Information processing device and application

Abstract

To provide an information processing apparatus that, when configuration information on a printer registered in a cloud print server is changed, updates configuration information stored in a client terminal, and an application operating in the information processing apparatus.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus (client computer) has: acquisition means that acquires configuration information on a printer from a cloud print service; storage means that stores the acquired configuration information; control means that, based on the configuration information stored in the storage means, displays a print setting screen on display means; transmission means that, while the configuration information is stored in the storage means, transmits an acquisition request for the configuration information; and update means that updates the configuration information stored in the storage means by using configuration information acquired based on the transmitted acquisition request.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device and an application that operates on the information processing device. [Background technology]

[0002] A system is known in which print data is sent from a client terminal to a printer via a cloud server. In the above system, a user operates a printer driver installed on the client terminal to configure print settings and issue a print instruction. The printer driver installed on the client terminal sends image data and print data based on the print settings to the cloud server. The cloud server then sends the received print data to the printer, allowing printing to be performed.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes creating a virtual printer queue on a cloud server and printing via the virtual printer queue. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-238924 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When using a cloud print server, it is necessary to prepare a print queue on the client terminal to send print data to the virtual queue on the cloud print server. The client terminal obtains printer configuration information and virtual queue information on the cloud print service from the cloud print service, and creates a print queue that sends print data to the virtual queue of the cloud print service. The client terminal displays the print settings screen using the printer configuration information and capability information obtained when creating the print queue.

[0006] The client terminal uses the configuration information acquired when the print queue was created. Therefore, even if the actual configuration of the printer changes, such as when a new finisher is connected to the printer, the configuration information on the client terminal is not updated, and the print setting screen that uses the newly connected finisher cannot be displayed.

[0007] In consideration of the above-mentioned problems, the information processing device described in the present application aims to make it possible to update configuration information stored in a client terminal when configuration information of a printer registered in a cloud print server changes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The information processing apparatus described in this specification transmits print data to a server system that transmits the print data to a printing apparatus. a printer driver for generating the print data is pre-installed in an operating system of the information processing apparatus; an acquisition unit that acquires identification information and configuration information of the printing device from the server system; a storage unit that stores the configuration information of the printing device; and an application that is specified based on the identification information. the application that operates in cooperation with the printer driver and is capable of writing print settings that cannot be set by the printer driver into the print data; the configuration information stored in the storage means by executing the application; a transmission means for transmitting a request to acquire configuration information to the server system when the configuration information is stored in the storage means; and an update means for updating the configuration information stored in the storage means using the configuration information acquired based on the transmitted acquisition request, wherein when no configuration information is stored in the storage means, the acquisition of the configuration information of the printing device by the acquisition means is performed before the acquisition of the application, and the update of the configuration information by the update means is performed after the acquisition of the application. Effect of the Invention

[0009] In consideration of the above-mentioned problems, the information processing device described in the present application is capable of updating the configuration information stored in the client terminal when the configuration information of a printer registered in a cloud print server changes. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a system configuration according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a configuration of a client computer according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a software configuration of a cloud print service 500 in an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a software configuration of a print setting extending application 300 according to an embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of a cloud print-compatible printer 200 described in an embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a sequence for registering a cloud print-compatible printer 200 in a cloud print service 500 in an embodiment. [Figure 7] 1 is a diagram showing an example of a sequence for updating configuration information stored in a client computer 100 in the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 8A] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a table showing information of a printer queue registered in a cloud print service in an embodiment. [Figure 8B] 11 is a diagram showing an example of a table showing information of a printer queue after configuration information has been updated in an embodiment; FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a print setting screen displayed on a client computer 100 in an embodiment. [Figure 10A] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an extended print setting screen displayed on a client computer 100 in an embodiment. [Figure 10B]FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a message displayed on a client computer 100 for updating configuration information in an embodiment. [Figure 10C] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an extended print setting screen after configuration information displayed on a client computer 100 has been updated in an embodiment. [Figure 11] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by the client computer 100 in the first embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a processing sequence for updating configuration information stored in a client computer 100 in the second embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a processing sequence for updating configuration information stored in a client computer 100 in the third embodiment. [Figure 14A] 11 illustrates an example of information about printer queues managed by the cloud print service 500 in the first embodiment. [Figure 14B] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of updated printer queue information in the first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described.

[0012] <Embodiment 1> FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] A client computer 100, a cloud print service 500, and a cloud print-compatible printer 200 are connected to the network 150. Note that the client computer 100 and the cloud print-compatible printer 200 may be connected to different intranets. By going through the cloud print service 500, print data can be sent and received even if the client computer 100 and the cloud print-compatible printer 200 are connected to different intranets.

[0014] The cloud print-compatible printer 200 is a printing device that supports a predetermined protocol supported by the cloud print service 500. The predetermined protocol is, for example, a protocol such as IPP (Internet Printing Protocol). The cloud print-compatible printer 200 will hereinafter be referred to as the printer 200.

[0015] The cloud print service 500 is constructed in a server system including one or more information processing apparatuses.

[0016] The cloud print service 500 performs account management using a user ID and a password. The client computer 100 or the printer 200 sends the above-mentioned user ID, password, and an authentication request to the cloud print service 500. The cloud print service 500 performs authentication processing based on the received information, allowing the client computer 100 and the printer 200 to use the cloud print service 500.

[0017] Although FIG. 1 illustrates one client computer 100 and one printer 200, multiple devices of each may be connected to the network.

[0018] The printer driver distribution service 1400 is made up of one or more information processing devices, and is a server system that distributes printer drivers to the client computer 100 and distributes information for expanding print queues.

[0019] The application distribution service 1500 is a server system that is configured with one or more information processing devices and distributes applications to the client computer 100. In this embodiment, the application distribution service 1500 is a server system that distributes the print setting extension application 300.

[0020] 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of a general computer (information processing device) showing an embodiment of the present invention. It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to any system in which the functions of the present invention are executed, whether it is a single function, a system consisting of multiple devices, or a system in which processing is performed by connecting via a network, unless otherwise specified. A detailed description is provided below.

[0021] The CPU 101 controls the entire device in accordance with a program stored in the ROM 1021 or RAM 1022 of the main storage device 102 or in the auxiliary storage device 105 .

[0022] The RAM 1022 is used as a work area when the CPU 101 performs various processes.

[0023] The auxiliary storage device 105 records an operation system (OS) 1053, an application 1051, a print setting extension application 300, a cloud print driver 1052, and the like.

[0024] The application 1051 is an application different from the print setting extension application 300, which is an application linked to a driver, and is a general application capable of editing documents, creating presentation materials, etc. The user can issue print instructions by operating the screen displayed by the application 1051.

[0025] The cloud print driver 1052 is a printer driver compatible with the cloud print service 500 that is preinstalled in the OS. The cloud print driver 1052 is called by an application such as the application 1051 through the OS, and executes processing required for printing. Note that in this embodiment, the cloud print driver 1052 is described as being prestored in the auxiliary storage device 105 from the beginning. The client computer 100 may download the cloud print driver 1052 from another server system such as the cloud print service 500. In addition, after the client computer 100 receives the print queue information in S1609 of FIG. 6, the OS of the client computer 100 may obtain the cloud print driver 1052 from the other server system. In that case, in S1610, the OS of the client computer 100 generates a print queue by linking the print queue information received in S1609 with the cloud print driver 1052 obtained from the other server system.

[0026] The print setting extension application 300 is application software that operates in conjunction with the above-mentioned cloud print driver 1052 and performs detailed print settings specific to the target printer. A method for downloading the print setting extension application 300 will be described later.

[0027] In the following description, the main memory device 102 and the auxiliary memory device 105 will be collectively referred to as the memory device.

[0028] Input devices such as a pointing device 109, such as a mouse or touch panel, and a keyboard 108 are connected via the input I / F 103 and are devices that allow the user to give various instructions to the computer.

[0029] The output I / F 104 is an interface for outputting data to the outside, and outputs data to an output device such as a monitor 110 or a panel 111 .

[0030] The client computer 100 is connected to a network 150 via a communication I / F 106. In addition, a system bus 107 is a path for data exchange between each module.

[0031] 3 is a functional block diagram of a cloud print service 500 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The cloud print service 500 operates as a cloud print server system made up of one or more information processing devices. In the cloud print service 500, the CPU of one or more information processing devices realizes each function described below.

[0032] The cloud print service 500 is a service that exists in a cloud that operates on the Internet (network 150) and is capable of providing functions related to printing. In this embodiment, it has the functions of a printer registration unit 501, a print queue generation unit 502, a printer list generation unit 503, a search response unit 504, and a printer database 510. It also has the functions of a print job management unit 505, a print job generation unit 506, and a print job storage area 511. These functions may also be present in another cloud print service that cooperates with the cloud print service 500.

[0033] The printer registration unit 501 is a module for receiving a printer registration instruction from the printer 200 and registering information about the printer in the cloud print service 500. The printer registration unit 501 receives a registration request from the printer 200 and generates a print queue using a print queue generation unit 502. The printer registration unit 501 registers the generated print queue in the printer database 510 in association with the printer identification information. When the printer's print queue and printer identification information are registered in this manner, this is called a printer being registered. Various attributes may be added to the registered printer. For example, this corresponds to an attribute to which account information such as the location of the printer or who can access the registered printer is added.

[0034] In response to a request from the printer registration unit 501 , a print queue generation unit 502 generates a print queue that manages print data to be processed by the printer 200 .

[0035] A printer list generation unit 503 generates a list of registered printers.

[0036] A search response unit 504 responds to a printer search event from the client computer 100 to the cloud print service 500 with information about registered printers.

[0037] The print job storage area 511 is an area for storing print data received from the client computer 100 as a print job.

[0038] The print job management unit 505 manages the print jobs stored in the print job storage area 511 for each print queue, and transmits the print jobs to the printer corresponding to the print queue. Alternatively, the print job management unit 505 receives a print job acquisition request from the printer 200, and transmits the print job reserved in the print queue corresponding to the printer 200 to the printer 200.

[0039] The print job generation unit 506 processes the print data received from the client computer 100 as necessary, and generates a print job.

[0040] 4 is a block diagram showing the software configuration of the print setting extending application 300. The print setting extending application 300 is an application that enables a printer vendor to extend the functions of the cloud print driver 1052.

[0041] The print setting extension application 300 includes a print startup application unit 301 , an extended print setting unit 302 , a device application communication unit 303 , and a print job generation unit 304 .

[0042] The print-time startup application unit 301 is a module that is called by the OS 1053 via the cloud print driver 1052 during printing. The print-time startup application unit 301 also controls the entire print setting extension application 300.

[0043] The extended print setting unit 302 is a module for displaying an extended print setting screen, which will be described later. It receives print settings from the cloud print driver 1052, and displays the extended print setting screen based on the print settings and configuration information stored in the configuration information storage unit 305.

[0044] The device application communication unit 303 has a function for each module of the print setting extension application 300 to communicate with the cloud print service 500 via the network 150 .

[0045] The print job generation unit 304 provides a function for editing print data as necessary and for editing print data generated by the cloud print driver 1052. By the print job generation unit 304 editing the print data, it is possible to write vendor-specific print settings that cannot be set by the cloud print driver 1052 into the print data.

[0046] The configuration information storage unit 305 is a module that manages the configuration information of the printer 200 that corresponds to the print queue of the client computer 100 .

[0047] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing functional blocks of a printer which is an example of an image processing device in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] A control unit 201 including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 211 controls the overall operation of the printer 200. The CPU 211 reads out a control program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 212 or a storage 214, and performs various types of control such as print control and read control.

[0049] The ROM 212 stores control programs executable by the CPU 211. 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 developing various control programs.

[0050] The storage 214 stores print data, image data, various programs, various setting information, and configuration information generated based on the various setting information. When new hardware information such as a finisher is added to the printer body, the CPU 211 updates the various setting information in the storage 214 and generates new configuration information based on the information. The generated configuration information is sent to the associated service, client computer, etc. through the signal I / F 217. In this embodiment, an auxiliary storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) is assumed as the storage 214, but a non-volatile memory such as an SSD (Solid State Drive) may be used instead of the HDD. In this way, the hardware such as the CPU 211, the ROM 212, and the RAM 213 constitute a so-called computer.

[0051] The processing unit 215 has a function of a RIP (Raster Image Processor) that expands print data received via a network and generates a print image. The processing unit also has an image processing capability, and can also perform image resolution conversion and correction processing. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the image processing unit is realized by a hardware circuit (such as an ASIC or an FPGA), but this is not limited to this. For example, the printer 200 may have a processor for image processing, and the processor for image processing may execute an image processing program to realize image processing and print data expansion processing. Furthermore, it is also possible to configure the printer 200 to execute a program for performing image processing by the CPU 211, and to perform image processing and print data expansion processing. Image processing may also be performed by any combination of these.

[0052] An operation unit interface (I / F) 216 connects the operation unit 202 and the control unit 201. The operation unit 202 is provided with a liquid crystal 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, and also reads an original document and generates a read image. The generated read image is stored in the storage 214 or RAM 213. A print image generated by analyzing print data by the processing unit 215 is transferred from the control unit 201 to a printing unit (not shown) in the operation unit via the operation unit I / F 216. The printing unit receives a control command and a print image via the control unit 201, and prints the image on a sheet fed from a paper feed cassette (not shown) based on the image.

[0053] In addition, the control unit 201 is connected to the network 150 via a communication unit I / F 217 .

[0054] A communication interface 217 transmits images and information to a communication device on the network 150 and receives print data and information from a communication device on the network 150 .

[0055] A scanner unit 219 that reads an original and generates image data is connected to the scanner I / F 218. The printer 200 can execute printing based on the image data generated by the scanner unit 219 and can transmit the image data to another device.

[0056] The printer I / F 220 is connected to a print unit 221 that prints images. The print unit 221 executes printing based on image data generated by the scanner unit 219 and printing based on print data received from the cloud print service 500.

[0057] The hardware I / F 222 is an interface to which hardware such as a finisher is connected. Examples of finishers include those that have a function of stapling paper on which an image has been formed, a function of punching holes in paper on which an image has been formed, a function of binding paper, and a function of folding paper.

[0058] When a finisher is connected to the printer 200, the configuration information of the printer 200 changes. Therefore, the printer 200 updates the configuration information managed by the cloud print service 500. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the print setting extension application 300 installed in the client computer 100 obtains the configuration information from the cloud print service 500 and updates the configuration information.

[0059] FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing a process of generating a print queue in the client computer 100 for transmitting print data to the cloud print service 500. In FIG.

[0060] First, it is necessary to register the printer 200 with the cloud print service 500. In accordance with a user's operation, the printer 200 sends an authentication request to the cloud print service 500 (S1600). This authentication request includes a user ID and password. The cloud print service 500 performs user authentication based on the received authentication request and information about the user ID and password, and sends the authentication result to the printer 200 (S1601). Here, the explanation will be given assuming that the authentication is successful. If the authentication fails, the sequence shown in FIG. 6 ends.

[0061] The printer 200 transmits a printer registration request to the cloud print service 500 (S1602). This registration request includes identification information and configuration information of the printer 200. The configuration information transmitted here is the configuration information at the time of S1602.

[0062] The cloud print service 500 generates a print queue based on the acquired information (S1603). If necessary, the user sets information about users who can use the generated print queue. This completes the process of registering the printer in the cloud print service 500.

[0063] Next, the user operates the client computer 100 to perform settings for sending print data to the cloud print service 500. First, an authentication request is sent from the client computer 100 to the cloud print service 500 (S1604). This authentication request includes a user ID and password. The cloud print service 500 executes user authentication processing based on the received user ID and password information. The cloud print service 500 sends the authentication result to the client computer 100 (S1605). Here, it is assumed that the authentication is successful. Note that authentication processing for the cloud print service 500 may be performed when the user logs in to the OS of the client computer 100. In that case, the processing described in S1604 and S1605 is omitted.

[0064] The client computer 100 transmits a request to acquire a list of print queues that can be used by the user who is logged in to the cloud print service 500 (S1606). The cloud print service 500 transmits the list of print queues that can be used by the logged-in user to the client computer 100 (S1607). In S1607, the cloud print service 500 transmits to the client computer 100, for example, a list of the names of print queues that can be used by the user.

[0065] The client computer 100 displays the received list of print queues and accepts the user's selection of the print queue to be used. The client computer 100 sends an information acquisition request for the selected print queue to the cloud print service 500 (S1608). The cloud print service 500 sends information about the selected print queue to the client computer 100 (S1609). The information sent here includes identification information and configuration information of the printer linked to the print queue.

[0066] The client computer 100 generates a print queue on the client computer 100 based on the received print queue information (S1610). The client computer 100 then stores the generated print queue in association with the acquired printer identification information and configuration information.

[0067] The client computer 100 accesses the printer driver distribution service 1400 and transmits a request to acquire additional information necessary to expand the print queue (S1611). In S1611, the client computer 100 transmits the printer identification information acquired from the cloud print service 500 to the printer driver distribution service 1400.

[0068] The printer driver distribution service 1400 identifies additional information corresponding to the received printer identification information, and transmits the additional information to the client computer 100 (S1612). The additional information includes the identification information of the print setting extension application 300.

[0069] The client computer 100 uses the identification information of the print setting extending application 300 included in the acquired additional information to send a request to acquire the print setting extending application to the application distribution service 1500 (S1613). The application distribution service 1500 sends the print setting extending application 300 identified based on the acquired application identification information to the client computer 100 (S1614). The client computer 100 stores the acquired print setting extending application 300 in association with a print queue (S1615). The above is the sequence for creating a print queue in the client computer 100 for sending print data to the cloud print service 500.

[0070] Next, the process of updating the configuration information of the printer 200 and executing printing will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of Fig. 7. Here, it is assumed that the process shown in Fig. 6 has already been completed.

[0071] 8A shows the configuration information of the printer 200 before a finisher is connected to the printer 200. The configuration information is stored in the printer database 510 of the cloud print service 500. The printer 200 allows selection of color printing or monochrome printing as the color mode. The paper sizes supported are A3 and A4. The paper types supported are plain paper, thick paper, and thin paper. The Nup function, which consolidates and prints multiple pages on one side of a sheet, supports 2up, which consolidates two pages, and 4up, which consolidates four pages. The paper orientation during printing supports portrait and landscape. The date and time information indicates the date and time when the configuration information was registered in the cloud print service 500.

[0072] Assume that a finisher with a staple function is connected to the printer 200. The printer 200 has a sensor in the hardware I / F 222, which detects the connection of the finisher and detects that the configuration information has changed (S700). Note that other methods may be used to detect that the configuration information has changed. For example, the current configuration information may be stored in memory, and the configuration information stored in memory at the time of startup of the printer 200 may be compared with the configuration information acquired after startup to determine whether the configuration information has changed. Alternatively, the configuration information may be acquired periodically to determine whether the configuration information has changed.

[0073] The printer 200 detects that the configuration information has changed and transmits the new configuration information and a request to update the configuration information to the cloud print service 500 (S701). At this time, the printer 200 notifies the cloud print service 500 in accordance with the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP). For example, when a stapling configuration is added, the processing unit 215 of the printer 200 sets the value of "finishing-supported", which is an attribute defined in the IPP, to "Staple". After that, the processing unit 215 notifies the cloud print service 500 of the new configuration information through the communication unit I / F 217. Note that in S701 of FIG. 7, the entire updated configuration information may be notified to the cloud print service 500, or only the difference due to the change in the configuration may be notified to the cloud print service 500. When notifying only the difference, a process of adding the newly acquired configuration information to the configuration information already stored in the cloud print service 500 is performed.

[0074] In this embodiment, the cloud print service 500 and the printer 200 transmit and receive data in accordance with IPP, but the process shown in FIG. 7 may be performed in accordance with another protocol.

[0075] The cloud print service 500 receives the request to update the configuration information, identifies the print queue corresponding to the printer whose configuration information is to be updated from the printer registration unit 501, and updates the configuration information (S702). As a result, the configuration information shown in Fig. 8B is registered in the cloud print service 500. The stapling configuration has been added to the configuration information shown in Fig. 8A.

[0076] The above is the sequence for updating the configuration information stored in the cloud print service 500. Note that, here, it has been described that the printer 200 detects that the configuration information has changed and requests the cloud print service 500 to update the configuration information. The cloud print service 500 may periodically inquire of the printer 200 about the configuration information, and update the configuration information if it differs from the configuration information it holds.

[0077] Next, updating of configuration information stored in the client computer 100 will be described.

[0078] The user operates application 1051 to instruct the display of a print setting screen. Client computer 100 accepts this instruction and displays print setting screen 1300 in FIG. 9. Print setting screen 1300 is a print setting screen displayed by application 1051. Area 1301 is an area for selecting a print queue to use for printing. When the user selects button 1302, a list of print queues registered in client computer 100 is displayed, and the user selects a print queue to use for printing. Here, it is assumed that the print queue generated in the sequence shown in FIG. 6 has been selected.

[0079] The application 1051 displays a print setting screen based on the configuration information acquired in S1609 of Fig. 6. Area 1303 is an area for setting the number of copies to print. Area 1304 is an area for selecting a color mode for printing. When the user selects button 1305, selectable color modes are displayed based on the configuration information acquired in S1609 of Fig. 6.

[0080] Here, it is assumed that the user selects the advanced settings button 1306. Based on the selection of the advanced settings button 1306, the client computer 100 launches the print settings extending application 300 (S704). FIG. 10A is an example of an extended print settings screen that is displayed when the print settings extending application 300 is launched. This screen is displayed based on the configuration information stored in the client computer 100 before the configuration information is updated. In FIG. 10A, each setting item is a button, and the user can make print settings by selecting the button that he or she wants to set. In this way, the advanced settings button in FIG. 9 operates as an object that receives an instruction from the user to display the extended print settings screen.

[0081] The print setting extension application 300 installed on the client computer 100 sends a request to acquire configuration information to the cloud print service 500 (S705). In this way, while the client computer 100 has stored the configuration information, it sends a request to acquire new configuration information to the cloud print service 500. The cloud print service 500 sends information indicating that the configuration information has been stored and the configuration information stored in the printer database 510 to the client computer 100 (S706). Note that if the cloud print service 500 does not store the configuration information, the print queue generation unit 502 may generate the configuration information from the print queue information and notify the client computer 100.

[0082] The client computer 100 receives the configuration information from the cloud print service 500 and determines whether there is a difference between the configuration information stored in the client computer 100 and the received information. If there is a difference, a notification is displayed and the user is asked whether to update the configuration information. The "notification" refers to something like a push notification service in Windows (trademark registration). A related application can also be run by the user's operation on the displayed dialog. FIG. 10B is a diagram showing an example of a notification displayed in this embodiment. A message indicating that the printer's configuration information has been changed and a message indicating that the configuration information acquisition button needs to be selected to update the configuration information are displayed. When the user selects the OK button 1800 in the notification area, the screen returns to the screen shown in FIG. 10A.

[0083] When the user selects the configuration information acquisition button on the screen of FIG. 10A, the configuration information stored in the client computer 100 is updated as shown in FIG. 8B (S707). Then, the print setting extending application 300 displays the extended print setting screen shown in FIG. 10C (S708). In FIG. 10C, a button for setting stapling, which is a function provided by a newly added finisher, is added. In addition, in S708, the print setting extending application 300 determines the items to be displayed based on the configuration information stored in the client computer 100. For example, when the configuration information stored in the client computer 100 is the configuration information shown in FIG. 8B, the print setting extending application 300 determines the color mode, paper size, paper type, multi-page printing (Nup), print orientation, and staple as configurable items. The print setting extending application 300 generates an extended print setting screen in which the determined items are arranged, and displays it on the client computer 100.

[0084] The user configures print settings on the displayed extended print settings screen and selects the OK button. This displays the print settings screen shown in Fig. 9. When the user selects the print button 1307, the cloud print driver 1052 of the client computer 100 generates print data (S709). The cloud print driver 1052 then transmits the generated print data to the cloud print service 500 (S710). The cloud print service 500 transmits the received print data to the printer 200 corresponding to the print queue (S711). The printer 200 executes print processing based on the received print data (S712).

[0085] In this way, in the first embodiment, the print setting extension application 300 is used to obtain configuration information from the cloud print service 500 and update the configuration information stored in the client computer 100. In this way, changes in the configuration information of the printer 200 can be reflected in the print setting screen and extended print setting screen displayed on the client computer 100.

[0086] Next, the details of the processes described in 704 to S708 in FIG. 7 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0087] The processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 11 is realized by the CPU 101 executing a program stored in the main storage device 102 or the auxiliary storage device 105 of the client computer 100.

[0088] When the user selects the details button on the print setting screen 1300, the process starts.

[0089] The OS 1053 starts the print setting extension application 300 (S401). The started print setting extension application 300 displays the extended print setting screen shown in FIG.

[0090] The print setting extension application 300 instructs the OS 1053 to make a configuration information acquisition request (S402). Based on the instruction from the print setting extension application 300, the OS 1053 transmits the configuration information acquisition request to the cloud print service 500. At this time, the OS 1053 transmits print queue information to the cloud print service 500. The print queue information is, for example, the name of the print queue, identification information of the printer linked to the print queue, identification information of the logged-in user, etc. The cloud print service 500 identifies the print queue using the received information such as the printer identification information, and identifies the configuration information linked to the print queue.

[0091] The print setting extending application 300 receives a response including the configuration information from the OS 1053 (S403). Then, it is determined whether or not the response received from the OS 1053 includes the configuration information (S404). If the response does not include the configuration information, the print setting extending application 300 ends the process shown in Fig. 11. An example of a case where the response does not include the configuration information is when the configuration information cannot be acquired due to a communication error or the like.

[0092] If the response includes the configuration information, the print setting extending application 300 determines whether the configuration information stored in the client computer 100 is different from the acquired configuration information (S405). If the two pieces of configuration information are the same, there is no need to update the configuration information, and the print setting extending application 300 ends the process shown in FIG.

[0093] If it is determined that the two pieces of configuration information are different, the print setting extension application 300 notifies the user that the configuration information has been updated (S407). Then, the print setting extension application 300 inquires the user as to whether or not to update the configuration information. In S407, the print setting extension application 300 displays the screen of FIG. 10B.

[0094] The print setting extending application 300 determines whether or not an instruction to update the configuration information has been given (S408). If an instruction to update has not been given, the print setting extending application 300 ends the process shown in FIG.

[0095] When an instruction to update the configuration information is given, the print setting extending application 300 updates the configuration information stored in the client computer 100 in association with the print queue with the configuration information included in the response received in S403 (S409). Then, the print setting extending application 300 displays the extended print setting screen based on the updated configuration information shown in Fig. 10C (S409).

[0096] In the first embodiment, the print setting extending app 300 automatically starts the process of acquiring configuration information from the cloud print service 500 when started. As shown in Fig. 10A, a configuration information acquisition button 1700 may be displayed on a screen displayed by the print setting extending app 300, and when the user selects the configuration information acquisition button 1700, the process of S402 in Fig. 11 may be started. In this way, the configuration information acquisition button 1700 may operate as an object that accepts an instruction to acquire configuration information from the user.

[0097] In the first embodiment, in S401 in Fig. 11, the extended print setting screen shown in Fig. 10A is displayed once, and then configuration information is acquired from the cloud print service 500. After the print setting extending application 300 is started, the process of S402 may be performed without displaying the extended print setting screen shown in Fig. 10A.

[0098] In the first embodiment, when the configuration information stored in the client computer 100 differs from the configuration information acquired from the cloud print service 500, the configuration information stored in the client computer 100 is updated based on an update instruction from the user. However, the configuration information of the client computer 100 may be updated without receiving an update instruction from the user.

[0099] In the first embodiment, the cloud print service 500 stores print queue information as shown in FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B, and updates the configuration information acquired when the printer information is registered. The cloud print service 500 may manage print queue information as shown in FIG. 14A and FIG. 14B. FIG. 14A shows print queue information generated in the cloud print service 500 in S1603 of FIG. 6. FIG. 14A is a table replacing FIG. 8A, and a column of "latest configuration information" is added. Note that the configuration information has not been updated at the time when the printer information is registered in the cloud print service 500, so the "latest configuration information" is blank. In S1609 of FIG. 6, the configuration information described in "configuration information" in FIG. 14A is notified to the client computer 100 as print queue information.

[0100] FIG. 14B is a table after the print queue information has been updated in S702 of FIG. 7. The "latest configuration information" in FIG. 14B stores the configuration information acquired in S701 of FIG. 7. In S706 of FIG. 7, the configuration information described in the "latest configuration information" in FIG. 14B is notified to the client computer 100. The print setting extension application 300 of the client computer 100 updates the stored configuration information acquired in S1609 of FIG. 6 with the latest configuration information acquired in S702 of FIG. 7. In this way, the cloud print service 500 can update the configuration information while retaining the configuration information at the time of registering the printer information.

[0101] <Embodiment 2> In the first embodiment, the print setting extension app 300 acquires the configuration information stored in the cloud print service 500, and compares the acquired configuration information with the configuration information stored in the client computer 100. In the second embodiment, whether or not to update the configuration information stored in the client computer 100 is determined based on the date and time information when the configuration information was stored in the cloud print service 500 and the date and time information when the client computer 100 stored the configuration information.

[0102] Fig. 12 is a sequence diagram showing processing in embodiment 2. Fig. 12 shows processing that replaces the processing shown in Fig. 7 of embodiment 1. Note that the same reference numerals are used for processing similar to that in embodiment 1, and only differences from embodiment 1 will be described here.

[0103] The print setting extension application 300 of the client computer 100 notifies the cloud print service 500 of the date and time when the configuration information stored in the client computer 100 was stored (S1002).

[0104] The cloud print service 500 refers to the print queue information and compares the update date and time of the configuration information notified by the client computer 100 with the update date and time of the configuration information stored in the cloud print service 500 (S1003). Then, the cloud print service 500 determines whether or not the configuration information stored in the client computer 100 needs to be updated. For example, if the update date and time of the configuration information stored in the cloud print service 500 is more recent than the update date and time notified by the client computer 100, the cloud print service 500 determines that an update is necessary.

[0105] If the cloud print service 500 determines that the configuration information of the client computer 100 needs to be updated, the process from S706 onwards is executed.

[0106] In addition, in the determination of S1003, if the date and time information stored in the cloud print service 500 is equal to the date and time information notified from the client computer 100, the cloud print service 500 determines that an update is not necessary. If it is determined that an update of the configuration information is not necessary, the cloud print service 500 notifies the client computer 100 that an update of the configuration information is not necessary. In this case, S706 and S707 are not executed, and the processing from S708 onwards is executed.

[0107] 12, the trigger for the process shown in S1002 has been described as the timing when the print setting expanding application 300 displays the extended print setting screen. However, the trigger is not limited to the above timing as long as the print setting expanding application 300 is started, and the processes described in S1002, S1003, S706, and S707 may be performed.

[0108] In this manner, even if the client computer 100 does not acquire the configuration information from the cloud print service 500, it becomes possible to determine whether or not the configuration information stored in the client computer 100 needs to be updated.

[0109] <Embodiment 3> In the first and second embodiments, when a change in the configuration of the printer 200 is detected, the configuration information stored in the cloud print service 500 is changed. In the third embodiment, in response to an instruction from the print setting extension application 300 of the client computer 100, the cloud print service 500 queries the printer 200 for configuration information and performs processing to update the configuration information.

[0110] Fig. 13 is a sequence diagram showing the processing in the embodiment 3. In Fig. 13, the same processes as those in the embodiment 1 are given the same reference numerals as those in the embodiment 1, and only the points different from the embodiment 1 will be described.

[0111] When activation of the print setting expanding application 300 is instructed in S704, the extended print setting screen shown in FIG. 10A is displayed.

[0112] The print setting extension application 300 of the client computer 100 receives an instruction to update the configuration information acquisition from the user (S1701). In Fig. 10A, when the configuration information acquisition button 1700 is selected, the print setting extension application 300 receives an instruction for the configuration information.

[0113] The print setting extension application 300 of the client computer 100 transmits a request to obtain configuration information to the cloud print service 500 (S1702).

[0114] Based on the received request for configuration information, the cloud print service 500 transmits a request for configuration information to the printer 200 (S1703).

[0115] The printer 200 transmits the configuration information updated in S700 to the cloud print service 500 (S1704).

[0116] The cloud print service 500 stores the printer queue information of the printer 200 in association with the acquired configuration information (S702).

[0117] After that, the processes described in S706 to S712 are executed.

[0118] In this way, in the third embodiment, the configuration information is acquired in response to an instruction from the client computer 100. In this way, even if the configuration information stored in the cloud print service 500 has not been updated, the configuration information referenced by the print setting extension application 300 can be updated.

[0119] <Other embodiments> In the above embodiment, a case where a function is added as an update to the configuration information has been described as an example. In addition to a case where a finisher is attached to the printer 200 and configuration information is added, configuration information may be updated when a finisher is removed from the printer 200. In that case, the same process as in the above embodiment is executed.

[0120] Also, in the above embodiment, the print setting extension application 300 displays the extended print setting screen using updated configuration information. The application 1051, OS 1053, and cloud print driver 1052 may use the updated configuration information when displaying the print setting screen in Fig. 9. For example, if stapling can be set on the print setting screen shown in Fig. 9, and if the configuration information corresponding to the print queue includes a stapling setting, the print setting screen on which stapling can be set is displayed. On the other hand, if the configuration information corresponding to the print queue does not include stapling, the application 1051, OS 1053, and cloud print driver 1052 display a print setting screen on which stapling cannot be set.

[0121] 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. An information processing apparatus that transmits print data to a server system that transmits the print data to a printing apparatus, the information processing apparatus having a printer driver that generates the print data pre-installed in an operating system of the information processing apparatus, an acquisition means for acquiring identification information and configuration information of the printing device from the server system; A storage means for storing configuration information of the printing device; a second acquisition means for acquiring an application identified based on the identification information, the application operating in cooperation with the printer driver and capable of writing print settings that cannot be set by the printer driver into the print data; a control means for executing the application to display a print setting screen on a display means based on the configuration information stored in the storage means; a transmission means for transmitting a request for acquiring the configuration information to the server system while the configuration information is stored in the storage means; an update unit that updates the configuration information stored in the storage unit using the configuration information acquired based on the transmitted acquisition request; having An information processing device characterized in that, when configuration information is not stored in the storage means, the acquisition means acquires the configuration information of the printing device before acquiring the application, and the update means updates the configuration information after acquiring the application.

2. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means determines items to be displayed based on configuration information stored in the storage means, and displays the print setting screen on which the determined items can be set.

3. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means displays, on the display means, an object for accepting an instruction to acquire the configuration information from a user.

4. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus receives a registration request from a user to the server system, and transmits configuration information to the server system based on the registration request.

5. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the configuration information is information that changes based on a hardware configuration connected to the printing apparatus.

6. 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the configuration information acquired based on the acquisition request is configuration information that the printing device has transmitted to the server system upon detecting that the hardware configuration has been changed.

7. 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit transmits the acquisition request in response to an instruction to display the print setting screen.

8. 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission means transmits the acquisition request based on an instruction from the application.

9. 9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the application is capable of displaying the print setting screen based on the configuration information updated by the update unit.

10. the printing device transmits to the server system a registration request to register information about the printing device in the server system based on an operation by a user; 10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the server system stores the identification information and the configuration information based on the registration request.

11. 11. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the application determines items to be displayed based on configuration information stored in the storage means, and causes the display means to display the print setting screen including the determined items.

12. 12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the configuration information is information based on hardware connected to the printing apparatus.

13. 1. An information processing apparatus that transmits print data to a server system that transmits the print data to a printing apparatus, the information processing apparatus being configured such that a printer driver that generates the print data is pre-installed in an operating system of the information processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus comprising: obtaining identification information and configuration information of the printing device from the server system; a storage step of storing configuration information of the printing device; a second acquisition step of acquiring an application identified based on the identification information, the application operating in cooperation with the printer driver and capable of writing print settings that cannot be set by the printer driver into the print data; a control step of executing the application to display a print setting screen on a display step based on the configuration information stored in the storage step; a transmission step of transmitting a request for acquiring the configuration information to the server system while the configuration information is stored in the storage step; an updating step of updating the configuration information stored in the storage step by using the configuration information acquired based on the transmitted acquisition request; having A method for controlling an information processing device, characterized in that, when configuration information is not stored in the storage process, the acquisition process acquires configuration information of the printing device before the application is acquired, and the update process updates the configuration information after the application is acquired.

14. The control method for an information processing apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that the control step determines items to be displayed based on configuration information stored in the storage step, and displays the print setting screen on which the determined items can be set.

15. 15. The method according to claim 13, wherein said control step displays, in said display step, an object that accepts an instruction to acquire said configuration information from a user.

16. 16. The method of controlling an information processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the printing apparatus receives a registration request from a user to the server system, and transmits configuration information to the server system based on the registration request.

17. 17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the configuration information is information that changes based on a hardware configuration connected to the printing device.

18. 18. The method for controlling an information processing device according to claim 17, wherein the configuration information acquired based on the acquisition request is configuration information that the printing device has transmitted to the server system upon detecting that the hardware configuration has been changed.

19. 19. The method according to claim 13, wherein the transmission step transmits the acquisition request in response to an instruction to display the print setting screen.

20. 19. The method according to claim 13, wherein the transmission step transmits the acquisition request based on an instruction from the application.

21. 21. The method of claim 13, wherein the application is capable of displaying the print setting screen based on the configuration information updated in the updating step.

22. the printing device transmits to the server system a registration request to register information about the printing device in the server system based on an operation by a user; 22. The method according to claim 13, wherein the server system stores the identification information and the configuration information based on the registration request.

23. The control method for an information processing device according to any one of claims 13 to 22, characterized in that the application determines items to be displayed based on configuration information stored in the storage process, and causes the display process to display the print setting screen including the determined items.

24. 24. The method according to claim 13, wherein the configuration information is information based on hardware connected to the printing device.

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