KR100594732B1 - Network printing system having a function of public using favorite among users and a method Network printing thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are a network printing system and a network printing method thereof capable of sharing a batch setting among users. The network printing system is provided in the host computer, which provides a printer driver section for generating a batch setting, which is a printing condition for a document by a user, and for controlling the printing operation of the printer based on the batch setting, and in the network and being transmitted from the host computer. It includes a common storage space for storing the batch settings, the printer driver unit has a storage function for storing the batch settings in the common storage space and a loading function for recalling the batch settings previously stored in the common storage space. Therefore, the user's convenience can be improved by storing various batch settings made by users in a common storage space in the network, and loading and using the stored various batch settings when required by various users.

Batch Setup, Public Storage, Printer Driver

Description

Network printing system having a function of public using favorite among users and a method Network printing about}

1 is a conceptual diagram of a network printing system according to the present invention;

2A is a schematic block diagram of a host computer including a printer driver capable of sharing a batch setting according to the present invention;

2B is a view for explaining a batch setting common function by a network printing system according to the present invention;

3A to 3C are diagrams illustrating a process of storing a batch setting in a common storage space among batch setting sharing processes according to the present invention; and

4A to 4D are views illustrating a process of loading a batch setting stored in a common storage space during a batch setting sharing process according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

110: input device 120: display device

130: application program unit 140: printer driver unit

150: ROM 160: RAM

170: I / O interface unit 180: PC control unit

The present invention relates to a network printing system, and more particularly, to a network printing system and a network printing method thereof capable of sharing a collective setting among users in a network.

In a network printing system, at least one printer (or print server), and at least one host computer are interconnected to a local area network (LAN) through a network server, and print data transmitted from the host computer is printed on the printer. A network system that prints sequentially. Such a network system can realize a low cost office automation system by allowing a plurality of users to share a printer.

The host computer is provided with a printer driver provided by the printer manufacturer to control the printing function of the connected printer. The printer driver has a function called batch setting, Quick setting, and Favorite, and it is a function of various functions selected by the user. It is a function to save and use the batch setting, which is the selected function set, on the printer driver in case the collection is used again. That is, when the printer driver is executed after a name suitable for the batch setting is stored and the printer driver is executed, the batch settings stored by the user are displayed in addition to the default value, and then the batch setting corresponding to the appropriate document is selected and used.

Such a conventional batch setting has a disadvantage that cannot be shared among users. That is, the batch settings set by user A are saved on the printer driver on user A's computer, and user B wants to use the same functions as the batch settings set by user A on printer driver on B's computer. You must set a new one in. That is, the user B cannot use the batch settings stored on the printer driver in user A's computer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a network printing system and a network printing method thereof capable of sharing a collective setting among users in a network.

A network printing system according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a network printing system in which at least one or more host computers and at least one printer are interconnected through a server, provided in the host computer, the document by the user A printer driver unit for generating a batch setting which is a printing condition for and controlling a printing operation of the printer based on the batch setting; And a common storage space provided in the network and storing the collective settings transmitted from the host computer, wherein the printer driver unit stores the collective settings in the common storage space and the common storage space. It has a loading function for recalling the batch settings previously stored.

When the batch setting of another model is loaded, the printer driver unit notifies the user of a function not supported by the batch setting of the other model.

On the other hand, according to the present invention, the network printing method for controlling the printing of the printer using a printer driver provided in the host computer by connecting at least one host computer and at least one printer through a server, the first user is A storing step of generating a batch setting which is a printing condition for a predetermined document by using a first printer driver and storing the batch setting in a common storage space in the network; And a second user loading the batch setting previously stored in the common storage space by using a second printer driver to use the batch setting.

When loading the batch setting of the model different from the second printer driver in the loading step, the second printer driver notifying the second user of a function not supported by the batch setting of the other model; do.

Therefore, it is possible to store various batch settings made by various users in a common storage space in the network, and load and use the various stored batch settings when needed by various users, thereby improving user convenience.

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings will be described the present invention in more detail.

1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of a network printing system according to the present invention.

The network printing system includes at least one host computer (101, 102, 103, ...), a user interface (UI), at least one printer (201, 202), and a network server (300) connected to a local area network (LAN). Interconnected via the printer, the printers 201 and 202 print out the print data transmitted in real time from the host computers 101, 102, 103, ... in correspondence with the transmission order.

2 is a schematic block diagram of a host computer including a printer driver having a common function for batch setting according to the present invention.

The host computer includes an input device 110, a display device 120, an application program unit 130, a printer driver 140, a ROM 150, a RAM 160, and an I / O interface unit. 170, and a PC controller 180.

The input device 110 is a device for inputting a user's operation command, and is generally a keyboard, a mouse, or the like.

The display device 120 is a device for displaying the operation state of the host computer to the outside, and is generally a monitor or the like.

The application unit 130 is provided with a variety of applications designed to directly perform a specific function to the user. Examples of applications include word processors, database programs, web browsers, development tools, paint brushes, image editing programs, and communication programs.

The printer driver 140 has various functions for printing a document between a host computer and a printer while having information on a function of a printer, a font, and various commands. According to the present invention, the user performs a function for sharing a batch setting which is a printing condition set by a user for a given document.

The batch setting common function, as shown in FIG. 2B, is to share the batch setting generated by the first computer (ie, the first printer driver) 211 of the first user 210 with other users in the network. Storage function for storing in the common storage space 230 in the network, and the second user 250 loads the batch setting stored in the common storage space 230 to the second computer (ie, the second printer driver) 251. It has a loading function.

In addition, when the second user 250 loads a batch setting of a different model from the second printer driver 251, the second printer driver 251 may be configured to provide a function that is not supported by the batch setting of another loaded model. 2 provides a notification message to the user (250). The batch setting sharing process will be described later in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The ROM 150 is a nonvolatile memory device and stores various control programs necessary to implement various functions of the host computer.

The RAM 160 is a volatile memory device that temporarily stores data according to program execution of the PC controller 190.

The I / O interface unit 170 has an input / output port connected to an external device, and is generally connected to the network server 300 through an NW (Network) port. Therefore, the batch settings generated from the printer driver unit 140 are transmitted to be stored in the common storage space in the network, and the batch settings previously stored from the common storage space are received to be loaded and stored in the printer driver unit 140. do.

The PC controller 180 controls the overall operation of the host computer according to the program stored in the ROM 140.

Hereinafter, the batch setting common function by the printer driver 140 of FIG. 2A will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3A to 3C and 4A to 4D.

 The batch setting common function according to the present invention includes the steps of: first, storing the batch setting set by the first user in the first computer in a common storage space in the network; and second, storing the batch setting stored in the common storage space by another user. Loading into a second computer for use by a second user; and third, a printer model (ie, a printer driver model) stored in a common storage space may be configured to share different batch settings.

3A to 3C show a common storage in a network for sharing a batch setting created by a first user through a first printer driver (where the first printer driver is provided in a first computer used by the first user). It shows the process of storing in the space.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the first user executes the first printer driver to display the printing condition setting screen 300. The print condition setting screen 300 has a common menu window 310 for performing a common function for batch setting.

The first user sets the print condition items for the predetermined document through the print condition setting screen 300 provided by the first printer driver to generate a batch setting. The generated batch setting is stored at a predetermined position in the first computer, and the first user performs a common function for the batch setting generated through the common menu window 310.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the common button 311 in the common menu window 310 is selected to perform a common function for the batch setting ("2UP_Watermark"). When the common button 311 is operated, as shown in FIG. 3B, a sub-menu window 320 indicating whether to save the corresponding batch setting or to load the stored batch setting is displayed.

When the first user selects and operates the storage button 321 to store the collective setting (“2UP_Watermark”), as shown in FIG. 3C, a storage space window 330 for setting a common storage space is displayed. The first user selects a predetermined public storage space in the network and stores the collective setting ("2UP_Watermark") in the selected public storage space. Here, the public storage space is a specific folder that is individually promised between several users, or a specific folder that can be shared by all users in the network due to a specific administrator.

When the cursor is placed on the batch setting ("2UP_Watermark") stored in the common storage space, a right mouse button is operated to display a general context menu. The context menu is the name of the batch setting, the user information that created the batch setting, the file information for the batch setting, and the like. The file information may be represented by text or a simple image.

In this manner, the first user stores the batch settings generated by the first printer driver in a common storage space in the network so that other users can share them.

4A to 4D show that another user, that is, a second user, is stored in a common storage space through a second printer driver (where the second printer driver is provided in a second computer used by the second user). It shows the process of loading to use batch setting.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the second user executes the second printer driver to display the printing condition setting screen 400. The common menu window 410 is provided in the print condition setting screen 400, whereby the second user loads the batch setting stored in a predetermined storage space in the network into the second printer driver.

That is, when the common button 411 of the common menu window 410 is selected and operated, as shown in FIG. 4B, a sub menu window 420 having a selection menu for storing and loading the collective setting is displayed. When the second user selects the loading button 423, as shown in FIG. 4C, a storage space window 430 displaying a predetermined common storage space in the network is displayed. The second user selects a batch setting (“2UP_Watermark”) among various batch settings displayed in the storage space window 430.

When the selected batch setting (2UP_Watermark ") is activated in this way, the batch setting (" 2UP_Watermark ") is loaded on the second printer driver and displayed on the printing condition setting screen 440 corresponding thereto as shown in FIG. 4D. Thus, the second user prints using the loaded batch setting "2UP_Watermark" In addition, the loaded batch setting can be stored in a predetermined position in the second computer of the second user.

On the other hand, in addition to the purpose of sharing the collective settings among users, the collective settings can be shared between models of the printer driver. For example, when the first user creates the batch setting 1 using the first printer driver and stores it in the common storage space, when the second user using the second printer driver loads the batch setting 1, the second printer driver The second model notifies the second user of a function not supported by the batch setting 1 through a message notification box due to differences between models. In general, if the printer driver model is different, there is an additional function related to printing and there is no difference. Therefore, the second printer driver notifies the second user of the unsupported additional function. Accordingly, the second user may newly set a function that is not supported by the batch setting of another model through the second printer driver, or may ignore it when a new setting is not necessary.

In this manner, the batch setting can be shared for printer drivers of different models.

According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the user's convenience by storing various batch settings made by various users in a common storage space in the network and loading and using the stored various batch settings when required by various users.

In addition, even when the model of the printer driver is different, it is possible to use the batch setting in common, as well as improving user convenience, and may be usefully used when testing in a printer developer.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments of the present invention without departing from the spirit of the present invention as claimed in the claims. Anyone skilled in the art can make various modifications, as well as such modifications are within the scope of the claims.

Claims (4)

A network printing system in which at least one host computer and at least one printer are interconnected through a server, A printer driver unit provided in the host computer for generating a batch setting which is a printing condition for a document by a user and controlling a printing operation of the printer based on the batch setting; And And a common storage space provided in the network and storing the batch setting transmitted from the host computer. The printer driver unit, And a loading function for storing the batch setting in the common storage space and a loading function for loading the batch setting previously stored in the common storage space. The method of claim 1, The printer driver unit, When loading the batch setting of another model, the network printing system, characterized in that telling the user about a function that the batch setting of the other model does not support. A network printing method in which at least one host computer and at least one printer are interconnected through a server to control printing of the printer using a printer driver provided in the host computer. A first user generating a batch setting which is a printing condition for a predetermined document using a first printer driver and storing the batch setting in a common storage space in the network; And And a second user loading the batch settings previously stored in the common storage space by using a second printer driver to use the batch settings. The method of claim 3, wherein When loading the batch setting of the second model and the other model in the loading step, The second printer driver further comprises the step of notifying the second user of a function not supported by the batch setting of the other model.

Images