object as a first object, and displaying a first screen having the specified first object on the output interface. The first screen further includes a second object that receives an instruction to cause the printer to execute the second print process,
a first reception process of accepting a selection of the second object on the first screen;
3. The program according to claim 2, which causes the computer to execute a setting change process of changing the first setting to the second setting based on acceptance of selection of the second object. Based on generating print data to be sent to the printer or outputting an instruction to generate the print data, the specified setting changed from the first setting to the second setting in the setting change process is 4. The program according to claim 3, which causes the computer to further execute a setting change canceling process of returning the second setting to the first setting. the output interface is a display panel;
The broadcast information is information to be displayed on the output interface,
The output processing is
a determination process for determining whether the acquired specified setting is the first setting;
Based on the determination that the acquired specified setting is the first setting, changing the printer from the state indicated by the second mode information to the state indicated by the first mode information based on the plurality of notification information. 2. The program according to claim 1, further comprising: specifying a third object to be inquired about as the broadcast information, and displaying a second screen having the specified third object on the output interface. The second screen further includes a fourth object that receives an instruction indicating that the printer changes from the state indicated by the second mode information to the state indicated by the first mode information,
a second reception process of accepting a selection of the fourth object on the second screen;
a third screen having a fifth object that receives input of information indicating that the state indicated by the second mode information has been changed to the state indicated by the first mode information based on acceptance of selection of the fourth object; 6. The program according to claim 5, which causes the computer to execute a process of displaying on the input interface. The information processing device has a communication interface,
a third reception process of accepting a selection of the fifth object on the third screen;
7. The program according to claim 6, which causes the computer to execute a mode information re-acquisition process of re-acquiring the mode information through the communication interface based on acceptance of selection of the fifth object. the output interface is a display panel;
The broadcast information is information to be displayed on the output interface,
The output processing is
a determination process for determining whether the acquired specified setting is the first setting;
a sixth object that inquires whether or not to change the printer that executes the printing process to another printer based on the plurality of notification information based on determining that the acquired specified settings are the first settings; 2. The program according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of specifying as the notification information, and displaying a fourth screen having the specified sixth object on the output interface. The fourth screen includes a seventh object that accepts an instruction to change the printer that executes the print process to another printer, and an eighth object that accepts input of printer identification information indicating the other printer. It further has
a fourth reception process of accepting the selection of the seventh object and the printer identification information on the fourth screen;
9. The program according to claim 8, which causes the computer to execute the mode information acquisition process of acquiring the mode information of the printer indicated by the received printer identification information based on reception of selection of the seventh object. . A process of displaying on the display panel a fifth screen having a ninth object that accepts selection of the type of specified setting based on acceptance of selection of the second object in the first reception process;
4. The program according to claim 3, which causes the computer to execute a process of displaying an error screen on the display panel based on the selection of the first setting in the ninth object. the output interface is a display panel;
The broadcast information is information to be displayed on the output interface,
Based on the fact that the mode information acquired in the mode information acquisition process includes the third mode information, a tenth object indicating that the printing process cannot be executed is identified as the broadcast information from the plurality of broadcast information. 11. The program according to claim 1, further causing the computer to execute a process of displaying a sixth screen having the specified tenth object on the output interface. 12. The program according to claim 11, wherein the sixth screen further includes an eleventh object that inquires whether the state of the printer is to be changed from the state indicated by the second mode information to the state indicated by the first mode information. . The sixth screen further includes a twelfth object that accepts a designation indicating changing the state of the printer from the state indicated by the second mode information to the state indicated by the first mode information,
a fifth reception process of accepting selection of the twelfth object on the sixth screen;
a thirteenth object that receives input of information indicating that the state of the printer has been changed from the state indicated by the second mode information to the state indicated by the first mode information based on acceptance of the selection of the twelfth object; 13. The program according to claim 12 , which causes the computer to execute a process of displaying a seventh screen having the following on the input interface. 14. The program according to claim 13 , wherein the sixth screen further includes a fourteenth object that inquires whether to change the printer that executes the printing process to another printer. The sixth screen includes a fifteenth object that accepts an instruction to change the printer that executes the printing process to another printer, and a sixteenth object that accepts input of printer identification information indicating the other printer. It further has
a sixth reception process of accepting the selection of the fifteenth object and the printer identification information on the sixth screen;
15. The mode information acquisition process of acquiring the mode information of the printer indicated by the received printer identification information based on reception of the selection of the fifteenth object is caused to be executed by the computer. program. the output interface is a display panel;
The broadcast information is information to be displayed on the output interface,
Based on the fact that the mode information acquired in the mode information acquisition process includes the second mode information, and that the specified setting acquired in the specified setting acquisition process is the second setting or the third setting, A process of specifying, from a plurality of pieces of notification information, a seventeenth object indicating that the printer is to execute the second printing process as the notification information, and displaying an eighth screen having the specified seventeenth object on the output interface. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 15 , which causes the computer to execute.

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