Information processing apparatus, control method, and storage medium

Abstract

An information processing apparatus, a control method, and a storage medium are disclosed. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores an application that causes an information processing apparatus to execute a control method in cooperation with a standard driver provided by a provider of an operating system of the information processing apparatus, and the control method includes acquiring detailed paper information including at least information indicating a property of a paper used by a printing apparatus; and displaying paper type information indicating a type of the paper and the detailed paper information.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to information processing apparatus, control methods, and storage media. Background Technology

[0002] A known configuration exists where a printer driver, installed on a host computer and serving as software for controlling a printing device, is used to issue print commands to the printing device connected to the host computer. The host computer contains an operating system (OS) as its base software, and the printer driver is configured based on predefined specifications of the OS and invoked by the OS to perform operations. The supplier of the printing device provides a printer driver conforming to the predefined specifications of the OS, thereby providing a unit configured to instruct the printing device to use the OS for printing.

[0003] In recent years, Windows® has provided standard class drivers (hereinafter referred to as "standard drivers") that are compatible with printing devices from multiple vendors. These standard drivers are included in the OS package and are readily available simply by connecting the printing device to the host computer. This eliminates the need to install model-specific printer drivers tailored to the printing device, thereby enhancing usability.

[0004] In addition, the standard driver is configured to allow selection of printing functions based on PrintCapabilities, which are generated based on information obtained from the connected printing device. Therefore, users of the standard driver can select printing functions based on the capabilities of the connected printing device, even though they are using a single standard driver.

[0005] Standard drivers can be associated with feature extension applications (hereinafter also referred to as "extension applications"). Extension applications can be provided by the vendors who provide the printing devices. Extension applications can provide functionality (extended functionality) that cannot be achieved by the standard driver alone by editing the Print Device Capabilities (PDC) generated by the standard driver.

[0006] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-9055 describes a technique for providing a print setup screen configured to receive layout printing (N-in-1 or N-up function) settings from a user through an extension application.

[0007] However, even when using extended applications such as those described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-9055, the functionality provided remains limited.

[0008] For example, a supplier of printing equipment provides supplier-specific paper and offers the ability to display a list of detailed information about the paper in a model-specific printer driver suitable for the printing equipment. Summary of the Invention

[0009] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores an application that enables an information processing device to perform a control method and cooperate with a standard driver provided by a provider of the operating system of the information processing device, and the control method includes acquiring detailed paper information, which at least includes information indicating the nature of the paper used by the printing device; and displaying paper type information indicating the type of paper and detailed paper information.

[0010] The features of this disclosure will become clear from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description of the embodiments is by way of example. Attached Figure Description

[0011] Figure 1 This is a block diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of the printing system.

[0012] Figure 2A and Figure 2B This is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a printing system according to the first embodiment.

[0013] Figure 3 This is a flowchart showing how detailed paper information is added to the Print Device Capabilities (PDC) information.

[0014] Figure 4A The illustration shows an example of capability information that includes attribute information returned by the printing device using the media-col-database.

[0015] Figure 4B1 and Figure 4B2 The illustration shows an example of capability information that includes attribute information returned by the printing device using the media-col-database.

[0016] Figure 4C1 and Figure 4C2 The illustration shows an example of capability information that includes attribute information returned by the printing device using the media-col-database.

[0017] Figure 5A The illustration shows an example of a print settings screen displayed by the print settings screen extension unit.

[0018] Figure 5B The illustration shows an example of a paper type settings screen displayed by the print settings screen extension unit.

[0019] Figure 5C The illustration shows an example of a paper type settings screen displayed by the print settings screen extension unit.

[0020] Figure 5D The illustration shows an example of a print settings screen displayed by the print settings screen extension unit.

[0021] Figure 5E The illustration shows an example of a print settings screen displayed by the print settings screen extension unit.

[0022] Figure 6 The illustration shows an example of a list of paper information, including paper type information, displayed on the paper type settings screen.

[0023] Figure 7 The illustration shows an example of a PrintTicket where paper size and paper type are selected as paper information.

[0024] Figure 8 This is a flowchart for retrieving detailed paper information from extended applications that is not defined by the operating system (OS).

[0025] Figure 9 This is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a printing system according to a third embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0026] In the following, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the following embodiments do not limit the present disclosure as defined in the claims, and not all combinations of the features described in the embodiments are essential solutions to the present disclosure.

[0027] Furthermore, the same components are indicated by the same reference numerals, and their detailed descriptions will be omitted.

[0028] First Embodiment Hardware configuration of the printing system Figure 1 This is a block diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of the printing system. Figure 1 In this example, host computer 101 is an information processing device and includes an input interface 110, a central processing unit (CPU) 111, a read-only memory (ROM) 112, a random access memory (RAM) 113, an external storage device 114, an output interface 115, and an input / output interface 116.

[0029] Additionally, input devices such as keyboard 118 and pointing device 117 are connected to input interface 110, and display devices such as display unit 119 are connected to output interface 115.

[0030] The network interface (NETIF) 120 performs control for data transmission with external devices via the network.

[0031] ROM 112 stores the initialization program. External storage device 114 stores application programs, operating system (OS), print data generation software, and various other types of data. RAM 113 is used as working memory during the execution of various programs stored in external storage device 114, and enables various programs to run on host computer 101.

[0032] In this embodiment, the CPU 111 executes processing according to instructions from a program stored in the ROM 112, thereby performing the functions of the host computer 101 described below and the processing illustrated in the flowcharts described below. The printing device 102, as a device, is connected to the host computer 101 via an input / output interface 116 to communicate with the host computer 101.

[0033] Although the host computer 101 and the printing device 102 are configured separately herein, they can be configured as a single information processing device. While an inkjet printer configured to print by ejecting ink onto the surface of paper is described as an example of the printing device 102, other methods (such as electrophotographic methods) can be used to perform printing. Furthermore, the host computer 101 can be a desktop personal computer, a smartphone, or a laptop computer.

[0034] Software-centric configuration of printing systems Figure 2A and Figure 2B This is a schematic diagram illustrating a software-centric configuration of a printing system. The following description is based on a printing system using a host computer 101 running Microsoft® Windows® as its operating system. Figure 2A This is a diagram illustrating a general configuration of extended application 204 that is not associated with print data generation software 202 or printing device 102.

[0035] Additionally, in this specification, the printing module of the OS (which may include print data generation software 202) may be referred to as printing software. In this embodiment, the processing performed by the information processing device based on instructions from the print data generation software 202 may be performed based on instructions from the printing software or the OS. Similarly, the operations performed by the extended application 204 on the print data generation software 202 may be performed on the printing software or the OS.

[0036] The drawing application 201 is software configured to create content (drawing data) to be printed. Examples include word processing applications and spreadsheet applications. Upon receiving a print request from the user, the drawing application 201 issues a print instruction to the OS. The print instruction includes print settings information specifying the operation of the print data generation software 202 and the printing device 102. This print settings information is also referred to as a PrintTicket (hereinafter also referred to as "PT").

[0037] The drawing application 201 is configured to display a print settings screen provided by the print data generation software 202, the OS, or the drawing application 201 to output print settings information. The print settings screen, based on capability information (information that can be set as print settings) obtained from the print data generation software 202, includes objects specifying configurable print functions (hereinafter also referred to as "controls") and control items specifying setting values ​​for those objects. Capability information is also referred to as PrintCapabilities (hereinafter also referred to as "PC").

[0038] Print data generation software 202 determines the PC based on print function information 203. Print function information 203 is print function data that describes all configurable print functions, their settings, and the mutual exclusion relationships between the settings. Print function information 203 is also referred to as Print Device Capabilities (PDC).

[0039] PDC 203 is included in the configuration file of print data generation software 202 and stored as an immutable file in external storage device 114. Alternatively, print data generation software 202 can dynamically generate PDC 203. In this case, the generated PDC 203 is editable. Specifically, print data generation software 202 or OS can be configured to acquire attribute data of print device 102 from print device 102 and generate PDC 203 based on the attribute information included in the acquired attribute data.

[0040] The attribute data of the printing device 102 is obtained by issuing an Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) Get-Printer-Attributes operation to the printing device 102. The response to Get-Printer-Attributes includes attribute information indicating the selectable functions (capabilities of the printing device 102) for the printing device 102, as well as setting values ​​associated with that attribute information. The response is stored in RAM 113.

[0041] The aforementioned configuration enables the print data generation software 202 to configure the available printing functions of the connected printing device 102, allowing the user to select the printing function. Specifically, even when printing devices 102 with different functions or developed by different vendors are connected, the print data generation software 202 can still configure the available printing functions of the connected printing device 102, allowing the user to select the printing function.

[0042] This manual describes the configuration of the IPP class driver built into Windows® as the print data generation software 202.

[0043] IPP class drivers are printer drivers configured to perform printing processes based on a standard printing protocol known as IPP, and are included in the OS package.

[0044] The IPP class driver and the Universal Printing (UP) class driver are not printer drivers specific to the model of printing device 102, but rather standard class drivers configured to transfer print data to multiple different printing devices 102 from multiple different manufacturers. The IPP class driver is a standard driver configured to perform local printing based on a specification. Alternatively, a configuration using the Universal Printing class driver, which is a standard driver configured to perform cloud printing based on a specification, can be adopted.

[0045] When using a UP class driver to perform cloud printing, the print data is transmitted to the printing device 102 via a cloud printing-related service, rather than directly to the printing device 102, and then the printing device 102 performs the printing. Additionally, the IPP class driver and the UP class driver obtain attribute information from the connected printing device 102 and generate print function information 203 based on the obtained information, allowing the user to select the print functions supported by the connected printing device 102.

[0046] The OS generates intermediate data (input data) based on the print instructions output from the drawing application 201 and passes the intermediate data to the print data generation software 202. The data output by the drawing application 201 for printing is either Graphics Device Interface (GDI) format data (GDI format data) or Extensible Markup Language (XML) paper specification format data (XPS format data).

[0047] When using print data generation software 202, if the data output by drawing application 201 is in GDI format, the OS converts the GDI format data output by drawing application 201 into XPS format data. Then, the converted XPS format data is passed to print data generation software 202 as intermediate data. Similarly, if the data output by drawing application 201 is in XPS format, the OS passes the XPS format data to print data generation software 202 as intermediate data.

[0048] Intermediate data includes drawing data and print settings information configured by the user. Drawing data is information representing the image to be formed on the paper surface.

[0049] The print data generation software 202 converts the acquired intermediate data into print data that can be interpreted by the printing device 102 and transmits the print data to the printing device 102. The print data includes drawing data as information representing an image to be formed on the paper surface, and print setting attribute information (attribute information specifying print settings) generated based on print setting information set by the user. The print setting attribute information includes attribute information specifying functions (capabilities of the printing device 102) that can be specified on the printing device 102, and setting values ​​associated with the attribute information.

[0050] The printing device 102 performs printing on the paper surface based on printing data transmitted from the printing data generation software 202. At this time, the printing device 102 forms drawing data included in the printing data on the paper surface by performing operations based on printing setting attribute information included in the printing data. The printing setting attribute information includes attribute information specifying printing quality (such as image quality priority and speed priority), duplex printing, etc., and setting values ​​for these attribute information. For example, if the printing setting attribute information includes attribute information specifying duplex printing, the printing device 102 performs duplex printing.

[0051] Figure 2B This diagram illustrates the configuration of the extended application 204 associated with the print data generation software 202 and the printing device 102. Any configuration or process not specifically described in the following description is similar. Figure 2A The corresponding configuration or processing is shown in the diagram.

[0052] Extension application 204 is software configured to extend the functionality of print data generation software 202, and is not pre-included in the OS (not included in the same package). Therefore, the user is required to operate the host computer 101 to download and install extension application 204 from a server acting as an external device via the Internet. Extension application 204 is an example of an application configured to work with printing software including IPP class drivers.

[0053] Alternatively, when the printing device 102 is connected to the host computer 101, the extended application 204 can be installed automatically. Specifically, when the printing device 102 is connected to the host computer 101, the OS obtains device identification information from the printing device 102. The OS can download and install the extended application 204 corresponding to the obtained device identification information from a server via the Internet. Specifically, the print data generation software 202 and the extended application 204 are stored as separate files on the host computer 101.

[0054] The print data generation software 202 and the extended application 204 can be updated to newer versions, and the update process is performed at separate times. In other words, the timing of the host computer 101 acquiring the print data generation software 202 is different from the timing of the host computer 101 acquiring the extended application 204. Furthermore, the trigger for the host computer 101 to acquire the print data generation software 202 is different from the trigger for the host computer 101 to acquire the extended application 204.

[0055] When extension application 204 is installed, the OS associates extension application 204 with print data generation software 202 and printing device 102.

[0056] The extended application 204 described in this embodiment includes a print settings screen extension unit 205, a print function extension unit 207, and a notification unit 211. Additionally, the extended application 204 includes shared information 210 that can be accessed by each unit. The shared information 210 is in the form of a file stored in external storage device 114 or information stored in RAM 113.

[0057] Extended application 204 can freely write information to or read information from shared information 210 using the application programming interface (API) provided by the OS. Additionally, shared information 210 is allocated as an application-specific information storage area and can store information other than the attribute data of printing device 102.

[0058] Shared information 210 is different from PDC 203 generated by print data generation software 202 or OS, which specifies the available printing functions of the connected printing device 102.

[0059] The operation of extended application 204 can be terminated each time the processing performed by the unit is completed. In this case, the OS activates extended application 204 each time a request to use the unit is received. Alternatively, other forms are also possible. For example, the OS can terminate the operation of extended application 204 after the print settings screen extended unit 205 has completed processing, and the OS can keep extended application 204 running even after the print function extended unit 207 has completed processing.

[0060] Additionally, during unit execution, extended application 204 can cancel processing. In the event of cancellation, the OS removes the job being processed from the print queue.

[0061] Upon receiving a print request from the user, the drawing application 201 issues a print command to the OS. Even in this configuration, such as in... Figure 2A As shown in the diagram, the drawing application 201 can also display the print settings screen. In this configuration, the print settings screen provided by the extension application 204 is displayed. Specifically, the print settings screen provided by the print settings screen extension unit 205 of the extension application 204 is displayed.

[0062] Whether the print settings screen provided by the print settings screen extension unit 205 is displayed depends on the user's operation. For example, if the drawing application 201 is a word processing application or a spreadsheet application, the print settings screen provided by the print settings screen extension unit 205 will be displayed when the user presses the property settings button displayed on the print settings screen provided by the word processing application or spreadsheet application. Details of the print settings screen extension unit 205 will be referred to below. Figures 5A to 5E Describe it.

[0063] In addition, when the drawing application 201 receives a print request from the user and issues a print command to the OS, the OS generates intermediate data based on the print command output from the drawing application 201 and passes the intermediate data to the print data generation software 202.

[0064] The print data generation software 202 processes intermediate data into print data that can be interpreted by the printing device 102 and transmits the print data to the printing device 102 via the OS. The printing device 102 performs printing on the paper surface based on the received print data. The intermediate data can be converted into print data using functions provided by the OS.

[0065] Additionally, the extension application 204 includes a print function extension unit 207. The print function extension unit 207 is configured to edit the PDC 203 generated by the print data generation software 202 or the OS. This allows the print function extension unit 207 to add functions provided by the extension application 204, functions supported by the printing device 102 but not by the print data generation software 202, etc. Furthermore, mutual exclusion relationships between print function settings can be added.

[0066] After the extension application 204 initially associates the printing device 102 with the print data generation software 202, the OS activates the print function extension unit 207. Furthermore, the OS can activate the print function extension unit 207 at other times, such as when the OS is activated. This allows the print function extension unit 207 to detect and add the extended functions to the PDC 203 if a new paper type is subsequently added to the printing device 102 and print-related functions are expanded.

[0067] Additionally, the extended application 204 includes a notification unit 211. The notification unit 211 is configured to display a notification to the user in response to an error occurring in the printing device 102.

[0068] For example, if a paper out error occurs in the printing device 102, the print data generation software 202 detects the error, and the OS displays a message on the display unit 119 using a notification function called a toast notification (a function of the OS). After the user presses the toast notification, the OS invokes the notification unit 211 of the extended application 204 and displays the user interface screen of the notification unit 211. For example, the user interface screen of the notification unit 211 is configured to display detailed messages indicating the paper out error, paper loading method, etc.

[0069] Once the print data is transmitted to the printing device 102, during the processing performed by the unit, the extended application 204 is no longer able to display screens such as those associated with the print data.

[0070] Furthermore, the configuration for implementing the extended application 204 of this embodiment is not limited to a configuration including all the functions (units) described above, and may include only some functions or other functions. Additionally, the extended application 204 may be simply referred to as printing software. As described above, the extended application 204 includes at least one of units 205, 207, and 211.

[0071] The print function extension unit adds detailed paper information to the print function information. Reference Figure 3 The printing function extension unit 207 of the extended application 204 adds detailed paper information to the processing of the printing function information 203.

[0072] Figure 3 The processing illustrated in the diagram begins when the print queue associated with extension application 204 is selected by the user and the print settings screen extension unit 205 of extension application 204 is activated. Alternatively, the OS can directly activate extension application 204 without requiring the user to manually activate it.

[0073] In step S301, the print function extension unit 207 of the extended application 204 obtains attribute information from the printing device 102. This attribute information is obtained as a response from the printing device 102 to the IPP Get-Printer-Attributes operation issued by the print function extension unit 207 to the printing device 102. Step S301 is an example of the acquisition step.

[0074] While various types of attribute information can be obtained as a response from printing device 102, this embodiment obtains the media-col-database attribute value. The media-col-database attribute value describes detailed information about the paper settings that printing device 102 can print on. Examples of capability information including information returned by printing device 102 using the media-col-database attribute will be referenced. Figures 4A to 4C2 Describe it.

[0075] Figure 4A The capability information 401 shown in the diagram describes a portion of capability information in XML format, based on a format defined by the OS, including attribute information about printable paper returned by the printing device 102 in the media-col-database attribute. The print function extension unit 207 provides a print settings screen to the print settings screen extension unit 205 based on the information described in capability information 401.

[0076] The print data generation software 202 of this article includes paper size and paper type functions as paper information settings. Specifically, capability information 401 includes paper size settings (corresponding to the item described as "PageMediaSize" in "Feature") and paper type settings (corresponding to the item described as "PageMediaType" in "Feature").

[0077] Additionally, the print data generation software 202 may include options such as A4 (described as "ISOA4") and A5 (described as "ISOA5") as options corresponding to the paper size settings. Options corresponding to the paper type settings may include plain paper (described as "Plain") and photographic paper (described as "Photographic"). Paper size and paper type may include other options or may not include these options.

[0078] Although the actual paper information settings of the print data generation software 202 include paper information other than the two settings mentioned above (such as margin settings), for the sake of simplicity, the paper information other than these two settings is omitted.

[0079] Next, Figure 4B1 and Figure 4B2 The capability information 402 shown in the diagram indicates the presence of, except for Figure 4A This includes details beyond the paper information described in capability information 401. In this case, a "ScoredProperty" parameter is provided, and the details are described within that parameter.

[0080] Specifically, such as Figure 4B1 and Figure 4B2 As shown in the diagram, the basis weight, finish, and color are described in the "Option" section as settings corresponding to the plain paper and photographic paper items. In the "Option" section, "Basis Weight" is described as the ScoredProperty for the basis weight, "Finish" as the ScoredProperty for the finish, and "Color" as the ScoredProperty for the color. Paper information other than detailed paper information is as follows... Figure 4A It is described normally, just like in the text.

[0081] Figure 4B1 and Figure 4B2 The capability information 402 and Figure 4C1 and Figure 4C2 In addition to the basis weight, surface treatment, and color of each type of paper, the capability information 403 may also include paper characteristic information. In this case, for example, "envelope" in... Figure 5BThe detailed paper information on the paper type setting screen 508 shown in the diagram describes the paper characteristics as envelopes. Additionally, "perforated paper" is described as having the paper characteristics of perforated paper. When capability information 402 or 403 includes paper characteristic information, for example, "Sheet Type" is described as ScoredProperty in "Option".

[0082] Information indicating the basis weight, surface treatment, color, and characteristics of paper is an example of paper property information. Paper property information may include information other than those indicating the basis weight, surface treatment, color, and characteristics of paper, or it may include only some of these information.

[0083] also, Figure 4C1 and Figure 4C2 The capability information 403 shown in the diagram includes information not included in the diagram. Figure 4A Capability information 401 or Figure 4B1 and Figure 4B2 The paper information in capability information 402 is attribute information that is not defined by the OS and is specific to the vendor. In this case, a "ParameterDef" parameter is provided, and this information is described in that ParameterDef parameter. This description is used as will be described below. Figure 5B As shown in the diagram, it becomes possible to use the extended application 204 to list and display information not defined by the OS as detailed paper information.

[0084] Specifically, such as Figure 4C1 and Figure 4C2 As shown in the diagram, the paper information ("ParameterDef" in "PageMediaInfo") item and the options for that item are described as ScoredProperty in ParameterDef. For example, for... Figure 5B The ink usage, "Ink Usage," is described as ScoredProperty in capability information 403. Additionally, the vacuum strength of the transport unit, "Transport Unit," is described as ScoredProperty. Paper information defined by the OS is as follows... Figure 4A , Figure 4B1 and Figure 4B2 It is described in that way.

[0085] The amount of ink used is an example of information about image processing performed by the printing device 102, and the information indicating the vacuum strength of the delivery unit is an example of information about control performed by the printing device 102.

[0086] In this embodiment, paper property information, information regarding image processing performed by the printing device 102, and information regarding control performed by the printing device 102 are collectively referred to as detailed paper information. Detailed paper information includes at least paper property information. Furthermore, the items included in the detailed paper information are not limited to those described in this embodiment. It may include information other than those described in this embodiment, or it may include only some of these items.

[0087] In addition, detailed paper information may include information defined by the OS, information not defined by the OS, or both.

[0088] Return to Figure 3 The description, in Figure 3 In step S301, the printing function extension unit 207 obtains attribute information including paper information from the printing device 102, and the processing proceeds to step S302. Figure 4A , Figure 4B1 , Figure 4B2 , Figure 4C1 and Figure 4C2 Each of the capability information 401, 402, and 403 shown in the diagram includes attribute information.

[0089] In step S302, the print function extension unit 207 checks the paper information obtained from the media-col-database attribute. Specifically, it determines whether the ScoredProperty parameter exists in the print type setting (the item described as "PageMediaType" in "Features"). If the ScoredProperty parameter exists in step S302, the print function extension unit 207 determines that the processing result is "yes" ("yes" in step S302), and the process proceeds to step S303.

[0090] If the ScoredProperty parameter exists in the print type settings of the paper information, in step S303, it is determined that the connected printing device 102 supports detailed paper information, and the process proceeds to step S304.

[0091] In step S304, the printing function extension unit 207 stores information indicating that the connected printing device 102 supports detailed paper information in the shared information 210, and the process proceeds to step S307.

[0092] On the other hand, in step S302, if the printing function extension unit 207 determines that the processing result is "no" ("no" in step S302), the processing proceeds to step S305.

[0093] If the ScoredProperty parameter is not present in the print type settings of the paper information, in step S305, it is determined that the connected printing device 102 does not support detailed paper information, and the process proceeds to step S306.

[0094] In step S306, the printing function extension unit 207 stores the information indicating that the connected printing device 102 does not support detailed paper information in the shared information 210, and the process proceeds to step S313.

[0095] In step S313, the print function extension unit 207 checks the paper information obtained from the media-col-database attribute and determines whether the ParameterDef parameter exists. In step S313, if the ParameterDef parameter exists, the print function extension unit 207 determines that the processing result is "yes" ("yes" in step S313), and the processing proceeds to step S314.

[0096] If the ParameterDef parameter exists in the paper information, in step S314, it is determined that the connected printing device 102 supports detailed paper information not defined by the OS, and the process proceeds to step S315.

[0097] In step S315, the printing function extension unit 207 stores information indicating that the connected printing device 102 supports detailed paper information not defined by the OS in the shared information 210, and the process proceeds to step S307.

[0098] On the other hand, in step S313, if the printing function extension unit 207 determines that the processing result is "no" ("no" in step S313), the processing proceeds to step S316.

[0099] If the ParameterDef parameter is not present in the paper information, in step S316, it is determined that the connected printing device 102 only supports paper information defined by the OS, and the process proceeds to step S317.

[0100] In step S317, the printing function extension unit 207 stores the information indicating that the connected printing device 102 does not support detailed paper information not defined by the OS in the shared information 210, and the process proceeds to step S307.

[0101] In this embodiment, the printing function extension unit 207 is configured to store the name of the connected printing device 102 in association with detailed paper information and information indicating whether detailed paper information not defined by the OS is supported. However, the printing function extension unit 207 may store other information in the shared information 210. For example, the printing function extension unit 207 may store a list of combinations of the name of the printing device 102 and paper information obtained from the media-col-database attribute in the shared information 210.

[0102] Additionally, other information may be stored in association with shared information 210. Examples include the connection method of the printing device 102 and the type of the printing device 102 (such as an inkjet printer or a laser printer). Other examples include information on the paper size and paper type that the printing device 102 can print on, as well as printing function information other than the functions associated with the available paper.

[0103] After the printing function extension unit 207 stores information indicating whether the printing device 102 supports detailed paper information not defined by the OS in the shared information 210 in step S315 or S317, the process proceeds to step S307.

[0104] In step S307, the printing function extension unit 207 obtains the PDC 203 from the printing data generation software 202 or OS and starts the PDC editing process, and the process proceeds to step S308.

[0105] In step S308, the print function extension unit 207 obtains information from the shared information 210 indicating whether the printing device 102 supports detailed paper information. After obtaining this information from the shared information 210, the process proceeds to step S309.

[0106] In step S309, the printing function extension unit 207 determines whether the connected printing device 102 supports detailed paper information based on the information obtained from the shared information 210. If the determination result is "yes" ("yes" in step S309), the process proceeds to step S310.

[0107] In step S310, the printing function extension unit 207 edits the acquired PDC 203 and adds detailed paper information to the PDC 203, and the process proceeds to step S318.

[0108] In step S309, if the printing function extension unit 207 determines the result to be "no" ("no" in step S309), the process proceeds to step S318 without adding detailed paper information to PDC 203 in step S310.

[0109] In step S318, the print function extension unit 207 obtains information from the shared information 210 indicating whether the printing device 102 supports detailed paper information not defined by the OS. After obtaining this information from the shared information 210, the process proceeds to step S319.

[0110] In step S319, the print function extension unit 207 determines, based on information obtained from the shared information 210, whether the connected printing device 102 supports detailed paper information not defined by the OS. If the determination result is "yes" ("yes" in step S319), the process proceeds to step S320.

[0111] In step S320, the print function extension unit 207 edits the acquired PDC 203 and adds detailed paper information not defined by the OS to the PDC 203, and the process proceeds to step S312.

[0112] In step S319, if the printing function extension unit 207 determines the result to be "no" ("no" in step S319), the process proceeds to step S312 without adding detailed paper information not defined by the OS to the PDC 203 in step S320.

[0113] In step S312, the print function extension unit 207 updates the PDC 203 based on the information edited in steps S310 and S320, as well as other print settings information. The PC is generated based on the PDC 203 edited by the print function extension unit 207. The display based on this PC will be described below. Figure 5A or Figure 5D The print settings screen 501 is shown in the figure. On the print settings screen 501, the user selects print functions and other print functions, and the print settings screen extension unit 205 applies the selected print function to the PT.

[0114] As a result of the processing performed by the printing function extension unit 207, if the printing device 102 supports detailed paper information, the detailed paper information becomes available; or if the printing device 102 supports detailed paper information not defined by the OS, the detailed paper information not defined by the OS becomes available.

[0115] Subsequently, the drawing application 201 receives a print request from the user and issues a print command to the OS. After issuing the print command to the OS, intermediate data including the print time stamp (PT) is generated based on the print command output from the drawing application 201 and passed to the print data generation software 202. The print data generation software 202 processes the intermediate data into print data that can be interpreted by the printing device 102 and transmits the print data to the printing device 102 via the OS.

[0116] The printing device 102 extracts the print settings attribute information generated by the extended application 204 from the received print data and analyzes the print settings attribute information. The analyzed print settings attribute information is compared with attribute information indicating selectable functions (capabilities of the printing device 102) stored in a database (not shown) included in the printing device 102, and a setting value associated with that attribute information is determined. Based on the determined setting value, drawing data is formed on the paper surface and printed.

[0117] Example of a screen configured to display detailed paper information via a print settings screen extension unit. Next, we will refer to Figure 5A and Figure 5B The description refers to a print settings screen displayed by the print settings screen extension unit 205 and configured to display detailed paper information. According to the technology of this disclosure, even when using an application that supports standard drivers, it is possible to display detailed paper information, including at least paper type information and paper property information.

[0118] A PC is generated based on the PDC 203 edited by the print function extension unit 207. In this embodiment, the print settings screen 501 is displayed on the PC, which is based on... Figure 3 The PDC 203 is generated by the print function extension unit 207, which edits and updates the data. In steps S310 and S320 above, detailed paper information is added by the print function extension unit 207. This allows the user to access the data via the print settings screen extension unit 205. Figure 5A Print settings screen 501 Figure 5B The paper type setting screen 508 in the middle of the image displays detailed paper information.

[0119] When a user issues a command to display the print settings screen on the drawing application 201, the print settings screen extension unit 205 is invoked and activated by the OS. The print settings screen extension unit 205 displays a screen where the user can select selectable print function settings based on the PC available from the OS.

[0120] Figure 5A Control 502 is a control that allows you to set the paper size to be used for printing, and examples of items that can be set include A4 and letter paper.

[0121] Control 503 is a control item that allows you to set the printing direction, and it can be set to portrait or landscape.

[0122] Display area 504 is configured to display the paper type to be used for printing. Control 505 is a button that allows setting the paper type to be used for printing, and it is displayed after the user selects control 505. Figure 5BThe paper type setting screen is 508. Control 505 is an example of a predefined object.

[0123] Control 506 is the cancel button and is used to close the screen without applying settings.

[0124] Control 507 is the confirmation button and is used to close the screen after the application settings are applied.

[0125] In this embodiment, A4 is selected as the paper size, portrait orientation is selected as the printing direction, and plain paper is selected as the paper type.

[0126] When the user selects the above-mentioned printing function and other printing functions and presses the confirmation button represented by control 507, the print settings screen extension unit 205 applies the selected printing function to PT and ends the processing.

[0127] Figure 5B The illustration shows the paper type setting screen 508 displayed when the setting button, represented by control 505, is pressed.

[0128] Control 509 is a button used to retrieve paper information from the printing device 102 and is used to perform... Figure 3 The detailed paper information shown in the diagram is added to the processing of print function information 203, and the paper type presented in control 510 is updated based on the updated PDC 203. Control 509 is an example of an object configured to obtain detailed paper information from printing device 102.

[0129] Control 510 is a control item for selecting the paper type to be used for printing and displays a detailed list of paper information for each paper type. In this embodiment, the name and type of the paper presented in control 510 are defined as paper type information. Additionally, paper property information (basis weight, characteristics, surface treatment, color), information regarding image processing performed by printing device 102 (ink usage), and information regarding control performed by printing device 102 (vacuum strength of the transport unit) are listed and displayed in control 510 as detailed paper information. The detailed paper information is listed and displayed in control 510 in association with the paper type information for each paper type.

[0130] The items for paper type information and detailed paper information are not limited to those described in this embodiment. They may include information other than those described in this embodiment, or they may include only some of these items.

[0131] Control 511 is the cancel button and is used to close the screen without applying settings.

[0132] Control 512 is a confirmation button and is used to close the screen after the application settings are applied.

[0133] On the paper type setting screen 508, users can select and set the desired paper type by choosing paper type information or detailed paper information, register the paper type as a favorite, or change the display method, as will be described in detail below. For example, the user selects a paper type from paper type information or detailed paper information in control 510 and presses the confirmation button represented by control 512. In this case, the print settings screen extension unit 205 applies the selected paper type. Figure 5A Display area 504 and return to Figure 5A Print settings screen 501.

[0134] Control 513 is a button / object used for bookmarking, and when control 513 is pressed while the user selects the paper type in control 510, the selected paper type is stored as bookmark information in shared information 210. Extended application 204 retrieves bookmark information from shared information 210 during activation and applies the retrieved bookmark information to display area 504 when print settings screen 501 is first displayed.

[0135] Additionally, since having too many paper types might cause users to make incorrect selections when setting paper types, changes can be made from the user's input. Figure 5B The instructions in the control 510 of the paper type setting screen 508 specify the name of the paper. Additionally, since users may need time to find the paper they want to use for printing from a large number of paper types, instructions can be received to hide unused paper types.

[0136] Furthermore, the system can receive instructions from the user to change the display order, allowing the user to easily select commonly used paper types. For example, as per... Figure 5C The control 514 in the control 510 adds a menu by right-clicking the paper type selected by the user, which allows you to change the paper name, hide, or move items up and down to change the display order.

[0137] These functions are information displayed by the print settings screen extension unit 205 and are used for... Figure 5B The paper type settings screen 508 is used. Therefore, in order to prevent PDC 203 and PT from being affected, a list specific to the extended application 204 is created and managed in the shared information 210.

[0138] Figure 6The paper information list 601 is a schematic representation of paper name information, display / hide settings information, and display order information in list form. The paper type options presented in the paper information list 601 correspond to the "PageMediaType" setting item in capability information 401, capability information 402, and capability information 403. The paper information list 601 is stored in the shared information 210 and is used when displaying the paper type setting screen 508.

[0139] Please refer to line 602 for a detailed description of the paper information list 601.

[0140] Line 602 presents a combination of plain paper (the "Option" described in capability information 401 to capability information 403) and paper name information, show / hide settings, and display order information set by the user. Specifically, line 602 specifies the paper name as "-" (no change), the show / hide setting as "show", and the display order as "1".

[0141] Similarly, line 603 specifies that for photographic paper (the "Option" describing "Photographic"), the paper name is "Photograph", the show / hide setting is "Show", and the show order is "2".

[0142] If the user has changed the paper name, switched the display / hide settings, or changed the display order, the print settings screen extension unit 205 retrieves the paper information list 601 from the shared information 210 and updates each item in the list. After the update, the updated paper information list 601 is stored in the shared information 210 and displayed again based on the information in the updated paper information list 601. Figure 5B Paper type settings screen 508.

[0143] In the items of the paper information list 601, the Option name item is information used to associate the capability information obtained from the printing device 102 with each item of the paper information list 601, and it cannot be overwritten.

[0144] As described above, using paper information list 601 makes it possible to change Figure 5B The paper type information displayed in the paper type setting screen 508 will not affect PDC 203 or PT.

[0145] Although in this embodiment, in relation to Figure 5A The print settings screen in section 501 is different. Figure 5B On the paper type setting screen 508, you can select a paper type to list and display detailed paper information; however, you can also select a paper type on the print settings screen 501. For example, using a paper type such as... Figure 5D Controls such as 515 in the display area allow you to select the paper type from a drop-down menu. In this case, as shown in display area 516, detailed paper information is displayed in the tooltip when the mouse hovers over the paper.

[0146] Additionally, for example, in cases where ordinary paper includes multiple paper types, these multiple paper types can be grouped, and such as by Figure 5E The control 517 in the middle can be configured to have a hierarchical layer structure for the drop-down menu.

[0147] Figure 7 The illustration shows an example of a PT 700 with the aforementioned paper information applied by the print settings screen extension unit 205. Function 701 includes "PageMediaSize" as the "Feature Name" and "ISOA4" as the "Option Name". Specifically, this indicates that the PT 700 has been updated to a state where A4 is selected as the paper size.

[0148] Next, function 702 includes "PageMediaType" as the "Feature Name" and "Plain" as the "Option Name". Specifically, this indicates that PT 700 has been updated to a state where plain paper is selected as the paper type.

[0149] Additionally, function 703 includes "PageMediaInfo" as the "ParameterDef name" and "Plain" as the "Option name". This indicates that because plain paper was selected as the paper type in function 702, PT has been updated to a state where plain paper information is also selected in the detailed paper information not defined by the OS.

[0150] As described above, when the user selects A4 as the paper size and plain paper as the paper type through the print settings screen extension unit 205, the print settings screen extension unit 205 updates the print time stamp (PT) to change the paper size to A4 and the paper type to plain paper. The PT updated by the print settings screen extension unit 205 is then used.

[0151] An example of making detailed paper information available through the printing function extension unit 207 of the extension application 204 has been described. The method described in this embodiment allows paper type information and detailed paper information to be listed and displayed on the print settings screen of the extension application 204. Therefore, the user can instruct the printing device 102 to print after confirming the basis weight, surface treatment, etc. set for each paper type. In addition, since the ink usage and vacuum strength of the transport unit for each paper type are also displayed, the user can instruct the printing device 102 to print while paying attention to the ink consumption of the printing device 102, the load applied to the transport unit, etc.

[0152] Second Embodiment This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above. In the first embodiment, the attribute information regarding vendor-specific paper information not defined by the OS is described in the attribute information returned by the printing device 102 using the media-col-database attribute.

[0153] However, instead of obtaining vendor-specific paper information not defined by the OS from the printing device 102, the vendor-specific paper information not defined by the OS can be pre-stored in the extension application 204. In this case, detailed paper information not defined by the OS is stored in the installation package for the extension application 204 for each piece of device identification information associated with the printing device 102.

[0154] When a user operates the host computer 101, downloads and installs the extension application 204 from the server via the Internet, detailed paper information not defined by the OS is also stored in the host computer 101. When the printing device 102 is connected to the host computer 101, the OS obtains device identification information from the printing device 102. The extension application 204 stores detailed paper information not defined by the OS but supported by the obtained device identification information in the shared information 210.

[0155] Alternatively, when the printing device 102 is connected to the host computer 101, an extended application 204 storing detailed paper information not defined by the OS but supported by the printing device 102 can be automatically installed. Specifically, when the printing device 102 is connected to the host computer 101, the OS obtains device identification information from the printing device 102. The OS can download and install the extended application 204, which supports the obtained device identification information, from a server via the Internet. In this case, the extended application 204 does not include paper information other than the paper information about the printing device 102.

[0156] After installation, as in the case where the user manually installs extension application 204, extension application 204 stores detailed paper information that is not defined by the OS and is supported by the printing device 102 in shared information 210.

[0157] Any system configurations not specifically described in the following description are similar to the corresponding system configurations in the first embodiment, and their descriptions are omitted. Similarly, any processes not specifically described in the following description are similar to the corresponding processes in the first embodiment, and their descriptions are omitted.

[0158] The print function extension unit adds detailed paper information not defined by the OS to the print function information. Reference Figure 8 The printing function extension unit 207 of the extended application 204 adds detailed paper information not defined by the OS to the processing of the printing function information 203.

[0159] Figure 8 Steps S301 to S306, S307 to S310, and S312 in the process illustrated in the figure are similar to Figure 3 The steps in the process illustrated in the diagram are omitted from the description.

[0160] In step S801, the print function extension unit 207 determines whether there is detailed paper information in the shared information 210 that is not defined by the OS and is supported by the printing device 102. If the determination result is "yes" ("yes" in S801), the process proceeds to step S802.

[0161] In step S802, the printing function extension unit 207 edits the PDC 203 obtained in step S307 and adds detailed paper information not defined by the OS to the PDC 203, and the process proceeds to step S312.

[0162] In step S801, if the printing function extension unit 207 determines the result to be "no" ("no" in step S801), the process proceeds to step S312 without adding detailed paper information not defined by the OS to the PDC 203 in step S320.

[0163] In step S312, as Figure 3 As in the previous example, the printing function extension unit 207 is updated to PDC 203.

[0164] As a result of the processing performed by the printing function extension unit 207, instead of obtaining vendor-specific paper information not defined by the OS from the printing device 102, detailed paper information not defined by the OS is made available by pre-reserving vendor-specific paper information not defined by the OS in the extension application 204.

[0165] Instead of including detailed paper information not defined by the OS in the installation package for extension application 204, the detailed paper information not defined by the OS can be stored as a file on the external storage device 114 of the host computer 101, or it can be stored on a cloud server. In this case, when the extension application 204 is installed on the host computer 101 and the printing device 102 is connected to the host computer 101, the OS obtains device identification information from the printing device 102.

[0166] The OS downloads detailed paper information from a cloud server via the Internet, which is not defined by the OS and is supported by the acquired device identification information, and stores the downloaded information as a file on the external storage device 114 of the host computer 101.

[0167] Additionally, when the printing device 102 is connected to the host computer 101, the extension application 204 can be automatically installed. In this case, although the extension application 204 is obtained from a cloud server via the Internet, detailed paper information not defined by the OS and supported by the printing device 102 is obtained from the extension application 204. The obtained information is then kept / stored as a file on the external storage device 114 of the host computer 101.

[0168] Alternatively, in Figure 8 In step S801, the print function extension unit 207 determines whether detailed paper information not defined by the OS and supported by the printing device 102 exists in a file on the cloud server rather than in the shared information 210.

[0169] Third Embodiment This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above. In the first embodiment, the attribute information regarding vendor-specific paper information not defined by the OS is described in the attribute information returned by the printing device 102 using the media-col-database attribute.

[0170] However, instead of obtaining vendor-specific paper information not defined by the OS from the attribute information returned by the printing device 102, a vendor-specific communication protocol can be used to obtain such information. In this case, a module configured to handle the vendor-specific communication protocol is stored in the installation package for extending application 204.

[0171] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a software-centric configuration of a printing system according to this embodiment. Compared to the first embodiment... Figure 2B The difference lies in the fact that a communication module 901, configured to handle vendor-specific communication protocols, is added to the extension application 204.

[0172] Although the printing function extension unit 207 of the extension application 204 obtains attribute information from the printing device 102, the extension application 204 calls the communication module 901 to obtain detailed paper information not defined by the OS from the printing device 102 and stores the obtained information in the shared information 210.

[0173] Subsequently, the printing function extension unit 207 uses detailed paper information not defined by the OS stored in the shared information 210 and updates the PDC 203 as in the first embodiment.

[0174] Other configurations and processing are similar. Figure 2B Configuration and processing within.

[0175] The technology disclosed herein enables the display of detailed paper information, including at least paper type information and paper property information, even when using applications that support standard drivers.

[0176] Embodiments of this disclosure can also be implemented by providing software (programs) for performing the functions of the above embodiments to a system or device via a network or various storage media, and having the computer (such as a CPU or microprocessor unit (MPU) of the system or device read and execute the program.

[0177] Other embodiments The embodiments of this disclosure can also be implemented by a computer that reads and executes computer-executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium (which may also be more fully referred to as a "non-transitory computer-readable storage medium") to perform the functions of one or more embodiments of the above embodiments and / or includes one or more circuits (e.g., application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs)) for performing the functions of one or more embodiments of the above embodiments, and by a method executed by a computer of a system or device, for example, by reading and executing computer-executable instructions from the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more embodiments of the above embodiments and / or controlling one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more embodiments of the above embodiments. The computer may include one or more processors (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor unit (MPU)) and may include a network of individual computers or individual processors to read and execute computer-executable instructions. The computer-executable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or storage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, a hard disk, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), storage devices for distributed computing systems, optical discs (such as CDs, DVDs, or Blu-ray discs).TM One or more of the following: flash memory devices, memory cards, etc.

[0178] While this disclosure has been described with reference to embodiments, it should be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. The scope of the following claims should be given the broadest interpretation to cover all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing an application program that causes an information processing device to perform a control method, the application program cooperating with a standard driver provided by a provider of the operating system of the information processing device, the control method comprising: Obtain detailed paper information, which includes at least information indicating the properties of the paper used by the printing device; as well as Displays paper type information indicating the type of paper and detailed paper information.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the detailed paper information further includes at least one of information regarding image processing performed by the printing device and information regarding control performed by the printing device.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the information indicating the properties includes at least one of information indicating the basis weight of the paper, information indicating the characteristics of the paper, information indicating the surface treatment of the paper, and information indicating the color of the paper; the information relating to image processing performed by the printing device is information indicating the amount of ink used during printing on the paper; and the information relating to control performed by the printing device is information indicating the vacuum strength of the transport unit of the printing device during printing on the paper.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the detailed paper information includes at least one of information defined by the operating system of the information processing device and information not defined by the operating system.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein at least one of information regarding image processing performed by the printing device and information regarding control performed by the printing device is stored in the information processing device together with the application during installation of the application in the information processing device.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the detailed paper information is obtained from an external device different from the printing device.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein information not defined by the operating system is defined by the supplier providing the printing device and is displayed as the detailed paper information using the application.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the information processing device is further configured to display a print settings screen, and the user selects a predetermined object to be displayed on the print settings screen to display the paper type information and the detailed paper information.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the paper type selected by the user from the paper type information or the detailed paper information is applied to the print settings screen.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the object for obtaining the detailed paper information from the printing device is displayed together with the paper type information and the detailed paper information.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein objects for registering paper types selected by a user from the paper type information or the detailed paper information as favorites are displayed together with the paper type information and the detailed paper information.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein an instruction to change the name of a paper type selected by a user from the paper type information or the detailed paper information is received, and the changed name is applied to the paper type information and displayed.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein an instruction for hiding a paper type selected by a user from the paper type information or the detailed paper information is received.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein instructions for changing the display order of the paper type information and the detailed paper information are received from a user.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the printing function information is configured to include acquired detailed paper information, and the paper type information and the detailed paper information are displayed using capability information based on the printing function information.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the printing function information is Print Device Capabilities (PDC) and the capability information is PrintCapabilities (PC).

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the standard driver generates print data that can be transmitted to multiple printing devices.

18. A method for controlling an information processing device, wherein a standard driver and an application are installed in the information processing device, the application cooperating with the standard driver provided by a provider of the operating system of the information processing device, the control method comprising: Obtain detailed paper information, which includes at least information indicating the properties of the paper used by the printing device; as well as Displays paper type information indicating the type of paper and detailed paper information.

19. A computer program product comprising a computer program / instructions, wherein when the computer program / instructions are executed by a processor, the computer program / instructions cause the processor to perform the control method according to any one of claims 1 to 18.

20. An information processing device, wherein a standard driver and an application are installed in the information processing device, the application cooperating with the standard driver provided by a provider of the operating system of the information processing device, the information processing device including at least one processor, wherein when the at least one processor executes the application, the application includes instructions that cause the information processing device to perform the following operations: Obtain detailed paper information, which includes at least information indicating the properties of the paper used by the printing device; and Displays paper type information indicating the type of paper and detailed paper information.

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