Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program

Abstract

To provide an information processing device, an information processing method and a program with which it is possible to facilitate selecting a medium (paper) supply unit for each page.SOLUTION: In a printing system 100 equipped with a user terminal 1 and a printing device 101, the user terminal comprises: a selection acceptance unit 11 for accepting selection, from among an external paper feeding unit 130 that feeds paper and a plurality of internal paper feeding units 141, 142, 143 in a medium feeding unit, of an external paper feeding unit 130 or an internal paper feeding unit 141, 142, 143 (paper feeding table or tray) that corresponds to a page number; and a repeat application unit 12 for repeatedly applying a periodic pattern to page numbers exceeding a page range, as a periodic pattern of the page range of page numbers accepted by the selection acceptance unit 11, and determining the external paper feeding unit 130 or the internal paper feeding unit 141, 142, 143 that corresponds to page numbers exceeding the page range to be the external paper feeding unit 130 or the internal paper feeding unit 141, 142, 143 that corresponds to page numbers in the periodic pattern.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program that receive selection of a medium supply unit corresponding to a page number.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in an information processing apparatus such as a user terminal that performs print settings of a printing apparatus, there is an information processing apparatus that receives selection of a medium supply unit corresponding to a page number from among a plurality of medium supply units that supply media such as paper.

[0003] In such an information processing apparatus, an information processing apparatus has been proposed that enables selection of a combination of paper feed units that feed a plurality of sheets to be inserted into a printed document (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the technology disclosed in the above patent document, the front cover, back cover, cover paper, index paper, etc. are supplied from different paper feed units, but the combination is selected from preset patterns.

[0006] By the way, a user may want to print some pages of a manuscript consisting of multiple pages on special paper (such as colored paper or standard forms). In such a case, if a plurality of types of media are stored in a plurality of medium supply units and the printed matter can be selected from the preset patterns as described above, printing is possible. However, in the conventional technology as described above, the preset patterns are limited, and the degree of freedom in selecting the medium supply unit is limited.

[0007] As a method of freely selecting a media supply unit, there is also a method of specifying the selection of the media supply unit for each page. For example, when a user wants to print the first and second pages of a five-page distribution on colored paper and the other pages on white paper, if colored paper is set in tray 1 and white paper is set in tray 2, on the tray selection screen, select tray 1 for pages 1 and 2, and select tray 2 for pages 3 to 5.

[0008] However, when printing for a large number of people, such as 1000 people, with variable multiple pages per set, it is necessary to repeatedly select the media supply unit corresponding to the pattern of multiple pages many times. In the example of the five-page distribution mentioned above, for pages 1, 2, 6, 7, 11, 12, ···, input them into tray 1, and for pages 3 to 5, 8 to 10, 13 to 15, ···, input them into tray 2. That is, the media supply unit must be selected for all pages. Therefore, the number of characters to be input becomes extremely large, the input work is inefficient, and there is also a risk of misinput.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and provide an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program that can facilitate the selection of a media supply unit for each page.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0010] In one aspect, an information processing apparatus includes a selection reception unit that receives a selection of a media supply unit corresponding to a page number from among a plurality of media supply units that supply media, and a repetition application unit that repeatedly applies the page range of the page number received by the selection reception unit as a periodic pattern to page numbers exceeding the page range, and determines the media supply unit corresponding to the page numbers exceeding the page range as the media supply unit corresponding to the page number in the periodic pattern.

Effects of the Invention

[0011] According to the above aspect, it is possible to facilitate the selection of the medium supply unit for each page.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4A

Figure 4B

Figure 4C

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] Hereinafter, an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a printing system 100 in one embodiment.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system 100 includes a user terminal 1 which is an example of an information processing apparatus, and a printing apparatus 101.

[0016] The user terminal 1 includes a control unit 10, a storage unit 20, an input unit 30, a display unit 40, and an interface 50. The user terminal 1 is, for example, an installed terminal such as a desktop computer, or a portable terminal such as a tablet terminal, a smartphone, or a notebook computer.

[0017] The control unit 10 has, for example, a processor (e.g., CPU: Central Processing Unit) that functions as an arithmetic processing unit for controlling the operation of the entire user terminal 1. By reading and executing a predetermined program from the storage unit 20 or a non-transitory recording medium, this processor functions as a selection reception unit 11, a repetitive application unit 12, and a display control unit 13. Note that at least one of the selection reception unit 11, the repetitive application unit 12, and the display control unit 13 may be arranged as an independent unit (e.g., a processor).

[0018] Although the selection reception unit 11 and the repetitive application unit 12 will be described in detail later, the selection reception unit 11 receives a selection of the paper feed tray 131 or the internal paper feed units 141, 142, 143 corresponding to the page number from among the paper feed tray 131 and the internal paper feed units 141, 142, 143 shown in FIG. 2 that supply the paper P which is an example of a medium.

[0019] The repetitive application unit 12 repetitively applies the page range of the page number received by the selection reception unit 11 as a periodic pattern to page numbers exceeding the page range, and determines the paper feed tray 131 or the internal paper feed units 141, 142, 143 corresponding to the page numbers exceeding the page range as the paper feed tray 131 or the internal paper feed units 141, 142, 143 corresponding to the page numbers in the periodic pattern.

[0020] The display control unit 13 performs display control to cause the display unit 40 to display a print setting screen S1 shown in FIG. 3 described later, a tray selection screen S2 shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C, and the like.

[0021] The memory unit 20 includes, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory), which is a read-only semiconductor memory that records a predetermined program read from a non-transitory recording medium or acquired via the Internet, a RAM (Random Access Memory), which is a semiconductor memory that can be written to and read from as needed as a working storage area when the processor of the control unit 10 executes various programs, and other memories such as a hard disk drive.

[0022] The input unit 30 includes, for example, a keyboard device, a mouse device, a touch panel, etc., and receives input of various operation information by the user.

[0023] The display unit 40 is a display that displays various information such as a display screen for the user's input operations. For example, based on the display control of the display control unit 13, the display unit 40 displays a print setting screen S1 shown in FIG. 3, a tray selection screen S2 shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C, etc. Note that a display having a touch panel can function as both the input unit 30 and the display unit 40.

[0024] The interface 50 exchanges various information with other devices such as a printing device 101. For example, the interface 50 transmits a print job to a printing device 101 (interface 166) connected wirelessly or by wire.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 2, the printing device 101 includes a printing unit 110, a suction conveyance unit 120, an external paper feeding unit 130, internal paper feeding units 141 to 143, conveyance roller pairs 151 to 155, and a registration roller pair 156. Also, as shown in FIG. 1, the printing device 101 further includes a control unit 161, a memory unit 162, an operation panel unit 163, a scanner 164, a paper discharge unit 165, and an interface 166. Note that in FIG. 2, the conveyance path continuing from the external paper feeding unit 130 and the internal paper feeding units 141 to 143 to the printing unit 110 is indicated by a thick solid line.

[0026] The printing unit 110 shown in FIG. 2 has a plurality of inkjet heads 111, for example, line-type inkjet heads. The printing unit 110 performs printing on a medium such as a sheet of paper P based on a printing job including image data sent from the user terminal 1. The printing method of the printing unit 110 is, for example, an inkjet printing method, a stencil printing method, an electrophotographic method, etc., but is not particularly limited.

[0027] The suction conveyance unit 120 is arranged so as to face the printing unit 110. For example, the suction conveyance unit 120 conveys the sheet of paper P by a conveyance belt while sucking the sheet of paper P.

[0028] The external paper feeding unit 130 and the internal paper feeding units 141 to 143 are an example of a medium supply unit that supplies the sheet of paper P (medium), and include a paper feed table 131 or trays 141a, 142a, 143a, scraper rollers 132, 141b, 142b, 143b, and pickup rollers 133, 141c, 142c, 143c.

[0029] A plurality of sheets of paper P are stacked on the paper feed table 131 and the trays 141a, 142a, 143a. Note that media other than the sheet of paper P, such as envelopes and forms, may be stacked on the paper feed table 131 and the trays 141a, 142a, 143a. Also, two or more types of media having different types (for example, media types such as sheet of paper P, envelopes, forms, size types such as A4, A3, and color types such as white, red) are stacked on the paper feed table 131 and the trays 141a, 142a, 143a.

[0030] The scraper rollers 132, 141b, 142b, 143b are feed rollers that feed out and convey the sheet of paper P located at the top of the plurality of sheets of paper P stacked on the paper feed table 131 or the trays 141a, 142a, 143a.

[0031] The pickup rollers 133, 141c, 142c, 143c convey the sheet of paper P fed out by the scraper rollers 132, 141b, 142b, 143b.

[0032] The conveying roller pairs 151 to 155 are arranged in the conveying path between the internal paper feeding units 141 to 143 and the resist roller pair 156.

[0033] The resist roller pair 156 is abutted by the paper P conveyed from the external paper feeding unit 130 and the internal paper feeding units 141 to 143. Thereby, the skew of the paper P is corrected.

[0034] The control unit 161 shown in FIG. 1 has a processor (for example, a CPU) that functions as an arithmetic processing unit for controlling the operation of the entire printing apparatus 101, and controls the operation of each part of the printing apparatus 101.

[0035] The storage unit 162 includes, for example, a ROM which is a read-only semiconductor memory in which a predetermined control program is recorded in advance, a RAM which is a semiconductor memory that can be written and read at any time and is used as a working storage area as needed when the processor executes various control programs, a memory such as this, and a hard disk device.

[0036] The operation panel unit 163 has, for example, operation keys for performing various operations, a touch panel, a display for displaying various information, etc., and functions as an example of an input unit and a display unit of the printing apparatus 101.

[0037] The scanner 164 reads image data from the document.

[0038] Although not shown in FIG. 2, the paper discharge unit 165 has a paper discharge tray on which the paper P printed by the printing unit 110 is stacked, and a discharge roller for discharging the paper P to this paper discharge tray.

[0039] The interface 166 exchanges various information with other devices such as the user terminal 1. For example, the interface 166 receives a print job from the user terminal 1 (interface 50) connected wirelessly or by wire.

[0040] FIG. 3 is an example of the print setting screen S1.

[0041] Figures 4A to 4C are an example of the tray selection screen S2.

[0042] Figure 5 is a table for explaining the repeated application of the periodic pattern.

[0043] Based on the display control of the display control unit 13, the display unit 40 of the user terminal 1 shown in FIG. 1 displays the print setting screen S1 shown in FIG. 3.

[0044] A user who performs print settings makes various settings on the print setting screen S1, such as color mode settings for color printing or black-and-white printing, print surface settings for single-sided printing or double-sided printing, print size settings, and print orientation settings. The print settings thus set are acquired by the control unit 10 and transmitted as a print job to the printing device 101 by the interface 166.

[0045] The print setting screen S1 has a tray selection unit S1a provided at a location where "Paper Feed Tray Selection:" is displayed. In this tray selection unit S1a, it is possible to select either the external paper feed unit 130 (paper feed table 131) or the internal paper feed units 141, 142, 143 (trays 141a, 142a, 143a), and it is also possible to select "Automatic" according to predetermined settings. Here, as described above, it is preferable that two or more types of different media are loaded on the paper feed table 131 and the trays 141a, 142a, 143a.

[0046] In addition, at the lower part of the tray selection unit S1a, a page-by-page setting checkbox S1b is provided at a location where "Specify Tray for Each Page" is displayed. When the user clicks the detailed setting button S1c with the page-by-page setting checkbox S1b checked, the display control unit 13 causes the tray selection screen S2 shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C to be displayed on the display unit 40.

[0047] On the tray selection screen S2 shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C, the external paper feed unit 130 (paper feed tray 131) is set as the "paper feed tray", the internal paper feed unit 141 (tray 141a) is set as the "tray 1", the internal paper feed unit 142 (tray 142a) is set as the "tray 2", and the internal paper feed unit 143 (tray 143a) is set as the "tray 3". From among these multiple trays (the paper feed tray and trays 1 to 3 are collectively referred to as "trays"), it is possible to select the tray corresponding to the page number.

[0048] Specifically, when a page number is input into any of the paper feed tray page number input field S2a provided at the location where "paper feed tray:" is displayed, the tray 1 page number input field S2b provided at the location where "tray 1:" is displayed, the tray 2 page number input field S2c provided at the location where "tray 2:" is displayed, and the tray 3 page number input field S2d provided at the location where "tray 3:" is displayed, the selection reception unit 11 shown in FIG. 1 receives the selection of the tray corresponding to the page number. Note that the paper feed tray page number input field S2a, the tray 1 page number input field S2b, the tray 2 page number input field S2c, and the tray 3 page number input field S2d are examples of page selection means for selecting the page corresponding to the tray.

[0049] For example, in the examples of FIGS. 4A and 4B, "1-5,9-10" (pages 1 to 5 and pages 9 to 10) is input into the paper feed tray page number input field S2a, "6-7" (pages 6 to 7) is input into the tray 1 page number input field S2b, and "8" (page 8) is input into the tray 2 page number input field S2c.

[0050] In this case, the repetitive application unit 12 shown in FIG. 1 uses the page range (with the maximum page number 10 being A) of the page numbers received by the selection reception unit 11 as a periodic pattern (period 0 shown in FIG. 5), and applies the periodic pattern repeatedly to page numbers exceeding the page range, such as period 1 (pages 11 to 20), period 2 (pages 21 to 30), ···, period n ((An + 1) pages to (An + A) pages), until the total number of pages of the paper P (manuscript) to be supplied reaches the upper limit. Specifically, the repetitive application unit 12 performs a process of adding the value obtained by multiplying the maximum value (A) of the input value (page number) by the number of periods (n) to the input value, and repeats this process while incrementing the number of periods by 1 from 0. Although the number of pages per period is constant, the printed content per period may have some variable data changed.

[0051] Also, the repetitive application unit 12 determines the trays corresponding to the page numbers (page order within the period) in periods 1, 2, ···, n to be the trays corresponding to the page numbers in period 0. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, in period 0, the trays corresponding to pages 1 to 5 and 9 to 10 are the paper feed trays, the tray corresponding to pages 6 to 7 is tray 1, and the tray corresponding to page 8 is tray 2. Therefore, in period 1, the trays corresponding to pages 11 to 15 and 19 to 20 are the paper feed trays, the tray corresponding to pages 16 to 17 is tray 1, and the tray corresponding to page 18 is tray 2. Also, in period 2, the trays corresponding to pages 21 to 25 and 29 to 30 are the paper feed trays, the tray corresponding to pages 26 to 27 is tray 1, and the tray corresponding to page 28 is tray 2.

[0052] And in period n, the trays corresponding to pages (1 + An) to (5 + An), (9 + An) to (10 + An) are the paper feed trays, the tray corresponding to pages (6 + An) to (7 + An) is tray 1, and the tray corresponding to page (8 + An) is tray 2.

[0053] In order for the selection acceptance unit 11 to accept the repetition setting of whether to repeatedly apply the periodic pattern to page numbers exceeding the page range as described above, on the tray selection screen S2 shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C, a repetition setting checkbox S2e is provided at a location where "Repeat" is displayed. Only when the user clicks the OK button with the repetition setting checkbox S2e checked (see FIG. 4A), the repetition application unit 12 may repeatedly apply the periodic pattern to page numbers exceeding the page range as described above. That is, when the repetition setting checkbox S2e is not checked as shown in FIG. 4B, the repetition application unit 12 does not repeatedly apply the periodic pattern to page numbers exceeding the page range, and it is preferable to determine the selected tray only for the page numbers entered in the feeder page number input field S2a, the tray 1 page number input field S2b, the tray 2 page number input field S2c, and the tray 3 page number input field S2d.

[0054] Also, when the repetition setting checkbox S2e is checked, the application result of the repetition (that is, the page number of the tray determined by the repetition application unit 12) may be additionally displayed in the input fields S2a, S2b, S2c, and S2d. At this time, the application result may be displayed in a manner that can be clearly distinguished from the value (page number) actually input by the user, for example, in a light color, a different color, italic, with parentheses, etc. Note that the application result may be displayed at a position different from the value actually input by the user (as an example, in a separately provided application result column), but preferably, it is displayed continuously side by side at the same position (input fields S2a, S2b, S2c, S2d). FIG. 4C is an example in which repetition is applied to the input examples of FIGS. 4A and 4B, and the application result is displayed in a lighter color than the color of the value actually input by the user so as to be continuously side by side in the input fields S2a, S2b, S2c, and S2d. That is, the display control unit 13 that displays the selection screen S2 of the tray (media supply unit) on the display unit 40 may display the selected tray and the tray determined by the repetition application unit 12 on the display unit 40 in a distinguishable manner.

[0055] In the above description, the user terminal 1 was described as an example of an information processing apparatus including a selection reception unit 11 and a repetitive application unit 12. However, the printing apparatus 101 may include a selection reception unit and a repetitive application unit and function as an example of an information processing apparatus. Also, a printing controller provided separately from the printing apparatus 101 may function as an information processing apparatus. Thus, the information processing apparatus is not limited to the user terminal 1 and may be the printing apparatus 101, the printing controller, or other apparatuses.

[0056] Also, in the above description, the page numbers of the medium (sheet P) were described as page numbers for printing. However, the medium supply unit may supply the medium to a post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing such as enclosing, sealing, stapling, and binding, or other apparatuses, instead of the printing apparatus 101.

[0057] In the above-described embodiment, the user terminal 1 (an example of an information processing apparatus) includes a selection reception unit 11 that receives a selection of an external paper feed unit 130 or internal paper feed units 141, 142, 143 (an example of a plurality of medium supply units) corresponding to a page number from among an external paper feed unit 130 and internal paper feed units 141, 142, 143 that supply a sheet P (an example of a medium), and a repetitive application unit 12 that, with the page range of the page number received by the selection reception unit 11 as a periodic pattern, repeatedly applies the periodic pattern to page numbers exceeding the page range and determines the external paper feed unit 130 or internal paper feed units 141, 142, 143 corresponding to the page numbers exceeding the page range as the external paper feed unit 130 or internal paper feed units 141, 142, 143 corresponding to the page numbers in the periodic pattern.

[0058] From another perspective, an information processing method is, for example, an information processing method performed by an information processing apparatus (computer). It receives a selection of an external paper feeder 130 or internal paper feeders 141, 142, 143 (an example of a plurality of media supply units) corresponding to a page number from among an external paper feeder 130 and internal paper feeders 141, 142, 143 (an example of a medium) that supply a sheet of paper P. Regarding the page range of the received page number as a periodic pattern, it repeatedly applies the periodic pattern to page numbers exceeding the page range, and determines the external paper feeder 130 or internal paper feeders 141, 142, 143 corresponding to page numbers exceeding the page range as the external paper feeder 130 or internal paper feeders 141, 142, 143 corresponding to the page numbers in the periodic pattern.

[0059] From another perspective, a program may cause a computer (for example, user terminal 1) to realize a function of receiving a selection of an external paper feeder 130 or internal paper feeders 141, 142, 143 (an example of a plurality of media supply units) corresponding to a page number from among an external paper feeder 130 and internal paper feeders 141, 142, 143 (an example of a medium) that supply a sheet of paper P, and a function of regarding the page range of the received page number as a periodic pattern, repeatedly applying the periodic pattern to page numbers exceeding the page range, and determining the external paper feeder 130 or internal paper feeders 141, 142, 143 corresponding to page numbers exceeding the page range as the external paper feeder 130 or internal paper feeders 141, 142, 143 corresponding to the page numbers in the periodic pattern.

[0060] As a result, when repeatedly supplying media with multiple pages as a set, it is possible to determine the media supply unit corresponding to the page number without making a selection of the media supply unit for all pages. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to facilitate the selection of the media supply unit for each page. This can prevent the page number input work from becoming inefficient, an increase in processing load, or incorrect input due to an extremely large number of characters to be input.

[0061] Also, in the present embodiment, the selection reception unit 11 receives a repetition setting as to whether to repeatedly apply a periodic pattern to page numbers exceeding the page range, for example, based on the input of a repetition setting checkbox S2e. The repetition application unit 12 repeatedly applies a periodic pattern to page numbers exceeding the page range when the repetition setting is made, and does not repeatedly apply a periodic pattern to page numbers exceeding the page range when the repetition setting is not made.

[0062] Thereby, the selection of the medium supply unit using the periodic pattern can be performed only when it is necessary to repeatedly perform the selection for each periodic pattern, so that it is possible to prevent the selection of the medium supply unit from being performed unintentionally.

[0063] Also, in the present embodiment, the user terminal 1 further includes a display control unit 13 that displays a tray selection screen S2 of the external paper feed unit 130 and the internal paper feed units 141, 142, 143 (paper feed trays and trays 1 to 3) on the display unit 40. The display control unit 13 displays the selected external paper feed unit 130 and internal paper feed units 141, 142, 143 and the external paper feed unit 130 and internal paper feed units 141, 142, 143 determined by the repetition application unit 12 on the display unit 40 in an identifiable manner.

[0064] Thereby, the user can easily confirm how the repetition is applied, improving the convenience for the user.

[0065] FIGS. 6 and 7 are an example of a tray selection screen S3 in another embodiment.

[0066] In the present embodiment, only matters different from the above-described one embodiment will be described.

[0067] On the tray selection screen S3 shown in FIG. 6, there are provided a paper feed table page number input field S3a, a tray 1 page number input field S3b, a tray 2 page number input field S3c, a tray 3 page number input field S3d, and a repeat setting checkbox S3e, which are the same as the paper feed table page number input field S2a, the tray 1 page number input field S2b, the tray 2 page number input field S2c, the tray 3 page number input field S2d, and the repeat setting checkbox S2e of the tray selection screen S2 shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C. Further, on the tray selection screen S3, there is further provided a repeat page number input field S3f at a location where "per page" is displayed.

[0068] This repeat page number input field S3f is for receiving the designation of the above-described page range (A which is the maximum value of the above-described page numbers). The repeat application unit 12 repeats and applies the cycle pattern to page numbers exceeding the page range as described above, using, as the cycle pattern, the repeat page number input in the repeat page number input field S3f and received by the selection acceptance unit 11, instead of the maximum page numbers input in the paper feed table page number input field S3a, the tray 1 page number input field S3b, the tray 2 page number input field S3c, and the tray 3 page number input field S3d. Also, the initial display value of the repeat page number input field S3f when the repeat setting checkbox S3e is checked may be a blank, or may be the maximum value of the values input in the input fields S3a, S3b, S3c, S3d.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 6, when only pages 1 to 6 are input in the paper feed table page number input field S3a, in the example of the tray selection screen S2 shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C, 6 pages automatically become the cycle pattern. However, it is also possible to input pages 7 and later in the repeat page number input field S3f. In this case, since no tray is selected for pages 7 and later, for the trays corresponding to pages 7 and later, the predetermined settings (default settings selected when printing is performed without specifying a tray) may be followed.

[0070] Also, as shown in FIG. 7, when only pages 1 to 6 are input in the paper feed tray page number input field S3a, and the number of pages input in the repeated page number input field S3f is not 6 or more (for example, when 5 pages or less (e.g., 5 pages) less than the page range selected for the tray or characters other than numbers are input, or when nothing is input), the display control unit 13 notifies the user by, for example, filling and displaying the repeated page number input field S3f, and then it is advisable to display "6-" indicating the inputtable pages (6 pages and later) in the minimum page number display section S3g. In addition, when the number of pages input in the repeated page number input field S3f is not equal to or more than the page range selected for the tray, the display control unit 13 may notify the user by displaying an error screen, or may forcibly display the inputtable pages in the repeated page number input field S3f.

[0071] In the other embodiments described above, regarding matters similar to those in the above-described one embodiment, the same effects can be obtained, that is, effects such as facilitating the selection of the medium supply unit for each page.

[0072] Also, in the present embodiment, the selection reception unit 11 accepts the specification of the repeated page number based on the input in the repeated page number input field S3f, for example, separately from the selection of the medium supply unit corresponding to the page number. The repetition application unit 12, when the number of pages in the page range accepted by the selection reception unit 11 is less than or equal to the input repeated page number, uses the page range up to the repeated page number including the page range accepted by the selection reception unit 11 as a periodic pattern, and repeatedly applies the periodic pattern to page numbers exceeding the repeated page number.

[0073] As a result, the user can select the medium supply unit in an arbitrary periodic pattern, improving the user's convenience.

[0074] In addition, when the number of input repeated page numbers is greater than the number of page numbers in the page range accepted by the selection acceptance unit 11, for pages exceeding the page range accepted by the selection acceptance unit 11, as shown in the above example, when printed without tray designation, the paper feeding means (tray) selected is selected as the paper feeding means (tray) for that page to constitute a periodic pattern.

[0075] Also, when the number of input repeated page numbers is smaller than the number of page numbers in the page range accepted by the selection acceptance unit 11, as shown in the above example, an error display or the like is performed to notify the user that an input mistake has occurred.

[0076] Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments as they are, and components can be modified and embodied without departing from the gist thereof at the implementation stage. Also, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the above-described embodiments. For example, all the components shown in the embodiments may be appropriately combined. Needless to say, various modifications and applications are possible within the scope not departing from the gist of the invention. Hereinafter, the invention described in the claims of the present application at the time of filing is appended.

[0077] [Appendix 1] A selection acceptance unit that accepts selection of a medium supply unit corresponding to a page number from among a plurality of medium supply units that supply media, A repetitive application unit that repetitively applies the page range of the page number received by the selection acceptance unit as a periodic pattern to page numbers exceeding the page range, and determines the medium supply unit corresponding to the page number exceeding the page range as the medium supply unit corresponding to the page number in the periodic pattern. An information processing apparatus characterized by comprising:

[0078] [Appendix 2] The selection acceptance unit accepts a repetition setting as to whether to repeatedly apply the periodic pattern to page numbers exceeding the page range. When the repetition setting is made, the repetition application unit repeatedly applies the periodic pattern to page numbers exceeding the page range, and when the repetition setting is not made, the repetition application unit does not repeatedly apply the periodic pattern to page numbers exceeding the page range. The information processing apparatus according to appended claim 1, characterized in that.

[0079] [Appended claim 3] The selection acceptance unit accepts, separately from the selection of the medium supply unit corresponding to the page number, a designation of the number of repeating pages. When the number of pages based on the periodic pattern is less than or equal to the number of repeating pages, the repetition application unit uses, as the periodic pattern, the page range up to the number of repeating pages including the page range of the page number accepted by the selection acceptance unit, and repeatedly applies the periodic pattern to page numbers exceeding the number of repeating pages. The information processing apparatus according to appended claim 1 or 2, characterized in that.

[0080] [Appended claim 4] The information processing apparatus further includes a display control unit that displays a selection screen of the medium supply unit on a display unit. The display control unit displays, on the display unit, the selected medium supply unit and the medium supply unit determined by the repetition application unit in a distinguishable manner. The information processing apparatus according to any one of appended claims 1 to 3, characterized in that.

[0081] [Appended claim 5] Accepts selection of a medium supply unit corresponding to a page number from among a plurality of medium supply units that supply a medium. Using the page range of the accepted page number as a periodic pattern, repeatedly applies the periodic pattern to page numbers exceeding the page range, and determines the medium supply unit corresponding to the page numbers exceeding the page range as the medium supply unit corresponding to the page number in the periodic pattern. An information processing method characterized by the following.

[0082] [Appendix 6] A function of receiving a selection of a medium supply unit corresponding to a page number from a plurality of medium supply units that supply media, Using the page range of the received page number as a periodic pattern, repeatedly applying the periodic pattern to page numbers exceeding the page range, and determining the medium supply unit corresponding to the page number exceeding the page range as the medium supply unit corresponding to the page number in the periodic pattern A program characterized by causing a computer to implement the above.

Explanation of symbols

[0083] 1 User terminal 10 Control unit 11 Selection reception unit 12 Repeated application unit 13 Display control unit 20 Storage unit 30 Input unit 40 Display unit 50 Interface 100 Printing system 101 Printing device 110 Printing unit 111 Inkjet head 111a Nozzle surface 111b Nozzle row 111c Plate 111d Boundary part 120 Adsorption conveyance unit 130 External paper feeding unit 131 Paper feed table 132 Scraper roller 133 Pickup roller 141, 142, 143 Internal paper feeding unit 141a, 142a, 143a Tray 141b, 142b, 143b Scraper roller 141c, 142c, 143c Pickup roller 151 - 155 Conveyor roller pair 156 Resist roller pair 161 Control unit 162 Memory unit 163 Operation panel unit 164 Scanner 165 Paper discharge unit 166 Interface Paper P S1 Printing settings screen S1a Tray selection section S1b Page - by - page setting checkbox S1c Detailed settings button S2, S3 Tray selection screen S2a, S3a Feeder page number input field S2b, S3b Tray 1 page number input field S2c, S3c Tray 2 page number input field S2d, S3d Tray 3 page number input field S2e, S3e Repeat setting checkbox S3f Repeat page number input field S3g Minimum page number display section

Claims

1. A selection receiving unit that receives a selection of a medium supply unit corresponding to each of a plurality of page numbers from among a plurality of medium supply units that supply media; A repetitive application unit that repetitively applies the page range of the plurality of page numbers received by the selection receiving unit as a periodic pattern to page numbers exceeding the page range, and determines the medium supply unit corresponding to the page numbers exceeding the page range as the medium supply unit corresponding to the page numbers in the periodic pattern. An information processing apparatus comprising the same.

2. The selection receiving unit receives a repetitive setting as to whether to repetitively apply the periodic pattern to page numbers exceeding the page range, When the repetitive setting is made, the repetitive application unit repetitively applies the periodic pattern to page numbers exceeding the page range, and when the repetitive setting is not made, the repetitive application unit does not repetitively apply the periodic pattern to page numbers exceeding the page range and determines the medium supply unit according to a predetermined setting. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that.

3. The selection receiving unit receives a designation of the number of repetitive pages separately from the selection of the medium supply unit corresponding to the page number, When the number of pages based on the periodic pattern is less than or equal to the number of repetitive pages, the repetitive application unit sets the page range up to the number of repetitive pages including the page range of the page numbers received by the selection receiving unit as the periodic pattern, and repetitively applies the periodic pattern to page numbers exceeding the number of repetitive pages. When the number of pages based on the periodic pattern is smaller than the number of repetitive pages, the medium supply unit is determined according to a predetermined setting for page numbers exceeding the number of pages based on the periodic pattern and up to the number of repetitive pages. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that.

4. It further includes a display control unit that displays a selection screen of the medium supply unit on the display unit. The display control unit displays on the display unit in a distinguishable manner the page number of the selected medium supply unit and the page number of the medium supply unit determined by the repetitive application unit. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that.

5. An information processing method performed by an information processing apparatus, receiving a selection of a medium supply unit corresponding to each of a plurality of page numbers from among a plurality of medium supply units that supply media, using the page range of the received plurality of page numbers as a periodic pattern, repeatedly applying the periodic pattern to page numbers exceeding the page range, and determining the medium supply unit corresponding to the page numbers exceeding the page range as the medium supply unit corresponding to the page numbers in the periodic pattern. An information processing method, characterized in that.

6. a function of receiving a selection of a medium supply unit corresponding to each of a plurality of page numbers from among a plurality of medium supply units that supply media, and a function of using the page range of the received plurality of page numbers as a periodic pattern, repeatedly applying the periodic pattern to page numbers exceeding the page range, and determining the medium supply unit corresponding to the page numbers exceeding the page range as the medium supply unit corresponding to the page numbers in the periodic pattern A program, characterized in that it is realized by a computer.

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