Information processing device, method thereof, and program

Abstract

To solve the problem in execution of a print job with a large print setting difference before color verification often causing color verification failure.SOLUTION: When performing color verification, print settings of a print job immediately prior to a color verification print job are compared with print settings of the color verification print job, and a print job for preventing a large print setting difference is sent to an image forming device as necessary.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for verifying the color quality of a printed matter, an information processing apparatus, and control of an image forming apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] It is known that in image forming devices, deviations in output colors occur due to individual differences, environmental dependence, changes in the physical load of the device, and the like. It is known that color verification is performed as a method for checking whether or not color deviations in output colors occur. In color verification, a color chart is output from the image forming device, and the color is measured using a device called a colorimeter, and the deviation from the ideal color is measured as a color difference. If the color difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, it is determined that color deviations have occurred, and an operation to adjust the color output of the image output device (for example, calibration) is often performed.

[0003] In the commercial printing field, color verification is often performed periodically. For example, at the start of work at a printing shop, a print operator performs color verification to check whether there is any color shift in the image forming device. If there is any color shift, the color output by the image forming device is adjusted by performing calibration or other procedures. A system that automatically performs these scheduled color verification processes has been released.

[0004] In the color verification process, it is known that physical changes in the image forming device affect color difference, and that physical changes in the image forming device are caused by various elements based on print settings such as the ink color used, paper size, paper type, etc. Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for rearranging the order of print commands, i.e., the order of print jobs, because there is a difference in the degree of influence on color shift in the image forming device between monochrome printing and color printing.

[0005] Also, a method called blank printing is known as a method for solving color misregistration caused by physical changes in the image forming device. In blank printing, a predetermined number of copies (for example, 100 copies) of printing with a predetermined print setting are printed in order to smooth out the physical changes inside the image forming device. According to the solution by blank printing, disturbances in the output of the image forming device under specific conditions are stabilized by continuously printing a predetermined number of copies with the predetermined print setting. Generally, in a printing system, printing is performed using a print command called a print job that is transmitted from an information processing device to the image forming device. Not only normal printing, but also printing of the color chart for color verification is performed using a print job. Also, many information processing devices and image forming devices are provided with a control unit for the print job, and printing is controlled and managed with a print job as one unit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2008-238459 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] In Patent Document 1, the occurrence rate of color misregistration caused by differences between print settings is suppressed by changing the order of print jobs, and the frequency of waiting time caused by color misregistration correction is reduced. However, in printing companies, the schedule of products to be printed is often determined in advance according to the product line, and it is often difficult to rearrange the order of print jobs due to production planning. In addition, if blank printing is performed every time for warm-up to avoid color misregistration caused by differences between print settings, the time available for printing other than blank printing is reduced, which reduces the printer's operating rate and reduces user convenience. In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method that can solve color misregistration without compromising user convenience. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A program for causing a computer of an information processing device capable of communicating with an image forming device to execute a control method, the control method comprising: a receiving step for receiving an instruction to have the image forming device execute a print job for color verification; and a control step for controlling, when the image forming device is to execute the print job for color verification, whether or not to instruct the image forming device to execute a print job for stabilizing the operation of the image forming device, based on the print settings of the print job previously executed on the image forming device and the print settings of the print job for color verification. Effect of the Invention

[0009] This makes it possible to solve the color misregistration without impairing user convenience. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing an entire color verification system according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a color verification system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing settings to be stored in a color verification storage unit according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] Example of color patch used for color verification in Example 1 [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of print job management according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of print settings for a print job according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen for color verification in the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a schedule function according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a process at the start of color verification in the first embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a calendar screen for color verification in the first embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of capability information of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the process at the start of color verification in the second embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of print job management according to a third embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a process for determining whether or not an empty print job is necessary according to a third embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the process of advancing a print job according to the third embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of MIB information according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the present invention, and not all of the combinations of features described in the present embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the present invention. In addition, the embodiments and modifications described below may be combined selectively as appropriate.

[0012] Example 1 [System Configuration] The image forming system, color verification system, and hardware configuration according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagrams of Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the color verification system according to this embodiment. The system is broadly divided into a web system 107 and a printing company system 104, which are connected to each other via a network 100 such as the Internet. The web system 107 includes an information processing device 101, and executes management, control, etc. of the image forming device. The web system 107 may be constructed in the cloud, or may be constructed on each company's server.

[0013] The internal configuration of the printing company system 104 will be described in detail below. As shown in Fig. 1, an information processing device 102 and an image forming device 103 having a printing function are interconnected via a network 106. A colorimeter 105 is also interconnected via a serial bus 108. The image forming device 103 is controlled under the control of a group of programs running on the information processing device 102, processes the print settings and print data received from the web system 101, and produces a deliverable.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the information processing apparatuses 101 and 102. The information processing apparatus is composed of a CPU 202 for performing calculations, and a storage unit composed of an HDD 201, a ROM 203, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 204. The CPU 0202 controls the execution of a program stored in the storage unit and loaded into the RAM 0204. The information processing apparatus also includes a display unit such as a display 205 as an input / output device, an operation reception unit such as a pointing device 207, and a keyboard 206, and a data communication unit 208 as a group of controller devices for managing a network or a data bus on hardware. Examples of such information processing apparatuses include a PC (personal computer), a smartphone, and a tablet terminal. Each device can communicate data with each other through various controllers and buses in the information processing. The image forming apparatus 103 has a similar configuration, but is also equipped with a printer engine, a scanner, and the like. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the functions of the web system 107 and the printing company system 104 constituting the color verification system according to this embodiment. Each function is realized by the CPU executing a program in the storage unit.

[0015] First, a description will be given of the functional blocks installed in the information processing device 102 of the printing service provider system 104. The information processing device 102 includes a web browser 507, a print control application 520, an on-premise application 517, a print communication unit 515, and the like.

[0016] The web browser 507 communicates with the communication unit 504 to acquire contents such as Web contents. The web browser 507 then performs syntax analysis of the acquired contents and displays them. The web browser 507 can also execute processing of a program written in a programming language such as JavaScript. The on-premise application 517 is an application that serves to relay access between the web system 107 and the image forming apparatus 103, the colorimeter 105, and the web browser 507. For example, when printing a chart, the web system 107 prints the chart on the image forming apparatus 103 via the on-premise application 517. When measuring the color of the printed chart, the colorimeter 105 is controlled via the on-premise application 517. The web browser 507 is used to receive instructions for test creation and measurement of color verification, and to display results such as color verification results.

[0017] The colorimetry control unit 511 receives instructions from the web browser 507 and controls the colorimetry device 105 through the colorimetry device linking unit 512. The colorimetry control unit 511 also stores the reading results in a colorimetry result storage unit 514. Furthermore, when the colorimetry control unit 511 receives a colorimetry completion instruction from the web browser 507, it receives the colorimetry results that match the ID in the colorimetry completion instruction from the colorimetry result storage unit 514 and transmits them to the communication unit 504 through the colorimetry communication unit 510.

[0018] The colorimetry communication unit 510 performs communication between the colorimetry control unit 511 and the communication unit 504. When the colorimetry communication unit 510 receives a colorimetry result from the colorimetry control unit 511, it starts communication with the communication unit 504 and transmits the colorimetry result to the communication unit 504. Although the communication method is not specified, HTTP communication is used in this embodiment.

[0019] The colorimeter cooperation unit 512 is an interface with the colorimeter 105 , and mediates communication between the colorimeter control unit 511 and the colorimeter 105 .

[0020] A print communication unit 515 communicates between the print control unit 523 and the communication unit 504. When a print instruction is given by a user, the print communication unit 515 receives a print job consisting of print settings and print data from the communication unit 504, and further receives the IP address of the destination image forming apparatus, and passes the same to the print control unit 523.

[0021] The print application 520 is a print management application for printing documents such as PDF and images such as JPEG, and has a print control unit 523 and a print job storage unit 522. The print application 520 can receive print commands from the outside and transmit the print commands to the image forming apparatus 103 via the print control unit 523. By using the print application 520, the user can manage printing using the image forming apparatus 103. The operation of the print application 520 will be described in detail later.

[0022] The print setting acquisition unit 524 requests and acquires print settings of a print job from the print control unit 523 of the print application 520. If the image forming apparatus 103 has a print job management function similar to that of the print control application 520, the print setting acquisition unit 524 requests the print settings of the print job from the image forming apparatus 103 and acquires the print settings of the print job.

[0023] The colorimetry result storage unit 514 is a place where the colorimetry control unit 511 stores the colorimetry results of the chart when the colorimetry of the chart for colorimetry is completed. The colorimetry result storage unit 514 stores the colorimetry results as a file in a storage unit such as an HDD of the information processing apparatus 102.

[0024] The print job storage unit 522 is a place for storing print jobs created by the print application 520 and print jobs of color charts for color measurement. The print job storage unit 522 stores print jobs as files in a storage unit such as an HDD of the information processing device 102. This concludes the description of the functional blocks mounted on the information processing device 102.

[0025] Next, a functional block diagram mounted on the information processing device 101 of the web system 107 will be described. The communication unit 504 is a service program that performs HTTP communication with the web browser 507 and provides the web browser 507 with display of HTML and objects (images, etc.). The communication unit 507 also performs HTTP communication with the print communication unit 515 and transmits a print job to the on-premise application 517. Furthermore, the communication unit 504 performs HTTP communication with the colorimetry communication unit 510 and receives the colorimetry result of the color chart from the colorimetry control unit 510.

[0026] The schedule management unit 521 automatically starts color verification at the reserved time based on the schedule settings stored in the color verification setting storage unit 500.

[0027] The color verification management unit 503 is a function for controlling the execution of each process in the color verification process. Based on user instructions input via a web browser 507, the color verification management unit 503 executes processes from chart printing to color measurement and color verification. It also stores the color measurement results received by the communication unit 504 in a color measurement result storage unit 514.

[0028] The colorimetry setting storage unit 500 is a place for storing colorimetry settings input by a user. When a user inputs and saves colorimetry settings on a web browser 507, the web browser 507 passes the colorimetry settings to a communication unit 504. The input and setting screens for colorimetry settings will be described later. When the communication unit 504 receives the colorimetry settings, a color verification management unit 503 stores the received colorimetry settings in the colorimetry setting unit 500.

[0029] The print setting comparison unit 525 compares and judges the print settings of two print jobs received via the communication unit 504. The print setting comparison unit 525 also checks and judges the settings for one print job. Details of the judgment that the print setting comparison unit 525 actually makes will be explained later using a flowchart.

[0030] A print job generation unit 506 has a function of generating print settings and print data. Specifically, a print instruction is given by a user on a web browser 507. When a print instruction is given, the web browser 507 transmits the print instruction to a communication unit 504. When the communication unit 504 passes the print instruction to a color verification management unit 503, the color verification management unit 503 acquires colorimetric settings from a colorimetric setting storage unit 500 based on an identifier (e.g., 00001) specified by the print instruction.

[0031] The color verification management unit 503 passes the acquired colorimetry settings to a print job generation unit 506. The print job generation unit 503 generates a print job consisting of print settings and print data for a chart that satisfies the colorimetry settings. The print job generation unit 506 saves the generated print job in a print setting storage unit 505. The print setting storage unit 505 saves the print job as a file in a storage unit such as a HDD of the information processing apparatus 101. The print job is generated not only in response to a print instruction from the user, but also in response to a print instruction from a scheduling function and at the timing when the colorimetry settings are saved in the colorimetry setting storage unit 500.

[0032] <Explanation regarding the print application 520> The operation of the print application 520 will be described. The print application 520 manages and controls printing using the image forming apparatus 103 and print schedules using print jobs. The print application 520 saves print setting information and the like of print jobs executed in the image forming apparatus as history information, and manages print jobs to be executed. Generally, a print shop has a shipping schedule for products, i.e., printed matter, and often organizes a printing process according to the schedule. The print application 520 is also used when creating a printing process according to the schedule as described above. The print application 520 has an interface that accepts print commands from an external application, and can transmit the print command accepted via the print control unit 523 to the image forming apparatus 103. In addition, the print application 520 has an interface that returns a print schedule and a print job execution history in a format (for example, JSON format) that can be interpreted by other applications upon request. For example, when the print control unit 523 receives a print job from the print communication unit 515, it transmits the print job to the image forming apparatus 103 whose IP address is included in the received information. In this embodiment, the method of transmitting the print job is assumed to be HTTP communication, but other print transmission methods such as USB communication and hot folders may also be used, and the means is not limited.

[0033] FIG. 6 shows a print job management screen using the print application 520, which is displayed, for example, on the web browser 507. Column 1301 shows a Job ID, which is identification information for a print job. Column 1302 shows an order ID, which is information for identifying an order. In a print shop, prints are produced according to an order, so prints are managed by linking the order ID to the print job. When multiple print jobs are used to print one order, multiple job IDs are linked to one order ID. Also, in the case of test printing, there are print jobs that do not have an order ID. Column 1303 shows the number of pages for each print job. Column 1304 shows the number of copies to be printed for each print job. Column 1305 shows the scheduled printing time for each print job. When the scheduled time shown in column 1304 arrives, the print application 520 starts printing the specified print job. When no schedule is set, the print application 520 immediately prints the print job after the previous print job has been printed. Column 1306 shows the name of the print job. The user can easily determine the contents of a print job by giving the print job an arbitrary name. The elements shown on the management screen shown here are saved and managed by the print application 520.

[0034] The configuration and arrangement of each functional unit shown above are not limited to those shown here, and another information processing device (not shown) may have some of the functional units described above, or the information processing device 102 may be configured to have the functional units of the information processing device 101, or vice versa.

[0035] <Print job information description> FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of job information generated by the job generating unit. The job information is stored in the job storage unit 302 of the information processing device 101. The job information of the print job is expressed in XML format. Note that the expression format of the job information is one example, and may be, for example, a vendor-specific binary format or a JSON format. The print settings of the print job are described in the job information of the print job. The identifier 901 indicates the job identification number, and the value is 00006 here. The identifier 902 indicates the name of the job, and the value is set to "Flyer-Color". The duplex identifier 903 is an identifier indicating ON / OFF of the double-sided printing function. The identifier 904 is an identifier indicating the type of paper, and plain paper is specified in the figure. The identifier 905 is an identifier indicating the paper size, and the identifiers indicating the width and height and the corresponding values ​​are described inside. The values ​​indicating the width and height are described in units of 0.01 mm. The identifier 906 indicates the size of the area to be printed relative to the paper size. The identifier 907 is an identifier that indicates whether the borderless printing setting is ON or OFF. If the value of the identifier 907 is ON, borderless printing is performed when printing is performed, and if the value is OFF, bordered printing is performed. It is also possible to determine whether the borderless printing function is enabled using the information of the identifier 906 and the identifier 905. The determination may be performed using only the information of the identifier 906 and the identifier 905, or may be performed using only the information of the identifier 907, or may be performed in combination, and these means are not limited in this embodiment. The identifier 908 is an identifier that indicates the print density during printing, and 100 is written in the figure. The larger this value is, the more toner or ink the image forming apparatus will eject per area, and the darker the print density of the product will be. The identifier 909 is an identifier that indicates the number of copies to be printed, and 800 is written in the figure, and the image forming apparatus will print the number of copies written in the identifier 909.

[0036] <Settings screen> FIG. 8 shows an example of a color verification setting screen displayed on the web browser 507. The display area 350 is an area for displaying the contents of a web page. The colorimetry settings list 306 lists the color verification settings used in the color verification, and displays some of the settings used in the color verification along with the setting item names. One setting is shown on one line. The add colorimetry settings button 301 is used to add a new colorimetry setting to the colorimetry settings list 306. When the user presses the add colorimetry settings button 301, the colorimetry settings editing area 307 is displayed, and the user enters the information necessary for creation.

[0037] The edit colorimetric settings button 302 is a button for the user to edit and change the settings of colorimetric settings that already exist in the colorimetric settings list 306. When the user selects a setting displayed in the colorimetric settings list 306 and presses the edit colorimetric settings button 302, a colorimetric settings edit area 307 is displayed, and the user can change the settings of the selected colorimetric settings.

[0038] The delete colorimetry settings button 303 is a button for the user to delete colorimetry settings that are already present in the colorimetry settings list 306. When the user selects a setting displayed in the colorimetry settings list 306 and presses the delete colorimetry settings button 303, the color verification management unit 503 deletes the specified colorimetry settings 500 from the colorimetry settings storage unit.

[0039] The print data download button 304 is for downloading the print data of the chart to a specified local folder. For example, if you want to perform color verification on an image forming device that is not supported by the color verification system, the color verification system may not be able to print on that image forming device. For this reason, you can download the print data of the chart to a local folder once and then print the downloaded print data using a separate printer driver.

[0040] The print button 305 is for directly instructing the image forming apparatus 103 to print a chart from the web system 107. For example, when the print button 305 is pressed, the web browser 507 transmits a print instruction of the selected colorimetry setting to the communication unit 504, and the communication unit 504 passes the print instruction to the color verification management unit 503. The print job generation unit 506 generates a print job consisting of print settings and print data of the chart that satisfy the colorimetry setting. Then, the print job generation unit 506 passes the generated print job to the color verification management unit 503. The color verification management unit 506 transmits the print job and the IP address of the image forming apparatus 103 to the on-premise application 517 via the communication unit 504. The on-premise application 517 transmits the print job to the image forming apparatus 103. The image forming apparatus 103 outputs a printed matter based on the print job. The user measures the color of the chart, which is the output printed matter, and performs color verification.

[0041] The schedule display button 308 is a button for displaying a calendar for displaying a list of scheduled color verifications. When the user presses the button 308, a calendar display screen 1401 shown in Fig. 14 is displayed, and the user can check the scheduled color verifications. The calendar display function will be described later.

[0042] The colorimetry settings save button 330 is a button for saving the colorimetry settings that have been edited and set in the colorimetry settings editing area 307. When the colorimetry settings button 330 is pressed, communication is performed with the communication unit 504 via the web browser 507, and the color verification management unit 503 assigns an identifier (e.g., 000001) to the colorimetry settings and saves them in the colorimetry settings save unit 500 in the JSON format that is generally used in web systems.

[0043] <Explanation of each item on the editing screen> Each setting item in the color measurement setting editing area 307 will be described.

[0044] A setting item 310 is an item for specifying a name for the color measurement setting, and the user can set any name.

[0045] A setting item 311 is an item for specifying a printer for performing color measurement. The user can select from among printers connected to the on-premise application 517.

[0046] Setting items 312, 313, 314, and 315 are setting items for setting print settings used during color measurement. The user sets the paper type in setting item 312, the paper basis weight in setting item 313, the paper size in setting item 314, and the resolution in setting item 315. The selectable items may be preset types of setting items defined by the on-premise application 517, or may be generated based on capability information of the image forming device obtained using the print control unit 523 or the printer driver.

[0047] The setting item 316 is an item for selecting the color standard used in color measurement. The displayed items may be the standard printing color standard or a user-defined printing color standard. The standard printing color standard is, for example, a color standard for each region, such as GRACOL in the United States, FOGRA in Europe, and Japan Color in Japan. The format of the chart used in color measurement and the layout of the color patches used in the chart are determined according to the color standard selected in the color standard selection section 316.

[0048] Setting items 318, 319, 320, and 321 are setting items related to the scheduling function. By combining each setting item, the user can automatically execute color verification at a specified time or at regular intervals. For example, if regular execution is selected in setting item 318 and 8:00 a.m. on weekdays is set in setting item 319, color verification is executed periodically at 8:00 a.m. on weekdays. Setting item 321 is a setting item that compares the print settings of the print job for color verification with the print settings of the print job printed immediately before the print job for color verification, and determines whether or not to enable a function for blank printing according to necessity. If setting item 321 is checked, the function is enabled. The necessity is determined at the start of the color verification process, and the method of determination will be described later.

[0049] <Description of Color Verification Settings Stored in the Color Verification Settings Storage Unit 500> With reference to FIG. 4, the color verification settings saved in the color verification setting saving unit 500 when the user presses the button 330 on the editing screen 307 will be described. The settings shown in FIG. 4 are an example of the color verification settings. A character string 950 is the entire setting value of the color verification setting, and is saved in JSON format. A character string 951 indicates the last update date of the setting value. A character string 952 indicates the name of the color verification, and is set to "Fogra-A4-Coated". A character string 953 indicates the type of color verification standard used for color verification, and is set to "Fogra". A character string 954 is a character string indicating the paper size, and is set to "A4". A character string 955 indicates the type of paper, and is set to plain paper. A character string 956 is a character string indicating the basis weight of the paper, and is set to 100. A character string 957 is a character string indicating the resolution when printing the color verification chart, and is set to 600. A character string 958 is an identifier indicating a set of schedule settings. A character string 959 is a character string indicating the format in which the schedule settings are executed. For example, when the character string 959 is set to "frequency", the color verification is performed periodically on a weekly basis. The character string 960 indicates the time when the color verification is performed, and is set to "11:00". The character string 961 indicates the day of the week when the color verification is performed, and is set to Monday and Friday. The character string 962 indicates a setting value for switching whether or not to perform blank printing, which will be described later, depending on the difference between the print settings of the color verification print job and the print job immediately before the color verification print job when the color verification is automatically performed by the schedule function. Blank printing refers to sending a print job (hereinafter referred to as a blank print job) for the purpose of stabilizing the operation of the image forming device before printing the print job for color verification to the image forming device, and performing printing. When the setting value of the character string 962 is true, the setting of the switching is enabled, and when the setting value is false, the setting of the switching is disabled. Moreover, the character string 962 is set to true.

[0050] <Schedule function explanation> The schedule function will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 9. The schedule management unit 521 reads the color verification setting stored in the color verification setting storage unit 500, and proceeds to S1201 (S1200). The schedule management unit 521 reads the setting related to the schedule from the color verification setting, and proceeds to S1202 (S1201). The schedule management unit 521 checks and judges whether or not a schedule setting exists in the setting related to the schedule. When the schedule management unit 521 judges that a schedule setting exists, it proceeds to S1203. When the schedule management unit 521 judges that a schedule setting does not exist, it ends the process (S1202). The schedule management unit 521 checks the scheduled time by referring to the schedule setting, and proceeds to S1204 (S1203). The schedule management unit 521 checks and judges whether the current time is the scheduled time (S1204). If the current time is the scheduled time, it proceeds to S1205. If the current time is not the scheduled time, it ends the process. Since the scheduled time has arrived, the schedule management unit 521 starts the color verification process (S1205). The start of the color verification process will be described in detail later.

[0051] The schedule management unit 521 executes these processes periodically (for example, every minute) to realize the function of executing scheduled color verification.

[0052] <Calendar display explanation> The web browser 507 has a calendar display function for checking the setting status of the schedule set by the user. Fig. 11 is a diagram showing the state in which the web browser 507 displays a calendar using the calendar display function. The web browser 507 displays a screen based on the content acquired from the communication unit 504.

[0053] The calendar screen 1401 has a calendar 1404 at the top and a schedule display section 1403 at the bottom, which is a screen that displays a schedule list for the day selected on the calendar 1404. A button 1406 is a close button, and when the user presses the button 1406, the calendar screen 1401 is hidden. When the user selects the date section 1402 (for example, July 3) that is the date on the calendar, the display in the schedule display section 1403 changes in response to the selection, and a list of color verifications scheduled for the selected date is displayed. The schedule plan 1405 is a character string that indicates the name and time of color verification scheduled for 9:00 on July 3. The clock symbol displayed in the character string 1405 corresponds to whether or not the setting item 321 is checked. When the setting item 321 is checked, the symbol is displayed, and when the setting item 321 is checked, the symbol is hidden. When blank printing is performed on the image forming device, the time required for color verification increases, and as a result, the operating time during which the image forming device can print other than color verification is reduced. In printing shops and the like, due to deadlines for printed materials, it may be preferable for users to know the possibility that blank printing may affect existing printing schedules. Even in such cases, by displaying or hiding the symbol, users can know that blank printing accompanying color verification will affect the operating time of the image forming device.

[0054] <Color chart explanation> FIG. 5 shows an example of a color chart printed during color verification. When a print job for color verification is printed, a color chart 1000 is printed according to the print settings of the print job. The color chart 1000 is printed with a plurality of rows of color patches 1001 arranged. The layout and color type of the color patches 1001 differ depending on the type of standard for color verification. The user measures the color patches 1001 on the printed color chart using a colorimeter 105 and reads the color. The color verification management unit 503 processes the read color and obtains the difference with the value of each color patch defined in the color standard. The short ID 1002 is an ID that links the color verification stored in the color verification storage unit 500 to the color chart. When the user inputs the short ID 1002 to the on-premise application 517, the color measurement results are transmitted to the communication unit 504 via the browser 507, and the color measurement management unit 503 links the color measurement results to the color measurement settings and stores them in the color measurement settings storage unit 500. In this embodiment, details of the processing are omitted.

[0055] <Explanation on starting the color verification process> The on-premise application 517 starts color verification by manual execution by the user or automatic execution by a schedule function. At that time, the on-premise application 517 requests the print setting comparison unit 525 to perform processing before starting color verification. The flow of processing when the print setting comparison unit 525 receives the request and starts color verification will be described using the flowchart in Fig. 10. This flowchart is executed, for example, when an instruction to execute a print job for color verification is received from the user. This is also a flowchart of processing executed when the setting item 321 is checked.

[0056] The print setting comparison unit 525 sets the initial value of the warm-up flag to OFF, acquires print settings from the print job for color verification, and proceeds to S1101 (S1100). The print setting comparison unit 525 acquires print settings of the print job executed immediately before by the target image forming apparatus from the print job execution history, and proceeds to S1102 (S1101). The print setting comparison unit 525 compares the print settings of the print job for color verification (hereinafter referred to as job A) with the print settings of the print job executed immediately before (hereinafter referred to as job B), and proceeds to S1103 (S1102). The print density of job A is compared with the print density of job B (S1102). The print setting comparison unit 525 can make the above-mentioned judgment by referring to the "Density" tag in the print settings associated with the above-mentioned print jobs and numerically comparing the values ​​of the print density. If it is determined that the print density of job A is greater than the print density of job B, the process proceeds to S1104, and if it is determined that the print density of job A is equal to or less than the print density of job B, the process proceeds to S1105 (S1103). The print setting comparison unit 525 turns on the warm-up print flag and proceeds to S1105 (S1104).

[0057] The print setting comparison unit 525 compares the paper width of job A with the paper width of job B, and if the paper width of job A is greater than that of job B, proceeds to S1106, and if the paper width of job A is equal to or less than that of job B, proceeds to S1107 (S1105). The print setting comparison unit 525 turns on the warm-up flag (S1106) and proceeds to S1107.

[0058] The print setting comparison unit 525 checks and judges whether job B is borderless printing. The print setting comparison unit 525 can make the above judgment by referring to the "Borderless" tag in the print setting accompanying the print job. If the print setting of job B is borderless printing ON, the process proceeds to S1108, and if the print setting of job B is borderless printing OFF, the process proceeds to S1110 (S1107). The print setting comparison unit 525 compares the paper width of job A with the paper width of job B, and if the paper width of job A is larger than the paper width of job B, the process proceeds to S1109, and if the paper width of job A is equal to or smaller than the paper width of job B, the process proceeds to S1110 (S1108). The on-premise application 517 turns on the warm-up flag and proceeds to S1110 (S1109). Here, the judgment threshold may be changed between the paper width difference judgment in S1105 and the paper width sub-judgment in S1108. For example, in S1105, if the paper width of job A is 1 cm or more larger than the paper width of job B, the warm-up flag is turned ON, and if it is not more than 1 cm, the warm-up flag is not turned ON. In S1108, if the paper width of job A is 1 mm or more larger than the paper width of job B, the warm-up flag is turned ON, and if it is not more than 1 mm, the warm-up flag is not turned ON.

[0059] The print setting comparison unit 525 checks whether the warm-up flag is ON and makes a judgment. If the warm-up flag is ON, proceed to S1111, and if the warm-up flag is OFF, proceed to S1112 (S1110). The print setting comparison unit 525 judges that stabilization processing of the image forming device by blank printing is necessary, generates a blank print job, and proceeds to S1111 (S1110). In generating the blank print job, the print setting comparison unit 525 uses the print control unit 523 to copy the same job as job A, creates a blank print job with the number of copies set to 100, and transmits it to the image forming device 103 via the communication unit 504, print communication unit 515, and print control unit 523. The image forming device 103 that receives the blank print job prints and stabilizes (S1111).

[0060] The print setting comparison unit 525 returns the process to the on-premise application 517. The on-premise application 517 transmits job A, which is a print job for color verification, to the print control unit 523 for the image forming device, and performs color verification (S1112). The image forming device executes printing based on the transmitted print job, measures the color of the generated chart, and performs verification based on the color measurement location and the reference value.

[0061] According to the above configuration, the on-premise application 517 can compare the print settings of the print job printed immediately before the print job for color verification with the print job for color verification when performing color verification, and can determine whether to execute printing of a blank print job based on the difference in print settings. According to the configuration of this embodiment, the user can execute blank printing only when blank printing is necessary and then execute color verification, so that unnecessary blank printing can be avoided, that is, the success rate of color verification can be improved while improving the operating rate of the printer. Note that if the setting item 321 is not checked, blank printing may be executed every time a print job for color verification is executed, or may not be executed uniformly.

[0062] There are three examples of physical changes in image forming devices that can cause output to become unstable. First, when an image forming device prints low density after high density printing, the ink / toner output accuracy is unstable, leading to color misalignment in the finished product. Second, when an image forming device prints on narrow paper / media and then wider paper / media, the belt load on the paper transport path becomes uneven, and the distance between the ink head and the paper becomes uneven, leading to color misalignment in the finished product. Third, when an image forming device performs borderless printing and then prints on a wider paper size, the ink that has adhered to the part that supports the paper (the platen) adheres to the back of the paper. The dirt on the back of the paper is read through during color verification using light and detected as color misalignment. In general, inkjet image forming devices achieve borderless printing by outputting ink that exceeds the paper width, but this method causes dirt on the platen, which ultimately leads to color misalignment. In the above flowchart, if there is a possibility of color shifts occurring due to differences in print settings between the immediately preceding print job and the print job to be executed, it is possible to turn on the warm-up flag and execute blank printing. Conversely, if there is a low possibility of color shifts occurring, blank printing is not executed, making it possible to increase the operating rate of the printer. In the above flowchart, it is determined whether blank printing is necessary from three perspectives, but it is also possible to make the determination from other perspectives, or to adopt one or more of the three.

[0063] Example 2 In the first embodiment, at the time of scheduled color verification, the print settings of the print job for color verification are compared with the print settings of the print job immediately before the print job for color verification, and the occurrence of platen stains due to borderless printing is predicted from the difference in the print settings to determine whether or not to print a blank print job. However, only inkjet type image forming devices generate the platen stains. Also, some image forming devices do not support borderless printing. For example, the borderless printing function is often used exclusively for photo printing purposes, but such a function is not necessary in image forming devices for offices, so it is often omitted for the convenience of the image forming device manufacturer. In view of the above circumstances, it can be said that a more accurate judgment is made when determining the necessity of printing a blank print job by referring to the capability information of the image forming device. Therefore, in the second embodiment, as a modified example of the first embodiment, a method of determining the necessity of blank printing by further using the capability information of the image forming device will be described. Note that the basic configuration of the second embodiment is common to the first embodiment, so the description common to the first embodiment will be omitted and only the differences will be described.

[0064] <Getting model capability information> Generally, a technology is known in which, when a capability information acquisition request is made to an image forming device using a predetermined protocol, capability information is acquired from the image forming device that has received the request. For example, in the Windows OS provided by Microsoft as basic software, capability information of the image forming device can be acquired by using a predetermined API. Also, the setting and capability information of the image forming device can be acquired from a MIB (Management Information Base) acquired from an information device using SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), which is one of the common protocols. Therefore, in this embodiment, using these technologies, the print control unit 523 makes a capability information acquisition request to the image forming device 103. The image forming device 103 returns capability information of the image forming device 103 in response to a request from the print control unit 523. Since the print control unit 523 can acquire information about the functions of the image forming device 103 that can be used by the image forming device 103 from the returned capability information, the print control unit 523 can determine whether or not to execute blank printing based on the capability information of the image forming device 103. Note that the means, technology, protocol, etc. for acquiring the capability information of the model are not limited to the above-mentioned examples, and may be unique means provided by the vendor of the basic software or the image forming device, and the method is not limited.

[0065] FIG. 12 is an example of information returned when the print control unit 523 acquires the capability information of the image forming device 103 using a method provided by Microsoft. The capability information 1501 is the capability information of the image forming device 103 expressed in XML format. A character string 1502 is a character string representing the capability information of borderless printing, and a character string 1503 is a character string representing a list of borderless printing setting options selectable when using the image forming device 103. A character string 1504 represents an option indicating that the borderless printing setting is available, and a character string 1505 is an option indicating that the bordered printing setting is available. A character string 1506 is a character string representing capability information regarding the print direction, and the capability information 1501 includes descriptions of various other capability information of the image forming device 103, but the description will be omitted in this embodiment. By using the information of the character strings 1502 and 1503, the on-premise application 517, other modules, control units, etc. can determine whether the image forming device 103 supports the borderless printing function.

[0066] 17 is an example of MIB information that the information processing device 102 acquires from the image forming device 103, and shows the response contents of the image forming device when the information processing device 102 acquires capability information of the paper feeding method as capability information of the image forming device. Information starting with character string 2001 indicates IP header information. Information starting with character string 2002 indicates UDP header information. Information starting with character string 2003 indicates SNMP information. Character string 2004 indicates that the image forming device 103 has responded with a value indicating that cut-sheet feeding will be used. Some printer vendors can determine whether the image forming device 103 is an inkjet image forming device or an image forming device that uses toner, depending on whether the paper feeding method supported by the image forming device 103 is roll paper feeding or cut paper feeding. Therefore, the capability information of the image forming device can also be determined using MIB information.

[0067] In addition, in this embodiment, the capability information of the image forming device is acquired as described above, but the on-premise application 517 or the print control unit 523 may have a database regarding the model and capability of the image forming device. The capability information may be acquired by another means, and the means is not limited.

[0068] <Explanation on starting the color verification process> The on-premise application 517 starts color verification by manual execution by the user or automatic execution by a schedule function. At that time, the on-premise application 517 requests the print setting comparison unit 525 to perform processing before starting color verification. Using the flowchart in Fig. 13, the flow of processing when the print setting comparison unit 525 receives the request and starts color verification will be described. This flowchart is executed, for example, when an instruction to execute a print job for color verification is received from the user. This is also a flowchart of processing executed when the setting item 321 is checked.

[0069] The print setting comparison unit 525 sets the initial value of the warm-up flag to OFF, acquires capability information from the image forming apparatus 103, and proceeds to S1601 (S1600). The print setting comparison unit 525 acquires print settings from the color verification print job, and proceeds to S1602 (S1601). The print setting comparison unit 525 acquires print settings of the print job executed immediately before from the print job execution history information, and proceeds to S1603 (S1602). The print setting comparison unit 525 compares the print settings of the print job for color verification (hereinafter referred to as job A) with the print settings of the print job executed immediately before (hereinafter referred to as job B), and proceeds to S1604 (S1603). The print density of job A is compared with the print density of job B. If it is determined that the print density of job A is greater than the print density of job B, it proceeds to S1605, and if it is determined that the print density of job A is equal to or less than the print density of job B, it proceeds to S1606 (S1604). The print setting comparison unit 525 turns on the warm-up print flag, and the process proceeds to S1606 (S1605).

[0070] Print setting comparison unit 525 compares the paper width of job A with the paper width of job B, and if the paper width of job A is greater than that of job B, proceeds to S1607, and if the paper width of job A is equal to or less than that of job B, proceeds to S1608 (S1606). Print setting comparison unit 525 turns on the warm-up flag and proceeds to S1608 (S1607).

[0071] It is known that platen stains caused by borderless printing occur only in image forming devices that use inkjet printing, and no processing is required in image forming devices that use toner. Also, if it is known from the model information that borderless printing is not supported, the image forming device does not eject ink beyond the edge of the paper, so platen stains do not occur, and so there is no need to judge platen stains. Therefore, the print setting comparison unit 525 checks and judges whether the image forming device 103 is an inkjet model based on the capability information acquired in S1600. If the image forming device 103 is not an inkjet model, there is no risk of platen stains, so the process proceeds to S1612. If the image forming device 103 is an inkjet model, the process proceeds to S1609 (S1608). The print setting comparison unit 525 checks and judges whether the image forming device 103 is a model that supports borderless printing based on the capability information. If it is determined that the image forming device 103 is a model that supports borderless printing, the process proceeds to S1610, and if it is determined that the image forming device is not a model that supports borderless printing, the process proceeds to S1612 (S1609). Print setting comparison unit 525 compares the paper width of job A with the paper width of job B, and if the paper width of job A is greater than that of job B, proceeds to S1611, and if the paper width of job A is equal to or less than that of job B, proceeds to S1612 (S1610). Print setting comparison unit 525 turns on the warm-up flag and proceeds to S1612 (S1611).

[0072] The print setting comparison unit 525 checks whether the warm-up flag is ON and makes a judgment. If the warm-up flag is ON, the process proceeds to S1613, and if the warm-up flag is OFF, the process proceeds to S1614 (S1612). The print setting comparison unit 525 judges that stabilization processing of the image forming apparatus by blank printing is necessary, generates a blank print job, and proceeds to S1614 (S1612). To generate a blank print job, the print setting comparison unit 525 uses the print control unit 523 to copy the same job as job A, creates a blank print job with the number of copies set to 100, and transmits it to the image forming apparatus 103 via the communication unit 504 and the print communication unit 515. The image forming apparatus 103 that receives the blank print job performs printing, stabilizes the output, and then proceeds to S1614 (S1613). The print setting comparison unit 525 transmits job A, which is a print job for color verification, to the image forming apparatus 103, and returns the process to the on-premise application 517. The on-premise application 517 performs color verification and then ends the process (S1614).

[0073] According to the above configuration, when the on-premise application 517 judges whether to execute a blank print job based on the difference in print settings, it is possible to omit unnecessary judgment based on the capability information of the image forming device. In addition, since a more accurate judgment can be made by using the capability information, the accuracy of the judgment of the necessity of blank printing for the image forming device is improved, and an improvement in the operation rate of the image forming device can be expected.

[0074] Example 3 In the first embodiment, the blank printing is judged and blank printing is executed after the color verification execution time arrives by the schedule function. However, it may be undesirable for the user if the start of color verification is delayed due to blank printing, and it is desirable to start color verification at the scheduled time if possible. Incidentally, a print job has information such as the number of pages, paper type, and paper size. Since the time required for printing can be estimated using the information of the print job, some print applications and status monitors, which are modules that indicate the printing status of print jobs, provide a function to present the required time to the user. The print application 520 similarly calculates the estimate of the required time and the time required for printing the scheduled print job. Next, if the print application 520 creates a print schedule for the blank printing print job so that the blank printing job is completed by the time when the start of the blank printing job scheduled for the start of the color verification arrives, the start of color verification will not be delayed due to the execution of blank printing. Therefore, in the third embodiment, as a modification of the first embodiment, the optimal blank printing start time is set from the print schedule acquired from the print application 520, so that color verification can start as scheduled at the scheduled time even if blank printing is executed. Since the basic configuration of the third embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description of the parts in common with the first embodiment will be omitted and only the differences will be described.

[0075] <Printing time estimation by print application 520> The print application 520 has a function of calculating the time required for printing from the print job stored in the print job storage unit 522 and the print settings of the print job received and processed by the print control unit 523. For example, the print application 520 may calculate the time required for printing by referring only to the number of pages of the print job, or may use a simple formula such as "number of pages x 30 seconds / page", and the calculation method is not limited.

[0076] 14 is a list of scheduled print jobs set in the print application 520. Column 1701 is a column showing the time required to print each print job estimated by the application 520. In response to a request to the print control unit 523, the print application 520 returns a list of print jobs including the information shown in FIG.

[0077] <Flow of creating a color verification schedule> The process when the on-premise application 517 creates a print job for color verification will be described with reference to the flow diagram in Fig. 16. The user registers an execution schedule together with color verification settings in the on-premise application 517 via the browser 507. The registration of the schedule triggers the on-premise application 517 to create a color verification job. The process of this flowchart may be executed periodically at a predetermined interval, or may be executed in response to a user instruction.

[0078] The on-premise application 517 makes a request to the print setting comparison unit 525 to determine whether or not blank printing is necessary. If blank printing is necessary, the process proceeds to S1802, and if blank printing is not necessary, the process ends (S1801). The process of determining whether or not blank printing is necessary in S1801 will be described later with reference to FIG. 15. The on-premise application 517 obtains a print schedule list from the print application 520, checks the print job schedule, and proceeds to S1803 (S1802). The on-premise application 517 obtains the printing time required for the blank print job, and proceeds to S1804 (S1803). The on-premise application 517 calculates A=(scheduled color verification time-printing time required for blank print job) and B=(printing start time immediately before the color verification print job+printing time required for the print job immediately before the color verification print job), and proceeds to S1805 (S1804). The on-premise application 517 compares A and B and makes a determination. If A is later than B, that is, the time obtained by moving the time required for printing the blank print job forward from the scheduled time for color verification is later than the time when the print job immediately before the color verification print job ends, the process proceeds to S1806. If A is earlier than B, that is, even if the blank print job starts immediately after the print job immediately before the color verification print job ends, the printing completion of the blank print job will be later than the start time of color verification (S1805). The on-premise application 517 sets the print application 520 to print the blank print job as reserved printing at time A, and ends the process (S1806). The on-premise application 517 sets the print application 520 to print the blank print job as reserved printing at time B, and ends the process (S1807).

[0079] <Determining the necessity of blank printing> The process in which the on-premise application 517 requests the print setting comparison unit 525 to determine the necessity of blank printing will be described with reference to the flow diagram in FIG.

[0080] The print setting comparison unit 525 sets the initial value of the warm-up flag to OFF, acquires the print settings from the color verification print job, and proceeds to S1901 (S1900). The print setting comparison unit 525 acquires the print settings of the print job executed immediately before from the print job execution history, and proceeds to S1902 (S1901). The print setting comparison unit 525 compares the print settings of the color verification job (hereafter referred to as job A) with the print settings of the print job executed immediately before (hereafter referred to as job B), and proceeds to S1903 (S1902). The print density of job A is compared with the print density of job B (S1102). If it is determined that the print density of job A is greater than the print density of job B, it proceeds to S1904, and if it is determined that the print density of job A is equal to or less than the print density of job B, it proceeds to S1905 (S1903). The print setting comparison unit 525 turns on the warm-up print flag, and the process proceeds to S1905 (S1904).

[0081] The print setting comparison unit 525 compares the paper width of job A with the paper width of job B, and if the paper width of job A is greater than that of job B, the process proceeds to S1906, and if the paper width of job A is equal to or less than that of job B, the process proceeds to S1907 (S1905). The print setting comparison unit 525 turns on the warm-up flag and proceeds to S1907 (S1906).

[0082] Print setting comparison unit 525 checks and determines whether job B is borderless printing. If the print setting of job B is borderless printing ON, the process proceeds to S1908, and if the print setting of job B is borderless printing OFF, the process proceeds to S1910 (S1907). Print setting comparison unit 525 compares the paper width of job A with the paper width of job B, and if the paper width of job A is larger than the paper width of job B, the process proceeds to S1909, and if the paper width of job A is equal to or smaller than the paper width of job B, the process proceeds to S1910 (S1908). Print setting comparison unit 525 turns on the warm-up flag and proceeds to S1910 (S1909).

[0083] The print setting comparison unit 525 checks whether the warm-up flag is ON and makes a judgment. If the warm-up flag is ON, proceed to S1911, and if the warm-up flag is OFF, proceed to S1912 (S1910). The print setting comparison unit 525 returns a value of True as the judgment process for the necessity of blank printing and ends the process (S1911). The print setting comparison unit 525 returns a value of False as the judgment process for the necessity of blank printing and ends the process (S1912). If the necessity of blank printing is True, it is judged that blank printing is necessary in S1801, and if it is False, it is judged that blank printing is not necessary in S1801.

[0084] The on-premise application 517 transmits job A, which is a print job for color verification, to the image forming apparatus 103 and performs color verification.

[0085] According to the above configuration, when the on-premise application 517 creates a schedule for color verification that performs blank printing, blank printing can be performed ahead of schedule so that the scheduled color verification starts at a specified time if possible. This feature allows the user to start color verification at the scheduled time without delaying the start of color verification due to the execution of blank printing, improving user convenience.

[0086] (Other embodiments) It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which one or more of each of the first to third embodiments described above are combined.

[0087] A recording medium on which the program code of the software for realizing the above-mentioned functions is recorded may be supplied to the system or device, and the computer (CPU, MPU) of the system or device may read and execute the program code stored in the recording medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium will realize the functions of the above-mentioned embodiments, and the storage medium on which the program code is stored will constitute the above-mentioned device.

[0088] Examples of storage media for supplying the program code include flexible disks, hard disks, optical disks, magneto-optical disks, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, magnetic tapes, non-volatile memory cards, ROMs, and DVDs.

[0089] In addition, the above-mentioned functions may be realized not only by the computer executing the read program code, but also by the OS running on the computer performing all or part of the actual processing based on the instructions of the program code. OS is an abbreviation for Operating System.

[0090] Furthermore, the program code read from the storage medium may be written to a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, and a CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit may perform part or all of the actual processing based on instructions in the program code to realize the above-mentioned functions.

[0091] The present invention can also be realized by a process in which a program for implementing one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or device read and execute the program. The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that implements one or more of the functions.

[0092] The disclosure of this embodiment includes the following configurations, methods, and programs.

[0093] (Configuration 1) A program for causing a computer of an information processing device capable of communicating with an image forming device to execute a control method, The control method includes: a receiving step of receiving an instruction to cause the image forming apparatus to execute a print job for color verification; and a control process for controlling, when the image forming device is to execute a print job for color verification, whether or not to instruct the image forming device to execute a print job for stabilizing operation of the image forming device, based on the print settings of the print job previously executed on the image forming device and the print settings of the print job for color verification.

[0094] (Configuration 2) The program described in configuration 1, characterized in that in the control process, based on a comparison between the print settings of the print job previously executed on the image forming device and the print settings of the print job for color verification, it controls whether or not to instruct the image forming device to execute a print job to stabilize the operation of the image forming device.

[0095] (Configuration 3) The program according to configuration 1 or 2, characterized in that in the control process, when the print density of the print settings of the print job for color verification is darker than the print density of the print settings of the print job executed immediately before on the image forming device, the program controls the image forming device to instruct the image forming device to execute a print job to stabilize the operation of the image forming device.

[0096] (Configuration 4) The program described in any one of configurations 1 to 3, characterized in that in the control process, if the paper width of the print settings of the print job for color verification is larger than the paper width of the print settings of the print job executed immediately before on the image forming device, the program controls the image forming device to instruct the image forming device to execute a print job to stabilize the operation of the image forming device.

[0097] (Configuration 5) The program described in any one of configurations 1 to 4, characterized in that in the control process, if the print setting of the print job executed immediately before on the image forming device is borderless printing and the paper width of the print setting of the print job for color verification is larger than the paper width of the print setting of the print job executed immediately before on the image forming device, the program controls the image forming device to instruct the image forming device to execute a print job to stabilize the operation of the image forming device.

[0098] (Configuration 6) 6. The program according to any one of configurations 1 to 5, further comprising a management step of managing information on print jobs executed by the image forming apparatus as history information.

[0099] (Configuration 7) The program described in any one of configurations 1 to 6, characterized in that in the control process, if the print density of the print settings of the print job for color verification is not darker than the print density of the print settings of the print job previously executed on the image forming device, the program controls so as not to instruct the image forming device to execute a print job to stabilize the operation of the image forming device.

[0100] (Configuration 8) 8. The program according to any one of configurations 1 to 7, further comprising an operation receiving step of receiving from a user a setting as to whether or not to perform control by the control step.

[0101] (Configuration 9) The program described in any one of configurations 1 to 8, characterized in that in the control process, based on print settings of the print job executed immediately before on the image forming device, print settings of the print job for color verification, and capability information of the image forming device acquired from the image forming device, control is performed as to whether or not to instruct the image forming device to execute a print job for stabilizing the operation of the image forming device.

[0102] (Configuration 10) The program described in any one of configurations 1 to 9, characterized in that the print job for stabilizing the operation of the image forming device is a job that prints a predetermined number of sheets using the print settings of the print job for color verification.

[0103] (Configuration 11) a generating step of generating a schedule indicating a schedule of jobs to be executed by the image forming apparatus; 11. The program according to any one of configurations 1 to 10, further comprising: an execution step of executing a print job ahead of the schedule when it is determined in the control step that a print job should be executed to stabilize the operation of the image forming device.

[0104] (Configuration 12) 12. The program according to any one of configurations 1 to 11, further comprising a verification step of performing color verification by comparing color measurement values ​​of a printed matter executed by the image forming apparatus based on a print job for color verification with reference values.

[0105] (Method 1) A control method executed by an information processing device capable of communicating with an image forming device, comprising: a receiving step of receiving an instruction to cause the image forming apparatus to execute a print job for color verification; a control step of controlling, when the image forming device is to execute a print job for color verification, whether or not to instruct the image forming device to execute a print job for stabilizing operation of the image forming device, based on the print settings of the print job previously executed on the image forming device and the print settings of the print job for color verification.

[0106] (device 1) An information processing device capable of communicating with an image forming device, a receiving unit for receiving an instruction to cause the image forming apparatus to execute a print job for color verification; an information processing device characterized by having a control means for controlling, when the image forming device is to execute a print job for color verification, whether or not to instruct the image forming device to execute a print job for stabilizing operation of the image forming device, based on the print settings of the print job previously executed on the image forming device and the print settings of the print job for color verification.

Claims

1. A program for causing a computer of an information processing device capable of communicating with an image forming device to execute a control method, The control method includes: a receiving step of receiving an instruction to cause the image forming apparatus to execute a print job for color verification; and a control process for controlling, when the image forming device is to execute a print job for color verification, whether or not to instruct the image forming device to execute a print job for stabilizing operation of the image forming device, based on the print settings of the print job previously executed on the image forming device and the print settings of the print job for color verification.

2. The program according to claim 1, characterized in that the control process controls whether or not to instruct the image forming device to execute a print job to stabilize the operation of the image forming device based on a comparison between the print settings of the print job previously executed on the image forming device and the print settings of the print job for color verification.

3. The program described in claim 1, characterized in that in the control process, when the print density of the print settings of the print job for color verification is darker than the print density of the print settings of the print job previously executed on the image forming device, the program controls the image forming device to instruct the image forming device to execute a print job to stabilize the operation of the image forming device.

4. The program described in claim 1, characterized in that in the control process, when the paper width of the print settings of the print job for color verification is larger than the paper width of the print settings of the print job previously executed on the image forming device, the program controls the image forming device to instruct the image forming device to execute a print job to stabilize the operation of the image forming device.

5. The program according to claim 1, characterized in that in the control process, when the print setting of the print job executed immediately before on the image forming device is borderless printing and the paper width of the print setting of the print job for color verification is larger than the paper width of the print setting of the print job executed immediately before on the image forming device, the program controls the image forming device to instruct the image forming device to execute a print job to stabilize the operation of the image forming device.

6. 2. The program according to claim 1, further comprising a management step of managing information on print jobs executed by the image forming apparatus as history information.

7. The program described in claim 1, characterized in that in the control process, if the print density of the print settings of the print job for color verification is not darker than the print density of the print settings of the print job previously executed on the image forming device, the program controls so as not to instruct the image forming device to execute a print job to stabilize the operation of the image forming device.

8. 2. The program according to claim 1, further comprising an operation receiving step of receiving from a user a setting as to whether or not to perform control by said control step.

9. The program described in claim 1, characterized in that the control process controls whether to instruct the image forming device to execute a print job to stabilize the operation of the image forming device based on the print settings of the print job previously executed on the image forming device, the print settings of the print job for color verification, and capability information of the image forming device obtained from the image forming device.

10. 2. The program according to claim 1, wherein the print job for stabilizing the operation of the image forming apparatus is a job for printing a predetermined number of sheets with print settings of the print job for color verification.

11. a generating step of generating a schedule indicating a schedule of jobs to be executed by the image forming apparatus; The program according to claim 1, further comprising an execution step of executing a print job ahead of the schedule when the control step determines to execute a print job to stabilize the operation of the image forming device.

12. 2. The program according to claim 1, further comprising a verification step of performing color verification by comparing a color measurement value of a printed matter output by the image forming apparatus based on the print job for color verification with a reference value.

13. A control method executed by an information processing device capable of communicating with an image forming device, comprising: a receiving step of receiving an instruction to cause the image forming apparatus to execute a print job for color verification; a control step of controlling, when the image forming device is to execute a print job for color verification, whether or not to instruct the image forming device to execute a print job for stabilizing operation of the image forming device, based on the print settings of the print job previously executed on the image forming device and the print settings of the print job for color verification.

14. An information processing device capable of communicating with an image forming device, a receiving unit for receiving an instruction to cause the image forming apparatus to execute a print job for color verification; an information processing device characterized by having a control means for controlling, when the image forming device is to execute a print job for color verification, whether or not to instruct the image forming device to execute a print job for stabilizing operation of the image forming device, based on the print settings of the print job previously executed on the image forming device and the print settings of the print job for color verification.

15. A color verification system comprising the information processing device according to claim 14 and the image forming device.

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