JPH09190314A - Information processing method and information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To select an optimum peripheral equipment in accordance with the characteristic of connected peripheral equipments by managing function information on the peripheral equipments connected to a computer and equipments connected among the peripheral equipment in the computer or the peripheral equipments. SOLUTION: The computer receivers functional information from first and second printers 5 and 7 first and second scanners 9 and 11 and stores them in a storage part 4. When picture read work is generated with an operation instruction from the computer 1, a picture is read from the scanner 9, for example. Picture data which is read by equipment is transmitted to the computer 1 with its ID. When work for printing picture data is generated, an information selection part 3 retrievers the functional information of the equipment which is read from equipment ID belonging to picture data, and retrieves functional information of a printing output equipment, which satisfies a prescribed evaluation condition, based on the retrieved functional information in the computer 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing method and its apparatus, and more particularly to an information processing method and its apparatus for selecting a peripheral device in an environment where a plurality of peripheral devices are connected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a user prints data read from a scanner on a printer by using a computer configured to use a plurality of printers and a plurality of scanners, the user is For example, after determining the resolution, color, size, etc., the optimum printer to be output is designated.

Also, in the same system, when the data read from the scanner is used as a so-called copy in which the data is output to the printer as it is, similarly, the user is selected according to the function of the scanner device for reading and the characteristics of the read data. Specifies the best printer to print.

[0004]

However, conventionally, in order to optimally select the printer to be output, the user needs to know the characteristics of the output data and the function of the scanner that has read the data, and The printer had to be selected according to those features / functions, which placed a heavy burden on the user.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional example, and provides an information processing method and an apparatus for selecting an optimum peripheral device according to the characteristics of the connected peripheral device and forming an image. To aim.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, an information processing method and apparatus of the present invention have the following configurations. That is, an information processing apparatus including an input device and a plurality of output devices, a storage unit that stores image output characteristic data of each of the output devices, and an image input when a predetermined image is input to the input device. Based on the characteristic data,
It is determined whether or not a predetermined condition between each of the image input characteristics and the characteristic data of each of the plurality of output devices stored in the storage means is satisfied, and if satisfied, a predetermined score is given and the image input is performed. A calculation unit that calculates the sum of the scores corresponding to each of the characteristics and a selection unit that selects the output device with the highest score by the calculation unit are provided.

According to another aspect of the present invention, based on image input characteristic data obtained when a predetermined image is input to an input device, a predetermined amount between each of the image input characteristics and the characteristic data of each of the plurality of output devices is determined. It is determined whether or not the condition is satisfied, and if satisfied, a predetermined score is given, and a calculation step of calculating the sum of the scores corresponding to each of the image input characteristics; And a selecting step of selecting.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION First, the points of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be summarized, and then a detailed description thereof will be given. According to an information processing system of an embodiment of the present invention, in a computer that connects a plurality of printers and a plurality of scanners, the function information of the scanner and the function information of the printer are acquired and stored in a storage unit. The information is collated and the printer to be output is selected.

In this selection, the computer manages the function information of a plurality of connected printers and a plurality of scanners, and when printing the data read from any one of the scanners, the function of the scanner that read the data and the computer. By comparing the functions of the printers managed by
This is done by automatically selecting a printer for printing data according to the performance of the scanner.

Further, the attribute information of the data read from the scanner is acquired, and the computer manages the function information of the plurality of connected printers and the plurality of scanners.
When printing the data read from any of the scanners, the data is printed according to the performance of the scanner by comparing the function of the scanner that read the data and the attribute information of the data with the function of the printer managed by the computer. Automatically select the printer to use.

When the printer and the scanner are subordinate to the computer, the function information of the subordinate devices is acquired through the master and subordinate devices of the printer and the scanner, and the plurality of printers and the plurality of connected printers are acquired. By managing the function information of the scanner and printing the data read from any one of the scanners, by comparing the function of the scanner that has read the data with the function of the printer managed by the computer, depending on the performance of the scanner, Automatically select a printer for printing data.

Further, in a network system including one or more printers, one or more scanners, and one or more servers for managing these printers and scanners for a predetermined network, the scanner functions on the servers. The information and the printer function information are acquired and stored in the storage unit, and the scanner function information and the printer function information and the data attribute information are collated to select the printer to be output.
As a result, the predetermined server manages the function information of a plurality of connected printers and a plurality of scanners, and when printing the data read from any one of the scanners, the function of the scanner that read the data and the management of the computer By comparing the functions of the printers to be used, the printer for printing the data is automatically selected according to the performance of the scanner.

Further, when the attribute information of the data read from the scanner is acquired together with the data, the predetermined server manages the function information of the plurality of connected printers and the plurality of scanners, and when printing any data, By comparing the functions of the scanner that read the data, the printer for printing the data is automatically selected according to the performance of the scanner.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the data read from any of the scanners connected to the computer is printed by any of the printers connected to the computer, the function information of the scanner and the printer is referred to. Without the user having to specify the output printer
It is possible to automatically select and print a printer suitable for printing. In the second invention, in addition to the first invention, the attribute information of the data is managed together with the data read from the scanner, and the user designates the output printer by referring to the information as in the first invention. It is possible to automatically select and print a printer suitable for printing without having to print.

A third aspect of the present invention is the first aspect, even when the connection configurations of the devices in the first and second aspects are different.
As with the invention of the above, by managing and referring to the function information of the scanner and printer, it is possible to automatically select and print a printer suitable for printing without the user having to specify the output printer. To do. In the fourth invention, when the data read from any scanner connected to the network is printed by any printer also connected to the network, the functional information of the scanner and the printer is stored in a server also connected to the network. Managed by the user and referring to the information, the printer selection mechanism suitable for printing is performed not only on the server but also on the computer connected to the network, even if the user does not specify the output printer. It is also possible.

In the fifth aspect of the invention, as in the second aspect of the invention, in the network as well, the attribute information of the data is managed together with the data read from the scanner, and the information is referred to, similarly to the fourth aspect of the invention. It enables a user to automatically select and print a printer suitable for printing without designating an output printer. Hereinafter, a detailed description of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be given with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the system configuration showing the features of the embodiment of the present invention. A computer 1 connects and manages a printer and a scanner. 2
Is an information acquisition unit that acquires function information from each device connected to the computer 1, and stores the acquired information in the storage unit 4.

Reference numeral 3 is an information selection unit for searching the function information stored in the storage unit 4 for optimum information. 4 is
The storage unit stores the information acquired by the information acquisition unit 2 and provides the information to the information selection unit 3. Reference numeral 14 is evaluation condition information having each evaluation condition and a weight value, which is used when the peripheral device is automatically selected. This information will be described later in detail with reference to FIG.

Incidentally, the structure of the computer 1 is depicted in FIG. 1 from the viewpoint of logical processing. The hardware configuration will be described later with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 5 is a first printer connected to the computer 1. 6
Is an information transfer unit for transferring the function information of the first printer 5 to the computer 1.

Reference numeral 7 is a second printer connected to the computer 1. An information transfer unit 8 transfers the function information of the second printer 7 to the computer 1. 9
Is a first scanner connected to the computer 1. An information transfer unit 10 transfers the function information of the first scanner to the computer 1.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a second computer connected to the computer 1.
Is a scanner of. An information transfer unit 12 transfers the function information of the second scanner 11 to the computer 1. 13 is a computer 1, a first printer 5, a second
Printer 7, first scanner 9, second scanner 11
Is a cable to connect.

Next, 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2 in FIG.
-4 is an example of the information description stored in each of the first printer 5, the second printer 7, the first scanner 9, and the second scanner 11. These pieces of information indicate basic characteristics of each device. As the information contents, a device classification name, an ID indicating a device identification code, and
It has items of resolution, color, gradation, and paper size that indicate performance.

In the present embodiment, evaluation conditions and weighting for each condition, which will be described in detail later, are used as a criterion for judging the value of selecting a device. FIG. 3 shows the contents of the evaluation condition information 14, which is an example of the evaluation condition and weighting data. Referring to FIG. 3, the evaluation condition for selecting the device is based on the resolution, color, gradation, and size between the input device and the output device. That is, the resolution is a condition "whether the resolution of the output device is equal to or larger than the resolution of the input device", and the weight for this condition is "2".

Further, regarding color, there is a condition "whether the output device and the input device are both color", and the weight for this condition is "10". Also, regarding color, there is a condition "whether the output device is color and the input device is monochrome", and the weight for this condition is "8". Further, regarding color, there is a condition "whether the output device is monochrome and the input device is color", and the weight for this condition is "1".

Further, regarding color, there is a condition "whether the output device and the input device are both monochrome", and the weight for this condition is "10". Regarding the gradation, there is a condition "whether the gradation of the output device is equal to or larger than the gradation of the input device", and the weight for this condition is "2". Regarding the size, the condition is "is the size of the output device larger than the size of the input device?", And the weight for this condition is "4".

Regarding the size, the condition is "is the size of the output device equal to the size of the input device?"
The weight for this condition is "6". It should be noted that each weight value is given for convenience and is not limited to this numerical value. A method of automatically selecting a printer as an output destination when printing data read from a scanner, which is a feature of the embodiment of the present invention with the above configuration, will be described.

The computer 1 includes a first printer 5, a second printer 7, a first scanner 9 and a second scanner 1.
When the interface with 1 becomes possible, that is,
The cable 13 is used to acquire the function information of each of the first printer 5, the second printer 7, the first scanner 9, and the second scanner 11 at the time of starting or resetting each device.
The function information shown in FIG. 2 is input from each device via.

In the example of FIG. 2, the function information (2-1) of the first printer 5 is such that the device classification is printing device, the ID is printer A, the resolution is 1200 DPI, the color is monochrome,
The gradation is 2, and the sizes are A4 and B4. Further, the function information (2-2) of the second printer 7 is such that the device classification is printing device, the ID is printer B, the resolution is 600 DPI,
The color is color, the gradation is 256, and the size is A4.

Further, the function information (2
-3) is the image reading device as the device classification, the scanner A as the ID, the resolution is 300 DPI, the color is mono, the gradation is 256, and the size is A4. The function information (2-4) of the second scanner 11 includes the image reading device as the device classification, the scanner B as the ID, the resolution of 2400 DPI,
The color is color, the gradation is 24 bits, and the size is B4.

The computer 1 receives the function information from the first printer 5, the second printer 7, the first scanner 9 and the second scanner 11 and stores it in the storage unit 4. Next, an operation command from the computer 1, or
When an image reading operation is performed by the user operating the first scanner 9, the image is read from the first scanner 9.

The read image data is sent to the computer 1 together with the read device ID. In this case, a method of sending the device ID by the information transfer unit 10 separately from the image data, a method of sending the device ID at the same time as the image data by attaching it to the beginning of the image data by the information transfer unit 10, and the like can be considered. And the device I that read the data
The transfer method is not limited as long as D can be handled.

Next, when the work of printing the image data occurs in the computer 1, the computer 1 searches the information selecting unit 3 for the function information of the device read from the device ID attached to the image data. And
Based on the searched function information, the storage unit 4 is searched for the function information (FIG. 2) of the printout device that satisfies the evaluation condition shown in FIG. For example, if the evaluation is performed based on the function information of ID = printer A and the device information of scanner A, the resolution condition is satisfied, the color information condition is satisfied, and the size condition is satisfied.
The weight is 18. The evaluation value for selecting the printer A is 18.

When the evaluation is performed based on the function information of ID = printer B and the device information of scanner A, the resolution condition is satisfied, the color information condition is satisfied, and the size condition is satisfied. The evaluation value for selecting B is 16. As a result, the printer A, which is highly valuable as a printer for printing the data read from the scanner,
Select

Next, an example of the hardware configuration of the computer 1 will be described with reference to FIG. CPU200
Controls the entire computer 1 by reading, interpreting, and executing various control programs (programs corresponding to the above-described processing procedure) stored in the memory 202.

The computer 1 is included in this program.
From the function information stored in the information acquisition unit 2 (FIG. 1) and the storage unit 4 that acquires the function information from each device connected to the
A program corresponding to the process of the information selection unit 3 for searching the optimum information is included. The storage unit 4 that stores the information acquired by the information acquisition unit 2 and provides the information to the information selection unit 3 is assigned to a partial area of the memory 202.

The keyboard 203 and pointing device 204 input commands and data. The display monitor 201 displays processing results of the CPU 200 and commands and data input from the keyboard 203 and pointing device 204. The I / O interface 205 interfaces information with the peripheral devices 5, 7, 9, 11 via the cable 13.

As described above, the feature of the present embodiment is that in a system having a plurality of printers and scanners, the function information of each printer and scanner is managed by a computer and used as an evaluation material for selection. By using the information, an appropriate printer is automatically selected to print the data read from the scanner. In addition,
In the present embodiment, the selection method has the evaluation condition as information and is weighted for selection. However, other than this, a method for selecting an optimum device by pattern matching is also possible. And there is no restriction here on the evaluation method for selection.

In this embodiment, the computer 1 and the first
Printer 5, second printer 7, first scanner 9,
Although the second scanner 11 is connected in the form of FIG. 4A, it may be connected in a slave manner as shown in FIG. 4b regardless of the connection form of each device. In this case, when acquiring the function information, as shown in FIG.
As described above, the information transfer unit of the device on the master side can be easily realized by having the function of transferring the function information and the image information sent from the information transfer unit on the slave side to the slave side.
That is, the function information of the first scanner 9 and the acquired image information are transferred to the computer 1 side by the information transfer unit 10, and at this time, sent to the computer 1 via the information transfer unit 8 and the information transfer unit 6. To be

Although the computer 1 is regarded as an individual computer here, the high-performance peripheral equipment has functions equivalent to those of the computer, such as the information acquisition mechanism and the selection mechanism described above in the printer or the scanner. It is also possible to easily incorporate a printer, and it is also possible to automatically make a copy by including a printer and a scanner. [Second Embodiment] Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

In the present embodiment, in addition to the first embodiment, attribute information regarding an image similar to the function information is added to the read image information. FIG. 5 shows the system configuration of this embodiment. The system configuration is almost the same as that of FIG. 1, but an image information acquisition unit 21, an information acquisition unit 22, and an information acquisition unit 23 are added.

The image information acquisition unit 21 includes an information acquisition unit 22,
The image information and the image attribute information from the information acquisition unit 23 are acquired. The information acquisition unit 22 transfers the attribute information together with the image information read by the first scanner 9. Information acquisition unit 23
Transfers the attribute information together with the image information read by the second scanner 11. Here, this attribute information is the image size and resolution.

With the above configuration, when printing the data read from the scanner, which is a feature of this embodiment,
A method of automatically selecting the output destination printer will be described. The computer 1 includes a first printer 5, a second printer 7,
At the time when the interface with the first scanner 9 and the second scanner 11 becomes possible, that is, when each device is started or reset, the first printer 5, the second printer 7, the first scanner 9 In order to acquire the function information of each of the second scanners 11, the function information shown in FIG. 2 is input from each device via the cable 13.

The respective function information of the first printer 5, the second printer 7, the first scanner 9, and the second scanner 11 are as follows:
The same as in the first embodiment. Also, the evaluation condition information 14
Similar to the first embodiment, the condition item is used as a criterion for determining the value of selecting a device by using the evaluation condition and weighting for each condition. When an image reading operation occurs due to an operation command from the computer 1 or an operation of the second scanner 11 by the user, the image is read from the second scanner 11.

At the same time as the image transfer, the attributes at the time of reading the image are sent from 23 to 21. Here, for example, the attribute information is assumed to be image size = A4 and resolution = 1200 DPI. Next, in the computer 1, by referring to the function information (FIG. 2) for information not included in the image information, the function information of the print output device satisfying the evaluation condition of FIG. 3 is searched from the storage unit 4.

The attribute / function information relating to the image information is
Resolution = 1200DPI, color = color, gradation = 24bi
t, size = A4. Further, from the function information of the printer A stored in the storage unit 4, the value of selecting the printer A is 9, and from the function information of the printer B, the value of selecting the printer B is 16. As a result, the printer B having a high value is selected as a printer for printing the data read from the scanner.

As described above, the feature of this embodiment is that
In a system with multiple printers and scanners,
By managing the function information of each printer and scanner with a computer, and by giving the print data an attribute, when the print data is printed, the information is used as an evaluation material for selecting the printer of the print destination, It is to automatically select an appropriate printer to print the data read from the scanner.

In the present embodiment, the selection method has the evaluation condition as information and is weighted for selection, but in addition to this, the optimum device is selected by pattern matching. It is also possible to do so, and here there is no limitation on the method of selection. In the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the computer 1, the first printer 5, the second printer 7, the first scanner 9, and the second scanner 11 are connected in the format of FIG. 4A. However, the subordinate connection shown in FIG. 4B may be made regardless of the connection form of each device. [Third Embodiment] Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In this embodiment,
In the first embodiment, a case where what has been realized on the computer and each device is replaced with a network will be described. FIG. 7 is a block diagram for explaining the system configuration showing the features of the present embodiment.

Reference numeral 101 is a peripheral device management server for managing printers and scanners. Reference numeral 102 denotes a network interface unit of the peripheral device management server 101. A function information acquisition unit 103 acquires function information of each device connected to the network.

Reference numeral 104 is a selection unit for selecting each device based on the function information acquired by the function information acquisition unit 103. A storage unit 105 stores the function information obtained by the function information acquisition unit 103 and provides information to the selection unit 104. A computer 106 connects and manages a printer and a scanner.

Reference numeral 107 is a network interface section of the computer 106. Reference numeral 108 denotes a first printer A (109) connected to the computer 106, and a first printer A (109).
The information transfer unit has the function information of the scanner A (110) and transfers the function information to the peripheral device management server 101. The first printer A (109) is the computer 10
6 is a printer connected to the printer.

The first scanner A (110) is a scanner connected to the computer 106. Reference numeral 111 denotes a second printer B having a network interface, reference numeral 112 denotes an interface unit thereof, and reference numeral 113 has function information of the second printer B (111) for transferring the function information to the peripheral device management server 101. Is an information transfer unit.

Reference numeral 114 is a second scanner B having a network interface, 115 is an interface unit thereof, and 116 has function information of the second scanner B (114) and transfers the function information to the peripheral device management server 101. This is an information transfer unit for performing. Reference numeral 117 denotes a terminal connected to the network, which is the peripheral device management server 1
A device on the network can be used via 01.

Reference numeral 118 is a network interface unit 117. Note that this embodiment also has function information and evaluation information as in the first embodiment. An embodiment in which the printer as the output destination is automatically selected when printing the data read from the scanner, which is a feature of the present embodiment with the above configuration, will be described.

The peripheral device management server 101 can interface with the computer 106, the second printer B (111), and the second scanner B (114), for example, when each device is activated or reset. , The computer 106, the second printer B (111), and the second scanner B (114) to obtain the respective function information,
Function information is acquired via the function information acquisition unit 103, the information transfer unit 108, the information transfer unit 113, and the information transfer unit 116.

At this time, in the computer 106, by the administrator of the computer 106, the management program of the first printer A 109, the first scanner A (110), etc., the first printer A ( 109) holds the function information of the first scanner A (110) or a function information acquisition request from the peripheral device management server 101 causes the information transfer unit 108 to transfer the first printer A (109) to the first printer A (109). It is assumed that the functional information of the scanner A (110) can be acquired and can be transferred to the peripheral device management server 101.

Function information acquisition unit 103, information transfer unit 10
8, transfer between the information transfer unit 113 and the information transfer unit 116,
This transfer method is realized by the network interface unit 102, the network interface unit 107, the interface unit 112, and the interface unit 115.
Since it varies depending on the network connection method of each device and is already known, it will not be described here. Here, a device connected to the network is
It is sufficient that the function information can be transferred.

The peripheral device management server 101 stores the function information in 4. Next, when an image reading operation for the second scanner B (114) occurs from the user 117 via the network, at 117, based on the information provided by the peripheral device management server, the network interface unit is displayed. Information is exchanged with the second scanner B (114) via the 118 and the interface unit 115.

In the second scanner B (114), 117
The image reading work is started by the image reading request from. The read image data corresponds to the read device I.
It is sent to 117 with D. In this case, a method of sending the device ID by the information transfer unit 116 separately from the image data, a method of sending the device ID at the same time as the image data by attaching it to the beginning of the image data by the information transfer unit 116, etc. Then, any method may be used as long as the correspondence between the image data and the device ID that reads the data can be obtained.

Next, in 117, when an operation of printing the image data occurs, in 117, the device ID attached to the image data is transferred to the selection unit 104. Based on the received ID, the selection unit 104 acquires the corresponding function information and the function information of the printing device from 105, and
Since the color information is satisfied and the size condition is satisfied under the evaluation condition (1), the weight is 18, and the value of selecting the printer A is 18. Further, from the function information of ID = printer B, the resolution condition is satisfied, the color condition is satisfied, and the size condition is satisfied. Therefore, the weight is 16, and the value of selecting printer B is 16. As a result, the printer A having a high value is selected as the printer for printing the data read from the scanner. The search result is returned to 117, and at 117, the image output is requested to the printer A based on this result.

As described above, the feature of this embodiment is that
In a system with multiple printers and scanners,
By managing the function information of each printer and scanner by a computer and using the information as a material for evaluation for selection, an appropriate printer is automatically selected to print the data read from the scanner. In the present embodiment, the selection unit 104 is performed in the peripheral device management server 101, but the selection unit 104 is provided in each device on the network, and the peripheral device management server 101 provides the retained function information. Only by doing so, there is no problem in realizing the present embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the selection result is set to 117
Returning to 117 and requesting printing by 117,
7, by sending the image data including the print request together with the device ID, the method of selecting the output destination in the peripheral device management server 101 and directly issuing the print request to the output destination can be easily realized. Note that, in the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the selection method has the evaluation condition as information and is weighted to make the selection. It is also possible to select an optimum device by using the above method, and the selection method is not limited here.

Needless to say, as in the case where the first embodiment is applied to the second embodiment, the embodiment in which the attribute information is used together with the image information can be easily realized from the present embodiment. The features of this embodiment are:
By managing the function information of the device connected to the network by the server on the network, by using the information, the optimum device is automatically selected when the device is used.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, the system or device enjoys the effects of the present invention by reading the program into the system or device from a storage medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention. It becomes possible.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the function information of the peripheral device connected to the computer or the devices connected to each other is managed in the computer or the peripheral device. When a device use request such as a print request occurs, it is possible to select an optimum device based on the information. That is, the user can select the optimum device without knowing the functions of all the devices connected to the computer.

Further, in addition to the function information regarding the device, the information regarding the data is used in the same manner, whereby the variable function information regarding the device can be used as the further specified information. Further, the same effect can be exerted also on peripheral devices connected to the network.

[0066]

As described above, according to the present invention, an optimum peripheral device can be selected and an image can be formed according to the characteristics of the connected peripheral device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a device configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of function information of each device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an example of evaluation information according to the first embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 4A is a block diagram showing another device configuration according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4B is a block diagram showing another device configuration according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial configuration diagram of another device configuration according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a device configuration of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a device configuration of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a hardware diagram of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Office reference number FI Technical display location H04N 1/00 107 G06F 15/64 400L

Claims (30)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus comprising an input device and a plurality of output devices, comprising: storage means for storing image output characteristic data of each of the output devices; and a predetermined image input to the input device. Based on the image input characteristic data of, it is determined whether or not a predetermined condition between each of the image input characteristics and the characteristic data of each of the plurality of output devices stored in the storage unit is satisfied, and if satisfied, Information processing characterized by comprising: a calculation unit that gives a predetermined score and calculates a total score corresponding to each of the image input characteristics; and a selection unit that selects the output device with the highest score by the calculation unit. apparatus. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the types of the image output characteristic data and the image input characteristic data include resolution. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the types of the image output characteristic data and the image input characteristic data include color. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein types of the image output characteristic data and the image input characteristic data include a gradation number. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the types of the image output characteristic data and the image input characteristic data include a size of a recording medium on which the predetermined data is recorded. 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the color types are color and monochrome. 7. The predetermined condition includes a size condition between a resolution of the image input characteristic data and a resolution of the image output characteristic data of each of the plurality of output devices. Information processing equipment. 8. The information according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined condition includes a combination condition of a color of the image input characteristic data and a color of image output characteristic data of each of the plurality of output devices. Processing equipment. 9. The predetermined condition includes a large or small condition of the number of gradations of the image input characteristic data and the number of gradations of the image output characteristic data of each of the plurality of output devices. The information processing device according to 1. 10. The predetermined condition includes a size condition of a size of a recording medium of the image input characteristic data and a size of a recording medium of the image output characteristic data of each of the plurality of output devices. Item 5. The information processing device according to item 5. 11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit further stores image input characteristic data of each of the input devices. 12. The image input characteristic data when the predetermined image is input to the input device includes: characteristic data detected by the input device when the predetermined image is input to the input device; The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the information processing apparatus is obtained based on the image input characteristic data stored in the storage means. 13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input device is an image scanner. 14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output device is a printer. 15. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the input device and the plurality of output devices are connected to the information processing device via a predetermined network interface. 16. Whether to satisfy a predetermined condition between each of the image input characteristics and each of the characteristic data of a plurality of output devices based on the image input characteristic data when a predetermined image is input to the input device If it is determined whether or not it is satisfied, a predetermined score is given, and a calculation step of calculating the sum of the scores corresponding to each of the image input characteristics; An information processing method comprising: 17. The information processing method according to claim 16, wherein the types of the image output characteristic data and the image input characteristic data include resolution. 18. The type of the image output characteristic data and the image input characteristic data includes a color.
7. The information processing method according to item 6. 19. The information processing method according to claim 16, wherein the types of the image output characteristic data and the image input characteristic data include gradation numbers. 20. The information processing method according to claim 16, wherein the types of the image output characteristic data and the image input characteristic data include a size of a recording medium on which the predetermined data is recorded. 21. The information processing method according to claim 18, wherein the color types are color and monochrome. 22. The predetermined condition includes a size condition between a resolution of the image input characteristic data and a resolution of image output characteristic data of each of the plurality of output devices. Information processing method. 23. The information according to claim 18, wherein the predetermined condition includes a combination condition of a color of the image input characteristic data and a color of the image output characteristic data of each of the plurality of output devices. Processing method. 24. The predetermined condition includes a magnitude condition of the number of gradations of the image input characteristic data and the number of gradations of the image output characteristic data of each of the plurality of output devices. Information processing method described in. 25. The predetermined condition includes a size condition of a size of a recording medium of the image input characteristic data and a size of a recording medium of the image output characteristic data of each of the plurality of output devices. Item 21. An information processing method according to item 20. 26. The information processing method according to claim 16, wherein the storing step further stores image input characteristic data of each of the input devices. 27. Image input characteristic data when the predetermined image is input to the input device include characteristic data detected by the input device when the predetermined image is input to the input device; The information processing method according to claim 17, which is obtained based on the image input characteristic data stored in the storing step. 28. The information processing method according to claim 16, wherein the input device is an image scanner. 29. The information processing method according to claim 16, wherein the output device is a printer. 30. The information processing method according to claim 16, wherein the input device and the plurality of output devices are connected to the information processing device via a predetermined network interface.