Storage medium, computer, and method for providing an application of a print setting screen

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a storage medium, a computer, and a method regarding an application that provides a print setting screen. An application is provided that acquires data of an icon from an external device. Some embodiments provide a non-transitory storage medium that stores an application that provides a print setting screen for allowing a user to make a print setting that is used to generate a print command provided by a driver in a computer for printing in a printer, wherein, when executed by the computer, the application causes the computer to acquire data of an icon representing the printer from an external device different from the computer via a network, and display the acquired icon on a display unit of the computer.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to an application for providing a print settings screen for a standard driver that can be used in any model. Background Technology

[0002] Conventionally, printing is performed by drivers provided by the printer vendor (printer manufacturer). In recent years, environments have been created that allow printing to be performed without installing drivers provided by the printer vendor. This is because operating system (OS) vendors provide standard drivers. For example, in... The system has a standard driver installed, called the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) class driver. On it, a device called The standard driver. In On it, a device called Standard drivers are functional components of the operating system. Each of these standard drivers outputs print commands compatible with a printing protocol called IPP. Therefore, IPP-enabled printers can receive these print commands and execute prints. A key feature of these standard drivers is that they enable printing from multiple printer models from multiple printer vendors that support the printing protocol. In short, these standard drivers are characterized by their support for a wide variety of printer models.

[0003] In Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-310154, in an information processing device capable of communicating with a printer, a driver installed on the information processing device acquires icon image data representing the printer's appearance from the printer (see [link to patent application]). Figure 7 Then, the driver provides the icon image data to the OS.

[0004] In this way, the OS displays icons on the printer management screen provided by the OS (e.g., the screen for devices and printers) (see...). Figure 2 ). Summary of the Invention

[0005] Embodiments of this disclosure provide a non-transitory storage medium for storing an application that provides a print settings screen for allowing a user to make print settings. These print settings are used to generate print commands provided by a driver in a computer for printing in a printer. When executed by the computer, the application causes the computer to obtain data representing an icon of the printer from an external device different from the computer via a network and displays the obtained icon on the computer's display unit.

[0006] Other features of this disclosure will become clear from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0007] Figure 1 This is a block diagram illustrating a network configuration.

[0008] Figure 2 This is a block diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of the client computer and the cloud printing agent server.

[0009] Figure 3 This is a block diagram illustrating the functions of a printer.

[0010] Figure 4 This is a block diagram illustrating the functional units of the cloud printing agent.

[0011] Figure 5 This is a block diagram illustrating the functional units of the cloud printing service.

[0012] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating the icon retrieval process performed by the cloud printing service when a printer is registered with the cloud printing service.

[0013] Figure 7 This is a table illustrating examples of methods for saving icons in the cloud printing service.

[0014] Figure 8 This is a flowchart illustrating the icon retrieval process performed when a printer is registered on a client computer.

[0015] Figure 9 This is an example of a screen for printing a common dialog box.

[0016] Figure 10 This is an example of a screen with detailed settings.

[0017] Figure 11 This is an example of the sequence diagram illustrating the process of cloud printing service obtaining icons based on icon requests from the operating system.

[0018] Figure 12 This is a sequence diagram illustrating the process of the print settings extension app obtaining an icon from the printer.

[0019] Figure 13 This is an example of displaying an icon on the client computer.

[0020] Figure 14 This is an example of the print settings extension app displaying an icon.

[0021] Figure 15 This is a flowchart illustrating the icon retrieval process performed by the cloud printing agent server.

[0022] Figure 16 This is an example of the sequence diagram illustrating the process of cloud printing service obtaining icons based on icon requests from the operating system.

[0023] Figure 17 This is a flowchart illustrating the process of retrieving icons.

[0024] Figure 18 It is a sequence diagram executed when an instruction to retrieve an icon is given.

[0025] Figure 19 This is the sequence diagram executed when an icon request is made directly to the cloud printing service. Detailed Implementation

[0026] Exemplary embodiments of this disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0027] Figure 1 This is a simplified illustration of a network configuration diagram of the environment of network 150 according to a first exemplary embodiment. Client computer 100 is connected to network 150 to communicate with other devices. Cloud printing compatible printer 201, cloud printing incompatible printer 202, and cloud printing proxy server 300 are connected to an intranet different from the intranet of client computer 100 and are connected to client computer 100 via the Internet. Printer driver distribution service 600, print settings extension application (hereinafter referred to as app) distribution service 400, and cloud printing service 500 are connected to network 150.

[0028] Printer driver distribution service 600 performs web-based distribution of printer drivers to client computer 100. Client computer 100 uses protocols such as Web Services for Devices (WSD) or Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) to search for printers, obtains the printer driver corresponding to the identification information of the found printer from printer driver distribution service 600, and installs the printer driver. If a newer printer driver version than the one installed on client computer 100 is uploaded to printer driver distribution service 600, then client computer 100 automatically or manually obtains the newer printer driver from printer driver distribution service 600 and updates the installed printer driver.

[0029] The Print Setup Extension App Distribution Service 400 is a server that performs services for distributing applications that will be executed by the client computer 100. If the client computer 100 receives a user operation requesting the client computer 100 to install the Print Setup Extension App, or if the application's identifier is described in the printer driver's information file (hereinafter referred to as the "Inf file"), then the client computer 100 obtains the corresponding Print Setup Extension App from the Print Setup Extension App Distribution Service 400 and installs the corresponding Print Setup Extension App.

[0030] Cloud printing service 500 is a service for controlling printing on the Internet, which is built on a cloud (i.e., on the server system) as a server system consisting of multiple servers. In this exemplary embodiment, cloud printing service 500 can connect to each intranet and directly connect to client computer 100 and cloud printing compatible printer 201 via the Internet. On the other hand, cloud printing service 500 can connect to cloud printing incompatible printer 202 via cloud printing proxy server 300.

[0031] Cloud Print Service 500 uses a user ID and password to manage accounts, and users can use this account to access Cloud Print Service 500.

[0032] The cloud printing agent server 300 is a computer with a similar hardware configuration to the client computer 100, on which the cloud printing agent 1054 is installed. The cloud-incompatible printer 202 can connect to the cloud printing service 500 via the cloud printing agent server 300. Therefore, even though the cloud-incompatible printer 202 is incompatible with cloud printing, it can still register in the cloud printing service 500 and provide output.

[0033] Figure 2 This is a hardware configuration diagram illustrating the internal configuration of the client computer 100 and the cloud printing agent server 300.

[0034] exist Figure 2 In the process, the central processing unit (CPU) 101 in the client computer 100 controls the entire device according to the program stored in the read-only memory (ROM) 1021 or random access memory (RAM) 1022 of the auxiliary storage device 105 or the main storage device 102.

[0035] While the CPU 101 performs various processes, the RAM 1022 is also used as a workspace. The secondary storage device 105 stores the operating system (OS) 1053, application 1051, print settings extension app 1052, device management system 1055, and printer driver 1056, including the cloud printer driver 1057. In the following description, the primary storage device 102 and the secondary storage device 105 will be collectively referred to as "storage devices".

[0036] Input devices such as pointing devices 109 (e.g., mouse and touchpad) and keyboard 108 are connected to the client computer 100 via an input interface (I / F) 103 and are used by the user to give various instructions to the client computer 100.

[0037] Output I / F 104 is an interface for outputting data to the outside, such as to output devices like monitor 110 and panel 111.

[0038] Client computer 100 connects to printer 200 (in this exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, the printer is collectively referred to as "printer 200" if it does not support cloud printing) and the system via communication I / F 106 and network 150. Data is exchanged between I / F and modules via common data system bus 107. Furthermore, the processing according to this exemplary embodiment is implemented by CPU 101 performing processing based on a program stored in a storage device.

[0039] In this exemplary embodiment, two drivers (i.e., cloud printer driver 1057 and IPP standard driver) are assumed to be included as standard drivers in operating system 1053.

[0040] The cloud printer driver 1057 is a printer control program capable of issuing print commands to any printer connected to the cloud printing service 500, regardless of the printer model. The IPP standard driver is a printer control program capable of issuing print commands to printers connected to the cloud printing service 500 using the IPP protocol, regardless of the printer model.

[0041] Application 1051 is a general business application, such as a general application capable of editing documents or creating presentation materials. As application 1051, suppose it is an application that can be given print instructions through a user interface (UI) such as a menu.

[0042] Print Settings Extension App 1052 is an application software that works in conjunction with standard printer drivers (such as the cloud printer driver 1057 included in operating system 1053) to perform detailed print settings specific to the target printer. Print Settings Extension App 1052 can store a set of icons for the corresponding printer. For example, it can create an icon for each printer model (i.e., a printer icon). The printer icon can also be described as visual information (graphics or illustrations) representing the printer.

[0043] The device management system 1055 is a program similar to the printer driver 1056, downloaded from the printer driver distribution service 600, and is used to manage various information about the cloud printing incompatible printer 202, which is the output target. Additionally, the device management system 1055 saves the icon corresponding to the output target printer as information other than the information mentioned above.

[0044] Printer driver 1056 is a model-specific printer control program provided by the printer vendor and is assumed to have been obtained from printer driver distribution service 600. Printer driver 1056 can perform detailed device-specific printing settings on its own.

[0045] On the other hand, the only difference between the cloud print agent server 300 and the client computer 100 is the application stored in the auxiliary storage device 105. More specifically, it stores the cloud print agent 1054 instead of the print settings extension app 1052. The cloud print agent 1054 is a program used to convert various communication processes to provide cloud printing service 500 to the cloud print incompatible printer 202.

[0046] In the cloud printing agent server 300, the functional modules other than those mentioned above are similar to the functional modules of the client computer 100, and therefore will not be described.

[0047] The cloud print agent server 300 can be integrated with the client computer 100. In this case, the auxiliary storage device 105 stores all of the following: print settings extension app 1052, cloud printer driver 1057, cloud print agent 1054, device management system 155, and printer driver 1056.

[0048] Figure 3 This is a block diagram illustrating the functional blocks of a printer 200, which serves as an example of an image processing apparatus according to this exemplary embodiment. The configuration of printer 200 also applies to cloud printing compatible printer 201 and cloud printing incompatible printer 202.

[0049] A control unit 221, including a CPU 222, controls the operation of the entire printer 200. The CPU 222 reads control programs stored in the memory 223 or storage unit 224 and executes various types of control, such as print control and read control. The memory 223 is used as a workspace or a temporary storage area for loading various control programs. The storage unit 224 stores print data, image data, various programs, and various setting information. In this exemplary embodiment, an auxiliary storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) is assumed to be the storage unit 224. Alternatively, non-volatile memory such as a solid-state drive (SSD) can be used instead of an HDD. Hardware such as the CPU 222, memory 223, and storage unit 224 constitutes a so-called computer in this way.

[0050] Processing unit 230 has the functionality of a raster image processor (RIP) that rasterizes the print data received via network 150 to generate image data. Processing unit 230 has the capabilities of an image processing unit and can also perform resolution conversion and correction processing on the image. This exemplary embodiment assumes that the image processing unit is implemented by hardware circuitry (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) or Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)). However, it is not limited thereto. Alternatively, for example, printer 200 may include a processor for image processing, and the processor for image processing may execute an image processing program to perform image processing and rasterization processing on the print data. Additionally, a configuration may be adopted in which CPU 222 executes a program for performing image processing, thereby performing image processing and rasterization processing on the print data. Alternatively, image processing may be performed based on a combination of any of these methods.

[0051] The operation unit 227 includes a liquid crystal display unit with touch panel functionality and various hardware keys. The operation unit 227 functions as a display unit 226 for displaying information and a receiving unit for receiving instructions from the user, or as a reading unit for reading documents, thereby generating a read image. The generated read image is stored in the storage unit 224. The print image generated by the processing unit 230 through analyzing print data is transmitted from the control unit 221 to the printing unit 228. Then, the printing unit 228 receives control commands and the print image via the control unit 221, and based on the image, prints the image on a sheet fed from a sheet feed cassette (not shown).

[0052] Control unit 221 is connected to network 150 via network communication unit 225. Network communication unit 225 transmits images and information to communication devices on network 150, or receives print data and information from communication devices on network 150.

[0053] Printer information storage unit 229 stores a hardware ID (hereinafter, "HWID"), capability information, and icon as an identifier to uniquely distinguish printer 200. Printer information storage unit 229 may reside in storage unit 224.

[0054] Figure 4 This is a functional block diagram of the cloud printing agent 1054 according to this exemplary embodiment.

[0055] The cloud printing agent 1054 is an application with conversion capabilities, enabling the use of the cloud printing incompatible printer 202 within the cloud printing service 500. In this exemplary embodiment, the cloud printing agent 1054 has the functions of a driver registration unit 301, a job management unit 302, an authentication unit 303, and a registered driver list 310. The driver registration unit 301 lists printer drivers 1056 pre-registered in the cloud printing agent server 300, receives user selections, registers the corresponding printer driver 1056 in the cloud printing service 500, and if registration is successful, registers the corresponding printer driver 1056 in the registered driver list 310.

[0056] The job management unit 302 receives print jobs from the cloud printing service 500 and, depending on the situation, sends the print jobs directly to the cloud printing compatible printer 201.

[0057] Authentication unit 303 manages credential information such as user ID and password used by users for cloud printing service 500. This functionality can exist within cloud printing service 500, which authenticates credential information.

[0058] Figure 5 This is a functional block diagram illustrating a cloud printing service 500 according to this exemplary embodiment.

[0059] Cloud printing service 500 is a service that exists in the cloud via the Internet and can provide printing-related functions. In this exemplary embodiment, cloud printing service 500 has the functions of printer registration unit 501, print queue generation unit 502, printer list generation unit 503, search response unit 504, and printer database 510. In addition, cloud printing service 500 has the functions of print job management unit 505, print job generation unit 506, and print job storage area 511. These functions can exist in another cloud printing service that cooperates with cloud printing service 500.

[0060] If the printer registration unit 501 receives a printer registration instruction from the cloud-compatible printer 201, then the printer registration unit 501 uses the print queue generation unit 502 to generate a print queue and registers the generated print queue in the printer database 510, associating it with the printer's identification information. The printer database 510 also stores the printer's icon. The cloud-incompatible printer 202 needs to be registered using the registration operation of the cloud printing agent server 300. The state in which the printer's print queue and the printer's identification information are registered in this way is described as "printer registered". Various attributes can be added to the printer registered at this time. For example, the printer's location corresponds to one of the attributes.

[0061] The printer list generation unit 503 generates a list of registered printers.

[0062] Search response unit 504 returns information about registered printers in response to a printer search event performed by client computer 100 on cloud printing service 500.

[0063] The print job management unit 505 receives print jobs from the client computer 100 and, if necessary, sends them directly to the printer 200. Alternatively, the print job management unit 505 temporarily stores the print jobs in the print job storage area 511 and transmits them to the print job generation unit 506 at a time when the output destination printer is determined. The print job generation unit 506 then converts the print jobs into an appropriate format and sends the converted print jobs.

[0064] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating the process by which the cloud printing service 500 acquires an icon when a printer is registered with the cloud printing service 500 according to this exemplary embodiment. Therefore, unless otherwise stated, the operations in this flowchart are performed by the cloud printing service 500. In this flowchart, information about the icons that can be acquired is included in the printer's specifications.

[0065] In step S600, this flowchart begins when the user selects a printer and registers it with the cloud printing service 500. If the printer to be registered is a cloud printing compatible printer 201, the user can also perform this registration operation through the web UI (not shown) included in the cloud printing compatible printer 201 according to this exemplary embodiment. In step S600, the cloud printing service 500 receives the device registration operation performed by the user. In step S601, the cloud printing service 500 determines whether the printer is a cloud printing compatible printer. If it is determined that the printer is a cloud printing compatible printer 201 ("Yes" in step S601), then the process proceeds to step S602. In step S602, the cloud printing service 500 makes an icon acquisition request to the cloud printing compatible printer 201, which is the registration target in step S600.

[0066] On the other hand, in step S601, if it is determined that the printer is not directly connected to the cloud printing service 500 ("No" in step S601), then the process proceeds to step S603. This situation will be described below in a second exemplary embodiment (for ease of description, this situation will be described as a different exemplary embodiment. However, steps S602 and S603 can be performed in the same product, and therefore in the same exemplary embodiment). In step S604, if the icon requested in step S602 or S603 is successfully received ("Yes" in step S604), then the process proceeds to step S605. In step S605, the cloud printing service 500 stores the received icon in the printer database 510 in association with identification information about the printer. For example, as... Figure 7 As shown, an icon is saved for each printer in association with its HWID. On the other hand, in step S604, if the icon reception is unsuccessful (No in step S604), the cloud printing service 500 will save an appropriate icon, generalized for the printer model, in the printer database 510 in association with the identification information, using the printer's identification information.

[0067] <Another method A according to the first exemplary embodiment>

[0068] In step S602, the cloud printing service 500 may not simply make an icon retrieval request, but may employ the following method. Specifically, the printer 201 pre-sends a request to the cloud printing service 500 for the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) information indicating the storage location of the icon. More specifically, in the IPP operation "Get-Printer-Attributes", the printer 201 transmits a request to the cloud printing service 500 to obtain information about the attribute "printer-static-resource-directory-uri". Then, in step S602, the cloud printing service 500 responds to this request. More specifically, the cloud printing service 500 responds by sending the URL information indicating the storage location of the icon to the printer 201. Furthermore, in detail, when the cloud printing service 500 responds to the IPP operation "Get-Printer-Attributes", the cloud printing service 500 sets the URL information in the attribute "printer-static-resource-directory-uri" and transmits the attribute containing the URL information to the printer 201. Then, printer 201 sends the icon to the URL indicated by the URL information and saves the icon in the storage location. More specifically, printer 201 uses the PUT method in the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) to transmit the icon to the URL. Based on another method A, in step S604, cloud printing service 500 does not check whether the icon was successfully received, but rather checks whether the icon is saved in the storage location. Then, if the icon is saved in the storage location ("Yes" in step S604), the process proceeds to step S605. In step S605, cloud printing service 500 saves the URL information and device information (identification information about the printer) in association.

[0069] Another method B>

[0070] refer to Figure 6The described exemplary embodiment has a configuration in which printer 201 transmits icon data to cloud printing service 500. Alternatively, a configuration can be adopted in which printer 201 itself does not transmit icon data, but instead informs cloud printing service 500 of information (URL information) about the location where the icon data is stored. This configuration is based on the premise that the server that pre-stores the icon data exists in the cloud and printer 201 maintains URL information about the icon data. In this case, the icon is obtained in step S602 through the following process: Printer 201 transmits URL information indicating the storage location of the icon to cloud printing service 500. More specifically, in the operation "Set-Printer-Attributes" in IPP, printer 201 sets the URL information in the attribute "printer-static-resource-directory-uri". Then, printer 201 transmits the attribute in which the URL information is set to cloud printing service 500, thereby transmitting the URL information. In this case, "printer-static-resource-directory-uri" is the name of an IPP attribute that can store a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI), and static information about the printer (such as icon information) is stored at the URI. If the icon is not pre-stored in the URL, printer 201 can transmit the icon information to the icon's storage location via the HTTP PUT operation.

[0071] If the URL information is successfully obtained in step S604 (Yes in step S604), then the process proceeds to step S605. In step S605, the cloud printing service 500 saves the URL information of the storage location of the indicator icon in association with the device information.

[0072] Figure 8This is a flowchart illustrating the process of the operating system 1053 operating on the client computer 100 acquiring the printer icon during the printer registration process. The steps are performed by the operating system 1053. This flowchart begins with the process where the operating system 1053 searches for printers in response to a print operation performed by the user through application 1051. In step S800, the operating system 1053 searches for printers using protocols such as WSD or IPP and lists the names of the found printers. Additionally, in step S800, the operating system 1053 also detects printers registered in the cloud printing service 500 that allow users to provide output from it. In other words, even if the cloud-compatible printer 201 and the cloud-incompatible printer 202 are not on the same intranet as the client computer 100, if the cloud-compatible printer 201 and the cloud-incompatible printer 202 are registered in the cloud printing service 500, then they can be found through printer search. Operating system 1053 stores the detection flag information indicating whether the detected printer group was detected through WSD search, IPP search, or the printer on cloud printing service 500.

[0073] Next, in step S801, the operating system 1053 receives a registration operation (selection operation) for registering a printer (name) selected by the user from the printers listed in step S800. In step S802, the operating system 1053 determines the selected printer received in step S801. In step S803, the operating system 1053 determines whether the printer is a printer on the cloud printing service 500 based on the stored detection flag information about the printer selected in step S801. If the printer is a printer on the cloud printing service 500 ("Yes" in step S803), then the process proceeds to step S804.

[0074] In step S804, based on the detection flag information saved in step S800, the operating system 1053 identifies the driver to be installed as the cloud printer driver 1057. Then, the operating system 1053 installs the identified cloud printer driver 1057, creates a print queue, and associates the installed cloud printer driver 1057 and the print queue with each other.

[0075] Next, in step S805, based on the HWID used to identify the printer, the operating system 1053 downloads the driver extension package from the printer driver distribution service 600.

[0076] The driver extension package is an example of a package distributed from the printer driver distribution service 600. A driver extension package is an information file that can be distributed from the printer driver distribution service 600 and includes the printer's HWID, identifier information about the print settings extension app1052, information indicating that this package is a driver extension package, and information such as the version of the driver extension package.

[0077] Then, in step S806, the operating system 1053 installs the driver extension package downloaded in step S805. The operating system 1053 then associates the installed driver extension package with the print queue.

[0078] Next, in step S807, based on the identifier information about the print settings extension app 1052 described in the driver extension package, the operating system 1053 searches for the print settings extension app 1052 in the print settings extension app distribution service 400. In other words, the operating system 1053 searches for the print settings extension app 1052 that has the same identifier information as described in the driver extension package. Then, the operating system 1053 downloads the print settings extension app 1052 found through the search.

[0079] In this exemplary embodiment, in the print settings extension app distribution service 400, the identifier information about print settings extension app 1052 described in the driver extension package and print settings extension app 1052 are associated with each other on a one-to-one basis. In other words, if a search is performed based on the identifier information described in the driver extension package, only one print settings extension app will always be found, not two or more. The print settings extension app distribution service 400 may store association information (hereinafter, "metadata") related to the identifier information about print settings extension app 1052 and the HWID included in the printer information. In this case, a mechanism is provided for downloading the appropriate print settings extension app 1052 using the metadata.

[0080] In step S808, the operating system 1053 installs the print settings extension app 1052 downloaded in step S807.

[0081] After installing the print settings extension app 1052, the operating system 1053 associates the print settings extension app 1052 with the print queue of the printer selected in step S801 on a one-to-one basis. The print queue then maintains information about the printer's model and print settings, which the print settings extension app 1052 can obtain and construct and present an appropriate print settings UI corresponding to the obtained information. Alternatively, the print settings extension app 1052 can communicate directly with the cloud printing service 500 to obtain model and print settings information about the target printer and use the obtained information to construct and provide the UI. In either case, if the installation of the print settings extension app 1052 is complete, the user can use the changes in detailed print settings. An example of printing using the print settings extension app 1052 is described.

[0082] When a user performs printing using a standard driver (cloud printer driver 1057 or IPP standard driver), the user issues a print command through application 1051 on the client computer 100. As a specific example, the user presses "Print" in the file menu of application 1051.

[0083] As part of normal application operation, if application 1051 receives a print command from the user, then application 1051 instructs operating system 1053 to display. Figure 9 The print general dialog box shown is a print settings screen provided by operating system 1053. Operating system 1053 receives instructions from application 1051 and displays the print general dialog box. The print general dialog box displayed by operating system 1053 can list printers installed on client computer 100 and allows specifying the pages to be printed and setting the number of copies. The user can select the print queue of the printer from which they want to output from the print general dialog box, press the detailed settings button (object) displayed on the same screen, and give instructions to change the print settings for the print queue. At this time, operating system 1053 begins the print settings extension app 1052 associated with the print queue and displays... Figure 10 The print settings change UI is shown. For example, it allows users to configure image processing settings (such as density and hue), set whether to combine stamps, and set punch and binding positions. If a user changes print settings on the print settings UI and gives a print command, the operating system 1053, receiving the command, notifies the driver associated with the print queue of the print settings. In response, the driver transmits the data to be printed to the printer or cloud printing service 500. More specifically, the data to be printed is transmitted to the printer in the case of an IPP standard driver, and to the cloud printing service 500 in the case of a cloud printer driver 1057.

[0084] In step S809, based on the HWID of the printer, the operating system 1053 sends an icon request to the cloud printing service 500.

[0085] The cloud printing service, having received the icon request, has sent a 500 error to the request source, such as... Figure 7 The saved icons shown are those that match the received HWID. The operating system 1053 then associates the received icons with the print queue. The icons associated with the print queue are displayed as icons representing the print queue on the printer management screen shown by the operating system 1053.

[0086] In this flowchart, the operating system 1053 sends an icon retrieval request to the cloud printing service 500. Alternatively, the print settings extension app 1052 can send the icon retrieval request. In this case, the print settings extension app 1052 provides the retrieved icon to the operating system 1053. Alternatively, the configuration can be such that when the print settings extension app 1052 sends a retrieval request to the cloud printing service 500, the print settings extension app 1052 responds to the request from the operating system 1053 by sending the retrieval request in return.

[0087] In this exemplary embodiment, the cloud printing service 500 pre-obtains an icon from the printer. Then, the operating system 1053 or the print settings extension app 1052 sends an icon retrieval request to the cloud printing service 500. However, if the operating system 1053 or the print settings extension app 1052 sends an icon retrieval request to the cloud printing service 500, the cloud printing service 500, having already received the request, can also retrieve the icon from the printer upon receipt. Alternatively, the print settings extension app 1052 can be pre-included with icons corresponding to each model of printer supported by the print settings extension app 1052 before installation. In this case, the print settings extension app 1052 only needs to retrieve the icon from the area included in the print settings extension app 1052, without needing to retrieve the icon from the printer or the cloud printing service 500.

[0088] <Continued from another method A according to the first exemplary embodiment>

[0089] In step S809, an icon request can be made through the following process. First, the operating system 1053 requests URL information indicating the storage location of the icon from the cloud printing service 500. More specifically, the operating system 1053 transmits the operation "Get-Printer-Attributes" in the IPP to the cloud printing service 500. At this time, the operating system 1053 sets the IPP attribute "printer-static-resource-directory-uri" as the argument of the operation. This requests the value of "printer-static-resource-directory-uri". The cloud printing service 500, having received the request, returns the value of "printer-static-resource-directory-uri" to the operating system 1053. This value stores the URL information indicating the storage location of the icon (URL information previously received from the printer, or, if the icon has been moved to another location, URL information about that other location). Therefore, the URL information is transmitted to the operating system 1053. Then, the operating system 1053 transmits the icon request to the URL indicated by the obtained URL information. Thus, the icon is sent from the storage location, and the operating system 1053 receives the icon. Moreover, in another method B, the same operation as in another method A is performed in this step.

[0090] Figure 11 This is a sequence diagram illustrating the process by which cloud printing service 500 retrieves an icon in response to an icon request from operating system 1053. This sequence diagram illustrates... Figure 8 An example of the sequence included in step S809.

[0091] In step S1100, this sequence diagram begins with the processing whereby the operating system 1053 makes an icon request to the cloud print compatible printer 201 corresponding to the print queue associated with the cloud print service 500. As described above, the icon request can also be made using another method by using URL information. In this case, similar to the above description, the icon is also obtained using URL information in the icon return in step S1103. Then, in step S1101, the cloud print service 500, which has received the icon acquisition request, sends the icon acquisition request to the cloud print compatible printer 201 that made the request. As described above, this icon acquisition request can also be made using another method by using URL information. In this case, similar to the above description, the icon is also obtained using URL information in the icon return in step S1102.

[0092] Then, in step S1102, the cloud-compatible printer 201, having received the icon acquisition request, transmits the icon stored in the printer information storage unit 229 to the cloud printing service 500, which is the request source. In step S1103, the cloud printing service 500, having received the icon transmitted in step S1102, transmits the icon to the operating system 1053, which is the icon request source. Then, in step S1104, the operating system 1053, having received the icon, associates the icon with the print queue.

[0093] In step S1103, the icon received by the cloud printing service 500 can be as follows: Figure 7 The information shown is saved in association with the printer, or it can be saved temporarily.

[0094] In this exemplary embodiment, a method for obtaining an icon from the cloud printing service 500 has been described. Alternatively, based on HWID, the operating system 1053 can determine and obtain an appropriate icon from a set of icons stored in the print settings extension app 1052. The operating system 1053 may also associate the icon with a print queue.

[0095] On the other hand, in step S803, if it is determined, based on the detection flag information created in step S800, that the printer selected by the user performing the registration operation is not a printer on the cloud printing service 500 ("No" in step S803), then the process proceeds to step S810. In step S810, based on the detection flag information created in step S800, if the printer selected by the user in step S801 was found through a method other than IPP search ("Yes" in step S810), then the process proceeds to step S811. In step S811, based on the detection flag information, the operating system 1053 downloads the corresponding driver from the printer driver distribution service 600 based on HWID, installs the corresponding driver, and creates a print queue. HWID is used to determine the corresponding driver. Then, in step S812, the operating system 1053 downloads the device management system 1055 corresponding to the printer. In step S813, the operating system 1053 obtains the icon existing in the device management system 1055 downloaded in step S812 and associates the icon with the created print queue.

[0096] On the other hand, in step S810, if it is determined, based on the detection flag information created in step S800, that the printer selected by the user in step S801 was found through an IPP search ("No" in step S810), then the process proceeds to step S814. In step S814, the IPP standard driver defined by the operating system 1053 communicates with the printer according to the standard and generates a print queue reflecting the required capability information.

[0097] In this manner, operating system 1053 installs the IPP standard driver, which enables printing on multiple printer models from multiple printer vendors. After installing the IPP standard driver, operating system 1053 connects to the printer via a print queue. Therefore, operating system 1053 is configured to send print commands only to the printer to which operating system 1053 is connected. In step S814, a print queue associated with the installed IPP standard driver is created on operating system 1053. The processes in steps S815 to S818 are similar to those in steps S805 to S808 and are therefore not described. In step S819, based on printer information (such as HWID), operating system 1053 selects and retrieves an appropriate icon from a set of icons stored in the print settings extension app 1052 installed in step S818. Operating system 1053 can then associate the retrieved icon with the print queue created in step S814.

[0098] Instead of step S819, such as Figure 12 As shown in the sequence diagram, the print settings extension app 1052 can obtain an icon from the printer 200. Alternatively, the print settings extension app 1052 can obtain an icon suitable for the printer determined in step S802 from a plurality of icons pre-included in the print settings extension app 1052. In step S1200, the print settings extension app 1052 makes an icon request to the printer 200. Then, in step S1201, the printer 200 returns the icon stored in the printer information storage unit 229 to the requesting source. In step S1202, the print settings extension app 1052, having received the returned icon, saves the icon. The print settings extension app 1052 can associate the icon with a print queue. Alternatively, as... Figure 16 As shown, the print settings extension app 1052 can obtain access information from the printer 200 about the access (link) to the server storing the icons, access the server based on the link, and retrieve the icons from the server.

[0099] For example, Figure 8 The icon obtained from the image is displayed by the operating system 1053 as shown in the image. Figure 13The screen system shown displays a list of peripheral devices of the operating system 1053 (i.e., a printer management screen for managing devices such as printers). In the print settings extension app 1052, which is installed in association with the printer driver 1056 during printer driver installation, the icon corresponding to the print settings extension app 1052 can be pressed on the screen displaying a list of applications 1051 installed on the client computer 100. Then, on the screen of the print settings extension app 1052 opened by pressing the icon, the pressed icon (…) can be displayed. Figure 14 ).

[0100] Through the above process, the printer icon can also be obtained on the cloud printing service 500. This is based on the screen displaying the list of peripheral devices on the operating system 1053. Figure 13 Or print settings to extend the screen of app 1052 ( Figure 14 The icons displayed on the printer allow users to easily identify the printer they are connected to.

[0101] In the first exemplary embodiment, the cloud printing service 500 can obtain an icon from the printer 200 or the cloud printing compatible printer 201, and the operating system 1053 or the print settings extension app 1052 can obtain the icon and display it on the screen. However, if the cloud printing incompatible printer 202 is being used in the cloud printing service 500, the cloud printing incompatible printer 202 connects to the cloud printing service 500 via the cloud printing proxy server 300, therefore, the method according to the first exemplary embodiment cannot be implemented.

[0102] Therefore, in the second exemplary embodiment, reference Figure 6 It provides a description of how to obtain icons even when using cloud printing service 500 or from cloud printing incompatible printer 202.

[0103] exist Figure 6 In step S600, the process begins when the cloud printing service 500 receives a registration operation performed by a user of the cloud printing incompatible printer 202 using the cloud printing agent 1054. Then, in step S601, if it is determined that the registered printer is not directly connected to the cloud printing service 500 (No in step S601), the process proceeds to step S603. In step S603, the cloud printing service 500 sends an icon retrieval request to the cloud printing agent server 300. The following process is similar to that in the first exemplary embodiment and therefore will not be described.

[0104] Figure 15 This is an example of one of them. Figure 6The flowchart in step S603 shows the process of the cloud printing agent server 300 receiving the icon acquisition request, acquiring and returning the icon of the cloud printing incompatible printer 202.

[0105] This flowchart begins when the cloud printing agent server 300 receives an icon request from the cloud printing service 500 and determines whether the requested printer icon exists in the device management system 1055.

[0106] For example, consider Microsoft's Device Stage as the device management system 1055. More specifically, Device Stage is a mechanism for extending the functionality of various peripheral devices and is initiated by the device management system 1055 built into the operating system 1053. The device management system 1055 detects that the user has selected a peripheral device. Then, the device management system 1055 automatically downloads the necessary control software (drivers) and applications for extending functionality from a server on the Internet (the printer driver distribution service 600 in this exemplary embodiment). In this exemplary embodiment, the icon corresponding to the printer is also stored on the server.

[0107] In step S1500, if the device management system 1055 corresponding to the requested printer exists in the cloud printing agent server 300 ("Yes" in step S1500), then the process proceeds to step S1501. In step S1501, the cloud printing agent server 300 obtains an icon existing in the primary storage device 102 or the secondary storage device 105. Then, in step S1502, the cloud printing agent server 300 transmits the icon obtained in step S1501 to the cloud printing service 500, which is the request source. In step S1500, if the device management system 1055 corresponding to the requested printer does not exist ("No" in step S1500), then the cloud printing agent server 300 transmits information indicating that the icon acquisition failed to the request source.

[0108] Through the above process, the icon for the cloud printing incompatible printer 202 can also be obtained on the cloud printing service 500. This is based on the screen displaying the list of peripheral devices on the operating system 1053. Figure 13 Or print settings to extend the screen of app 1052 ( Figure 14 The printer icon displayed on the screen allows users to easily identify the printer they are connected to.

[0109] Next, a third exemplary embodiment will be described. Figure 16 This is an example of the sequence diagram illustrating the process by which the operating system 1053 retrieves icons when the cloud printing service 500 manages the location (URL) where the icon data is stored, rather than the icon data itself.

[0110] In step S1602, the operating system 1053 transmits an icon storage location request and an HWID to the cloud printing service 500. In step S1603, the cloud printing service 500 retrieves the storage location (URL) of the icon corresponding to the transmitted HWID from the printer database 510 and transmits this storage location to the operating system 1053 as an icon storage location response. In step S1604, the operating system 1053 transmits an icon request to the icon data storage server 1601 indicated by the icon storage location (URL) transmitted in step S1603. In step S1605, the icon data storage server 1601 transmits icon data to the operating system 1053.

[0111] In the first exemplary embodiment and the second exemplary embodiment, as already provided... Figure 8 The description shown illustrates a method for obtaining an icon in a process where the driver for the selected printer is installed after a printer search.

[0112] In the fourth exemplary embodiment, a method for obtaining an icon when starting the print settings extension app 1052 is described.

[0113] Figure 17 This is a flowchart illustrating the process of obtaining the icon when a user starts the Print Settings Extension app 1052. This flowchart begins when the user starts the Print Settings Extension app 1052.

[0114] In step S1700, the print settings extension app 1052, having received the start command, obtains a list of printers associated with it. There is a possibility that the print settings extension app 1052 is associated with all the printers described in the driver extension package. Therefore, in step S1701, the print settings extension app 1052 needs to check if there is an icon associated with each printer in the list of printers obtained in step S1700. The print settings extension app 1052 checks whether the corresponding printers and icons are associated with each other. If there are printers without associated icons ("No" in step S1701), then the process proceeds to step S1702. The acquisition of icons in step S1702 is based on... Figure 18 The processing flow shown in the sequence diagram is executed. At this time, in step S1800, the print settings extension app 1052 instructs the operating system 1053 to make an icon request. Steps S1801 to S1805 are as follows: Figure 8 Example of step S809 in Figure 11Steps S1100 to S1104 described herein are similar and therefore will not be described further. In step S1806, the operating system 1053 passes the icon received in step S1804 to the print settings extension app 1052.

[0115] Figure 18 This is a sequence diagram illustrating a scenario where the print settings extension app 1052 instructs the operating system 1053 to retrieve the icon. On the other hand, it is also possible that... Figure 19 As shown, the print settings extension app 1052 makes an icon request to the cloud printing service 500 directly without going through the operating system 1053.

[0116] In this scenario, in step S1900, the print settings extension app 1052 sends an icon request to the cloud printing service 500. Steps S1901 and S1902 are related to... Figure 11 Steps S1101 and S1102 are similar and will not be described. Next, in step S1903, the cloud printing service 500 passes the acquired icon to the print settings extension app 1052.

[0117] In step S1904, the print settings extension app 1052 saves the icon received in step S1903 as associated with the corresponding printer. In step S1905, the print settings extension app 1052 passes the icon received in step S1903 to the operating system 1053. In step S1906, the operating system 1053 saves the received icon as associated with the corresponding printer queue. Figure 18 and Figure 19 In any of these embodiments, the print settings extension app 1052 can request an icon from the cloud print server as described above. Alternatively, as described in the third exemplary embodiment, after requesting URL information indicating the storage location of the icon, the print settings extension app 1052 can make an icon retrieval request to the URL indicated by the URL information. Alternatively, the print settings extension app 1052 can maintain URL information about the URL of a pre-stored icon. Then, using the HWID of the printer to which the print settings extension app 1052 is connected as a query parameter, the print settings extension app 1052 can transmit an icon request to the URL storing the icon and receive the corresponding icon.

[0118] In step S1703, if the reception of the icon requested in step S1702 fails (No in step S1703), the process proceeds to step S1704. In step S1704, based on information obtained at this time through a process (not shown) (such as HWID or tag type), the print settings extension app 1052 can determine the attributes of the corresponding printer, such as whether the printer is a personal printer or an office printer. Then, based on the determined attributes, the print settings extension app 1052 can save a default icon associated with the determined attributes. In step S1703, if the reception of the icon requested in step S1702 is successful (Yes in step S1703), the print settings extension app 1052 saves the icon associated with the corresponding device, and the process proceeds to step S1705. In step S1705, the print settings extension app 1052 displays a UI that is activated after the association between all printers and icons associated with the activated print settings extension app 1052 is completed. As part of the UI display content, the icons saved in steps S1702 and S1704 can be displayed.

[0119] Other embodiments

[0120] One or more embodiments of the present invention can also be implemented by a computer that reads and executes computer-executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium (which may also be more fully referred to as a "non-transitory computer-readable storage medium") to perform the functions of one or more embodiments described above and / or includes one or more circuits (e.g., application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs)) for performing the functions of one or more embodiments described above, and by a method performed by a computer of a system or device by, for example, reading and executing computer-executable instructions from a storage medium to perform the functions of one or more embodiments described above and / or controlling one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more embodiments described above. The computer may include one or more processors (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor unit (MPU)) and may include a network of individual computers or individual processors to read and execute computer-executable instructions. The computer-executable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or a storage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, a hard disk, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), a storage device for a distributed computing system, an optical disc (such as a CD, DVD, or Blu-ray disc), or a digital versatile disc (BD). TM One or more of the following: flash memory devices, memory cards, etc.

[0121] The embodiments of the present invention can also be implemented by providing software (programs) that perform the functions of the above embodiments to a system or device via a network or various storage media, and the computer or central processing unit (CPU) or microprocessor unit (MPU) of the system or device reads out and executes the program.

[0122] While this disclosure includes exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the appended claims should be given the broadest interpretation to cover all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

Claims

1. A non-transitory storage medium for a storage application, the application providing a print settings screen for allowing a user to configure print settings used to generate print commands provided by a driver in a computer for printing in a printer, wherein, When executed by a computer, the application causes the computer to: By using the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) to receive a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) from a cloud printing service via the Internet to obtain data representing the printer's icon; Access the received URL and retrieve icon data from an external device that is different from the computer and different from the cloud printing service; as well as The acquired icon will be displayed on the computer's display unit.

2. The non-transitory storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the driver is a standard driver provided as a function of the operating system.

3. The non-transitory storage medium according to claim 2, wherein the standard driver is a driver compatible with multiple printer models from multiple vendors.

4. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 1, wherein the driver provides print commands via a print server system existing between the printer and the computer.

5. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 1, wherein the application causes a computer to perform a receiving step of receiving a Uniform Resource Locator URL for obtaining data representing an icon of a printer, and in the obtaining step, obtaining the icon data by accessing the URL.

6. The non-transitory storage medium according to claim 5, The driver provides print commands via a print server system that exists between the printer and the computer, and The URL mentioned above is the URL sent from the printer via the print server system.

7. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 6, wherein the URL is a URL sent using the attribute "printer-static-resource-directory-uri" in the Internet Printing Protocol.

8. A computer with an application installed thereon, the application providing a print settings screen for allowing a user to configure print settings used to generate print commands provided by a driver in the computer for printing in a printer, wherein, When executed by a computer, the application causes the computer to perform the following operations: By using the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) to receive a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) from a cloud printing service via the Internet to obtain data representing the printer's icon; Access the received URL and retrieve icon data from an external device that is different from the computer and different from the cloud printing service; as well as The acquired icon will be displayed on the computer's display unit.

9. The computer of claim 8, wherein the driver is a standard driver provided as a function of the operating system.

10. The computer of claim 9, wherein the standard driver is a driver compatible with multiple printer models from multiple vendors.

11. The computer of claim 8, wherein the driver provides printing commands via a print server system existing between the printer and the computer.

12. The computer of claim 8, wherein the computer further performs a receiving step of receiving a Uniform Resource Locator URL for obtaining data representing an icon of a printer, and in the obtaining step, obtaining the icon data by accessing the URL.

13. The computer according to claim 12, The driver provides print commands via a print server system that exists between the printer and the computer, and The URL mentioned above is the URL sent from the printer via the print server system.

14. The computer of claim 13, wherein the URL is a URL sent using the attribute "printer-static-resource-directory-uri" in the Internet Printing Protocol.

15. A method executed by a computer, the computer executing an application that provides a print settings screen for allowing a user to make print settings used to generate print commands provided by a driver in the computer for printing in a printer, the method comprising: By using the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) to receive a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) from a cloud printing service via the Internet to obtain data representing the printer's icon; Access the received URL and retrieve icon data from an external device that is different from the computer and different from the cloud printing service; as well as The acquired icon will be displayed on the computer's display unit.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the driver is a standard driver provided as a function of the operating system.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the standard driver is a driver compatible with multiple printer models from multiple vendors.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the driver provides print commands via a print server system existing between the printer and the computer.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising causing a computer to perform a receiving step of receiving a Uniform Resource Locator URL for obtaining data representing an icon of a printer, and in the obtaining step, obtaining the icon data by accessing the URL.

20. The method according to claim 19, The driver provides print commands via a print server system that exists between the printer and the computer, and The URL mentioned above is the URL sent from the printer via the print server system.

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