Information processor, control method thereof, and program

Abstract

To provide an information processor and a program that manage a print job transmitted to a printer using a general printer driver so that the printer can appropriately perform reservation printing for each user.SOLUTION: In a printing system 100, a control unit of a client terminal 101 sets user information required by a printer 104, which is communicatively connected either directly or via a cloud, on a print setting extension application 112, and stores the set user information. The control unit, when executing a print job on the printer 104, generates print data on the print setting extension application 112, retrieves the stored user information, and passes the print data and the user information to an OS 113 of the client terminal 101. The control unit modifies the print data on the OS 113 and transmits the print data together with the user information to the printer 104.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] Generic printer drivers that use the industry standard Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) include local printer drivers that connect directly to a printer and cloud printer drivers that send print data to a cloud print service. Generic printer drivers can communicate with printers from multiple printer vendors. Therefore, users can use generic printer drivers to send print data to a local printer or cloud print service without having to install a vendor-specific printer driver on their own information processing devices, such as PCs or smartphones.

[0003] However, the print conditions and functions that can be set in a generic printer driver are limited so that the driver can be applied to printers from various vendors. Therefore, Patent Document 1 proposes a technique for installing an application corresponding to a printing device registered in a cloud print service on a terminal (information processing device) used by a user without bothering the user. This allows the user to use the vendor's own print setting UI and print job editing function. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2021-124791 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Some printers have a reservation printing function and a function for managing jobs for each user in reservation printing. When a user sends a print job to the printer from a terminal specifying the user name used to log in to the printer, the print job and the user name (user information) attached to the print job are saved in the printer. When the user then logs in to the printer, only the user's own print jobs saved in the printer are displayed on the printer's display. Thus, the user can obtain printed material securely by selecting and executing the desired print job from the displayed print jobs.

[0006] However, a generic printer driver does not allow a user name to be specified, and a user name determined by the operating system (OS) of the terminal used by the user is attached to the print job. As a result, the user name managed by the printer and the user name attached to the print job differ, and even if the user logs in to the printer, they are unable to select the desired print job. The technology described in the above Patent Document 1 makes it possible to set a print job by fully utilizing the printer's functions, but does not address this issue.

[0007] The present invention provides an information processing apparatus that manages print jobs sent to a printer using a generic printer driver so that reservation printing for each user can be appropriately performed on the printer. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The information processing device of the present invention is characterized in that it comprises a setting means for setting user information required by an image forming device that is communicatively connected directly or via the cloud, a storage means for storing the user information set by the setting means, a generation means for generating print data for executing a print job on the image forming device, an acquisition means for acquiring the user information from the storage means when the print job is executed on the image forming device, and a transmission means for transmitting the print data and the user information acquired by the acquisition means to the image forming device. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, print jobs to be sent to a printer can be managed using a generic printer driver so that reservation printing for each user can be appropriately performed on the printer. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of each device that configures the printing system. [Diagram 3] 11 is a diagram illustrating an installation sequence of a print setting extension application. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printer information display screen on a client terminal. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of capability information held by a printer. [Figure 6] 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of device capability information held by a client terminal. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an extended setup information file. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram of a print data transmission process in a client terminal. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a print setting screen displayed on a client terminal. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 illustrates an example of an extended print setting screen. [Figure 11] 13 is a flowchart of the process of S817. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a registration state of a print job in a database of a printer. [Figure 13] 4 is a flowchart of a printing process in a printer. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a job list displayed on the display unit in step S1304. [Figure 15]13 is a flowchart of a UI startup process in step S811 in the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0012] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing system 100 according to an embodiment. The printing system 100 is configured by a client terminal 101 being communicably connected to an application management server 102, an online support server 103, and a printer 104 via a network 105. In the following description, the application management server 102 is abbreviated as "management server 102" and the online support server 103 is abbreviated as "support server 103."

[0013] 1 shows one each of the client terminal 101 and printer 104, but there may be multiple of each of them. Also, the management server 102 and support server 103 may each be a server system made up of multiple information processing devices, which allows the processing load to be distributed among the multiple information processing devices. On the other hand, the management server 102 and support server 103 may be configured as virtually separate servers within a single physical information processing device.

[0014] The network 105 is, for example, a WAN such as the Internet, but is not limited to this and may be one with a limited communication range, such as an in-house LAN.

[0015] The client terminal 101 is an information processing device such as a laptop PC, a tablet PC, or a smartphone operated by a user. The client terminal 101 can launch and execute any application software (hereinafter abbreviated as "application") selected by the user. The client terminal 101 has a local printer driver 111, a print setting extension application 112, an operating system (OS) 113, and a document generation application 114 as applications.

[0016] 1 shows a state in which the processing according to the sequences and flowcharts described below has been completed and a print job including user information can be sent to the printer 104. Details of the various applications held by the client terminal 101 will be described later when describing the various processes executed by the printing system 100. In the following description, the print setting extension application 112 will be abbreviated as "print setting extension app 112" and the document generation application 114 will be abbreviated as "document generation app 114".

[0017] The printer 104 receives print data generated by the local printer driver 111 in the client terminal 101 via the network 105, converts the received print data into image data, and prints (forms an image) on a recording medium such as paper.

[0018] The management server 102 is an information processing device that stores (memorizes) an application management service 120 (hereinafter abbreviated as "management service 120") as software that holds and manages various applications. The management server 102 executes the management service 120 to receive application identification information and a download request from the client terminal 101, and transmits to the client terminal 101 an application identified based on the received identification information.

[0019] The support server 103 is an information processing device that stores an online support service 130 (hereinafter abbreviated as “support service 130”), which is software that provides the client terminal 101 with information for expanding the functions of the client terminal 101.

[0020] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of each device constituting the printing system 100. Fig. 2(a) is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the client terminal 101. The client terminal 101 includes a display unit 216, an operation unit 217, a storage unit 214, a control unit 211, and a network communication unit 215.

[0021] The storage unit 214 is a storage device capable of storing and rewriting digital data, such as an HDD or SSD. The control unit 211 has a CPU 212 and a memory 213, and the CPU 212 controls the overall operation of the client terminal 101 by expanding the programs stored in the storage unit 214 into the memory 213 and executing them. The memory 213 is the main storage memory of the CPU 212, and has a working area for expanding various programs and a temporary storage area for temporarily storing calculation data.

[0022] The network communication unit 215 is an interface for transmitting and receiving various data via the network 105 between the printer 104 and other external devices constituting the printing system 100. The display unit 216 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and presents visual information to the user. The operation unit 217 is, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel that also functions as the display unit 216, and accepts input from the user.

[0023] Fig. 2(b) is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the management server 102. The management server 102 includes a display unit 226, an operation unit 227, a storage unit 224, a control unit 221, and a network communication unit 225, and the control unit 221 includes a CPU 222 and a memory 223. These units are similar to those of the client terminal 101, and therefore descriptions thereof will be omitted. In the following description, the management server 102 is assumed to be configured as one information processing device having the hardware configuration shown in Fig. 2(b), but may be configured as a plurality of information processing devices.

[0024] 2(c) is a hardware block diagram showing details of the support server 103. The support server 103 includes a display unit 236, an operation unit 237, a storage unit 234, a control unit 231, and a network communication unit 235, and the control unit 231 includes a CPU 232 and a memory 233. The display unit 236, the operation unit 237, and the control unit 231 are similar to the display unit 216, the operation unit 217, and the control unit 211 of the client terminal 101, respectively, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0025] The storage unit 234 is, for example, an HDD or an SSD, and stores a file that holds information for extending the functions provided by the client terminal 101 (hereinafter, referred to as an "extended setup information file").

[0026] The network communication unit 235 is an interface for communicating with the client terminal 101. The support server 103 receives a request to acquire the extended setup information file stored in the storage unit 234 from the client terminal 101 via the network communication unit 235, and transmits the requested extended setup information file to the client terminal 101. In the following description, the support server 103 is described as being configured as one information processing device having the hardware configuration shown in Fig. 2(c), but may be configured as multiple information processing devices.

[0027] 2(d) is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the printer 104. In this embodiment, the printer 104 will be described as a single-function printer having only a printing (image forming) function, but it may be a multifunction peripheral (MFP) having a scanner function and a FAX function as well.

[0028] The printer 104 includes a display unit 246, an operation unit 247, a storage unit 244, a control unit 241, a network communication unit 245, and a printing unit 248, and the control unit 241 includes a CPU 242 and a memory 243. The control unit 231 is similar to the control unit 211 of the client terminal 101, except that the memory 243 stores a program for controlling the overall operation of the printer 104, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0029] The display unit 246 is a touch panel or LED that displays information to the user, etc. The operation unit 247 is a hard key such as a numeric keypad, a touch panel that also functions as the display unit 246 and accepts user input, etc.

[0030] The storage unit 244 is, for example, an HDD or SSD, and holds user information, print jobs, and a database 250 to which these pieces of information are linked (associated). The network communication unit 245 is an interface for communicating with the client terminal 101, and mainly receives print data from the client terminal 101, and also transmits printer information such as errors that have occurred in the printer 104 to the client terminal 101.

[0031] The printing unit 248 performs printing (image formation) processing by carrying out a series of operations of feeding, printing, and discharging recording media such as paper stored in a cassette or placed on a tray. Image formation methods include, but are not limited to, electrophotographic and inkjet methods. The printing unit 248 may also have a finishing device such as a duplex unit, stapler, or puncher used when discharging paper.

[0032] Fig. 3 is a sequence diagram showing a procedure for installing the print setting extension application 112 in the client terminal 101. The processing in the client terminal 101 in the sequence diagram in Fig. 3 is executed by the control unit 211 (CPU 212) on the OS 113 (according to the program of the OS 113). Similarly, each processing in the management server 102, the support server 103, and the printer 104 is realized by each control unit executing a predetermined program.

[0033] In S301, the control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 accepts a setup operation (printer addition operation) of the printer 104 by the user.

[0034] In S302, the control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 searches for printers connected to the network 105 to which the client terminal 101 is connected, using mDNS, Bonjour, or the like.

[0035] In S303, the control unit 241 of the printer 104 transmits printer information corresponding to the acquisition request to the client terminal 101. The printer information transmitted to the client terminal 101 in S303 is the printer name given to the printer 104 and an HWID (an ID assigned to each printer model) which is device identification information. The control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 displays on the display unit 216 the printer information detected by searching the network 105.

[0036] The processing of S301 to S303 will be further explained with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 shows an example of a screen displaying information about printers registered in the client terminal 101. A printer and scanner setting screen 400 is displayed on the display unit 216 of the client terminal 101 by a user's operation on the operation unit 217. When a setup operation is performed in S301 by selecting an object 401 (icon) by a touch operation or the like, the control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 accepts an instruction to search for a printer in S302 and starts searching for a printer. In S303, the control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 displays a list of information about the printer and scanner acquired by the search. In an area 402 of the setting screen 400, the detected printers and scanners are displayed in a list such as "Printer XXX".

[0037] When the control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 detects that a specific device has been selected from among the printers and scanners displayed in the area 402 (for example, a touch operation on the thumbnail or name display area of ​​the printer 001), the control unit 211 starts the process of S304. In the following explanation, it is assumed that the thumbnail corresponding to the printer 104 has been selected from among the devices displayed in the area 402.

[0038] In S304, the control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 inquires about capability information from the selected printer 104. Capability information is information that indicates functions installed in the printer 104, and refers to information necessary for the user to set print conditions (for example, double-sided printing capability information, color printing capability information, etc.). Note that which setting item the control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 inquires about capability information is predetermined in the specifications of the OS 113.

[0039] 5 is a diagram showing an example of capability information held (stored) by the printer 104. The capability information is composed of "item name" and "attribute value." The "item name" indicates the setting item of the printing conditions, and the "attribute value" indicates the value, option, or value range that can be set for each setting item. The printer 104 is assumed to store setting items and attribute values ​​(e.g. paper size, color mode, page aggregation, etc.) defined as industry standard specifications by the IPP.

[0040] The type of capability information that the control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 inquires of the printer 104 is determined according to the OS 113 and is preset in the OS 113. Therefore, the control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 designates a predetermined setting item and inquires of the printer 104 about the capability information for each setting item. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the OS 113 of the client terminal 101 is preset to acquire information about setting items defined as standard specifications by the IPP. The control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 inquires of the printer 104 about capability information about setting items such as "paper size", "paper type", and "color mode".

[0041] In S305, the control unit 241 of the printer 104 transmits capability information in response to the inquiry in S304 to the client terminal 101 for each setting item. At this time, the capability information for each setting item includes attribute values ​​and default values. The attribute values ​​are all attribute values ​​held by the printer 104, regardless of whether they are attribute values ​​defined as standard specifications by the IPP. In addition, the default values ​​are values ​​that are initially set when the client terminal 101 displays the print setting screen (see FIGS. 9 and 10). However, if the printer 104 is queried about a setting item for which it does not store an attribute value, it does not respond to the client terminal 101 about that setting item.

[0042] In S306, the control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 starts installing the local printer driver 111 based on the HWID and printer name, which are device identification information of the printer 104 selected by the user. Also, in S306, the control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 generates a print queue for the local printer driver 111 having basic device capability information included in the OS 113. The device capability information refers to definition information required to generate print setting capability information of the local printer driver 111 (information regarding various conditions (parameters) that can be set when printing using the local printer driver 111). The device capability information is written in XML, for example, as PrintDeviceCapabilites.

[0043] The process of S306 will be described in detail. FIG. 6(a) is a diagram showing an example of device capability information in the initial state included with the OS 113 of the client terminal 101. For example, "Feature" indicates that "PageMediaSize" representing paper size is a setting item. "Option" indicates an option corresponding to "PageMediaSize". As shown in FIG. 6(a), the device capability information in the initial state of the OS 113 has only two options for paper size, "A4" and "LETTER". These pieces of information are linked to the print queue of the local printer driver 111 when the print queue of the local printer driver 111 is generated, and are stored and managed by the OS 113. The device capability information in the initial state is fixed information that is not related to the capability information of the connected printer 104.

[0044] The control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 updates the device capability information held by the OS 113 using the capability information for each setting item acquired from the printer 104. Fig. 6(b) is a diagram showing an example of the device capability information held by the OS 113 in the client terminal 101 that has been updated using the capability information acquired from the printer 104. For example, "Option" is added to "PageMediaSize" indicating the paper size as a paper size that can be printed by the printer 104.

[0045] In this way, the client terminal 101 first registers the local printer driver 111 and the device capability information included in the OS 113 in association with each other in the print queue. After that, the device capability information linked to the print queue is updated with the capability information acquired from the printer 104. At this time, the OS 113 updates the device capability information using only attribute values ​​defined in industry standard specifications from among the capability information acquired from the printer 104. Therefore, even if the control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 acquires a vendor-specific attribute value, for example, a paper type, as the capability information of the printer 104, the attribute value is not added to the device capability information of the OS 113.

[0046] In this way, it becomes possible to set print conditions in the client terminal 101 that cannot be set using the initial device capability information included with the OS 113.

[0047] This completes the installation of the local printer driver 111. By carrying out the processes up to this point, it becomes possible to transmit print data from the client terminal 101 to the printer 104.

[0048] Next, the control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 starts the installation process of the application that is linked to the printer 104 and extends the function of the local printer driver 111 on the OS 113. First, the control unit 211 performs a process of adding additional identification information to the device identification information acquired from the printer 104 in S303. This is a process required to acquire the extended setup information file 700 (see FIG. 7) from the support server 103, and the additional identification information may be a character string different from the normal device identification information. In this embodiment, in order to distinguish from applications of other devices, "PrinterApp_" is added to the device identification information as additional identification information indicating that the application is compatible with the printer. For example, when the device identification information of the printer 104 is "device001", the device identification information after the additional identification information is added (hereinafter referred to as "device identification information with additional information") is "PrinterApp_device001". "PrinterApp_" is an example, and may be composed of other character strings, numbers, or symbols. This is the process of S306.

[0049] Next, in S307, the control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 transmits to the support service 130 a search request for the extended setup information file 700 including the device identification information with additional information of the printer 104. That is, in S307, the support server 103 is notified of “PrinterApp_devoce001”, which is the device identification information with additional information described above.

[0050] Various extended setup information files are stored in the support service 130 held by the support server 103. Fig. 7 shows an example of an extended setup information file 700 for the printer 104. The extended setup information file 700 is created by the vendor of the printer 104 and registered in the support service 130. The extended setup information file 700 describes identification information for identifying the print setting extension application 112 used to set the print data sent to the printer 104.

[0051] "PackageFamilyName" in the extended setup information file 700 is identification information (application ID) of the print setting extension application 112. "PrinterHardwareID" in the extended setup information file 700 describes a character string in which additional identification information has been added to the identification information of the printer 104.

[0052] The support service 130 stores an extended setup information file 700 in which identification information of the print setting extension application 112 is described, as well as an extended setup information file in which identification information of the local printer driver 111 is described. In the extended setup information file in which the identification information of the local printer driver 111 is described, the identifier of the local printer driver 111 is described in the "PackageFamilyName" field. Also, in the extended setup information file in which the identification information of the local printer driver 111 is described, device identification information without additional identification information is described in the "PrinterHardwareId" field.

[0053] In this way, both the extended setup information file describing the identifier of the print setting extension application and the extended setup information file describing the identifier of the printer driver are stored in the support service 130. Therefore, the control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 appropriately adds identification additional information to the device identification information in order to acquire the necessary extended setup information file.

[0054] When the control unit 231 of the support server 103 receives the request of S307, it searches the support service 130 for an extended setup information file whose device identification information with additional information and "PackageFamilyName" match. If an extended setup information file 700 that matches the search conditions is found as a result, the control unit 231 of the support server 103 returns the found extended setup information file 700 to the client terminal 101 in S308. This makes it possible to write the contents of the extended setup information file 700 to the registry of the OS 113 of the client terminal 101.

[0055] In S309, the control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 links the extended setup information described in the extended setup information file 700 acquired from the support service 130 to the print queue generated in S306 and installs it.

[0056] In S310, the control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 extracts the application ID from the installed extension setup information. The application ID is defined by “PackageFamilyName” in the extension setup information file 700.

[0057] The above is the process when the extended setup information file corresponding to the printer 104 is stored in the support service 130 .

[0058] On the other hand, there are cases where the control unit 231 of the support server 103 cannot find an extended setup information file whose "PackageFamilyName" matches the device identification information with additional information from the support service 130. In this case, in S311 the control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 stops the installation process of the application that extends the function of the local printer driver 111. The control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 executes the process of S311 when it is unable to receive the extended setup information file within a predetermined time from the search request in S307 or when it receives an error notification from the support server 103.

[0059] From S312 onwards, a process will be described in the case where the control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 acquires the extended setup information file 700 and is able to extract the application ID in S310.

[0060] In S312, the control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 requests the management server 102 to search for an application (specifically, the print setting extension application 112) that matches the extracted application ID.

[0061] Here, it is assumed that the application running on the client terminal 101 and its application ID have been registered in advance in the management service 120 by the vendor who provides the printer 104. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the management service 120 held by the management server 102 stores the print setting extension application 112 running on the client terminal 101 and its application ID, which is its identifier, in association with each other. Therefore, when the control unit 221 of the management server 102 receives the search request of S312, it checks whether or not it holds the print setting extension application 112 as an application that matches the application ID requested by the client terminal 101.

[0062] If the management service 120 does not hold an application (print setting extension application 112) that matches the application ID requested in S312, the control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 stops the application installation process in S315. In this case, the generated print queue and the local printer driver 111 are associated with each other and installed in the client terminal 101, and all processing ends.

[0063] If the control unit 221 of the management server 102 detects that the requested print setting extension application 112 is in the management service 120 in step S313 , the control unit 221 transmits the detected print setting extension application 112 to the client terminal 101 .

[0064] In S314, the control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 installs the print setting extension application 112 acquired from the management server 102 in association with the print queue of the client terminal 101. In S314, the control unit 211 also saves the application ID as print queue information in a predetermined registry of the OS 113. Note that since the print setting extension application 112 is installed for each user, the process of linking the print setting extension application 112 with the local printer driver 111 is required for each user.

[0065] Furthermore, in step S314, the control unit 211 sets the OS 113 so that the print queue linked to the print setting extension application 112 notifies the OS 113 of an event at the timing set on the print setting screen, and then this sequence ends.

[0066] By the above process, when the client terminal 101 is powered on and the OS 113 is started, the print setting extension application 112 installed in the client terminal 101 is started and can be operated as a background task.

[0067] In the above description, the search for the extended setup information file was performed by adding a specific character string to the device identification information of the printer 104. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and if it is possible to distinguish whether a file is applicable to the local printer driver 111 or not, the search may be performed without adding a specific character string.

[0068] Next, a process in which the client terminal 101 transmits print data to the printer 104 in the printing system 100 will be described. Fig. 8 is a sequence diagram of the process in which the client terminal 101 transmits print data to the printer 104. Each process (step) indicated by an S number in this sequence diagram is realized by the control unit 211 (CPU 212) executing the print setting extension application 112, the OS 113, and the document generation application 114 as appropriate.

[0069] Before starting the process of S801, the user of the client terminal 101 starts the document generation application 114 and causes the display unit 216 to display a print setting screen for selecting a print queue on the document generation application 114. The document generation application 114 is an application for creating documents or presentation materials, or an application for displaying and editing photos, images, etc.

[0070] 9 is a diagram showing an example of a print setting screen 900. On the print setting screen 900, an object 901 for selecting a print queue, an object 902 for making print settings, and a print preview image 903 are displayed. Also displayed are an object 904 for displaying a user interface (UI) of the print setting extending application 112, and an object 905 for executing printing. Note that, in this embodiment, the control unit 211 is configured to cause the print setting screen 900 to be displayed by the document generation application 114, but a similar screen may be displayed by the OS 113.

[0071] In S801, the control unit 211 selects a print queue linked to the printer set as the default printer on the document generation application 114, and displays it in the object 901 of the print setting screen 900. Here, it is assumed that the printer 104 is selected as the default printer. Note that the processing from S801 onwards is also executed when the user operates the object 901 to change the printer to be used.

[0072] In S802, the control unit 211 inquires of the print queue corresponding to the printer 104 on the OS 113 about the capability information of the printer 104. At this time, which setting item the capability information is inquired about is determined in advance by the specifications of the OS 113. Therefore, the capability information acquired in S802 is the same as that acquired in S305 in the sequence of FIG. 3. The inquiry to the printer 104 in S802 is made using a standard protocol command defined by IPP, such as "Get-printer-Attributes." When using "Get-printer-Attributes(IPP)," the control unit 211 inquires about the capability information determined by the OS 113 in list format.

[0073] In S803, the control unit 241 of the printer 104 returns to the client terminal 101 the capability information of the printer 104 corresponding to the list of capability information transmitted from the client terminal 101. For example, if the output paper size attribute is specified in "Get-printer-Attributes(IPP)", the control unit 241 of the printer 104 returns a value (A4, B5, Letter, etc.) associated with the attribute if the control unit 241 of the printer 104 has the output paper size attribute. If the printer 104 does not have the attribute specified in "Get-printer-Attributes(IPP)", the control unit 241 of the printer 104 does not return a value associated with the attribute. In other words, the capability information inquired by the client terminal 101 in S802 does not take into account the type or capability of the printer 104 connected to the client terminal 101.

[0074] In S804, the control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 updates the device capability information on the OS 113 using the capability information acquired from the printer 104. That is, the control unit 211 adds the capability information acquired in S803 to the device capability information generated in S306 (see FIG. 3). By performing S803, if the device capability information has been updated in the printer 104, it is possible to update the device capability information managed by the client terminal 101. Note that when updating the device capability information in S804, only attribute values ​​defined by industry standard specifications are updated in the device capability information.

[0075] In step S805, the control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 notifies the print setting extension application 112 of an API (Application Programming Interface) used to edit events and device capability information on the OS 113. The timing of this notification is registered when the print setting extension application 112 is installed in the client terminal 101.

[0076] In S806, the control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 makes a request to the printer 104 on the print setting extension application 112 to obtain capability information. Here, a capability information inquiry for writing setting items and attribute values ​​and the like uniquely defined by the vendor of the printer 104 to the device capability information of the OS 113 is made using "Get-printer-Attributes (IPP)" as in S802. Note that in S806, in addition to obtaining setting items and attribute values ​​and the like uniquely defined by the vendor of the printer 104, capability information on setting items already obtained by the OS 113 may also be obtained.

[0077] In S807, the control unit 241 of the printer 104 returns the capability information requested in S806 (setting items and attribute values ​​uniquely defined by the vendor of the printer 104) to the client terminal 101. The method of return here is the same as the method of return in S305 described above, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted here.

[0078] In S808, the control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 performs a process of editing the capability information acquired in S807 into device capability information manageable by the OS 113 on the print setting extension application 112 via the configuration information object. Here, the configuration information object refers to a collection of data required for editing the device capability information. Since the print setting extension application 112 cannot directly edit the device capability information held by the OS 113, it updates the device capability information held by the OS 113 by using the configuration information object.

[0079] By performing the processing up to step S808, in addition to capability information regarding standard setting items queried on the OS 113, vendor-specific setting items and attribute values ​​of the printer 104 queried on the print setting extension application 112 are obtained as device capability information.

[0080] In step S809, the control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 passes the device capability information edited in step S808 on the print setting extension application 112 to the OS 113.

[0081] In S810, the control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 updates the device capability information on the OS 113, and stores the updated device capability information in association with the print queue. This makes it possible to select an object 904, which is a trigger for displaying the UI (extended print setting screen) of the print setting extension application 112, on the print setting screen 900. Note that until the processing of S810 is completed, the object 904 is displayed in a grayed-out state, and even if the user selects it, the screen does not transition to the extended print setting screen. When the processing of S810 is completed, the grayed-out state of the object 904 is released, and the user can select the object 904.

[0082] When the user selects the object 904, in S811, the control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 starts the print setting extension application 112 and displays the extended print setting screen on the display unit 216. Here, the extended print setting screen does not depend on the type of document generation application 114 to be used, and is generated based on the print setting capability information of the local printer driver 111 that the print setting extension application 112 acquires from the OS 113.

[0083] Fig. 10(a) is a diagram showing an example of an extended print setting screen. The extended print setting screen 1000 has a scroll bar 1001, and by operating the scroll bar 1001, the screen can be scrolled to transition to the display shown in Fig. 10(b), allowing values ​​to be set for various items.

[0084] The output paper size of the setting item 1003 is print setting information generated from "psk:PageMediaSize" in Fig. 6(b). "A4", which is an option for the output paper size, is generated and displayed by the control unit 211 on the print setting extension application 112 based on the print setting information "psk:IOSA4". In this way, the control unit 211 converts the device capability information into a setting value on the print setting extension application 112 and displays it on the extended print setting screen 1000.

[0085] The extended print setting screen 1000 is generated using device capability information including capability information related to setting items specific to the vendor of the printer 104. Therefore, on the extended print setting screen 1000, it is possible to set values ​​for items that cannot be set on the print setting screen 900 (see FIG. 9) provided by the OS 113. For example, when a user changes the output paper size on the extended print setting screen 1000 from "A4" to "Letter", the print setting information on the print setting extension application 112 is changed from "A4" to "Letter".

[0086] In addition to the print setting information, the extended print setting screen 1000 displays objects 1010 and 1011 for inputting user information as shown in FIG. 10B. The object 1010 provides a user information option for setting a user name. The print setting extending application 112 has definition data that allows a "login name" or a "computer name" (both not shown) or a "name designation" to be set as a user name. The control unit 211 prompts the user to input a "login name" or a "computer name" or a "name designation" from the object 1010 on the print setting extending application 112. The "login name" is a name used by the user when logging in to the client terminal 101, and the "computer name" is a name for identifying the client terminal 101. When the "name designation" is designated in the object 1010, input is possible in the object 1011, which allows input of an arbitrary character string, and the user can input an arbitrary character string (name) in the object 1011 as a user name. FIG. 10B shows an example in which “AAA” has been entered as the user name in the object 1011 , and this “AAA” is assumed to be the same as the user name used when the user logs in to the printer 104 .

[0087] An object 1002 for confirming print settings is displayed on the extended print setting screen 1000. Note that, even if "name specification" is selected in the object 1010, if the object 1002 is selected without inputting any name in the object 1011, the control unit 211 displays, for example, a pop-up warning screen. For example, the pop-up screen at this time notifies the user that "Please enter a user name" or the like.

[0088] When the user selects (touches) the object 1002, the processes of S812 and S813 are executed. The processes of S812 and S813 are executed substantially simultaneously, and the order of them does not matter.

[0089] In S812, the control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 passes the print setting information to the OS 113 on the print setting extension application 112, and ends the display of the extended print setting screen 1000. However, since the user information is not included in the print setting information, it is not sent to the OS 113. In S813, the control unit 211 saves the setting values ​​of the user information (input values ​​of objects 1010, 1011) in a storage area accessible only to the print setting extension application 112. When the process of S813 ends, the print setting screen 900 is redisplayed. The print setting screen 900 at this time reflects the setting values ​​set on the extended print setting screen 1000.

[0090] When the user selects an object 905 on the print setting screen 900, in step S814, the control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 executes a process relating to printing on the OS 113 based on an instruction input via the document generation application 114.

[0091] In S815, the control unit 211 generates intermediate data on the OS 113 and passes the generated intermediate data to the print setting extension application 112. The intermediate data is data generated before conversion to print data such as PDL, an example of which is XPS data, and includes the print setting information set on the print setting screen 900. A print job name is given to the intermediate data. The print job name is usually the name of the document that was open (edited, etc.) when the process of S801 was performed on the document generation application 114.

[0092] In S816, the control unit 211 generates print data based on the intermediate data and generates printing capability information based on the print setting information on the print setting extension application 112. The print data refers to a PDL such as a PDF file, for example. The printing capability information is, specifically, information in which the print setting information is described using attribute values ​​defined by IPP.

[0093] In S817, the control unit 211 acquires setting values ​​related to user information from a storage area on the print setting expanding application 112 that can only be accessed by the print setting expanding application 112. The process of S817 will now be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the process of S817. Each process (step) indicated by an S number in this flowchart is executed by the control unit 211 on the print setting expanding application 112.

[0094] In S1101, the control unit 211 acquires a setting value related to user information from a storage area accessible only to the print setting extension application 112. In S1102, the control unit 211 determines whether the setting value of the user information option (object 1010) acquired in S1101 is "login name". If the control unit 211 determines that the setting value is "login name" (YES in S1102), it executes the process of S1103, and if it determines that the setting value is not "login name" (NO in S1102), it executes the process of S1104.

[0095] In S1103, the control unit 211 acquires the "login name" through the API provided by the OS 113, and then ends this process.

[0096] In S1104, the control unit 211 determines whether or not the setting value of the user information option is "computer name." If the control unit 211 determines that the setting value is "computer name" (YES in S1104), it performs the process of S1105, and if the control unit 211 determines that the setting value is not "computer name" (NO in S1104), it performs the process of S1106.

[0097] In S1105, the control unit 211 acquires the "computer name" through the API provided by the OS 113, and then ends this process.

[0098] In S1106, the control unit 211 determines that the setting value of the user information option is "name specification", obtains the value of the object 1011, and then ends this process.

[0099] In this embodiment, the values ​​of "login name" and "computer name" are obtained from OS 113 in the process of S817. Alternatively, the values ​​of "login name" and "computer name" may be obtained from OS 113 in S813 and saved as user information, and the process of S817 may be performed using the saved values. Also, as described above, if "name specification" is selected in object 1010 in FIG. 10(b) but object 1011 is left blank, a warning screen is displayed as a pop-up. If such a function is not provided and the process of S817 proceeds to S1106 in this case, a screen may be displayed separately at that point to prompt the user to input a user name to be specified by the user.

[0100] In S818, the control unit 211 generates print data on the print setting extension application 112, and passes the generated print data, printing capability information, and the user information acquired in S817 to the print queue of the OS 113. Specifically, the data is passed to the OS 113 using an API capable of adding IPP attributes. In this embodiment, the user name information acquired in S817 is set for the attribute "requesting-user-name" of "OperationAttribute" as the user information. For example, on the extended print setting screen 1000 of FIG. 10, "name specification" is selected in the object 1010, and "AAA" is input as the user name in the object 1011. In this case, the attribute value to be sent to the OS 113 is "requesting-user-name of OperationAttribute: AAA".

[0101] In step S819 , the control unit 211 modifies the print data received from the print setting extension application 112 on the OS 113 , and generates print data suitable for the printer 104 .

[0102] In S820, the control unit 211 transmits, on the OS 113, the print data generated by the OS 113 in S819 and the printing capability information including the user information to the printer 104 via the print queue.

[0103] By executing the above series of steps S801 to S820, the print settings and user information set by the print setting extension application 112 and the generated print data (the adjusted print data if adjustment by the OS 113 is required) can be sent to the printer 104.

[0104] Next, a description will be given of the processes and operations executed by the printer 104. The printer 104 receives print data including print settings and user information from the client terminal 101, and registers the print data in the database 250.

[0105] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the registration state of print jobs in the database 250. The database 250 displays print jobs that users "AAA", "BBB", and "CCC" have sent to the printer 104 according to the sequence in FIG. 8 by specifying their user names in the objects 1010 and 1011 in FIG. 10(b). Here, the print job is identified by the user name and ID. The ID is information that the printer 104 holds in the database 250 in association with the user name. Here, the print job is managed by linking it to the user name, but information other than the user name may be used as long as it is possible to link the print job to the user.

[0106] 13 is a flowchart of the print process in printer 104. The processes (steps) indicated by S numbers in this flowchart are realized by CPU 242 of control unit 241 executing a program stored in memory 243 and comprehensively controlling the operation of each unit of printer 104.

[0107] In S1301, the control unit 241 displays a login screen on the display unit 246 and waits for an input from the user.

[0108] In S1302, the control unit 241 accepts input of user information from the user on the login screen.

[0109] In S1303, the control unit 241 generates a job list by extracting print jobs linked to the user information accepted in S1302 from the print jobs in the database 250. Here, it is assumed that the user inputs the user name "AAA" as the user information in S1302.

[0110] In S1304, the control unit 241 displays the job list generated in S1303 on the display unit 246. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a job list 1400 displayed on the display unit 246 in S1304. Here, as shown in FIG. 12, print jobs linked to the user names "BBB" and "CCC" are stored in the database 250, but print jobs linked to the user name "AAA" are "Financial statement" and "Estimate". In order to prevent the print jobs of the user who has logged in to the printer 104 from being seen by other users, only print jobs linked to the user name "AAA" are displayed in the job list 1400, thereby making it possible to obtain high confidentiality for the print jobs. The user can select a print job to be printed from among the print jobs displayed in the job list 1400.

[0111] In S1305, the control unit 241 accepts execution of a print job selected by the user from the job list 1200. For example, the user selects "Financial statement" in the job list 1400 and presses (selects) the object 1401. This instructs the control unit 241 to perform printing processing of the "Financial statement."

[0112] In S1306, the control unit 241 executes the output of the instructed print job (printing process (image forming process) on a recording material such as paper), and then this process ends.

[0113] As described above, according to this embodiment, by using a print setting extension app to send print data including print setting information and user name information from the OS of the client terminal to the printer, it becomes possible to properly manage jobs for each user on the printer.

[0114] <Second embodiment> In the second embodiment, print data generated by a print setting extension application in a client terminal is linked to a cloud printer driver used in a print service provided by a cloud server. In this case, since user management is performed in the cloud server, there is no need to send user information from the client terminal to the cloud server (or to a printer connected to the cloud server), and therefore there is no need to display the input of user information on the UI (extended print setting screen) of the client terminal.

[0115] Here, a description will be given of input control of user information by the print setting expanding application 112. Note that the configuration of the printing system is the same as that described in the first embodiment, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0116] 15 is a flowchart for starting a UI capable of changing print settings and user information in S811. When the user is enabled to select an object 904 for displaying the UI of the print setting extension application 112 in S810, the process of S1501 is started.

[0117] In S1501, the control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 determines whether or not the printer connected from the print setting extension application 112 is a printer connected to the cloud. This determination may be made using an API provided by the OS 113, or may use printer information that can be acquired only when connected to a cloud server. If the control unit 211 determines that the printer is connected to the cloud (YES in S1501), it executes the process of S1502, and if it determines that the printer is not connected to the cloud (YES in S1502), it executes the process of S1503.

[0118] In S1502, the control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 displays an extended print setting screen (not shown) on the display unit 216, in which the objects 1010, 1011 for inputting user information are not displayed, and the process ends. Note that the extended print setting screen displayed on the display unit 216 in S1502 is a screen in which the objects 1010, 1011 are not displayed or cannot be selected from the extended print setting screen 1000 in FIG.

[0119] In S1503, the control unit 211 of the client terminal 101 displays the extended print setting screen 1000 on the display unit 216, displaying objects 1010 and 1011 for inputting user information, and ends this process. This allows the user to input user information from the extended print setting screen 1000 only when input of user information is required, and eliminates confusion about whether or not input of user information is required.

[0120] The disclosure of this embodiment includes the following configurations and methods. (Configuration 1) An information processing device comprising: a setting means for setting user information required by an image forming device that is communicatively connected directly or via a cloud; a storage means for storing the user information set by the setting means; a generation means for generating print data for executing a print job on the image forming device; an acquisition means for acquiring the user information from the storage means when the print job is executed on the image forming device; and a transmission means for transmitting the print data and the user information acquired by the acquisition means to the image forming device. (Configuration 2) An information processing device as described in configuration 1, further comprising a display means, wherein the setting means displays a user interface on the display means through which the user information can be input, and the user interface accepts input of information required when a user, who has logged in to the information processing device, logs in to the image forming device and executes a print job that the user has sent from the information processing device to the image forming device and stored in the image forming device, as the user information. (Configuration 3) The information processing device according to configuration 2, characterized in that the user interface makes it possible to set, as the user information, any one of the user's login name for the information processing device, the name of the information processing device, and an arbitrary character string input by the user. (Configuration 4) The information processing device according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising a determination means for determining whether the image forming device is directly connected to the information processing device or connected via a cloud, and when displaying the user interface on the display means, the setting means displays an object for inputting the user information in the user interface if the determination means determines that the image forming device is directly connected to the information processing device, and does not display the object in the user interface or displays the object in a state in which input from the object is not possible if the determination means determines that the image forming device is connected to the information processing device via the cloud. (Configuration 5) The information processing apparatus according to any one of configurations 2 to 4, wherein the user interface also serves as a user interface for making print settings when the print job is executed by the image forming apparatus. (Configuration 6) A program for causing a computer to function as a setting means for setting user information required by an image forming device that is communicatively connected directly or via a cloud, a storage means for saving the user information set by the setting means, a generation means for generating print data for a print job to be executed in the image forming device, an acquisition means for acquiring the user information from the storage means when executing the print job in the image forming device, and a means for passing the print data generated by the generation means and the user information acquired by the acquisition means to an operation system of the computer. (Configuration 7) The program described in Configuration 6 further causes the computer to function as a determination means for determining whether the image forming device is connected to the computer directly or via a cloud, and an input means for displaying a user interface for inputting the user information on a display means, wherein the input means displays an object for inputting the user information on the user interface when the determination means determines that the image forming device is directly connected, and does not display the object on the user interface or displays the object on the user interface in a state in which input from the object is not possible when the determination means determines that the image forming device is connected via the cloud. (Method 1) A control method for an information processing device that is communicatively connected to an image forming device directly or via the cloud, comprising the steps of: setting user information required by the image forming device; storing the user information in a storage means; generating print data related to a print job to be executed by the image forming device; acquiring the user information from the storage means; and transmitting the print data and the user information to the image forming device. (Method 2) A method for controlling an information processing device according to Method 2, comprising the steps of: determining whether the image forming device is directly connected to the information processing device or connected via a cloud; and displaying a user interface through which the user information can be input on a display means provided in the information processing device, wherein in the step of setting the user information, an input value in the user interface is set to the user information; and in the step of displaying the user interface, if it is determined that the image forming device is directly connected to the information processing device, an object for inputting the user information is displayed; and if it is determined that the image forming device is connected to the information processing device via the cloud, the object is not displayed or the object is displayed in a state in which input from the object is not possible.

[0121] Although the present invention has been described in detail above based on the preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various forms within the scope of the gist of the present invention are also included in the present invention. Furthermore, each of the above-mentioned embodiments merely shows one embodiment of the present invention, and each embodiment can be appropriately combined.

[0122] 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. [Explanation of symbols]

[0123] 101 Client terminals 104 Printer 112 Print setting extension application 113 Operating System 211 Control Unit 214 Storage section 216 Display section 217 Operation section

Claims

1. Setting means for setting user information required by an image forming apparatus communicably connected directly or via a cloud; Storage means for storing the user information set by the setting means; Generation means for generating print data for executing a print job on the image forming apparatus; Acquisition means for acquiring the user information from the storage means when executing the print job on the image forming apparatus; An information processing apparatus comprising transmission means for transmitting the print data and the user information acquired by the acquisition means to the image forming apparatus.

2. Comprising display means, The setting means displays, on the display means, a user interface capable of inputting the user information, The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the user interface receives, as the user information, input of information required when a user who has logged in to the information processing apparatus transmits a print job to the image forming apparatus and stores it in the image forming apparatus, and the user logs in to the image forming apparatus and executes the print job.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein any one of a user login name for the information processing apparatus, a name of the information processing apparatus, and an arbitrary character string input by the user can be set as the user information by the user interface.

4. Comprising determination means for determining whether the image forming apparatus is directly connected to the information processing apparatus or connected via a cloud, When the determination means determines that the image forming apparatus is directly connected to the information processing apparatus, the setting means displays, on the user interface, an object for inputting the user information when displaying the user interface on the display means. When the determination means determines that the image forming apparatus is connected to the information processing apparatus via the cloud, the object is not displayed on the user interface or the object is displayed in a state where input from the object is not possible. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the user interface also serves as a user interface for performing print settings when executing the print job on the image forming apparatus.

6. A method for controlling an information processing apparatus communicably connected directly or via a cloud to an image forming apparatus, the method comprising: setting user information required by the image forming apparatus; storing the user information in a storage means; generating print data related to a print job to be executed by the image forming apparatus; acquiring the user information from the storage means; transmitting the print data and the user information to the image forming apparatus. A method for controlling an information processing apparatus, characterized by comprising the above steps.

7. determining whether the image forming apparatus is directly connected to the information processing apparatus or connected via a cloud; displaying on a display means of the information processing apparatus a user interface capable of inputting the user information, wherein in the step of setting the user information, an input value on the user interface is set as the user information, and in the step of displaying the user interface, when it is determined that the image forming apparatus is directly connected to the information processing apparatus, an object for inputting the user information is displayed, and when it is determined that the image forming apparatus is connected to the information processing apparatus via the cloud, the object is not displayed or the object is displayed in a state where input from the object is not possible. The method for controlling an information processing apparatus according to claim 6.

8. A program for causing a computer to function as: a setting means for setting user information required by an image forming apparatus communicably connected directly or via a cloud; a storage means for storing the user information set by the setting means; a generation means for generating print data of a print job to be executed by the image forming apparatus; an acquisition means for acquiring the user information from the storage means when the print job is executed by the image forming apparatus; a means for passing the print data generated by the generation means and the user information acquired by the acquisition means to an operating system of the computer.

9. The computer further functions as: a determination means for determining whether the image forming apparatus is directly connected to the computer or connected via a cloud; an input means for displaying on a display means a user interface for inputting the user information. The input means displays an object for inputting the user information on the user interface when the determination means determines that the image forming apparatus is directly connected, and does not display the object on the user interface or displays the object in a state where input from the object is not possible when the determination means determines that the image forming apparatus is connected via the cloud. The program according to claim 8.

Images