Image forming apparatus, method for controlling image forming apparatus, and program

Abstract

To provide an image formation apparatus which prevents a partial setting item from being changed while enabling a partial setting to be changed when reading out the plurality of setting items as the batch setting.SOLUTION: An image formation apparatus comprises: storage means which stores setting values of a plurality of setting items in association with identification information; reception means which receives from prescribed print service an acquisition request of the identification information stored in the storage means; and transmission means which transmits to the prescribed print service the stored identification information and information for allowing the prescribed print service to set the first setting item that cannot be set in the prescribed print service associated with the identification information on the basis of the received acquisition request, and does not transmit to the prescribed print service the information for allowing the prescribed print service to set the second setting item that cannot be set in the prescribed print service associated with the identification information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a control method for the image forming apparatus, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) is a standard printing function provided by multiple operating systems (OS) that configure information processing devices. In IPP, the information processing device can select various print settings on the print screen of the information processing device according to the capability information notified from the image forming device. The present invention relates to this capability notification and selection method.

[0003] It is considered that the setting values ​​of multiple setting items are registered in an image forming device as one set of collective settings, and print settings are performed on an information processing device using the set of setting values ​​registered in the image forming device. In Patent Document 1, a user sets multiple setting items in advance in the image forming device and registers them in the image forming device. The information processing device acquires information for identifying the set of setting values ​​registered in the image forming device from the image forming device, and displays it on a display unit of the information processing device. The information processing device displays the acquired identification information and accepts a selection of identification information to be used for printing from the user. The information processing device then transmits the selected identification information to the image forming device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-006099 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, on the print setting screen provided by a print service that supports IPP, the setting items that a user can set are limited to those defined by IPP, and the user cannot set the setting items and setting values ​​specific to the vendor of the image forming device. The setting items and setting values ​​specific to the vendor are, for example, the setting items and setting values ​​related to the "opening direction" and "creep correction amount" when performing bookbinding.

[0006] Among the vendor-specific setting items included in the set of multiple setting items registered in the image forming device, there are items whose settings are to be changed before printing and items whose settings do not need to be changed before printing. For example, the creep correction amount may be changed as appropriate before printing depending on the number of sheets to be printed. On the other hand, the toner save setting that saves the amount of toner used is an item that is unlikely to be changed before printing, since it is enabled every time a job is executed when the collective setting is used. If a screen for changing the setting item is displayed for an item whose setting is unlikely to be changed, a display that is likely to be unnecessary for the user will be displayed. Therefore, the image forming device described in the embodiment of the present application aims to prevent some setting items from being changed while allowing some settings to be changed when multiple setting items are read out as collective settings. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment comprises: Regarding print data processing a storage means for storing a combination of setting values ​​of a plurality of setting items and identification information of the combination in association with each other; before Identification information News Notification means for notifying the information processing device the identification information is displayed on a display unit of the information processing device in a manner selectable by a user of the information processing device, and a receiving unit for receiving print data from an information processing device, and an image forming unit for executing image formation based on the received print data, the image forming device further comprising a setting unit for setting a first setting item among the plurality of setting items, the setting value of which is allowed to be changed, and the notification unit is configured to notify the user of an object for changing the setting value of the first setting item. On the display unitThe information processing device is notified of information to be used by the information processing device for display, and the information is not notified of a second setting item among the plurality of setting items, the second setting item being a setting change that is not permitted. Effect of the Invention

[0008] The image forming apparatus described in the present application, and the image forming apparatus described in the embodiments of the present application, when reading out multiple setting items as a batch setting, can allow some settings to be changed while preventing some setting items from being changed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a system configuration described in an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an information processing device in the present embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a software configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a software configuration of an information processing device in the present embodiment. [Figure 6] 13 is an example of a preset / template registration screen in the present embodiment. [Figure 7] 11 is a flowchart showing a preset / template setting process in the present embodiment. [Figure 8] 5 is a diagram showing an example of a print setting screen displayed on a touch panel of the information processing apparatus in the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 9] 11 is a flowchart showing a process for acquiring a vendor extended attribute in the present embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing the process of obtaining and setting an extended attribute associated with a template / preset in the present embodiment. [Figure 11]11 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of a table stored in a preset / template DB 416 in the present embodiment. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] In this embodiment, a user registers presets or templates in an image forming device as a set of setting values ​​for multiple setting items. The information processing device acquires identification information for batch settings, which is a set of setting values ​​for multiple setting items, from the image forming device and displays it on a print setting screen. The user acquires identification information for batch settings to be used for print settings from the print setting screen of the information processing device. Note that in this embodiment, in addition to setting items and setting values ​​defined by IPP, vendor-specific setting items and setting values ​​can be set as batch settings.

[0011] The image forming apparatus identifies setting items that need to be changed before a job is executed from among the setting items included in one batch setting.

[0012] Then, among the setting items included in the batch setting, vendor-specific setting items and setting values ​​that may be changed before the job is executed are notified to the image forming device in a form linked to the identification information of the batch setting. In this way, when a user selects a batch setting to be used for printing from the batch setting, the information processing device can change the print settings of the setting items before the job is executed, even if the selected batch setting includes a vendor-specific item.

[0013] FIG. 1 will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of a printing system of the present invention. An image forming apparatus 101 is connected to a LAN (Local Area Network) 100. Information processing apparatuses 103, 104, and 105 are connected to the LAN 100 via an AP access point 102. In this embodiment, information processing apparatuses 103, 104, and 105 such as a tablet, a smartphone, and a PC will be described as examples of information processing apparatuses. In the following description, the tablet, the smartphone, the PC, and the like will be collectively referred to as information processing apparatuses. These information processing apparatuses can transmit print data to the image forming apparatus 101 via the LAN 100. In this embodiment, the above configuration example will be described as an example of a printing system, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it is sufficient that at least one or more information processing apparatuses and an image forming apparatus are connected to be able to communicate with each other via a network. The network may be wireless or wired.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 101. As shown in FIG.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment. In this embodiment, an image forming apparatus is explained as an example, but the image forming apparatus may be an image forming apparatus such as an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) including a scanner or FAX function. A control unit 210 including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 211 controls the operation of the entire image forming apparatus 101. The CPU 211 loads a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 212 or a storage 214 into a RAM 213, and executes the program to perform various controls such as print control and read control. The ROM 212 stores a control program executable by the CPU 211, a boot program, and the like. The RAM (Random Access Memory) 213 is the main storage memory of the CPU 211, and is used as a work area or a temporary storage area for loading various control programs. The storage 214 stores print data, image data, various programs, and various setting information. In this embodiment, the storage 214 is assumed to be an auxiliary storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD), but a non-volatile memory such as a solid state drive (SSD) may also be used.

[0016] In the image forming apparatus 101 according to this embodiment, one CPU 211 executes each process shown in the flowcharts described later using one RAM 213, but other configurations are also possible. For example, a plurality of CPUs, RAMs, ROMs, and storages may work together to execute each process shown in the flowcharts described later. Also, some of the processes may be executed using hardware circuits such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array).

[0017] The operation unit interface I / F 216 connects the operation unit 217 and the control unit 210. The operation unit 217 is provided with a display unit having a touch panel function, various hard keys, and the like, and functions as a display unit that displays information and a reception unit that receives user instructions. The printing unit I / F 218 connects the printing unit 219 and the control unit 210. Image data generated by analyzing a print job received from an information processing device is transferred from the control unit 210 to the printing unit 219 via the printing unit I / F 218. The printing unit 219 receives a control command and a print job to be printed via the control unit 210, and prints an image on a sheet fed from a paper feed cassette (not shown) based on the print job. The printing method of the printing unit 219 may be an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method. Other printing methods such as a thermal transfer method can also be applied. The control unit 210 is also connected to the LAN 100 via a communication unit I / F 222. The communication I / F 222 transmits information to the information processing apparatuses 103 , 104 , and 105 , and receives print jobs and information from the information processing apparatuses 103 , 104 , and 105 on the LAN 100 .

[0018] The image processing unit 215 has a RIP (Raster Image Processor) function that develops a print job received from the information processing device 103, 104, or 105 to generate print image data. The image processing unit 215 can also convert the resolution of image data obtained by developing the print job and perform correction processing. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the image processing unit 215 is realized by a hardware circuit such as an ASIC or an FPGA, but this is not limited to this. For example, the image forming device 101 may further include a processor for image processing, and the processor may execute an image processing program to realize image processing and development processing into print data. In this case, the processor and the CPU 211 cooperate to realize a flowchart described later. Furthermore, the CPU 211 may execute a program for performing image processing, and the image processing and development processing into print data may be performed. Image processing may also be performed by any combination of these.

[0019] The sheet processing unit I / F 220 connects the control unit 210 and the sheet processing unit 221. The sheet processing unit 221 receives a control command from the control unit 210, and performs post-processing on the sheet printed by the printing unit 219 in accordance with the control command.

[0020] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the software configuration of the image forming apparatus 101. As shown in FIG.

[0021] It is assumed that each of the functional blocks shown in FIG. 4 is achieved by the CPU 211 executing a program loaded in the RAM 213.

[0022] The WebUI control unit 415 has a function for registering multiple print settings as a set, as shown in Fig. 6 described later, and for registering and editing a batch setting to be applied collectively. The user registers multiple print settings that have been selected and set in advance as one batch setting via a registration screen 600 described later. A batch setting created by the user via the WebUI is saved as a preset or template in the preset / template DB 416. The preset / template DB 416 internally has an extended attribute DB 417 that holds detailed information on the data type, value range, and initial value of vendor-specific extended attributes that are not defined in the IPP standard.

[0023] In this embodiment, presets and templates can include not only setting items defined by the IPP standard, but also vendor-specific settings. For example, “Number of Copies” and “2-Sided Printing” are attributes defined by IPP. On the other hand, “Booklet”, “Store”, and “Toner Save” are vendor-specific setting items. “Booklet” is a setting item for whether or not to perform booklet printing. When Booklet is set to ON, the opening direction of the output and the correction value of the creep amount can be set. “Store” is a setting for instructing the image forming apparatus 101 to store the print data received. When Store is set to ON, the user can set which box, which is a storage folder of the image forming apparatus 101, to store the print data in. “Toner Save” is a setting for whether or not to perform printing with reduced toner consumption during printing. Toner Save can be switched between ON and OFF. Even for setting items defined by IPP, such as “Staple” and “Punch”, there are setting items for which vendor-specific setting values ​​or setting values ​​that cannot be set by a predetermined print service provided by the OS are desired to be set. In this embodiment, as described above, setting items including setting values ​​that cannot be set by a specific print service are treated as vendor-specific setting items. For example, when "Staple", which binds the output, is set to ON, it is possible to set the number of staples and the position on the paper where the staples will be made. When "Punch", which punches holes in the paper, is set to ON, it is also possible to set the number of punch holes and the position on the paper where the punch holes will be made.

[0024] When a user includes vendor-specific setting items in a collective setting, these vendor-extended setting items are linked to the name of the collective setting and notified to the information processing apparatus as capability information of the image forming apparatus.

[0025] The IPP server control unit 401 has a printer capability notification unit 402. The printer capability notification unit 402 receives inquiries from the information processing devices 103, 104, and 105 to the image forming device, and notifies the printer capability information. Specific examples of the capability information to be notified include a list of names of batch settings of print items held in a preset / template DB 416, and detailed information such as data type, value range, and initial value of vendor extended attributes included in the batch settings. For the names of these batch settings and vendor extended attributes, a language support DB 418 provides character strings for UI display in Message-Catalog format.

[0026] After acquiring the printer capabilities, the information processing apparatuses 103, 104, and 105 generate print jobs suited to the printers and transmit them to the image forming apparatuses. The IPP server control unit 401 performs a process of receiving print data from the information processing apparatuses.

[0027] When the image forming device receives an IPP print job from the information processing device 103, 104, 105, it generates a new job in a job control unit 407 via a print job generation unit 404. Next, a job setting storage and verification unit 403 verifies the job attributes specified in the IPP attributes and writes them to a job attribute storage unit 408. If a batch setting of print attributes in the Finishing-Template format is added to the job, the image forming device queries the preset / template DB 416 for the attributes to be applied and reflects them in the print settings. If individual print attributes are set in addition to the batch setting, the batch setting is overwritten. Details of the attributes that can be set in a batch are described in FIG. 6.

[0028] In parallel with the attribute processing, the IPP server control unit 401 transfers and temporarily stores the drawing data of the job data to the data reception control unit 405. The data reception control unit 405 is a buffer area for print jobs received by the print job generation unit 404, and stores the data in the storage 214 for each print job.

[0029] The PDL analysis unit 406 included in the image forming apparatus 101 of this embodiment is compatible with PDF and PWG-Raster formats. The PDL analysis unit 406 receives an instruction from a job control unit 407 and requests print rendering data from a data reception control unit 405, and performs analysis processing. With regard to the page data generated by the PDL analysis unit 406, a page control unit 409 stores image data in a page storage unit 410 and page attribute information in a page attribute storage unit 411.

[0030] The page control unit 409 controls the page analysis process of the PDL analysis unit 406, the RIP process of the RIP control unit 413, and the print control process of the print control unit 412. The print control unit 412 obtains RIP-completed image data from the page storage unit 410, separates the colors into RGB, and transfers the data to the engine control unit 414. The engine control unit 414 receives RGB image data on a page-by-page basis from the print control unit 412, and controls the print control unit 412 to perform print processing for each page. The WebUI control unit 415 obtains information regarding the status of a print job being processed from the job control unit 407, and displays the processing status of the print job on the UI screen.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the information processing devices 103, 104, and 105.

[0032] The control unit 300 including the CPU 311 controls the operation of the entire information processing device. The CPU 311 loads a program stored in the ROM 314 or the storage 313 into the RAM 312, executes the program, and performs various controls such as control of a print setting screen, generation of print data, and transfer of a print job. The ROM 314 stores a control program and a boot program executable by the CPU 311. The RAM 312 is the main storage memory of the CPU 311, and is used as a work area or a temporary storage area for loading various programs. The storage 313 stores the OS, the print application, the OS print framework, the print job generated by the OS print framework, and various setting information. In this embodiment, an auxiliary storage device such as an HDD Hard Disk Drive is assumed as the storage 313, but a non-volatile memory such as an SSD Solid State Drive may also be used. The touch panel 318 is connected to the operation unit I / F 315, and notifies the application running on the CPU 311 of the user's touch operation as well as screen drawing for each application and the print setting screen.

[0033] 5 is a diagram showing an example of the software configuration of the information processing apparatuses 103, 104, and 105. In this embodiment, the OS provides a predetermined print service in accordance with the IPP.

[0034] It is assumed that each of these functional blocks is achieved by CPU 311 executing a program expanded in RAM 312. Application 501 is any application that a user installs on an information processing device, and is a general application such as a word processor, spreadsheet, database, email, or web browser. OS print framework 502 is made up of an IPP client control unit 503, a print spooler 509, and a print screen control unit 510. IPP client control unit 503 is made up of a printer information management unit 504 and a print job generation unit 505. Printer information management unit 504 makes an inquiry to image forming device 101 via data communication control unit 520, and acquires and holds capability information of image forming device 101.

[0035] The printer information management unit 504 acquires capability information of the image forming device 101, such as a list of names of batch settings such as presets or templates, and detailed information of vendor-specific print settings included in the batch settings, such as data type, value range, and initial value.

[0036] A list of names of collective settings is held in a preset / template management unit 513 in the printer information management unit 504. When a collective setting including vendor-specific setting items and setting values ​​is selected by the user, an extended attribute management unit 514 acquires information on attribute names, data types, and value ranges of the vendor-specific setting items and setting values ​​from the image forming apparatus. The extended attribute management unit 514 saves the acquired vendor-specific setting items and setting values ​​in the extended attribute management unit 514.

[0037] A print screen control unit 510 displays a print screen in response to a call from an application 501. The print screen control unit 510 has a preset name / template name display unit 515, which displays the names of batch settings held by a preset / template management unit 513. Batch settings in the IPP-Preset format are a format in which, in response to a capability information inquiry from an information processing device, the information processing device is notified of the batch settings and the setting items and setting values ​​that have been set. Batch settings in the Finishing-Template format are a format in which the name of the batch setting is notified, but the setting items and setting values ​​that have been set are notified.

[0038] When a user selects a batch setting in which vendor-specific setting items and setting values ​​are set, the extended attribute management unit 514 inquires of the image forming apparatus about information required to display a screen for setting the vendor-specific setting items included in the selected batch setting name on the information processing apparatus. When the batch setting includes vendor-specific setting items and setting values, the image forming apparatus notifies the information processing apparatus of information on the data type, value range, and initial value stored in the extended attribute DB 417 of the image forming apparatus as capability information in association with the name of the batch setting. The information processing apparatus stores detailed information of the notified setting items in the extended attribute management unit 514, and at the same time displays the setting items of the vendor-extended attributes on the print setting screen via the extended attribute display unit 516. The user performs print setting on the print screen and prints.

[0039] The print screen control unit 510 and print job generation unit 505 generate job attributes and document attributes of the IPP job from the setting items on the print screen. In addition to the batch settings and batch settings supported by the image forming apparatus 101, IPP standard print attributes and vendor extended attributes that have been changed just before printing are acquired and specified for each job or page in the print data.

[0040] When the user selects the batch setting in the Finishing-Template format, the print screen control unit 510 and the print job generating unit 505 notify the information processing device of the vendor-specific setting item information in addition to the setting name of the batch setting. On the other hand, when the user selects the batch setting in the IPP-Preset format, the print screen control unit 510 and the print job generating unit 505 specify both the IPP standard attributes and the vendor extended attributes included in the batch setting for each job or for each page in the print data. At this time, the specified attributes, both the IPP standard attributes and the vendor-specific setting items, are reflected on the print setting screen, and the values ​​are reflected again as attributes of the print job. If the user changes the setting value, the changed value is reflected as it is.

[0041] The page generation unit 507 cooperates with a PDL generation unit 508 to convert drawing data generated by the application 501 through an OS drawing engine 530 into PDL data supported by the image forming apparatus 101 and transmit the data to the image forming apparatus 101 .

[0042] The OS drawing engine 530 draws print page data in an OS standard drawing format in response to a request from the application 501, and passes the data to a page generation unit 507 of the OS print framework 502. The data communication control unit 520 transmits and receives messages generated by the IPP client control unit for communication for printer management, and for job transmission and job management to and from the image forming apparatus 101.

[0043] Here, a method for registering presets and templates, which are collective settings, in the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 shows an example of a screen displayed on the touch panel 318 when the image forming apparatus is accessed from any of the information processing apparatuses 103, 104, and 105 and logged in to the image forming apparatus. Authentication for logging in here is performed by comparing the user name and password information input by the user with a user management table 1110, which will be described later with reference to Fig. 11.

[0044] An input field 601 is a space for inputting an arbitrary batch setting name to be given to the batch setting to be registered. The name input in the input field 601 is notified to the information processing apparatus and is displayed on the print setting screen as a selectable batch setting.

[0045] A selection checkbox 602 is a checkbox for setting whether the batch setting to be registered is to be notified to the information processing apparatus as an IPP-Preset or as a Finishing-Template. When IPP-Preset is selected, the image forming apparatus notifies the information processing apparatus of the name of the batch setting, the set setting items, and the setting values. When Finishing-Template is selected, the image forming apparatus notifies the image forming apparatus of the name of the batch setting.

[0046] Selection check boxes 603 are check boxes for selecting individual setting items to be included in the collective setting.

[0047] The setting item name 609 is the name of a setting item that can be set as a collective setting. The setting item name 609 is defined by the IPP, and includes a setting item that can be displayed on the print setting screen provided by the OS without acquiring the item name, data type, or value range from the image forming device. The setting item name 609 also includes items such as 607 and 608 that are not defined by the IPP and require the item name, data type, and value range provided by the printing device to be displayed on the print setting screen provided by the OS. The opening style 607 is the opening direction of the output at the time of bookbinding printing, and the setting value can be selected from right opening, left opening, top opening, and bottom opening. The creep correction 608 is a setting for adjusting the print position of an image on a paper at the time of bookbinding printing. The user can set the print position in mm units.

[0048] The value range selection list / input field 604 is an area for selecting and inputting the setting values ​​of each setting item to be included in the collective setting.

[0049] Selection check box 605 is a check box for selecting whether the setting values ​​of the setting items included in the batch setting can be changed on a job-by-job basis immediately before printing. When selection check box 605 is selected, the user can change the setting values ​​of the setting items included in the selected batch setting after selecting the batch setting to be used for printing on the information processing device.

[0050] If the setting items or values ​​set by the checkboxes as changeable immediately before printing are vendor-specific setting items or values ​​that are not defined as IPP standards, the image forming device notifies the information processing device of the name, data type, value range, and initial value of the setting items. This allows the user to operate the information processing device to change the print settings included in the batch settings, even if the setting items are not defined by IPP.

[0051] An "Add" button 606 is a button for registering a template or preset, which is a collective setting, in the preset / template DB. When the user selects the "Add" button 606, the settings made on the registration screen 600 are registered in the preset / template DB.

[0052] In this way, in this embodiment, vendor-specific setting items can be included in a collective setting that treats multiple setting items as one group, and it is further possible to set whether or not to permit setting changes to these items before printing. For vendor-specific setting items that are permitted to be changed before printing, the image forming apparatus 101 notifies the information processing apparatus 103 of information required for the setting. The information processing apparatus 103 displays a setting screen based on the information provided by the image forming apparatus 101, and the setting of the vendor-specific setting items can be changed in a predetermined print service provided by the OS.

[0053] 7, a process in which the image forming apparatus stores data of batch settings in the preset / template DB 416 and the extended attribute DB 417. The process shown in FIG. 7 is realized by the CPU 211 controlling the WebUI control unit 415 of the image forming apparatus.

[0054] The process shown in FIG. 7 is started in response to selection of the “Add” button 606 on the registration screen 600 shown in FIG.

[0055] The WebUI control unit 415 extracts the name of the collective setting set in the input field 601 of the registration screen 600 and the setting item selected in the selection check box 603 (S711).

[0056] The WebUI control unit 415 determines whether or not one of the setting items extracted in S711 is a setting item for which changing of the setting value is permitted before printing (S712). The WebUI control unit 415 references the selection checkbox 605 for that setting item and determines whether or not the checkbox is selected. If it is selected, the WebUI control unit 415 advances the process to S713. On the other hand, if the selection checkbox 605 is not selected, the WebUI control unit 415 advances the process to S714.

[0057] For the setting items determined in S712 to be permitted to change the setting value before printing, the WebUI control unit 415 sets in the extended attribute DB 417 an attribute ID indicating the setting item, an initial value indicating the setting value, and a last-minute change flag indicating a change in the setting value before printing (S713). Details of the information stored in the extended attribute DB 417 will be described later using the batch setting management table 1120 and the batch attribute management table 1140 in Fig. 11. In S713, since changing the setting value before printing is permitted, the last-minute change flag is set to YES.

[0058] For the setting items for which it is determined in S712 that changing the setting value before printing is not permitted, the WebUI control unit 415 sets in the extended attribute DB 417 an attribute ID indicating the setting item, an initial value indicating the setting value, and a last-minute change flag indicating a change in the setting value before printing (S714). Details of the information stored in the extended attribute DB 417 will be described later using the batch setting management table 1120 and the batch attribute management table 1140 in Fig. 11. In S714, since changing the setting value before printing is not permitted, the last-minute change flag is set to NO.

[0059] The WebUI control unit 415 determines whether or not the process of S712 has been performed for all the setting items extracted in S711 (S715). When registration in the extended attribute DB 417 has been completed for all the setting items set on the registration screen 600, the WebUI control unit 415 completes the process shown in Fig. 7. If there are any setting items for which processing has not been completed, the WebUI control unit 415 returns the process to S712 and executes the processes from S712 onwards.

[0060] Through the above process, batch settings can be stored and registered as presets or templates.

[0061] Next, print settings related to printing in an image forming apparatus in which presets and templates are registered will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 shows an example of a print screen provided by the OS of the information processing apparatuses 103, 104, and 105 that support two batch setting methods, IPP-Preset (preset) and Finishing-Template (template). Here, the information processing apparatus 103 will be described as an example.

[0062] A screen 800 is a print setting screen that is displayed when a user issues an instruction to print data from an application.

[0063] The printer selection area 803 is an area for selecting an image forming device to which the information processing device 103 can send print data. When the object 804 is selected, a list of image forming devices to be used for printing is displayed, and the user can select the image forming device to be used for printing from the displayed image forming devices. The objects having the same shape as the object 804 shown on the screens 800, 810, 820, 830, 840, and 850 are buttons for displaying a list of options for the corresponding setting item.

[0064] The preset selection area 801 is an area for selecting a preset to be used for setting from the IPP-Preset registered in the image forming apparatus. When the user selects an object in the preset selection area 801, a screen 820 is displayed. The user selects a preset to be used from a list of IPP-Preset names acquired from the image forming apparatus 101. When the user selects a preset, the settings corresponding to the selected preset are displayed on the screen 820. For example, when "Sided" corresponding to "com.canon.oip.grpsetting002" registered in the batch setting management table of FIG. 11 is selected, a screen 850 is displayed. Here, the settings corresponding to the selected Sided are displayed, and "Two-Sided" is set to "Long Edge" for double-sided left-hand opening. In addition, for the setting items that are not set in the preset, the values ​​set as defaults are set. In addition, in "com.canon.oip.grpsetting002", the toner save function for reducing toner consumption during printing and the Store function for saving print data in the image forming apparatus 101 are set to be enabled, and Box1 is specified as the storage destination. However, these setting items are not displayed on the screen 850.

[0065] When the user selects the option button 851, a screen 840 is displayed. The screen 840 displays settings for setting items that cannot be displayed on the screen 850 provided by the OS of the information processing device 103. An area 841 displays the name of the selected preset. Areas 842 and 843 are areas displayed based on the attribute ID, data type, initial value, and value range acquired from the image forming device 101. An area 842 is an area for setting whether the Store function is enabled or disabled. As an initial value, "ON" set by the user on the registration screen 600 is displayed. When the user selects an object in the area 842, the value range notified by the image forming device is displayed as a settable option, and the user can change the setting before issuing a print instruction. An area 843 is an area for setting the number of the box to be the save destination. As an initial value, the value set by the user on the registration screen 600 is displayed. A numerical value 844 is a value notified as a value range from the image forming device, and is information indicating the range of numerical values ​​that can be set for the setting item. After completing the setting, the user selects "close" 845. When "close" 845 is selected, the information processing apparatus 103 displays a screen 850. The user sets other print settings, selects "Print" 852, and issues an instruction to execute printing.

[0066] Next, a case where a template is used will be described. The user selects the option button 802 on the screen 800 without selecting a preset. In this embodiment, only one of a preset and a template can be used. Therefore, when using a template, the user does not select a preset in the preset selection area 801, but selects the option button 802, or deselects a preset and then selects the option button 802.

[0067] When the user selects option button 802, screen 810 is displayed. Screen 810 is a screen for selecting the Finishing-Template to be used. When an object in area 811 is selected, a list of templates acquired from the image forming apparatus 101 is displayed. The user selects a template to be used for print settings from the displayed list. When the user selects a template, screen 830 is displayed. Note that to return to the previous screen without selecting a template, the user selects "close" 812.

[0068] Area 831 is an area for selecting the template to be used. When the user selects an object in area 831, a list of template names is displayed, and the user can select the template to be used. In this example, a template with the name "Booklet" is selected, which is set to left-open bookbinding printing, has a creep amount of 0.1 mm, and is set so that all setting items are allowed to be changed before printing.

[0069] Area 832 displays the names and initial values ​​of setting items that can be changed and are included in the template. When the user selects an object in area 832, the value range notified by the image forming apparatus 101 is displayed as a selectable option.

[0070] Area 833 displays the names and initial values ​​of setting items included in the template that can be changed. The numerical range registered as a value range in the image forming apparatus 101 is displayed here as the numerical range (0.00-10.00) that can be set on screen 830. When the user selects "close" 834, screen 800 is displayed. After making other print settings, the user selects "Print" 805 and issues an instruction to execute printing. Note that setting items defined by IPP included in the template are not displayed on the print setting screen of the information processing apparatus 103, and settings cannot be changed before printing.

[0071] The above is an overview of the operations performed by the user operating the information processing apparatus 103 until the user issues an instruction to execute printing using a preset or a template.

[0072] Next, a process from making print settings in the information processing device 103 to issuing a print instruction will be described with reference to Figs. 9A and 9B. The process shown in Fig. 9A is realized by the CPU 311 controlling each software module shown in Fig. 5.

[0073] The print screen control unit 510 receives an instruction to open the print screen 800 from an application on the information processing device, and displays the screen shown in the screen 800 (S901).

[0074] The print screen control unit 510 controls the IPP client control unit 503 to acquire information on batch settings registered in the batch setting management table 1120 stored in the preset / template DB 416 from the IPP server control unit 401 of the image forming apparatus (S902). The print screen control unit 510 notifies the image forming apparatus 101 of the user ID of the user logged in to the information processing apparatus 103, and acquires the name of the batch setting corresponding to the user ID. At this time, for a batch setting set as IPP-preset, the name of the preset, and the names and initial values ​​of the setting items defined in the IPP associated with the preset are acquired. For a batch setting set as Finishing-Template, only the name of the template is acquired.

[0075] The print screen control unit 510 receives a selection of the batch setting to be used for the print setting from the user (S903). The print screen control unit 510 displays the screen 810 or the screen 810, and receives the selection of the batch setting. Here, the batch setting to be received may be an IPP-Preset or a Finishing-Template.

[0076] The print screen control unit 510 determines whether the selected batch setting is a batch setting in the IPP-Preset format (S904). The batch setting information acquired in S902 includes whether each batch setting is a batch setting in the IPP-Preset format or a batch setting in the Finishing-Template format. The print screen control unit 510 refers to the above information and determines whether the selected batch setting is a batch setting in the IPP-Preset format. If it is a batch setting in the IPP-Preset format, the print screen control unit 510 advances the process to S905. If it is not a batch setting in the IPP-Preset format, it is a batch setting in the Finishing-Template format, so the print screen control unit 510 advances the process to S906.

[0077] The print screen control unit 510 reflects the initial values ​​of the setting items defined by IPP, included in the batch setting information acquired in S902, in the print setting screen provided by the OS, and displays screen 850 (S905). Setting items that correspond to the selected batch setting and that can be set on the print screen 800 displayed by the OS are displayed as being changeable, even if the setting that allows changing settings before printing is not set on the registration screen 600.

[0078] The extended attribute display unit 516 transmits to the image forming apparatus 101 a request to acquire the names of the setting items specific to the vendor that correspond to the collective setting selected in S903 and are permitted to be changed before printing (S906). The acquired result is stored in the extended attribute management unit 514.

[0079] The extended attribute display unit 516 acquires information on the data type, initial value, and value range of the setting item acquired in S906 from the image forming apparatus 101 (S907). The acquired results are also stored in the extended attribute management unit 514.

[0080] The extended attribute display unit 516 displays a screen shown in screen 810 or 820 on which the user can input the setting value of the vendor-specific setting item corresponding to the selected batch setting (S908). On this screen, the setting value set on the registration screen 600 is displayed as the initial value. For setting items for which the setting value is selected from multiple options, a setting change instruction is received from the user, the options are displayed as a list, and the setting is changed to the option selected by the user. For setting items for which a setting value is input, inputtable values, character types, etc. are displayed, and input of numbers or characters as the setting value is received from the user.

[0081] Upon receiving a print instruction from the user, the print job generating unit 505 generates a print job (S909). Note that if the print settings have been changed on the screens 800, 820, 830, and 840, the print job is generated with the changed settings.

[0082] The PDL generation unit 508 determines whether a batch setting is set in the print settings, and if a batch setting is set, whether the batch setting in the IPP-Preset format or the Finishing-Template format is selected (S910). If the batch setting that is set is the IPP-Preset format batch setting, the PDL generation unit 508 proceeds to S911. If the batch setting that is set is the Finishing-Template format batch setting, the PDL generation unit 508 proceeds to S912. If neither batch setting is set, the PDL generation unit 508 proceeds to S913.

[0083] The PDL generation unit 508 acquires the setting values ​​set on the screens 850 and 840 for the setting items corresponding to the selected preset from the print screen control unit 510, and adds them to the print job (S911). At this time, for the setting items corresponding to the selected preset that are unique to the vendor and do not allow changes to the settings before printing, the values ​​notified from the image forming apparatus 101 are added to the print job even if they are not displayed on the screen. Also, for the setting items whose settings have not been changed by the user, the values ​​are added to the print job. When a preset is used, the name of the preset does not need to be added to the print job.

[0084] The PDL generation unit 508 adds the name of the selected template and the names and setting values ​​of the vendor-specific setting items to the print job (S912). For vendor-specific setting items that are set on the registration screen 600 as being permitted to be set before printing, the attribute values ​​and setting values ​​of those items are added to the print job. For setting items displayed on the print setting screen provided by the OS, the values ​​set on the print setting screen are added to the print job.

[0085] The PDL generating unit 508 acquires the setting values ​​of the setting items defined in the IPP immediately before printing from the print screen control unit 510 and adds them to the job (S913).

[0086] The print job generated by the print job generating unit 505 is transmitted to the printing device via the print spooler 509 (S914). As a result, the information processing device 103 can transmit to the image forming device 101 a print job having print settings set using the batch setting.

[0087] Next, the process on the image forming apparatus 101 side while the information processing apparatus 103 displays the print setting screen and generates a print job will be described with reference to Fig. 9B. Each process shown in Fig. 9B is realized by the CPU 211 controlling each module shown in Fig. 4.

[0088] The printer capability notification unit 402 determines whether or not a batch setting acquisition request has been received from the information processing apparatus 103 (S921). If a batch setting acquisition request has not been received, the printer capability notification unit 402 repeats the process of S921.

[0089] When a request to obtain a batch setting is received, the printer capability notification unit 402 executes the process described in S922. The printer capability notification unit 402 refers to the preset / template DB 416, and extracts a batch setting key 1125 of a batch setting registered in a batch setting management table 1120 described later in FIG. 11, which has a type 1124 of "preset". Furthermore, the printer capability notification unit 402 refers to the batch attribute management table 1140 for a setting item set for the extracted batch setting, which has an extended attribute 1133 of the batch attribute master table 1130 of "NO", to obtain an initial value. Then, the printer capability notification unit 402 notifies the information processing apparatus 103 of the extracted batch setting key and the initial values ​​of the setting items defined by the IPP.

[0090] The printer capability notification unit 402 refers to the preset / template DB 416, and extracts a batch setting key 1125 having a type 1124 of "fin-template" which is a batch setting registered in the batch setting management table 1120 of Fig. 11 (S923). Then, the printer capability notification unit 402 notifies the information processing device 103 of the extracted batch setting key.

[0091] The printer capability notification unit 402 determines whether or not a batch setting key for the batch setting selected on the print setting screen has been received from the information processing device 103 (S924). If a batch setting key has not been received, the process proceeds to S928.

[0092] When the batch setting key is received, the printer capability notification unit 402 judges whether the selected batch setting is a vendor-specific setting item and includes a setting item that is permitted to be changed before printing (S925). The printer capability notification unit 402 refers to the batch attribute management table 1140 and the batch attribute master table. The printer capability notification unit 402 judges whether there is a setting item for which the attribute ID corresponding to the batch setting key notified from the information processing device 103 in S924 is YES in the previous change 1143 and YES in the extended attribute 1133. If there is no setting item corresponding to the notified batch setting, which is a vendor-specific setting item and permitted to be changed before printing, the printer capability notification unit 402 proceeds to S928. If there is no setting item corresponding to the notified batch setting, which is a vendor-specific setting item and permitted to be changed before printing, the printer capability notification unit 402 proceeds to S926.

[0093] The printer capability notification unit 402 notifies the information processing device 103 of the names of the setting items that are vendor-specific and correspond to the selected batch setting, and whose settings are permitted to be changed immediately before printing (S926). Here, the printer capability notification unit 402 notifies the information processing device 103 of the attribute keys 1132 of the setting items that are vendor-specific and correspond to the selected batch setting, and whose settings are permitted to be changed immediately before printing.

[0094] The printer capability notification unit 402 notifies the information processing device 103 of the data type, value range, and initial value for the vendor-specific setting item notified in S926 (S927). The printer capability notification unit 402 references the collective attribute master table 1130 and notifies the information processing device 103 of the data type 1134 and value range 1135 of the attribute key 1132 corresponding to the setting item notified in S926. Furthermore, the printer capability notification unit 402 references the collective attribute management table 1140 and notifies the information processing device 103 of the collective setting ID of the selected collective setting and the initial value 1144 corresponding to the setting ID notified in S926.

[0095] The print job generating unit 404 determines whether or not a print job has been received from the information processing device 103 (S928). If the print job generating unit 404 has not received a print job, the print job generating unit 404 returns the process to S924. If a print job has been received, the print job generating unit 404 advances the process to S929.

[0096] The print job generating unit 404 determines whether the received print job includes a Finishing-Template name that identifies the Finishing-Template (S929). If the received print job does not include a Finishing-Template name, the print job generating unit 404 advances the process to S931.

[0097] When the name of a Finishing-Template is included in the received print job, the print job generating unit 404 reads out the Finishing-Template with the received name from the preset / template DB 416 and applies it to the print job. At this time, for the vendor-specific setting items corresponding to the Finishing-Template and for which changing of the setting is permitted before printing, the value set in the received print job is set. On the other hand, for the vendor-specific setting items corresponding to the Finishing-Template and for which changing of the setting is not permitted before printing, the setting value stored in the preset / template DB 416 is set in the print job. In this way, for the setting items collectively set as a template, for the vendor-specific setting items, it is possible to make it possible to change the setting of some items on the print setting screen and to make it impossible to change the setting of some items on the print setting screen.

[0098] The print job generating unit 404 executes printing based on the print job received from the information processing device 103 or the print job to which settings have been added in S930 (S931).

[0099] In this manner, printing using collective settings can be performed in the image forming apparatus 101. In this embodiment, information required to change the settings of only those vendor-specific setting items that are set as collective settings is transmitted from the image forming apparatus to the information processing apparatus. By limiting the information provided from the image forming apparatus to the information processing apparatus in this manner, the information required to display a screen for changing the settings of the vendor-specific setting items can be reduced, and a screen for changing the vendor-specific setting items can be quickly displayed.

[0100] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing the process between the image forming apparatus 101 and the information processing apparatus 103 when the print setting screen shown in FIG. 8 is displayed.

[0101] The printer information management unit 504 inquires of the printer capability notification unit 402 of the image forming apparatus as to whether the batch setting IPP-Preset format is supported and whether the Finishing-Template format is supported. The printer information management unit 504 further inquires of the image forming apparatus 101 as to the languages ​​supported by the Message-Catalog format (S1001). At this time, the information processing apparatus 103 notifies the image forming apparatus of the identification information of the user logged in to the information processing apparatus.

[0102] The printer capability notification unit 402 refers to the batch setting management table 1120 and returns to the image forming apparatus 101 the batch setting key corresponding to the user ID notified from the image forming apparatus (S1002). The printer capability notification unit 402 notifies the information processing apparatus 103 that "com.canon.oip.grpsetting002" registered as IPP-Preset and double-sided printing with the binding margin on the short side are set as a setting item defined by IPP. Note that, among the settings linked to "com.canon.oip.grpsetting002", vendor-specific items for which the extended attribute 1133 is YES are not notified. Furthermore, the printer capability notification unit 402 notifies that "com.canon.oip.grpsetting001" is registered as Finishing-Template. For Finishing-Template, regardless of whether the extended attribute 1133 is YES or NO, no notification is made of the setting items and setting values. The printer capability notification unit 402 also notifies the information processing apparatus 103 that "English" and "Japanese" are supported as language information supported in the Message-Catalog format.

[0103] The printer information management unit 504 of the information processing device 103 notifies the image forming device 101 in which language, among the languages ​​notified as supported, the language to be displayed. In this example, the image forming device 101 is notified that English (en) will be displayed (S1003). Based on the received language display information, the image forming device 101 identifies a URI for acquiring a message catalog to be notified to the information processing device 103. The message catalog is text information used when the information processing device 103 displays attribute information notified by the image forming device 101. The message catalog is, for example, a table such as that shown in message catalog table 1150 in FIG. 11.

[0104] The printer capability notification unit 402 of the image forming apparatus 101 notifies the information processing apparatus 103 of the URL for acquiring the message catalog table (S1004).

[0105] The print screen control unit 510 accesses the URI notified in S1004, and transmits a request to acquire a message catalog corresponding to English from the printing device (S1005).

[0106] The printer capability notification unit 402 of the image forming apparatus 101 returns the message catalog table 1150 of FIG.

[0107] The print screen control unit 510 of the information processing apparatus displays the print setting screen according to the acquired message catalog (S1007). As a result, the print screen control unit 510 can display "com.canon.oip.grpsetting001" as "Booklet". Furthermore, the information processing apparatus 103 can display "com.canon.oip.grpsetting002" notified from the image forming apparatus 101 as "Sides".

[0108] Here, an example will be described in which the user sets print settings using a Finishing-Template.

[0109] The user selects the Finishing-Template format batch setting: "Booklet" in area 811 on screen 810 (S1008).

[0110] The printer information management unit 504 of the information processing apparatus transmits a request to the image forming apparatus 101 to acquire information on the vendor-specific setting items corresponding to the collective setting key "com.canon.oip.grpsetting001" (S1009).

[0111] The printer capability notification unit 402 of the printing device extracts the vendor-specific setting items corresponding to "com.canon.oip.grpsetting001" and for which changes to the setting before printing are permitted. The vendor-specific setting items corresponding to "com.canon.oip.grpsetting001" are identified from the collective attribute management table of FIG. 11. Here, "com.canon.oip.booklet", "com.canon.oip.booklet-opening-type", and "com.canon.oip.booklet-creep-correction" are identified. Of these, "com.canon.oip.booklet" is not permitted to be changed before printing, so it is not notified to the information processing device 103.

[0112] The printer capability notification unit 402 notifies the information processing apparatus 103 of "com.canon.oip.booklet-opening-type" and "com.canon.oip.booklet-creep-correction" (S1011).

[0113] The printer information management unit 504 of the information processing device 103 receives the request from the extended attribute display unit 516 and requests the data type, value range, and initial value of "com.canon.oip.booklet-opening-type" from the printing device (S1012).

[0114] The printer capability notification unit 402 refers to the collective attribute master table 1130 and extracts the data type 1134 and value range 1135 corresponding to "com.canon.oip.booklet-opening-type" (S1013). Then, the printer capability notification unit 402 notifies the information processing device 103 of the data type, value range, and initial value (S1014).

[0115] The printer information management unit 504 of the information processing device 103 receives the request from the extended attribute display unit 516 and requests the data type, value range, and initial value of "com.canon.oip.booklet-creep-correction" from the printing device (S1015).

[0116] The printer capability notification unit 402 refers to the collective attribute master table 1130 and extracts the data type 1134 and value range 1135 corresponding to "com.canon.oip.booklet creep-correction" (S1016). Then, the printer capability notification unit 402 notifies the information processing device 103 of the data type, value range, and initial value (S1017).

[0117] The print screen control unit 510 and extended attribute display unit 516 of the information processing device reload the message catalog and display the print setting screen for the vendor-specific setting items (S1018). "com.canon.oip.booklet-opening-type" is displayed as "OpeningType". Also, "com.canon.oip.booklet-creep-correction" is displayed as "CreepCorrection". The value range and initial value are also reflected in the list menu, etc. from the message catalog in the same way.

[0118] If necessary, the user modifies the values ​​of the vendor extension attributes included in the booklet (S1019), for example, changing the booklet opening direction to the right and modifying the creep correction to 2.0 mm.

[0119] The print job generation unit 505 generates a print job including the setting values ​​set on the print setting screen, and transmits the print job to the image forming apparatus 101 via the print spooler 509 (S1020). The print job notifies the image forming apparatus 101 of the batch setting key of the used Finishing-Template and the changed setting values.

[0120] The print job generation unit 404 of the image forming apparatus 101 references the collective attribute management table 1140 for setting items corresponding to the notified Finishing-Template that are not permitted to be changed before printing, and adds the settings to the received print job. In this example, "com.canon.oip.booklet=true" is the print setting to be added. After adding the print setting, the image forming apparatus 101 executes the processing required for printing and notifies the information processing apparatus 103 of the result.

[0121] The difference between using an IPP-Preset as a batch setting and using a Finishing-Template is the process when an IPP-Preset to be used is selected in S1008. When an IPP-preset is selected, the setting items and setting values ​​notified in S1002 are reflected on the print setting screen. Therefore, with an IPP-Preset, the settings of IPP attributes can also be changed before printing.

[0122] Finally, the tables managed by the preset / template DB 416 of the image forming apparatus 101 will be described with reference to Fig. 11. Each table shown in Fig. 11 is stored in the storage 214 of the image forming apparatus, and the CPU 211 loads the table information in the storage into the RAM 213, updates it, and reflects it in the stored data in the storage.

[0123] The user management table 1110 will now be described. This management table is composed of a user ID 1111 that uniquely identifies a user for each record, a user password 1112, and a user name 1113. A unique and unique user ID is automatically assigned to identify the registrant of each batch setting in the batch setting management table. The WebUI control unit 415 can access the batch setting registration screen 600 only if the user name 1113 and password 1112 match. The user ID is also used when managing the user who registered the batch setting.

[0124] The batch setting management table 1120 is a table for managing batch settings such as templates and presets. The registered vehicle ID 1121 is information indicating which user has performed the batch setting via the registration screen 600. The batch setting ID is information for identifying the batch setting registered on the registration screen 600, and is an ID shared and used by the multiple tables shown in FIG. 11. The type 1124 is information indicating whether the registered batch setting is an IPP-Preset or a Finishing-Template. "fin-template" indicates that it is a Finishing-Template. "preset" indicates that it is an IPP-Preset. The batch setting name 1123 is the name of the batch setting entered on the registration screen 600. The name is also registered in the message catalog table 1150 described later. The batch setting key 1125 is a character string for identifying the batch setting, and is one of the identification information for identifying the batch setting.

[0125] The global attribute master table 1130 is a table that indicates the names, data types, and value ranges of setting items defined by IPP and vendor-specific setting items.

[0126] The attribute ID 1131 is identification information specific to the setting item. The attribute ID is used in common among the tables shown in FIG. 11. The attribute key 1132 is a character string indicating the setting item used when the image forming apparatus 101 notifies the information processing apparatus 103 of the capability information. The extended attribute 1133 is information indicating whether each setting item is a setting item defined in the IPP or a vendor-specific setting item. "YES" indicates that the setting item is a vendor-specific setting item. On the other hand, "NO" indicates that the item is a setting item defined in the IPP. The data type 1134 indicates the data type when the setting item is set. Boolean indicates that either "true" or "false" can be taken. Integer indicates that an integer value can be taken. Type 2 Keyword and Type 3 Keyword indicate that a region expression based on a format defined in the IPP is performed.

[0127] Bulk attribute management table 1140 indicates which setting items are set to what initial values ​​for each bulk setting registered in bulk setting management table 1120. Since one bulk setting is made up of one or more attributes, printer capability notification unit 402 acquires records of multiple rows in order to acquire information on one bulk setting.

[0128] The batch setting ID 1141 is an ID common to the batch setting ID 1122 of the batch setting management table, and indicates which batch setting the row is related to. The attribute ID 1142 is an ID common to the attribute ID 1131 of the batch attribute master table 1130, and is information indicating which setting item is set or not. The last change 1143 indicates whether or not the setting value of the setting item is permitted to be changed after the batch setting is reflected. If the selection check box 605 of the registration screen 600 is checked and a change before printing is permitted, "YES" is set. If the selection check box 605 of the registration screen 600 is not checked and a change of the setting before printing is not permitted, "NO" is set. The initial value 1144 is an initial value when the batch setting is displayed on the print setting screen. The value set in 604 of the registration screen 600 is stored in the initial value 1144.

[0129] The preset / template DB 416 of the image forming device receives an inquiry about individual vendor extended attributes linked to the batch setting from the information processing device, and refers to the table shown in Fig. 11. The image forming device links 1131 of the batch attribute master table 1130 to 1142 of the batch attribute management table 1140 as a primary key, and links 1122 of the batch setting management table 1120 to 1141 of the batch attribute management table 1140 as a primary key. The image forming device then searches for attribute information corresponding to the batch setting ID in the table linking the three.

[0130] 11 into character strings to be displayed on the print setting screen. The table is created for each corresponding language. The message catalog table 1150 is a table obtained when the information processing device 103 displays the print setting screen. This table may be managed in a location different from the image forming device 101.

[0131] As explained above, by linking vendor extended attribute information with the name of the batch setting and limiting it to attributes that need to be changed for each job, the capability notification between the printing device and the information processing device transfers the minimum amount of vendor extended attributes necessary. This makes it possible to reduce the amount of data sent from the printing device to the information processing device. Furthermore, by carrying out this transfer at the timing when the batch setting is applied at the time of printing, it becomes possible to reconfigure only the vendor extended attributes that need to be changed on a job-by-job basis, without having to re-edit or re-register the batch setting itself that was registered in advance.

[0132] <Other embodiments> 10, identification information of a user who is logged in to the information processing device 103 is transmitted to the image forming device 101, and collective settings corresponding to the user ID of the user are acquired. In S1001, information on all collective settings registered in the image forming device 101 may be transmitted to the information processing device 103 without transmitting user identification information.

[0133] In this embodiment, after the user selects the batch setting to be used, the attribute key, data type, value range, and initial value of the vendor-specific setting item corresponding to the selected batch setting are transmitted to the information processing device 103. In S1002 of Fig. 10, the attribute key, data type, value range, and initial value of the vendor-specific setting item corresponding to the batch setting registered in the image forming device may be transmitted to the information processing device 103.

[0134] In this embodiment, in the registration screen 600 shown in FIG. 6, it is possible to set whether or not to permit setting changes before printing for any setting item. It may be possible to set whether or not to permit setting changes depending on the Type selected by the user. For example, when the user selects to use Finishing-Template, the setting items defined by IPP, such as "Number of Copies" and "2-Sided Printing", cannot be changed on the print setting screen displayed on the information processing device 103. Therefore, when Finishing-Template is selected in Type 602, Change by job of the items defined by IPP may be grayed out and made unsettable. In this case, "NO" is set in the last change 1143 of the collective attribute management table 1140. In addition, in IPP-Preset, setting changes before printing are permitted for the items defined by IPP. Therefore, when IPP-Preset is selected in Type 602, Change by job of the items defined by IPP may be grayed out and made unsettable. In this case, "YES" is set in the last change 1143 of the collective attribute management table 1140.

[0135] The present invention can also be realized by executing the following process. That is, software (programs) that realize the functions of the above-described embodiments are supplied to a system or device via a network or various storage media, and the computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or device reads and executes the program code. In this case, the computer program and the storage medium on which the computer program is stored constitute the present invention.

Claims

1. A storage means for storing a combination of setting values ​​of a plurality of setting items related to processing of print data in association with identification information of the combination; a notification means for notifying an information processing device of the identification information, the identification information being displayed on a display unit of the information processing device in a selectable manner by a user of the information processing device; A receiving means for receiving print data from the information processing device; and an image forming unit that performs image formation based on the received print data, a setting unit for setting a first setting item among the plurality of setting items, the first setting item being a setting value that is allowed to be changed; The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the notification means notifies the information processing device of information used by the information processing device to display an object for changing the setting value of the first setting item on the display unit, and does not notify the information about a second setting item among the multiple setting items for which setting changes are not permitted.

2. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit sets the first setting item in accordance with a user operation.

3. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information includes at least one of a data type, a value range, and an initial value of a setting value of the first setting item.

4. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit notifies the information in response to receiving the identification information.

5. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus displays the object capable of accepting an instruction to change a setting value of the first setting item in response to the selection of the identification information.

6. A storage step of storing a combination of setting values ​​of a plurality of setting items related to processing of print data in association with identification information of the combination; a notification step of notifying an information processing device of the identification information, the identification information being displayed on a display unit of the information processing device in a manner selectable by a user of the information processing device; a receiving step of receiving print data from the information processing device; and an image forming step of executing image formation based on the received print data, a setting step of setting a first setting item among the plurality of setting items, the first setting item being a setting value that is allowed to be changed; A control method for an image forming device, characterized in that, in the notification process, information used by the information processing device to display an object for changing the setting value of the first setting item on the display unit is notified to the information processing device, and the information is not notified for a second setting item among the multiple setting items, the setting of which is not allowed to be changed.

7. A computer program executed by a computer that controls an image forming apparatus, a storage step of storing a combination of setting values ​​of a plurality of setting items related to processing of print data in association with identification information of the combination; a notification step of notifying an information processing device of the identification information, the identification information being displayed on a display unit of the information processing device in a manner selectable by a user of the information processing device; a receiving step of receiving print data from the information processing device; and causing the image forming apparatus to execute an image forming process based on the received print data. causing the image forming apparatus to execute a setting step of setting a first setting item, the first setting item being a setting value of which is allowed to be changed, among the plurality of setting items; A computer program characterized in that, in the notification process, the information processing device is notified of information used by the information processing device to display an object for changing the setting value of the first setting item on the display unit, and the information is not notified of a second setting item among the multiple setting items, the second setting item being a setting value for which a setting change is not permitted.

Images