Information processing apparatus, print server, and method for controlling them

Abstract

To provide an appropriate configuration profile to a user.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus includes: an acquisition unit that acquires a configuration profile that represents the ability of a logical printer provided by a print server, and is associated with a user of the information processing apparatus; a presentation unit that presents details of the acquired configuration profile to the user, and receives a change in the details; a registration unit that registers the configuration profile with the details designated by the user in a printer driver for creating a print job for the logical printer; and a creation unit that creates a screen for creating the print job on the basis of the configuration profile registered in the printer driver.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 13

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a print server, and a control method thereof. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, cloud print services that submit print jobs to printing devices via the cloud have become popular. The cloud print service provides logical printers to users. The users submit print jobs to the logical printers. The print jobs submitted to the logical printers are processed by a physical printer associated with the logical printer. The capabilities of the logical printers are represented by a configuration profile. Patent Document 1 describes how a generic printer driver common to all models can be used as a model-specific printer driver by linking a configuration profile for each model to a printer driver. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-33723 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] A plurality of physical printers may be associated with one logical printer. When a printer driver generates a print job for a logical printer, it may not be possible to determine which of the plurality of physical printers will execute the printing. When the plurality of physical printers have capabilities different from each other, it has been difficult to provide an appropriate configuration profile that represents the capabilities of the logical printer. Some aspects of the present invention aim to provide a technique for providing an appropriate configuration profile to a user. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] According to some embodiments, an information processing device is provided that includes an acquisition means for acquiring a configuration profile representing the capabilities of a logical printer provided by a print server, the configuration profile being associated with a user of the information processing device, a presentation means for presenting the contents of the acquired configuration profile to the user and accepting changes to the contents, a registration means for registering the configuration profile having contents specified by the user in a printer driver for generating a print job for the logical printer, and a generation means for generating a screen for generating the print job based on the configuration profile registered in the printer driver. Effect of the Invention

[0006] The above embodiment allows for an appropriate configuration profile to be provided to the user. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a printing system according to some embodiments. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a computer according to some embodiments. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the software configuration of an information processing apparatus according to some embodiments. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the functional configuration of a print server according to some embodiments. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating an example of the operation of a user registration process according to some embodiments. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a user setting screen according to some embodiments. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a configuration profile according to some embodiments. [Figure 8] 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a profile creation screen according to some embodiments. [Figure 9] 13A and 13B are schematic diagrams illustrating an example of a package creation screen according to some embodiments. [Figure 10]11 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a profile creation screen according to some embodiments. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating an example of an operation for providing a print service according to some embodiments. [Figure 12] 4 is a flow diagram illustrating an example operation of providing a configuration profile according to some embodiments. [Figure 13] 11 is a flow diagram illustrating an example operation of using a print service in some embodiments. [Figure 14] 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a profile editing screen according to some embodiments. [Figure 15] 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a print setting screen according to some embodiments. [Figure 16] FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating an example of the operation of a configuration profile update process according to some embodiments. [Figure 17] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a screen for instructing an update of a configuration profile according to some embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. Although the embodiments describe a number of features, not all of these features are essential to the invention, and the features may be combined in any manner. Furthermore, in the attached drawings, the same reference numbers are used for the same or similar configurations, and duplicated descriptions are omitted.

[0009] [Printing system configuration example] An example of the configuration of a printing system 100 according to some embodiments will be described with reference to Fig. 1. The printing system 100 includes, for example, a print server 101, an information processing device 102, and a printing device 103. The number of components of the printing system 100 is not limited to the example of Fig. 1. For example, although two printing devices 103 are shown in Fig. 1, the printing system 100 may include three or more printing devices 103. Furthermore, the printing system 100 may have components not shown in Fig. 1.

[0010] Each component of the printing system 100 is connected to a network 104. The print server 101 may be capable of communicating with each of the information processing device 102 and the printing device 103 through the network 104. The network 104 may be a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (e.g., the Internet), a cellular network, or any combination of these, and may be, for example, the Internet. The network 104 may include a wireless section or a wired section.

[0011] The print server 101 provides a print service that transmits a print job to the printing device 103 according to a print job generated by the information processing device 102. For example, the print server 101 provides a logical printer to the information processing device 102 and accepts a print job for the logical printer. The logical printer is a virtual printing device (for example, a printer object) provided by the print server 101. The logical printer may also be called a cloud printer. In contrast to a logical printer, a physical printing device such as the printing device 103 may also be called a physical printer. The printing device 103 is registered in the print server 101 by, for example, a tenant administrator, and is associated with the logical printer. Only one physical printer may be associated with one logical printer, or multiple physical printers may be associated with one logical printer.

[0012] The print server 101 may be a server in an on-premise environment connected to the network 104, or may be a server in a cloud computing environment (hereinafter simply referred to as cloud). The print service provided by the print server 101 in the cloud may be called a cloud print service (hereinafter referred to as CPS). An example of a cloud print service is uniFLOW Online. In the following description, a case where the print server 101 is in the cloud will be described. However, the following description also applies to a case where the print server 101 is in an on-premise environment. In the following description, a person who manages the print service provided by the print server 101 will be referred to as an administrator of the print server 101. The management of the print service may include, for example, changing settings related to the print service. A person who uses the print service provided by the print server 101 will be referred to as a user of the print server 101. The user of the print server 101 may be able to execute part of the management of the print service as the administrator of the print server 101.

[0013] The information processing device 102 provides a printing function to a user of the information processing device 102. The information processing device 102 may be a personal computer (PC), a smartphone, or another device. The information processing device 102 may specify a physical printer connected to the same LAN as the output destination, or may specify a logical printer provided by the print server 101 as the output destination. When a logical printer is specified as the output destination, a physical printer (printing device 103) associated with the logical printer performs printing (e.g., paper ejection). The information processing device 102 using the CPS may be called a client or a client terminal. Printing performed by submitting a print job to a logical printer may also be called cloud print, remote print, or remote printing.

[0014] The printing device 103 has a printing function that performs printing according to a print job. The printing may be printing on a sheet-like recording medium such as paper, or may be forming a three-dimensional object (so-called three-dimensional printing). The printing method may be an electrophotographic method, an inkjet method, a thermal transfer method, or another method. The printing device 103 may also be called an image forming device. The printing device 103 may further include at least one of a scanner function and a fax function as a main function. A printing device having multiple main functions in this way may be called a multifunction peripheral (MFP). Alternatively, the printing device 103 may be a dedicated machine (SFP: Single Function Printer) having only a printing function as a main function. In the following description, the printing device 103 may be referred to as a device.

[0015] The printing device 103 may further have a login function. The login function may be a function that allows a user to log in to the printing device. The printing device 103 with the login function may authenticate a user and provide processing according to a user who has been successfully authenticated. For example, the printing device 103 may request the user to input a user name and password. Alternatively or in addition to this, the printing device 103 may read the user's authentication information from an IC (Integrated Circuit) card held by the user.

[0016] The printing device 103 supports reservation printing. Reservation printing may refer to a printing method in which a print job sent from the information processing device 102 to the print server 101 is held in a reserved state in the print server 101, and the printing device 103 starts printing in response to an additional instruction from the user. In order to prevent a print job submitted by another user from being printed, the printing device 103 may be able to release the reserved state of a print job related to this user on the condition that the user is logged in to the printing device 103.

[0017] When multiple physical printers are associated with one logical printer, the user does not need to specify the physical printer to execute the printing when submitting a print job to the logical printer. In this case, after submitting a print job to the logical printer, the user may instruct the print server 101 to release the print job from the hold state by operating one of the multiple physical printers. The print server 101 transmits the print job to the physical printer that transmitted this instruction. The printing device 103 then executes printing according to the received print job. In the following explanation, for the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that one user can use one logical printer. When one user can use multiple logical printers, the following explanation may be applied to each of the multiple logical printers.

[0018] [Example of computer hardware configuration] An example of a hardware configuration of a computer 200 according to some embodiments will be described with reference to Fig. 2. The computer 200 may be used as a print server 101 or an information processing device 102. The computer 200 may have the components shown in Fig. 2.

[0019] The central processing unit (CPU) 201 is a general-purpose processing circuit that controls the overall operation of the computer 200. The random access memory (RAM) 202 is a volatile memory circuit, and is used as a temporary storage area such as a work area for processing by the CPU 201. The read-only memory (ROM) 203 is a non-volatile memory circuit, and stores programs (e.g., a basic input output system (BIOS)) and data processed by the CPU 201. The storage device 204 is a non-volatile storage device, and stores programs and data processed by the CPU 201. The storage device 204 may be, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD). The storage device 204 may also be called a secondary storage device. The operation of the computer 200 may be realized by the CPU 201 executing a program read from the storage device 204 to the RAM 202.

[0020] The input interface (I / F) 205 is an I / F for exchanging signals with the input device 210. The input device 210 is a device that obtains input from a user of the computer 200. The input device 210 may be, for example, a keyboard, a touch panel, a microphone, a mouse, or any combination thereof. The output I / F 206 is an I / F for exchanging signals with the output device 220. The output device 220 is a device that provides information to a user of the computer 200. The output device 220 may be, for example, a display, a speaker, or any combination thereof. The network I / F 207 is an I / F for communicating with a device outside the computer 200. Each of the CPU 201, the RAM 202, the ROM 203, the storage device 204, the input I / F 205, the output I / F 206, and the network I / F 207 is connected to a system bus 208. In the example of FIG. 2, the input device 210 and the output device 220 are shown as devices separate from the computer 200. Alternatively, computer 200 may include input device(s) 210 and output device(s) 220 .

[0021] [Example of software configuration of information processing device] An example of the software configuration of the information processing device 102 according to some embodiments will be described with reference to Fig. 3. An operating system (OS) 301, a printer driver 302, and an application 303 are installed in the information processing device 102. The OS 301, the printer driver 302, and the application 303 may be stored in the storage device 204 of the information processing device 102. These programs may be read into the RAM 202 of the information processing device 102 at the time of execution, and executed by the CPU 201 of the information processing device 102.

[0022] The OS 301 is software that provides the user with basic operations of the information processing device 102. The printer driver 302 is software that provides the user with operations related to printing. The printer driver 302 may be capable of executing an operation of generating a print job for a logical printer provided by the print server 101. A printer driver that provides the user with operations related to printing using a logical printer provided by the CPS in this manner may be called a cloud printer driver. The application 303 is software that provides the user with a specific operation. When the application 303 receives a print instruction from a user, it may call the printer driver 302 to process the print instruction.

[0023] [Example of print server configuration] An example of the functional configuration of the print server 101 according to some embodiments will be described with reference to Fig. 4. The print server 101 may have the functional blocks shown in Fig. 4. Alternatively, the print server 101 may have functional blocks not shown in Fig. 4, or may not have at least some of the functional blocks shown in Fig. 4. Each functional block of the print server 101 may be realized by the CPU 201 of the print server 101 executing a program read into the RAM 202 of the print server 101. Alternatively, some or all of the functions of the print server 101 may be realized by a dedicated integrated circuit such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

[0024] The setting management unit 401 manages settings related to the CPS. For example, the setting management unit 401 stores the settings related to the CPS in a storage (such as the RAM 202, the storage device 204, etc.) of the print server 101, updates the settings, and reads the settings from the storage.

[0025] The job management unit 402 manages print jobs used in the CPS. For example, the job management unit 402 stores a print job received from the information processing device 102 in the storage of the print server 101. The job management unit 402 reads a print job requested by the printing device 103 from the storage, and transmits the print job to the printing device 103.

[0026] The user management unit 403 manages users who use the CPS. For example, the user management unit 403 stores information about users who use the CPS as user information 413 in the storage of the print server 101. The user management unit 403 reads, updates, and deletes part of the user information 413 as necessary. For example, the user management unit 403 may register a new user. The user information 413 may include, for example, an identifier, authentication information, available devices, and a group to which the user belongs for each of a plurality of users to be managed.

[0027] The device management unit 404 manages devices (e.g., the printing device 103) that can be used in the CPS. For example, the device management unit 404 stores information about devices that can be used in the CPS as device information 414 in the storage of the print server 101. The device management unit 404 reads, updates, and deletes part of the device information 414 as necessary. For example, the device management unit 404 may register a new device. The device information 414 may include, for example, an identifier, capabilities, status, Internet Protocol (IP) address, and the like for each of a plurality of devices to be managed. The printing device 103 may be registered by an administrator, or may be registered in response to a request from the printing device 103.

[0028] The capabilities of the printing device 103 may refer to functions available in the printing device 103 or items that can be set in these functions. The capabilities available in the printing device 103 may include optional functions that can be added to and expanded in the printing device 103. For example, if the printing device 103 has a duplex unit and can perform duplex printing using the duplex unit, the printing device 103 has the capability of duplex printing. The capabilities available in the printing device 103 may refer to functions supported by the printing device 103 or functions that are valid in the printing device 103. For example, if the printing device 103 has a duplex unit but the use of the duplex unit is set to be disabled, the printing device 103 may be considered not to have the capability of duplex printing. In addition to duplex printing, the capabilities of the printing device 103 may include, for example, color printing, monochrome printing, bookbinding, stapling, the size of paper that can be output, and the type of paper that can be output. The capabilities of the printing device 103 may differ depending on the model of the printing device. Furthermore, even if the printing device is the same model, the capabilities may differ depending on whether or not it has an optional configuration.

[0029] The profile management unit 405 manages the configuration profiles of the logical printers provided by the print server 101 in the CPS. For example, the profile management unit 405 stores information on the configuration profiles of the logical printers as profile information 415 in the storage of the print server 101. The profile management unit 405 reads, updates, and deletes part of the profile information 415 as necessary.

[0030] A configuration profile of a logical printer is information that represents the capabilities of a logical printer provided by the print server 101. For example, the configuration profile may represent that a logical printer has color printing and double-sided printing capabilities, but does not have bookbinding capabilities. When the print server 101 provides multiple logical printers, the profile management unit 405 manages a configuration profile for each logical printer. In some embodiments, the profile management unit 405 may manage a unique configuration profile for each user for one logical printer. For example, the profile management unit 405 may manage a configuration profile associated with user A and a configuration profile associated with user B for the same logical printer.

[0031] In some embodiments, for one logical printer, the profile management unit 405 may manage a unique logical printer for each location of the information processing device 102. For example, for the same logical printer and the same user, the profile management unit 405 may manage a configuration profile associated with location A (e.g., work) and a configuration profile associated with location B (e.g., home).

[0032] The configuration profile is provided to the information processing apparatus 102. The information processing apparatus 102 recognizes that the logical printer has the capability represented in the configuration profile, and is capable of accepting a print instruction from the user that uses this capability.

[0033] The printer driver management unit 406 manages printer drivers for generating print jobs for logical printers provided by the print server 101. For example, the printer driver management unit 406 stores the printer driver 416 in the storage of the print server 101. The printer driver management unit 406 reads, updates, and deletes the printer driver 416 as necessary.

[0034] When the print server 101 provides multiple logical printers, the printer driver management unit 406 manages the printer driver 416 for each logical printer. The printer driver management unit 406 may generate an installation package for installing the printer driver 416 in the information processing device 102. The installation package may also be called an installer. The printer driver management unit 406 includes the printer driver 416 in the installation package. The printer driver management unit 406 may include a configuration profile in the installation package. The configuration profile included in the installation package may be a configuration profile associated with a specific user, or may be a generic (e.g., default) configuration profile that does not depend on a specific user.

[0035] A communication unit 407 communicates with other devices, such as the information processing device 102 and the printing device 103. An authentication control unit 408 controls the authentication of users and the authentication of the printing device 103. A user interface (UI) control unit 409 generates a screen for setting up users and the printing device 103 to be registered in the CPS and for operating saved print jobs, and presents it to the administrator and users of the print server 101.

[0036] [Example of user registration process] An example of the operation of the process in which the print server 101 registers a user in the CPS (i.e., user registration process) will be described with reference to Figs. 5 to 10. Each step of the method in Fig. 5 may be performed by the CPU 201 of the print server executing a program read into the RAM 202 of the print server 101. Alternatively, some or all of the steps of the method in Fig. 5 may be performed by a dedicated circuit such as an ASIC. The same applies to other methods executed by the print server 101 described below. The method in Fig. 5 may be started in response to receiving an instruction to start user registration process from an administrator of the print server 101. The administrator of the print server 101 may be a user with administrator authority.

[0037] In S501, the print server 101 (for example, the UI control unit 409) generates a screen for setting user information (hereinafter, referred to as a user setting screen) and presents the user setting screen to the administrator. When the administrator uses the print server 101 locally, the print server 101 may display the user setting screen on the output device 220 (for example, a display device). When the administrator accesses the print server 101 remotely using an external device (for example, the information processing device 102), the print server 101 may transmit the user setting screen to an external device and display this screen. The same applies to other screens described below. The print server 101 (for example, the UI control unit 409) acquires information about the user from the administrator through the user setting screen.

[0038] An example of the user setting screen 600 will be described with reference to FIG. 6. The administrator of the print server 101 can input detailed information about the user, specify a device (printing apparatus 103) that is to be made available to the user, and specify a configuration profile to be associated with the user through the user setting screen 600. For example, the user setting screen 600 may include a field 601 for inputting the display name of the user, a field 602 for inputting the email address of the user, and a field 603 for inputting the address of the user. The user setting screen 600 may also include a pull-down list 604 for specifying the department to which the user belongs, a pull-down list 605 for specifying the location of the user, and a pull-down list 606 for specifying the user group to which the user belongs. Furthermore, the user setting screen 600 may include a radio button 607 for specifying the role type of the user (whether a general user or an administrative user).

[0039] The user setting screen 600 may include a radio button 608 for specifying one or more printing devices 103 to be made available to the user among the multiple printing devices 103 associated with the logical printers provided to the user. When "All Devices" is specified in the radio button 608, the print server 101 makes available to the user all of the multiple printing devices 103 associated with the logical printers provided to the user. When "Filter by the following categories" is specified in the radio button 608, the print server 101 makes available to the user one or more printing devices 103 filtered by the categories specified in the pull-down list 609. The options presented by the pull-down list 609 may include, for example, the department set in the pull-down list 604, the location set in the pull-down list 605, or the user group set in the pull-down list 606. When "Manual Selection" is specified in the radio button 608, the print server 101 makes available to the user one or more printing devices 103 selected from a list 610 by the administrator. The list 610 represents the multiple printing devices 103 associated with the logical printers provided to the user.

[0040] User settings screen 600 may include a pull-down list 611 for specifying a configuration profile to be associated with the user. Options presented by pull-down list 611 may include "None", "Configuration profile with most setting options", "Configuration profile with least setting options", and "Create a configuration profile". In the following description, the configuration profile with most setting options and the configuration profile with least setting options are referred to as the maximum configuration profile and the minimum configuration profile, respectively. Options presented by pull-down list 611 may include configuration profiles associated with a user group to which the user belongs. In this manner, pull-down list 611 presents multiple candidates for configuration profiles.

[0041] When "none" is specified in the pull-down list 611, the print server 101 does not associate a configuration profile with the user. In this case, the user does not have a configuration profile unique to the user. When "maximum setting option configuration profile" is specified in the pull-down list 611, the print server 101 associates a maximum configuration profile with the user. The maximum configuration profile may be a configuration profile that represents the capabilities of at least one of one or more printing devices 103 designated by the administrator as available to the user. When "minimum setting option configuration profile" is specified in the pull-down list 611, the print server 101 associates a minimum configuration profile with the user. The minimum configuration profile may be a configuration profile that represents the capabilities of all of one or more printing devices 103 designated by the administrator as available to the user. When "create configuration profile" is specified in the pull-down list 611, the print server 101 executes a process for creating a configuration profile. This process will be described later.

[0042] With reference to FIG. 7, examples of the maximum configuration profile and the minimum configuration profile will be described. Table 700 in FIG. 7(a) shows the capabilities of multiple printing devices 103 associated with one logical printer. In this example, four printing devices 103, device A to device D, are associated with one logical printer. Column 701 shows the type of capability of the printing device 103. Column 702 shows whether device A has each capability. In column 702, "Y" indicates that device A has a particular capability, and "N" indicates that device A does not have a particular capability. The same applies to columns 703 to 705.

[0043] Table 710 in FIG. 7(b) shows the capabilities of one or more printing devices 103 specified by the administrator, and the maximum configuration profile and minimum configuration profile for these printing devices 103. In this example, three printing devices 103, devices A to C, are specified by the administrator. Columns 711 to 714 are similar to columns 701 to 704. Column 715 shows the maximum configuration profile for devices A to C. Column 715 shows that if at least one of devices A to C has a specific capability (e.g., a stapler), the logical printer has the specific capability. Column 715 shows that if none of devices A to C has a specific capability (e.g., bookbinding), the logical printer does not have the specific capability.

[0044] Column 716 indicates minimum configuration profiles for devices A to C. If all of devices A to C have a specific capability (e.g., expansion cassette 1), column 716 indicates that the logical printer has the specific capability. If at least one of devices A to C does not have a specific capability (e.g., punch), column 716 indicates that the logical printer does not have the specific capability.

[0045] The user setting screen 600 may include a button 613 for instructing to register the input user information. In response to pressing the button 613, the print server 101 registers the information specified on the user setting screen 600. For example, the user management unit 403 issues an identifier that uniquely identifies a new user, and stores the input information in the user information 413 in association with this identifier (hereinafter, user ID). When the "maximum setting option configuration profile" is specified in the pull-down list 611, the profile management unit 405 generates a maximum configuration profile for one or more printing devices 103 specified by the administrator. When the "minimum setting option configuration profile" is specified in the pull-down list 611, the profile management unit 405 similarly generates a minimum configuration profile. The profile management unit 405 stores the generated configuration profile in the profile information 415 in association with the newly registered user (specifically, the user ID). The contents of the maximum configuration profile and the minimum configuration profile may differ depending on which one or more printing devices 103 are specified by the administrator. The user setting screen 600 may include a button 612 for canceling the setting of the user information.

[0046] The print server 101 may further associate the configuration profile with the location where the information processing device 102 is used and store the same. For example, the print server 101 may associate the configuration profile with the location specified in the pull-down list 605.

[0047] In S502, the print server 101 (e.g., the user management unit 403) notifies the administrator of the user ID for the new user. The administrator provides this user ID to the user. The user ID may be used to identify the user when the user uses the CPS.

[0048] In S503, the print server 101 determines whether the administrator has instructed the print server 101 to create a new configuration profile. If the administrator has instructed the print server 101 to create a new configuration profile (YES in S503), the print server 101 transitions the process to S504, and otherwise (NO in S503), the print server 101 transitions the process to S505. For example, if "Create configuration profile" is specified in the pull-down list 611, the print server 101 determines that the administrator has instructed the print server 101 to create a new configuration profile.

[0049] In step S504, the print server 101 (for example, the UI control unit 409) generates a screen for creating a configuration profile (hereinafter referred to as a profile creation screen) and presents the profile creation screen to the administrator. An example of the profile creation screen 800 will be described with reference to FIG. 8. The administrator of the print server 101 can create a configuration profile to be associated with a user through the profile creation screen 800.

[0050] The profile creation screen 800 may include a menu 801 for specifying the setting contents. When making settings related to a user, "user" is specified in the menu 801. The profile creation screen 800 may include a list 802 for specifying a user. The list 802 represents users registered in the print server 101. The print server 101 acquires from the administrator a specification of a configuration profile in association with a specific user specified in the list 802. The profile creation screen 800 may include a tab 803 for specifying the creation of a configuration profile. By selecting the tab 803, a screen such as that shown in FIG. 8 is displayed.

[0051] The profile creation screen 800 may include a field 804 for inputting the name of the configuration profile to be newly created. The profile creation screen 800 may include a list 805 for specifying an icon representing a logical printer to which the newly created configuration profile is applied. The profile creation screen 800 may include a list 806 for specifying one or more printing devices 103 to be made available to the user. The profile creation screen 800 may include a pull-down list 807 for specifying a base configuration profile. The pull-down list 807 may include a "maximum setting option" and a "minimum setting option". The maximum setting option may refer to a capability possessed by at least one of the one or more printing devices 103 designated by the administrator as available to the user. The minimum setting option may refer to a capability possessed by all of the one or more printing devices 103 designated by the administrator as available to the user.

[0052] The profile creation screen 800 may include check boxes 808 for specifying whether each of a plurality of capabilities is to be included in a configuration profile for the logical printer. The print server 101 may set the initial state of the check boxes 808 to match the configuration profile selected from the pull-down list 807. Furthermore, the state of the check boxes 808 may be individually changeable by an administrator.

[0053] The profile creation screen 800 may include a button 809 for instructing the generation of a specified configuration profile. In response to pressing of the button 809, the print server 101 (e.g., the profile management unit 405) generates a configuration profile having the capabilities specified in the checkboxes 808, associates it with the user selected in the list 802, and stores it in the profile information 415. The configuration profile generated in this manner represents the capabilities specified by the administrator.

[0054] The profile creation screen 800 may be used to create a configuration profile to be associated with a user group. For example, when "Group" is specified in the menu 801, the user groups registered in the print server 101 are displayed in the list 802. The print server 101 acquires from the administrator a designation of a configuration profile in association with the specific user group designated in the list 802. The administrator can then designate the capabilities of the configuration profile for the user group in the same manner as the designation of the capabilities of the configuration profile for the user described above. In response to the button 809 being pressed, the print server 101 (e.g., the profile management unit 405) generates a configuration profile having the capabilities designated in the check box 808, and stores the configuration profile in the profile information 415 in association with the user group selected in the list 802.

[0055] In S505, the print server 101 determines whether the administrator has instructed the print server 101 to generate an installation package. If the administrator has instructed the print server 101 to generate an installation package (YES in S505), the print server 101 transitions the process to S506, and otherwise (NO in S505) ends the process.

[0056] In step S506, the print server 101 (for example, the UI control unit 409) generates a screen for creating an installation package (hereinafter, referred to as a package creation screen) and presents the package creation screen to the administrator. An example of the package creation screen 900 will be described with reference to FIG. 9. The administrator of the print server 101 can create an installation package to be associated with a user through the package creation screen 900.

[0057] The package creation screen 900 may include a radio button 901 for specifying the timing to start a client application for using the CPS. The package creation screen 900 may include a check box 902 for specifying whether or not to create a logical printer when installing the client application. The package creation screen 900 may include a button 903 for changing the name of the logical printer to be installed.

[0058] The package creation screen 900 may include a pull-down list 904 for specifying a configuration profile to be included in the installation package. The pull-down list 904 may include the options shown in FIG. 9. The pull-down list 904 may present multiple candidates for the configuration profile. When an installation package for a specific user is created, if a configuration profile associated with this specific user is stored in the profile information 415, the pull-down list 904 may include a configuration profile associated with this specific user. For example, when an installation package for user A is created, the pull-down list 904 may include a "configuration profile of user A". When a specific user belongs to a specific user group and a configuration profile associated with this user group is stored in the profile information 415, the pull-down list 904 may include a configuration profile associated with this specific user group. For example, when an installation package for user A who belongs to group A is created, the pull-down list 904 may include a "configuration profile of group A".

[0059] Pull-down list 904 may include the "Most Setup Options Configuration Profile" and "Minimum Setup Options Configuration Profile" discussed above. These two configuration profiles may vary depending on the printing devices 103 available to the user.

[0060] The pull-down list 904 may include "Create a configuration profile." When this option is selected, the print server 101 (e.g., the UI control unit 409) generates a screen for creating a configuration profile (hereinafter referred to as a profile creation screen) and presents the profile creation screen to the administrator. An example of the profile creation screen 1000 will be described with reference to FIG. 10. The administrator of the print server 101 can create a configuration profile to be included in an installation package via the profile creation screen 1000.

[0061] The profile creation screen 1000 may include a field 1001 for inputting the name of a configuration profile to be included in the installation package. The profile creation screen 1000 may include a list 1002 for specifying an icon representing a logical printer to which the configuration profile to be included in the installation package is applied. The profile creation screen 1000 may include a check box 1003 for specifying whether each of a plurality of capabilities is to be included in the configuration profile for the logical printer. The state of the check box 1003 may be individually changeable by an administrator. In response to pressing of the button 1004, the print server 101 (e.g., the profile management unit 405) generates a configuration profile having the capabilities specified in the check box 1003, and stores it in the profile information 415 as a configuration profile to be included in the installation package. The profile creation screen 1000 may include a button 1005 for canceling the creation of the configuration profile.

[0062] Returning to the explanation of FIG. 9, in response to pressing of button 1004, print server 101 (e.g., printer driver management unit 406) generates an installation package including printer driver 416 based on the contents specified on package creation screen 900. When a specific configuration profile is specified by pull-down list 904, print server 101 (e.g., printer driver management unit 406) includes the specified configuration profile in the installation package. Thereafter, print server 101 (e.g., printer driver management unit 406) stores the generated installation package in the storage of print server 101 in association with the user.

[0063] In the above example, pull-down list 611 includes both the "Most Setting Options Configuration Profile" and the "Minimum Setting Options Configuration Profile." Alternatively, pull-down list 611 may include only one of the "Most Setting Options Configuration Profile" and the "Minimum Setting Options Configuration Profile." The same is true for pull-down list 904.

[0064] In the above example, the profile creation screen 800 is presented to the administrator when "Create a configuration profile" is specified in the pull-down list 611 of the user setting screen 600 in the user registration process. Alternatively or in addition to this, the profile creation screen 800 may be used to add or change a configuration profile to be associated with an existing user or an existing user group. The profile creation screen 800 may also be used by a user of the print server 101 to change the registration details of the user. For example, the user may log in to the print server 101 by inputting a user ID issued by the print server 101 and change the configuration profile associated with the user. Similarly, the package creation screen 900 may be used by a user of the print server 101 to change the installation package provided to the user.

[0065] The print server 101 may further acquire a designation of a location to be associated with the configuration profile through the profile creation screen 800. The print server 101 may further associate the configuration profile with the location where the information processing device 102 is used and store it. The print server 101 (e.g., the profile management unit 405) may associate and store a separate configuration profile for each of a plurality of locations.

[0066] [Example of CPS provision process] An example of an operation of the print server 101 to provide a CPS will be described with reference to Fig. 11. The method of Fig. 11 may be started in response to receiving an instruction from an administrator of the print server 101 to start providing a CPS.

[0067] In S1101, the print server 101 (for example, the printer driver management unit 406) determines whether or not a request for an installation package has been received from the information processing device 102. If it is determined that this request has been received ("YES" in S1101), the print server 101 transitions the process to S1102, and otherwise ("NO" in S1101), repeats S1101.

[0068] In S1102, the print server 101 (for example, the printer driver management unit 406) judges whether the request received in S1101 specifies a specific user. If the print server 101 judges that the request specifies a specific user ("YES" in S1102), the process proceeds to S1103. Otherwise ("NO" in S1102), the process proceeds to S1105. For example, the print server 101 may judge that the request specifies a specific user when the request includes a user identifier (user ID). Alternatively or in addition, the print server 101 may judge that the request specifies a specific user when the user requests the print server 101 for an install package while logged in to the print server 101 using the user's identifier. In the following description, the user specified in the request is referred to as the target user. The target user may or may not belong to any user group managed by the print server 101.

[0069] In S1103, the print server 101 (for example, the printer driver management unit 406) determines whether an install package associated with the target user or the user group to which the target user belongs is stored. If it is determined that such an install package is stored ("YES" in S1103), the print server 101 transitions the process to S1104, and otherwise ("NO" in S1103), the process transitions to S1105.

[0070] In S1104, the print server 101 (e.g., the communication unit 407) provides (e.g., transmits) an install package associated with the target user or a user group to which the target user belongs to the information processing device 1104. When both an install package associated with the target user and an install package associated with the user group to which the target user belongs are stored, the print server 101 may transmit the install package associated with the target user.

[0071] In S1105, the print server 101 (e.g., the communication unit 407) transmits an installation package that is not associated with the target user or the user group to which the target user belongs to the information processing device 1104. This installation package may not include a configuration profile, or may include a default configuration profile. The default configuration profile may be a minimum profile for multiple printing devices 103 associated with the logical printer.

[0072] In S1106, the print server 101 (for example, the job management unit 402) determines whether or not a print job for a logical printer has been received from the information processing device 102. If it is determined that a print job has been received ("YES" in S1106), the print server 101 transitions the process to S1107, and otherwise ("NO" in S1106), repeats S1106.

[0073] In S1107, the print server 101 (e.g., the job management unit 402) stores the print job received in S1106 in the storage of the print server 101. In S1108, in response to a request from any one of the multiple printing devices 103 associated with the logical printer, the print server 101 transmits the print job stored in the storage to the one printing device 103.

[0074] 11, an installation package including a configuration profile designated by an administrator of the print server 101 is provided to the information processing device 102. That is, the configuration profile designated by the administrator of the print server 101 is provided to the information processing device 102. In this way, an appropriate configuration profile is provided to the user of the information processing device 102.

[0075] [Example of configuration profile provision process] An example of an operation of the print server 101 to provide a configuration profile will be described with reference to Fig. 12. The method of Fig. 12 may be started in response to receiving an instruction from an administrator of the print server 101 to start providing a configuration profile.

[0076] In S1201, the print server 101 (e.g., the profile management unit 405) determines whether an inquiry as to whether there is a configuration profile associated with a specific user has been received from the information processing device 102. If it is determined that this inquiry has been received ("YES" in S1201), the print server 101 transitions the process to S1202, and otherwise ("NO" in S1201), repeats S1201. The inquiry from the information processing device 102 may include an identifier (user ID) of a specific user. Alternatively or in addition to this, the print server 101 may obtain the inquiry from the information processing device 102 in a state in which the user has logged in to the print server 101 using his / her own identifier. In the following description, the user specified in the inquiry is referred to as the target user.

[0077] In S1202, the print server 101 (e.g., the profile management unit 405) determines whether a configuration profile associated with the target user or the user group to which the target user belongs is stored. If it is determined that such a configuration profile is stored ("YES" in S1202), the print server 101 transitions the process to S1203, and otherwise ("NO" in S1202), the process transitions to S1204.

[0078] In S1203, the print server 101 (e.g., the communication unit 407) transmits a configuration profile associated with the target user or a user group to which the target user belongs to, to the information processing device 1104. When both a configuration profile associated with the target user and a configuration profile associated with the user group to which the target user belongs are stored, the print server 101 may transmit the configuration profile associated with the target user.

[0079] In S1204, the print server 101 (for example, the communication unit 407) notifies the information processing apparatus 1104 that there is no configuration profile associated with the target user or the user group to which the target user belongs.

[0080] In the above-described method, if the print server 101 stores a configuration profile associated with the target user or a user group to which the target user belongs, the print server 101 immediately transmits such a configuration profile to the information processing device 102. Alternatively, the print server 101 may notify the information processing device 102 that such a configuration profile exists, and may subsequently transmit the configuration profile to the information processing device 102 when a request for the configuration profile is received from the information processing device 102.

[0081] 12, a configuration profile designated by an administrator of the print server 101 is provided to the information processing device 102. In this way, an appropriate configuration profile is provided to the user of the information processing device 102.

[0082] [Example of CPS usage processing] An example of the operation of the process in which the information processing device 102 uses the CPS will be described with reference to Figs. 13 to 15. Each step of the method in Fig. 13 may be performed by the CPU 201 of the information processing device 102 executing a program read into the RAM 202 of the information processing device 102. Alternatively, some or all of the steps of the method in Fig. 13 may be performed by a dedicated circuit such as an ASIC. The same applies to other methods executed by the information processing device 102 described below. The method in Fig. 13 may be started in response to receiving an instruction to start a process for using the CPS from a user who is using the information processing device 102. In the following description of Fig. 13, the user who is using the information processing device 102 will simply be referred to as a user.

[0083] In S1301, the information processing apparatus 102 transmits to the print server 101 a request for an installation package of a printer driver corresponding to a logical printer provided by the print server 101. The information processing apparatus 102 further transmits a user identifier to the print server 101. The user identifier may be included in the request for the installation package. Alternatively, the user identifier may be transmitted to the print server 101 before or after the request for the installation package. The user identifier may be the user ID notified in S502 of FIG. 5. The print server 101 that receives this request transmits the installation package to the information processing apparatus 102 by executing the operation of FIG. 11. The information processing apparatus 102 receives this installation package from the print server 101 as a response to the request. In S1302, the information processing apparatus 102 installs the printer driver included in the installation package by executing the installation package acquired in S1301.

[0084] In S1303, the information processing device 102 determines whether or not a configuration profile associated with the user is stored in the print server 101. If the information processing device 102 determines that a configuration profile associated with the user is stored in the print server 101 ("YES" in S1303), the process proceeds to S1304, and otherwise ("NO" in S1303), the process proceeds to S1305. To make this determination, the information processing device 102 may inquire of the print server 101 as to whether or not a configuration profile associated with the user is stored in the print server 101. Upon receiving this inquiry, the print server 101 responds to the inquiry by executing the operation of FIG. 12.

[0085] In S1305, the information processing device 102 determines whether or not the installation package acquired in S1301 includes a configuration profile. If it is determined that the installation package includes a configuration profile ("YES" in S1305), the information processing device 102 transitions the process to S1306, and otherwise ("NO" in S1305), the process transitions to S1309.

[0086] If the print server 101 has a configuration profile associated with the user, then in S1304 the information processing apparatus 102 acquires this configuration profile from the print server 101. If the print server 101 does not have a configuration profile associated with the user and the installation package includes a configuration profile, then in S1306 the information processing apparatus 102 acquires this configuration profile from the installation package. As described above with reference to Fig. 9, the configuration profile included in the installation package may also be a configuration profile associated with the user.

[0087] When a configuration profile is acquired in S1304 or S1306, in S1307, the information processing apparatus 102 generates a screen for editing this configuration profile (hereinafter, a profile editing screen) and presents the profile editing screen to the user. An example of the profile editing screen 1400 will be described with reference to Fig. 14. The user can edit the configuration profile registered in the printer driver through the profile editing screen 1400.

[0088] The profile editing screen 1400 may include a field 1401 for inputting the name of the configuration profile to be registered in the printer driver. The profile editing screen 1400 may include a list 1402 for designating an icon representing a logical printer to which the configuration profile to be registered in the printer driver is applied. The profile editing screen 1400 may include a check box 1403 for designating whether each of a plurality of capabilities is to be included in the configuration profile for the logical printer. The information processing apparatus 102 may set the initial state of the check box 1403 so as to match the configuration profile acquired in S1304 or S1306. The state of the check box 1403 may be individually changeable by the user. That is, the information processing apparatus 102 presents the contents of the configuration profile acquired in S1304 or S1306 to the user through the check box 1403 and accepts changes to the contents. If the user does not need to change the state of the check box 1403, the user may maintain the check box 1403 in the initial state (that is, the acquired configuration profile may be used as is).

[0089] In S1308, in response to pressing of button 1404, the information processing device 102 registers in the printer driver 302 a configuration profile having the capabilities specified in check box 1403. The information processing device 102 sets the configuration profile that has been registered in the printer driver 302 as the current configuration profile. Thereafter, the information processing device 102 may notify the user that the installation of the printer driver has been completed. In other words, the processes of S1303 to S1308 may be executed during the installation process of the printer driver.

[0090] In S1309, the information processing apparatus 102 determines whether the user has issued a print instruction to the logical printer. If it is determined that the user has issued a print instruction (YES in S1309), the information processing apparatus 102 transitions the process to S1310, and otherwise (NO in S1309), repeats S1309.

[0091] In S1310, the information processing apparatus 102 generates a screen for making print settings (hereinafter, referred to as a print setting screen) and presents it to the user. An example of the print setting screen 1500 will be described with reference to Fig. 15. The user can specify print settings through the print setting screen 1500.

[0092] The print setting screen 1500 may include a pull-down list 1501 for specifying the document size, and a pull-down list 1502 for specifying the paper size. The print setting screen 1500 may include a pull-down list 1503 for specifying whether to perform single-sided printing, double-sided printing, and bookbinding, and a pull-down list 1504 for specifying whether to perform stapling, sorting, and grouping. The information processing device 102 generates the print setting screen 1500 based on a configuration profile registered in the printer driver 302. For example, the information processing device 102 enables the user to use the capabilities represented in the configuration profile. Specifically, when the configuration profile indicates that the logical printer has a double-sided printing function, the information processing device 102 includes double-sided printing in the options of the pull-down list 1503. The information processing device 102 stores the contents specified on the print setting screen 1500 in response to pressing a button 1505. The print setting screen 1500 may include a button 1506 for canceling the print settings.

[0093] In step S1311, the information processing apparatus 102 generates a print job having the specified contents in response to a print start instruction from the user. After that, the information processing apparatus 102 returns the process to step S1309 and waits for a further print instruction.

[0094] The configuration profile associated with the user can be updated after the installation package is generated. By preferentially registering the configuration profile acquired from the print server 101 as in S1303 to S1308 described above, the latest information can be reflected on the profile editing screen 1400.

[0095] 13, when the printer driver 302 for the logical printer is installed, if there is a configuration profile associated with the user, this configuration profile is automatically registered in the printer driver 302. This allows the user to use the optimal configuration profile generated by the administrator of the print server 101 without the user being aware of it. Also, the user can edit the configuration profile as necessary. This provides the user with an appropriate configuration profile.

[0096] [Example of configuration profile update process] 16 to 17, an example of the operation of the process in which the information processing device 102 updates the configuration profile will be described. The method of Fig. 16 may be started after the installation process of the printer driver 302 in the information processing device 102 is completed. In the following description of Fig. 16, a user who is using the information processing device 102 will simply be referred to as a user.

[0097] After the printer driver 302 is installed in the information processing device 102, a new printing device may be associated with the logical printer. In this case, the optimal configuration profile for the user may change. Therefore, in the method of FIG. 16, the information processing device 102 determines whether a new configuration profile is available.

[0098] In S1601, the information processing apparatus 102 determines whether a confirmation event has occurred to confirm whether a configuration profile exists in the print server 101. If it is determined that a confirmation event has occurred ("YES" in S1601), the information processing apparatus 102 transitions the process to S1602, and otherwise ("NO" in S1601), repeats S1601.

[0099] S1601 may be executed by an application resident in the information processing device 102. This application may detect that a confirmation event has occurred in response to a user pressing button 1701 or button 1702 in a version information display screen 1700 shown in Fig. 17. Button 1701 may be a button for resetting the location of the information processing device 102. Button 1702 may be a button for issuing an instruction to newly register a configuration profile in the printer driver.

[0100] In S1602, similarly to S1303, the information processing device 102 determines whether or not a configuration profile associated with the user is present on the print server 101. If it is determined that a configuration profile associated with the user is present on the print server 101 ("YES" in S1602), the information processing device 102 transitions the process to S1603, and otherwise ("NO" in S1602), transitions the process to S1601.

[0101] In S1603, the information processing apparatus 102 acquires the configuration profile from the print server 101 in the same manner as in S1304. In S1604, the information processing apparatus 102 generates a screen for editing this configuration profile (hereinafter, a profile editing screen) in the same manner as in S1307, and presents the profile editing screen to the user. In S1605, the information processing apparatus 102 registers the configuration profile having the capabilities specified in the check box 1403 in the printer driver 302 in the same manner as in S1308.

[0102] If the configuration profile acquired in S1603 is the same as the configuration profile registered in the printer driver 302, the information processing device 102 may omit steps S1604 and S1605. In this example, the information processing device 102 determines that these configuration profiles are the same. Alternatively, the information processing device 102 may transmit the configuration profile registered in the printer driver 302 to the print server 101. The print server 101 may determine whether this configuration profile is the same as the configuration profile stored in the print server 101.

[0103] 16, even after the printer driver 302 is installed, the user can use the optimal configuration profile generated by the administrator of the print server 101. This allows the appropriate configuration profile to be provided to the user of the information processing device 102.

[0104] 16, the information processing device 102 may inquire as to whether the configuration profile associated with the user has been updated after the information processing device 102 previously acquired the configuration profile from the print server 101. If the configuration profile has been updated, the information processing device 102 may execute S1603 to S1605. At that time, the information processing device 102 may indicate to the user that an updated configuration profile is available by presenting the user with a screen 1710 in FIG.

[0105] In S1602, the information processing device 102 may inquire of the print server 101 whether there is a configuration profile associated with the new location based on a change in the location of the information processing device 102. This inquiry may include an identifier of the changed location. If a configuration profile associated with the changed location is stored, the print server 101 may provide this configuration profile to the information processing device 102. In S1603, the information processing device obtains the configuration profile associated with the new location from the print server 101.

[0106] In the above-described embodiment, the information processing device 102 acquires a configuration profile associated with the user in both the operation of Fig. 13 and the operation of Fig. 16. Alternatively, the information processing device 102 may acquire a configuration profile associated with the user by installing a generic printer driver in the operation of Fig. 13 and then executing the operation of Fig. 16. Alternatively, the information processing device 102 may execute the operation of Fig. 13 without executing the operation of Fig. 16.

[0107] <Summary of the embodiment> [Item 1] An information processing device, an acquiring means for acquiring a configuration profile representing capabilities of a logical printer provided by a print server, the configuration profile being associated with a user of the information processing device; a presentation means for presenting the content of the acquired configuration profile to the user and accepting changes to the content; a registration means for registering a configuration profile having contents designated by the user in a printer driver for generating a print job for the logical printer; a generating unit configured to generate a screen for generating the print job based on a configuration profile registered in the printer driver. [Item 2] The information processing device includes: a sending means for sending a request for an installation package of the printer driver and an identifier of the user to the print server; and receiving means for receiving the installation package from the print server in response to the request, 2. The information processing device according to item 1, wherein the acquisition means acquires a configuration profile associated with the user from the installation package. [Item 3] The information processing device further includes an inquiry unit for inquiring of the print server whether or not there is a configuration profile associated with the user, 3. The information processing apparatus according to item 1 or 2, wherein the acquisition means acquires a configuration profile associated with the user from the print server if there is a configuration profile associated with the user. [Item 4] 4. The information processing apparatus according to item 3, wherein the inquiry means inquires of the print server whether or not there is a configuration profile associated with the user during an installation process of the printer driver. [Item 5] 5. The information processing apparatus according to item 4, wherein the acquiring means acquires a configuration profile from an installation package of the printer driver when there is no configuration profile associated with the user. [Item 6] 6. The information processing apparatus according to any one of items 3 to 5, wherein the inquiring means inquires of the print server whether or not there is a configuration profile associated with the user after the installation process of the printer driver is completed. [Item 7] The information processing device further includes an inquiry unit that inquires of the print server whether there is a configuration profile associated with a new location based on a change in location of the information processing device; 7. The information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the acquisition means acquires a configuration profile associated with the new location if there is a configuration profile associated with the new location. [Item 8] A program for causing a computer to function as each of the means of the information processing device according to any one of items 1 to 7. [Item 9] A method for controlling an information processing device, comprising: obtaining a configuration profile representing capabilities of a logical printer provided by a print server, the configuration profile being associated with a user of the information processing device; a presentation step of presenting the content of the acquired configuration profile to the user and accepting changes to the content; a registration step of registering a configuration profile having contents designated by the user in a printer driver for generating a print job for the logical printer; and generating a screen for generating the print job based on a configuration profile registered in the printer driver. [Item 10] 1. A print server comprising: a storage means for storing a configuration profile representing the capabilities of one logical printer associated with a plurality of printing devices in association with a particular user or a particular user group; a provision means for providing a configuration profile stored in association with a specific user or a specific user group of the print server to an information processing device in response to a request from the specific user or a user belonging to the specific user group; a receiving means for receiving a print job for the logical printer from the information processing device; a transmission unit configured to transmit the print job to any one of the plurality of printing devices. [Item 11] The print server further includes a generating unit configured to generate an installation package including a printer driver for generating a print job for the logical printer and a configuration profile associated with the specific user or the specific user group; Item 11. The print server according to item 10, wherein the providing means provides the installation package to the information processing device in response to a request from the specific user or a user belonging to the specific user group. [Item 12] A program for causing a computer to function as each of the means of the print server according to item 10 or 11. [Item 13] A method for controlling a print server, comprising: storing a configuration profile representing the capabilities of a logical printer associated with a plurality of printing devices in association with a particular user or a particular group of users; a providing step of providing a configuration profile stored in association with a specific user or a specific user group of the print server to an information processing device in response to a request from the specific user or a user belonging to the specific user group; a receiving step of receiving a print job for the logical printer from the information processing device; a transmitting step of transmitting the print job to any one of the plurality of printing devices.

[0108] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are appended to apprise the public of the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0109] 101 print server, 102 information processing device, 103 printing device

Claims

1. An information processing device, an acquiring means for acquiring a configuration profile representing capabilities of a logical printer provided by a print server, the configuration profile being associated with a user of the information processing device; a presentation means for presenting the content of the acquired configuration profile to the user and accepting changes to the content; a registration means for registering a configuration profile having contents designated by the user in a printer driver for generating a print job for the logical printer; a generating unit configured to generate a screen for generating the print job based on a configuration profile registered in the printer driver.

2. The information processing device includes: a sending means for sending a request for an installation package of the printer driver and an identifier of the user to the print server; and receiving means for receiving the installation package from the print server in response to the request, The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the acquiring means acquires a configuration profile associated with the user from the installation package.

3. The information processing device further includes an inquiry unit for inquiring of the print server whether or not there is a configuration profile associated with the user, The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the acquiring means acquires, when there is a configuration profile associated with the user, the configuration profile associated with the user from the print server.

4. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the inquiring means inquires of the print server whether or not there is a configuration profile associated with the user during an installation process of the printer driver.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein said acquiring means acquires a configuration profile from an installation package of said printer driver when there is no configuration profile associated with said user.

6. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said inquiring means inquires of said print server whether or not there is a configuration profile associated with said user after the installation process of said printer driver is completed.

7. The information processing device further includes an inquiry unit that inquires of the print server whether there is a configuration profile associated with a new location based on a change in location of the information processing device; The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the acquiring means acquires a configuration profile associated with the new location when there is a configuration profile associated with the new location.

8. A program for causing a computer to function as each of the means of the information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A method for controlling an information processing device, comprising: obtaining a configuration profile representing capabilities of a logical printer provided by a print server, the configuration profile being associated with a user of the information processing device; a presentation step of presenting the content of the acquired configuration profile to the user and accepting changes to the content; a registration step of registering a configuration profile having contents designated by the user in a printer driver for generating a print job for the logical printer; and generating a screen for generating the print job based on a configuration profile registered in the printer driver.

10. 1. A print server comprising: a storage means for storing a configuration profile representing the capabilities of a single logical printer associated with a plurality of printing devices in association with a particular user or a particular group of users; a provision means for providing a configuration profile stored in association with a specific user or a specific user group of the print server to an information processing device in response to a request from the specific user or a user belonging to the specific user group; a receiving means for receiving a print job for the logical printer from the information processing device; a transmission unit configured to transmit the print job to any one of the plurality of printing devices.

11. The print server further includes a generating unit configured to generate an installation package including a printer driver for generating a print job for the logical printer and a configuration profile associated with the specific user or the specific user group; The print server according to claim 10 , wherein the providing unit provides the installation package to the information processing device in response to a request from the specific user or a user belonging to the specific user group.

12. A program for causing a computer to function as each of the means of the print server according to claim 10 or 11.

13. A method for controlling a print server, comprising: storing a configuration profile representing the capabilities of a logical printer associated with a plurality of printing devices in association with a particular user or a particular group of users; a providing step of providing a configuration profile stored in association with a specific user or a specific user group of the print server to an information processing device in response to a request from the specific user or a user belonging to the specific user group; a receiving step of receiving a print job for the logical printer from the information processing device; a transmitting step of transmitting the print job to any one of the plurality of printing devices.

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