Information processing device, information processing method, and program

Abstract

To realize facsimile transmission of a document with a transmittal letter in a more satisfactory mode.SOLUTION: A UI processing unit 410 associates identification information characteristic to each job to data of a transmittal letter generated on the basis of setting concerning addition of the transmittal letter to a document subjected to facsimile transmission, and stores the data of the transmittal letter in a predetermined storage destination. A GR processing unit 420 acquires the data of the transmittal letter stored in the storage destination, on the basis of the identification information corresponding to the printing job. The GR processing unit 420 performs control such that the acquired data of the transmittal letter may be transmitted as a part of transmission data of the document subjected to the facsimile transmission based on the printing job.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] Drivers (hereinafter, also referred to as "PC-FAX drivers") for faxing document data created by an application that runs in an execution environment provided by a computer to a fax transmission device are widely used. Some of these PC-FAX drivers have a function of adding a cover page indicating the subject, the number of pages to be sent, and information on the sender and destination to the document to be sent, and then faxing the document. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a technique for realizing the creation of a cover page by a PC-FAX driver. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-196372 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] As a method for adding a cover page to a document to be transmitted and then transmitting the document by fax, for example, there is a method of using LM (Language Monitor) running on a server as a storage destination for the cover page. However, with this method, communication occurs between the terminal device that requests the fax transmission and the server on which LM runs, and the network load may increase. In addition, with the above method, there may be a difference in the operation timing between a GR (Graphic Rendering) driver involved in generating print data and a UI (User Interface) driver involved in receiving instructions from a user. This may cause the process related to fax transmission to become complicated, the timing of the process of each driver to be delayed from the timing specified by the OS, and ultimately the effects of the delay may become apparent.

[0005] In view of the above problems, the present invention The data to be sent along with the cover sheet The object is to make it possible to realize transmission in a more preferable manner. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The information processing apparatus according to the present invention is Along with the transmitted data a receiving means for receiving settings for a cover sheet to be transmitted; and a generating means for generating data for the cover sheet based on the settings received by the receiving means; Before the job starts, Regarding the data of the cover sheet generated by the generating means The above a first processing unit having a storage unit for storing data of the coversheet in association with job identification information in a storage unit of the information processing device; After the job is started, The present invention is characterized by having a second processing unit having an acquisition means for acquiring the coversheet data stored in the storage unit based on the identification information of the job, and a control means for controlling the coversheet data acquired by the acquisition means to be transmitted together with the transmission data. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, The data to be sent along with the cover sheet This allows transmission to be realized in a more suitable manner. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a system configuration of an information processing system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an information processing device. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a software configuration of an information processing device. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing an example of processing of the information processing system. [Figure 5A] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a process of a UI processing unit. [Figure 5B] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a process of a UI processing unit. [Figure 6A] 11 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by a GR processing unit. [Figure 6B] 11 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by a GR processing unit. [Figure 6C] 11 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by a GR processing unit. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of destination information. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a cover sheet. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this specification and the drawings, components having substantially the same functional configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

[0010] <System configuration> An example of a system configuration of an information processing system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. The information processing system according to this embodiment includes an information processing device 100 and a FAX transmitter 101. The information processing device 100 and the FAX transmitter 101 are connected to each other via a predetermined network 102 so as to be able to transmit and receive information and data to and from each other.

[0011] The type of the network 102 is not particularly limited as long as it can connect the information processing device 100 and the FAX transmitter 101. As a specific example, the Internet, a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), a public line (e.g., a telephone line, a mobile communication line, etc.), etc. may be applied to the network 102. As another example, a dedicated line, an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) or a frame relay line, a cable television line, a wireless communication line for data broadcasting, etc. may be applied to the network 102. The network 102 may be a wireless network or a wired network. The network 102 may include a plurality of different types of networks. As a specific example, the communication between the information processing device 100 and the FAX transmitter 101 may be relayed by another communication device. In this case, different types of networks may be applied to the communication between the other communication device and each of the information processing device 100 and the FAX transmitter 101.

[0012] The FAX transmitter 101 has a function of converting data of a document to be transmitted into image data and transmitting the image data to another device via a network (i.e., transmitting by fax). The FAX transmitter 101 according to this embodiment also has a function of adding a cover page (a piece of paper that explicitly indicates the sender, destination, etc.) to the document to be transmitted and then transmitting the document by fax.

[0013] The information processing device 100 is a device on which various applications run, such as a so-called PC (Personal Computer). For example, a PC-FAX driver is installed in the information processing device 100, which enables the information processing device 100 to instruct the FAX transmitter 101 to send a document by fax via the PC-FAX driver. Also, the information processing device 100 is capable of instructing the FAX transmitter 101 to add a cover page to a document to be sent and then send the document by fax by installing a PC-FAX driver according to the present embodiment in the information processing device 100. The function of adding a cover page to a document to be sent and then sending the document by fax will be described in detail below in conjunction with the explanation of the processes shown in Figures 4, 5A and 5B, and 6A to 6C. Also, the PC-FAX driver for achieving fax transmission may be positioned as a printer driver for printing in the system. Therefore, in the following explanation, when terms such as "printer driver" and "printing" are used, they may also be read as "fax driver" and "fax transmission", respectively.

[0014] <Hardware configuration> An example of a hardware configuration of the information processing device 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2. The information processing device 100 includes a control unit 110, an input device 9, an output device 10, and an external memory 14. The control unit 110 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 2, and a ROM (Read Only Memory) 3. The control unit 110 also includes an input I / F 5, an output I / F 6, an external memory I / F 7, and an external device I / F 8. The CPU 1, the RAM 2, the ROM 3, the input I / F 5, the output I / F 6, the external memory I / F 7, and the external device I / F 8 are connected to each other via a bus 4.

[0015] The CPU 1 is a central processing unit that controls various operations of the information processing device 100. For example, the CPU 1 may control the operation of the entire information processing device 100. The ROM 3 stores various programs such as a control program and a boot program that can be executed by the CPU 1, various data, fonts, etc. The RAM 2 is the main storage memory of the CPU 1, and is used as a work area or a temporary storage area for expanding various programs.

[0016] The input I / F 5 connects the input device 9 to the control unit 110 , and controls the input of information from the input device 9 to the control unit 110 . The input device 9 is used to receive various instructions from a user. For example, the input device 9 may be realized by an input device such as a pointing device, a keyboard, or a touch panel. As another example, the input device 9 may include a sound collection device such as a microphone, and collect the voice uttered by the user. In this case, various analysis processes such as acoustic analysis and natural language processing are performed on the collected voice, and the content indicated by the voice is recognized as an instruction from the user. The device applied as the input device 9 may be appropriately changed depending on the method of recognizing the instruction from the user. Furthermore, multiple types of devices may be applied as the input device 9.

[0017] The output I / F 6 connects the output device 10 to the control unit 110 and controls the output of information from the control unit 110 to the output device 10 . The output device 10 is a device that outputs various types of information, and is used to present various types of information to a user. For example, the output device 10 is realized by a display device such as a display. In this case, the output device 10 presents information to a user by displaying various types of display information. As another example, the output device 10 may be realized by an audio output device that outputs sounds such as voice and electronic sounds. In this case, the output device 10 presents information to a user by outputting sounds such as voice and telegrams. Note that the device applied as the output device 10 may be appropriately changed depending on the medium used to present information to a user.

[0018] The external memory I / F 7 connects the external memory 14 to the control unit 110, and controls the reading of data from the external memory 14 and the input of that data to the control unit 110, as well as the recording of data output from the control unit 110 in the external memory 14. The external memory 14 corresponds to a so-called auxiliary storage device, and stores various data and various programs (for example, OS: Operating System, etc.) The external memory 14 is realized by a storage device capable of temporarily or persistently storing various data, such as a non-volatile memory represented by an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive).

[0019] The external device I / F 8 connects various external devices to the control unit 110, and controls the input of information from the external devices to the control unit 110 and the output of information from the control unit 110 to the external devices.

[0020] The CPU 1 realizes various functions by expanding into the RAM 2 and executing a basic input / output system (BIOS control program) stored in the ROM 3 and an OS and various application programs stored in the external memory 14. The processing described below with reference to Figures 4, 5A and 5B, and 6A to 6C is realized by the CPU 1 expanding into the RAM 2 and executing programs stored in the ROM 3 or the external memory 14.

[0021] Note that, since the FAX transmitter 101 can be an image forming device that forms an image on a paper medium based on known technology, a description of the hardware configuration will be omitted.

[0022] <Software configuration> An example of the software configuration of the information processing device 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 3. The information processing device 100 includes an application 200, an OS 300, and a printer driver 400 as components.

[0023] An application 200 diagrammatically represents various applications that are operated by the information processing device 100 executing an application program. The OS 300 is operating system (OS) that provides an execution environment for the application 200 .

[0024] The printer driver 400 receives instructions related to print settings and instructions related to printing from the application 200 via the OS 300, and executes processing according to the instructions. The printer driver 400 can be realized, for example, by the above-mentioned PC-FAX driver. The printer driver 400 according to this embodiment includes a UI processing unit 410 and a GR processing unit 420. The UI processing unit 410 mainly manages settings related to printing (for example, updating settings, etc.). The GR processing unit 420 mainly creates print data.

[0025] <Processing> An example of processing of the information processing system according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to Figs. 4, 5A, 5B, k, and 6A to 6C. Fig. 4 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the overall processing flow of the information processing system according to this embodiment. Figs. 5A and 5B are flowcharts showing an example of processing of the UI processing unit 410. Figs. 6A to 6C are flowcharts showing an example of processing of the GR processing unit 420.

[0026] (Print settings and print preparation processing) First, refer to Fig. 4. Prior to printing, the application 200 controls various settings related to printing. Specifically, at C1, the application 200 instructs the OS 300 to present a UI for receiving from the user a specification of various settings related to printing (hereinafter also referred to as "print settings"). The instruction is realized, for example, by calling an API (DocumentProperties) provided by the OS 300. In C11, the OS 300 instructs the UI processing unit 410 of the printer driver 400 to display a UI related to print settings provided by the UI processing unit 410 on a screen (for example, the screen of the output device 10 configured as a display). This instruction is realized, for example, by calling an API (DrvDocumentPropertySheets) provided by the UI processing unit 410. The UI processing unit 410 displays a UI related to print settings on the output device 10 (display) of the information processing device 100, and receives a setting instruction related to printing from a user via the UI. Then, the UI processing unit 410 creates setting information related to print settings in response to the instruction from the user. The created setting information related to print settings is notified to the application 200, which is the caller, via the OS 300.

[0027] In C2, the application 200 issues an instruction for preparing for printing to the OS 300. This instruction is realized, for example, by calling an API (CreateDC) provided by the OS 300. In C21, the OS 300 issues an instruction related to preparation for printing to the GR processing unit 420 of the printer driver 400. The instruction is realized, for example, by calling an API (DrvEnablePDEV) provided by the GR processing unit 420. In response to the instruction related to the print preparation, the application 200 notifies the GR processing unit 420 of the setting information related to the print settings created in C1 and C11 based on the instruction from the user. The GR processing unit 420 receives the instruction, executes the process related to the print preparation, and holds the setting information related to the notified print settings.

[0028] (Print start process) In C3, the application 200 issues an instruction to start printing to the OS 300. This instruction is realized, for example, by calling an API (StartDoc) provided by the OS 300. In C31, the OS 300 issues an instruction to start printing to the UI processing unit 410. This instruction is realized, for example, by calling an API (DrvDocumentEvent(DOCUMENTEVENT_STARTDOCPRE)) provided by the UI processing unit 410. Next, in C32, the OS 300 issues an instruction to start printing to the GR processing unit 420. This instruction is realized, for example, by calling an API (DrvStartDOC) provided by the GR processing unit 420.

[0029] Here, an example of a process related to the start of printing by the UI processing unit 410, which is shown as C31 in Fig. 4, will be described with reference to Fig. 5A. Note that the process shown in Fig. 5A is realized by developing a program related to the UI processing unit 410 stored in the external memory 14 or the like into the RAM 2 and executing it by the CPU 1.

[0030] In S100, the UI processing unit 410 generates identification information (hereinafter also referred to as a "job identification number") unique to the print job, which is used by the UI processing unit 410 and the GR processing unit 420 to identify the print job corresponding to the printing for which the start has been instructed. For generating the job identification number, it is possible to use an identifier used to uniquely identify data, such as a globally unique identifier (GUID). Note that this job identification number is used to identify which print job the destination information and cover sheet (transmittal), which will be described separately below, belong to.

[0031] In order to avoid erroneous transmission, the PC-FAX driver to which the technology disclosed herein is applied presents the settings related to the destination and cover sheet and the settings related to printing to the user again after receiving an instruction to start printing, and then receives an instruction from the user to confirm the settings presented to the user.

[0032] Specifically, in S101, the UI processing unit 410 acquires from the GR processing unit 420 setting information related to the print settings notified to the GR processing unit 420 by the application 200 in C2 and C21 of FIG. 4 in order to re-display the UI related to the print settings on the screen. Here, we will explain ExtEscape (DrvEscape), which is an API used to transfer setting information related to print settings between the UI processing unit 410 and the GR processing unit 420. The transfer of the setting information between the UI processing unit 410 and the GR processing unit 420 is realized by the UI 410 calling an API (DrvEscape) provided by the GR processing unit 420 via an API (ExtEscape) provided by the OS 300.

[0033] ExtEscape (DrvEscape) is realized by predetermining the processing to be performed for each escape ID that is passed between the calling side (UI processing unit 410) and the called side (GR processing unit 420) via this API. For example, Fig. 6A is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by calling an API (DrvEscape) used for the GR processing unit 420 to transfer setting information related to print settings between the GR processing unit 420 and the UI processing unit 410. Note that the processing shown in Fig. 6A is realized by developing a program related to the GR processing unit 420 stored in the external memory 14 or the like into the RAM 2 and executing it by the CPU 1. Note that the processes indicated as C311, C3111, C312, and C3121 in FIG. 4 correspond to an example of a process sequence relating to the above-mentioned API call.

[0034] When DrvEscape is called, the GR processing unit 420 refers to the specified escape ID and determines the processing to be executed according to the escape ID. Specifically, in S200, the GR processing unit 420 determines whether the escape ID requests acquisition of setting information related to print settings. If the GR processing unit 420 determines in S200 that the escape ID is a request to obtain setting information related to print settings, the process proceeds to S201. In S201, the GR processing unit 420 notifies the caller of DrvEscape of the setting information related to print settings that it holds.

[0035] On the other hand, if the GR processing unit 420 determines in S200 that the escape ID does not request acquisition of setting information related to print settings, the process proceeds to S202. In S202, the GR processing unit 420 determines whether the escape ID requests application of setting information related to print settings held by the caller to the GR processing unit 420. If the GR processing unit 420 determines in S202 that the escape ID is a request to apply setting information related to print settings held by the caller to the GR processing unit 420, the process proceeds to S203. In S203, the GR processing unit 420 receives setting information related to print settings from the caller and applies the print settings indicated by the setting information to itself.

[0036] On the other hand, if the GR processing unit 420 determines in S202 that the escape ID does not request that the GR processing unit 420 apply the setting information related to the print setting held by the caller to the GR processing unit 420, the process proceeds to S204. In S204, the GR processing unit 420 executes other processes other than S201 and S203 according to the escape ID.

[0037] Here, reference is made again to FIG. 5A. In S102, the UI processing unit 410 displays a UI related to the print settings on the output device 10 (display) of the information processing device 100 based on the setting information related to the print settings acquired in the process of S101 described above. This enables the UI processing unit 410 to receive, from the user, designation of settings related to the destination and cover sheet, instructions related to editing the print settings, and the like, and finalizes these settings in response to the instructions from the user. In addition, the UI processing unit 410 updates the setting information related to the print settings by writing the job identification number generated in the process of S100 described above as part of the information in the setting information related to the print settings. Note that the print settings also include a setting regarding whether or not to attach a cover sheet (transmittal) to the target document. In S103, the UI processing unit 410 requests the GR processing unit 420 to apply the setting information related to the print settings confirmed in S102. This request is realized, for example, by calling an API (ExEscape) by specifying an escape ID for requesting the GR processing unit 420 to apply the setting information related to the print settings.

[0038] Here, an example of a data structure of information related to management of destinations of fax transmission (hereinafter, also referred to as "destination information") will be described with reference to FIG. 7. The destination information 500 includes, for example, information related to the destination in communication, such as "fax number" and "URI", as well as information related to the addressee's name (surname, first name, honorific, etc.), company name, department name, etc. These various pieces of information may be specified as the destination of a print job (fax transmission job) by the user via, for example, a UI presented to the user by the UI processing unit 410 (for example, a UI related to receiving designation of print settings). In this case, the UI processing unit 410 may add an ID, which is a management number, to the series of information specified by the user as the destination of the print job, and manage it as the destination information 500.

[0039] 5A will now be referred to again. In S104, the UI processing unit 410 saves (stores) one or more destinations determined in S102 as data of destination information 500 (e.g., a file, etc.) in a predetermined storage area (e.g., a predetermined storage destination such as the external memory 14) that can be referenced by the information processing device 100. At this time, the UI processing unit 410 may use the job identification number generated in S100 when determining a file name, a folder name, etc. for saving (storing) the data. This associates the data of the destination information 500 with the job identification number of the print job corresponding to the data of the destination information 500. As a specific example, the UI processing unit 410 may apply a file name that combines a job identification number using a GUID and an extension that indicates data of the predetermined destination information 500 as the file name of the data of the destination information 500. For example, if the GUID is "3F2504E0-4F89-11D3-9A0C-0305E82C3301" and the extension is ".DST", the file name will be "3F2504E0-4F89-11D3-9A0C-0305E82C3301.DST". By applying the above-described processing, even in a situation where multiple applications 200 each generate a print job individually, the GR processing unit 420 can identify and access the destination information 500 of the print job to be processed.

[0040] In S105, the UI processing unit 410 refers to the setting related to the cover sheet confirmed in S102, and determines whether or not sending of the cover sheet has been instructed. If the UI processing unit 410 determines in S105 that sending of a cover sheet has not been instructed, it ends the series of processes shown in FIG. 5A (the processes at the start of printing, shown as C31 in FIG. 4).

[0041] On the other hand, if the UI processing unit 410 determines in S105 that sending of a cover sheet is instructed, the process proceeds to S106. In S106, the UI processing unit 410 refers to the destination information 500 corresponding to the print job and creates a cover sheet. Generally, there are two types of coversheets: a common coversheet, which is used when the same coversheet is sent to each destination of a series of target print jobs, and an individual coversheet, which is used when an individual coversheet is sent to each destination. Regardless of the type of coversheet, UI processing unit 410 creates the coversheet by generating coversheet data according to the coversheet settings.

[0042] Now, the creation of cover sheet data will be described with reference to Fig. 8. In S106 of Fig. 5A, UI processing unit 410 creates cover sheet data as an image in which the format and information instructed as the settings related to the cover sheet and the information related to the destination set in destination information 500 are presented. At this time, UI processing unit 410 generates the cover sheet as an image without using GR processing unit 420. Note that UI processing unit 410 may perform binarization processing, data compression, etc. on the generated image in accordance with various conditions. For example, Fig. 8 shows an example of an image of the generated cover sheet.

[0043] 5A will now be referred to again. In S107, UI processing unit 410 saves (stores) the coversheet data generated in S106 in a predetermined storage area (for example, a predetermined storage destination such as external memory 14) that can be referenced by information processing device 100. At this time, UI processing unit 410 may use the job identification number generated in S100 when determining a file name, folder name, etc. for saving (storing) the coversheet data. This associates the coversheet data with the job identification number of the print job corresponding to the coversheet data.

[0044] In S108, the UI processing unit 410 determines whether creation and saving of all cover sheets specified for each of the series of print jobs to be processed has been completed. If the UI processing unit 410 determines in S108 that creation and saving of all coversheets specified for each of the series of print jobs being processed has not been completed, the process proceeds to S106. In this manner, the UI processing unit 410 creates and saves the coversheets specified for each of the series of print jobs being processed by repeatedly executing the process of S106 related to the creation of the coversheets and the process of S107 related to the saving of the coversheets.

[0045] Then, when the UI processing unit 410 determines in S108 that creation and saving of all cover sheets specified for each of the series of print jobs to be processed has been completed, the UI processing unit 410 ends the series of processes shown in Fig. 5A. This ends the process at the start of printing shown as C31 in Fig. 4.

[0046] Next, referring to Fig. 6B, an example of processing related to the start of printing by the GR processing unit 420 shown as C32 in Fig. 4 will be described. Note that the processing shown in Fig. 6B is realized by developing a program related to the GR processing unit 420 stored in the external memory 14 or the like into the RAM 2 and executing it by the CPU 1.

[0047] In S220, when the GR processing unit 420 receives an instruction to start printing from the OS 300, it acquires the destination information 500 that the UI processing unit 410 saved in the process of 104 shown in Fig. 5A. Specifically, the GR processing unit 420 extracts job identification information from the setting information related to the print setting received from the UI processing unit 410 in the process of S103 shown in Fig. 5A, and refers to the file of the destination information 500 saved in a predetermined storage area based on the job identification information. In this way, the GR processing unit 420 can read out various information (e.g., information related to the destination) set as the destination information 500.

[0048] In S221, the GR processing unit 420 executes processing related to the start of a job, such as issuing various commands for starting a print job, such as specifying a destination, based on the destination information 500.

[0049] (Page Start) 4 again. After the instruction to start printing shown as C3 is given, in C4, the application 200 gives an instruction to start a page to the OS 300 to proceed with the print process. This instruction is realized, for example, by calling an API (StartPage) provided by the OS 300. In C41, the OS 300 issues an instruction to the GR processing unit 420 to create a page and start the page. The instruction is realized, for example, by calling an API (DrvStartPage) provided by the GR processing unit 420.

[0050] Here, with reference to Fig. 6C, an example of processing related to the start of a page of the GR processing unit 420 shown as C41 in Fig. 4 will be described. Note that the processing shown in Fig. 6C is realized by developing a program related to the GR processing unit 420 stored in the external memory 14 or the like into the RAM 2 and executing it by the CPU 1.

[0051] In S240, the GR processing unit 420 determines whether the page that is the target of the instruction related to the start of the page received from the OS 300 is the first page or not. If the GR processing unit 420 determines in S240 that the page to be the target of the instruction regarding the start of the page received from the OS 300 is not the first page (in the case of calling the second or subsequent page), the GR processing unit 420 advances the process to S246. In this case, the processes of S241 to S243 described later are not executed.

[0052] On the other hand, if the GR processing unit 420 determines in S240 that the page that is the target of the instruction related to the start of the page received from the OS 300 is the first page, the process proceeds to S241. In S241, the GR processing unit 420 refers to the setting information related to the print setting received from the UI processing unit 410 in the process of S103 shown in FIG. 5A, and determines whether or not the sending of a cover sheet has been instructed. If the GR processing unit 420 determines in S241 that sending of a cover sheet has not been instructed, the process proceeds to S246. In this case, the processes of S242 and S243 described later are not executed.

[0053] On the other hand, if the GR processing unit 420 determines in S241 that sending of a coversheet has been instructed, the process proceeds to S242. In S242, the GR processing unit 420 acquires the target coversheet. Specifically, the GR processing unit 420 extracts a job identification number from the setting information related to the print setting, identifies a file of coversheet data stored in a predetermined storage area based on the job identification information, and acquires the coversheet data. In S243, the GR processing unit 420 outputs the cover sheet data acquired in S242 as a part of the print data (transmission data) to the FAX transmitter 101. At this time, the print data including the cover sheet data may be output to the FAX transmitter 101 via, for example, the OS 300. The timing of obtaining the coversheet and outputting the coversheet to FAX transmitter 101 is not limited to the timing of the processing related to the start of the page shown in Figure 6C, so long as the coversheet can be written at a specified position as print data.

[0054] In S246, the GR processing unit 420 executes a page start process (for example, issuing a command) to receive a page that will be created by the application 200 thereafter. Then, the GR processing unit 420 ends the series of processes shown in FIG. 6C.

[0055] (Each drawing command and page end) Here, reference is made again to Fig. 4. In C5, the application 200 calls APIs related to drawing of various objects provided by the OS in order to draw each object, such as characters, figures, and images, on a page. In C51, the OS 300 calls various driver drawing APIs provided by the GR processing unit 420 in response to a call from the application 200 of an API related to drawing an object.

[0056] After one page of drawing has been performed, in C6, the application 200 issues an instruction to end the page to the OS 300. This instruction is realized, for example, by calling an API (EndPage) provided by the OS 300. In C61, the OS300 issues an instruction to the GR processing unit 420 regarding the end of the page. The instruction is realized, for example, by calling an API (DrvSendPage) provided by the GR processing unit 420. Upon receiving the call, the GR processing unit 420 executes processing related to the end of the page (for example, issuing a command, etc.).

[0057] In response to a request from the user, the application 200 repeats the above-described processes C4 to C6 for the number of pages to be printed, thereby drawing each page.

[0058] (Printing End) In C7, the application 200 issues an instruction to end printing to the OS 300. This instruction is realized, for example, by calling an API (EndDoc) provided by the OS 300. In C71, the OS 300 issues an instruction to end printing to the GR processing unit 420. This instruction is realized, for example, by an API (DrvEndDoc) provided by the GR processing unit 420. In addition, in C72, the OS 300 instructs the UI processing unit 410 to end printing. This instruction is realized, for example, by an API (DrvDocumentEvent(DOCUMENTEVENT_ENDDOCPOST)) provided by the UI processing unit. Note that the processes shown as C721 and C7211 in FIG. 4 correspond to an example of a process sequence related to the invocation of the API.

[0059] Upon receiving the above call, the GR processing unit 420 executes processing related to the end of the job (for example, issuing a command, etc.), thereby ending the target print job.

[0060] 5B, an example of processing related to the end of printing by UI processing unit 410, shown as C72 in Fig. 4, will be described, focusing in particular on processing related to the deletion of the cover sheet and files of destination information 500. Note that the processing shown in Fig. 5B is realized by loading a program related to UI processing unit 410 stored in external memory 14 or the like into RAM 2 and executing it by CPU 1.

[0061] In S120, the UI processing unit 410 acquires a job identification number. Specifically, the UI processing unit 410 requests the GR processing unit 420 to acquire setting information related to the print settings held by the GR processing unit 420 in the same manner as the processing of S102 shown in FIG. 5A. As a specific example, the request is realized by calling an API (ExEscape) by specifying an escape ID for requesting the GR processing unit 420 to acquire the setting information related to the print settings. The UI processing unit 410 acquires the job identification number by extracting the job identification number from the setting information related to the print settings acquired from the GR processing unit 420.

[0062] In S121, UI processing unit 410 determines, based on the acquired job identification number, whether or not a file of the coversheet saved in the process of S107 shown in FIG. 5A (the coversheet corresponding to that job identification number) exists. If the UI processing unit 410 determines in S121 that a coversheet corresponding to the acquired job identification number exists, the process proceeds to S122. In S122, the UI processing unit 410 deletes the file of the series of coversheets corresponding to the acquired job identification number.

[0063] Then, if the UI processing unit 410 determines in S121 that there is no cover sheet corresponding to the acquired job identification number, the process proceeds to S123. In S123, the UI processing unit 410 identifies the file of the destination information 500 saved in the process of S104 shown in FIG. 5A based on the job identification number acquired in S120, and deletes the file of the destination information 500. With the above, the process relating to the end of printing, shown as C7 in FIG. 4, is completed.

[0064] <Other embodiments> The present invention can also be realized by a process in which a program for implementing one or more of the functions of the above-mentioned embodiments is supplied to a system or device via a network or a recording medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or device read and execute the program. Also, the present invention can be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) for implementing one or more of the functions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 100 Information processing device 101 Fax Machine 110 Control section 400 Printer Driver 410 UI processing section 420 GR Processing Section

Claims

1. An information processing device, a reception unit for receiving settings for a cover sheet to be transmitted together with transmission data to be transmitted by fax; a generating means for generating data of the cover sheet based on the setting received by the receiving means; a first processing unit having a storage unit that associates identification information of the job with data of the coversheet generated by the generation unit before a job is started, and stores the data of the coversheet in a storage unit of the information processing device; an acquisition unit that acquires the cover sheet data stored in the storage unit based on identification information of the job after the job is started; a second processing unit having a control unit for controlling the data of the cover sheet acquired by the acquisition unit to be transmitted together with the transmission data; 13. An information processing device comprising:

2. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said acquiring means acquires the data of the cover sheet stored in said storage unit in accordance with an instruction to start a job from an application.

3. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a deletion unit which deletes the cover sheet data corresponding to the transmission data when the transmission of the transmission data is completed.

4. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the accepting means further comprises a designating means for designating a destination of the transmission data.

5. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a means for setting the destination designated by said designation means as a file having a file name including identification information of said job.

6. 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first processing section is a UI processing section, and the second processing section is a GR processing section.

7. An information processing method executed by an information processing device, receiving, by a first processing unit, settings for a cover sheet to be transmitted together with transmission data to be transmitted by fax; generating data of the cover sheet based on the received settings by the first processing unit; a step of associating identification information of the job with data of the coversheet generated by the first processing unit before starting a job, and storing the data of the coversheet in a storage unit of the information processing device; acquiring, by a second processing unit, data of the cover sheet stored in the storage unit based on identification information of the job after the job is started; and a control unit for controlling the second processing unit to transmit the acquired data of the cover sheet together with the transmission data.

13. An information processing method comprising:

8. 8. The information processing method according to claim 7, wherein the second processing section obtains the data of the cover sheet stored in the storage section in accordance with an instruction to start a job from an application.

9. 9. The information processing method according to claim 7, further comprising a step of deleting the cover sheet data corresponding to the transmission data by the first processing unit when the transmission of the transmission data is completed.

10. 10. The information processing method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of specifying a destination of the transmission data by the first processing unit.

11. 11. The information processing method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of: making the specified destination a file having a file name including identification information of the job by the first processing section.

12. 12. The information processing method according to claim 7, wherein the first processing section is a UI processing section, and the second processing section is a rendering processing section.

13. A program for causing an information processing device to execute an information processing method, Accepts the setting of the cover sheet to be sent together with the fax data, a first processing module that generates data for the coversheet based on the received settings, associates identification information of the job with the generated data for the coversheet before starting a job, and stores the data for the coversheet in a storage unit of the information processing device; After the job is started, the cover sheet data stored in the storage unit is acquired based on the job identification information; and a second processing module for controlling the acquired data of the cover sheet to be transmitted together with the transmission data.

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