Information processing apparatus, information processing method for information processing apparatus, and program

Abstract

To allow a user to easily grasp the length of a print medium allocated for protection of a print surface.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus is provided, comprising: first acquisition means that acquires printing device information including information indicating the amount of a print medium remaining in a printing device; second acquisition means that acquires print setting information including take-up information indicating a method for taking up a printed product; determination means that determines, on the basis of the printing device information and print setting information, a print length indicating the length of the print medium required for printing an image on the print medium in the printing device, and the length of an excess print medium allocated to the printed product and provided independently of the printing of the image; and display control means that can display a warning on the basis of the print length, the length of the excess print medium, and the amount of the remaining print medium.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing device, an information processing method for an information processing device, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] In commercial printing such as label printing, data (e.g., PDF (Portable Document Format)) created using graphics software is submitted to a printing company. The submitted data is managed for each customer by the printing company. The user of the printing device at the printing company prints using the submitted data according to the delivery method specified by the customer.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a method for calculating the length of roll paper required for printing and managing the remaining amount of roll paper set in a printing device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-073030 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] There is a need for users to easily know whether extra roll paper can be allocated to the roll paper to be delivered for purposes such as protecting the printing surface, etc. The method of Patent Document 1 cannot meet this need.

[0006] The present disclosure aims to provide a technique that allows a user to easily grasp the length of a print medium that is allocated for purposes such as protecting the print surface. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An information processing device according to one aspect of the present disclosure is characterized by comprising: a first acquisition means for acquiring printing device information including information indicating the remaining amount of printing medium in the printing device; a second acquisition means for acquiring printing setting information including winding information indicating the method of winding the printed product; a determination means for determining, based on the printing device information and the printing setting information, a printing length indicating the length of printing medium required to print an image on the printing medium in the printing device, and a length of excess printing medium that is allocated to the printed product and is provided independently of the printing of the image; and a display control means capable of displaying a warning based on the printing length, the length of the excess printing medium, and the remaining amount of printing medium. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present disclosure, the user can easily grasp the length of the print medium that is allocated for purposes such as protecting the print surface. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a system. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the software configuration of a print application. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a print setting screen of a print application. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the structure of roll paper. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen for a warning message indicating an excess amount. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen for a warning message indicating an excess amount. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen for a warning message indicating an excess amount. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen of a warning message. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing executed by an information processing device. [Figure 10]FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a setting screen of a print application. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen for a warning message indicating an excess amount. [Figure 12] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing executed by an information processing device. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen for a warning message indicating an excess amount. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen for a warning message indicating an excess amount. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen for a warning message indicating an excess amount. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the present disclosure, and not all combinations of features described in the following embodiments are necessarily essential to the solutions of the present disclosure. In addition, the same components will be described with the same reference numerals.

[0011] In commercial printing such as label printing, data created using graphics software is submitted to a printing company. The submitted data is managed for each customer by the printing company. For example, the submitted data may be managed with an ID (Identification) assigned to each customer.

[0012] In label printing, a user of a printing device may print labels on roll paper using the printing device and then deliver the printed product to a customer in a rolled state. In other words, the printed product may also be in a roll form. The user sets the orientation of the printed surface of the label before printing the label. For example, the user may set the roll paper so that the printed surface faces outward when the roll paper is wound up with printed labels. After printing labels using this setting, the user pulls out a length of the roll paper from the source roll to avoid damaging the printed surface. The user may then handwrite customer information (e.g., ID) for each input data item on the excess roll paper that does not have labels printed on it to prevent delivery errors.

[0013] There are two ways to set the print surface orientation: front-side winding, where the print surface faces the outside of the roll paper after winding, and back-side winding, where the print surface faces the inside of the roll paper after winding. Following the delivery method specified by the customer, users use the print settings to estimate the amount of excess roll paper (hereafter referred to as the "excess amount") to be pulled from the supplier's roll paper in order to protect the print surface and ensure an area for writing customer information. In this case, users may estimate an excess amount that is greater than the required length in order to maintain the quality of the printed output delivered to the customer.

[0014] On the other hand, since the excess amount allocated to the roll paper for delivery incurs costs, there is a need to avoid increasing the excess amount more than necessary, and there is a demand for technology that can appropriately allocate the excess amount to the roll paper for delivery depending on the print settings and the remaining amount of roll paper at the paper source.

[0015] In commercial printing, before delivering the printed product, the user allocates excess paper while operating a device for cutting the roll paper after printing the labels. Because users want to avoid wasting roll paper as much as possible, they want to allocate as little excess paper as possible to the roll paper for delivery, but it is difficult for users to estimate an appropriate amount of excess paper based on print settings such as the finishing method.

[0016] In other words, users involved in commercial printing must estimate the amount of excess paper while taking into account printing settings such as the finishing method, and after printing the labels, they must allocate the excess paper while checking the print condition of the printed roll paper, which places a burden on the user.

[0017] In the following embodiment, an information processing device that allows a user to easily grasp the amount of excess roll paper to be allocated for delivery when printing will be described.

[0018] <<First embodiment>> 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a system according to this embodiment. The system according to this embodiment includes an information processing device 100 and a printing device 110. The information processing device 100 and the printing device 110 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

[0019] <Information processing device> The information processing device 100 has an input interface 101, an operation unit 102, a CPU 103, a ROM 104, a RAM 105, an external storage device 106, an output interface 107, a display unit 108, and a communication unit 109. These elements are connected to each other via a system bus. Examples of information processing devices include desktop PCs (Personal Computers), notebook PCs, tablet terminals, and smartphones.

[0020] The input interface 101 is an interface for receiving data input from a user and instructions to execute various processes via an operation unit 102, which will be described later. The operation unit 102 has operators such as a physical keyboard, buttons, and a touch panel. The operation unit 102 may also be configured with a soft keyboard and soft buttons. Note that the display unit 108, which will be described later, and the operation unit 102 may be at least partially integrated. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which the screen output by the display unit 108 and operators that accept operations from the user are displayed on the same display.

[0021] The CPU 103 functions as a control unit that executes various programs and controls the entire information processing device 100. Specifically, the CPU 103 loads a control program recorded in a ROM 104 (described later) into a RAM 105 (described later) and executes the loaded control program to realize various controls.

[0022] The ROM 104 stores control programs executed by the CPU 103, data tables, an embedded operating system (hereinafter referred to as the OS), fixed data such as programs, etc. In this embodiment, the control programs stored in the ROM 104 are used for various controls such as scheduling, task switching, and interrupt processing under the management of the embedded OS stored in the ROM 104.

[0023] The RAM 105 is a static random access memory (SRAM) or a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), which require a backup power source. The data stored in the RAM 105 may be maintained by a primary battery (not shown) for data backup. In this case, the RAM 105 can maintain important data such as program control variables even when the power to the information processing device 100 is turned off. The RAM 105 also has a memory area for storing setting information for the information processing device 100 and management data for the information processing device 100. The RAM 105 is also used as the main memory and work memory of the CPU 103.

[0024] The external storage device 106 is a memory that stores various applications and content data handled by the applications. The output interface 107 is an interface for outputting various information generated by the information processing device 100 to the printing device 110 and displaying notifications regarding the status of the information processing device 100 on a display unit 108 (described later).

[0025] The display unit 108 is configured with an LED (light-emitting diode) or an LCD (liquid crystal display), and displays data and notifies the status of the information processing device 100. A soft keyboard equipped with keys such as numeric input keys, a mode setting key, a confirmation key, a cancel key, and a power key may be provided on the display unit 108 to accept input from the user via the display unit 108. The communication unit 109 connects to the printing device 110, a server, and other external devices to perform data communication. The information processing device 100 can acquire printing device information, which will be described later, via the input interface 101 or the communication unit 109.

[0026] <Printing device> The printing device 110 includes a supply roll paper 111, a printing unit 112, a winding unit 113, an input / output interface 114, a CPU 115, RAM 116, and a ROM 117. The printing device 110 prints images on roll paper based on print data generated by the information processing device 100. For example, the print data is data generated by a printing application (described below) and includes information about the image to be printed and print settings. The printing device 110 uses the input / output interface 114 and other components to acquire print data from the information processing device 100 and send settings information for the printing device 110 to the information processing device 100. The basic functions of the CPU 115, RAM 116, and ROM 117 are similar to those of the CPU 103, RAM 105, and ROM 104, respectively, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted. The printing device 110 in this embodiment has the ability to perform printing that can express special colors using special recording materials. In this embodiment, a special color is a color that is difficult to represent using recording materials such as C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black) that are used in normal printing.

[0027] The CPU 115 controls the entire system of the printing device 110. The RAM 116 temporarily stores data for printing, etc. The ROM 117 stores important data such as program control variables.

[0028] The supplied roll paper 111 is a roll of printing medium supplied during the printing process. The printing unit 112 prints image data onto the supplied roll paper based on print data acquired from the information processing device 100. The winding unit 113 winds up the roll paper printed by the printing unit 112. The supplied roll paper 111 and the winding unit 113 each have a paper tube around which the roll paper is wound.

[0029] 1, the printing device 110 in this embodiment will be described as a device separate from the information processing device 100, but is not limited to this. For example, all or part of the configuration of the information processing device 100 may be built into the printing device 110. In other words, the printing device 110 and the information processing device 100 may be integrated to realize the information processing in this embodiment.

[0030] <Printing application> A print application is one of the applications that can be installed in the information processing device 100. The print application in this embodiment is an application for importing data in which graphic information such as labels is saved, and generating print data based on print settings such as label placement.

[0031] 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the software configuration of a print application. The print application (hereinafter referred to as print app) 200 has an input unit 201, a control unit 202, a display unit 203, a storage unit 204, and an output unit 205. The print application 200 will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

[0032] The input unit 201 accepts inputs such as submitted label data and information for print settings. That is, the input unit 201 functions as an acquisition unit that acquires print setting information (described below). The control unit 202 functions as an acquisition unit that acquires information from the printing device 110, such as information about the remaining amount of the supply roll paper 111, the diameter of the paper core of the winding unit 113, and the paper thickness of the supply roll paper 111. The control unit 202 also functions as a determination unit that uses the acquired information to determine the print length (described below), create label layout information, and determine the excess amount. Layout information includes information about the placement of label data on the roll paper and object information, such as objects to be placed on the label. The display unit 203 functions as a display control unit that displays layout information, changes to setting items, various messages, and the like on the screen of the display unit 108 under the control of the control unit 202. The storage unit 204 stores information acquired from the printing device 110 and information generated by the control unit 202 and other devices. The output unit 205 functions as a generating unit that generates print data when a create button 335 (described later) is pressed, and outputs the data to a location designated by the user.

[0033] 3 is a diagram showing an example of a print setting screen 300 of a printing application. The print setting screen 300 has a label data display area 310, a roll paper preview area 320, and a print setting area 330. The label data display area 310 includes a label data display section 311, check boxes 312, and number of copies information 313. The print setting area 330 includes a layout pattern setting section 331, a finishing method selection section 332, check boxes 333, a text input area 334, and a Create button 335.

[0034] This application is stored in the external storage device 106, and can send a PDF file with imposed label data as print data to the printer 110 via the output interface 107. Figure 3 shows an example in which three label data items are registered as layout targets in the label data display area 310, the layout pattern setting section 331 is set to "repeat," and the finishing method selection section 332 is set to "front winding, right-hand feed." Figure 3 also shows an example in which the check box 333 is selected.

[0035] In the label data display area 310, a list of label data input by the input unit 201 is displayed by the display unit 203 under the control of the control unit 202. That is, when label data is read by the input unit 201, the display unit 203 displays this data in the label data display area 310 under the control of the control unit 202. The label data display area 310 displays a label data display section 311 that displays the label data, a check box 312 that accepts a request for whether or not the label data is to be included in the layout, and copy number information 313 that indicates the number of label data to be laid out on the roll paper. The user can directly change the value in the copy number information 313.

[0036] In the roll paper preview area 320, label data with the layout settings reflected is displayed by the display unit 203 under the control of the control unit 202. Figure 3 shows label data displayed in the roll paper preview area 320 when the check boxes 312 corresponding to each piece of label data are selected by the input unit 201. The roll paper preview area 320 also displays label data with the settings for number of copies information 313 reflected. If all of the label data cannot be displayed within the display area of ​​the roll paper preview area 320, the entire layout of the label data may be grasped by, for example, operating a scroll bar (not shown).

[0037] In the print setting area 330, setting items relating to layout and printing, such as the layout pattern and finishing method of label data, which can be received by the input unit 201, are displayed by the display unit 203 under the control of the control unit 202.

[0038] The layout pattern setting unit 331 accepts the selection of the layout pattern for label data to be placed on roll paper. As shown in Figure 3, layout patterns include a "repeat" pattern, in which the same label data is repeatedly placed on lanes that are separated by a predetermined number of spaces across the width of the roll paper and extend along the length of the roll paper. Other layout patterns include a "selection order" pattern, in which label data is placed on the lanes in the order of selection. Specifically, if "selection order" is set in the layout pattern setting unit 331 and label data is selected in the order of diamond, circle, and triangle, the label data will be displayed arranged in the specified lane shown in the roll paper preview area 320 in this order.

[0039] In this embodiment, the print medium is described as being divided into three lanes, but this is not limiting. For example, the number of lanes may be one, two, four or more. The number of lanes may also be varied depending on the number of label data to be laid out.

[0040] The finishing method selection unit 332 accepts the selection of the finishing method after printing. Finishing methods include "front-side forward feed," "front-side reverse feed," "front-side right feed," and "front-side left feed," which cause the printed side to face the outside of the roll paper after winding. Finishing methods also include "reverse-side forward feed," "reverse-side reverse feed," "reverse-side right feed," and "reverse-side left feed," which cause the printed side to face the inside of the roll paper after winding. The "forward feed," "reverse feed," "right feed," and "left feed" feed directions refer to the direction in which the roll paper is pulled out when the wound roll paper is unwound and the label is viewed from the correct direction. In this embodiment, the correct direction refers to the direction in which the label appears to be positioned like "A" when the wound roll paper is unwound, for example, if the label data is "A." When viewed from the correct direction, the direction in which the roll paper is pulled out when the label is viewed from the correct direction is called forward feed, upward feed, reverse feed, right-facing feed, and left-facing feed.

[0041] Check box 333 accepts whether or not to print information (hereinafter referred to as management information) for the printing company to manage the print product, such as customer information of the delivery destination. When the user selects check box 333, a check mark is displayed in check box 333, as shown in FIG.

[0042] The text input area 334 accepts input of management information. The text input area 334 is available for input by the user when a check mark is displayed in the check box 333.

[0043] The create button 335 is an operator for creating a PDF file as print data based on the print setting information (hereinafter referred to as print setting information) set by the user on the print setting screen 300. When the user presses the create button 335, the print application 200 executes processing in accordance with the flowchart shown in Fig. 9, which will be described later. To temporarily store the data for performing the above processing, the storage unit 204 stores the data in the RAM 105, the external storage device 106, etc., under the control of the control unit 202.

[0044] Hereinafter, several embodiments of an information processing method will be described, each of which uses the information processing device 100 having the above-described configuration as a common example.

[0045] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the structure of roll paper 400 taken up by the take-up unit 113 of the printing device 110. Figure 4 shows the paper thickness 401 of the roll paper 400, its diameter after winding 402, the paper tube 403 around which the roll paper is wound, and the diameter 404 of the paper tube 403. It should be noted that the supply roll paper 111 is also set in the printing device 110 in the same state as the roll paper shown in Figure 4.

[0046] 5 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen 500 of a warning message indicating the excess amount, displayed by the print application 200. Display screen 500 is the screen that appears when the Create button 335 is pressed when the winding length is shorter than the remaining amount of supplied roll paper 111 and information has been entered in the text input area 334. The "winding length" is the sum of the print length, which will be described later, and the excess amount. Display screen 500 displays a warning message indicating that the excess amount of roll paper needs to be unwound, as well as a button 501 for accepting agreement with the message content and a button 502 for accepting disagreement with the message content.

[0047] 6 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen 600 for a warning message indicating the excess amount, displayed by the print application 200. Display screen 600 is the screen that is displayed when the Create button 335 is pressed when the winding length of the supplied roll paper 111 is shorter than the remaining amount and no information has been entered in the text input area 334. Display screen 600 displays a warning message indicating that the excess amount of roll paper needs to be unwound, a button 601 for accepting agreement with the contents of the message, and a button 602 for accepting disagreement with the contents of the message.

[0048] In addition, Figures 5 and 6 show "40 cm" and "38 cm" as the excess amounts, respectively, but these displays are merely examples and will of course vary depending on the calculation results of the excess amounts described below.

[0049] 7 shows an example of a display screen 700 for a warning message indicating the excess amount, displayed by the print application 200. The display screen 700 is displayed when the Create button 335 is pressed when the winding length is longer than the remaining amount of the supplied roll paper 111 and information has been entered in the text input area 334. The display screen 700 is also displayed when it is possible to allocate the calculated excess amount to printing, that is, when the remaining amount of the supplied roll paper 111 is the same as or longer than the print length. The display screen 700 displays a warning message asking whether or not to reserve the excess amount and continue printing, as well as a button 701 for accepting agreement with the message's contents and a button 702 for accepting disagreement with the contents.

[0050] 8 is a diagram showing an example of a warning message display screen 800 displayed by the print application 200. Display screen 800 is a screen that is displayed when the winding length is longer than the remaining amount of supply roll paper 111, and the determination made when the Create button 335 is pressed indicates that the printing length will be longer than the remaining amount of supply roll paper 111. Display screen 800 displays a warning message indicating that there is insufficient roll paper, as well as a button 801 for accepting consent to continue printing as is, and a button 802 for accepting consent to not continue printing.

[0051] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing executed by the information processing device 100. Referring to FIG. 9, processing executed by the print application 200 running on the OS of the information processing device 100 will be described. The processing illustrated in FIG. 9 is implemented by the CPU 103 of the information processing device 100 reading a program stored in the ROM 104 into the RAM 105 and then executing the read program by the CPU 103. Note that some or all of the functions of the steps in FIG. 9 may be implemented by hardware such as an ASIC or electronic circuit. The symbol "S" in the description of each process indicates a step in the flowchart (the same applies to flowcharts in the following specification). The flowchart illustrated in FIG. 9 starts when the print application 200 is started or the print setting screen 300 is displayed by the OS and the Create button 335 is pressed.

[0052] In S901, the CPU 103 acquires information from the printing device 110 via the control unit 202, such as information about the remaining amount of the set supply roll paper 111, information about the diameter of the paper core of the winding unit 113, and information about the paper thickness of the supply roll paper 111 (hereinafter referred to as printing device information). The CPU 103 then stores the acquired printing device information in the RAM 105 via the storage unit 204. The CPU 103 also stores the same information in the external storage device 106 via the storage unit 204 as necessary. Note that in S901, the CPU 103 may also acquire the printing device information via the control unit 202 from a management server (not shown) that manages the printing device 110.

[0053] In S902, the CPU 103 acquires print setting information set by the user on the print setting screen 300 via the input unit 201, and stores the acquired print setting information via the storage unit 204 in the RAM 105. The print setting information includes height information for label data for each layout target for which the check box 312 is selected, number of copies information 313, and information about the layout pattern set in the layout pattern setting unit 331. The information about the layout pattern includes information about the spacing of the label data in the length direction of the roll paper.

[0054] In S903, the CPU 103 calculates the diameter of the roll paper after winding using the control unit 202 based on the information stored in S901 and S902 by the storage unit 204. Then, the CPU 103 causes the storage unit 204 to store the calculation result in the RAM 105.

[0055] As an example of a method for calculating the diameter 402 of the roll paper after winding, the following (Equation 1) can be used.

[0056] TIFF2025167840000002.tif10170 The "print length" shown in (Equation 1) is, for example, the length of the lane that is longest among the multiple lanes shown in FIG. 3, calculated using the formula (height of the label to be printed + spacing between labels) x number of copies information 313. In other words, the "print length" is a value that indicates the length of the print medium required to print all of the set images in the length direction of the print medium, and is hereinafter referred to as the print volume. As described above, the print volume can be calculated using the height of the label data, number of copies information 313, spacing between label data, etc.

[0057] The relationship between the print amount and the excess amount will now be explained. In the excess amount feeding mode, the printing device 110 prints the print amount of labels and then feeds out the excess amount of roll paper from the supply roll paper 111. In other words, the excess amount refers to the length of excess printing medium that is allocated to the print product and that is provided independently of the printing of labels.

[0058] In S904, the CPU 103 acquires finishing information via the input unit 201. Then, the CPU 103 stores the acquired finishing information in the RAM 105 via the storage unit 204. The finishing information is winding information that indicates the winding method for the printed roll paper, and is set in the finishing method selection section 332 of the print setting area 330.

[0059] In S905, the CPU 103 reads the finishing information stored in the RAM 105 by the storage unit 204 using the control unit 202, and determines whether or not the wrapping is face-up. If the CPU 103 determines that the wrapping is face-up (Yes), the process proceeds to S906, and if the CPU 103 determines that the wrapping is not face-up (No), the process proceeds to S907.

[0060] At S906, the CPU 103 reads the wound roll paper diameter 402 stored in RAM 105 at S903 using the control unit 202, and calculates the circumference of the wound roll paper. One method for calculating the circumference of the wound roll paper is to use the formula wound roll paper diameter 402 x 3.14. The CPU 103 then uses the control unit 202 to add the length of the roll paper used to print the information entered in the text input area 334 (hereinafter referred to as the text information length) to the calculated circumference. The CPU 103 then uses the storage unit 204 to store the calculated circumference with the text information length added in RAM 105 as an excess amount. Note that the calculation of the wound roll paper circumference may be performed together with the calculation of the print amount and the calculation of the wound roll paper diameter at S903.

[0061] In S907, the CPU 103 controls the control unit 202 to store the text information length as an excess amount in the RAM 105 using the storage unit 204.

[0062] In S908, the CPU 103 causes the control unit 202 to add the excess amount calculated in S906 or S907 to the print amount calculated from the print setting information acquired in S902. Then, the CPU 103 causes the storage unit 204 to store the print amount to which the excess amount has been added as the winding length in the RAM 105. Note that if the height of the label data differs for each lane, the print amount of the lane with the longest calculated print amount is stored.

[0063] In S909, the CPU 103 causes the control unit 202 to compare the remaining amount of the supply roll paper 111 stored in the RAM 105 in S901 with the winding length stored in the RAM 105 in S908.

[0064] In S910, the CPU 103, via the control unit 202, determines whether the remaining amount of the supply roll paper 111 is longer than the winding length. If the CPU 103 determines that the remaining amount of the supply roll paper 111 is longer than the winding length (Yes), the process proceeds to S911; if the CPU 103 determines that this is not the case (No), the process proceeds to S914.

[0065] In S911, CPU 103 determines whether information has been input into text input area 334 via input unit 201. At this time, CPU 103 acquires, via input unit 201, information indicating whether information has been input into text input area 334 as print setting information. The information indicating whether information has been input into text input area 334 is, for example, text information consisting of letters, symbols, and numbers, or blank information indicating that no information has been input into text input area 334. Alternatively, in S911, CPU 103 may acquire, via input unit 201, information indicating whether check box 333 has been selected as print setting information, and use that information to determine whether information has been input into text input area 334. If CPU 103 determines that information has been input into text input area 334 (Yes), the process proceeds to S912; if CPU 103 determines that information has not been input (No), the process proceeds to S913.

[0066] In S912, the CPU 103 displays Message 1 on the display unit 203. Message 1, shown in FIG. 5, reads, "An extra 40 cm of roll paper needs to be unwound. Do you want to continue printing?" This example shows a warning message that is displayed when "Front winding" is set in the finishing method selection unit 332 and information is entered in the text input area 334. In other words, as an example, in S906, 38 cm was calculated as the circumference of the roll paper after winding, and 2 cm was added as the length of the text information, and 40 cm is displayed as the extra amount on the display screen 500 in FIG. 5.

[0067] When CPU 103 determines through input unit 201 that button 501 has been selected by a user operation, output unit 205 generates print data and a print setting file that printing device 110 references during printing based on the information set on print setting screen 300. When CPU 103 determines through input unit 201 that button 502 has been selected by a user operation, output unit 205 generates print data and a print setting file, excluding any excess data. Then, CPU 103 ends the flowchart shown in FIG. 9.

[0068] If button 501 is selected by the user in S912, then after the label is printed in the printing device 110, an excess amount of roll paper including the area where the management information is printed is fed out. If button 502 is selected by the user in S912, then the label is printed in the printing device 110. In this case, the printing device 110 does not feed out an excess amount of roll paper. Furthermore, the user then operates a device for cutting roll paper to cut the roll paper. Alternatively, if the printing device 110 has a function for cutting roll paper, the roll paper will be cut automatically in the printing device 110.

[0069] In S913, the CPU 103 displays message 2 on the display unit 203. Message 2, shown in FIG. 6, reads, "An extra 38 cm of roll paper needs to be unwound. Do you want to continue printing?" This example shows a warning message that is displayed when "front winding" is set in the finishing method selection section 332 and no information is entered in the text input area 334. Note that if "reverse winding" is set in the finishing method selection section 332, the CPU 103 does not need to display this message on the display unit 203.

[0070] If CPU 103 determines via input unit 201 that button 601 has been selected by a user operation, output unit 205 generates print data and a print setting file that printing device 110 references during printing based on the information set on print setting screen 300. If CPU 103 determines via input unit 201 that button 602 has been selected by a user operation, output unit 205 generates print data and a print setting file, excluding any excess data. CPU 103 then ends the flowchart shown in FIG. Subsequent processing by printing device 110 is the same as the processing after S912 described above, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0071] In S914, the CPU 103, via the control unit 202, determines whether the excess amount calculated in S906 or S907 can be allocated to printing. That is, the CPU 103 determines whether the remaining amount of the supply roll paper 111 is the same as or longer than the amount of printing. If the CPU 103 determines that the remaining amount of the supply roll paper 111 is the same as or longer than the amount of printing (Yes), it proceeds to S915; if it determines that this is not the case (No), it proceeds to S916.

[0072] In S915, the CPU 103 displays message 3 on the display unit 203. Message 3, shown in Fig. 7, reads, "An extra 40 cm of roll paper needs to be unwound. There is not enough roll paper remaining, so the extra amount shown cannot be unwound. Do you want to continue printing?" This example shows a warning message that is displayed when "face-up winding" is set in the finishing method selection section 332 and information is entered in the text input area 334.

[0073] When CPU 103 determines through input unit 201 that button 701 has been selected by a user operation, output unit 205 generates print data and a print setting file that printing device 110 references during printing based on the information set on print setting screen 300. When CPU 103 determines through input unit 201 that button 702 has been selected by a user operation, output unit 205 generates print data and a print setting file excluding excess data. Then, CPU 103 ends the flowchart shown in FIG. 9.

[0074] If button 701 is selected by the user in S915, then, after a label is printed in the printer 110, a length of roll paper shorter than the excess amount shown in Fig. 7 is fed, and the roll paper feeding process is stopped. If button 702 is selected by the user in S915, then label printing is performed in the printer 110. In this case, the printer 110 does not feed out the excess amount of roll paper.

[0075] In S916, the CPU 103 displays message 4 on the display unit 203. Message 3, shown in FIG. 8, reads, "There is not enough roll paper. Do you want to continue printing?"

[0076] When CPU 103 determines through input unit 201 that button 801 has been selected by a user operation, output unit 205 generates print data and a print setting file that printing device 110 references during printing based on the information set on print setting screen 300. When CPU 103 determines through input unit 201 that button 802 has been selected by a user operation, it does not generate print data or a print setting file and ends the flowchart shown in FIG.

[0077] If the button 801 is selected by the user in S916, then, for example, the printing process is stopped after the label is partially printed in the printer 110. If the button 802 is selected by the user in S916, then the printer 110 does not print any labels.

[0078] According to this embodiment, the excess amount is calculated based on the information set on the print settings screen and the information obtained from the printing device, and is displayed, making it easy for the user to understand the excess amount required for printing. Also, by obtaining information on the remaining amount of roll paper from the printing device, the user can easily understand when the roll paper cannot be fed or when printing is not possible.

[0079] <<Second embodiment>> In the first embodiment, an example was described in which the information processing device 100 calculates the excess amount based on the print setting information in the print setting screen 300 and the print device information acquired from the print device 110, and displays the warnings shown in Figures 5 to 8 to the user.

[0080] In this embodiment, the warning message displayed when there is variation in the copy count information 313 for each label data displayed in the label data display area 310 will be described with reference to Figures 10 to 12. Note that the basic configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, so a detailed description will be omitted.

[0081] Figure 10 shows a print settings screen as an example of a case where there is variation in the copy count information for label data in the label data display area 310. Specifically, on the print settings screen shown in Figure 10, copy count information 313 for diamond-shaped label data indicates 500, while copy count information 1001 for circle-shaped label data and copy count information 1002 for triangle-shaped label data indicate 30, meaning there is variation in the copy count information.

[0082] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen 1100 displayed in the flowchart of FIG. 12 (described later) based on the print setting information set on the print setting screen shown in FIG. 10 . Display screen 1100 is a screen displayed when the Create button 335 is pressed when the number of labels placed in one of multiple lanes differs from the number of labels placed in the other lanes. Alternatively, display screen 1100 is a screen displayed when the Create button 335 is pressed when the print volume of labels placed in one of multiple lanes differs from the print volume of labels placed in the other lanes. Display screen 1100 displays a warning message confirming whether to print labels separately for lanes with different numbers of copies because the number of copies varies among multiple lanes. Display screen 1100 also displays a button 1101 for accepting consent to the warning message and a button 1102 for accepting disapproval of the message.

[0083] Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by the information processing device 100. With reference to Fig. 12, processing executed by the print application 200 running on the OS of the information processing device 100 when there is a variation in the number of copies printed among multiple lanes will be described. The flowchart shown in Fig. 12 starts when the print application 200 is started or the print setting screen 300 is displayed by the OS and the Create button 335 is pressed. Note that S1201, S1202, S1204, S1205, and S1207 are similar to S901, S902, S904, S905, and S907, respectively, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0084] In S1203, the CPU 103 calculates the diameter of the roll paper after winding for each lane using the control unit 202. Then, the CPU 103 causes the storage unit 204 to store the calculation results in the RAM 105.

[0085] As an example of a method for calculating diameter 402 of the roll paper after winding for each lane, the following (Equation 2) can be used: In this case, CPU 103, using control unit 202, calculates the print amount for each lane.

[0086] TIFF2025167840000003.tif10170 In S1206, the CPU 103 reads the wound roll paper diameter 402 for each lane that was saved in RAM 105 in S903, and calculates the wound roll paper circumference for each lane using the control unit 202. One method for calculating the wound roll paper circumference is to use the formula: wound roll paper diameter 402 x 3.14. The CPU 103 then adds the text information length to the calculated circumference using the control unit 202. The CPU 103 then saves the calculated circumference with the text information length added to it in RAM 105 using the storage unit 204 as the excess amount.

[0087] In S1208, the CPU 103 causes the control unit 202 to add the excess amount for each lane calculated in S1206 or S1207 to the print amount for each lane calculated from the print setting information acquired in S902. Then, the CPU 103 causes the storage unit 204 to store the print amount for each lane to which the excess amount for each lane has been added as the winding length for each lane in the RAM 105.

[0088] In S1209, CPU 103 acquires copy count information for each lane as print setting information from the print setting screen shown in Fig. 10 via input unit 201. Specifically, CPU 103 acquires copy count information 313, copy count information 1001, and copy count information 1002. Then, CPU 103 determines, via control unit 202, whether the number of copies differs between the lanes.

[0089] Alternatively, the CPU 103 may determine whether the print volume differs between lanes from the print volume for each lane calculated by the control unit 202 in step S1203 together with the diameter of the roll paper after winding for each lane.

[0090] If the CPU 103 determines that the number of copies or the print amount differs between the lanes (Yes) through the control unit 202, the process proceeds to S1210, and if it determines that this is not the case (No), the process proceeds to S1213.

[0091] In S1210, the CPU 103 displays a message on the display unit 203. This message, shown in Fig. 11, reads, "An extra 40 cm of roll paper needs to be unwound. Since the number of copies varies among multiple lanes, would you like to print on lanes 2 and 3 separately?" This example shows a warning message that is displayed when "Front winding" is set in the finishing method selection section 332 and information is entered in the text input area 334.

[0092] In S1211, the CPU 103 determines whether or not the button 1101 has been selected by a user operation via the input unit 201. If the CPU 103 determines that the button 1101 has been selected by a user operation (Yes), the process proceeds to S1212, and if the CPU 103 determines that the button 1102 has been selected by a user operation (No), the process proceeds to S1213.

[0093] In S1212, the CPU 103 generates print data divided by lane and a print setting file that the printing device 110 references when printing, based on the information set on the print setting screen shown in FIG. 10, using the output unit 205.

[0094] In S1213, the CPU 103 generates print data and a print setting file using the output unit 205 without dividing the data for each lane.

[0095] According to this embodiment, even if the number of copies of label data varies, the excess amount calculated based on the information set on the print setting screen and the information obtained from the printing device is displayed, allowing the user to easily understand the required excess amount when printing. Furthermore, if the number of copies of label data varies, the user is given the option of whether to print labels separately for lanes with consistent print amounts and lanes with inconsistent print amounts, making it easy for the user to create print data for each lane and print labels.

[0096] <<Other embodiments>> In the above embodiment, the example has been mainly described in which information is entered in text input area 334, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if check box 333 is not selected and no information is entered in text input area 334, the display of "40 cm" will change to "38 cm" as shown on display screen 600 in Fig. 6.

[0097] In this case, in steps S906 and S1206, or steps S907 and S1207, the CPU 103 performs control such that the text information length is not added by the control unit 202. Alternatively, the CPU 103 may add "0 cm" as the text information length.

[0098] In the above-described embodiment, an example of displaying a warning message indicating an excess amount has been described, but this is not limiting. For example, a message indicating whether information has been entered in text input area 334 may be displayed depending on whether information has been entered in text input area 334 or whether check box 333 has been selected. FIGS. 13, 14, and 15 are diagrams showing display screens for FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, respectively, on which messages indicating whether information has been entered in text input area 334 are displayed. Prior to such display, for example, CPU 103 acquires, via input unit 201, information indicating whether information has been entered in text input area 334 or information indicating whether check box 333 has been selected. Then, CPU 103 displays messages such as those shown in FIGS. 13 to 15 based on the acquired information via display unit 203.

[0099] In this way, by displaying a message indicating whether or not information has been entered in the text input area, the user can easily grasp the amount of excess information entered in the text input area, taking into account the length to be printed.

[0100] The present disclosure can also be realized by supplying a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and having one or more processors in the computer of the system or device read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

[0101] The disclosure of the present embodiment includes configurations typified by the following information processing device example, information processing method example for the information processing device, and program example.

[0102] <Configuration 1> a first acquiring means for acquiring printing device information including information indicating the remaining amount of printing medium in the printing device; a second acquisition means for acquiring print setting information including winding information indicating a winding method for the print product; a determining means for determining, based on the printing device information and the print setting information, a print length indicating a length of print medium required for printing an image on the print medium in the printing device, and a length of extra print medium allocated to the print product and provided independently of printing the image; a display control means for displaying a warning based on the print length, the length of the excess print medium, and the remaining amount of the print medium; An information processing device comprising:

[0103] <Configuration 2> 2. The information processing device according to configuration 1, wherein the excess length of the print medium includes the length of an area of ​​the print medium that is allocated to protect the print surface of the print result.

[0104] <Configuration 3> The information processing device described in configuration 1 or 2, characterized in that the printing length indicates the length of the printing medium required to print an image in each of a plurality of lanes that are divided into a predetermined number of sections in the width direction of the printing medium and extend along the length direction of the printing medium.

[0105] <Configuration 4> The information processing device described in any one of configurations 1 to 3, characterized in that the determination means determines the length of the excess printing medium based on the winding information indicating whether the printed product is wound front-side or back-side.

[0106] <Configuration 5> The face-up winding refers to a method of winding the printed product so that the printed surface of the wound printed product faces outward, 5. The information processing device according to configuration 4, wherein the reverse winding indicates a method of winding the printed product so that the printed surface faces inward.

[0107] <Configuration 6> The information processing device described in any one of configurations 1 to 5 is characterized in that, when the remaining amount of the printing medium is longer than the printing length plus the length of the excess printing medium, the display control means displays the length of the excess printing medium in the warning.

[0108] <Configuration 7> The information processing device described in any one of configurations 1 to 5, characterized in that the display control means displays a warning indicating that the remaining length of the printing medium cannot be unwound from the printing medium when the remaining length of the printing medium is shorter than the printing length plus the length of the excess printing medium, and longer than the printing length.

[0109] <Configuration 8> The information processing device according to any one of configurations 1 to 5, characterized in that the display control means displays a warning indicating that printing cannot be performed by the printing device when the remaining amount of the printing medium is shorter than the printing length.

[0110] <Configuration 9> the print setting information includes management information for a user to manage the print product; 9. The information processing device according to any one of configurations 1 to 8, wherein the determining unit determines the length of the excess printing medium based on the length of the printing medium required to print the management information.

[0111] <Configuration 10> the print setting information includes information indicating whether management information for a user to manage the print product is set or not; 10. The information processing apparatus according to any one of configurations 1 to 9, wherein the display control means displays whether or not the management information has been set in the warning.

[0112] <Configuration 11> The information processing device described in configuration 3 is characterized in that, when the length of the printing medium required to print an image on the printing medium in a first lane among the plurality of lanes is different from the length of the printing medium required to print an image on the printing medium in a second lane among the plurality of lanes that is different from the first lane, the display control means displays a warning to confirm that printing in the first lane and printing in the second lane will be performed separately on the printing device.

[0113] <Configuration 12> a generating unit that generates print data to be used for printing by the printing device in response to a user's operation on the display screen of the warning displayed by the display control unit; The information processing device according to configuration 11, wherein the generation means generates the print data by dividing it into the first lane and the second lane in response to a user operation on an operator displayed on the display screen that accepts consent to printing in the first lane and printing in the second lane separately on the printing device.

[0114] <Configuration 13> a first acquisition step of acquiring printing device information including information indicating the remaining amount of printing medium in the printing device; a second acquisition step of acquiring print setting information including winding information indicating a winding method for the print product; a determining step of determining, based on the printing device information and the print setting information, a print length indicating a length of print medium required to print an image on the print medium in the printing device, and a length of extra print medium allocated to the print product and provided independently of printing the image; a display control step capable of displaying a warning based on the printing length, the length of the excess printing medium, and the remaining amount of the printing medium; An information processing method of an information processing device comprising:

[0115] <Configuration 14> A program for causing a computer to function as each means of the information processing device described in any one of configurations 1 to 12. [Explanation of symbols]

[0116] 100 Information processing device 103 CPU 105 RAM 110 Printing device 300 Print setting screen

Claims

1. a first acquiring means for acquiring printing device information including information indicating the remaining amount of printing medium in the printing device; a second acquisition means for acquiring print setting information including winding information indicating a winding method for the print product; a determining means for determining, based on the printing device information and the print setting information, a print length indicating a length of print medium required for printing an image on the print medium in the printing device, and a length of extra print medium allocated to the print product and provided independently of printing the image; a display control means for displaying a warning based on the print length, the length of the excess print medium, and the remaining amount of the print medium; An information processing device comprising:

2. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the excess length of the print medium includes a length of an area of ​​the print medium that is allocated to protect the print surface of the print result.

3. 2. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the printing length indicates the length of the printing medium required to print an image in each of a plurality of lanes that are divided into a predetermined number of lanes in the width direction of the printing medium and extend along the length direction of the printing medium.

4. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determining unit determines the length of the excess print medium based on the winding information indicating whether the print product is wound on the front side or the back side.

5. The face-up winding refers to a method of winding the printed product so that the printed surface of the wound printed product faces outward, The information processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the reverse winding indicates a method of winding the printed product so that the printed surface faces inward.

6. The information processing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, when the remaining amount of the printing medium is longer than the printing length plus the length of the excess printing medium, the display control means displays the length of the excess printing medium in the warning.

7. The information processing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the display control means displays a warning indicating that the length of the excess printing medium cannot be unwound from the printing medium when the remaining amount of the printing medium is shorter than the printing length plus the length of the excess printing medium and longer than the printing length.

8. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control means displays a warning indicating that printing cannot be performed by the printing device when the remaining amount of the printing medium is shorter than the printing length.

9. the print setting information includes management information for a user to manage the print product; 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determining unit determines the length of the excess print medium based on the length of the print medium required to print the management information.

10. the print setting information includes information indicating whether management information for a user to manage the print product is set or not; 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control means displays, in the warning, information indicating whether or not the management information has been set.

11. The information processing device according to claim 3, characterized in that, when the length of the printing medium required to print an image on the printing medium in a first lane among the plurality of lanes is different from the length of the printing medium required to print an image on the printing medium in a second lane among the plurality of lanes that is different from the first lane, the display control means displays a warning to confirm that printing in the first lane and printing in the second lane will be performed separately on the printing device.

12. a generating unit that generates print data to be used for printing by the printing device in response to a user's operation on the warning display screen displayed by the display control unit; 12. The information processing device according to claim 11, wherein the generation means generates the print data by dividing it into the first lane and the second lane in response to a user operation on an operator displayed on the display screen that accepts consent to printing in the first lane and printing in the second lane separately on the printing device.

13. a first acquisition step of acquiring printing device information including information indicating the remaining amount of printing medium in the printing device; a second acquisition step of acquiring print setting information including winding information indicating a winding method for the print product; a determining step of determining, based on the printing device information and the print setting information, a print length indicating a length of print medium required to print an image on the print medium in the printing device, and a length of extra print medium allocated to the print product and provided independently of printing the image; a display control step capable of displaying a warning based on the printing length, the length of the excess printing medium, and the remaining amount of the printing medium; An information processing method of an information processing device comprising:

14. A program for causing a computer to function as each of the means of the information processing device according to claim 1.

Images