Printing control program product, printing system and print production method

Abstract

The invention provides a printing control program product, a printing system, and a printed matter production method which can perform printing using image difference in an environment in which printing processing using a general-purpose printer driver is performed. A print control program included in a print control program product according to one embodiment of the present disclosure causes a computer to execute an acquisition process, a display process, a generation process, and an instruction process. The acquisition process acquires print data from a general-purpose printer driver (16). The display process displays a user interface image that causes a user to specify additional data to be added to the print data and an additional position of the additional data in the print data. The generation process generates a print job for performing printing in which additional data is added to an additional position of the print data. The instruction process causes the printer to execute printing based on the print job.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a printing control program, a printing system, and a printed matter production method. Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for causing a printer to perform booklet printing in an information processing device installed with an OS (Operating System)-compliant printing program, namely, an OS-compliant printer driver.

[0003] However, printing processing using image differences cannot be considered universal processing and cannot be handled by general-purpose printer drivers such as OS-standard printer drivers. Therefore, it is desirable to develop a technology that enables printing using image differences in an environment where printing processing using a general-purpose printer driver is performed.

[0004] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-56754 Summary of the Invention

[0005] A printing control program product involved in one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a printing control program, which causes a computer to perform the following processing, namely: an acquisition processing, which acquires printing data from a universal printer driver; a display processing, which displays a user interface image for allowing a user to specify additional data to be added to the printing data and an additional position of the additional data in the printing data; a generation processing, which generates a printing task for printing with the additional data added to the additional position of the printing data; and an instruction processing, which causes a printer to perform printing based on the printing task.

[0006] A printing system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a printer and a terminal device, wherein the terminal device includes: a universal printer driver; an acquisition processing unit that acquires print data from the universal printer driver; a display processing unit that displays a user interface image for allowing a user to specify additional data to be added to the print data and an additional position of the additional data in the print data; a generation processing unit that generates a print task for printing with the additional data added to the additional position of the print data; and an instruction processing unit that causes the printer to execute printing based on the print task.

[0007] A printed matter production method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes the following processes: an acquisition process for acquiring print data from a universal printer driver; a display process for displaying a user interface image for allowing a user to specify additional data to be added to the print data and an additional position of the additional data in the print data; a generation process for generating a print task; and a printing process for producing a printed matter with the additional data added to the additional position of the print data by a printer performing printing based on the print task. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Figure 1 This is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a printing system according to an embodiment.

[0009] Figure 2 For use in Figure 1 A sequence diagram illustrating a first example of generation processing in a printing system.

[0010] Figure 3 For use in Figure 1 A sequence diagram illustrating a second example of generation processing in a printing system.

[0011] Figure 4 For use in Figure 1 A sequence diagram illustrating an example of a serial number printing process in a printing system.

[0012] Figure 5 For the next Figure 4 The sequence diagram.

[0013] Figure 6 To express Figure 4 as well as Figure 5 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface image displayed during the serial number printing process.

[0014] Figure 7 To express Figure 4 as well as Figure 5 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing another example of a user interface image displayed during the serial number printing process.

[0015] Figure 8 To express the passage Figure 4 as well as Figure 5 Schematic diagram of an example of a series of printed materials printed by the serial printing process.

[0016] Figure 9 For use in Figure 1 A sequence diagram illustrating an example of variable printing processing in a printing system.

[0017] Figure 10 For the next Figure 9 The sequence diagram.

[0018] Figure 11 To express in Figure 9 as well as Figure 10 Schematic diagram of an example of a character string file referred to in a variable printing process and an example of a series of printed materials printed by the variable printing process with reference to the character string file.

[0019] Figure 12 A diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, each figure is merely an example for describing the embodiments of the present invention. In addition, the structural elements described in the embodiments of the present invention are not all essential structural elements of the present invention.

[0021] Example

[0022] System structure

[0023] use Figure 1 , a structural example of the printing system involved in this embodiment is described. Figure 1 This is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a printing system according to this embodiment.

[0024] like Figure 1 As shown, the printing system 100 according to this embodiment may include a terminal device 10 , a printer A 31 , a printer B 32 , and a printer C 33 .

[0025] The terminal device 10 is an information processing device with communication capabilities, such as a PC (Personal Computer), smartphone, or tablet terminal, and can be used by users who wish to print. The terminal device 10 can be either a portable or desktop information processing device. The terminal device 10 can be connected to printers A 31, B 32, and C 33 via a network N1. Although not shown, the printing system 100 may include multiple terminal devices 10.

[0026] Printer A 31, printer B 32, and printer C 33 are all examples of printers that can print on a medium after receiving print data. Each printer produces printed materials by performing such printing. For convenience, the printing system 100 is described as including three printers, but it can also include multiple printers. Each printer may also be referred to as a printing device or an image forming device. The printing method used by each printer is arbitrary, and various printing methods such as inkjet printing and laser printing can be applied. The printers included in the printing system 100 may be of the same model or different models.

[0027] Each printer may be any device as long as it has a printing function and a communication function, and may also be a multifunction peripheral having other functions such as a scanning function, a copying function, and a facsimile transmission function.

[0028] The terminal device 10 can issue a print instruction to a printer selected by a user operation from among printers A 31, B 32, and C 33 that are registered and recognized as printers to perform printing. Below, an example is given in which printers A 31, B 32, and C 33 are all registered and recognized as printers to perform printing in the terminal device 10.

[0029] Hereinafter, a configuration example of the terminal device 10 will be described in detail. In addition, descriptions of the configuration examples of each printer will be omitted.

[0030] Configuration of the terminal device 10

[0031] like Figure 1 As shown, the terminal device 10 may include a control unit 11 , a storage unit 12 , a communication unit 13 , an operation unit 14 , and a display unit 15 .

[0032] The control unit 11 controls the entire terminal device 10. The control unit 11 can be configured to include, for example, a processing unit, a working memory, and a storage device for storing control programs, parameters, etc. The processing unit can be a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), etc. The control unit 11 can also be configured as a SoC (System on a Chip). As can be seen from these examples, the control unit 11 can be configured to store the control program in an executable state. However, the control unit 11 can also be configured to store a part of the control program as a circuit structure like an FPGA (field-programmable gate array), or it can be configured as a dedicated circuit.

[0033] The above-mentioned control program may include a program for the processing unit to perform printing-related processing while cooperating with the storage unit 12, the communication unit 13, the operation unit 14, and the display unit 15. The above-mentioned control program may include an OS. In addition, since the OS is an OS installed on the terminal device 10, it becomes an OS of a type corresponding to the model of the terminal device 10, etc. The above-mentioned control program can include a web browser inside or outside the OS. Although an example is given below in which at least a part of the control program is stored in the storage unit 12 provided separately from the control unit 11, the storage unit 12 may also be a part of the storage device in the control unit 11. In other words, the storage unit 12 may also be considered to be a part of the control unit 11.

[0034] The storage unit 12 is a storage device such as a hard disk drive, solid-state drive, or other memory device. The storage unit 12 stores a universal printer driver 16 (described later) and a vendor support application 17, which are part of the control program, in a state executable by the control unit 11. Hereinafter, the vendor support application will be referred to as the vendor support app. Furthermore, the storage unit 12 can store various data, such as files to be printed.

[0035] The communication unit 13 communicates with external devices such as printers via network N1, either wirelessly or by wire, in accordance with various mobile communication standards or Wi-Fi (registered trademark, hereinafter referred to as the same) standards. The communication unit 13 can be comprised of one or more communication interfaces that facilitate this communication. Network N1 is typically a local area network (LAN). Examples of communication interfaces include antennas and cable connectors.

[0036] The operation unit 14 is the part that accepts user operations of the terminal device 10 and may also be referred to as the operation acceptance unit. The operation unit 14 may be implemented by, for example, one or more of physical buttons, a touch panel mounted on the display unit 15, a pointing device, and a keyboard. In a configuration where the operation unit 14 includes a touch panel, the display unit 15 and the touch panel are both included and may also be referred to as the operation panel of the terminal device 10.

[0037] The display unit 15 displays a user interface (UI) image for operating the terminal device 10 and is composed of a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic electroluminescent display. Alternatively, the display unit 15 may include a display and a drive circuit for driving the display.

[0038] The universal printer driver 16 is described below. The universal printer driver 16 is an OS-standard printer driver included in the operating system (OS) or included with the control program. For example, the universal printer driver 16 is a printer driver that complies with the Windows (registered trademark, hereinafter referred to as the same) OS. The universal printer driver 16 can be a program that controls and prints to a wide variety of printers. Furthermore, the universal printer driver 16 may also be referred to as an OS-wide printing program or a universal printing program.

[0039] The universal printer driver 16 uses universal protocols for printer search and printing. For example, the universal printer driver 16 uses mDNS / DNS-SD for printer search and IPP for printing. DNS stands for Domain Name System. mDNS stands for multicast DNS. DNS-SD stands for DNS Service Discovery. IPP stands for Internet Printing Protocol.

[0040] As can be seen from this example, the universal printer driver 16 can be, for example, an IPP Class driver. IPP is an example of a standard protocol for managing and controlling printers and printing. IPP acquires and controls printer information through HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) POST requests and responses. IPP allows for printer settings and printer status acquisition. By using HTTPS (HTTPS Secure) instead of HTTP, secure communication is possible.

[0041] The following describes the vendor assistance app 17. The vendor assistance app 17 is an application that assists the universal printer driver 16 and is used to expand the functionality of the universal printer driver 16. Therefore, the universal printer driver 16 may have the function of launching the vendor assistance app 17 and sending print jobs to the vendor assistance app 17. The vendor assistance app 17 may be, for example, a print support application (PSA). A print job is an instruction for a series of actions to print one or more printed materials, including print data and print settings. When printing multiple printed materials, a print job may be an instruction for a series of actions to print materials with the same print content.

[0042] The vendor support app 17 assists the universal printer driver 16 and can be a program that causes a computer to execute print control appropriate for the performance of a target printer, that is, print control that supports the unique functions of the printer. The computer referred to here refers to the terminal device 10 or the control unit 11. In this embodiment, the unique functions of the printer include printing functions that utilize image differences. Upon receiving a print job from the universal printer driver 16, the vendor support app 17 can convert the print job so that printing using the unique functions of the printer can be executed by the designated printer. Furthermore, conversion of the print job can include conversion of print data.

[0043] The vendor support app 17 is an application provided by the printer vendor, etc. The vendor support app 17 can be provided to the user of the terminal device 10 by, for example, publishing it in an application store provided by the OS. Alternatively, the vendor support app 17 can be included in the OS or attached to the OS and provided to the user.

[0044] Furthermore, the Vendor Support App 17 includes the print control program described below. This print control program can also be installed as, for example, a PSA. This print control program causes the computer to execute the acquisition, display, generation, and instruction processes described below. The computer referred to here also refers to the terminal device 10 or the control unit 11.

[0045] The acquisition process acquires print data from the universal printer driver 16. The vendor support app 17 can acquire print data from the universal printer driver 16 through inter-process communication. The print data can be, for example, data converted by the universal printer driver 16 into data for printing, for a print target file specified by the user.

[0046] The display process displays a UI image that allows the user to specify the additional data to be added to the print data and the additional location of the additional data in the print data. The additional data can be set as character string data or image data. The display destination can be set as the display unit 15. Figure 7 An example of such a UI image is described below. The UI image includes an image shown in the print data as a preview image, so that the user can execute the additional data and the designation of the additional position while confirming it.

[0047] The display process can be performed on the print data acquired in the acquisition process. However, in the case where the size of the image shown in the print data is pre-set, the display process can also be performed before the acquisition process. In such a case and in the case where a preview image is included in the UI image, it is sufficient to set the preview image to, for example, a blank preview image. In addition, even if the size of the image is not pre-set, the display process can be performed at the center position of the image, the upper left position, the upper right position, the lower left position, the lower right position, the upper center position, the lower center position, etc., regardless of the size of the image, and an additional position can be specified. In addition, the upper side and the lower side of the image can also be designated as the header area and the footer area, respectively.

[0048] The generation process generates a print job for printing with the additional data added to the additional position of the print data. The instruction process causes the printer to execute printing based on the print job. The instruction related to the instruction process can be sent directly to the printer or sent to the printer via the universal printer driver 16. The printer A 31 or other printer that receives the instruction executes the print job to print the image represented by the data obtained by the acquisition process with the additional data added to the additional position. This printing produces a printed product with the additional data added to the additional position of the print data.

[0049] The print job generated by the generation process may include, for example, the print data acquired by the acquisition process, the additional data, and the additional location. The additional data and the additional location may be included in the print job as a print setting, such as embedding the additional data at the additional location of the print data included in the print job. Alternatively, the generated print job may include print data that has been modified by embedding the additional data at the additional location of the print data acquired by the acquisition process. In this case, the vendor assistance app 17 generates a print job including the modified print data and transmits the print job to the printer during the instruction process. Therefore, the printer does not perform any additional processing and only executes printing based on the print job.

[0050] While the above description primarily focuses on the print control program involved in this embodiment, in other words, this embodiment can provide a printed matter production method that includes the aforementioned acquisition, display, generation, and instruction processes to produce printed matter. Specifically, this printed matter production method includes: an acquisition process for acquiring print data from a universal printer driver; and a display of a UI image that allows the user to specify additional data to be added to the print data and the location within the print data where the additional data should be added. Furthermore, this printed matter production method includes: a generation process for generating a print job; and a printing process in which a printer executes printing based on the print job, producing a printed matter with the additional data added to the location within the print data where the additional data should be added.

[0051] In other words, the printing system 100 includes a terminal device, exemplified by the terminal device 10, and a printer, exemplified by the printer A 31, connected to the terminal device. Furthermore, the terminal device includes a universal printer driver 16, and the following acquisition processing unit, display processing unit, generation processing unit, and instruction processing unit.

[0052] The acquisition processing unit acquires print data from the universal printer driver 16. The display processing unit displays a UI image that allows the user to specify additional data to be added to the print data and the location in the print data where the additional data should be added. The generation processing unit generates a print job that prints the additional data at the location in the print data where the additional data should be added. The instruction processing unit causes the printer to execute printing based on the print job.

[0053] Effects of this embodiment

[0054] Before describing a more specific example of the printing process in this embodiment, the effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0055] As described above, in printing system 100, the print control program, exemplified by the vendor assistance app 17, can send a print instruction based on a print job that appends additional data to print data as a print instruction to the printer. Therefore, according to this embodiment, in a print process using the universal printer driver 16, it is possible to perform printing using image differences, which cannot be handled by the universal printer driver 16 alone. In other words, according to this embodiment, printing using image differences is possible in an environment where a print process using the universal printer driver is performed. For example, according to this embodiment, the function of performing printing using image differences can be implemented using a print control program such as a PSA that assists the universal printer driver 16.

[0056] Specific example of printing process according to this embodiment

[0057] The following example illustrates printing using printer A 31 among the printers included in the printing system 100, but the same applies to printing using printer B 32 or printer C 33. Furthermore, the following example illustrates an example in which the vendor support app 17 installs a print control program that performs the aforementioned acquisition, display, generation, and instruction processing.

[0058] As described above, the print process of this embodiment includes a process for generating a print job that prints the additional data at the location where the print data should be added, in order to execute the print process using image differences. To execute this process and the display process, which can be called pre-processing, the universal printer driver 16 and the vendor support app 17 may prepare functions such as those described below.

[0059] The universal printer driver 16 has the function of sending data other than print data to the vendor support app 17. Specifically, the universal printer driver 16 can also send additional data, such as background image data, a designated appending location, or a designated character string or image data, input by a user operation, to the vendor support app 17. Here, background image data can refer to image data representing an image to be added to the character string or image indicated by the additional data, or print data for causing a printer to print the image.

[0060] The vendor support app 17 also has a function of sending background image data, additional position, and additional data as print instructions to the universal printer driver 16 or directly to the printer A 31. The sending method differs depending on whether the printer A 31 can save graphics.

[0061] If printer A 31 does not have a function for saving graphics, the vendor support app 17 can generate print data in which a character string or image indicated by the additional data is embedded at an additional position within the background image indicated by the background image data. The vendor support app 17 can then send a print job containing the generated print data to the universal printer driver 16 or directly to printer A 31 as a print instruction.

[0062] On the other hand, if printer A 31 has a function for saving graphics, the vendor support app 17 may also send a setting to cause printer A 31 to save background image data as part of the print instruction. Furthermore, as part of the print instruction, the vendor support app 17 may send an instruction to save or print the input character string or image as additional data at the additional location, superimposed on the background image represented by the background image data stored in printer A 31. These settings and instructions may also be included in a single print job, for example, and sent by the vendor support app 17 to the universal printer driver 16 or directly to printer A 31.

[0063] Furthermore, information indicating whether printer A 31 has the image saving function can be stored in advance by the vendor support app 17. Alternatively, the vendor support app 17 can obtain device information of printer A 31 and, based on this device information, determine whether printer A 31 has the image saving function. For example, the vendor support app 17 can obtain an IPP attribute from the universal printer driver 16 and refer to this IPP attribute to make this determination. More specifically, the vendor support app 17 can obtain, for example, the printer description value of printer A 31, i.e., the Printer Description Attribute, as this IPP attribute and use it for this determination.

[0064] First example of generation processing

[0065] Next, as a first example of the generation process included in the printing process according to this embodiment, Figure 2 Next, a more specific example of the generation process will be described when the printer A 31 does not have a graphic storage function. Figure 2 For use in Figure 1 This is a sequence diagram illustrating a first example of generation processing in the printing system 100.

[0066] First, the user launches the vendor support app 17 directly or through the universal printer driver 16, instructing the start of printing using image differences. Receiving this instruction, the vendor support app 17 requests the universal printer driver 16 to enter background image data, an additional location, and character string or image data, i.e., additional data setting items (step S1). Alternatively, the universal printer driver 16 may already display an item specifying background image data. In this case, the vendor support app 17 only needs to request the universal printer driver 16 to enter the additional location and additional data setting items.

[0067] Upon receiving the request to add data, the universal printer driver 16 displays the input background image data, the location to be added, and the setting items for the additional data on a UI screen, and accepts user input from the operation unit 14 to specify these items. For example, the user can specify the upper left and lower right coordinates of a rectangular area for the input background image as the location to be added. An example of such a specification method is provided below. The universal printer driver 16 transmits the input background image, the location to be added, and the character string or image data entered by the user to the vendor support app 17 (step S2).

[0068] Next, the vendor assistance app 17 performs error processing on the received data (step S3). In step S3, the vendor assistance app 17 first calculates the horizontal length of the additional position indicated by the upper left and lower right coordinates of the rectangular area input for the input background image and the horizontal length of the character string or image, and compares the two (step S4). In step S4, the following error processing is performed. Specifically, if the horizontal length of the rectangular area input for the input background image is shorter than the horizontal length of the character string or image, the vendor assistance app 17 causes the display unit 15 to display an error notification. On the other hand, if the horizontal length of the rectangular area input for the input background image is longer than the horizontal length of the character string or image, the vendor assistance app 17 proceeds to the next step in the error processing, namely step S5.

[0069] In step S5, the vendor support app 17 calculates the vertical length of the additional location indicated by the upper left and lower right coordinates of the rectangular area entered for the input background image and the vertical length of the character string or image, and compares the two. In step S5, the following error handling is further performed. Specifically, if the vertical length of the rectangular area entered for the input background image is shorter than the vertical length of the character string or image, the vendor support app 17 causes the display unit 15 to display an error notification. On the other hand, if the vertical length of the rectangular area entered for the input background image is longer than the vertical length of the character string or image, the vendor support app 17 proceeds to the next step, step S6. Of course, the order of steps S4 and S5 is arbitrary.

[0070] If no errors are found after error processing in step S3, or if the error has been resolved by correcting at least one of the additional position and additional data, the vendor support app 17 replaces the image (step S6). Specifically, the vendor support app 17 replaces the image at the additional position within the input background image, with the upper left coordinates of the input background image as the origin, with a raster image of the character string or image specified by the upper left coordinates indicated by the additional position. The vendor support app 17 may then generate print data for printer A 31 to print the replaced image, and send a print job containing the generated print data to printer A 31 via the universal printer driver 16 or directly.

[0071] As described as the first example of the generation process, the generation process can be a process of generating a corrected image by adding the image indicated by the additional data to the additional position of the image indicated by the print data, and generating a print job for printing the corrected image as a print job.

[0072] Second example of generation processing

[0073] Next, as a second example of the generation process included in the printing process according to this embodiment, Figure 3 Next, a more specific example of the generation process will be described when the printer A 31 has a graphic storage function. Figure 3 For use in Figure 1 This is a sequence diagram illustrating a second example of the generation process in the printing system 100.

[0074] First, execute Figure 2 The same processing as steps S1 and S2 is performed (steps S11 and S12). As a result, the supplier support app 17 is in a state where the input background image, the additional position, and the data of the character string or image are input.

[0075] Next, the vendor support app 17 generates a command to cause the printer A 31 to save the settings for the input background image data (step S13). Next, the vendor support app 17 generates a command to superimpose a character string or image at the location where the image is to be saved by the printer and save it, and appends it to the command generated in step S13 (step S14).

[0076] The vendor support app 17 then generates a command to print the image stored in the printer A 31 and appends it to the command generated in step S14 (step S15). The vendor support app 17 can send the print job consisting of the command generated in step S15 to the printer A 31 via the universal printer driver 16 or directly.

[0077] As described as the second example of the generation process, the generation process may be a process of generating a print job including an image indicated by the print data, an additional position, and additional data as a print job.

[0078] First example of printing process: Example of serial number printing process

[0079] As a first example of the printing process according to this embodiment, Figures 4 to 8 The following example of the serial number printing process is described. Figure 2 or Figure 3 The generation process described in .

[0080] Figure 4 For use in Figure 1 1 is a sequence diagram for explaining an example of a serial number printing process in the printing system 100. Figure 5 For the next Figure 4 The sequence diagram. Figure 6 To express Figure 4 as well as Figure 5 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a UI image displayed during the serial number printing process. Figure 7 To express Figure 4 as well as Figure 5 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing another example of a UI image displayed during the serial number printing process. Figure 8 To express Figure 4 as well as Figure 5 Schematic diagram of an example of a series of printed materials printed in the serial printing process.

[0081] First, the user U launches an application that launches or edits a print target file, such as a document file. The user U then uses the operation unit 14 to select printer A 31 in the print settings for the print target file and select properties. With these operations, the universal printer driver 16 accepts a print request (step S21). Alternatively, when the user U uses the operation unit 14 to select a print target file and print it, the universal printer driver 16 accepts a print request to use the predetermined printer A 31.

[0082] The universal printer driver 16 that receives such a print request from the user U displays the basic print setting image as a UI image (step S22). The basic print setting image is a UI image that accepts the basic settings for printing, that is, the user operation of the basic settings. For example, the basic print setting image can be set as Figure 6The image of the portion of the UI image 60 shown except for the application print setting image 66, or the image except for the application print setting image 66 and the application function selection image 61. In the following, the basic print setting image is set to the basic print setting image 62 for explanation. For example, the basic print setting image 62 can include a print button 63 for starting printing, a pull-down menu 64 for selecting a printer, and a basic setting item group 65 for making various basic settings. The number of copies to be printed can also be set in the basic print setting image 62. The application function selection image 61 can include a button for printing, and when the button for printing is displayed, the basic print setting image 62 of step S22 is displayed. The application function selection image 61 can also include buttons for selecting basic functions, such as a button for opening a file and a button for overwriting and saving.

[0083] The basic setting item group 65 includes, for example, the selection of pages to be printed, the selection of single-sided printing or double-sided printing, the selection of printing in copies or pages, and the selection of printing in portrait or landscape orientation. Furthermore, the basic setting item group 65 includes the selection of paper, the selection of margin size, and the number of pages to be packed into one sheet.

[0084] The basic print settings screen 62 also includes a properties button 64a for setting properties for the printer selected in the pull-down menu 64 (in this example, printer A 31), and a page settings button 65a for setting page details. Selecting the properties button 64a displays an application print settings screen 66. Selecting the page settings button 65a displays a print settings screen specific to the application that launched the target file (not shown).

[0085] The following describes a case where the property button 64 a is selected while the printer A 31 is selected in the basic print setting image 62 .

[0086] The user U selects the properties button 64a using the operation unit 14, thereby requesting the universal printer driver 16 to display the application print setting image (step S23). Upon receiving this request, the universal printer driver 16 requests the vendor support app 17 for application print setting items that can be set as vendor functions (step S24). In response to this request, the vendor support app 17 sends the predetermined application print setting items to the universal printer driver 16 (step S25). Upon receiving this response, the universal printer driver 16 displays the UI image 60 on the display unit 15. This UI image 60 includes the application print setting items that can be set as vendor functions embedded in the predetermined UI image (step S26).

[0087] As a result, the UI image 60 includes the application print setting image 66 including the application print setting items 67. However, the application print setting image 66 can also be displayed as an independent UI image separate from the basic print setting image 62. Furthermore, the UI image 60 can be displayed on the display unit 15 by the vendor support app 17 itself, rather than the universal printer driver 16.

[0088] The application print setting image 66 may include items that can be set in the basic print setting image 62 as application print setting items 67. In the first example described here, the application print setting item 67 includes a pull-down menu 67a for switching serial number printing on or off. In addition, the application print setting item 67 may also include a pull-down menu 67b for switching variable printing on or off. Figure 6 As shown, when the drop-down menu 67a for serial number printing is open, the drop-down menus for items that cannot be selected, such as drop-down menu 67b, can be grayed out. This is not limited to drop-down menu 67a; when the drop-down menu for a particular item is open, the drop-down menu for the corresponding item that cannot be selected can be grayed out. Furthermore, the application print setting image 66 can include a close button 68 for closing the UI image itself. Furthermore, for each item, other menus such as radio buttons can be used instead of drop-down menus.

[0089] Next, while the UI image 60 is displayed as a result of the processing in step S26, the user U inputs print settings other than the sequential number printing settings, such as the paper tray, paper size, and paper type, through the operation unit 14 (step S27). Alternatively, step S27 may be executed at any time, for example, after the processing in step S28 described later and before the processing in step S33.

[0090] Following step S27, the user U selects the close button 68 while the sequential number printing pull-down menu 67a is open. Accepting this selection, the universal printer driver 16 accepts input of sequential number printing settings (step S28). As part of the vendor function, the universal printer driver 16, having accepted this input, displays a UI image (not shown) for sequential number printing settings. By displaying this UI image, the universal printer driver 16 requests input from the user U regarding the sequential number printing settings (step S29).

[0091] Sequential number printing involves sequentially printing numbers on a medium using a common background image. Therefore, the sequential number printing settings UI may include, for example, a location for inputting sequential number printing, the first digit to be entered, and the number of copies to be printed. While the final digit can be calculated using the number of copies and the first digit, the final digit can also be directly entered instead of the number of copies to be printed. Furthermore, the sequential number printing settings may include an option for configuring the font of the digits.

[0092] Of course, even if such a UI image for sequential number printing settings is not separately displayed, such sequential number printing settings items can be included in the application print settings image 66 itself. In this case, in the application print settings image 66, the setting items for sequential number printing, such as the leading and final digits, can be changed from grayed-out to inputtable when the sequential number printing drop-down menu 67a is switched from closed to open. Furthermore, if sequential number printing is a specification based on printing only one copy for each digit, the number of copies can be read from, for example, the number of copies in the application print settings item 67 and used.

[0093] Then, the universal printer driver 16 accepts input of the leading digit and the final digit or the number of prints from the operation unit 14 in the UI image for setting sequential number printing (step S30). Upon receiving the input, the universal printer driver 16 notifies the vendor support app 17 of the leading digit and the final digit or the number of prints (step S31).

[0094] Upon receiving this notification, the supplier support app 17 checks whether the first and last digits for serial number printing, or the number of prints entered, are numbers (step S32). In step S32, if the first and last digits are not numbers, the user U can be notified and urged to re-enter the number. If the number is a number, the process proceeds to the next step. Furthermore, in a configuration that accepts the number of prints input in step S30, the final number can be calculated by adding the first digit to the number of prints and subtracting 1 before the notification in step S31 during the check in step S32.

[0095] Next, when the user U selects the print button 63, for example, the universal printer driver 16 accepts a request to start printing (step S33). Upon accepting the request to start printing, the universal printer driver 16 displays a UI image including a print preview image on the display unit 15, thereby presenting the preview image to the user U (step S34). As one of the vendor functions, this UI image serves as a print preview image for sequential number printing.

[0096] The UI image displayed in step S34 may be set to be, for example, Figure 7 As shown in the UI image 70, the UI image 70 includes a preview image 80 including a background image 83 and a UI image of setting items. The UI image 70 may include, as setting items, a check box 71 for setting whether to print all copies continuously, an input field 72 for the first digit, and an input field 73 for the last digit. In addition, the UI image 70 may include, as setting items, an input field 74 for a watermark, an input field 75 for the character size of the watermark and the number, and a button 76 for switching to a UI image that can change the position of the watermark. A watermark may refer to a character string attached to a predetermined position relative to a number. The change in position can be set by selecting the button 76. In addition, the UI image 70 may also include, as setting items, other items such as a check box 77 for setting whether to add a logo (Logomark) in the upper left corner.

[0097] UI image 70 also includes a cancel button 79 for canceling settings and returning to the previous UI image, and a print button 78 for saving settings and executing printing. Print button 78 can also be configured as a button for returning to the previous UI image to save settings and execute printing. Furthermore, UI image 70 can include buttons 81 and 82 above or below preview image 80 for moving the page displayed as preview image 80 forward or backward.

[0098] In preview image 80, a rectangular input area 85 of a predetermined size appears above background image 83. Input area 85 is an area for inputting sequential numbers, or sequential numbers and a watermark. Input area 85 is displayed to accept user operations to move, enlarge, or reduce the rectangle, and the sequential numbers, or sequential numbers and a watermark, are printed at the size and position determined by the user operation. The rectangle can be moved by, for example, selecting and dragging input area 85 or by selecting and dragging a vertex of the rectangle.

[0099] Preview image 80 also includes numbers, etc., reflected in input area 85, reflecting the contents set in the setting items. The numbers, etc., may not be reflected in input area 85, or a fixed-format character string such as "xx" may be used instead. Furthermore, if checkbox 77 is selected, a predetermined symbol 84 is included in preview image 80.

[0100] While the UI image 70 is displayed, the user U inputs settings for sequential number printing, thereby inputting settings for sequential number printing into the universal printer driver 16 (step S35). The settings accepted in step S35 also include input for operations such as moving, enlarging, or reducing the input area 85 displayed as a rectangle on the print preview image 80. The input process in step S35 may be executed in the reverse order of the process in step S37, described later.

[0101] Then, based on the position and size of the input area 85 relative to the background image 83 accepted in step S35 , the universal printer driver 16 obtains the upper left and lower right coordinates of the input area 85 as coordinates of the additional position (step S36 ).

[0102] Next, the user U inputs setting items other than sequential number printing, and these setting items are input to the universal printer driver 16 (step S37). Setting items other than sequential number printing are not shown in the UI image 70, but as long as the setting items included in the application print setting image 66 are included in advance, the relevant input can be made. Alternatively, the UI image 70 may be displayed so as to include the application print setting image 66.

[0103] Next, when the user U selects the print button 78 , the universal printer driver 16 receives a request to start printing (step S38 ). The universal printer driver 16 that receives the request notifies the vendor support app 17 of the print settings input by the user U (step S39 ).

[0104] The vendor support app 17 that has received this notification calculates the number of continuous prints by subtracting the “first number” from the “last number + 1” input by the user U, and changes the number of print pages in the print command to the calculated number of continuous prints (step S40 ).

[0105] Next, the vendor support app 17 generates the first image by substituting 0 for n based on the print image input from the universal printer driver 16, the designated position calculated from the designated input area 85, and the "first number + n" (step S41). In step S41, the vendor support app 17 further generates the next image by adding 1 to n based on the background image input from the universal printer driver 16, the designated position, and the "first number + n", and repeats this process until the "first number + n" becomes the "last number". In this way, in step S41, the generation of images for continuous printing is executed. In step S41, the use of Figure 2 or Figure 3Before the generation process, it is possible to use IPP Attribute to determine whether the printer A 31 supports saving of graphics.

[0106] Next, the vendor support app 17 sends the generated print command as a print job to printer A 31 (step S42). Communication between the vendor support app 17 and printer A 31 can be performed using a vendor-extended IPP protocol, SNMP, or a vendor-defined protocol. SNMP stands for Simple Network Management Protocol.

[0107] The printer A 31 receives the print command as the print job and executes printing (step S43). By this printing, an image as shown in the preview image 80 is produced, and printed materials are printed with the number of sheets obtained by subtracting the first digit from the last digit and adding 1 from the first digit to the last digit in a sequential manner on each medium. For example, for Figure 7 A preview image of 80 will be produced Figure 8 Here, print 91s is the first print and print 91e is the last print.

[0108] In the above example, in step S31, a print command is sent directly to the printer A 31 without passing through the universal printer driver 16. However, the vendor support app 17 may also send the print command to the universal printer driver 16. In this case, the universal printer driver 16, having received the print command, may send the print command to the printer A 31.

[0109] As in Figure 7 As illustrated in the UI image 70 of , the UI image for allowing the user U to specify the additional data and the additional position may include a print preview image of the print data acquired by the acquisition process and allow the user U to specify the additional position on the print preview image.

[0110] Furthermore, as illustrated in step S34, the display process can be a process of causing the universal printer driver 16 to display a UI image. Of course, the display process can also be a process of causing the vendor support app 17 to display the UI image.

[0111] As shown in the example of sequential number printing, the printing system 100 can perform sequential number printing, an example of printing using image differences, by introducing the vendor support app 17 that uses image differences. Therefore, in the printing system 100, even if the user U does not prepare multiple images, sequential number printing can be performed by specifying a background image and character input fields and inputting the number of copies to be printed.

[0112] Second example of printing process: Example of variable printing process

[0113] As a second example of the printing process according to this embodiment, Figures 9 to 11 The following variable printing process is also executed. Figure 2 or Figure 3 The generation process described in .

[0114] Figure 9 For use in Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram for explaining an example of variable printing processing in the printing system 100 . Figure 10 For the next Figure 9 The sequence diagram. Figure 11 To express in Figure 9 as well as Figure 10 A schematic diagram shows an example of a character string file referenced in a variable printing process and an example of a series of printed materials printed by the variable printing process with reference to the character string file. The following, as a second example, mainly describes the differences from the first example, but the other points, including the application of various application examples, are the same.

[0115] In the second example of variable printing processing, similar to the first example, the display processing causes the display unit 15 to display a UI image that allows the user to specify additional data to be added to the print data and the location in the print data where the additional data should be added. However, unlike the first example in which sequential number printing is performed and the additional data includes consecutive numbers, the additional data must be specified separately. Therefore, in the display processing of the second example, a UI image that allows the user to specify a file containing a string representing the additional data is displayed as part of the UI image that allows the user to specify the additional data and the location where the additional data should be added, or as a separate UI image from the UI image. Since this file contains the string to be printed by appending to each printed item, different additional data can be specified separately for each printed item.

[0116] Therefore, the processing of steps S21 to S26 of the first example is also applied to the second example (steps S51 to S56). Figure 6The UI image 60 shown includes an application print setting image 66 including application print setting items 67. However, the application print setting image 66 may be displayed as a UI image different from the basic print setting image 62.

[0117] As described above, the application print setting image 66 can also include a pull-down menu 67b for switching variable printing on and off as the application print setting item 67. When the variable print pull-down menu 67b is on, the corresponding pull-down menu items that cannot be selected, such as the pull-down menu 67a, can be grayed out.

[0118] Next, while the UI image 60 is displayed by the process of step S56, the user U inputs print settings other than the variable print settings, such as the paper tray, paper size, and paper type, through the operation unit 14 (step S57). Step S57 may be executed at any time, for example, after the process of step S58 described later and before the process of step S64.

[0119] Following step S57, when the user U selects the close button 68 while the variable print pull-down menu 67b is open, the universal printer driver 16, having received this selection, accepts input of variable print settings (step S58). As part of the vendor function, the universal printer driver 16, having received this input, displays a variable print settings UI image (not shown). By displaying this variable print settings UI image, the universal printer driver 16 requests input from the user U regarding the variable print settings (step S59).

[0120] Variable printing is an action of setting a common background image and printing the designated character strings on the medium in sequence. In addition, an image can also be used instead of a character string. Therefore, in the UI image of the variable printing setting, as the items of the variable printing setting, for example, an input location for variable printing and each input character string can be included. Moreover, each character string can be specified in a character string file pre-stored in the storage unit 12, for example. In addition, the items of the variable printing setting can include an item for setting the font of the input character string. For example, a structure that can divide a character string into multiple character strings for processing can also be used, and an item for setting the font of each character string can be prepared.

[0121] Of course, such a variable print setting UI image need not be displayed separately, and the application print setting image 66 itself may include such variable print setting items. In such a case, the input file setting item in the application print setting image 66 can be changed from grayed out to enabled for file specification when the variable print pull-down menu 67b is switched from closed to open.

[0122] The universal printer driver 16 then accepts input from the operation unit 14, in the variable print settings UI image, to specify a character string file containing various character strings (step S60). Upon receiving this input, the universal printer driver 16 notifies the vendor support app 17 of the character string file (step S61). This notification may include the storage location of the character string file.

[0123] Upon receiving this notification, the vendor support app 17 checks whether the string file extension is a supported specific extension (step S62). For example, the vendor support app 17 may be designed to support common extensions such as CSV as a specific extension. In step S62, if the extension is not supported, the user U may be notified and prompted to re-enter the string file. If the extension is supported, the process proceeds to the next step.

[0124] Next, the vendor support App 17 reads the character string file for variable printing, divides the input data into, for example, commas (,), and acquires the character strings as the input character strings (step S63 ).

[0125] Next, with Figure 5 Similarly to step S33, when the user U selects the print button 63, for example, the universal printer driver 16 receives a request to start printing (step S64). The universal printer driver 16 receives the request to start printing and Figure 5 Similarly to step S34 , the display unit 15 displays a UI image including a print preview image, thereby presenting the preview image to the user U (step S65 ).

[0126] As one of the supplier functions, the UI image becomes a print preview image corresponding to variable printing. Although the UI image displayed in step S65 is not shown in the figure, it can be set as the UI image shown in step S34. Figure 7 As shown in the UI image 70, the UI image 80 includes a preview image 80 including a background image 83 and a UI image of setting items. The setting items are different from the first example, that is, the example of the serial number printing process. The UI image displayed in step S65 may include, as setting items, a check box for setting whether to print all copies continuously, a button for switching to a UI image for specifying a character string file, etc. Of course, the setting items in the UI image may also include an input field for a watermark, an input field for the character size of the watermark, and a button for switching to a UI image that can change the position of the watermark. In addition, the UI image may include other items as setting items, such as a check box for setting whether to add a mark in the upper left corner.

[0127] Furthermore, this UI image may also include a cancel button 79 and a print button 78 similar to the UI image 70 , and buttons 81 and 82 for moving the page displayed as the preview image 80 forward or backward are included above and below the preview image 80 .

[0128] In the example of variable printing processing, a rectangular input area 85 of a predetermined size is also added to the background image 83 in the preview image 80. However, the input area 85 in this example is an area for inputting a character string specified in a character string file.

[0129] Preview image 80 also includes a character string, etc., reflected in input area 85, reflecting the contents set in the setting item. The character string, etc., may not be reflected in input area 85, or a fixed-format character string, such as "xx," may be used instead. Furthermore, if checkbox 77 is selected, a predetermined symbol 84 is included in preview image 80.

[0130] While the UI image including the preview image 80 is displayed in step S65, user U inputs variable printing setting items, and variable printing setting items are input to the universal printer driver 16 (step S66). The items accepted in step S66, like the setting items accepted in step S35, also include input for moving, enlarging, or reducing the input area 85 displayed as a rectangle on the print preview image 80. Furthermore, the input processing in step S66 can be performed in the reverse order of the processing in step S68, described later. Thus, in this example of variable printing processing, additional items for inputting a variable printing input location and inputting a character string using a character string file are added to the print setting items displayed by the universal printer driver 16.

[0131] Then, based on the position and size of the input area 85 relative to the background image 83 accepted in step S66 , the universal printer driver 16 obtains the upper left and lower right coordinates of the input area 85 as the coordinates of the additional position, similarly to step S36 (step S67 ).

[0132] Next, the user U inputs setting items other than variable printing, and these setting items are input to the universal printer driver 16 (step S68 ). The setting items other than variable printing are the same as the setting items other than serial number printing.

[0133] Next, similarly to step S38, the user U selects the print button 78, and the universal printer driver 16 receives a request to start printing (step S69). Similar to step S39, the universal printer driver 16 notifies the vendor support app 17 of the print settings input by the user U (step S70).

[0134] The vendor support app 17 that has received this notification calculates the number of prints based on the number of character strings included in the character string file input by the user U, and changes the number of print pages in the print command to the calculated number of prints (step S71 ).

[0135] Next, the vendor support app 17 generates the first image based on the background image (print image) input from the universal printer driver 16, the designated position calculated from the designated input area 85, and the nth string in the string file (step S72). One image is generated by substituting 1 for n. In step S72, the vendor support app 17 generates the next image based on the background image input from the universal printer driver 16, the designated position, and the nth string in the string file, incrementing n by 1. This process is repeated until n reaches the number of strings input. "Repeating until n reaches the number of strings input" means repeating the process until the last string in the string file is reached.

[0136] By setting it as such, in step S72, the variable printing image is generated. Figure 2 or Figure 3 Before the generation process, it is possible to determine whether the printer A 31 supports saving of graphics using IPP Attribute.

[0137] Next, similar to step S42 , the vendor support app 17 sends the generated print command as a print job to the printer A 31 (step S73 ). In this example, the vendor support app 17 may send the print command to the printer A 31 via the universal printer driver 16 .

[0138] As in step S43, printer A 31 receives the print command as the print job and executes printing (step S74). This printing produces a printed product having the image shown in preview image 80 and the number of prints calculated in step S71, with different character strings written on each medium.

[0139] For example, when Figure 7 The image shown in the preview image 80 is input as follows Figure 11If the string file 110 is shown and no flag is specified, it will produce Figure 11 Here, the printed matter 111s is the first printed matter, and the printed matter 111e is the last printed matter. Figure 11 In FIG. 1 , arrows indicate the correspondence between the first to k-th character strings in the character string file 110 and the character strings in the printed matter.

[0140] In addition, although Figure 11 In the example of a string file, each string is marked with a serial number from 1 to k and a string is specified for each number, but the serial number may not be provided. In addition, when an image is used instead of each string, the image itself can be attached to the file, or a link to the image can be recorded.

[0141] As shown in the example of variable printing processing, the printing system 100 can perform variable printing, which is an example of printing using image differences, by introducing the vendor support app 17 that uses image differences. Therefore, in the printing system 100, even without preparing multiple images, the user U can perform variable printing by inputting a background image and various character strings or character string files.

[0142] Other variations

[0143] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments and can be appropriately modified without departing from the main purpose. For example, the system structure of the printing system, the structure of each device constituting the system, the structure of each program contained in each device, the processing order of each device, etc. are not limited to the exemplified contents. In addition, the printing system can also adopt a network structure such as a terminal device connected to a printer via a print server. In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiments, the printing system cites an example of performing both sequential number printing processing and variable printing processing, but it can also be set to a structure that only performs either sequential number printing processing or variable printing processing.

[0144] In addition, each device included in the printing system according to the above embodiment may have a hardware configuration such as the following. Figure 1 Examples include terminal devices and printers. Figure 12 A diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the device.

[0145] Figure 12 The device 1000 shown may include a processor 1001, a memory 1002, and an interface 1003. The interface 1003 may include, for example, a communication interface, an interface with an input / output device, etc. as required by the device.

[0146] The processor 1001 may be, for example, a CPU, a GPU, or an MPU (Micro Processor Unit). The processor 1001 may also include multiple processors. The memory 1002 may be composed of, for example, a combination of volatile memory and non-volatile memory. The functions of each device are implemented by the processor 1001 reading programs stored in the memory 1002, exchanging required information via the interface 1003, and executing the programs.

[0147] In addition, the above-mentioned program includes a command group (or software code) that causes the computer to execute one or more functions described in the embodiment when read by the computer. The program can be stored in a non-temporary computer-readable medium or a storage medium with an entity. As an example and not limitation, a computer-readable medium or a storage medium with an entity includes a random-access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a flash memory, a solid-state drive (SSD) or other memory technology. In addition, as an example and not limitation, a computer-readable medium or a storage medium with an entity includes a CD-ROM, a digital versatile disc (DVD), a Blu-ray (Blu-ray, registered trademark) disc or other optical disc storage, a magnetic card, a magnetic tape, a magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage device. The program can be sent on a temporary computer-readable medium or a communication medium. As an example and not limitation, a temporary computer-readable medium or a communication medium includes a propagation signal in the form of electricity, light, sound or other forms. In addition, the program is included in a program product.

[0148] The present invention has been described above based on the aforementioned embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the structures of the aforementioned embodiments and naturally encompasses various variations, modifications, and combinations that can be made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the present invention. For example, an invention for a method for producing printed matter can also be considered an invention for a printing method.

[0149] Explanation of symbols

[0150] 10…Terminal device; 11…Control unit; 12…Storage unit; 13…Communication unit; 14…Operation unit; 15…Display unit; 16…Universal printer driver; 17…Vendor support app; 31…Printer A; 32…Printer B; 33…Printer C; 60…UI image; 61…Application function selection image; 62…Basic print settings image; 63…Print button; 64…Pull-down menu; 64a…Properties button; 65…Basic settings item group; 65a…Page settings button; 66…Application print settings image; 67…Application print settings item; 67a…Pull-down menu; 67b…Pull-down menu; 68…Close button; 70…UI image; 71…check box; 72…input field; 73…input field; 74…input field; 75…input field; 76…button 76; 77…check box; 78…print button; 79…cancel button; 80…preview image; 81…button; 82…button; 83…background image; 84…logo; 85…input area; 91s…printed matter; 91e…printed matter; 110…string file; 111s…printed matter; 111e…printed matter; 100…printing system; 1000…device; 1001…processor; 1002…memory; 1003…interface; N1…network; U…user.

Claims

1. A printing control program product, comprising a printing control program, wherein the printing control program causes a computer to execute the following processing, namely: an acquisition process for acquiring print data from a universal printer driver; a display process of displaying a user interface image for allowing a user to designate additional data to be added to the print data and an additional position of the additional data in the print data; a generation process of generating a print job for performing printing by adding the additional data to the additional position of the print data; The instruction process causes the printer to execute printing based on the print job.

2. The printing control program product according to claim 1, wherein: The printing control program is a printing support application program.

3. The printing control program product according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The generation process generates a corrected image in which the image indicated by the additional data is added to the additional position of the image indicated by the print data, and generates a print job for printing the corrected image as the print job.

4. The printing control program product according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The generation process generates, as the print job, a print job including the image indicated by the print data, the additional position, and the additional data.

5. The printing control program product according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The user interface image includes a print preview image related to the print data acquired in the acquisition process, and allows the user to designate the addition position on the print preview image.

6. The printing control program product according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The display processing displays, as a part of the user interface image or as a user interface image different from the user interface image, a user interface image that allows the user to specify a file in which a character string representing the additional data is described.

7. The printing control program product according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The display process is a process of causing the universal printer driver to display the user interface image.

8. A printing system comprising a printer and a terminal device, wherein: The terminal device comprises: Universal printer driver; an acquisition processing unit that acquires print data from the universal printer driver; a display processing unit that displays a user interface image for allowing a user to designate additional data to be added to the print data and an additional position of the additional data in the print data; a generation processing unit that generates a print job for performing printing by adding the additional data to the additional position of the print data; The instruction processing unit causes the printer to execute printing based on the print job.

9. A method for producing printed matter, comprising the steps of: an acquisition process for acquiring print data from a universal printer driver; a display process of displaying a user interface image for allowing a user to designate additional data to be added to the print data and an additional position of the additional data in the print data; A generation process, which generates a printing task; The printing process is to execute printing based on the print job by a printer to produce a printed matter in which the additional data is added to the additional position of the print data.

Images