Printing device, print server system, information processing device, and control method thereof

Abstract

To improve the convenience of an information processing device having a standard printing function.SOLUTION: A printer includes: a remote print part for executing printing according to a print job transmitted from a print server; a local print part for executing printing according to a print job transmitted from an information processing device connected to the same network as the printer; and a transmission part for transmitting support information showing that the printer supports a standard printing function included as standard in an operating system of the information processing device to the print server.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] A cloud print service using the cloud has been proposed (Patent Document 1). A print server defines a virtual printer corresponding to a physical printing device and provides the virtual printer to an information processing device. The print server provides attribute information acquired from the printing device to the information processing device as attribute information of the virtual printer. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-35233 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Some printing devices support standard printing functions that are included as standard in the operating system of an information processing device. Conventionally, attribute information provided from a printing device to a print server did not include information indicating that the printing device supports the standard printing function. Therefore, the information processing device cannot determine whether a virtual printer provided by the print server supports the standard printing function. As a result, the usability of information processing devices with standard printing functions is impaired. Some aspects of the present invention aim to provide a technique for improving the usability of information processing devices with standard printing functions. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] According to some embodiments, a printing device includes a print server systema remote printing unit that executes printing according to a print job transmitted from the printing device; a local printing unit that executes printing according to a print job transmitted from an information processing device connected to the same network as the printing device; and a print server that transmits support information indicating that the printing device supports a standard printing function included as standard in the operating system of the information processing device. system and a transmitting means for transmitting the the transmitting means transmits the support information to the print server system when a setting used to determine whether or not to transmit the support information is valid, and does not transmit the support information to the print server system when the setting is invalid; A printing device is provided. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to some embodiments, the convenience of an information processing device having a standard printing function is improved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a printing system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of a computer according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the functional arrangement of a print server according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the functional arrangement of the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of a printing apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the functional arrangement of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an operation panel of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a network setting screen of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram illustrating the overall processing of cloud printing according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of printer attributes according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating an example of a method for generating printer attributes according to the first embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating the overall processing of local printing according to the first embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method for searching for a printer according to the first embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen showing search results for printers according to the first embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a network setting screen of a printing apparatus according to a second embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining an example of printer attributes according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method for searching for a printer according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 13 is a flow diagram illustrating an example of a method for processing a print job according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining an example of function specifying information according to the fifth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention claimed. Although multiple features are described in the embodiments, not all of these multiple features are necessarily essential to the invention, and multiple features may be combined arbitrarily. Furthermore, in the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar components, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0009] First Embodiment [Printing system configuration example] An example of the configuration of a printing system according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. The printing system includes, for example, an information processing device 110, printing devices 120A to 120D, and a print server 130. The number of components of the printing system is not limited to the example in Fig. 1. Furthermore, the printing system may include components not shown in Fig. 1.

[0010] The information processing device 110 and the printing device 120D are connected to the same local area network (LAN) 101. The LAN 101 may be a wired LAN, a wireless LAN, or a combination of both. The LAN 101 is connected to a wide area network 103 (e.g., the Internet) via a firewall 102. A print server 130 is also connected to the wide area network 103. The information processing device 110 and the printing device 120D can communicate with each other within the LAN 101 (i.e., without going through the wide area network 103). The information processing device 110 and the printing device 120D can communicate with the print server 130 via the LAN 101, the firewall 102, and the wide area network 103. Alternatively or in addition, the information processing device 110 and the printing device 120D may be connected to the wide area network 103 via a cellular network (e.g., a network conforming to the fourth generation communication standard (4G) or the fifth generation communication standard (5G)).

[0011] The printing devices 120A to 120C are connected to the same LAN 105. The LAN 105 may be a wired LAN, a wireless LAN, or a combination of both. The LAN 105 is connected to the wide area network 103 via a firewall 104. The LAN 105 is a LAN different from the LAN 101. The printing devices 120A to 120C can communicate with the print server 130 via the LAN 105, the firewall 104, and the wide area network 103. Alternatively or in addition, the printing devices 120A to 120C may be connected to the wide area network 103 via a cellular network. The information processing device 110 can communicate with the printing devices 120A to 120C via the LANs 101 and 105, the firewalls 102 and 104, and the wide area network 103. In the example of FIG. 1, the printing devices 120A to 120C are connected to the same LAN 105, but they may be connected to separate LANs.

[0012] Printing devices 120A-120D have a printing function that performs printing based on a print job. In addition to the printing function, printing devices 120A-120D may also include at least one of a scanner function and a fax function. A printing device having multiple functions like this may be called a multifunction printer (MFP). Alternatively, printing devices 120A-120D may be a dedicated machine (SFP: Single Function Peripheral) that has only the printing function. Printing may be performed on a sheet-like recording medium such as paper, or may be performed to form a three-dimensional object (so-called three-dimensional printing).

[0013] The print server 130 provides a print service that transmits a print job to a printing device (e.g., printing device 120A) according to a print job generated by the information processing device 110. For example, the print server 130 provides a logical printer to the information processing device 110 and accepts print jobs for the logical printer. A logical printer is a virtual printing device (e.g., a printer object) provided by the print server 130. A logical printer may also be called a cloud printer. The information processing device 110 can generate a print queue for the logical printer as well as for the printing device 120D. In contrast to a logical printer, a physical printing device such as the printing devices 120A to 120D may also be called a physical printer. In the following description, logical printers and physical printers are collectively referred to simply as printers. A physical printer may also be called a local printer if it is connected to the same LAN as the information processing device that submits the print job.

[0014] The print server 130 may be a server in an on-premise environment connected to the wide area network 103, or may be a server in a cloud computing environment (hereinafter simply referred to as cloud). A print service provided by the print server 130 in the cloud may be called a cloud print service (hereinafter referred to as CPS). One example of a cloud print service is Universal Print (registered trademark) provided by Microsoft Corporation. In the following explanation, we will explain the case where the print server 130 is in the cloud. However, the following explanation also applies to the case where the print server 130 is in an on-premise environment.

[0015] The information processing device 110 provides a printing function to a user of the information processing device 110. The information processing device may be a personal computer (PC), a smartphone, or another device. The information processing device 110 may specify a physical printer (e.g., printing device 120D) connected to the same LAN 101 as the output destination, or may specify a logical printer provided by the print server 130 as the output destination. When a logical printer is specified as the output destination, a physical printer (e.g., printing device 120A) associated with the logical printer performs printing. The information processing device 110 using the CPS may also be called a client or client terminal. Printing performed by submitting a print job to a logical printer may also be called cloud print, remote print, or remote printing. Printing using cloud print may be performed by printing device 120D connected to the same LAN 101 as the information processing device 110, or by a printing device (e.g., printing device 120A) not connected to the LAN 101. Printing performed by submitting a print job directly to a physical printer (i.e., within a LAN) may also be called local print.

[0016] The information processing device 110 may have a printing function that is included as standard in the operating system (OS). Such a printing function is called a standard printing function. The standard printing function may also be called an OS standard printing function or a native printing function. An information processing device 110 that has the standard printing function does not require separate software (e.g., a driver) to use a printing device that supports the standard printing function. Examples of standard printing functions include AirPrint (registered trademark), which is included as standard in iOS, macOS (registered trademark), and the like, and Mopria (registered trademark), which is included as standard in Android and the like.

[0017] [Example of computer hardware configuration] An example of the hardware configuration of a computer 200 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2. The computer 200 may be used as the information processing device 110 or as the print server 130. The computer 200 may have the components shown in Fig. 2.

[0018] The central processing unit (CPU) 201 is a general-purpose processing circuit that controls the overall operation of the computer 200. The random access memory (RAM) 202 is a volatile memory circuit that is used as a temporary storage area such as a work area for processing by the CPU 201. The read-only memory (ROM) 203 is a non-volatile memory circuit that stores programs and data used in the processing by the CPU 201. The storage device 204 is a non-volatile storage device that stores programs and data used in the processing by the CPU 201. The storage device 204 may be, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD). The storage device 204 may also be called a secondary storage device. Operations by the computer 200 may be realized by the CPU 201 executing a program read from the storage device 204 to the RAM 202.

[0019] The input interface (I / F) 205 is an I / F for exchanging signals with the input device 210. The input device 210 is a device that obtains input from a user of the computer 200. The input device 210 may be, for example, a keyboard, a touch panel, a microphone, a mouse, or any combination thereof. The output I / F 206 is an I / F for exchanging signals with the output device 220. The output device 220 is a device that provides information to a user of the computer 200. The output device 220 may be, for example, a display, a speaker, or any combination thereof. The network I / F 207 is an I / F for communicating with devices external to the computer 200. The CPU 201, the RAM 202, the ROM 203, the storage device 204, the input I / F 205, the output I / F 206, and the network I / F 207 are each connected to a system bus 208. In the example of FIG. 2, the input device 210 and the output device 220 are shown as devices separate from the computer 200. Alternatively, computer 200 may include input device(s) 210 and output device(s) 220 .

[0020] [Example of print server configuration] An example of the functional configuration of the print server 130 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. The print server 130 may have the functional units shown in Fig. 3. The print server 130 may have functional units not shown in Fig. 3. Each functional unit in Fig. 3 may be realized by the CPU 201 executing a program read into the RAM 202. Alternatively, some or all of the functional units in Fig. 3 may be realized by a dedicated processing circuit such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

[0021] The registration control unit 301 performs processing for registering a logical printer. For example, in response to a registration start request from a printing device, the registration control unit 301 generates a logical printer associated with a physical printer and registers it in the printer information 311. A logical printer registered in the printer information 311 is recognized as a printer by the information processing device 110. A physical printer associated with a logical printer may be a physical printer that prints in accordance with a print job submitted to the logical printer. A logical printer may be associated with only one physical printer. A physical printer may be associated with only one logical printer, or with multiple logical printers.

[0022] The print control unit 302 performs processing related to print jobs for logical printers. For example, the print control unit 302 receives a print job for a logical printer from the information processing device 110 and, based on the received print job, transmits the print job to a physical printer associated with the logical printer. The print control unit 302 may also control events related to print jobs. Events related to print jobs may include, for example, receiving a print job. In response to receiving an event request from a physical printer, the print control unit 302 may respond with an event related to the physical printer.

[0023] The printer management unit 303 manages information about logical printers registered in the print server 130 as printer information 311. The printer information 311 includes information about the capabilities of the physical printer associated with the logical printer, a cloud printer ID uniquely assigned to the logical printer, and information about the print queue in which the print job is spooled.

[0024] The job management unit 304 manages information about print jobs received from the information processing device 110 as job information 312. The job information 312 includes information and status of the print job, print data specified in the print job, and the like.

[0025] The storage control unit 310 stores information in the RAM 202 or the storage device 204 in accordance with instructions from other functional units, and reads information from the RAM 202 or the storage device 204. According to this embodiment, the storage control unit 310 stores printer information 311 and job information 312.

[0026] [Example of functional configuration of information processing device] An example of the functional configuration of the information processing device 110 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. The information processing device 110 may have the functional units shown in Fig. 4. The information processing device 110 may have functional units not shown in Fig. 4. Each functional unit in Fig. 4 may be realized by the CPU 201 executing a program read into the RAM 202. Alternatively, some or all of the functional units in Fig. 4 may be realized by a dedicated processing circuit such as an ASIC.

[0027] The input acquisition unit 401 acquires input from the user of the information processing device 110 using the input I / F 205. The information output unit 402 outputs information to the user of the information processing device 110 using the output I / F 206.

[0028] The registration control unit 403 performs processing for registering a logical printer in the print server 130. The print control unit 404 performs processing related to printing by the printer. For example, the print control unit 404 may send a print job to a logical printer registered in the print server 130 in accordance with a print instruction from the user of the information processing device 110. The print control unit 404 may also send a print job directly to a physical printer (i.e., within the same LAN) in accordance with a print instruction from the user of the information processing device 110.

[0029] The printer management unit 405 manages information about printers to which the information processing device 110 can submit print jobs as printer information 411. The printer information 411 includes printer capability information, etc. The printer management unit 405 may search for printers to which the information processing device 110 can submit print jobs.

[0030] The storage control unit 410 stores information in the RAM 202 or the storage device 204, or reads information from the RAM 202 or the storage device 204, in accordance with instructions from other functional units. According to this embodiment, the storage control unit 410 stores printer information 411 and an operating system 412. The operating system 412 is installed in the information processing device 110 as standard (i.e., when the information processing device 110 is shipped). The operating system 412 may be updated. The operating system 412 has functions for basic management and control of the information processing device 110. As described above, the operating system 412 may include a standard printing function.

[0031] [Example of hardware configuration for printing device] An example of the hardware configuration of a printing device 500 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5. The printing device 500 may be used as any of the printing devices 120A to 120D. The printing device 500 may have the components shown in Fig. 5. Because the printing device 500 is a physical printing device, it may also be called a physical printer.

[0032] The CPU 501 is a general-purpose processing circuit that controls the overall operation of the printing device 500. The RAM 502 is a volatile memory circuit that is used as a temporary storage area such as a work area for processing by the CPU 501. The ROM 503 is a non-volatile memory circuit that stores programs and data used in the processing by the CPU 501. The storage device 504 is a non-volatile storage device that stores programs and data (e.g., print jobs, image data, and setting information) used in the processing by the CPU 501. The storage device 504 may be, for example, an HDD or SSD. The storage device 504 may also be called a secondary storage device. The operations of the printing device 500 may be realized by the CPU 501 executing a program read from the storage device 504 to the RAM 502.

[0033] Printer I / F 505 is an I / F for exchanging signals with printer engine 520. Printer engine 520 performs printing based on signals (e.g., image signals and print commands) supplied from control unit 510 via printer I / F 505. Printing may be electrophotographic printing in which toner is transferred and fixed on paper, inkjet printing in which ink is ejected onto paper to print, or three-dimensional printing.

[0034] Scanner I / F 506 is an I / F for exchanging signals with scanner engine 530. Scanner engine 530 supplies a signal (e.g., an image signal) obtained by reading an original to control unit 510 via scanner I / F 506. CPU 501 may process the image signal supplied from scanner engine 530 and supply the resulting recording image signal to printer engine 520. CPU 501 may also generate image data based on the image signal supplied from scanner engine 530 and transmit this to an external device.

[0035] The operation unit I / F 507 is an I / F for exchanging signals with the operation unit 540. The operation unit 540 is a device that acquires input from a user of the printing device 500 and provides information to the user of the printing device 500. The operation unit 540 may be configured with, for example, a display panel (e.g., a liquid crystal display), a speaker, a touch panel, a keyboard, buttons, a touch screen, or any combination of these.

[0036] The network I / F 508 is an I / F for communicating with devices external to the printing device 500. The CPU 501, RAM 502, ROM 503, storage device 504, printer I / F 505, scanner I / F 506, operation unit I / F 507, and network I / F 508 configure a control unit 510. The components included in the control unit 510 are connected to a system bus 509.

[0037] [Example of functional configuration of printing device] An example of the functional configuration of the printing device 500 will be described with reference to Fig. 6. The printing device 500 may have the functional units shown in Fig. 6. The printing device 500 may have functional units not shown in Fig. 6. Each functional unit in Fig. 6 may be realized by the CPU 501 executing a program read into the RAM 502. Alternatively, some or all of the functional units in Fig. 6 may be realized by a dedicated processing circuit such as an ASIC.

[0038] The input acquisition unit 601 acquires input from the user of the printing device 500 using the operation unit I / F 507. The information output unit 602 outputs information to the user of the printing device 500 using the operation unit I / F 507. For example, the information output unit 602 displays an operation menu on the operation unit 540. The input acquisition unit 601 acquires input for the operation menu and notifies the other functional units of the input instructions. The information output unit 602 displays the results acquired from the other functional units on the operation unit 540.

[0039] The image processing unit 603 renders the print job into image data for printing. The print processing unit 604 prints the image data rendered by the image processing unit 603.

[0040] The registration control unit 605 performs processing for registering the logical printer associated with the printing device 500 in the print server 130. The printer management unit 606 manages information related to the printing device 500 as printer information 621. The printer information 621 may include, for example, the status of the printing device 500, the capabilities of the printing device 500, and a cloud printer ID uniquely assigned by the print server 130 to the logical printer associated with the printing device 500. The printer information 621 may also include a local printer ID that the information processing device 110 uses to identify printing devices within the same LAN 101.

[0041] A cloud print (CP) control unit 607 performs processing related to cloud printing. For example, the CP control unit 607 may execute printing in accordance with a print job sent from the print server 130 by transferring print data included in the print job received from the print server 130 to the image processing unit 603. The CP control unit 607 may also send an event request to the print server 130.

[0042] A local print (LP) control unit 608 performs processing related to local printing. For example, the LP control unit 608 may respond to a printer search from the information processing device 110. The LP control unit 608 may also execute printing in accordance with a print job sent from the information processing device 110 by transferring print data included in the print job received directly from the information processing device 110 to the image processing unit 603. A job management unit 609 manages information related to the print job as job information 622. The job information 622 may include the processing status and processing results of the print job.

[0043] The storage control unit 620 stores information in the RAM 502 or the storage device 504, or reads information from the RAM 502 or the storage device 504, in accordance with instructions from other functional units. According to this embodiment, the storage control unit 620 stores printer information 621 and job information 622. The storage control unit 620 may manage data as a file system. The storage control unit 620 may allocate the storage destination of each piece of data between the storage device 504, which is a non-volatile area, and the RAM 502, which is a volatile area. For example, the storage control unit 620 may store the printer information 621 and the job information 622 in a non-volatile area.

[0044] [Example of the configuration of the operation unit of a printing device] An example configuration of the operation unit 540 of the printing device 500 will be described with reference to Fig. 7. In the example of Fig. 7, the operation unit 540 is configured as a panel-shaped operation panel. The operation unit 540 may have the components shown in Fig. 7. The operation unit 540 may also have components not shown in Fig. 7.

[0045] The display panel 701 is a touch screen that integrates a touch panel for receiving input from the user and a display (e.g., a liquid crystal display) for displaying information to the user. In the example of FIG. 7, the display panel 701 displays buttons 702 to 704. The button 702 is a soft button for receiving an instruction to switch to copy mode from the user. The printing device 500 displays a copy operation screen on the display panel 701 in response to the user touching the button 702. The button 703 is a soft button for receiving an instruction to switch to fax mode from the user. The printing device 500 displays a fax operation screen on the display panel 701 in response to the user touching the button 703. The button 704 is a soft button for receiving an instruction to switch to scanner mode from the user. The printing device 500 displays a scanner operation screen on the display panel 701 in response to the user touching the button 704. In addition, the display panel 701 may display a dialog for interacting with the user or a cloud print job list.

[0046] The numeric keypad 705 is a set of physical buttons for obtaining input of numbers and the like from the user. The button 706 is a physical button for obtaining instructions from the user, such as instructions to determine the display content of the display panel 701. The directional keys 707 are physical buttons for obtaining instructions from the user, such as instructions to select an item from a menu displayed on the display panel 701. The button 708 is a physical button for obtaining an instruction for monochrome copying from the user. The button 709 is a physical button for obtaining an instruction for color copying from the user. The button 710 is a physical button for obtaining an instruction to stop processing from the user. The button 711 is a physical button for obtaining an instruction from the user to display a menu screen for configuring the printing device 500, for example. The button 712 is a physical button for obtaining an instruction from the user to display the status of the printing device 500, such as a list of print jobs received by the printing device 500.

[0047] [Network setting screen configuration example] An example of the configuration of a network setting screen 800 displayed on the operation unit 540 of the printing device 500 will be described with reference to FIG. 8. The network setting screen 800 is displayed, for example, on the display panel 701 of the operation unit 540. The network setting screen 800 is a user interface that allows the user to set whether to enable or disable a specific print function. In the description of FIG. 8, it is assumed that the printing device 500 supports AirPrint, Mopria, and CPS. The printing device 500 supporting a specific print function may mean that the printing device 500 can operate according to instructions issued by an external device (e.g., the information processing device 110 or the print server 130) using this specific print function.

[0048] The settings area 801 is an area for configuring AirPrint settings. When the ON button in the settings area 801 is selected, the printer management unit 606 enables AirPrint. When the OFF button in the settings area 801 is selected, the printer management unit 606 disables AirPrint. The OFF button and the OFF button in the settings area 801 can be selected alternatively. The printer management unit 606 of the printing device 500 stores the setting of whether AirPrint is enabled or disabled in the storage device 504 as printer information 621.

[0049] When AirPrint is enabled, the printing device 500 operates as a printing device that supports AirPrint. For example, the printing device 500 operates according to instructions issued by an external device (e.g., the information processing device 110 or the print server 130) using AirPrint. The printing device 500 also transmits information indicating that the printing device 500 supports AirPrint to the external device (e.g., the information processing device 110 or the print server 130).

[0050] When AirPrint is disabled, the printing device 500 does not operate as a printing device that supports AirPrint. For example, the printing device 500 does not operate according to instructions issued by an external device (e.g., the information processing device 110 or the print server 130) using AirPrint. Furthermore, the printing device 500 does not send information indicating that the printing device 500 supports AirPrint to the external device (e.g., the information processing device 110 or the print server 130).

[0051] Settings area 802 is an area for configuring Mopria settings. The Mopria settings may be the same as the AirPrint settings, so a duplicated description will be omitted. Settings area 803 is an area for configuring Universal Print settings. The Universal Print settings may be the same as the AirPrint settings, so a duplicated description will be omitted.

[0052] In the example shown in FIG. 8, the printing device 500 can individually set whether to enable or disable two types of standard printing functions (i.e., AirPrint and Mopria). The printing device 500 may support two types of standard printing functions, and may be able to individually set whether to enable or disable each of two or more types of standard printing functions. As a result, information indicating that the printing device 500 supports each of the two types of standard printing functions is transmitted from the printing device 500 to the print server 130. The printing device 500 may also be able to uniformly set whether to enable or disable each of two or more types of standard printing functions.

[0053] 8, the printing device 500 can be configured to enable or disable the standard printing function. Alternatively, the printing device 500 does not need to be configured to enable or disable the standard printing function. In this case, the printing device 500 may always enable the standard printing function.

[0054] [Overall processing sequence for Cloud Print] The overall processing sequence for performing cloud printing will be described with reference to FIG. 9. The example of FIG. 9 deals with a case where the information processing device 110 registers the printing device 500 with the print server 130 and submits a print job to a logical printer associated with the printing device 500. The following description of the printing device 500 may also be applied to the printing devices 120A to 120D. Registering the printing device 500 with the print server 130 may also mean registering a logical printer associated with the printing device 500 with the print server 130. In the following example, it is assumed that the printing device 500 supports a web user interface (UI) function for operating the printing device 500 from the information processing device 110. It is also assumed that the information processing device 110 supports a web UI client function. Mutual communication between the information processing device 110, the printing device 500, and the print server 130 may be performed using the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP).

[0055] In S901, the registration control unit 403 of the information processing device 110 transmits a registration start request to the printing device 500 in accordance with an instruction from the user of the information processing device 110. The registration start request may be a request to start processing for registering the printing device 500 with the print server 130. The registration start request may be transmitted using a web UI client function of the information processing device 110.

[0056] In step S902, the registration control unit 605 of the printing device 500 transmits a registration start request to the print server 130 in response to receiving the registration start request from the information processing device 110. The registration start request may be a request to start processing for registering the printing device 500 with the print server 130.

[0057] In S903, in response to receiving the registration start request from the printing device 500, the registration control unit 301 of the print server 130 transmits a registration start response to the printing device 500. The registration start response includes a uniform resource locator (URL) of a web page for the user of the information processing device 110 to input information for registering the printing device 500 in the print server 130.

[0058] In step S904, the registration control unit 605 of the printing device 500 transmits registration information to the information processing device 110 in response to receiving the registration start response from the print server 130. The registration information includes the URL included in the registration start response. In response to receiving the registration information from the printing device 500, the information output unit 402 of the information processing device 110 displays a web page to the user.

[0059] In step S905, the registration control unit 403 of the information processing device 110 transmits a registration approval request to the print server 130 in response to the user of the information processing device 110 accessing the URL and inputting information required for registration. The registration approval request includes a cloud account of the user of the information processing device 110. The cloud account is an account that allows the user to use a cloud tenant that includes the print server 130.

[0060] In S906, the registration control unit 301 of the print server 130 checks whether the cloud account included in the registration approval request belongs to a user who has authority to register the printing device 500 on the print server 130. If the user has authority, the registration control unit 301 of the print server 130 sends a registration approval response to the information processing device 110. The registration approval response may be a message notifying the result of confirmation that the user of the information processing device 110 is a user who has authority to register the printing device 500.

[0061] In S907, in response to receiving the registration start response from the print server 130, the printer management unit 606 of the printing device 500 sends a registration confirmation request to the print server 130. The registration confirmation request is a request to register the printing device 500 with the print server 130, and specifically may be a request to register the printing device 500 with the print server 130.

[0062] In S908, in response to receiving the registration confirmation request from the printing device 500, the printer management unit 303 of the print server 130 generates a new logical printer and adds the logical printer to the printer information 311 in association with the printing device 500. This registers the printing device 500 on the print server 130, enabling the information processing device 110 to perform cloud printing using the logical printer. The printer management unit 303 of the print server 130 also assigns a unique cloud printer ID to the generated logical printer and adds the cloud printer ID to the printer information 311 in association with the logical printer. Thereafter, the registration control unit 301 of the print server 130 transmits a registration confirmation response to the printing device 500. The registration confirmation response includes the cloud printer ID of the printing device 500.

[0063] In S909, the printer management unit 606 of the printing device 500 sends an information update request to the print server 130 in response to the completion of registration of the printing device 500 with the print server 130. The information update request may be a request to update information related to the printing device 500. The information update request includes printer attributes of the printing device 500. The information update request may be sent using an update-output-device-attributes request message defined in IPP.

[0064] In S910, the printer management unit 303 of the print server 130 updates the information about the printing device 500 included in the printer information 311 based on the printer attributes included in the received information update request, and sends an information update response to the printing device 500. The information update response may be a message notifying that the update of the information about the printing device 500 has been completed successfully.

[0065] In S911, in response to receiving the registration confirmation response from the print server 130, the CP control unit 607 of the printing device 500 sends an event request to the print server 130. The event request may be a request to notify the printing device 500 when an event related to the printing device 500 occurs. The event request may also be related to an event that a print job has been submitted to a logical printer associated with the printing device 500.

[0066] In S912, the printer management unit 405 of the information processing device 110 sends an information request to the print server 130 in accordance with an instruction from the user of the information processing device 110. The information request may be a request for information about logical printers available to the user of the information processing device 110. The information request includes the cloud account of the user of the information processing device 110. The information request may be sent using a Get-Printer-Attributes Request message defined by IPP.

[0067] In S913, in response to receiving the information request from the information processing device 110, the printer management unit 303 of the print server 130 transmits an information response to the information processing device 110. The information response includes a cloud printer ID and printer attributes for each of one or more logical printers available to the user of the information processing device 110. The printer management unit 405 of the information processing device 110 updates the printer information 411 based on the information response. The information response may be transmitted using a Get-Printer-Attributes Response message defined in IPP.

[0068] In S914, the printer management unit 405 of the information processing device 110 sends a print request to the print server 130 in accordance with instructions from the user of the information processing device 110. The print request includes a cloud printer ID, a print job, and a cloud account of the user of the information processing device 110. The print job may include print data and print settings. The print request may be a request to print the print data included in the print request to a logical printer having the cloud printer ID included in the print request.

[0069] In S915, in response to receiving the print request from the information processing device 110, the print control unit 302 of the print server 130 sends an event response to the printing device 500 associated with the logical printer. The event response is a response to the event request received in S911. The event response is a response to notify that an event of the type specified in the event request has occurred.

[0070] In step S916, in response to receiving the event response from the print server 130, the CP control unit 607 of the printing device 500 transmits a print job request to the print server 130. The print job request may be a request for a print job to be executed by the printing device 500.

[0071] In S917, the print control unit 302 of the print server 130 sends a print job response to the printing device 500 in response to receiving the print job request from the printing device 500. The print job response includes a cloud account and a print job. Thereafter, in response to receiving the print job response from the print server 130, the printing device 500 performs printing based on the print job. The print job response received by the printing device 500 from the print server 130 may be an IPP Fetch-Job Response.

[0072] In the description of FIG. 9, the registration of the printing device 500 in steps S901 to S906 and the cloud printing in steps S912 to S917 may be performed by the same user or by different users.

[0073] Printer Attributes An example of printer attributes sent by the printing device 500 in S909 and S913 of Fig. 9 will be described with reference to Fig. 10. In the example of Fig. 10, printer attributes 1000 are expressed in a table format. Alternatively, printer attributes 1000 may be expressed in other formats. Printer attributes 1000 include columns 1001 and 1002. Column 1001 indicates the name of the attribute. Column 1002 indicates the value of the attribute.

[0074] Record 1011 indicates whether the printing device 500 supports color printing. The attribute name is "color-supported." The attribute value is "true" if the printing device 500 supports color printing, and is "false" if the printing device 500 does not support color printing. Printer attribute 1000 indicates that the printing device 500 supports color printing.

[0075] Record 1012 indicates the paper sizes supported by the printing device 500. The attribute name is "media-supported." The attribute value is a string assigned to each individual paper size. Printer attribute 1000 indicates that the printing device 500 supports A4 paper, represented by iso_a4_210x297mm, and A3 paper, represented by iso_a3_297x420mm.

[0076] Record 1013 indicates the document formats supported by printing device 500. The attribute name is "document-format-supported." The attribute value is a string assigned to each individual document format. Printer attribute 1000 indicates that printing device 500 supports the PDF document format, represented by application / pdf, and the JPEG document format, represented by image / jpeg.

[0077] Record 1014 indicates the number of copies supported by printing device 500. The attribute name is "copies-supported." The attribute value is a numeric range. Printer attribute 1000 indicates that printing device 500 supports the number of copies from 1 to 99.

[0078] Record 1015 indicates the version of Mopria that printing device 500 supports. The attribute name is "mopria-certified." The attribute value is a number indicating the version. Printer attribute 1000 indicates that printing device 500 supports Mopria version 2.0. If printer attribute 1000 includes a record named "mopria-certified," this indicates that printing device 500 supports Mopria. Conversely, if printer attribute 1000 does not include a record named "mopria-certified," this indicates that printing device 500 does not support Mopria.

[0079] Record 1016 indicates the features supported by printing device 500. The attribute name is "ipp-features-supported." The attribute value is "airprint" if printing device 500 supports AirPrint. If printer attribute 1000 includes a record with the name "ipp-features-supported" and the value "airprint," this indicates that printing device 500 supports AirPrint. Conversely, if printer attribute 1000 does not include a record with the name "ipp-features-supported" and the value "airprint," this indicates that printing device 500 does not support AirPrint.

[0080] [Timing for sending printer attributes to the print server] In the example of FIG. 9 , in S909, the printing device 500 transmits printer attributes to the print server 130 in response to completion of registration of the printing device 500 with the print server 130. As described above with reference to FIG. 10 , the printer attributes include information indicating that the printing device 500 supports standard printing functions. Such information will be referred to hereinafter as standard printing support information. In addition to or instead of completion of registration of the printing device 500 with the print server 130, the printing device 500 may transmit the printer attributes to the print server 130 in response to satisfaction of other conditions described below.

[0081] For example, the printing device 500 may transmit the printer attributes to the print server 130 in response to the printing device 500 being started up in a state where the printing device 500 is registered with the print server 130 .

[0082] The printing device 500 may send printer attributes to the print server 130 in response to a change in the CP printing function (i.e., a function for printing according to a print job sent from the print server 130) from disabled to enabled. The CP printing function is changed from disabled to enabled in response to, for example, the user selecting the ON button in the setting area 803 of the network setting screen 800.

[0083] The printing device 500 may send printer attributes to the print server 130 in response to a setting to send standard printing support information to the print server 130. Such setting is performed, for example, in response to the user selecting the ON button in the setting area 801 or 802 of the network setting screen 800. As described above, when the user selects the ON button in the setting area 801, AirPrint is enabled. In this case, information indicating that the printing device 500 supports AirPrint (e.g., record 1016 in FIG. 10 ) is sent to the print server 130. Similarly, when the user selects the ON button in the setting area 802, Mopria is enabled. In this case, information indicating that the printing device 500 supports Mopria (e.g., record 1015 in FIG. 10 ) is sent to the print server 130.

[0084] The printing device 500 may send printer attributes to the print server 130 in response to a change in the configuration information of the printing device 500. For example, a change in the configuration information of the printing device 500 may include a change in the paper size set in the printing device 500 from A3 to A4.

[0085] Printing device 500 may send printer attributes to print server 130 in response to a change in the state of printing device 500. For example, a change in the state of printing device 500 may include an error occurring on printing device 500 (e.g., an out-of-paper error).

[0086] The printing device 500 may transmit the printer attributes to the print server 130 at all of the above-mentioned times, or may transmit the printer attributes to the print server 130 at only some of the above-mentioned times.

[0087] [Operation flow for printing device to send printer attributes] An example of the process in which the printing device 500 transmits printer attributes will be described with reference to Fig. 11. The destination of the printer attributes may be the print server 130 or the information processing device 110. The operation in Fig. 11 is initiated, for example, at S909 in Fig. 9 or at any of the timings described above when the destination of the printer attributes is the print server 130. The operation in Fig. 11 is initiated, for example, at S913 in Fig. 9 when the destination of the printer attributes is the information processing device 110.

[0088] In step S1101, the CP control unit 607 of the printing device 500 acquires attribute information of the printing device 500. The attribute information may be acquired from the printer engine 520 via the printer I / F 505.

[0089] In S1102, the CP control unit 607 of the printing device 500 selects one standard printing function that has not yet been selected as the target for the subsequent processing of S1103 to S1104 from among one or more standard printing functions supported by the printing device 500. If the printing device 500 does not support any standard printing functions, the processing of S1103 to S1104 is skipped.

[0090] In S1103, the CP control unit 607 of the printing device 500 determines whether the selected standard printing function is enabled. If the printing device 500 determines that the selected standard printing function is enabled ("YES" in S1103), it transitions the process to S1104, and otherwise ("NO" in S1103), it transitions the process to S1105. Whether the standard printing function is enabled is set by the user on the network setting screen 800, for example, and is stored in the storage device 504 as printer information 621.

[0091] In S1104, the CP control unit 607 of the printing device 500 adds information indicating that the printing device 500 supports the selected standard printing function to the printer attributes generated in S1101. For example, if the selected standard printing function is AirPrint, record 1016 in Fig. 10 is added. If the selected standard printing function is Mopria, record 1015 in Fig. 10 is added.

[0092] In S1105, the CP control unit 607 of the printing device 500 determines whether all of the one or more standard printing functions supported by the printing device 500 have been selected. If it is determined that all of the standard printing functions have been selected ("YES" in S1105), the printing device 500 transitions the process to S1106, and otherwise ("NO" in S1105), transitions the process to S1102. In this way, the processes of S1103 to S1104 are executed for each of the one or more standard printing functions supported by the printing device 500.

[0093] In S1106, the CP control unit 607 of the printing device 500 sends the generated printer attributes to the destination device. The printer attributes generated by the above method indicate which of one or more standard printing functions supported by the printing device 500 are valid. If the printer attributes include information about a specific standard printing function, a device (e.g., the print server 130 or the information processing device 110) that receives the printer attributes from the printing device 500 recognizes that the printing device 500 supports the specific standard printing function. On the other hand, if a specific standard printing function supported by the printing device 500 is invalid or if the printing device 500 does not support the specific standard printing function, the printer attributes do not include information about the specific standard printing function. Therefore, a device that receives such printer attributes from the printing device 500 recognizes that the printing device 500 does not support the specific standard printing function.

[0094] 11 indicates that printing device 500 does not support a standard print feature by not including a record corresponding to the standard print feature (e.g., records 1015 and 1016). Alternatively, the printer attributes may indicate that printing device 500 does not support the standard print feature by having a specific value in the record corresponding to the standard print feature. For example, the printer attributes may indicate that printing device 500 does not support Mopria by including a record named "mopria-certified" with a value of "unsupported." Alternatively, the printer attributes may indicate that printing device 500 does not support AirPrint by including a record named "ipp-features-supported" with a value of "airprint-unsupported."

[0095] 11, when the printing device 500 transmits printer attributes to the print server 130 in response to a setting to transmit standard printing support information to the print server 130, the printing device 500 may execute steps S1103 and S1104 only for a specific standard printing function. For example, when AirPrint is enabled in the setting area 801 of the network setting screen 800, the printing device 500 may execute steps S1103 and S1104 for AirPrint, but may not execute steps S1103 and S1104 for Mopria.

[0096] [Overall process sequence for local printing] The overall processing sequence for performing local printing will be described with reference to FIG. 12. The example of FIG. 12 deals with a case where the information processing device 110 submits a print job to a printing device 120D connected to the same network as the information processing device 110 (i.e., LAN 101). Communication between the information processing device 110 and the printing device 120D may be performed using IPP. Communication between the information processing device 110 and the printing device 120D is performed within the LAN 101 and does not go through the wide area network 103. In the following example, the information processing device 110 has AirPrint as a standard printing function, and a case where local printing is performed using AirPrint will be described. The same description may also apply when the information processing device 110 has Mopria or another standard printing function. It is also assumed that the printing device 120D supports AirPrint.

[0097] In S1201, the printer management unit 405 of the information processing device 110 uses AirPrint to send a printer search request to the network to which the information processing device 110 is connected (i.e., the LAN 101) in accordance with an instruction from the user of the information processing device 110. This printer search request may be performed by broadcasting to the LAN 101. The printer search request may be a request to respond as to whether or not a printer that supports AirPrint exists.

[0098] In S1202, the LP control unit 608 of the printing device 120D that supports Airprint sends a printer search response to the information processing device 110 in response to the printer search request. The printer search response may include the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the printing device 120D. A printing device that does not support Airprint or a printing device for which Airprint is disabled may not respond to the printer search request. The printer management unit 405 of the information processing device 110 stores the IP address of the printing device 120D that sent the printer search response as part of the printer information 411 in the storage control unit 410. In addition, the information output unit 402 of the information processing device 110 may present a list of discovered printing devices to the user.

[0099] In S1203, the printer management unit 405 of the information processing device 110 sends an information request to the printing device 120D. The information request may be a request for information about the printing device 120D. The information request may be sent using a Get-Printer-Attributes Request message defined in IPP.

[0100] In S1204, in response to receiving the information request from the information processing device 110, the printer management unit 606 of the printing device 120D sends an information response to the information processing device 110. The information response includes the printer attributes of the printing device 120D. The printer management unit 405 of the information processing device 110 updates the printer information 411 based on the information response. The information response may be sent using a Get-Printer-Attributes Response message defined in IPP.

[0101] In S1205, the print control unit 404 of the information processing device 110 sends a print request to the printing device 120D in accordance with an instruction from the user of the information processing device 110. The print request includes a print job. The print job may include print data and print settings. The print request may be a request to the printing device 120D to print the print data included in the print request.

[0102] In S1206, the LP control unit 608 of the printing apparatus 120D executes printing in accordance with the received print job. The LP control unit 608 of the printing apparatus 120D transmits the print result to the information processing apparatus 110 as a print response.

[0103] [Operation flow when an information processing device searches for a printer] An example of processing performed by the information processing device 110 to search for a printer that supports its own standard print function will be described with reference to Fig. 13. The operation of Fig. 13 may be performed continuously while the information processing device 110 is in operation.

[0104] In S1301, the printer management unit 405 of the information processing device 110 determines whether an instruction to search for a printer has been acquired from the user of the information processing device 110. If it is determined that an instruction to search for a printer has been acquired ("YES" in S1301), the information processing device 110 transitions the process to S1302, and otherwise ("NO" in S1301) repeats S1301.

[0105] In S1302, the printer management unit 405 of the information processing device 110 uses the standard printing function of the information processing device 110 to send a printer search request to the network to which the information processing device 110 is connected (i.e., LAN 101), in the same manner as in S1201 described above. The printer management unit 405 of the information processing device 110 adds printing devices that have responded to the printer search request to a printer list. This printer list lists printers that support the standard printing function of the information processing device 110. All printing devices that respond to the printer search request using the standard printing function support the standard printing function.

[0106] In S1303, the printer management unit 405 of the information processing device 110 sends an information request to the print server 130, similar to S912 described above. The information request may be a request for information about logical printers available to the user of the information processing device 110. In the same manner as S913 described above, the print server 130 presents an information response to the information processing device 110, including information about one or more virtual printers available to the information processing device 110. These one or more virtual printers may include virtual printers associated with printing devices that support the standard printing function of the information processing device 110.

[0107] In S1304, the printer management unit 405 of the information processing device 110 selects one virtual printer that has not yet been selected as the target of the subsequent processing of S1305 to S1306 from among the one or more virtual printers included in the information response from the print server 130. If the information response does not include any virtual printers, the processing of S1305 to S1306 is skipped.

[0108] In S1305, the printer management unit 405 of the information processing device 110 determines whether the selected virtual printer supports the standard printing function of the information processing device 110. If the printing device 500 determines that the selected virtual printer supports the standard printing function of the information processing device 110 ("YES" in S1305), the processing proceeds to S1306; otherwise ("NO" in S1305), the processing proceeds to S1307. Whether the selected virtual printer supports the standard printing function of the information processing device 110 may be determined based on the printer attributes included in the information response. For example, if the printer attributes include record 1016 in FIG. 10, the virtual printer supports Airprint. If the printer attributes include record 1015 in FIG. 10, the virtual printer supports Mopria.

[0109] In S1306, the printer management unit 405 of the information processing device 110 adds the selected virtual printer to the printer list. In S1307, the printer management unit 405 of the information processing device 110 determines whether all of the one or more virtual printers included in the information response have been selected. If it is determined that all virtual printers have been selected ("YES" in S1307), the printing device 500 transitions the process to S1308, and otherwise ("NO" in S1307), transitions the process to S1304. In this way, the processes of S1305 to S1306 are executed for each of the one or more virtual printers included in the information response.

[0110] In S1308, the information output unit 402 of the information processing device 110 presents the printer list, which is the result of the inquiry, to the user. The printer list includes both printing devices that are connected to the same network as the information processing device 110 and that support the standard printing functions of the information processing device 110, and virtual printers that support the standard printing functions of the information processing device 110. In this way, the user can search for various printers to which the information processing device 110 can submit a print job with a single operation (the search instruction in S1301).

[0111] 13, S1303 to S1307 are executed after S1302. Alternatively, S1303 to S1307 may be executed before S1302, or S1303 to S1307 may be executed in parallel with S1302.

[0112] [Print list presented to the user] An example of the printer list presented to the user in S1308 of FIG. 13 will be described with reference to FIG. 14. In the following description, the following assumptions are made: Printing devices 120A to 120C are registered with print server 130. Therefore, virtual printers corresponding to printing devices 120A to 120C are presented to information processing device 110 by print server 130. Printing device 120A supports neither AirPrint nor Mopria. Printing device 120B supports AirPrint but does not support Mopria. Printing device 120C does not support AirPrint but supports Mopria. Printing device 120D supports both AirPrint and Mopria.

[0113] 14A shows a result screen 1400 of a printer search executed by an information processing device 110 that has AirPrint but does not have Mopria. The result screen 1400 includes a list display area 1401. The list display area 1401 lists printers discovered in the printer search.

[0114] In the example of Fig. 14(a), "printerB" indicating the virtual printer corresponding to printing device 120B is included in list display area 1401. Printing device 120B supports AirPrint. Therefore, in S1306 of Fig. 13, the virtual printer corresponding to printing device 120B is included in the printer list.

[0115] 14A, "printerD" indicating the printing device 120D is also included in the list display area 1401. The printing device 120D supports AirPrint. Therefore, in S1302 of FIG. 13, the printing device 120D is included in the printer list.

[0116] The results screen 1400 includes a details display area 1402 that shows the printer selected by the user. In the example of Fig. 14(a), details of "printer B" are displayed. The results screen 1400 also includes a button 1403 for transitioning to a screen that confirms information about options and supplies for the printer selected by the user.

[0117] A user of the information processing device 110 can print using a printer selected from the list display area 1401. For example, if the user selects "printer B," printing is performed via the print server 130 through the processes of S914 to S917 in FIG. 9. This printing may be performed using the CP function. If the user selects "printer D," printing is performed without the use of the print server 130 through the processes of S1205 to S1206 in FIG. 12. This printing may be performed using Airprint.

[0118] 14(B) shows a result screen 1410 of a printer search executed by an information processing device 110 that has Mopria but does not have Airprint. In the example of FIG. 14(B), "printerB," which indicates the virtual printer corresponding to printing device 120B, is not included in the list display area 1401. Instead, "printerC," which indicates the virtual printer corresponding to printing device 120C, is included in the list display area 1401.

[0119] Second Embodiment The second embodiment will be described below. In the following description, matters that may be the same as those in the first embodiment will not be described. In the first embodiment, when the standard printing function is enabled, the printing device 500 transmits standard printing support information to both the print server 130 and the information processing device 110. When the standard printing function is disabled, the printing device 500 does not transmit standard printing support information to either the print server 130 or the information processing device 110. In this way, whether or not to transmit standard printing support information is set uniformly for the print server 130 and the information processing device 110.

[0120] In the second embodiment, whether to transmit standard printing support information can be set individually for the print server 130 and the information processing device 110. Therefore, whether to transmit standard printing support information to the information processing device 110 is set independently from whether to transmit standard printing support information to the print server 130.

[0121] 15 illustrates an example of the configuration of a network setting screen 1500 displayed on the operation unit 540 of the printing device 500. The network setting screen 1500 is displayed, for example, on the display panel 701 of the operation unit 540. The network setting screen 1500 is a user interface that allows the user to set whether to enable or disable a specific print function. The explanation of FIG. 15 assumes that the printing device 500 supports each of AirPrint, Mopria, and CPS.

[0122] The setting area 1501 is an area for configuring AirPrint settings for the information processing device 110. When the ON button in the setting area 1501 is selected, the printer management unit 606 enables AirPrint for the information processing device 110. When the OFF button in the setting area 1501 is selected, the printer management unit 606 disables AirPrint for the information processing device 110. The OFF button and the OFF button in the setting area 1501 can be alternatively selected. The printer management unit 606 of the printing device 500 stores the setting of whether AirPrint is enabled or disabled for the information processing device 110 in the storage device 504 as printer information 621.

[0123] When AirPrint is enabled for the information processing device 110, the printing device 500 operates with respect to the information processing device 110 as a printing device that supports AirPrint. For example, the printing device 500 operates according to instructions issued by the information processing device 110 using AirPrint. The printing device 500 also transmits information indicating that the printing device 500 supports AirPrint to the information processing device 110. Such information may be referred to as support information.

[0124] When AirPrint is disabled for the information processing device 110, the printing device 500 does not operate as a printing device that supports AirPrint with respect to the information processing device 110. For example, the printing device 500 does not operate according to instructions issued by the information processing device 110 using AirPrint. Furthermore, the printing device 500 does not send information indicating that the printing device 500 supports AirPrint to the information processing device 110.

[0125] Settings area 1502 is an area for configuring Mopria settings for the information processing device 110. The Mopria settings may be the same as the AirPrint settings, so a duplicated description will be omitted. Settings area 1503 is an area for configuring Universal Print settings. The Universal Print settings may be the same as the AirPrint settings, so a duplicated description will be omitted.

[0126] The setting area 1504 is an area for configuring AirPrint settings for the print server 130. When the ON button in the setting area 1504 is selected, the printer management unit 606 enables AirPrint for the print server 130. When the OFF button in the setting area 1504 is selected, the printer management unit 606 disables AirPrint for the print server 130. The OFF button and the OFF button in the setting area 1504 can be selected alternatively. The printer management unit 606 of the printing device 500 stores the setting of whether AirPrint is enabled or disabled for the print server 130 in the storage device 504 as printer information 621.

[0127] When AirPrint is enabled for the print server 130, the printing device 500 operates as a printing device that supports AirPrint with respect to the print server 130. For example, the printing device 500 operates according to instructions issued by the print server 130 using AirPrint. The printing device 500 also transmits information indicating that the printing device 500 supports AirPrint to the print server 130.

[0128] When AirPrint is disabled for the print server 130, the printing device 500 does not operate as a printing device that supports AirPrint with respect to the print server 130. For example, the printing device 500 does not operate according to instructions given by the print server 130 using AirPrint. Furthermore, the printing device 500 does not send information indicating that the printing device 500 supports AirPrint to the print server 130.

[0129] The setting area 1505 is an area for making Mopria settings for the print server 130. The Mopria settings may be the same as the AirPrint settings, so a duplicated explanation will be omitted. The setting area 1503 is an area for making Universal Print settings.

[0130] For example, suppose that the printing device 500 is configured to enable AirPrint for the print server 130 and disable AirPrint for the information processing device 110. In this case, the printing device 500 sends standard printing support information to the print server 130 but does not send the standard printing support information to the information processing device 110. As a result, the information processing device 110 can discover the printing device 500 only via the print server 130. On the other hand, suppose that the printing device 500 is configured to disable AirPrint for the print server 130 and enable AirPrint for the information processing device 110. In this case, the printing device 500 does not send the standard printing support information to the print server 130 but sends the standard printing support information to the information processing device 110. As a result, the information processing device 110 can discover only printing devices 500 connected to the same network.

[0131] <Third embodiment> The third embodiment will be described below. In the following description, matters that may be the same as those in the first embodiment will not be described. In the first embodiment, when the standard printing function is enabled, the printing device 500 transmits standard printing support information to both the print server 130 and the information processing device 110. When the standard printing function is disabled, the printing device 500 does not transmit standard printing support information to either the print server 130 or the information processing device 110. In this way, whether or not to transmit standard printing support information is set uniformly for the print server 130 and the information processing device 110.

[0132] In the third embodiment, the processing regarding whether to send standard printing support information differs between when the printer attributes are sent to the print server 130 and when the printer attributes are sent to the information processing device 110. In the third embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the printing device 500 may determine whether to send standard printing support information to the information processing device 110 based on whether the standard printing function is enabled or disabled in the printing device 500.

[0133] On the other hand, in the third embodiment, regardless of whether the standard printing function is enabled or disabled in the printing device 500, the printing device 500 sends standard printing support information to the print server 130. Therefore, the user of the information processing device 110 can start standard printing via the print server 130. However, if a specific standard printing function is disabled in the printing device 500, a specific document format supported by that specific standard printing function is not actually supported. Therefore, if a print job is sent in that specific document format, the printing device 500 fails to print.

[0134] [Operation flow for printing device to send printer attributes] In the third embodiment, the process in which the printing device 500 transmits printer attributes to the information processing device 110 may be similar to the process described above in Fig. 11. On the other hand, in the third embodiment, the process in which the printing device 500 transmits printer attributes to the print server 130 differs from the process described above in Fig. 11 in that step S1103 is not executed. That is, the printing device 500 executes step S1102 in Fig. 11 and then step S1104.

[0135] The printer attributes sent to the print server 130 in S1106 indicate one or more standard print functions supported by the printing device 500. The standard print functions indicated by the printer attributes may be enabled or disabled in the printing device 500. When the printer attributes include information about a specific standard print function, the device (print server 130) that receives the printer attributes from the printing device 500 recognizes that the printing device 500 supports the specific standard print function. However, the standard print function may actually be disabled in the printing device 500. Therefore, although the user can instruct printing using the specific standard print function, the printing device 500 will not execute printing if a print job is sent in a specific document format supported by the specific standard print function.

[0136] <Fourth embodiment> The fourth embodiment will be described below. In the following description, matters that may be the same as those in the third embodiment will not be described. In the third embodiment, regardless of whether the standard printing function is enabled or disabled in the printing device 500, the printing device 500 sends standard printing support information to the print server 130. Therefore, the user of the information processing device 110 can start standard printing via the print server 130.

[0137] In the fourth embodiment, the printing device 500 transmits to the print server 130, in addition to the standard printing support information described above, information indicating whether a specific standard printing function is enabled or disabled. In the following description, the information indicating whether a specific standard printing function is enabled or disabled is referred to as standard printing validity information. In the fourth embodiment, the standard printing support information indicates whether the printing device 500 supports a specific standard printing function (i.e., the printing device 500 has the specific standard printing function). The standard printing validity information indicates whether the specific standard printing function is enabled or disabled in the printing device 500.

[0138] If the standard printing validity information indicates that a specific standard printing function is valid, the user of the information processing device 110 can perform printing using this specific standard printing function via the print server 130. On the other hand, if the standard printing validity information indicates that a specific standard printing function is invalid, the user of the information processing device 110 cannot perform printing using this specific standard printing function via the print server 130.

[0139] The print server 130 transmits the standard printing validity information received from the printing device 500 to the information processing device 110 as printer attributes. If the printer attributes acquired in the printer search indicate that the standard printing function is disabled, the information processing device 110 does not present that printer to the user in the printer list. This prevents the information processing device 110 from sending a print job using the standard printing function when the standard printing function is disabled.

[0140] Printer Attributes 16, an example of printer attributes 1600 transmitted by the printing device 500 in the fourth embodiment in steps S909 and S913 of Fig. 9 will be described. The printer attributes 1600 differ from the printer attributes 1000 in that they further include records 1601 and 1602, but may be the same as the printer attributes 1000 in other respects.

[0141] Record 1601 indicates whether the AirPrint function is enabled or disabled on the printing device 500. The attribute name is "airprint-enable." The attribute value is "true" if the AirPrint function is enabled on the printing device 500. The attribute value is "false" if the AirPrint function is disabled. If the printer attribute 1600 includes a record with the name "airprint-enable" and the value "true," the printer attribute 1600 indicates that the AirPrint function is enabled on the printing device 500. On the other hand, if the printer attribute 1600 includes a record with the name "airprint-enable" and the value "false," or if the printer attribute 1600 does not include "airprint-enable" itself, the printer attribute 1600 indicates that the AirPrint function is disabled on the printing device 500.

[0142] Record 1602 indicates whether the Mopria function is enabled or disabled on the printing device 500. The attribute name is "mopria-enable." The attribute value is "true" if the Mopria function is enabled on the printing device 500. The attribute value is "false" if the Mopria function is disabled. If printer attribute 1600 includes a record with the name "mopria-enable" and a value of "true," the printer attribute 1600 indicates that the Mopria function is enabled on the printing device 500. On the other hand, if printer attribute 1600 includes a record with the name "mopria-enable" and a value of "false," or if printer attribute 1600 does not include "mopria-enable" itself, the printer attribute 1600 indicates that the Mopria function is disabled on the printing device 500.

[0143] [Operation flow when an information processing device searches for a printer] An example of processing by which the information processing device 110 searches for a printer that supports its own standard printing function will be described with reference to Fig. 17. The method of Fig. 17 differs from the method of Fig. 13 in that step S1701 is executed instead of step S1305, but may be the same as the method of Fig. 13 in other respects.

[0144] In S1701, the printer management unit 405 of the information processing device 110 determines whether the selected virtual printer supports the standard printing function of the information processing device 110 and whether this standard printing function is valid. If the printing device 500 determines that the selected virtual printer supports the standard printing function of the information processing device 110 and that this standard printing function is valid ("YES" in S1701), it transitions the process to S1809, and otherwise ("NO" in S1701), it transitions the process to S1807.

[0145] Whether the selected virtual printer supports the standard print function of the information processing device 110 may be determined based on the printer attributes included in the information response. For example, if the printer attributes include record 1016 in Fig. 16, the virtual printer supports Airprint. If the printer attributes include record 1015 in Fig. 16, the virtual printer supports Mopria.

[0146] Whether the standard printing function of the information processing device 110 is enabled for the selected virtual printer may be determined based on the printer attributes included in the information response. For example, if the printer attributes include record 1601 in Fig. 16 and the value is set to true, the Airprint function is enabled for the virtual printer. If the printer attributes include record 1602 in Fig. 16 and the value is set to true, the Mopria function is enabled for the virtual printer.

[0147] Fifth Embodiment The fifth embodiment will be described below. In the following description, matters that may be the same as those in the fourth embodiment will not be described. In the fourth embodiment, the printing device 500 transmits standard printing validity information to the print server 130, and the print server 130 transmits the standard printing validity information to the information processing device 110. This allows the information processing device 110 to determine whether a specific standard printing function is enabled or disabled in the printing device 500. In the fifth embodiment, the print server 130 determines whether a specific standard printing function is enabled or disabled in the printing device 500. The print server 130 performs processing according to the determination result.

[0148] When the printer management unit 303 of the print server 130 receives the standard printing validity information from the printing device 500, it updates the printer information 311 for the printing device 500 to include the standard printing validity information. The print server 130 does not have to send the standard printing validity information to the information processing device 110. Alternatively, the print server 130 may send the standard printing validity information to the information processing device 110. Even if the information processing device 110 does not perform a determination based on the standard printing validity information and sends a print job to the print server 130 using a specific standard printing function, the print server 130 will not send the print job to a printing device 500 for which the specific standard printing function is disabled.

[0149] [Operation flow of print server processing print jobs] An example of the operation of the print server 130 to process a print job received from the information processing device 110 will be described with reference to Fig. 18. The operation of Fig. 18 is started in response to the print server 130 receiving a print request from the information processing device 110 in S914 of Fig. 9, for example. As described above, the print request includes a print job.

[0150] In S1801, the job management unit 304 of the print server 130 acquires the document format of the received print job from the job information 312. The document format is stored in document-format, which is an IPP job attribute.

[0151] In S1802, the job management unit 304 of the print server 130 acquires client information related to the information processing device 110 that sent the received print job from the job information 312. The client information may include, for example, the type of OS of the information processing device 110. The client information is stored in client-info, which is an operational attribute of IPP.

[0152] In S1803, the job management unit 304 of the print server 130 identifies the print function used to generate the print job based on the document format acquired in S1801 and the client information acquired in S1802.

[0153] An example of a method for identifying print features used to generate a print job will be described with reference to Fig. 19. The print server 130 may identify print features by referencing feature identification information 1900. The feature identification information 1900 is generated in advance (e.g., before the execution of the method of Fig. 19), for example, by an administrator of the print server 130, and stored in the storage device 204 of the print server 130. In the example of Fig. 19, the feature identification information 1900 is expressed in a table format. Alternatively, the feature identification information 1900 may be expressed in another format.

[0154] The function specification information 1900 includes columns 1901 to 1903. Column 1901 indicates the document format. Column 1902 indicates the print function when the OS type is macOS or iOS. Column 1903 indicates the print function when the OS type is Windows or Android. Record 1911 indicates the print capabilities for each OS when the document format is PWG Raster. Record 1912 indicates the print capabilities for each OS when the document format is Apple Raster. Record 1913 indicates the print capabilities for each OS when the document format is neither PWG Raster nor Apple Raster (for example, PDF).

[0155] If the document format is PWG Raster, the print server 130 determines the print function to be Mopria regardless of the OS type. If the document format is Apple Raster, the print server 130 determines the print function to be AirPrint regardless of the OS type. If the document format is other than these, the print server 130 determines the print function to be AirPrint if the OS type is macOS or iOS, and determines the print function to be Mopria if the OS type is Windows or Android.

[0156] Returning to the explanation of Fig. 18, in S1804, the job management unit 304 of the print server 130 determines, based on the printer information 311, whether the print function identified in S1803 is valid for the printing device 500. If the print server 130 determines that the identified print function is valid for the printing device 500 ("YES" in S1804), it transitions the process to S1805, and otherwise ("NO" in S1804) it terminates the process. If the print server 130 determines that the identified print function is not valid (i.e., invalid) for the printing device 500, the print server 130 may respond with an error to the information processing device 110.

[0157] In S1805, the job management unit 304 of the print server 130 transmits the print job received from the information processing device 110 to the printing device 500. This step may be executed in S917 of Fig. 9 described above. In this way, the print server 130 determines whether to transmit the print job received from the information processing device 110 to the printing device 500 based on the standard print validity information.

[0158] Sixth Embodiment The sixth embodiment will be described below. In the following description, matters that may be the same as those in the third embodiment will not be described. In the sixth embodiment, it is assumed that the printing device 500 supports AirPrint and the OS type of the information processing device 110 is macOS. Regardless of whether the standard printing function is enabled or disabled in the printing device 500, the printing device 500 transmits standard printing support information indicating that it supports AirPrint to the print server 130. Therefore, the user of the information processing device 110 can start executing AirPrint via the print server 130.

[0159] The print server 130 receives a print job generated by AirPrint from the information processing device 110 and transmits this print job to the printing device 500. When the printing device 500 receives a print job generated by AirPrint from the print server 130, the printing device 500 may execute printing in accordance with this print job, regardless of whether AirPrint is enabled or disabled. On the other hand, when the printing device 500 receives a print job generated by AirPrint directly from the information processing device 110 (i.e., not via the print server 130), the printing device 500 may not execute printing if AirPrint is disabled.

[0160] <Summary of the embodiment> [Item 1] 1. A printing device, comprising: a remote printing means for executing printing in accordance with a print job transmitted from the print server; a local printing unit that executes printing in accordance with a print job transmitted from an information processing device connected to the same network as the printing device; a transmitting means for transmitting support information indicating that the printing device supports a standard printing function included as standard in the operating system of the information processing device to the printing server; A printing device comprising: [Item 2] The printing device further includes a setting unit for setting whether to transmit the support information to the printing server, The transmitting means If it is set that the support information is to be transmitted to the print server, transmitting the support information to the print server; 2. The printing device according to item 1, wherein the support information is not sent to the print server if the setting to send the support information to the print server is not made. [Item 3] 3. The printing device according to item 2, wherein the setting unit can individually set whether or not to send the support information to the print server for each of two or more types of standard print functions. [Item 4] the setting unit further sets whether to transmit the support information to the information processing device, independently of whether to transmit the support information to the print server; The transmitting means transmitting the support information to the information processing device when the support information is set to be transmitted to the information processing device; 4. The printing device according to item 2 or 3, wherein the support information is not transmitted to the information processing device if the setting to transmit the support information to the information processing device is not made. [Item 5] 2. The printing device according to item 1, wherein the sending unit sends the support information to the print server regardless of whether the standard printing function is enabled or disabled in the printing device. [Item 6] 6. The printing device according to item 5, wherein the sending means further sends to the print server validity information indicating whether the standard printing function is valid or invalid in the printing device. [Item 7] The transmitting means The registration of the printing device to the printing server is completed; and The printing device is started in a state where the printing device is registered in the print server; The function of printing in accordance with the print job transmitted from the print server is changed from disabled to enabled; and The support information is set to be transmitted to the print server; The configuration information of the printing device has changed; and a change in the state of the printing device; and 7. The printing device according to any one of items 1 to 6, wherein the printing device transmits the support information to the print server in accordance with at least one of the above. [Item 8] 8. The printing device according to any one of items 1 to 7, wherein the support information is included in a message defined by the Internet Printing Protocol. [Item 9] 1. A print server comprising: a receiving means for receiving support information from the printing device, the support information indicating that the printing device supports a standard printing function included as standard in the operating system of the information processing device; a presentation means for presenting to the information processing device a virtual printer associated with a printing device that supports the standard printing function when a printer search using the standard printing function is executed by the information processing device; A print server comprising: [Item 10] 10. The print server according to item 9, wherein the receiving means receives the support information for each of two or more types of standard print functions. [Item 11] Item 11. The print server according to item 9 or 10, wherein the receiving means further receives validity information from the printing device that indicates whether the standard printing function is valid or invalid in the printing device. [Item 12] The receiving means further receives a print job from the information processing device, Item 12. The print server according to item 11, further comprising a determination unit that determines whether to send the print job to the printing device based on the validity information. [Item 13] 13. The print server according to any one of items 9 to 12, wherein the support information is included in a message defined by the Internet Printing Protocol. [Item 14] An information processing device, a storage means for storing an operating system that includes a standard printing function as standard; an acquisition means for acquiring from a user an instruction to execute a printer search using the standard printing function; a search unit that, in response to the instruction, queries the network to which the information processing device is connected and the print server that provides the virtual printer to see if there is a printer that supports the standard print function; a presentation means for presenting a result of the query made by the search means to the user; An information processing device comprising: [Item 15] A method for controlling a printing device, comprising: The printing device a remote printing means for executing printing in accordance with a print job transmitted from the print server; a local printing unit that executes printing in accordance with a print job transmitted from an information processing device connected to the same network as the printing device; The control method includes: a transmission step in which the control means of the printing device transmits support information indicating that the printing device supports standard printing functions included as standard in the operating system of the information processing device to the printing server; A control method comprising: [Item 16] A method for controlling a print server, comprising: a receiving step in which a receiving means of the print server receives, from the printing device, support information indicating that the printing device supports a standard printing function included as standard in an operating system of the information processing device; a presentation step in which, when a printer search using the standard printing function is executed by the information processing device, a presentation means of the print server presents to the information processing device a virtual printer associated with a printing device that supports the standard printing function; A control method comprising: [Item 17] A method for controlling an information processing apparatus having an operating system that includes a standard printing function as standard, an acquisition step in which an acquisition unit of the information processing device acquires from a user an instruction to execute a printer search using the standard printing function; a search step in which, in response to the instruction, a search means of the information processing device inquires of the network to which the information processing device is connected and of a print server that provides a virtual printer whether or not a printer that supports the standard print function exists; a presentation step in which a presentation means of the information processing device presents a result of the query made by the search means to the user; A control method comprising:

[0161] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are appended to apprise the public of the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0162] 110 information processing device, 120A to 120D printing device, 130 print server

Claims

1. 1. A printing device, comprising: a remote printing means for executing printing according to a print job transmitted from the print server system; a local printing unit that executes printing according to a print job transmitted from an information processing device that is connected to the same network as the printing device; a transmitting means for transmitting support information indicating that the printing device supports a standard printing function included as standard in an operating system of the information processing device to the print server system; Equipped with A printing device in which the sending means sends the support information to the print server system when a setting used to determine whether to send the support information is valid, and does not send the support information to the print server system when the setting is invalid.

2. The printing device further includes a setting unit that sets whether or not to transmit the support information to the print server system, The transmitting means is When the support information is set to be transmitted to the print server system, the support information is transmitted to the print server system; The printing device according to claim 1 , wherein the support information is not transmitted to the print server system when the support information is not set to be transmitted to the print server system.

3. 3. The printing device according to claim 2, wherein the setting unit is capable of individually setting whether or not to transmit the support information to the print server system for each of two or more types of standard printing functions.

4. the setting means further sets whether or not the support information is to be transmitted to the information processing device, independently of whether or not the support information is to be transmitted to the print server system; The transmitting means is transmitting the support information to the information processing device when the support information is set to be transmitted to the information processing device; The printing device according to claim 2 , wherein the support information is not transmitted to the information processing device when the support information is not set to be transmitted to the information processing device.

5. 2. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein said transmission means transmits said support information to said print server system regardless of whether said standard printing function is enabled or disabled in said printing device.

6. 6. The printing device according to claim 5, wherein said transmission means further transmits to said print server system validity information indicating whether said standard print function is valid or invalid in said printing device.

7. The transmitting means is The registration of the printing device in the print server system is completed; and The printing device is started in a state where the printing device is registered in the print server system; and A function of performing printing according to a print job transmitted from the print server system is changed from disabled to enabled; and The support information is set to be transmitted to the print server system; and The configuration information of the printing device has changed; and A state of the printing device has changed; and The printing device according to claim 1 , wherein the support information is transmitted to the print server system in response to at least one of the following:

8. 2. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the support information is included in a message defined by an Internet Printing Protocol.

9. The printing device described in claim 1, wherein the print server system is a print server system that provides a cloud print service that provides print data via the Internet.

10. The printing device described in Claim 9, wherein the printing data is printing data generated by the print server system in response to a printing instruction using the standard printing function of the information processing device, and is printing data provided to the printing device.

11. A printing device, comprising: a remote printing means for executing printing according to a print job transmitted from the print server system; a local printing unit that executes printing according to a print job transmitted from an information processing device that is connected to the same network as the printing device; a transmitting means for transmitting support information indicating that the printing device supports a standard printing function included as standard in an operating system of the information processing device to the print server system; Equipped with The sending means sends the support information to the print server system regardless of whether the standard print function is enabled or disabled in the printing device.

12. The printing device further includes a setting means for setting whether or not to transmit the support information to the print server system, The transmitting means is When the support information is set to be transmitted to the print server system, the support information is transmitted to the print server system; The printing device according to claim 11 , wherein the support information is not transmitted to the print server system when the support information is not set to be transmitted to the print server system.

13. The printing device as described in claim 12, wherein the setting means is capable of individually setting whether or not to send the support information to the print server system for each of two or more types of standard printing functions.

14. The setting means further sets whether or not to transmit the support information to the information processing device, independently of whether or not to transmit the support information to the print server system; The transmitting means is transmitting the support information to the information processing device when the support information is set to be transmitted to the information processing device; The printing device according to claim 12 , wherein the support information is not transmitted to the information processing device when the support information is not set to be transmitted to the information processing device.

15. The printing device as described in Claim 11, wherein the sending means further sends validity information indicating whether the standard printing function is enabled or disabled in the printing device to the print server system.

16. The transmission means: The registration of the printing device in the print server system is completed; and The printing device is started in a state where the printing device is registered in the print server system; and A function of performing printing according to a print job transmitted from the print server system is changed from disabled to enabled; and The support information is set to be transmitted to the print server system; and The configuration information of the printing device has changed; and A state of the printing device has changed; and The printing device according to claim 11 , wherein the support information is transmitted to the print server system in response to at least one of the following:

17. The printing device of claim 11, wherein the support information is included in a message defined by the Internet Printing Protocol.

18. The printing device described in claim 11, wherein the print server system is a print server system that provides a cloud print service that provides print data via the Internet.

19. The printing device described in Claim 18, wherein the printing data is printing data generated by the print server system in response to a printing instruction using the standard printing function of the information processing device, and is printing data provided to the printing device.

20. A print server system, comprising: a receiving means for receiving support information indicating that the printing device supports a standard printing function included as standard in an operating system of the information processing device from the printing device; a presentation means for presenting to the information processing device a virtual printer associated with a printing device that supports the standard printing function when a printer search using the standard printing function is executed by the information processing device; Equipped with A print server system, wherein the receiving means receives the support information from the printing device when a setting used to determine whether the printing device will send the support information is valid, and does not receive the support information from the printing device when the setting is invalid.

21. 21. The print server system according to claim 20, wherein the receiving means receives the support information for each of two or more types of standard print functions.

22. 21. The print server system according to claim 20, wherein said receiving means further receives from said printing device validity information indicating whether said standard print function is valid or invalid in said printing device.

23. The receiving means further receives a print job from the information processing device, 23. The print server system according to claim 22, further comprising a determining unit for determining whether to send the print job to the printing device based on the validity information.

24. 21. The print server system of claim 20, wherein the support information is included in a message defined by the Internet Printing Protocol.

25. A print server system as described in claim 20, providing a cloud print service that provides print data via the Internet.

26. The print server system described in claim 25, wherein the print data is print data generated by the print server system in response to a print instruction using the standard printing function of the information processing device, and is print data provided to the printing device.

27. A print server system comprising: a receiving means for receiving support information indicating that the printing device supports a standard printing function included as standard in an operating system of the information processing device from the printing device; a presentation means for presenting to the information processing device a virtual printer associated with a printing device that supports the standard printing function when a printer search using the standard printing function is executed by the information processing device; Equipped with The receiving means receives the support information from the printing device regardless of whether the standard printing function is enabled or disabled in the printing device.

28. The print server system described in claim 27, wherein the receiving means receives the support information for each of two or more types of standard print functions.

29. The print server system of claim 27, wherein the receiving means further receives validity information from the printing device indicating whether the standard printing function is enabled or disabled on the printing device.

30. The receiving means further receives a print job from the information processing device, 30. The print server system of claim 29, further comprising a determining unit for determining whether to send the print job to the printing device based on the validity information.

31. The print server system of claim 27, wherein the support information is included in a message defined by the Internet Printing Protocol.

32. A print server system as described in claim 27, providing a cloud print service that provides print data via the Internet.

33. The print server system described in claim 32, wherein the print data is print data generated by the print server system in response to a print instruction using the standard printing function of the information processing device, and is print data provided to the printing device.

34. An information processing device, A storage means for storing an operating system including a standard printing function as standard; an acquisition means for acquiring an instruction to execute a printer search using the standard printing function from a user; a search means for inquiring, in response to the instruction, whether or not a printer that supports the standard printing function exists in each of the network to which the information processing device is connected and a print server system that provides a virtual printer; a presentation means for presenting a result of the query made by the search means to the user; Equipped with The printing server system receives the support information from the printing device when a setting used to determine whether the printing device will send support information indicating that the printing device supports the standard printing function is valid, and does not receive the support information from the printing device when the setting is invalid.

35. An information processing device, A storage means for storing an operating system including a standard printing function as standard; an acquisition means for acquiring an instruction to execute a printer search using the standard printing function from a user; a search means for inquiring, in response to the instruction, whether or not a printer that supports the standard printing function exists in each of the network to which the information processing device is connected and a print server system that provides a virtual printer; a presentation means for presenting a result of the query made by the search means to the user; Equipped with The print server system receives support information from the printing device, the support information indicating that the printing device supports the standard printing function, regardless of whether the standard printing function is enabled or disabled in the printing device.

36. A method for controlling a printing device, comprising: The printing device includes: a remote printing means for executing printing according to a print job transmitted from the print server system; a local printing unit that executes printing according to a print job transmitted from an information processing device that is connected to the same network as the printing device; The control method includes: a transmission step in which the control means of the printing device transmits support information indicating that the printing device supports a standard printing function included as standard in the operating system of the information processing device to the print server system; having A control method for transmitting the support information to the print server system when a setting used to determine whether or not to transmit the support information is valid, and not transmitting the support information to the print server system when the setting is invalid.

37. A method for controlling a printing device, comprising: The printing device includes: a remote printing means for executing printing according to a print job transmitted from the print server system; a local printing unit that executes printing according to a print job transmitted from an information processing device that is connected to the same network as the printing device; The control method includes: a transmission step in which the control means of the printing device transmits support information indicating that the printing device supports a standard printing function included as standard in the operating system of the information processing device to the print server system; having The control method includes transmitting the support information to the print server system regardless of whether the standard print function is enabled or disabled in the printing device.

38. A control method for a print server system, comprising: a receiving step in which a receiving means of the print server system receives, from the printing device, support information indicating that the printing device supports a standard printing function included as standard in an operating system of the information processing device; a presentation step of the print server system presenting, when a printer search using the standard printing function is executed by the information processing device, a virtual printer associated with a printing device that supports the standard printing function to the information processing device; having A control method for receiving the support information from the printing device when a setting used to determine whether the printing device will send the support information is valid, and not receiving the support information from the printing device when the setting is invalid.

39. A method for controlling a print server system, comprising: a receiving step in which a receiving means of the print server system receives, from the printing device, support information indicating that the printing device supports a standard printing function included as standard in an operating system of the information processing device; a presentation step of the print server system presenting, when a printer search using the standard printing function is executed by the information processing device, a virtual printer associated with a printing device that supports the standard printing function to the information processing device; having The receiving means receives the support information from the printing device regardless of whether the standard printing function is enabled or disabled in the printing device.

40. A method for controlling an information processing apparatus having an operating system including a standard printing function, comprising the steps of: an acquisition step of acquiring, by an acquisition means of the information processing device, an instruction to execute a printer search using the standard printing function from a user; a search step in which a search means of the information processing device inquires, in response to the instruction, of a network to which the information processing device is connected and a print server system that provides a virtual printer as to whether or not a printer that supports the standard print function exists; a presentation step in which a presentation means of the information processing device presents a result of the query made by the search means to the user; having A control method in which the print server system receives the support information from the printing device when a setting used to determine whether the printing device will send support information indicating that the printing device supports the standard printing function is valid, and does not receive the support information from the printing device when the setting is invalid.

41. A method for controlling an information processing device having an operating system that includes a standard printing function, comprising: an acquisition step of acquiring, by an acquisition means of the information processing device, an instruction to execute a printer search using the standard printing function from a user; a search step in which a search means of the information processing device inquires, in response to the instruction, of a network to which the information processing device is connected and a print server system that provides a virtual printer as to whether or not a printer that supports the standard print function exists; a presentation step in which a presentation means of the information processing device presents a result of the query made by the search means to the user; having The print server system receives support information from the printing device indicating that the printing device supports the standard printing function, regardless of whether the standard printing function is enabled or disabled in the printing device.

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