Control method for applications and information processing devices.

Abstract

In standard printing using IPP, print settings are configured using the OS standard print driver, making it impossible to display image previews or images related to finishing functions, as was possible with traditional vendor drivers. This resulted in a problem where users were prone to making mistakes in setting finishing functions. [Solution] An application installed on a computer that controls a printing device 100 having a finishing function, characterized in that the computer uses IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) to obtain capability information from the printing device (S402), if a data link is set for the setting of the finishing function in the capability information, it obtains the information of the data link destination and saves it in a storage area (S404), and displays the information corresponding to the setting of the finishing function selected on the print setting screen (S409).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an application for an information processing apparatus capable of displaying an image of print processing in a printing apparatus, and a control method for the information processing apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Finishing functions of printing apparatuses include stapling, punching, and bookbinding functions. By using these functions, users can improve the appearance of printed matter and enhance work efficiency. On the other hand, since the finished state and processing details of the finishing functions are difficult for users to understand at the time of print setting, users may make incorrect settings. Accordingly, printing apparatuses and vendor printer drivers have been devised to prevent users from making incorrect settings by providing users with images or previews of the finished state for finishing functions to encourage visual confirmation (Patent Document 1).

[0003] Meanwhile, in recent years, general-purpose printer drivers using IPP, an industry-standard protocol called standard printing, have been provided by operating systems, allowing users to use printing apparatuses without installing vendor-specific printer drivers. Finishing functions are also defined in IPP (Internet Printing Protocol), and the printing apparatus can set all finishing functions including stapling, punching, and folding functions provided by itself. For example, the following are included. - Combination data (Finishings-col-database) that can describe the positions of stapling, punching, and folding in detail. - Data of currently available combinations of finishing functions (Finishings-col-ready). A technique is described in Non-Patent Document 1 in which a printing apparatus holds these items and notifies the client of them, and the client can provide finishing functions to the user by using the combination data notified from the printing apparatus.

[0004] However, the definition of finishing functions is complex, and vendors can define their own functions, making it difficult to achieve the kind of image and preview corresponding to finishing settings provided by conventional vendor drivers using generic printer drivers provided by the OS. Furthermore, there was a possibility that users might make incorrect settings when configuring finishing functions provided by generic printer drivers. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2018-069568 [Non-patent literature]

[0006] [Non-Patent Document 1] "PWG5100.1-2022 IPP Finishings 3.0(FIN)", The Printer Working Group, 2022, p.41 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] In standard printing using IPP, the OS provides a generic printer driver, making it difficult to display image previews or images related to finishing functions, as was done with traditional vendor drivers. This creates a problem where users may make mistakes in setting finishing functions because they cannot visually confirm the finished state. To solve the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a mechanism that displays appropriate finished images and explanations for finishing functions even in general-purpose printer drivers provided by the OS. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] According to this disclosure, the present invention relates to an application installed on a computer that controls a printing device having a finishing function, characterized in that the computer uses IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) to obtain capability information from the printing device, and if a data link is set for the finishing function setting of the capability information, it obtains the information of the data link destination and stores it in a storage area, and displays the information corresponding to the finishing function setting selected on the print settings screen. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, even general-purpose printer drivers can provide users with images and explanations of the appropriate finish for each finishing function. This allows users to visually confirm the finish for each setting, thus preventing setting errors. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] Diagram showing the overall configuration of the system in this embodiment. [Figure 2] This diagram shows the hardware configuration of the client computer in this embodiment. [Figure 3] Block diagram of the hardware configuration of the printer in this embodiment [Figure 4] Sequence diagram of the image display process for the finished state in this embodiment [Figure 5A] Examples of Finishings-col-ready and Finishings-col-database packets in this embodiment [Figure 5B] Examples of Finishings-col-ready and Finishings-col-database packets in this embodiment [Figure 6A] Example of the print settings UI display in this embodiment [Figure 6B] Example of the print settings UI display in this embodiment [Figure 7] Process for obtaining images and explanations of finishing functions from the printer of this embodiment [Figure 8] Diagram showing the overall configuration of the system of Embodiment 2 [Figure 9] Block diagram of the hardware configuration of the preview image generation server of Embodiment 2 [Figure 10] Sequence diagram of preview image acquisition processing of Embodiment 2 [Figure 11] Processing of acquiring the image and description of finishing functions from the printer of Embodiment 2 [Figure 12] Display example of the print setting UI of Embodiment 2 [Mode for Carrying Out the Invention]

[0011] Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. [Embodiment 1] • Overall configuration of the printing system Figure 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a printing system that simplifies the environment of a network 150 showing an embodiment of the present invention. A client computer 100 and a printer 200 are communicably connected to the network 150 which is an intranet. Hardware configuration (Client Computer) Figure 2 shows a functional block diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of the client computer 100 which is an information processing apparatus related to the embodiment of the present invention. The CPU 101 controls the entire apparatus according to programs stored in the ROM 1021, the RAM 1022 of the main storage device 102, or the auxiliary storage device 105. Here, "CPU" is an abbreviation for Central Processing Unit, "ROM" is an abbreviation for Read Only Memory, and "RAM" is an abbreviation for Random Access Memory.

[0012] The RAM 1022 is also used as a work area when the CPU 101 performs various types of processing. The auxiliary storage device 105 stores the operating system (OS) 1053, applications 1051, print settings extension applications 1052, OS standard print drivers 1054, etc. In the following description, the main storage device 102 and the auxiliary storage device 105 will be collectively referred to as "storage device". Input devices such as pointing devices 109 (represented by mice and touch panels) and keyboards 108 are connected via the input I / F 103 and are devices used by users to give various instructions to the computer. Output I / F 104 is an interface for outputting data externally, and outputs data to output devices such as monitor 110 and panel 111. Communication I / F106 connects to the printer 200 and other systems, enabling communication via network 150. The Common Data System Bus 107 facilitates data exchange between interfaces and modules.

[0013] Application 1051 represents a general-purpose business application, such as a typical application capable of editing documents and creating presentation materials, and is expected to allow printing commands through the operation of a UI such as menus. The print settings extension application 1052 works in conjunction with the OS standard print driver 1054 (described later) and is application software for performing detailed print settings specific to the target printer. The OS standard print driver 1054 is a standard printer driver included in the operating system 1053. It is a printer control program that only supports basic print settings regardless of the printer model. Furthermore, the OS standard print driver 1054 utilizes the IPP (Integrated Printing Protocol) protocol to access print services.

[0014] (Printer) Figure 3 shows the functional block of a printer 200, which is an example of an image processing apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention. The control unit 221, which includes the CPU 222, controls the operation of the entire printer 200. The CPU 222 reads control programs stored in memory 223 and storage unit 224 and performs various controls such as print control and read control. Memory 223 is used as a temporary storage area for deploying work areas or various control programs. The storage unit 224 stores print data, image data, various programs, and various setting information. In this embodiment, the storage unit 224 is assumed to be an auxiliary storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), but a non-volatile memory such as an SSD (Solid State Drive) may be used instead of an HDD. Thus, the hardware, including the CPU 222, memory 223, and storage unit 224, constitutes what is known as a computer.

[0015] The processing unit 230 has the functionality of a RIP (Raster Image Processor) that decomposes print data received via the network and generates a print image. The processing unit 230 also has image processing capabilities and can perform image resolution conversion and correction processing. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the image processing unit is implemented as a hardware circuit (such as an ASIC or FPGA), but it is not limited to this. For example, the printer 200 may be equipped with a processor for image processing, and this image processing processor may execute an image processing program to perform image processing and decomposition of print data. Furthermore, the CPU 222 may execute a program for image processing, and be configured to perform image processing and decomposition of print data. Alternatively, image processing may be performed by any combination of these methods.

[0016] The operation unit 227 is equipped with a liquid crystal display with touch panel functionality and various hard keys, and functions as a display unit 226 for displaying information and a reception unit for receiving user instructions. It also reads documents and generates scanned images. The generated scanned images are stored in the storage unit 224. The print image generated by analyzing the print data by the processing unit 230 is transferred from the control unit 221 to the printing unit 228. The printing unit 228 receives control commands and print images via the control unit 221 and prints the image on a sheet fed from the paper cassette (not shown) based on the image. The control unit 221 is connected to the network 150 via the network communication unit 225. The network communication unit 225 transmits images and information to communication devices on the network 150 and receives print data and information from communication devices on the network 150.

[0017] The printer information storage unit 229 stores a hardware ID (hereinafter referred to as "HWID"), which is an identifier for uniquely identifying the printer 200, an icon image showing the appearance of the printer, an image of the finishing status, and explanatory text. This printer information storage unit 229 may also be located in the storage unit 224. In this embodiment, as described above, the client computer 100, which is an information processing device, is connected to the printer 200 via a network 150. Furthermore, the client computer 100 is assigned the OS standard print driver 1054 as the program for controlling the printer 200, and printing using the standard printing protocol, IPP, is available.

[0018] • Image display processing of the finished state Figure 4 shows a sequence diagram of the processing when the OS standard print driver 1054 in Embodiment 1 acquires an image of the finished state from the printer and presents it to the user. On S401, the user is instructed to select a printer and open the print settings UI. In S402, the OS standard print driver 1054 attempts to obtain capability information for the printer 200 selected by the user in S401 using the IPP-defined Operation Get-printer-attributes. The information obtained at this time includes color information, media type, media information, and finishing information. Finishing information includes Finishings-col-ready, Finishings-col-database, and Finishings-supported. In S403, the printer 200 returns a response to the OS standard print driver 1054 containing capability information, including the finishing functions, which was requested in S402 using Get-printer-attributes.

[0019] Examples of the capability information Finishings-col-ready and Finishings-col-database, which are responded to in S403, are shown in Figures 5A and 5B. The Finishings-col-ready variable returns a list of finishing functions currently available on the printer. The Finishings-col-database returns a list of all finishing functions defined in the printer.

[0020] (Finishings-col-ready) In Finishings-col-ready, shown in Figure 5A, elements 501, 503, 504, and 505 are available finishing functions. Element 501 is a notation for finishing functions indicating bookbinding and printing, and its member attributes include imposition-template, folding, and stitching. In the folding instructions, you can specify whether to fold inward or outward, and where the paper is folded using stitching-reference-edge and stitching-offset.

[0021] Furthermore, all coordinate systems in IPP are defined in portrait mode. According to this coordinate system, element 501 is folded inward at a distance of 148.50 mm from the top edge (reference edge) towards the bottom edge. The stapling instructions indicate that the stapling position for element 501 is 148.50 mm from the top edge (reference edge) towards the bottom edge. Additionally, the instructions indicate that stapling should be performed at positions 70.00 mm and 140.00 mm to the right, with the top-left vertex of the top edge as the origin, as specified in stitching-locations. Furthermore, the member attributes of `image` and `txt`, shown in element 502, indicate the locations where the image and description representing this finishing function are stored, respectively. Element 503 indicates a finishing function that shows a fold in half, and is a process of folding inward by 148.50 mm from the top edge (reference edge) to the bottom edge. Element 504 is a vendor-specific finishing function notation indicating a bi-fold (outward fold), which is a process of folding outwards from the top edge (reference edge) to the bottom edge by 148.50 mm. Element 505 is a vendor-specific finishing function notation indicating stapleless binding, and it is a process that performs stapleless binding at a position 7.00 mm from the left edge (the reference edge) toward the right edge, and at a position 290.00 mm from the lower left corner of the left edge as the origin.

[0022] (Finishings-col-database) Figure 5B shows that the Finishings-col-database contains all finishing functions, including Finishings-col-ready. The member attributes that describe the details of the finishing functions are the same as those for Finishings-col-ready, so their explanation is omitted.

[0023] In S404, the OS standard print driver 1054, if a member attribute indicated by element 502 is specified for each finishing attribute of the finishing mechanism acquired in S403, requests the acquisition of the image and description indicated by that member attribute from the location where that member attribute is stored. Here, the finishing functions are finishings-col-database and finishings-col-ready. Specifically, when retrieving the image and description defined in element 502, the HTTP GET method is used for each of the following URIs. http: / / 192.168.0.5 / image / finishing / booklet-maker.png http: / / 192.168.0.5 / image / finishing / booklet-maker.txt

[0024] In S405, if the URIs for the image and description requested in S404 are correct, the printer 200 responds to the OS standard print driver 1054 with the requested image and description data, respectively. The OS standard print driver 1054 receives the image and description data and stores it in its own memory. In S406, the OS standard print driver 1054 generates the print settings UI using the image and description data stored in its memory in S405. At this time, the OS standard print driver 1054 displays the color information, media type, media information, finishing functions, etc., that were responded to in S403 in the print settings UI. The finishing functions are described in Finishings-col-ready and Finishings-col-database. Furthermore, if images and descriptions for each finishing function have been stored in memory in S405, the system is configured to display the corresponding images and descriptions when each finishing item is selected in the print settings UI, which is the print settings screen.

[0025] <Print Settings UI> Figures 6A and 6B (hereinafter collectively referred to as "Figure 6") show the results when each finishing item is selected in the print settings UI, which is the print settings screen. Figures 6(a), (b), (c), and (d) correspond to the finishing functions of elements 501, 503, 504, and 505 in Figure 5, respectively. Figure 6(a) is "Bookbinding", (b) is "Saddle Fold 1", (c) is "Saddle Fold 2", and (d) is "Stapleless Binding", with images and explanations displayed next to them. In S407, the user selects the finishing process from the print settings UI, which is the print settings screen. In S408, the OS standard print driver 1054 presents to the user any images or descriptions that were responded to in S405. For example, if booklet printing is selected by the user in S407, images and descriptions corresponding to booklet printing are displayed on the print settings UI as shown in Figure 6(a). In this way, the OS standard print driver 1054 presents the image and description data for booklet printing that were responded to in S405 to the user in the print settings UI. This allows the user to visually confirm the finished state of the finishing function, which is expected to help prevent setting errors.

[0026] • Preview image display processing (OS standard print driver) Figure 7 shows a flowchart of the process performed by the OS standard print driver 1054 when the user instructs it to open the print settings UI, which is the print settings screen. This flowchart begins with the OS standard print driver 1054 receiving a command from the user to open the print settings UI of the connected printer. In S701, the OS standard print driver 1054 retrieves capability information for the printer selected by the user. Details are described in S402 and S403 above and are therefore omitted here. In S702, if the finishing function acquired in S701 has a data link for an image or description showing the finished state of the finishing function as shown in element 502 (if Yes in S702), the process proceeds to S703. On the other hand, if it does not have any data links at all (if No in S702), the process proceeds to S705. Here, the finishing functions are Finishings-col-ready and Finishings-col-database.

[0027] In S703, if the relevant data for each finishing function has not been acquired and saved in the memory area (if S703 is Yes), the process proceeds to S704. On the other hand, if data for all finishing functions exists in the memory area (if S703 is No), the process proceeds to S705. In this case, to avoid performance degradation caused by acquiring already acquired data every time, the OS standard print driver 1054 maintains a list of data links that have already been acquired in its own memory area as information to determine whether the relevant data has already been acquired. This list is stored in the memory area associated with the print queue generated when the printer is registered with the OS standard print driver 1054, and the acquisition process is skipped for data listed in this list. In S704, the OS standard print driver 1054 retrieves data from the data link destination for the finishing function acquired in S701 using the HTTP GET method. If the data acquisition is successful, the data is saved in the memory area associated with the print queue, and the acquired data link is added to the list of already acquired data links.

[0028] In S705, the OS standard print driver 1054 generates a print settings UI, which is a print settings screen, using data stored in its own memory and capability information acquired by S701. If a print setting item for which data has been obtained by the user is selected in S706 (Yes in S706), the process proceeds to S707; otherwise (No in S706), this process ends. In S707, the OS standard print driver 1054 displays data including images and descriptions corresponding to the target print settings item stored in memory on the print settings UI, and then terminates this process. With the above configuration, even in standard printing using IPP, it is possible to provide users with images and explanations of finishing functions, similar to those previously provided by vendor drivers. Embodiment 1 describes a method in which the OS standard print driver 1054 obtains capabilities from the printer and displays the obtained data on the print settings UI, but other methods may also be used. For example, the OS standard print driver 1054 or the app 1052 that extends functionality in conjunction with the OS standard print driver 1054 may perform similar processing instead of the OS standard print driver 1054. In addition, instead of the print settings extension app 1052 obtaining images and descriptions of finishing functions from the printer, the print settings extension app 1052 may store images and descriptions of finishing functions in its own memory beforehand. Then, as shown in Figure 6, images and descriptions corresponding to the user's selection may be displayed on the print settings UI. As described above, this embodiment allows users to visually confirm the finished state and reduces errors in user print settings.

[0029] [Embodiment 2] In Embodiment 1, the printer held images and descriptions indicating the finished state for each finishing function in Finishings-col-ready and Finishings-col-database. The printer then responded to the OS standard print driver 1054 with this data link as a member attribute of each finishing function in Finishings-col-ready and Finishings-col-database. This allowed the images and descriptions for the finishing functions to be displayed on the print settings UI of the OS standard print driver 1054. However, in Embodiment 1, the printer responded with a preview image of only the finishing function, without considering other print settings, and could only provide static images for each finishing function. On the other hand, with conventional vendor drivers, for example, when the print settings "2in1" and "Bookbinding" were selected, the preview image could reflect the finished image of bookbinding in 2in1. Therefore, Embodiment 2 describes a configuration in which the OS standard print driver 1054 can display a preview image that includes not only the finishing function but also other print settings in the print settings UI.

[0030] Figure 8 shows the overall system configuration in Embodiment 2. Similar to Figure 1, the client computer 100, which is an information processing device, and the printer 200 are connected to the network 150 in a way that allows them to communicate. In Embodiment 2, a preview image generation server 800 is also connected to the network 150 in a way that allows it to communicate.

[0031] • Hardware configuration (preview image generation server) Figure 9 shows a functional block diagram of the preview image generation server 800. The control unit 903, which includes the CPU 904, controls the overall operation of the preview image generation server 800. The CPU 904 reads control programs from the memory 905 and the preview generation unit 901, and performs various controls such as preview generation. Memory 905 is used as a temporary storage area for deploying work areas or various control programs. The control unit 903 is connected to the network 150 via the network communication unit 906. The preview generation unit 901 is a module that generates a preview image according to the specified print settings in accordance with the preview generation request received by the network communication unit 906. The memory unit 902 stores image parts and other elements for generating a preview image in the preview generation unit 901. The network communication unit 906 transmits images and information to communication devices on the network 150 and receives information from communication devices on the network 150.

[0032] • Preview image acquisition sequence Figure 10 is a sequence diagram of the process in Embodiment 2 when the OS standard print driver 1054 retrieves a preview image from the preview image generation server 800 and presents it to the user. In S1001, the user is instructed to select a printer and open the print settings UI. In S1002, the OS standard print driver 1054 requests the printer 200 to acquire capabilities. This is the same process as in S402, but in Embodiment 2, in addition to the capability information requested in S402, the URL to the preview image generation server is queried using Get-Printer-Attributes. In S1003, the printer 200 responds to the OS standard print driver 1054 with the capabilities requested in S1002. In S1004, the OS standard print driver 1054 generates a print settings UI based on the capabilities that responded in S1003. In S1005, the user selects a print setting item in the print settings UI.

[0033] In S1006, the OS standard print driver 1054 sends a list of print settings selected by the user in S1005 to the preview image generation server 800, thereby requesting the generation of a preview image corresponding to those print settings. Specifically, the request is made using the HTTP POST method. The request body includes a JSON representation of the print settings selected by the user. In this case, the model name may be included to identify the machine in order to output a more accurate preview image. In S1007, the preview image generation server 800, upon receiving the request, reads the print settings in the request body and generates a preview image that shows the print output based on those print settings. In S1008, the preview image generation server 800 responds to the POST request received in S1006 with the generated preview image and a status code indicating success. In S1009, the preview image responded to in S1008 is presented to the user.

[0034] • Preview image display processing (OS standard print driver) Figure 11 is a flowchart illustrating the process in Embodiment 2 when the OS standard print driver 1054 acquires a preview image from the preview image generation server 800 and presents it to the user. This process is achieved by the execution of the OS standard print driver 1054, which is stored in the auxiliary storage device 105, by the CPU 101 of the client computer 100, which is an information processing device. This flowchart begins with the user issuing a command to display the print settings UI for the OS standard print driver 1054 associated with printer 200. The processes in S1101 and S1102 are the same as those in S1002 to S1004 in Figure 10, so they are omitted here. In S1103, the OS standard print driver 1054 detects a change in print settings by the user in the print settings UI (if the answer in S1103 is Yes), then proceeds to S1104; otherwise, it waits in S1103. In S1104, if a URL to the preview image generation server was returned when the capability information of printer 200 was obtained in S1101 (if the answer in S1104 is Yes), the process proceeds to S1105. Otherwise (if the answer in S1104 is No), the process proceeds to S1107. The process in S1105 is the same as the process in S1006, so the explanation is omitted. In S1106, if it is determined that a preview image was obtained in S1105 (i.e., Yes in S1106), the process proceeds to S1111. On the other hand, if it was not obtained (i.e., No in S1106), the process proceeds to S1107.

[0035] In S1107, it is determined whether the item selected by the user in the print settings UI is a finishing function. If the selected item is a finishing function (Yes in S1107), the process proceeds to S1108. Otherwise (No in S1107), this process is terminated. In S1108, if the connected printer provides image files and explanatory links for the finishing function selected in S1108 (Yes in S1108), the process proceeds to S1109. Otherwise (No in S1108), this process is terminated. Here, the finishing function is either Finishings-col-database or Finishings-col-ready. In S1109, similar to S703, the OS standard print driver 1054 refers to a list for managing acquired data and determines whether it has previously acquired the image and description links for the target Finishings. If it has not been acquired (Yes in S1109), the process proceeds to S1110. Otherwise (No in S1109), the process proceeds to S1111. In S1110, the OS standard print driver 1054 retrieves data from the acquired Finishings-col-ready and Finishings-col-database data links for the finishing function using the HTTP GET method. It then saves the data to the memory area associated with the print queue and adds the acquired data link to the list that manages acquired data links. In S1111, if the OS standard print driver 1054 has obtained a preview image from the preview image generation server 800 in S1106, it presents the user with a preview image of the current print settings in the print settings UI as shown in Figure 12. In Figure 12, the user has set paper size: A4, color: color, Nup: 2in1, and finishing: booklet, and the preview image corresponding to the above settings obtained from the preview image generation server 800 is displayed in 1201. Alternatively, if the user selects the corresponding finishing function (Finishings) setting, the preview is displayed by referring to the image and description of the Finishings that have been obtained in S1110 and S1109.

[0036] With the above configuration, even in standard printing using IPP, it is possible to provide users with preview images that take into account print settings beyond the finishing functions previously handled by vendor drivers, by utilizing the preview image generation server 800. Embodiment 2 describes a method in which the OS standard print driver 1054 acquires capabilities from the printer, retrieves a preview image based on the currently set settings from the preview image generation server 800, and displays it on the print settings UI. However, the OS standard print driver 1054 or the print settings extension application 1052, which extends the functionality in conjunction with the OS standard print driver 1054, may perform the same processing instead of the OS standard print driver 1054. Furthermore, instead of the print settings extension application 1052 retrieving a preview image based on the print settings from the preview image generation server 800, it may pre-store preview image parts corresponding to the print settings in the storage area of ​​the print settings extension application 1052. Then, as shown in Figure 12, it may generate a preview image by combining preview image parts corresponding to the user's selection and display it on the print settings UI. As described above, this embodiment allows users to visually confirm the finished state, taking other print settings into account, through a preview image, thereby reducing errors in the user's print settings. In this disclosure, the finishing function was used as an example of a setting where image display is difficult with the OS standard driver. However, the technical concept of this disclosure is to enable image and preview display for functions that the OS standard driver does not fully support in print settings, and this can be applied to any function that the driver does not support.

[0037] (Other embodiments) The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that implements one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or storage medium, and by having one or more processors in the computer of that system or device read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., an ASIC) that implements one or more functions.

[0038] This embodiment includes the following programs and methods. (Program 1) An application installed on a computer that controls a printing device having a finishing function, to the computer Using IPP (Internet Printing Protocol), we obtain capability information from the printing device. If a data link is set in the setting of the finishing function for the aforementioned capability information, the information of the data link destination is acquired and stored in the memory area. The information corresponding to the finishing function setting selected on the print settings screen will be displayed. An application characterized by the following. (Program 2) The information at the aforementioned data link destination is an image and description of the finishing function. An application according to Program 1, characterized by the following: (Program 3) If the information of the data link destination has already been obtained, the printer will not be allowed to obtain it. An application according to program 1 or 2, characterized by the above. (Program 4) An application installed on a computer that controls a printing device, which is connected to a server and a network and has finishing functions, to the computer Using IPP (Internet Printing Protocol), the printer is made to obtain capability information and the URL of the server. The server is then instructed to request a preview image of the print settings selected on the displayed print settings screen. If the preview image can be retrieved from the server, the preview image will be displayed on the print settings screen. An application characterized by the following. (Program 5) If the preview image cannot be obtained from the server, the print settings information will be obtained from the printer. An application according to program 4, characterized by the following: (Program 6) The aforementioned application is an OS standard print driver, as described in any of Programs 1 to 5. (Program 7) The aforementioned application is an application that extends print settings in cooperation with the OS standard print driver, as described in any of Programs 1 to 5. (Method 1) A control method for an information processing device that controls a printing apparatus having a finishing function, An acquisition process that uses IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) to acquire capability information from a printing device with finishing capabilities, If a data link is set in the setting of the finishing function of the capability information, the storage step involves acquiring the information of the data link destination and storing it in the storage means, A display step that displays the information corresponding to the setting of the finishing function selected on the print settings screen on the screen. A control method for an information processing device characterized by having [a certain feature]. (Method 2) A control method for an information processing device that controls a printing device having a finishing function and is connected to a server and network, A step of obtaining capability information and the URL of the server from the printing device using IPP (Internet Printing Protocol), The process involves sending the print settings selected on the displayed print settings screen to the server to request a preview image, If the preview image can be obtained from the server, the process of displaying the preview image on the print settings screen. A control method for an information processing device characterized by having a capital city. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0039] 100 client computers 150 Networks 200 printers 800 Preview Image Generation Server 1054 OS standard print driver 1052 Print Settings Extension App

Claims

1. An application installed on a computer that controls a printing device having a finishing function, to the computer By using IPP (Internet Printing Protocol), capacity information is obtained from the printing device. If a data link is set in the setting of the finishing function for the aforementioned capability information, the information of the data link destination is acquired and stored in the memory area. The information corresponding to the finishing function setting selected on the print settings screen will be displayed. An application characterized by the following.

2. The information at the aforementioned data link destination is an image and description of the finishing function. The application according to feature 1.

3. If the information of the data link destination has already been obtained, the printer will not be allowed to obtain it. The application according to claim 1 or 2.

4. An application installed on a computer that controls a printing device, which is connected to a server and a network and has finishing functions, to the computer Using IPP (Internet Printing Protocol), the system retrieves capacity information and the URL of the server from the printing device. The server is instructed to request a preview image of the print settings selected on the print settings screen. If the preview image can be retrieved from the server, the preview image will be displayed on the print settings screen. An application characterized by the following.

5. If the preview image cannot be obtained from the server, the print settings information will be obtained from the printer. The application according to feature 4.

6. The application according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that the application is an OS standard print driver.

7. The application according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that the application is an application that extends print settings in cooperation with the OS standard print driver.

8. A control method for an information processing device that controls a printing apparatus having a finishing function, An acquisition process that uses IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) to acquire capability information from a printing device with finishing capabilities, If a data link is set in the setting of the finishing function of the capability information, the storage step involves acquiring the information of the data link destination and storing it in the storage means, A display step that displays the information corresponding to the setting of the finishing function selected on the print settings screen on the screen. A control method for an information processing device characterized by having [a certain feature].

9. A control method for an information processing device that controls a printing device having a finishing function and is connected to a server and network, A step of obtaining capacity information and the URL of the server from the printing device using IPP (Internet Printing Protocol), The process involves sending the print settings selected on the print settings screen to the server to request a preview image, and If the preview image can be obtained from the server, the display step involves displaying the preview image on the print settings screen. Control method for an information processing device characterized by having a capital city

Images