Information processing apparatus, print setting method, storage medium, and computer program product

Abstract

The invention provides an information processing apparatus, a print setting method, a storage medium, and a computer program product. An information processing apparatus includes one or more memory devices and one or more processors. A memory device stores an instruction set and an application for setting print settings for print data to be printed via a cloud printing service. The processor executes the instruction set to: (i) in a case where an extended print setting is set via the application for print data input to a comprehensive logical printer, display a warning message indicating that the extended print setting is enabled only for a specific physical printer on a print setting screen; and (ii) transmitting a print setting set via the application to a print server providing the cloud print service.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to information processing apparatus, printing setup method, storage medium, and computer program products. Background Technology

[0002] In known printing systems, printing is performed by the user sending a print job directly from a client terminal, such as a PC, to the printing device. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-184230 discloses a cloud printing service using cloud services provided over the Internet. In this cloud printing service, the client terminal that inputs the print job and the printer that performs the printing are pre-registered in a print server providing the cloud printing service, and the print server acts as a virtual printer.

[0003] A virtual printer is a logical printer associated with a print queue and is treated as a single virtual printer. The print process in a cloud printing service is summarized as follows: The user enters a print job command for the virtual printer from their client terminal. The user-entered print job is stored in the virtual printer's print queue and held until the printer receives the command from the user. The user logs into a nearby printer and executes the print command. The printer receives the print job from the print server and performs the print job. This printing method is called retain-on printing because the user-entered print job is held in the print server and not printed. Because print jobs held in the print server are printed upon user command, this printing method can also be called pull printing, as print jobs held in the print server are printed upon user command.

[0004] Furthermore, operating systems (OS) have recently incorporated standard printing functionality. This printing functionality is referred to as standard printing functionality. Print Support Applications (PSAs), which can be installed in the OS, are provided by the printer vendor to offer users print settings not supported by the standard printing functionality. Standard printing functionality uses standard protocols such as the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) to communicate with the printer and print server. Using IPP, printer vendors can specify their own vendor extension attributes. Japanese Patent No. 5665582 discloses a technique for performing printing based on vendor extension attributes specified for print settings not supported by the standard printing functionality. By adding vendor extension attributes to the OS's standard printing functionality, users can use print settings specified by the vendor extension attributes. Print settings specified by vendor extension attributes are referred to as extended print settings.

[0005] Pull-to-print can be performed by inputting a print job with extended print settings and specifying a printing device using the cloud printing service. When the user specifies a printing device that supports extended print settings and performs pull-to-print, the printing device can execute the print job according to the user's extended print settings. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In some cases, printing devices that do not support extended print settings (such as printing devices from another vendor) can be associated with virtual printing devices in cloud printing services. When a print job including extended print settings is performed by a printing device that does not support extended print settings, the extended print settings set by the user are not applied during the print job. One aspect of this disclosure provides a technique for using extended print settings in cloud printing services.

[0007] One aspect of this disclosure provides an information processing apparatus comprising: one or more memory devices storing an instruction set and an application for setting print settings for print data used for printing via a cloud printing service using a printer; and one or more processors executing the instruction set to: display a warning message on a print settings screen for setting print settings, the warning message indicating that extended print settings are enabled only for a specific physical printer, in the case of setting extended print settings via the application for print data input to an integrated logic printer, and sending the print settings set via the application to a print server providing the cloud printing service.

[0008] Another aspect of this disclosure provides a method for setting print settings via an application for setting print settings for print data to be printed via a cloud printing service. The method includes: when setting extended print settings via the application for print data input to a general logic printer, displaying a warning message on a print settings screen for setting the print settings, the warning message indicating that the extended print settings are enabled only for a specific physical printer; and sending the print settings set via the application to a print server providing the cloud printing service.

[0009] Another aspect of this disclosure provides a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program that, when executed by a computer of an information processing device, causes the computer to perform a print setup method. The information processing device includes an application for setting print settings for print data intended for printing via a cloud printing service. The print setup method includes: displaying a warning message on a print setup screen for setting the print settings when setting extended print settings via the application for print data input to a general logic printer; the warning message indicating that the extended print settings are enabled only for a specific physical printer; and sending the print settings set via the application to a print server providing the cloud printing service.

[0010] Another aspect of this disclosure provides a computer program product that, when executed by a computer of an information processing device, causes the computer to perform a print setting method. The information processing device includes an application for setting print settings for print data intended for printing via a cloud printing service. The print setting method includes: displaying a warning message on a print setting screen for setting the print settings when, in the case of setting extended print settings via the application for print data input to a general logic printer, the warning message indicating that the extended print settings are enabled only for a specific physical printer; and sending the print settings set via the application to a print server providing the cloud printing service.

[0011] The features of this disclosure will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description of embodiments is given by way of example. Attached Figure Description

[0012] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the embodiments.

[0013] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram used to describe an example of construction according to an embodiment.

[0014] Figure 2 This is a block diagram illustrating an example of the hardware construction of a computer according to an embodiment.

[0015] Figure 3 This is a block diagram illustrating an example of the functional construction of a print server according to an embodiment.

[0016] Figure 4 This is a block diagram illustrating an example of the functional construction of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment.

[0017] Figure 5This is a block diagram illustrating an example of the hardware construction of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment.

[0018] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the construction of the operating unit of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment.

[0019] Figure 7 This is a block diagram illustrating an example of the functional construction of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment.

[0020] Figure 8 This is a sequence diagram used to describe the overall processing of cloud printing according to an embodiment.

[0021] Figure 9 This is a network diagram illustrating an example of the construction of a printing system according to an embodiment.

[0022] Figure 10 This is a flowchart describing the installation of the PSA according to an embodiment.

[0023] Figure 11 This is a diagram used to describe a standard print setup screen according to an embodiment.

[0024] Figure 12 This is a diagram used to describe the print setup screen of a PSA according to an embodiment.

[0025] Figure 13 This is a diagram used to describe the standard and extended print settings from the supplier according to an embodiment.

[0026] Figure 14 This is a diagram used to describe the extended print settings screen according to an embodiment.

[0027] Figure 15 This is a network diagram illustrating an example of the construction of a printing system including printers from multiple suppliers according to an embodiment.

[0028] Figure 16 This is a diagram used to describe a warning display screen according to an embodiment.

[0029] Figure 17 This is a flowchart, according to an embodiment, for adding supplier information to a print job.

[0030] Figure 18 This is a flowchart describing the printing process using supplier information according to an embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0031] In the following, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Please note that the following embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claims. Several features are described in the embodiments, but not all of these features are necessary, and multiple such features can be appropriately combined. Furthermore, in the drawings, the same reference numerals are given the same or similar constructions, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

[0032] First Embodiment

[0033] Example of a printing system construction

[0034] Now refer to Figure 1 An example describing the construction of a printing system according to an embodiment is provided. The printing system includes, for example, an information processing device 110, printing devices 120 and 121, a print server 130, and a portable communication device 140. The number of components of the printing system is not limited to... Figure 1 The number in the examples. Furthermore, the printing system may include... Figure 1 The constituent elements are not shown in the diagram.

[0035] Information processing device 110 and printing device 120 are connected to the same local area network (LAN) 101. LAN 101 can be a wired LAN, a wireless LAN, or a combination thereof. LAN 101 is connected to a wide area network 103 (e.g., the Internet) via firewall 102. Printing device 121 and print server 130 are also connected to WAN 103. Information processing device 110 and printing device 120 can communicate with each other within LAN 101 (in other words, without using WAN 103). Furthermore, each of information processing device 110 and printing device 120 can communicate with print server 130 via LAN 101, firewall 102, and WAN 103. Printing device 121 can be connected to WAN 103 via a LAN or a cellular network (e.g., a network compliant with fourth-generation (4G) or fifth-generation (5G) communication standards). Information processing device 110 and portable communication device 140 can also be connected to WAN 103 via a cellular network. In addition, the portable communication device 140 can also be connected to LAN 101.

[0036] Printing devices 120 and 121 include printing functions for printing according to print jobs. In addition to the printing functions, printing devices 120 and 121 may also include at least one of a scanner function and a fax function. Such a multi-functional printing device may be referred to as a multi-function peripheral device (MFP). In another example, printing devices 120 and 121 may be single-function peripheral devices (SFPs) with only printing functions. Printing can refer to printing on a sheet-like printing medium such as paper or forming a three-dimensional object (so-called 3D printing).

[0037] Print server 130 provides a printing service that sends print jobs to any one of one or more printing devices (e.g., printing device 120) registered in print server 130, based on print jobs generated by information processing device 110. For example, print server 130 provides a logical printer to information processing device 110 and receives print jobs for the logical printer. A logical printer is a virtual printing device (e.g., a printer object) provided by print server 130. A logical printer may be referred to as a cloud printer. Similar to printing devices 120 and 121, information processing device 110 may generate print queues for the logical printer. In contrast to logical printers, physical printing devices such as printing devices 120 and 121 may be referred to as physical printers. Hereinafter, logical printers and physical printers are collectively referred to as simple printers. When a physical printer is connected to the same LAN as the information processing device to which the print job is input, the physical printer may be referred to as a local printer.

[0038] Print server 130 can be a server connected to wide area network 103 in an on-premises environment, or it can be a server in a cloud computing environment (hereinafter referred to as the cloud). Printing services provided by print server 130 in the cloud can be referred to as cloud printing services. Examples of cloud printing services include UniversalPrint (registered trademark) provided by Microsoft Corporation. In the examples described below, print server 130 is in the cloud. However, the following description also applies in a similar manner to examples where print server 130 is in an on-premises environment.

[0039] Information processing device 110 provides printing functionality to its users. Information processing device 110 may be a personal computer (PC), a smartphone, or another device. Information processing device 110 may designate a physical printer (e.g., printing device 120) connected to the same LAN 101 as the output destination for printed materials. Printing performed when a print job is directly (in other words, via the LAN) input to a physical printer can be referred to as local printing.

[0040] Information processing device 110 can designate a logical printer provided by print server 130 as the output destination for printed materials. When a logical printer is designated as the output destination, the physical printer associated with the logical printer (e.g., printing device 120) performs the printing. Information processing device 110 using the cloud printing service can be referred to as a client or client terminal. Printing performed when a print job is input to a logical printer can be referred to as cloud printing or remote printing. Printing performed when a print job is input to a logical printer can be performed by printing device 120 connected to the same LAN 101 as the LAN to which information processing device 110 belongs, or it can be performed by printing device 121 not connected to LAN 101. Printing device 120 is described in the following examples, but this description also applies to printing device 121. The printing device is not limited to printing device 120 connected to the same LAN as the LAN to which information processing device 110 belongs, and can also be printing device 121 not connected to a LAN.

[0041] exist Figure 1 In one example, the information processing device 110 can perform both local printing and remote printing. In another example, the information processing device 110 is capable of performing only remote printing.

[0042] Information processing device 110 may include a printing function that is standardly included in an operating system (OS). Such a printing function is referred to as a standard printing function. A standard printing function may also be referred to as an OS standard printing function or a native printing function. Information processing device 110 with a standard printing function does not require separate software (e.g., a driver) for using a printing device that supports a standard printing function. Examples of standard printing functions include AirPrint (registered trademark), which is standardly included in iOS (registered trademark), macOS (registered trademark), etc., and Mopria (registered trademark), which is standardly included in Windows (registered trademark), Android (registered trademark), etc.

[0043] Examples of computer hardware construction

[0044] Reference Figure 2 An example describing the hardware configuration of a computer 200 according to an embodiment is provided. The computer 200 can be used as an information processing device 110, as a print server 130, and as a portable communication device 140. The computer 200 may include... Figure 2 The components shown may not include Figure 2 One or more of the constituent elements shown, and may include Figure 2 The constituent elements are not shown in the diagram.

[0045] The Central Processing Unit (CPU) 201 is a general-purpose processing circuit that controls the overall operation of the computer 200. Random Access Memory (RAM) 202 is a volatile memory circuit used as a temporary storage area (such as a working area for processing by the CPU 201). Read-Only Memory (ROM) 203 is a non-volatile memory circuit that stores programs and data used in the processing of the CPU 201. Storage device 204 is a non-volatile storage device that stores programs and data used in the processing of the CPU 201. For example, storage device 204 can be a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD). Storage device 204 can be referred to as an auxiliary storage device. The operation of the computer 200 can be implemented by the CPU 201 executing programs read from storage device 204 into RAM 202.

[0046] Input interface (I / F) 205 is an I / F for exchanging signals with input device 210. Input device 210 is a device for obtaining input from the user of computer 200. Input device 210 may be, for example, a keyboard, touch panel, microphone, mouse, or any combination thereof. Output I / F 206 is an I / F for exchanging signals with output device 220. Output device 220 is a device for providing information to the user of computer 200. For example, output device 220 may be a display, speaker, or any combination thereof. Network I / F 207 is an I / F for communicating with devices external to computer 200. Each of CPU 201, RAM 202, ROM 203, storage device 204, input I / F 205, output I / F 206, and network I / F 207 is connected to system bus 208. Figure 2 In the example, input device 210 and output device 220 are shown as devices separate from computer 200. In another example, computer 200 may include input device 210 and output device 220. For example, if computer 200 is used as portable communication device 140, portable communication device 140 may include input device 210 and output device 220. Furthermore, computer 200 (specifically, portable communication device 140) may include camera 209.

[0047] Example of a print server's functional construction

[0048] Now refer to Figure 3 An example describing the functional construction of print server 130. Print server 130 may include... Figure 3 The components shown may not include Figure 3 One or more of the constituent elements shown, and may include Figure 3 The components are not shown in the diagram. This can be achieved by the CPU 201 executing the program read into RAM 202. Figure 3 The various components. In another example, it can be implemented by dedicated processing circuitry (such as application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs)). Figure 3 One or more or all of the constituent elements.

[0049] The registration control unit 301 performs processing for registering a logical printer. For example, in response to a start registration request from the printing device 120, the registration control unit 301 generates a logical printer associated with a physical printer and registers printer information 311. The information processing device 110 identifies the logical printer registered in the printer information 311 as a printer. The physical printer associated with the logical printer can be a physical printer that prints based on a print job input for the logical printer. A logical printer can be associated with only one physical printer. A physical printer can be associated with only one logical printer, or it can be associated with multiple logical printers.

[0050] The print control unit 302 performs processing related to print jobs of the logical printer. For example, the print control unit 302 receives print jobs from the information processing device 110 and, based on this, sends the print jobs to the physical printer associated with the logical printer. Furthermore, the print control unit 302 can control events related to print jobs. For example, events related to print jobs may include receiving print jobs. The print control unit 302 can respond to an event request received from the physical printer by responding with events related to the physical printer.

[0051] The printer management unit 303 manages information related to the logical printers registered in the print server 130 as printer information 311. Printer information 311 includes the name of the physical printer associated with the logical printer, capability information, a cloud printer ID uniquely assigned to the logical printer, and information about the print queue used for spool print jobs.

[0052] The job management unit 304 manages information related to print jobs received from the information processing device 110 as job information 312. Job information 312 includes print job information and status, print data specified by the print job, etc.

[0053] The storage control unit 310 stores information in RAM 202 and storage device 204, and reads information from RAM 202 and storage device 204 according to instructions from other components. According to an embodiment, the storage control unit 310 stores printer information 311 and job information 312.

[0054] Example of the functional structure of an information processing device

[0055] Now refer to Figure 4 An example describing the functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 110. The information processing apparatus 110 may include... Figure 4 The components shown may not include Figure 4 One or more of the constituent elements shown, and may include Figure 4 The constituent elements are not shown in the diagram. Figure 4 The various components can be implemented by the CPU 201 executing a program that reads data into RAM 202. In another example, it can be implemented by a dedicated processing circuit (such as an ASIC). Figure 4 One or more or all of the constituent elements.

[0056] The input acquisition unit 401 acquires input from the user of the information processing device 110 using the input I / F 205. The information output unit 402 outputs information to the user of the information processing device 110 using the output I / F 206.

[0057] The registration control unit 403 performs the process of registering a logical printer in the print server 130. The print control unit 404 performs the printing-related processing. The print control unit 404 generates a print job based on print data and print settings. For example, the print control unit 404 can send a print job to a logical printer registered in the print server 130 based on a print instruction from a user of the information processing device 110. The print control unit 404 can also send a print job directly (in other words, within the same LAN) to a physical printer based on a print instruction from a user of the information processing device 110.

[0058] The printer management unit 405 manages information related to printers that can receive print jobs from the information processing device 110 as printer information 411. Printer information 411 includes the printer's name and capability information. The printer management unit 405 can search for printers that can receive print jobs from the information processing device 110.

[0059] The storage control unit 410 stores information in RAM 202 and storage device 204, and reads information from RAM 202 and storage device 204 according to instructions from other components. According to an embodiment, the storage control unit 410 stores printer information 411 and an operating system (OS) 412. OS 412 is installed as standard in the information processing device 110 (in other words, when the information processing device 110 is shipped). OS 412 can be updated. OS 412 includes basic management and control functions for the information processing device 110. OS 412 includes standard printing functions 414.

[0060] The storage control unit 410 can also store a Print Support Application (PSA) 413. PSA 413 is an application (plugin) installed in the OS 412 to extend the standard printing function 414. PSA 413 is provided by the supplier of the printing device 120. PSA 413 enables the user of the information processing device 110 to use printing settings not supported by the standard printing function 414.

[0061] Standard printing function 414 can support standard protocols. Supporting a protocol can mean interpreting commands that conform to the protocol and operating accordingly. The standard protocols supported by standard printing function 414 can be protocols standardized by a standard body (standardized), or protocols that are de facto standards. In the example described below, the standard protocol supported by standard printing function 414 is the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP). The following descriptions related to IPP also apply to other standard protocols.

[0062] PSA 413 can support protocols other than those supported by standard printing function 414. Standard printing function 414 may not support protocols supported by PSA 413. Protocols supported by PSA 413 can be standard protocols other than those supported by standard printing function 414. For example, the protocol supported by PSA 413 can be a vendor-specific protocol of printing device 120. An example of a protocol supported by PSA 413 is the Common Peripheral Control Architecture (CPCA). CPCA is a vendor-specific protocol of printing device 120. The following descriptions related to CPCA also apply to protocols other than those supported by standard printing function 414.

[0063] Example of hardware construction of a printing device

[0064] Now refer to Figure 5 An example describing the hardware construction of a printing apparatus 500 according to an embodiment is provided. The printing apparatus 500 can be used as printing apparatus 120 or as printing apparatus 121. The printing apparatus 500 may include... Figure 5 The components shown may not include Figure 5 One or more of the constituent elements shown, and may include Figure 5 The components are not shown in the diagram. The printing device 500 is a physical printing device, and therefore can be referred to as a physical printer.

[0065] CPU 501 is a general-purpose processing circuit that controls the overall operation of printing device 500. RAM 502 is a volatile memory circuit used as a temporary storage area (such as a working area for processing by CPU 501). ROM 503 is a non-volatile memory circuit that stores programs and data used in the processing of CPU 501. Storage device 504 is a non-volatile storage device that stores programs and data (e.g., print jobs, image data, and setting information) used in the processing of CPU 501. Storage device 504 can be, for example, an HDD or an SSD. Storage device 504 can be referred to as an auxiliary storage device. The operation of printing device 500 can be implemented by CPU 501 executing programs read from storage device 504 into RAM 502.

[0066] Printer I / F 505 is an I / F used to exchange signals with printer engine 520. Printer engine 520 performs printing based on signals (e.g., image signals or print commands) supplied from control unit 510 via printer I / F 505. Printing can be electrophotographic printing, which transfers and fixes toner onto paper; inkjet printing, which prints by dispensing ink onto paper; or 3D printing.

[0067] Scanner I / F 506 is an I / F used to exchange signals with scanner engine 530. Scanner engine 530 supplies signals (e.g., image signals) obtained by scanning a document to control unit 510 via scanner I / F 506. CPU 501 can process the image signals supplied from scanner engine 530 and supply signals obtained in this way for image printing to printer engine 520. Furthermore, CPU 501 can generate image data based on the image signals supplied from scanner engine 530 and send the image data to an external device.

[0068] Operation unit I / F 507 is an I / F used to exchange signals with operation unit 540. Operation unit 540 is a means of obtaining input from the user of printing device 500 and providing information to the user of printing device 500. For example, operation unit 540 may be composed of a display panel (e.g., liquid crystal display), a speaker, a touch panel, a keyboard, buttons, a touch screen, or any combination thereof.

[0069] Network I / F 508 is an I / F used for communication with devices external to the printing device 500. The control unit 510 consists of a CPU 501, RAM 502, ROM 503, storage device 504, printer I / F 505, scanner I / F 506, operation unit I / F 507, and network I / F 508. All components in the control unit 510 are connected to the system bus 509.

[0070] Example of the construction of the operating unit of the printing device

[0071] Now refer to Figure 6 An example describing the construction of the operation unit 540 of the printing apparatus 500. Figure 6 In the example, the operation unit 540 is configured as a control panel formed in a panel shape. The operation unit 540 may include... Figure 6 The components shown. The operation unit 540 may include... Figure 6 The constituent elements are not shown in the diagram.

[0072] Display panel 601 is a touchscreen, comprising an integrally formed touch panel for receiving input from a user and a display (e.g., a liquid crystal display) for displaying information to the user. Figure 6 In the example, display panel 601 displays buttons 602 to 604. Button 602 is a software button for receiving instructions from the user to switch to copy mode. In response to the user touching button 602, printing device 500 displays a copy operation screen on display panel 601. Button 603 is a software button for receiving instructions from the user to switch to FAX mode. In response to the user touching button 603, printing device 500 displays a FAX operation screen on display panel 601. Button 604 is a software button for receiving instructions from the user to switch to scanner mode. In response to the user touching button 604, printing device 500 displays a scanner operation screen on display panel 601. Additionally, dialog boxes for user interaction and a list of cloud print jobs can be displayed on display panel 601.

[0073] The numeric keypad 605 is a set of physical buttons for receiving input such as numbers from the user. Button 606 is a physical button for receiving instructions from the user to determine the content displayed on the display panel 601. The arrow keys 607 are physical buttons for receiving instructions from the user to select items from the menu displayed on the display panel 601. Button 608 is a physical button for receiving instructions from the user for monochrome copying. Button 609 is a physical button for receiving instructions from the user for color copying. Button 610 is a physical button for receiving instructions from the user to stop processing. Button 611 is a physical button for receiving instructions from the user to display a menu screen for setting the printing device 500, etc. Button 612 is a physical button for receiving instructions from the user to display the status of the printing device 500 (such as a list of print jobs received by the printing device 500).

[0074] Example of the functional structure of a printing device

[0075] Now refer to Figure 7 An example describing the functional configuration of the printing device 500. The printing device 500 may include... Figure 7 The components shown may not include Figure 7 One or more of the constituent elements shown, and may include Figure 7 The components are not shown in the diagram. This can be achieved by the CPU 501 executing the program read into RAM 502. Figure 7 The various components. In another example, this can be implemented by dedicated processing circuitry (such as an ASIC). Figure 7 One or more or all of the constituent elements.

[0076] The input acquisition unit 701 acquires input from the user of the printing device 500 using the operation unit I / F 507. The information output unit 702 outputs information to the user of the printing device 500 using the operation unit I / F 507. For example, the information output unit 702 displays an operation menu on the operation unit 540. The input acquisition unit 701 acquires the input from the operation menu and notifies other components of the input instruction. The information output unit 702 displays the results acquired from other components on the operation unit 540.

[0077] The image processing unit 703 renders the print job into image data for printing. The print processing unit 704 prints the image data rendered by the image processing unit 703.

[0078] The registration control unit 705 performs processing for registering the logical printer associated with the printing device 500 in the print server 130. The printer management unit 706 manages information related to the printing device 500 as printer information 721. Printer information 721 may include, for example, the name of the printing device 500, the status of the printing device 500, the capability information of the printing device 500, and a cloud printer ID uniquely assigned by the print server 130 to the logical printer associated with the printing device 500. Furthermore, printer information 721 may include a local printer ID used by the information processing device 110 to identify printing devices within the same LAN 101. The capability information of the printing device 500 is information related to the capabilities of the printing device 500, and may include, for example, information about a printing device 500 with specific functions.

[0079] The cloud printing (CP) control unit 707 performs processing related to cloud printing. For example, the CP control unit 707 can transmit print data included in a print job received from the print server 130 to the image processing unit 703 to print according to the print job sent from the print server 130. In addition, the CP control unit 707 can send event requests to the print server 130.

[0080] The local printing (LP) control unit 708 performs processing related to local printing. For example, the LP control unit 708 can respond to a printer search from the information processing device 110. Furthermore, the LP control unit 708 can transmit print data included in a print job directly received from the information processing device 110 to the image processing unit 703 for printing according to the print job sent from the information processing device 110. The job management unit 709 manages information related to the print job as job information 722. Job information 722 may include the processing status and processing result of the print job.

[0081] IPP processing unit 710 performs IPP-related processing. For example, IPP processing unit 710 receives an IPP-compliant message from an external device (information processing device 110 or print server 130), interprets the message, and performs the processing specified by the message. IPP processing unit 710 may include server functionality. For example, IPP processing unit 710 may be assigned a specific port number, and messages specifying the port number may be transmitted to IPP processing unit 710.

[0082] CPCA processing unit 711 performs CPCA-related processing. For example, CPCA processing unit 711 receives CPCA-compliant messages from external devices (information processing device 110 or print server 130), interprets the messages, and performs the processing specified by the messages. CPCA processing unit 711 may include server functionality. For example, CPCA processing unit 711 may be assigned a specific port number, and messages specifying the port number may be passed to CPCA processing unit 711. Messages from CPCA processing unit 711 may be passed from another component of print device 500 (e.g., IPP processing unit 710) via local loopback. Furthermore, CPCA processing unit 711 may provide an application programming interface (API) and may obtain instructions from another component (e.g., IPP processing unit 710) via the API.

[0083] The QR code generation unit 712 generates a QR code for encoding information (e.g., a cloud printer ID corresponding to a physical printer). The QR code can be a QR code (registered trademark) or another type of QR code.

[0084] The storage control unit 720 stores information in RAM 502 and storage device 504, and reads information from RAM 502 and storage device 504 according to instructions from other components. According to an embodiment, the storage control unit 720 stores printer information 721, job information 722, and a QR code 723. The QR code 723 is a QR code assigned to an encoded cloud printer ID of the logical printer associated with the printing device 500. The storage control unit 720 can manage the data as a file system. The storage control unit 720 can partition the storage destination of each data item between storage device 504 (non-volatile area) and RAM 502 (volatile area). For example, the storage control unit 720 can store printer information 721 and job information 722 in the non-volatile area.

[0085] The overall processing sequence of cloud printing

[0086] Now refer to Figure 8 Describes the overall processing sequence used for cloud printing. Figure 8 In the example, information processing device 110 registers printing device 120 in print server 130, and print jobs are input to a logical printer associated with printing device 120. Printing device 120 registered in print server 130 may include a logical printer associated with printing device 120 registered in print server 130. In the following example, printing device 120 supports web user interface (UI) functionality for operating printing device 120 from information processing device 110. Furthermore, information processing device 110 supports web UI client functionality. Communication between information processing device 110, printing device 120, and print server 130 can be performed using the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP).

[0087] In S801, the registration control unit 403 of the information processing device 110 sends a start registration request to the printing device 120 based on an instruction from the user of the information processing device 110. The start registration request may be a request to begin processing for registering the printing device 120 in the print server 130. The start registration request can be sent using the web UI client function of the information processing device 110.

[0088] In S802, the registration control unit 705 of the printing device 120, in response to receiving a start registration request from the information processing device 110, sends the start registration request to the print server 130. The start registration request may be a request to begin processing for registering the printing device 120 in the print server 130.

[0089] In S803, the registration control unit 301 of the print server 130, in response to receiving a start registration request from the print device 120, sends a start registration response to the print device 120. The start registration response includes a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) for the user of the information processing device 110 to input information for registering the print device 120 in the print server 130.

[0090] In S804, the registration control unit 705 of the printing device 120, in response to receiving a start registration response from the print server 130, sends registration information to the information processing device 110. The registration information includes a URL included in the start registration response. The information output unit 402 of the information processing device 110 displays a webpage to the user in response to receiving the registration information from the printing device 120.

[0091] In S805, the registration control unit 403 of the information processing device 110, in response to the user accessing the URL of the information processing device 110 and entering the information required for registration, sends an approval registration request to the print server 130. The approval registration request includes the cloud account of the user of the information processing device 110. The cloud account is the tenant account used by the user to access the cloud, including the print server 130.

[0092] In S806, the registration control unit 301 of the print server 130 checks whether the cloud account included in the approval registration request belongs to a user with the permission to register the printing device 120 on the print server 130. If the user has the permission, the registration control unit 301 of the print server 130 sends an approval registration response to the information processing device 110. The approval registration response may be a message to the user of the information processing device 110 notifying the user of their permission to register the printing device 500.

[0093] In S807, the printer management unit 706 of the printing device 120, in response to receiving a start registration response from the print server 130, sends a confirmation registration request to the print server 130. The confirmation registration request may be a request related to registering the printing device 120 in the print server 130, and specifically, it may be a request to register the printing device 500 in the print server 130.

[0094] In step S808, the printer management unit 303 of the print server 130, in response to receiving a registration confirmation request from the printing device 500, generates a new logical printer and adds it to the printer information 311 associated with the printing device 120. Therefore, the printing device 120 is registered in the print server 130, and the information processing device 110 becomes capable of cloud printing using the logical printer. Furthermore, the printer management unit 303 of the print server 130 assigns a unique cloud printer ID to the generated logical printer and adds the cloud printer ID to the printer information 311 associated with the logical printer. Subsequently, the registration control unit 301 of the print server 130 sends a registration confirmation response to the printing device 120. The registration confirmation response includes the cloud printer ID of the printing device 120.

[0095] In S809, the printer management unit 706 of the printing device 120, in response to the completion of the registration of the printing device 120 in the print server 130 (receiving a confirmation registration response from the print server 130), sends an update information request to the print server 130. The update information request can be a request to update information related to the printing device 120. The update information request includes the capability information of the printing device 120. The update information request can be sent via an Update-Output-Device-Attributes request message specified by IPP.

[0096] In S810, the printer management unit 303 of the print server 130 updates the information of the printing device 120 included in the printer information 311 based on the capability information included in the received update information request, and sends an update information response to the printing device 500. The update information response may be a message notifying the printing device 120 that the information update has been successfully completed.

[0097] In S811, the CP control unit 707 of the printing device 120, in response to receiving an update information response from the print server 130, sends an event request to the print server 130. The event request may be a request to notify the printing device 120 in the event that an event related to the printing device 120 has occurred. The event request may relate to an event that a print job has been entered into a logical printer associated with the printing device 120.

[0098] In S812, the printer management unit 405 of the information processing device 110 sends an information request to the print server 130 based on instructions from the user of the information processing device 110. The information request may be a request to obtain information related to a logical printer that can be used by the user of the information processing device 110. The information request includes the cloud account of the user of the information processing device 110. The information request can be sent via a Get-Printer-Attributesrequest message specified by IPP.

[0099] In S813, the printer management unit 303 of the print server 130, in response to receiving an information request from the information processing device 110, sends an information response to the information processing device 110. The information response includes the cloud printer ID and capability information of each of one or more logical printers available to the user of the information processing device 110. The printer management unit 405 of the information processing device 110 updates the printer information 411 based on the information response. In this way, the found logical printer is registered in the standard printing function 414 of the information processing device 110. The information response can be sent via the Get-Printer-Attributes Response message specified by IPP.

[0100] In S814, the printer management unit 405 of the information processing device 110 sends a print request to the print server 130 according to an instruction from the user of the information processing device 110. The print request includes the cloud printer ID, print job, and cloud account of the user of the information processing device 110. The print job may include print data and print settings. The print request may be a request to print the print data included in the print request to a logical printer that includes the cloud printer ID included in the print request. The information processing device 110 may instruct a logical printer registered in the standard print function 414 to perform printing.

[0101] In S815, the print control unit 302 of the print server 130, in response to receiving a print request from the information processing device 110, sends an event response to the print device 500 associated with the logical printer. The event response is a response to the event request received in S811. The event response is used to notify that the event type specified by the event request has occurred.

[0102] In S816, the CP control unit 707 of the printing device 120, in response to receiving an event response from the print server 130, sends a print job request to the print server 130. The print job request may be a request to obtain a print job to be executed by the printing device 120.

[0103] In S817, the print control unit 302 of the print server 130, in response to receiving a print job request from the print device 120, sends a print job response to the print device 120. The print job response includes the cloud account and the print job. The print job response received by the print device 120 from the print server 130 may be an IPP Fetch-Job response message. In S818, the print device 500, in response to receiving the print job response from the print server 130, performs printing according to the print job.

[0104] exist Figure 8 In the description, the registration of the printing device 120 in steps S801 to S806 and the cloud printing in steps S812 and S818 can be performed by the same user or by different users.

[0105] Integrated logic printers and standalone logic printers

[0106] The integrated logic printer and individual logic printers provided by print server 130 will now be described. In this embodiment, print server 130 is capable of providing both integrated logic printers and individual logic printers. As described above, a logic printer is a virtual printing device (e.g., a printer object) provided by print server 130. An individual logic printer is a logic printer associated with a specific physical printer. Print jobs input to an individual logic printer can be printed by the physical printer associated with that individual logic printer. An integrated logic printer is a physical printer that is not directly associated with a specific physical printer and is associated with one or more individual logic printers. Typically, an integrated logic printer is associated with multiple individual logic printers. Print jobs input to an integrated logic printer are moved to one of the individual logic printers associated with the integrated logic printer according to instructions from the user. In other words, print jobs input to an integrated logic printer are input to any one of the individual logic printers. Subsequently, the print job can be printed by the physical printer associated with the individual logic printer.

[0107] For example, the registration control unit 705 of print server 130 can register integrated logic printers and individual logic printers in print server 130 according to instructions from users of printing device 500 or administrators of printing systems. For example, as described above, in Figure 8 In S808, the registration control unit 403 of print server 130 registers logical printers. Since a logical printer is associated with a specific physical printer, it is registered as a separate logical printer. Furthermore, if a composite logical printer is already registered to a tenant in the cloud of the user who registered the physical printer, the registration control unit 403 of print server 130 can associate a newly registered separate logical printer with the composite logical printer.

[0108] Now refer to Figure 9 This describes an example of a comprehensive logical printer and individual logical printers provided by print server 130. Print server 130 acts as a virtual printer. A virtual printer is a logical printer associated with a print queue and is treated as a single virtual printer. Figure 9 In the example, a general logic printer 901 and three individual logic printers 902a to 902c are registered in print server 130, and print server 130 provides these four logic printers. The three individual logic printers 902a to 902c are all associated with the general logic printer 901. Furthermore, each of the three individual logic printers 902a to 902c is individually associated with one of the three physical printers 903a to 903c. For example, individual logic printer 902a is associated only with physical printer 903a among the three physical printers 903a to 903c. Physical printers 903a to 903c may have a configuration similar to that of printing device 500. Physical printers 903a to 903c may be connected to the same LAN 101 as information processing device 110, as printing device 120, or they may not be connected to the same LAN 101 as information processing device 110, as printing device 121.

[0109] Now refer to Figure 9 This describes the printing process when a print job is input to the integrated logic printer 901. In step S911, the print control unit 404 of the information processing unit 110 inputs the print job 904 to the integrated logic printer 901. Figure 8 (S814). At this stage, the user of the information processing device 110 does not need to specify which physical printer to use for printing.

[0110] In S912, the user who inputs print job 904 or another user logs into the portable communication device 140 and receives the print job input to the integrated logic printer 901. In S913, a print job list is displayed on the user's portable communication device 140. The user then specifies the desired print job from the print job list displayed on the portable communication device 140 and designates a physical printer for printing. The operation in S913 is performed via the application on the portable communication device 140. In this example, the user specifies print job 904 from the print job list on the portable communication device 140 and designates physical printer 903a as the physical printer for printing.

[0111] In S914, the print server 130 is instructed to move the print job 904 input to the integrated logic printer 901 to the individual logic printer 902a so that it can be printed by the physical printer 903a. This instruction includes the identification information (job ID) of the job to be moved and the cloud printer ID of the individual logic printer 902a as the destination.

[0112] The job management unit 304 of the print server 130 receives instructions from the user and, in S915, moves the print job 904 from the integrated logic printer 901 to the individual logic printer 902a. Therefore, since the print job 904 is associated with the individual logic printer 902a, the print job 904 can be printed by the physical printer 903a.

[0113] In S916, the CP control unit 707 of the physical printer 903a sends a print job request to the separate logic printer 902a. Figure 8 (S816). In S917, the print control unit 302 of the print server 130, in response to receiving a print job request from the physical printer 903a, sends a print job response to the physical printer 903a. Figure 8 (S817). The print job response includes print job 904. Then, the print processing unit 704 of the physical printer 903a performs printing based on print job 904. Figure 8 (S818).

[0114] exist Figure 9 In the description, an instruction is given to print job 904, input to integrated logic printer 901, using separate logic printer 902a, from the print job list displayed on portable communication device 140, and a physical printer is specified. The instruction to print print job 904, input to integrated logic printer 901, using separate logic printer 902a can be issued by scanning a QR code displayed on physical printer 903a using portable communication device 140. QR code 723 is an encoded cloud printer ID corresponding to physical printer 903a. The cloud printer ID is the ID representing separate logic printer 902a.

[0115] The instruction includes: the cloud printer ID of the individual logical printer 902a as the destination, and user identification information identifying the user. The user identification information can be any identification information capable of identifying the user. For example, a user ID can be used. In the absence of a print job 904, the user identification information can be used to issue a print instruction to the individual logical printer 902a.

[0116] When a print command is issued using a QR code, in S920, the user points the camera 209 at the QR code 723 displayed on the physical printer 903a, allowing the portable communication device 140 to scan the QR code 723. The portable communication device 140 then decodes the QR code 723 to obtain the cloud printer ID corresponding to the physical printer 903a represented by the QR code 723. Then, in S914, the portable communication device 140 sends the user identification information identifying the portable communication device 140 and the obtained cloud printer ID to the print server 130.

[0117] A command can be issued from the physical printer 903a to print the print job 904 input to the integrated logic printer 901 using the separate logic printer 902a. When the physical printer 903a instructs the execution of the print job, in S930, this command is issued by bringing the IC card or portable communication device 140 close to the card scanning unit (not shown) of the physical printer 903a. Furthermore, on the login screen, a user ID (user identification information) and password can be entered from the display panel 601. User identification information can be obtained from the scanned IC card or portable communication device 140. User identification information can also be obtained from the user identification information entered on the login screen. When a command is issued from the physical printer 903a to print the print job 904, the obtained user identification information and the cloud printer ID of the separate logic printer 902a identifying itself are sent to the print server 130.

[0118] Upon receiving the print request, the job management unit 304 of the print server 130 sends an instruction to the physical printer 903a corresponding to the cloud printer ID included in the print request to execute the print job. First, the physical printer 903a sends a print job request to the integrated logic printer 901. This print job request includes user identification information and the cloud printer ID.

[0119] In a print job input to and stored in the integrated logic printer 901, the print job containing user input identified by user identification information is moved from the integrated logic printer 901 to the individual logic printer 902a. At this time, the print job to be moved includes print job 904, but may also include another print job containing user input identified by other user identification information.

[0120] The CP control unit 707 of physical printer 903a sends a print job request to the standalone logical printer 902a. In response to receiving the print job request from physical printer 903a, the print control unit 302 of print server 130 sends a print job response to physical printer 903a. The print job response includes the print job moved to standalone logical printer 902a. Then, the print processing unit 704 of physical printer 903a performs printing based on the print job.

[0121] When user identification information is recognized and printing is performed by physical printer 903a, all print jobs entered by the user as identified by the user identification information are included. Instead of performing all print jobs, a list of print jobs recognized by the user identification information can be displayed on the display panel 601 of physical printer 903a, and the user can select the desired print job from the list to print.

[0122] In the example above, the user issues an instruction to move print job 904 from the integrated logic printer 901 to a separate logic printer 902a, but can also instruct to move print job 904 to separate logic printers 902b or 902c. In this case, printing is performed by physical printers 903b or 903c. In this way, after print job 904 has been entered into the print server 130, the user can use any of the physical printers 903a to 903c to perform the printing. This printing method can be referred to as pull printing or dummy printing.

[0123] Installation of Print Support Application (PSA) in Information Processing Devices

[0124] Next, we will refer to Figure 10 The installation of the Print Support Application (PSA) 413 in the information processing apparatus 110 is described. For example, the CPU 201 of the information processing apparatus 110 reads the program stored in ROM 203 into RAM 202 and executes the program to achieve the processes described below. In the following, the step numbers of each process included in the flowchart will be indicated by numbers preceded by "S". The same applies to subsequent flowcharts.

[0125] When a printer is added to the information processing device 110, the PSA 413 is installed. First, in S1001, the printer management unit 405 of the information processing device 110 uses the functions of OS 412 to search for printers connected to the network and obtain the printer name and hardware ID (HWID). HWID is a vendor-defined identification string used by OS 412 to compare the printer with the printer driver package.

[0126] Next, in S1002, the printer management unit 405 of the information processing device 110 uses the functions of OS 412 to obtain printer configuration information. Configuration information is obtained by acquiring various capability information of the printer. Upon obtaining the configuration information, OS 412 edits the printer device function (PDC) in the information processing device 110 and generates a print queue for the added printer.

[0127] Next, in S1003, the printer management unit 405 uses the obtained HWID and searches for a PSA that supports that HWID from the server providing the PSA. The PSA varies depending on the vendor and printer model, therefore the HWID and PSA are associated together. HWIDs and PSAs can be associated one-to-one, or one PSA can be associated with multiple HWIDs. The server providing the PSA can be a server provided by the OS 412 provider, or it can be a server provided by the printer vendor. In S1004, the printer management unit 405 determines whether a PSA corresponding to the HWID exists. If no PSA corresponding to the HWID exists, the process ends. If a PSA corresponding to the HWID exists, the CPU 201 causes the process to proceed to S1005.

[0128] Next, the printer management unit 405 determines whether the PSA corresponding to the HWID has been installed in the information processing device 110. If the PSA is not installed in the information processing device 110 (in the case of "No"), the CPU 201 initiates processing in step S1006 and downloads and installs the PSA corresponding to the HWID. The downloaded and installed PSA is stored in the storage control unit 410.

[0129] Following S1006, the printer management unit 405 initiates processing in S1007. In S1005, if the PSA corresponding to the HWID is installed in the information processing device 110 (in the "Yes" case), the printer management unit 405 skips S1006 and initiates processing in S1007. In S1007, the printer management unit 405 adds the extended print menu provided by the PSA to the added printer.

[0130] In this way, the information processing device 110 can add a printer, download and install the PSA 413 corresponding to the added printer. After installing the PSA 413, the user can use the extended printing settings specified by the vendor extended attributes by adding vendor extended attributes to the standard printing function of the OS. In this way, when the information processing device 110 adds a printer, a print queue corresponding to the printer is generated for storing print jobs, and one PSA corresponding to the print queue is supported.

[0131] Figure 11 The print setup screen 1100 shown is the standard print setup screen provided by OS 412. The standard print setup screen 1100 is a tree-view format user interface that only provides standard printing functions. When PSA 413 is installed in the information processing device 110, it is used... Figure 12 The print settings shown in Print Settings Screen 1200, corresponding to the vendor's extended print settings, are enabled. Print Settings Screen 1200 provides a user interface similar to the print settings screen provided by the printer driver. In addition to standard print settings, extended print settings can also be provided using Print Settings Screen 1200.

[0132] The operation of printing settings using PSA 413 will now be described. The OS 412 of the information processing device 110 manages information related to the printer to which a print job has been entered as printer information 411. Printer information 411 is managed as PDC (Printer Device Function) and includes the printer's name, capability information, etc.

[0133] When a user of the information processing device 110 prints print data, the OS 412 displays information related to the printers that can print. The user selects the printer from the list of printers that can print to input the print job. The OS 412 displays the printer's name and details (attributes) as information related to the printer that can print. The user sets the print settings by selecting the details (attributes). If no PSA corresponding to the printer is installed, when the details (attributes) are selected, the OS displays... Figure 11 The standard print settings screen is 1100, and you can configure print settings.

[0134] On the other hand, with the PSA 413 corresponding to the printer installed, the OS 412 provides printer information 411 (PDC) to the PSA 413. The PSA 413 edits the PDC object of the provided PDC and passes the edited content to the OS 412. When the user selects a printer (print queue) and selects printer details (attributes), the PSA 413 is activated and displays the settings that can be configured. Figure 12 The extended print settings are displayed on screen 1200. Through these operations, the PSA 413 enables extended print settings.

[0135] Extended Print Settings

[0136] Now refer to Figure 13This describes extended print settings from the vendor. Examples of IPP printer drivers include the standard IPP printer driver 1304 and the vendor PSA 1305. Vendor PSA supports extended print settings where print settings beyond those supported by the standard IPP printer driver are vendor-defined. Vendor PSA's extended print settings include two methods: an extension method via standard IPP attributes and an extension method that defines vendor-specific IPP extended attributes. Figure 13 In this context, Public PSA 1306 corresponds to the Extended IPP Standard Attribute. Additionally, Vendor-Specific 1307 corresponds to Extended Printing Settings defined as Vendor-Specific IPP Extended Attributes. For printers from different vendors, Vendor-Specific Extended Printing Settings will be disabled. Furthermore, Extended Printing Settings for Public PSAs can also be disabled.

[0137] Figure 13 The print settings 1302 and IPP attributes 1303 for each driver 1301 are shown. The standard IPP printer driver 1304 supports standard print settings. Examples of print settings for the standard IPP printer driver 1304 include the number of copies to print, color settings, duplex printing, and similar settings as indicated at 1308. Print settings are configured using the standard IPP print settings to correspond to the number of copies for the IPP attribute, the color settings to the IPP attribute print-color-mode, and the duplex printing to the IPP attribute sides.

[0138] The common PSA 1306 for vendor PSA 1305 is not as standard as the standard print settings provided by the standard IPP printer driver 1304, but it supports print settings 1309 defined by IPP standard attributes. Examples include finishing folds and trims. Folding uses the IPP standard attribute finishes / fold, while trimming uses the IPP standard attribute finishes / trim. Because the common PSA uses IPP standard attributes, it can support printers from other vendors.

[0139] In addition to the print settings via the public PSA 1306, vendor PSAs also define and support vendor-specific extended print settings 1307 via IPP extended attributes. IPP extended attributes are IPP attributes specifically set by the vendor. Examples of vendor-specific extended print settings include Eco Staples, etc. Figure 13In the EcoStaple Stitch printing settings, smi1602-finishings / stapleless-stitch is defined as a user-specific IPP extended attribute. Even if the extended printing settings are used with printers from the same vendor, they may not be supported. Typically, printers from other vendors are not supported.

[0140] Extended Print Settings Screen

[0141] Now refer to Figure 14 Describe the extended print settings. Figure 14 The print settings screen 1400 is in the state where label arrangement 1401 is selected. Figure 12 The print settings screen 1200 allows you to set folding 1402, trimming 1403, binding 1404, cover 1405, saddle press 1406, and trimming 1407 for finishing processes. Folding 1402 indicates folding the printed sheet. This includes folding in half, triplicate, quadruple, etc. Trimming 1403 indicates trimming the printed sheet. Binding 1404 indicates saddle stitch binding and case binding; for saddle stitch binding, the printed sheet is folded in the center and stapled in the center. Case binding is binding where the cover is glued on and wrapped. Cover 1405 indicates adding a cover to the binding. Saddle press 1406 is used to suppress bulging of the saddle section when pressing the back during saddle pressing. Trimming 1407 indicates aligning the cross-section after saddle stitch binding. Folding 1402 and trimming 1403 are... Figure 13 Extended print settings are configured in the public PSA. Extended print settings use IPP standard attributes.

[0142] On the other hand, hardcover binding is a vendor-specific attribute defined in the IPP extended attributes. In this way, by installing the PSA 413 in the information processing device 110, printing can be performed using extended print settings that are not supported in the standard print settings (standard print settings screen 1100).

[0143] Network architecture of printing systems including printers from multiple vendors

[0144] The printer's HWID is assigned according to the printer type. The HWID is also assigned to the integrated logic printer for cloud printing. Based on the HWID of the integrated logic printer 901, the information processing device 110 downloads and installs the PSA 413 corresponding to the integrated logic printer in the information processing device 110.

[0145] In the case of a printing system that forms a cloud printing service, for example, in Figure 9In the printing system, the print server 130 and the physical printers 903a to 903c can be constructed from products of the same supplier. In this case, in the information processing device 110, the user can use the extended print settings used by the PSA 413 and perform printing using the extended print settings from any of the physical printers 903a to 903c.

[0146] On the other hand, multiple vendors' physical printers can be registered for the integrated logic printer 901. When using the extended print settings in the PSA 413 corresponding to the integrated logic printer 901, pull printing can be performed based on the extended print settings when using physical printers from the same vendor for pull printing. However, for physical printers from other vendors, since the extended print settings corresponding to the integrated logic printer 901 are not supported, printing is performed after disabling the settings based on the extended print settings.

[0147] Now refer to Figure 15 This describes the construction of a printing system that includes physical printers from multiple vendors. (This will be skipped.) Figure 9 The description of the relevant section is as follows. Furthermore, the following description will primarily focus on the processing for operating pull-to-print from the user's portable communication device 140. This allows for the issuance of pull-to-print commands via scanning a QR code and via a physical printer. Figure 9 The same as described in [the text].

[0148] exist Figure 15 In the example, a single integrated logic printer 1501 and three separate logic printers 1502a to 1502c associated with the integrated logic printer 1501 are registered in print server 130. Furthermore, each of the three separate logic printers 1502a to 1502c is individually associated with one of the three physical printers 1503a to 1503c.

[0149] The HWID is associated with and managed by each of the integrated logic printer 1501 and the individual logic printers 1502a to 1502c. The HWID includes information identifying the supplier representing the manufacturing source of the hardware and information identifying the device. The information for identifying the device may include information for identifying the printer series. The print server 130 acts as a virtual printer, and the HWID of the integrated logic printer 1501 is AAA_MFP00. The HWID represents the supplier "AAA Company" and the model name "MFP00". The print server 130 does not perform printing, therefore the supplier and model name of the HWID of the integrated logic printer 1501 are assigned virtually. For the HWID, a supplier and model name shared by the individual physical printers associated with the integrated logic printer 1501 can be assigned, or a different model name can be assigned. Alternatively, only the information for identifying the supplier can be used.

[0150] Physical printer 1503a is model MFP01 from AAA, and standalone logical printer 1502a includes the HWID of AAA_MFP01. Physical printer 1503b is model MFP02 from AAA, and standalone logical printer 1502b includes the HWID of AAA_MFP02. Physical printer 1503c is model PR01 from BBB, and standalone logical printer 1502c includes the HWID of BBB_PR01.

[0151] Now refer to Figure 15 This describes the printing process when a print job is input into the integrated logic printer 1501. The information processing unit 110, according to... Figure 10 The process involves installing the PSA 413 corresponding to AAA_MFP00 (HWID of the integrated logic printer 1501). In S1501, the print control unit 404 of the information processing unit 110 inputs the print job 1504 to the integrated logic printer 1501. The print job 1504 has print settings via extended print settings according to the PSA 413. At this stage, the user of the information processing unit 110 does not need to specify which physical printer to use for printing.

[0152] In S1512, the user who inputs print job 1504 or another user logs into the portable communication device 140 and obtains the print job input to the integrated logic printer 1501. In S1513, a print job list is displayed on the user's portable communication device 140. The user then specifies the desired print job from the print job list displayed on the portable communication device 140 and specifies the physical printer for printing. The operation in S1513 is performed via the application on the portable communication device 140. In this example, the user specifies print job 1504 from the print job list on the portable communication device 140 and specifies the physical printer 1503a as the physical printer to be printed.

[0153] In S1514, the user uses a portable communication device 140 to issue a printing instruction to be performed by the physical printer 1503a. The portable communication device 140 instructs the print server 130 to move the print job 1504 input to the integrated logic printer 1501 to the individual logic printer 1502a. This instruction includes: the identification information (job ID) of the job to be moved and the cloud printer ID of the individual logic printer 1502a as the destination.

[0154] In S1515, the job management unit 304 of the print server 130 moves the print job 1504 from the integrated logic printer 1501 to the individual logic printer 1502a. Therefore, since the print job 1504 is associated with the individual logic printer 1502a, the print job 1504 can be printed by the physical printer 1503a.

[0155] In S1516, the CP control unit 707 of the physical printer 1503a sends a print job request to the separate logic printer 1502a. In S1517, the print control unit 302 of the print server 130, in response to receiving the print job request from the physical printer 1503a, sends a print job response to the physical printer 1503a. The print job response includes print job 1504. Thereafter, the print processing unit 704 of the physical printer 1503a performs printing based on print job 1504. At this time, the logic printer 1501 and the physical printer 1503a belong to the same supplier, AAA. Therefore, print job 1504, configured for printing using the extended print settings according to PSA413, is executed to print using the applied extended print settings.

[0156] Next, in S1513, the user specifies print job 1504 from the print job list on the portable communication device 140 and designates physical printer 1503c as the physical printer to be printed. In S1514, the print server 130 is instructed to move print job 1504, which was input to the integrated logic printer 1501, to a separate logic printer 1502c, so that it can be printed by the physical printer 1503c. This instruction includes: the identification information (job ID) of the job to be moved and the cloud printer ID of the separate logic printer 1502c, which is the destination of the move.

[0157] In S1518, the job management unit 304 of the print server 130 moves the print job 1504 from the integrated logic printer 1501 to the individual logic printer 1502c. Therefore, since the print job 1504 is associated with the individual logic printer 1502c, the print job 1504 can be printed by the physical printer 1503c.

[0158] When a print command is issued using a QR code, in S1520, the user points the camera 209 at the QR code 723 displayed on the physical printer 1503a, allowing the portable communication device 140 to scan the QR code 723. The portable communication device 140 then decodes the QR code 723 to obtain the cloud printer ID corresponding to the physical printer 1503a represented by the QR code 723. Then, in S1514, the portable communication device 140 sends the user identification information identifying the portable communication device 140 and the obtained cloud printer ID to the print server 130.

[0159] A command can be issued from the physical printer 1503a to print a print job 1504 input to the integrated logic printer 1501 using a separate logic printer 1502a. When the physical printer 1503a instructs the execution of a print job, in S1530, this command is issued by bringing an IC card or portable communication device 140 close to the card scanning unit (not shown) of the physical printer 1503a. Furthermore, on the login screen, a user ID (user identification information) and password can be entered from the display panel 601. User identification information can be obtained from the scanned IC card or portable communication device 140. User identification information can also be obtained from the user identification information entered on the login screen. When a command is issued from the physical printer 1503a, the obtained user identification information and the cloud printer ID identifying the separate logic printer 1502a are sent to the print server 130.

[0160] In S1519, the CP control unit 707 of the physical printer 1503c sends a print job request to the individual logic printer 1502c. In S1517, the print control unit 302 of the print server 130, in response to receiving the print job request from the physical printer 1503c, sends a print job response to the physical printer 1503c. The print job response includes print job 1504. Thereafter, the print processing unit 704 of the physical printer 1503c performs printing based on print job 1504.

[0161] At this time, the supplier of the integrated logic printer 1501 is AAA, but the supplier of the physical printer 1503c is BBB. Therefore, the suppliers of the integrated logic printer 1501 and the physical printer 1503c are different. Consequently, since the extended print settings according to PSA 413 cannot be interpreted in the physical printer 1503c, the extended print settings are ignored and printing is performed. Therefore, the user who inputs print job 1504 using the print settings configured via the extended print settings receives a print result without the extended print settings being applied.

[0162] The PSA 413, corresponding to the integrated logic printer 1501, obtains information about the individual logic printers associated with the integrated logic printer 1501 from the print server 130. The HWID of the physical printer, or other information, can be used as the information for the individual logic printer. As information for the individual logic printer, it is sufficient to identify the printer's vendor and model.

[0163] exist Figure 15 In the printing system, three individual logic printers 1502a to 1502c are registered as associated with the integrated logic printer 1501. PSA 413 obtains the HWIDs of the three individual logic printers 1502a to 1502c associated with the integrated logic printer 1501 from print server 130. PSA 413 obtains AAA_MFP01, AAA_MFP02, and BBB_PR01 as the HWIDs of the three individual logic printers 1502a to 1502c from print server 130.

[0164] Now refer to Figure 15 This describes the printing setup for cloud printing in a printing system that includes printers from multiple vendors. Figure 15 In order to perform cloud printing, the user inputs a print job 1504 from the information processing device 110 to the integrated logic printer 1501. AAA's standalone logic printers 1502a and 1502b, and BBB's standalone logic printer 1502c, are registered in association with the integrated logic printer 1501 provided by AAA.

[0165] The user sets print settings for entering print jobs. Here, the user... Figure 14 Use the extended print settings screen 1400 to set print settings. The folding 1402, trimming 1403, binding 1404, cover 1405, saddle press 1406, and trimming 1407 settings in the label arrangement 1401 all correspond to the extended print settings. In this example, the user selected "On" for the OFF / ON button for binding. When this occurs, as... Figure 16 As shown, a warning display screen 1601 is displayed to the user via a pop-up window, stating that "settings set on the current settings screen can be disabled when printing with a non-AAA printer." When the user presses the OK button 1602, the warning display screen 1601 is closed. The content of the warning display screen 1601, such as the statement "Settings set on the current settings screen are enabled only when printing with an AAA printer," identifies the printers that can be used for printing. Furthermore, the statement "This setting can be disabled when printing with a non-AAA printer" in the warning display screen 1601 corresponds to the selected extended print settings. Additionally, the warning display screen 1601 can be displayed when all print settings in the organization tab 1401 are extended print settings and the organization tab 1401 is selected.

[0166] When a user sets print settings, confirms the warning display screen 1601, and prints using a printer other than an AAA printer, the user can understand the possibility that print settings may be disabled. Therefore, the user can reliably apply the PSA extended print settings set for the integrated logic printer 1501 to print jobs.

[0167] Variant Example 1

[0168] exist Figure 16 In the context of setting extended print settings, warning screen 1601 is displayed. However, within the extended print settings, there are extended items via IPP standard attributes. Examples include... Figure 13 Folding, trimming, etc., are set in the public PSA. Extended print settings via IPP standard attributes can be set using extended print settings similar to those of another vendor. Therefore, when printing using a printer from another vendor, the print settings from the extended print settings via IPP standard attributes can be reflected in the print settings.

[0169] In Variation Example 1, the decision to display a warning screen is determined by whether the extended print settings are extended via IPP standard attributes or vendor-specific extensions. Figure 14In this context, the hardcover binding of binding 1404 is an extended print setting defined by the IPP extended attributes specifically provided by the supplier. Let's take an example of a user attempting to set up hardcover binding when configuring a print project. When this occurs, such as... Figure 16 As shown, the PSA 413 displays a warning display screen 1601 to the user via a pop-up window on the print settings screen 1400. The warning display screen 1601 displays, for example, "When printing with a non-AAA printer, settings set on the current settings screen can be disabled." The warning display screen 1601 is closed when the user presses the OK button 1602.

[0170] When a user sets print settings, confirms warning display screen 1601, and prints using a printer other than an AAA printer, the user can understand that there is a possibility of disabling vendor-specific print item settings. Warning display screen 1601 is displayed when a vendor-specific extended print item is selected. However, this is not intended to be a restriction, and warning display screen 1601 may be displayed when the tidying label 1401's print settings are extended print settings defined by vendor-specific IPP extended attributes. Furthermore, the content of warning display screen 1601, for example, may identify the printer that can be used, stating "Settings are enabled only when printing with an AAA printer."

[0171] Second Embodiment

[0172] The second embodiment will now be described. In IPP, when an IPP client sends an IPP request (create-job, print-job) to print a job, client information (client-info) is added as a client attribute. Client-info includes information to identify the client, as well as the name and version of the software package. If the printer supports this Client-info attribute, when processing a print job, the printer copies this attribute to the corresponding job status attribute with the same name and performs the processing.

[0173] The client-info property consists of the following member properties.

[0174] client-name(name(127))

[0175] client-patches(text(127) / no value)

[0176] client-string-version(text(127))

[0177] client-version(8-character string (64) / no value)

[0178] client-type (type 2 enumeration)

[0179] The `client-name` attribute indicates the client name. The `client-patches` attribute indicates the patches installed on the client. The `client-string-version` attribute indicates the client's version number. The `client-version` (an octet string (64) / no value) indicates the client's version in machine language. The `client-type` attribute indicates the module described by the set. When `client-type` is 3, it indicates an application. When `client-type` is 4, it indicates an operating system (OS). When `client-type` is 5, it indicates a printer driver or another driver. When `client-type` is 6, it indicates software for another type of client.

[0180] When a client generates a print job and requests the printer to execute it, the client can combine multiple client-info messages into a set. In this way, OS information, application information, etc., can be added to the print job and sent.

[0181] In this embodiment, when the information processing device 110 inputs a print job into the integrated logic printer 1501, the PSA supplier information is set using client-info. Now, reference will be made to... Figure 17 The processing of the information processing apparatus 110 according to this embodiment is described. For example, the CPU 201 of the information processing apparatus 110 reads the program stored in the ROM 203 into the RAM 202 and executes the program to achieve the processing described below.

[0182] When a user generates a print job in the information processing device 110, the process begins. Figure 17The process is as follows: The user selects a print setting item on print setting screen 1200 or print setting screen 1400. In S1701, the print control unit 404 of the information processing device 110 determines whether the print setting set by the user on print setting screen 1200 or print setting screen 1400 is an extended print setting from the supplier's PSA 413. In S1701, if the print setting set by the user is an extended print setting from the supplier's PSA 413 (yes), the print control unit 404 proceeds to S1702. On the other hand, if the print setting set by the user is a standard print setting (no), in S1701, the print control unit 404 of the information processing device 110 skips S1702 and proceeds to S1703.

[0183] In S1702, the PSA 413 of the information processing unit 110 sets the supplier information to client-info. The PSA 413 has been downloaded and installed by the information processing unit 110 based on the printer's HWID. In this case, the PSA 413 corresponds to the HWID of AAA_MFP00, which is the HWID of the integrated logic printer 1501. The PSA 413, as the supplier information set to client-info, can be set with an HWID corresponding to the PSA 413 itself, or it can only set the AAA information indicating the supplier in the HWID. When the supplier information is set to client-info, the PSA 413 advances the process to S1703.

[0184] In S1703, the print control unit 404 of the information processing device 110 sends a print job with added client-info to the print server 130. In the case of extended print settings, the supplier information is set to the client-info added to the print job.

[0185] Next, we will refer to Figure 18 The processing of a print server 130 receiving a print job from an information processing device 110 is described. For example, the CPU 201 of the print server 130 reads a program stored in ROM 203 into RAM 202 and executes the program to achieve the processing described below.

[0186] When the print server 130 receives a print job from the information processing unit 110, it begins Figure 18The process is as follows: In S1801, when the job management unit 304 of the print server 130 receives a print job from the information processing device 110, the job management unit 304 stores the print job in the print queue of the integrated logic printer 1501. The print job information is managed as job information 312.

[0187] In S1802, the print control unit 302 of the print server 130 waits until a print command for the physical printer is available. This is achieved through user access. Figure 15 The portable communication device 140 instructs one of the physical printers 1503a to 1503c to perform a printing job. The user can access the device by scanning a QR code or via an IC card. Figure 15 One of the physical printers 1503a to 1503c executes the print job execution instruction.

[0188] In this example, the user uses a portable communication device 140 to issue a command for printing by a physical printer 1503a. In S1802, due to the presence of the print command, the print control unit 302 of the print server 130 initiates processing in S1803.

[0189] In S1803, the print control unit 302 of the print server 130 determines whether the supplier of the physical printer matches the supplier of the client-info for the print job. The printer management unit 303 manages the supplier information of the physical printer as printer information 311 for the individual logical printer corresponding to the physical printer. Since the supplier AAA of the HWID of the individual logical printer 1502a corresponding to the physical printer 1503a matches the supplier information AAA of the client-info (yes), the print control unit 302 of the print server 130 causes the processing to proceed to S1804.

[0190] In S1804, the print control unit 302 of the print server 130 moves the print job to the individual logical printer 1502a. The print job is moved to the individual logical printer 1502a via print output through printing performed by the physical printer 1503a.

[0191] In this example, the user uses a portable communication device 140 to issue a command for printing by a physical printer 1503c. In S1802, because a print command is present, the print control unit 302 of the print server 130 initiates processing in S1803.

[0192] In S1803, the print control unit 302 of the print server 130 determines whether the supplier of the physical printer matches the supplier of the client-info of the print job. Since the supplier BBB of the HWID of the individual logical printer 1502c corresponding to the physical printer 1503c does not match the supplier information AAA of the client-info (no), the print control unit 302 of the print server 130 returns the processing to S1802.

[0193] If the supplier of the physical printer and the supplier of the PSA 413 of the information processing unit 110 to which the print job is input are different, the settings according to the extended print settings of the PSA 413 are not applied. Therefore, when the supplier of the physical printer and the supplier of the PSA 413 of the information processing unit 110 to which the print job is input are different, the print job is not moved to the physical printer. In this way, printing is performed only by a printing device from the same supplier as the supplier of the PSA 413 of the information processing unit 110, and not by a printing device from a supplier other than the supplier of the PSA 413. Therefore, the settings according to the extended print settings can be reliably applied to the print results of the physical printer.

[0194] Variation Example 2

[0195] exist Figure 17 In step S1701, it is determined whether the print settings are extended print settings. Even if the print settings are extended print settings according to PSA 413, in some cases, compared to... Figure 15 The extended print settings corresponding to the public PSA can also support print settings for printers from suppliers that are not PSA 413 suppliers. Therefore, supplier information can only be set to client-info if the supplier extended print settings 1307 specific to PSA 413 are set.

[0196] In this example, on print setup screen 1400, for example, the hardcover binding of binding 1404 is a vendor-specific extended print setting for vendor PSA 413. In this example, on print setup screen 1400, the user sets the hardcover binding to "open". In S1801, the print control unit 404 of the information processing device 110 determines that the hardcover binding of the print setting corresponds to a vendor-specific extended print setting for PSA, and sets the vendor information to client-info. Subsequent processing is similar to the above process and will not be described further.

[0197] Variation Example 3

[0198] exist Figure 18In S1803, if "No" is selected, the process returns to S1802. However, the process in S1805 can be executed. In S1805, a message indicating that printing cannot be performed using the physical printer is sent to the portable communication device 140 that executed the print command or the physical printer 1503c. By displaying this message, the user can be instructed to use another printer.

[0199] Variation Example 4

[0200] exist Figure 15 In step S1512, the user who inputs print job 1504 or another user logs into the portable communication device 140 and obtains the print job input to the integrated logic printer 1501. At this time, if supplier information is added to print job 1504, the print server 130 can enable the print job 1504 to be printed using only individual logic printers 1502a and 1502b. The printer management unit 405 of the print server 130 manages the supplier information as printer information 411. When there is a request to obtain a print job from the portable communication device 140, only printing devices from the same supplier as the supplier whose supplier information is added to the print job can be sent to the portable communication device 140 along with the print job. The user specifies the desired print job from the print job list displayed on the portable communication device 140 and specifies the physical printer to print. This operation is performed via the application of the portable communication device 140, and the physical printer to be printed is specified from the physical printers from the same supplier as the supplier of the PSA 413 of the information processing device 110.

[0201] Other embodiments

[0202] The embodiments disclosed herein can also be implemented as follows: a computer of a system or apparatus that reads and executes computer-executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium (which may also be more fully referred to as a "non-transitory computer-readable storage medium") to perform one or more functions of the above-described embodiments, and / or, the system or apparatus includes one or more circuits (e.g., application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs)) for performing one or more functions of the above-described embodiments; and a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus, for example, reading and executing the computer-executable instructions from the storage medium to perform one or more functions of the above-described embodiments, and / or, controlling the one or more circuits to perform one or more functions of the above-described embodiments. The computer may include one or more processors (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor unit (MPU)) and may include separate computers or a network of separate processors to read and execute the computer-executable instructions. The computer-executable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or a storage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, a hard disk, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), the memory of a distributed computing system, or an optical disc (such as a compact disc (CD), a digital versatile optical disc (DVD), or a Blu-ray disc (BD)). TM One or more of the following: flash memory devices and memory cards.

[0203] The embodiments of the present invention can also be implemented by the following method: providing software (including computer program products of computer programs) that performs the functions of the above embodiments to a system or device via a network or various storage media, and the computer (central processing unit (CPU) or microprocessor unit (MPU) of the system or device) reads and executes the computer program.

[0204] Although this disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the appended claims should be given the broadest interpretation to cover all such variations and equivalent structures and functions.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising: One or more memory devices storing: an instruction set and an application for setting print settings for print data used to print via a printer using a cloud printing service; as well as One or more processors that execute the instruction set to: When setting extended print settings via the application for print data input to the integrated logic printer, a warning message is displayed on the print settings screen for setting print settings. This warning message indicates that the extended print settings are enabled only for a specific physical printer. Send the print settings configured via the application to the print server that provides the cloud printing service.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The one or more processors execute instructions in the one or more memory devices to perform the following processing: Generate print jobs based on print data and print settings, and Provide the application with the name and details of the registered printer.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, The one or more processors execute instructions in the one or more memory devices to perform the following processing: When the printer's name and details are displayed and the user selects the printer and its details, the application displays a print settings screen with the extended print settings enabled.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The warning message indicates that the extended printing settings are only valid on physical printers from a specific vendor.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The warning message indicates that the extended printing settings are not supported in physical printers that are not from a specific vendor.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The application is a printing support application installed corresponding to the integrated logic printer.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The extended print settings are print settings extended using Internet Printing Protocol standard attributes.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The extended print settings are print settings defined by the Internet Printing Protocol extended attributes.

9. A method for setting print settings via an application, the application being used to set print settings for print data intended for printing via a cloud printing service. The method includes: When setting extended print settings via the application for print data input to the integrated logic printer, a warning message is displayed on the print settings screen for setting the print settings, indicating that the extended print settings are enabled only for a specific physical printer; as well as Send the print settings configured via the application to the print server that provides the cloud printing service.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program that, when executed by a computer of an information processing device, causes the computer to perform a print setting method. The information processing device includes an application for setting print settings for print data, which is used to print via a cloud printing service. The printing setup method includes: When setting extended print settings via the application for print data input to the integrated logic printer, a warning message is displayed on the print settings screen for setting the print settings, indicating that the extended print settings are enabled only for a specific physical printer; as well as Send the print settings configured via the application to the print server that provides the cloud printing service.

11. A computer program product, when executed by a computer of an information processing device, causes the computer to execute a print setting method. The information processing device includes an application for setting print settings for print data, which is used to print via a cloud printing service. The printing setup method includes: When setting extended print settings via the application for print data input to the integrated logic printer, a warning message is displayed on the print settings screen for setting the print settings, indicating that the extended print settings are enabled only for a specific physical printer; as well as Send the print settings configured via the application to the print server that provides the cloud printing service.

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