Print setup customization for printer drivers

Abstract

A method for user account-specific management of a printer driver may include verifying a user account associated with a printer driver installed in a host device, and determining a configuration for printing functions supported by the printer driver that is usable by the user account. The method may include indicating, on a user interface device of a host device, a configuration of a print function. The printer driver may include a plurality of user accounts associated therewith including a first user account, and for each of the plurality of user accounts, a configuration of printing functions supported by the printer driver may be custom.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] There are many different types of image forming apparatuses, including dedicated printers, scanners, copiers, facsimile machines, etc., and multifunction products (MFPs). The MFP serves as an all-in-one solution to provide, for example, a combination of printing, copying, scanning, and facsimile functions.

[0002] The image forming apparatus can be connected to a host device in which a printer driver for controlling the printing function of the image forming apparatus is installed. For a plurality of image forming apparatuses that are network-connected to the host device locally or remotely, the host device can use a single universal printer driver (UPD) to perform such printing function control. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] Figure 1 is a diagram conceptually showing the configuration of an example host device consistent with the present disclosure.

[0004] Figure 2 is a diagram schematically showing an example account-specific print function and permission information repository consistent with the present disclosure.

[0005] Figure 3 is a diagram schematically showing an example print function-specific configuration repository consistent with the present disclosure.

[0006] Figure 4 is an example flowchart schematically showing an example method for user account-specific management of an example printer driver consistent with the present disclosure.

[0007] Figure 5 is a diagram schematically showing the Figure 4 operations for determining the configuration of a print function consistent with the present disclosure.

[0008] Figure 6 is an example flowchart schematically showing an example operation for adding a new configuration of a print function consistent with the present disclosure.

[0009] Figure 7 is an example flowchart schematically showing an example operation for modifying the configuration of a print function consistent with the present disclosure.

[0010] Figure 8 is an example flowchart schematically showing an example operation for switching the user account logged into an example printer driver consistent with the present disclosure.

[0011] Figures 9A to 9E shows an example interface for example print functions supported by an example printer driver and for customizing their configurations consistent with the present disclosure.

[0012] Figure 10 Schematic illustration of a computer-readable recording medium including example instructions consistent with the present disclosure. Detailed implementation

[0013] A printer driver is a program that transfers a print job from an application program of a host device (e.g., a computer device) to an image forming apparatus by converting the print job into instructions interpretable by the image forming apparatus and transmitting the instructions to the image forming apparatus. The printer driver can be a printer driver specific to a certain type of image forming apparatus or a universal printer driver (UPD) used by a single driver that supports multiple image forming apparatuses.

[0014] The printer driver can be installed in the host device to control the image forming apparatus by supporting a user account login function. This allows for the generation of multiple user accounts, each of which is also referred to as a login account or an account. Additionally, for each user account, the printer driver can have an associated configuration and be used in association with that configuration. Thus, the printer driver can be used by a user with multiple accounts such that the user can log in to the printer driver using his / her desired user account as needed and then use the image forming apparatus through the printer driver. In an example involving UPD, the user can log in to the UPD using his / her user account and then select which image forming apparatus to use in the UPD as his / her desired printer model.

[0015] Furthermore, the printer driver can support multiple print functions related to the image forming apparatus. Examples of the supported print functions include a watermark function, a preset print option function, a custom paper size function, a special page function, etc. The user can configure the settings of the print functions supported by the printer driver (e.g., via an application supported by the printer driver) and use the settings to execute a print job. For example, when the printer driver supports a watermark function, the user can configure the watermark function in a customized manner with details (e.g., specific setting values) for a print job to be executed using the printer driver. Example details can include values indicating where the watermark is to be placed, its size, its angle, the font to be applied to it, etc. The customized details can be stored as a configuration of the watermark function and reused. Additionally, multiple configurations can be created, stored, and used for each print function supported by the printer driver. In an example where there are multiple watermark forms available for the watermark function, the user can create corresponding configurations for each form for using the watermark function.

[0016] Various examples of the present disclosure provide management of print function specific to a user account, through which the configuration of the print function of a printer driver can be generated, used, and shared in a manner specific to a single user account. For each of the generated configurations of the print function, access permissions such as read / write permissions can be authorized to user accounts other than the user account for which the configuration is generated. In addition, a function can be provided to convert, for example, the user account of a printer driver into another user account corresponding to the connected network environment according to the network environment to which the host device is connected, which can enhance the user experience.

[0017] In some examples, a method for user account-specific management of a printer driver is provided. The method may include: verifying the user account associated with the printer driver installed in the host device; and determining, for the print functions supported by the printer driver, the configurations of the print functions that can be used by the user account. The method may include indicating the configurations of the print functions on a user interface device of the host device. The printer driver may have multiple user accounts associated therewith. For each of the multiple user accounts, the configurations of the print functions supported by the printer driver may be customizable. Thus, the printer driver can support logging in to the printer driver using any of the multiple user accounts and can allow the user account-specific customization of the print functions to be integrated into its configuration for storage and use. In particular, as intended or desired by a user having multiple accounts with their respective authorized access permissions, the user can utilize the account-specific customized print functions.

[0018] The various terms used in the present disclosure are selected from the common term system in view of their roles herein, and these terms may have different understandings according to the intentions, precedents, or emerging technologies of those skilled in the art. In specific instances, some terms are considered to have the meanings elaborated in the detailed description. Accordingly, the terms used herein will be defined in accordance with their meanings in the context of the present disclosure, rather than simply by their names.

[0019] In this document, the terms "including", "including having", "having", "containing", etc. are used when specifying the existence of elements listed thereafter. Unless otherwise specified, these terms and their variants are not intended to exclude the existence or addition of other elements.

[0020] As used herein, ordinal numbers such as "first", "second", etc. are intended to identify a number of similar elements. Unless otherwise specified, such terms are not intended to impose a limitation (e.g., a particular order of these elements or their use), but are only used to refer to multiple elements separately. For example, an element may be referred to using the term "first" in one example, while the same element may be referred to using a different serial number such as "second" or "third" in another example. In such examples, these serial number terms are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, the use of the term "and / or" in a list of multiple elements includes all possible combinations of the listed items, including any one of the multiple items.

[0021] As used herein, the term "image forming job" may cover any one of various image-related jobs that involve operations for forming an image and / or other processing operations, such as generating, storing, and / or transmitting an image file. The term "job" as used herein may cover a series of processes that facilitate an image forming job as well as the image forming job itself. The expression "image forming job performed by an image forming apparatus" may indicate a job related to printing, copying, scanning, faxing, storing, transmitting, coating, etc. Other types of jobs may also be considered.

[0022] As used herein, the term "image forming apparatus" may cover any device among various devices (such as a printer, a scanner, a fax machine, an MFP, a display device, etc.) that are capable of performing an image forming job. In some examples, the image forming apparatus may be a two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) image forming apparatus. Such an image forming apparatus may provide various additional functions as well as basic functions, such as printing, copying, and scanning functions.

[0023] As used herein, the terms "electronic device", "electronic apparatus", or "user device" may refer to any information processing device that can be used by a user, such as a computer, a laptop, a desktop PC, a mobile phone terminal, etc.

[0024] The term "host device" may mean a device that can be connected to an image forming apparatus to control various functions of the image forming apparatus. For example, the host device may include any one of an electronic device, an electronic apparatus, a user device, etc. that can be connected to the image forming apparatus in a wireless or wired manner.

[0025] Each of the terms "unit", "module", "engine", etc. as used herein may refer to a unit for processing a function or operation, which may be implemented as a hardware component (e.g., a processor or a circuit), a software component to be executed by the hardware component, and / or a combination thereof.

[0026] Some examples of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein; rather, these examples are provided to provide a better understanding of the scope of the present disclosure. It is contemplated that some of the individual functions described in one of the accompanying drawings may be implemented independently of each other or in combination.

[0027] These and other functions of the examples will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0028] Figure 1 FIG. is a diagram conceptually showing the configuration of an example host device 100 consistent with the present disclosure.

[0029] Reference Figure 1 , the example host device 100 may include a processing unit 110, a memory 120, and a user interface device 130. Other configurations of the host device 100 may also be considered. In some examples, the host device 100 may further include additional components, such as a power unit for powering the above components, a communication unit for communicating with external entities, and the like. In some examples, the host device 100 may include Figure 1 some, but not all, of the components shown in. Additionally, the host device 100 may not be a single device but may include a plurality of interconnected devices.

[0030] The processing unit 110 may control the overall functions of the host device 100. For example, the processing unit 110 may be implemented with a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or other processing circuitry for performing some or all of the functions of the host device 100. For example, the processing unit 110 may execute instructions stored in the memory 120. The processing unit 110 may also read other information stored in the memory 120. Additionally, the processing unit 110 may store new information in the memory 120 and may update some of the information stored in the memory 120. For example, the processing unit 110 may obtain information for controlling the host device 100 from the memory 120 or may store such information in the memory 120.

[0031] The processing unit 110 may include an account manager 111, an account repository manager 112, a user interface (UI) manager 113, and a print function manager 114. In this regard, each of the managers 111, 112, 113, and 114 refers to an element that performs a specific operation suitable for processing by an information processing device, such as a host device. In other words, each of the managers 111, 112, 113, and 114 may be a unit of processing function or operation and may be implemented as a hardware component (e.g., a processor or a circuit), a software component for execution by a hardware component, and / or a combination thereof. The function or operation may not be performed by a specific unit of the information processing device shown. The managers are not necessarily physically separated from each other, and various managers may be combined into a single or multiple modules. For example, the processing unit 110 may be implemented as a component of a printer driver installed in a host device to control and execute the functions of the printer driver.

[0032] The account manager 111 may manage programs for logging in and out of the printer driver. If a user logs in to the printer driver using a given user account, the account manager 111 may transmit information about the user account to the account repository manager 112 to make a request for user settings, which the printer driver will use in conjunction with the user account. If the user logs out of the printer driver, the account manager 111 may send a request to the account repository manager 112 to invalidate the settings, such as releasing the user account as the current user account of the printer driver.

[0033] As used herein, the phrase "a user account is associated with a printer driver" may include logging a user into the printer driver using the user's specific user account and using a guest account (also referred to as a public account, e.g., an account shared by two or more individuals) to utilize the printer driver. In one example, the guest account may request the input of a password or the like. In another example, the guest account may include an account that is by default not password-protected, and the printer driver is used without such a login process using this default non-password-protected account. Further details thereof are set forth below with respect to related operations.

[0034] One can log in to the printer driver using a user account different from the user account used to log in to the host device or other electronic devices on which the printer driver is installed. For example, these two user accounts can be separated from each other, one for the host device and one for the printer driver. In some examples, a user can start and use the host device by logging in to the host device using the user account for the host device, and then can use multiple applications installed on the host device, such as the printer driver, by logging in to the printer driver using the user account for the printer driver.

[0035] In some examples, a user can create multiple user accounts and use a certain one of the multiple user accounts to log in to the printer driver as needed. For example, the user can generate user accounts for business use and personal use respectively and create different printer driver settings associated with each account.

[0036] The account repository manager 112 can use the account information database (DB) 121 to set and manage user accounts that can be associated with the printer driver and manage the mapping of the repository to the corresponding information related to printing functions and permissions applied to each account. When receiving a request for user settings and information about the user account logging in to the printer driver, the account repository manager 112 can set the user account currently associated with the printer driver in the account information DB 121 based on the received user settings request. In addition, when the printing function of the printer driver is provided with respect to the currently associated user account, the account repository manager 112 can check whether there is a printing function and permissions information repository for reference. If there is no such repository, the account repository manager 112 can generate a printing function and permissions information repository for reference by this user account within the account-specific printing function and permissions information repository 122. In response, the account repository manager 112 can store in the account information DB 121 the location where the generated repository will be referenced in the account-specific printing function and permissions information repository 122.

[0037] The UI manager 113 can generate, modify, and manage the configuration of the printing functions of the printer driver. For example, the UI manager 113 can allow a user to customize and use, as needed, the configuration of one of the printing functions supported by the printer driver. For example, the UI manager 113 can display a user interface (UI) on the user interface device 130 of the host device 100, and receive user input through this user interface, including data to be used for the configuration of the printing function, such as the respective setting values for the configuration, access permissions specific to the user account, etc. After receiving the input, the UI manager 113 can transmit the data included in the received input to the printing function manager 114, so that the printing function manager 114 can generate the configuration of the printing function and make it available in the printer driver. In addition, the UI manager 113 can also read, from the printing function-specific configuration repository 123 in the memory 120, the configurations of the printing functions available to the user through the user account currently associated with the printer driver, and indicate these configurations on the interface of the printer driver or a similar interface.

[0038] The printing function manager 114 can generate and manage each of the printing functions supported by the printer driver. For each printing function, the printing function manager 114 can generate the desired configuration of the user. In response, the printing function manager 114 can store and manage the generated configuration in the printing function-specific configuration repository 123 for use by the printer driver.

[0039] The memory 120 can include a computer-readable storage medium that stores data in a non-transitory form. Therefore, the memory 120 can be implemented using random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), or other types of storage media. The memory 120 can have various information stored therein, such as a set of instructions to be executed by the processing unit 110.

[0040] The memory 120 can have specific information stored therein for use by the exemplary methods and systems for providing customization of the printing functions supported by the print driver. In some examples, the memory 120 can include an account information DB 121, an account-specific printing function and permission information repository 122, and a printing function-specific configuration repository 123. Accordingly, for each of the multiple user accounts that can be associated with the printer driver, the configuration of the printing functions supported by the printer driver can be customized in association with the user account and stored in the memory of the host device. Based on reading the configuration therefrom, the printer driver can perform user-account-specific management operations performed by the printer driver. This will be described in detail below.

[0041] The account information DB 121 may include current user information, such as information about the user account currently associated with the printer driver, and repository information, such as information about the location of the account-specific print function and permission information repository 122 to be referenced by each respective user account. In Figure 1 the example, when a user logs into the printer driver using the user account designated as "User 1", the account information DB may then set that user account as the current user therein. The account information DB 121 may include information indicating that the first user repository in the account-specific print function and permission information repository 122 can be referenced to retrieve information about the print functions and permissions available to the user account "User 1" from the printer driver.

[0042] In the account-specific print function and permission information repository 122, for each of the respective user accounts, it may include information related to the use of the print functions of the printer driver. Regarding Figure 2 further details of the account-specific print function and permission information repository 122 are described. The information stored in the account-specific print function and permission information repository 122 may include information about: one or more print functions available to the user account; one or more configurations for each print function, such as the detailed setting values of the configuration of the print function; and the permissions for each configuration. In an example where multiple user accounts are associated with the printer driver, the account-specific print function and permission information repository 122 may have stored therein information about one or more print functions available to each user account, one or more configurations for each print function, and the permissions for each configuration.

[0043] Figure 2 is a diagram schematically showing an example account-specific print function and permission information repository 122 consistent with the present disclosure. Figure 2Examples show multiple printing functions supported by a printer driver (including a preset printing option function, a watermark function, a custom paper size function, and a special page function), and show multiple accounts registered to use the printer driver, including a guest account and first to nth user accounts. As shown, the guest account printing function and permission information repository 122-0 has information stored therein indicating the following: the preset printing option function and the watermark function are available for the guest account; the preset printing option function has a first general preset printing configuration and a second general preset printing configuration that can be used by the guest account; and the watermark function has a first general watermark configuration that can be used by the guest account. For example, the configurations available to the guest account can be general configurations that can be commonly used by all accounts. In some examples, the guest account printing function and permission information repository 122-0 also has information stored therein regarding the permissions for each respective configuration. For example, for each of the configurations, the stored permission information can indicate whether the account has read-only permission or read / write permission. Thus, when the printer driver is used in association with the guest account, the processing unit 110 (e.g., the account repository manager 112) can reference the guest account printing function and permission information repository 122-0 to obtain information about the printing functions available to the guest account, the configurations of each printing function, and the permissions of the configurations.

[0044] Similarly, as described in the example regarding Figure 2 each of the first to nth user account printing function and permission information repositories 122-1,..., 122-n can have information stored therein regarding one or more printing functions available to a respective one of the first to nth user accounts, one or more configurations of each printing function, and the permissions of each configuration. For example, the first user account can use a first preset printing configuration and have read / write permission for it. Additionally, the first user account can use a second preset printing configuration while having read-only permission for it, e.g., no permission to modify the set values of the configuration. In some examples, these user accounts can use general configurations of each printing function, e.g., the configurations available to the guest account for each printing function.

[0045] Referring back to Figure 1 , details of the general configurations and custom configurations of each printing function supported by the printer driver, such as set values, can be stored in the printing function-specific configuration repository 123. Further details of the printing function-specific configuration repository 122 are described regarding Figure 3 .

[0046] Figure 3 is a diagram schematically showing an example printing function-specific configuration repository 123 consistent with the present disclosure. InFigure 3 In the example of, the printer driver supports printing functions, including, for example, a preset print option function, a watermark function, a custom paper size function, and a special page function. The printer driver (e.g., the UI manager 113 of the processing unit 110) can refer to a configuration repository 123 specific to the printing function to retrieve the printing function-specific configurations that can be commonly used by all user accounts and the printing function-specific custom configurations created by the user. As shown, in Figure 3 In the example of, the preset print configuration repository 123-1 can have detailed setting values stored therein for each configuration applicable to the preset print option function, such as values indicating the following: whether to perform duplex printing, the print paper size, etc. In addition, the watermark configuration repository 123-2 can have detailed setting values stored therein for each configuration applicable to the watermark function, such as values indicating the following: the location where the watermark is to be arranged, its horizontal and vertical offsets, the information to be indicated, the angle at which the information is to be indicated, the font to which it is to be applied, etc. In some examples, the custom paper size configuration repository 123-3 can have detailed setting values stored therein for each configuration applicable to the custom paper size function, such as values indicating the width and height of the paper page, etc. The special page configuration repository 123-4 can have detailed setting values stored therein for each configuration applicable to the special page function, such as values indicating the following: whether to use a cover page, the print options to be applied to a specific page, etc.

[0047] Referring again to Figure 1 , the user interface device 130 can provide an input and / or output interface to the user of the host device 100. In some examples, the user interface device 130 can include a display device serving as an output interface to provide or output the printer driver interface and status of the host device 100, specific messages, installed applications, etc. The display device can be a touch screen or other configuration. In some examples, the user interface device 130 can include an input interface device to receive various inputs from the user. For example, the user can select his / her desired image forming job through such an input interface device or make selections among various options related to the image forming job. In some examples, the user can start an application installed in the host device 100 through the input interface device. The user can also use the input interface device to control the printer driver to perform its functions. Some examples of the input interface device can include a keyboard, a keypad, physical buttons, a touchpad, a touch screen, and other types of devices that can receive user inputs.

[0048] In some examples, the input and output interface devices included in the user interface device 130 may be implemented as separate components or may be combined in a single component. For example, the user interface device 150 may be implemented as a touch screen that is operable as both an output interface device for providing output to a user and an input interface device for receiving input from a user.

[0049] Some example methods for user account-specific management of printer drivers are discussed below. These example methods can be performed by the host device 100. For example, the printer driver can be installed in the host device 100 and implemented using the processing unit 110, the memory 120, and the user interface device 130 to perform the method. For ease of description, it can generally be assumed that the example methods are performed by the host device 100.

[0050] Figure 4 is an example flow chart illustrating an example method S400 for user account-specific management of an example printer driver consistent with the present disclosure.

[0051] The method S400 may include operation S410 of verifying a user account associated with a printer driver installed in the host device 100. In some examples where the printer driver has a plurality of user accounts that may be associated therewith, if a user logs into the printer driver using a user account given for using the image forming apparatus (e.g., a first user account), the host device 100 may verify the user account associated with the printer driver, e.g., the user account currently logged into the printer driver. For example, when the account manager 111 updates the account information DB 121, the host device 100 may reference the updated account information DB 121 to verify the user account currently using the printer driver.

[0052] The method S400 may include operation S420, for the print functions supported by the printer driver, determining the configuration of the print function that can be used by the user account. In the example where the user account verified at S410 is the first user account, one or more print functions of the printer driver available to the first user account and one or more configurations of each print function may be obtained from the memory 120, in particular from the account information DB 121, the account-specific print function and permission information repository 122, and the print function-specific configuration repository 123.

[0053] Method S400 may include operation S430 of indicating, on user interface device 130 of host device 100, one or more configurations of the one or more acquired printing functions. For example, when a user has logged in to the printer driver using a given user account, he / she may check which configurations of each printing function supported by the printer driver are available for use by that user account (such as detailed setting values of a specific watermark, detailed setting values of specific preset printing options, etc.), and select the configurations he / she desires to use that printing function of the printer driver. In addition, information regarding what permissions the user has with respect to the configuration of the printing function may also be indicated on the user interface device, for example, whether the permission is a read-only permission or a read / write permission.

[0054] If logged in to the printer driver using another user account, the configurations of the printing functions corresponding to that user account may be provided to the user. If a guest account that does not involve a login process is used, the configurations of the printing functions corresponding to the guest account may be provided to the user. Thus, for each of the multiple user accounts with which the printer driver may be associated, corresponding customized printing functions may be provided.

[0055] Figure 5 is an example flowchart of operations for determining configurations of printing functions consistent with the present disclosure Figure 4 thereof.

[0056] Operation S420 may include operation S421 of obtaining a list of information identifying printing function-specific configurations available for use by a guest account and the permissions thereto. In some examples, a guest account includes an account used to use the printer driver without logging in to the printer driver. In other words, a guest account that may be used to use the printer driver may be an account shared by multiple users rather than an account customized for a specific user. Thus, as Figure 2 shown in the example of, the guest account printing function and permission information repository 122-0 may be referenced to obtain a list of information identifying the printing functions available for the guest account, the configurations of each printing function, and the permissions for each configuration.

[0057] Operation S420 may include operation S422 of obtaining a list of information identifying printing function-specific configurations available for use by the user account currently associated with the printer driver and the permissions thereto. For example, as Figure 2 shown in the example of, if a first user account is currently associated with the printer driver, the first user account printing function and permission information repository 122-1 may be referenced to obtain a list of information identifying the printing functions available for the first user account, the configurations of each printing function, and the permissions for each configuration.

[0058] Operation S420 may include operation S423 of obtaining a print function-specific configuration corresponding to the obtained list. In an example where a first user account is currently associated with a printer driver, a list of print function-specific configurations available for a guest account and a list of print function-specific configurations available for the first user account may be obtained at operations S421 and S422, respectively. Thus, the print function-specific configuration repository 123 may be referenced to obtain details of each configuration included in each list. In Figure 2 the example of, the following are available for the first user account: a first preset print configuration, a second preset print configuration, a first watermark configuration, and a first custom paper size configuration. In some examples, the following are available for the guest account: a first general preset print configuration, a second general preset print configuration, and a first general watermark configuration. Accordingly, via the printer driver, the first user account may adopt the print function-specific configurations available for the first user account and those available for the guest account. The host device 100 may obtain detailed setting values of the print function-specific configurations by referencing the print function-specific configuration repository 123 as described with respect to Figure 1 and Figure 3 The detailed setting values of the print function-specific configurations may be obtained by referencing the print function-specific configuration repository 123 as described with respect to

[0059] Using the obtained print function-specific configuration indicated, for example, on an interface of the printer driver, the user may check the customized print function and its configuration (e.g., the setting values thereof) for his / her currently logged-in account and may utilize the function. In some cases, information regarding what permissions the user has with respect to the configuration of the print function may also be indicated on the interface, e.g., whether the permission is a read-only permission or a read / write permission.

[0060] Figure 6 FIG. is a flowchart illustrating an example operation of adding a new configuration for a print function consistent with the present disclosure.

[0061] Figure 6 Method S600 is shown as an example of adding a print function configuration, according to which a user may create a custom configuration to be applied when adopting the print functions supported by the printer driver as needed.

[0062] Method S600 may include operation S610 of receiving a request to generate a new configuration for a printing function. In an example where the UI manager 113 of the host device 100 indicates the UI of the printer driver on the UI device 130, the user may create the configuration by specifying, via the UI, custom setting values for the configuration of the printing function he / she desires. For example, to request the generation of a new configuration for a custom paper size function supported by the printer driver, the user may specify the setting values for the new configuration, such as the new width and height of the paper page.

[0063] Method S600 may include operation S620 of generating a new configuration for the printing function according to the request and storing the generated new configuration in a corresponding configuration repository. In some examples, the memory 120 has configurations applicable to respective printing functions and storable therein (e.g., stored in a printing function-specific configuration repository 123) and referenceable by the printer driver, as described above with respect to Figure 1 and Figure 3 For example, if the user creates a new configuration for the custom paper size function, the new configuration may be stored, together with its user-customized setting values, in the custom paper size configuration repository 123-3 and referenced for use by the printer driver.

[0064] Method S600 may include operation S630 of associating the generated new configuration with the user's current user account so that it can be used by the current user account. For example, when a request to generate a new configuration for a printing function is made from a user account associated with the printer driver, the host device records information indicating that the generated new configuration is available and information about the permissions thereto in a repository corresponding to the user account and included in the account-specific printing function and permissions information repository 122. In response, the user account may adopt the generated new configuration. For example, the permissions information may indicate that the user is authorized to have read / write permissions for the new configuration he / she created. Other examples of permissions are also possible. In an example where the user creates a new configuration for the custom paper size function while remaining logged into the printer driver using the first user account, the newly generated custom paper size configuration may be added, together with its matching information about read / write (R / W) permissions thereto, to the list retained in the first user account printing function and permissions information repository 122-1.

[0065] The method S600 may include an operation S640 of verifying whether there is an additional user account to associate the new configuration with. When creating a new configuration of a printing function, a user may share the new configuration he / she creates with a user account other than his / her user account so that the new configuration may be adopted even when logging into the printer driver using other user accounts. For example, the new configuration generation request may include data specifying the rights of other user accounts to access the new configuration.

[0066] If there are other user accounts to be associated, method S600 may include operation S650 to associate the new configuration with the user account. For example, when the new configuration generation request includes information about other user accounts with which the new configuration will be shared and information about the permissions authorized for them, the host device 100 may record information indicating that the generated configuration is available and information about the permissions for it in a repository corresponding to the user account and included in the account-specific print function and permission information repository 122. Therefore, when a user account that is allowed to share the new configuration is logged into the printer driver, the new configuration of the print function can be accessed, while when a user account that has not been added as a sharer is logged into the printer driver, such information cannot be accessed. Operations S640 and S650 may be repeated for all user accounts with which the new configuration is to be shared.

[0067] Figure 7 is an exemplary flow chart exemplarily illustrating example operations for modifying a configuration of a printing function consistent with the present disclosure.

[0068] Figure 7 A method S700 is shown as an example of print function configuration modification, according to which the user can change the configuration to be applied when employing a print function supported by a printer driver as needed.

[0069] Method S700 may include operation S710, receiving a request for modifying a configuration of a printing function. In an example where a user logs in to a printer driver using a given user account, the user may input an input requesting to modify a configuration of a given printing function by changing some setting values ​​of the configuration via an interface of the printer driver. For example, for a certain configuration of a watermark function, a request may be made to modify a location indicating a watermark.

[0070] Method S700 may include operation S720 of verifying whether the user account currently logged into the printer driver (e.g., requesting a modification to the user account utilized) has read / write permissions for the configuration for which the modification is requested. As noted above, each user account may be authorized permissions for the configuration of the printing function, such as read-only permissions or read / write permissions. Thus, if a modification to the configuration of the printing function is requested but the user account only has read-only permissions for it, the modification request may not be accepted. If a modification to the configuration of the printing function is requested and the user account has write permissions for it, the configuration may be modified according to the request. For example, to modify the configuration, the setting value of the configuration stored in the corresponding print function-specific configuration repository for the configuration is modified and stored back into the print function-specific configuration repository. Then, when the configuration is referenced, the modified setting value is returned.

[0071] Figure 8 is a schematic example flowchart showing example operations for transitioning a user account logged into an example printer driver in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0072] In an example, if an event related to the network to which host device 100 is connected occurs, host device 100 (e.g., its event processor (not shown)) may receive the network event from the operating system of host device 100. Such network events may be caused by a change in the network environment to which host device 100 is connected, by a user starting host device 100 and logging into the operating system of host device 100, or by other circumstances. In response to receiving the network event, host device 100 may request and receive information identifying the network environment to which host device 100 is currently connected from the operating system, etc., such as an address like the gateway MAC address on the connected network.

[0073] The memory 120 of the host device 100 may have information about matching user accounts stored therein, and each of the matching user accounts will be used to log in to the printer driver in the corresponding network environment when the host device is connected to the corresponding network environment. For example, in a predetermined specific network environment, the printer driver of the host device 100 may be used with a corresponding user account (e.g., the first user account). In a predetermined different network environment, the printer driver may be used with a corresponding other user account (e.g., the second user account). For example, when a user uses the host device in his / her office, the user account currently used in the printer driver may be switched to his / her corporate email account. When the user uses the host device for private purposes at home, the user account currently used in the printer driver may also be switched. To this end, when a network event is received, the host device 100 may store in the memory 120 (e.g., in the network identifier and account information repository (not shown) of the memory 120) information identifying the network environment to which the host device 100 is currently connected, such as an address on the connected network, e.g., the MAC address of the gateway to which the host device is connected. This can be achieved, for example, by making the identification information match the information about its corresponding matching user account (e.g., email address / login ID, connection password, etc.), which is used to log in to the printer driver. The matching information may be preset by the user, or may be automatically set and updated by verifying the user account used by the user to log in to the printer driver in the corresponding network environment. Other example ways of storing and using the correspondence between a specific network environment and a specific user account are also possible.

[0074] Method S800 may include operation S810 of determining, in response to receiving a network event, whether the network environment to which the host device 100 having a printer driver installed therein is connected is a predetermined network environment, e.g., a first network environment. In some examples, if a network event occurs at the host device 100, e.g., if the network environment to which the host device 100 is connected changes, the event processor of the host device may receive the network event from the operating system. Such network events may be caused by a change in the network to which the electronic device is connected, by the user starting the electronic device and logging in to the operating system, or by other circumstances.

[0075] In some examples, to determine whether the network environment to which the host device is connected is the first network environment, the host device 100 may perform an operation of verifying whether the network identifier of the currently connected network environment is included in a list of network identifiers stored in the network identifier and account information repository (not shown) of the memory 120 of the host device 100.

[0076] Method S800 may include operation S820 of converting a user account used in a printer driver into a second user account corresponding to a first network environment in response to determining that a network environment to which a host device is connected is the first network environment. In an example where the printer driver of the host device is used in association with a first user account, if a network event indicating a change in the network environment to which the host device is connected occurs, a second user account, which is a matching user account for use in the new network environment, may be obtained based on a network identifier of the new network environment and network identifiers included in a network identifier and account information repository of the memory 120. If the obtained user account (e.g., the second user account) is different from the account currently used in the printer driver (e.g., the first user account), the user account used in the printer driver may be converted from the first user account to the second user account. If the first user account is the same as the second user account, there may not be any additional operations for conversion.

[0077] In some examples, the user account conversion operation S820 may be automatically performed without user intervention. In some cases, after outputting information to the interface device 130 to query whether to convert the user account, operation S820 may be performed in response to receiving a reply to the query.

[0078] Method S800 may include operation S830 of determining, after converting from a first user account to a second user account, a configuration of print functions supported by the printer driver that can be used by the second user account. Operation S830 may be the same as the operation described with respect to Figure 4 and Figure 5 Therefore, for details thereof, reference may be made to the relevant parts provided above, and details will not be described herein again.

[0079] Method S800 may include operation S840 of displaying, on a user interface device 130 of the host device 100, one or more configurations indicating one or more obtained print functions. Operation S840 may be the same as the operation described with respect to Figure 4 and Figure 5 Therefore, for details thereof, reference may be made to the relevant parts provided above, and details will not be described herein again.

[0080] The operation of automatically selecting a login account discussed above can help users reduce the inconvenience of manually changing the login account according to changes in the network environment, and can also enable the use of the printing function of the printer driver in a manner specific to the user's desired account, thereby improving user convenience. For example, when a user uses his / her laptop in his / her office and then at home, the above operation may involve configuring the printer driver to use the enterprise account used in the company network in the office to use the printer driver, and then using the personal account used in the home network to use the printer driver.

[0081] Figures 9A to 9E Example interfaces 900, 920, 930, 940, 950, 960, 970 are shown that are consistent with the present disclosure for example printing functions supported by an example printer driver and customization of its configuration.

[0082] In Figure 9A an example, example interface 900 is shown through which the configuration of the watermark function supported by the printer driver can be customized. The user can create and adopt a configuration of the watermark function by entering detailed information (e.g., setting values for the watermark function to be applied to prints made using an image forming device). In some examples, to create and utilize a configuration of the watermark function, values indicating the following may be entered: an identification name for the configuration, e.g., Watermark 1; the type of watermark to be used, e.g., text-based watermark or image-based watermark; the information to be displayed on the watermark; the layout of the watermark; its horizontal and vertical offsets; the angle at which the information is indicated; the font to which it is to be applied, etc. In other examples, different implementations of the values to be entered for the watermark function are possible.

[0083] In Figure 9A an example, interface 900 includes interface 910 through which the permissions of another user account are set to share a configuration to be generated for the watermark function. In Figure 9A an example, the indicated user account "personal@gmail.com" is generating a configuration for the watermark function and is designated as the owner of the configuration. As shown, through interface 910, the owner can share the generated configuration of the watermark function with a specific user account, with all user accounts, or without sharing with user accounts. Additionally, in the case where the configuration is shared, the owner can determine whether to authorize read / write permissions for the configuration, e.g., by selecting the "Editable" button on interface 910, or authorize only read permissions for the configuration, e.g., by not selecting the "Editable" button on interface 910.

[0084] In Figure 9BIn [description], an interface 920 is shown through which the configuration of preset print option functions supported by a printer driver can be customized. A user can create and adopt a configuration of a preset print option function by inputting detailed information (e.g., a setting value of a watermark function to be applied to printing performed using an image forming apparatus). In some examples, in order to create and utilize a configuration of a preset print option function, values indicating the following can be input: an identification name of the configuration, e.g., Custom 01; configurable print options, e.g., whether to perform double-sided printing, the print paper size, etc. In other examples, different embodiments of values to be input for the preset print option function are possible.

[0085] In a manner similar to Figure 9A the example of Figure 9B it is shown that the interface 920 includes an interface 910 through which the permissions of another user account are set to share a configuration to be generated for the preset print option function.

[0086] In Figure 9C an interface 930 is shown through which the configuration of a custom paper size function supported by a printer driver can be customized. As can be seen from the interface 930, a user can create and adopt a configuration of the custom paper size function by inputting detailed information (e.g., a setting value of the custom paper size function to be applied to printing via an image forming apparatus). In an example, in order to create and adopt a configuration of the custom paper size function, values indicating the identification name of the configuration (e.g., Custom 01), the width and height values of the paper page for customization, etc. can be input. In other examples, different embodiments of values to be input for the custom paper size function are possible.

[0087] In a manner similar to Figure 9A the example of Figure 9C it is shown that the interface 930 includes an interface 910 through which the permissions of another user account are set to share a configuration to be generated for the custom paper size function.

[0088] In Figure 9D an interface 940 is shown through which the configuration of a special page function supported by a printer driver can be customized. As can be seen from the interface 940, a user can create and adopt a configuration of the special page function by inputting detailed information (e.g., so as to apply a setting value of the special page function to printing via an image forming apparatus). In an example, in order to create and utilize a configuration of the preset print option function, values indicating the following can be input: the identification name of the configuration; the type of special page to be used, e.g., a cover type or a specific page type; the paper source to be used; the paper page type to be used, etc. In other examples, different embodiments of values to be input for the specific page function are possible.

[0089] With Figure 9A In a similar way to the example, Figure 9D Interface 940 is shown to include interface 910, through which permissions of another user account are set to share the configuration to be generated for the special page function.

[0090] Figure 9E Example interfaces 950, 960, 970 are shown, each of which indicates configuration of print functionality applicable to a corresponding user account utilized to log into a printer driver.

[0091] Assume the watermark function is Figure 9E Print functions to be used in the example. As shown, three configurations, such as Watermark 1, Watermark 2, and Watermark 3, that can be used by the user account "personal@gmail.com" utilized to log in to the printer driver are displayed on interface 950. Unlike the above example using the user account "personal@gmail.com", two configurations, such as Watermark 2 and Watermark 3, that can be used by the user account "user@business.com" utilized to log in to the printer driver are displayed on interface 960. Different configurations can be used for each user account. In addition, unlike the above two examples, a configuration, such as Watermark 3, that can be used by a guest account utilized using the printer driver is displayed on interface 970.

[0092] The user interfaces of the printer driver, each of which has specific information indicated thereon, may be used in a variety of different ways without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

[0093] Figure 10 is a schematic illustration of a computer-readable recording medium 1000 including example instructions consistent with the present disclosure.

[0094] The computer-readable recording medium 1000 may store some operations that can be executed by the processor and can be programmed to implement the above method (for example, the above description of Figure 1 The operation of the host device described in FIG. 9 and the above Figure 1 A computer program comprising elements of the method described in connection with Figures 1 to 9 ).

[0095] The computer program on the computer readable recording medium 1000 may include a set of program instructions 1010, 1020, 1030 that instruct the processor to perform specific operations. Figure 10 , details of the computer program stored in the computer-readable recording medium 1000 will be described.

[0096] A computer program can be instructions 1010, 1020, 1030 that cause a computer to perform operations when executed by the computer. Specifically, the instructions can include: instructions 1010 for verifying a user account associated with a printer driver; instructions 1020 for determining, for a printing function supported by the printer driver, a configuration of the printing function that can be used by the user account; and instructions 1030 for indicating the configuration of the printing function. The computer can include a host device.

[0097] When executing a computer program stored in a computer-readable recording medium 1000, Figure 10 the instructions 1010, 1020, and 1030 shown in and the operations or methods described above with respect to Figure 1 to FIG. 9 can be executed by a computer, such as the host device 100 described above. For further details thereon, reference should be made to the above description.

[0098] The above computer-readable recording medium can be a non-transitory readable medium. The term "non-transitory readable medium" as used herein refers to a medium that can store data semi-permanently and can be read by a device, rather than a medium that stores data temporarily, such as registers, caches, volatile storage devices, etc. For example, the above program instructions can be stored and set in a CD, DVD, hard disk, Blu-ray disc, USB, memory card, ROM device, or any other type of non-transitory readable medium.

[0099] In a specific example, the method disclosed herein can be incorporated into a computer program product. The computer program product can be used as a product for transactions between a seller and a buyer. The computer program product can be distributed in the form of a machine-readable storage medium (such as a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM)), or distributed online through an application store (such as the PlayStore TM ). For online distribution, a part of the computer program product can be temporarily stored or temporarily created in a storage medium, such as the memory of a manufacturer's server, the server of an application store, or a relay server, etc. Online distribution can be performed in various different ways.

[0100] The above description has been presented to illustrate and describe some examples in detail. Modifications and variations are possible in accordance with the above description. In some examples, suitable results can be achieved if the above techniques are performed in a different order and / or if some of the components of the above systems, architectures, devices, circuits, etc. are coupled or combined in a different manner, or are replaced or substituted by other components or their equivalents.

[0101] Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the exact forms disclosed, but is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A method for user account - specific management of a printer driver, the method comprises: verifying a first user account associated with a printer driver installed in a host device; determining, for a printing function supported by the printer driver, a configuration of the printing function that can be used by the first user account; and indicating, on a user interface device of the host device, the configuration of the printing function, wherein: the printer driver has a plurality of user accounts that can be associated with it, the plurality of user accounts including the first user account; and the configuration of the printing function supported by the printer driver is customizable for each user account in the plurality of user accounts.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, each user account in the plurality of user accounts is used to log in to the printer driver.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprises: generating a new configuration in response to receiving a request for generating a new configuration of the printing function; and associating the new configuration that will be available to the first user account with the first user account.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein: the plurality of user accounts includes a guest account, and the guest account is used to use the printer driver without the guest account remaining logged in to the printer driver; the guest account uses a general configuration of the printing function; and in the configurations customized for each user account in the plurality of user accounts, a configuration that authorizes the guest account to have access rights is used.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein: the request includes data specifying the access rights of another user account to the new configuration; and based on the data included in the request, allowing the another user account to access the new configuration of the printing function.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein, determining the configuration that can be used by the first user account includes reading, from a memory of the host device in which the printer driver is installed, the configuration of the printing function associated with the first user account stored therein.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein, the printing function includes at least one of the following: a watermark function, a preset printing option function, a custom paper size function, or a special page function.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprises: in response to receiving a network event, determining whether a network environment connected to the host device is a first network environment; in response to determining that the network environment connected to the host device is the first network environment, converting a user account used in the printer driver from the first user account to a second user account corresponding to the first network environment; determining, for a printing function supported by the printer driver, a configuration of the printing function that can be used by the second user account; and indicating, on the user interface device of the host device, the configuration that can be used by the second user account.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having stored therein a computer program executed by a processor of a host device, the processor being configured to: Verify a first user account associated with a printer driver installed in the host device; Determine, for a printing function supported by the printer driver, a configuration that can be used by the first user account; and Display the configuration of the printing function on a user interface device of the host device, Wherein: The printer driver has a plurality of user accounts that can be associated with it, the plurality of user accounts including the first user account; and The configuration of the printing function supported by the printer driver is customizable for each user account in the plurality of user accounts.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 9, Wherein, Each user account in the plurality of user accounts is used to log in to the printer driver.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 9, Wherein, The processor is further configured to: Generate a new configuration in response to receiving a request to generate a new configuration of the printing function; and Associate the new configuration that will be available to the first user account with the first user account.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 9, Wherein: The plurality of user accounts includes a guest account, and the guest account is used to use the printer driver without the guest account remaining logged in to the printer driver; The guest account uses a general configuration of the printing function; and Among the configurations customized for each user account in the plurality of user accounts, a configuration that authorizes the guest account to access is used.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 9, Wherein, The processor is further configured to: Determine whether the network environment to which the host device is connected is a first network environment in response to receiving a network event; In response to determining that the network environment to which the host device is connected is the first network environment, convert the user account used in the printer driver from the first user account to a second user account corresponding to the first network environment; Determine, for the printing function supported by the printer driver, a configuration of the printing function that can be used by the second user account; And Indicate on the user interface device of the host device the configuration that can be used by the second user account.

14. A host device, Comprising: A processor; A memory for storing instructions; And A user interface device, wherein when executed, the instructions cause the processor to: Verify a first user account associated with a printer driver installed in the host device; Determine, for a printing function supported by the printer driver, a configuration of the printing function that can be used by the first user account; and Indicate on the user interface device of the host device the configuration of the printing function, wherein: The printer driver has a plurality of user accounts associated therewith, and the plurality of user accounts includes the first user account; the configuration of the printing function supported by the printer driver is customizable for each of the plurality of user accounts; and each of the plurality of user accounts is used to log in to the printer driver.

15. The host device according to claim 14, wherein, when executed, the instructions further cause the processor: in response to receiving a network event, determine whether the network environment to which the host device is connected is a first network environment; in response to determining that the network environment to which the host device is connected is the first network environment, convert the user account used in the printer driver from the first user account to a second user account corresponding to the first network environment; determine, for the printing function supported by the printer driver, the configuration that can be used by the second user account; and indicate, on the user interface device of the host device, the configuration that can be used by the second user account.

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