Information processing device, control method for information processing device, and program

Abstract

To facilitate printing using a hot folder HF.SOLUTION: A PC 2 that can communicate with a server device 3 includes: a PC memory 210 storing a first application 211; and a PC processor 200. The PC processor 200 functions as, by executing the first application 211: a registration unit 205 configured to register a printer 1; a generation unit 206 configured to automatically generate, for the printer 1 registered by the registration unit 205, a hot folder HF for storing a print job transmitted from the server device 3; and a notification unit 207 configured to notify the server device 3 of path information indicating a folder path of the hot folder HF generated by the generation unit 206.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, there are known technologies related to hot folders that can store print jobs. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an information processing device that makes it easy to create a hot folder by installing and setting up a printer driver by copying a hot folder template that includes folder attributes. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-287111 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The hot folder described in Patent Document 1 includes a hot folder that stores print jobs sent from a server device. However, in a configuration in which hot folders are manually created for each print setting, as in Patent Document 1, the greater the number of print settings, the more hot folders must be manually created in devices that communicate with the server device. Furthermore, in this configuration, the greater the number of print settings, the more hot folders the server device and devices that communicate with the server device must manage. Therefore, in a configuration in which hot folders are manually created for each print setting, it may not be easy to create and manage hot folders, which may make printing using hot folders difficult. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] One aspect of the invention that solves the above problem is an information processing device capable of communicating with a server device, comprising: a memory unit that stores a first program; and a processor, wherein the processor executes the first program to function as a registration unit that registers printing devices; a generation unit that automatically generates, for each of the printing devices registered by the registration unit, a hot folder that can store print jobs sent from the server device; and a notification unit that notifies the server device of path information indicating the folder path of the hot folder generated by the generation unit.

[0006] Another aspect of solving the above problem is a control method for an information processing device capable of communicating with a server device, which registers printing devices, automatically generates a hot folder for each registered printing device that can store print jobs sent from the server device, and notifies the server device of path information indicating the folder path of the generated hot folder.

[0007] Yet another aspect that solves the above problem is a program that causes a processor of an information processing device that can communicate with a server device to function as a registration unit that registers printing devices, a generation unit that automatically generates, for each of the printing devices registered by the registration unit, a hot folder that can store print jobs sent from the server device, and a notification unit that notifies the server device of path information indicating the folder path of the hot folder generated by the generation unit. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a printing system. [Figure 2] 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printing system. [Figure 3] 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printing system. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printing system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a printing system 1000. The printing system 1000 is a system capable of printing using a hot folder HF. The hot folder HF is a folder that stores print jobs to be processed by the printer 1. In this embodiment, a print job is image data of an image to be printed on a print medium.

[0010] The printing system 1000 includes a first printer 1A and a second printer 1B. In the following description, when the first printer 1A and second printer 1B are not distinguished, they will be referred to as "printers" and assigned the number "1." The printer 1 is connected to a local network LN. The local network LN is established, for example, at a printing company. The printer 1 is an example of a "printing device."

[0011] Printer 1 is a large-format printer that uses an inkjet system to eject ink onto a print medium, printing on a relatively large print medium. The print medium for a large-format printer can be, for example, high-quality paper, cast paper, art paper, coated paper, synthetic paper, film made of PET (Polyethylene terephthalante) or PP (Polypropylene), or fabric.

[0012] The printing system 1000 includes a PC (Personal Computer) 2. The PC 2 may be a desktop, tablet, laptop, or smartphone. The PC 2 is connected to a local network LN. The PC 2 communicates with a server device 3 via the local network LN and a global network GN. The global network GN is a network such as the Internet, a dedicated circuit, or a public circuit. PC2 is an example of an "information processing device."

[0013] The server device 3 executes arithmetic processing based on requests from clients via the global network GN. Although each server device 3 is represented by a single block in Fig. 1, this does not necessarily mean that the server device 3 is composed of a single server device. For example, the server device 3 may be composed of multiple server devices with different processing contents.

[0014] A terminal device 4 is connected to the global network GN. In FIG. 1, a laptop-type device is shown as an example of the terminal device 4, but the terminal device 4 may be a desktop device, a tablet device, or a smartphone. In response to a user's operation, the terminal device 4 transmits a print job stored in the terminal device 4 or a print job stored in an external device connected to the terminal device 4 to the server device 3.

[0015] The configurations of the printer 1, PC 2, and server device 3 will be described with reference to Figure 1. The first printer 1A and second printer 1B each have roughly the same configuration. Therefore, Figure 1 shows the configuration of the first printer 1A as a representative of the configuration of the printer 1, and does not show the configuration of the second printer 1B.

[0016] First, the configuration of the printer 1 will be described. The printer 1 includes a printer control unit 10, a printer communication unit 11, a printing unit 12, a heating unit 13, a printer display unit 14, and a printer input unit 15.

[0017] The printer control unit 10 includes a printer processor 100, which is a processor that executes programs such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and a printer memory 110, and controls each part of the printer 1. The printer processor 100 reads and executes a control program 111 stored in the printer memory 110, thereby functioning as a printer communication control unit 101 and a print control unit 102.

[0018] The printer memory 110 is a memory that stores the control program 111 executed by the printer processor 100, data processed by the printer processor 100, etc. The printer memory 110 has a non-volatile storage area. The printer memory 110 may also have a volatile storage area and constitute a work area for the printer processor 100.

[0019] The printer communication unit 11 includes communication hardware that complies with a specific communication standard, such as a communication circuit. The printer communication unit 11 communicates with the PC 2 via the local network LN under the control of the printer control unit 10.

[0020] The printing unit 12 includes a printing mechanism that prints an image on the print medium. The printing unit 12 includes an inkjet head that ejects ink and a transport mechanism that transports the print medium. The printing unit 12 may also include various sensors that detect the position and size of the print medium, a head scanning mechanism that scans the print head, and the like. The printing unit 12 prints on the print medium under the control of the printer control unit 10.

[0021] The heating unit 13 includes a heater for drying and fixing the ink on the print medium, and heats the print medium being transported along the transport path under the control of the printer control unit 10.

[0022] The printer display unit 14 is a display configured with LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) or OLEDs (Organic LEDs), and displays information in a predetermined format under the control of the printer control unit 10. The printer display unit 14 may also be an external device connected to the printer 1.

[0023] The printer input unit 15 is an input interface that connects to input means such as operation switches, a touch input panel, a mouse, or a keyboard provided on the printer 1, detects user input operations, and outputs the detection results to the printer control unit 10. Based on input from the printer input unit 15, the printer control unit 10 executes processing corresponding to the input operation.

[0024] As described above, the printer processor 100 functions as the printer communication control unit 101 and the print control unit 102.

[0025] The printer communication control unit 101 communicates with the PC2 connected to the local network LN via the printer communication unit 11. The printer communication control unit 101 receives a print job from the PC2.

[0026] The print control unit 102 controls the printing unit 12 and heating unit 13 to print on the print medium. The print control unit 102 converts the print job received by the printer communication control unit 101 into print data and performs printing based on the converted print data. The print data includes various control commands related to printing.

[0027] Next, the configuration of PC2 will be described. The PC 2 includes a PC control unit 20, a PC communication unit 21, a PC display unit 22, and a PC input unit 23.

[0028] PC control unit 20 includes PC processor 200, which is a processor that executes programs such as a CPU, and PC memory 210, and controls each unit of PC 2. PC processor 200 functions as transmission unit 201, reception unit 202, and storage unit 203 by reading and executing second application 212 stored in PC memory 210. PC processor 200 functions as transmission control unit 204, registration unit 205, generation unit 206, and notification unit 207 by reading and executing first application 211 stored in PC memory 210. The PC processor 200 is an example of a "processor." The PC memory 210 is an example of a "storage unit." The second application 212 is an example of a "second program." The first application 211 is an example of a "first program" and a "program."

[0029] The PC memory 210 is a memory. The PC memory 210 stores programs executed by the PC processor 200, data processed by the PC processor 200, a first application 211, a second application 212, a correspondence management database (DB) 213, a PC set management DB 214, and other information. When a hot folder HF is created, the PC memory 210 also stores the hot folder HF. In this embodiment, the PC memory 210 stores a first hot folder HF1 and a second hot folder HF2. The first hot folder HF1 is a hot folder HF that stores print jobs to be sent to the first printer 1A. The second hot folder HF2 is a hot folder HF that stores print jobs to be sent to the second printer 1B. The PC memory 210 has a non-volatile storage area. The PC memory 210 may also have a volatile storage area and constitute a work area for the PC processor 200.

[0030] The first application 211 is an application program related to printing by the printer 1. The second application 212 is an application program that acts as an intermediary between the first application 211 and the server device 3.

[0031] The correspondence management DB 213 is a database that manages the correspondence between the hot folders HF and the printer 1. The correspondence management DB 213 stores one record for each hot folder HF. In this embodiment, two records are stored, one for the first hot folder HF1 and one for the second hot folder HF2. Each record stored in the correspondence management DB 213 has path information indicating the folder path (FolderPath) of the hot folder HF and address information of the printer 1.

[0032] The PC set management DB 214 is a database that manages print setting sets. A print setting set refers to a combination of multiple print settings. For example, one print setting set refers to a combination of print settings that specify A4 paper as the print medium, print settings that specify double-sided printing, and print settings that specify color printing. The PC set management DB 214 stores information related to each print setting set as a single record. Each record stored in the PC set management DB 214 includes print setting set information that indicates the print setting set, set name information that indicates the name of the print setting set, and set identification information that is identification information for the print setting set.

[0033] The PC communication unit 21 includes communication hardware such as a communication circuit that complies with a predetermined communication standard. The PC communication unit 21 communicates with the printer 1 via the local network LN under the control of the PC control unit 20. The PC communication unit 21 communicates with the server device 3 via the local network LN and the global network GN.

[0034] The PC display unit 22 is a display configured with an LED, an OLED, or the like, and displays information under the control of the PC control unit 20. The PC display unit 22 may be an external device connected to the PC 2.

[0035] The PC input unit 23 is an input interface that connects to input means such as operation switches, a touch input panel, a mouse, and a keyboard provided on the PC 2, detects input operations by the user, and outputs the detection results to the PC control unit 20. Based on the input from the PC input unit 23, the PC control unit 20 executes processing corresponding to the input operation.

[0036] As described above, the PC processor 200 functions as a transmitting unit 201 , a receiving unit 202 , a storage unit 203 , a transmission control unit 204 , a registration unit 205 , a generating unit 206 , and a notifying unit 207 .

[0037] The transmitting unit 201 transmits information to the server device 3 via the PC communication unit 21. The transmitting unit 201 acquires information to be transmitted to the server device 3 from the notifying unit 207.

[0038] The receiving unit 202 receives information from the server device 3 via the PC communication unit 21. The receiving unit 202 of this embodiment receives print job related information from the server device 3. The print job related information includes a print job, path information, and a JDF (Job Definition Format) file. The JDF file describes set identification information.

[0039] The storage unit 203 stores the print job in the hot folder HF based on the print job related information received by the receiving unit 202. Specifically, the storage unit 203 stores the print job included in the print job related information received by the receiving unit 202 in the hot folder HF that corresponds to the folder path indicated by the path information included in the print job related information. The storage unit 203 associates the print job with set identification information described in the JDF file of the print job related information received by the receiving unit 202 and stores the print job in the hot folder HF.

[0040] The transmission control unit 204 communicates with the printer 1 via the PC communication unit 21. The transmission control unit 204 monitors the hot folder HF and determines whether a print job has been stored in the hot folder HF. When a print job is stored in the hot folder HF, the transmission control unit 204 acquires print setting set information associated with the set identification information associated with the stored print job from the PC set management DB 214. Next, the transmission control unit 204 acquires printer 1 address information associated with the path information of the hot folder HF in which the print job has been stored from the correspondence management DB 213. Next, the transmission control unit 204 transmits the acquired print setting set information and the stored print job to the printer 1 based on the acquired printer 1 address information.

[0041] The registration unit 205 registers the printer 1 with the PC 2. The registration unit 205 automatically registers the printer 1 at a predetermined timing. Here, the predetermined timing may be when the first application 211 is installed or when a new printer 1 is connected to the PC 2. The registration unit 205 registers the printer 1 by describing information about the printer 1 to be registered in the PC memory 210. The described information about the printer 1 may include, for example, the serial number of the printer 1 and the address information of the printer 1. The registration unit 205 communicates with the printer 1 connected to the local network LN via the PC communication unit 21, acquires the serial number of the printer 1, the address information of the printer 1, and the like, and registers the printer 1.

[0042] Registration unit 205 registers the print setting set in PC 2. Registration unit 205 displays a user interface for inputting the print setting set on PC display unit 22, and accepts input of the print setting set and input of the name of the print setting set via the user interface and PC input unit 23. Registration unit 205 registers the print setting set corresponding to the accepted input. Specifically, registration unit 205 generates set identification information, generates a record that associates the generated set identification information with print setting set information indicating the input print setting set and set name information indicating the name of the input print setting set, and stores the generated record in PC set management DB 214.

[0043] The registration unit 205 registers the hot folder HF generated by the generation unit 206 (described later) in the PC 2. Specifically, the registration unit 205 generates a record that associates the path information of the hot folder HF generated by the generation unit 206 with the address information of the printer 1 that corresponds to the hot folder HF generated by the generation unit 206. The registration unit 205 then stores the generated record in the correspondence management DB 213.

[0044] The generation unit 206 automatically generates hot folders HF. The generation unit 206 generates one hot folder HF for each printer 1 registered in the registration unit 205. The generated hot folders HF are stored in the PC memory 210. The generation unit 206 outputs path information for the generated hot folder HF and address information for the printer 1 corresponding to the generated hot folder HF to the registration unit 205. The generation unit 206 communicates with the printer 1 connected to the local network LN via the PC communication unit 21 to acquire the address information for the printer 1.

[0045] The notification unit 207 notifies the server device 3 of various pieces of information related to the hot folder HF. Specifically, the notification unit 207 passes the information to be notified to the transmission unit 201. The transmission unit 201 transmits the information output from the notification unit 207 to the server device 3. The information notified by the notification unit 207 will be described later.

[0046] Next, the configuration of the server device 3 will be described. The server device 3 includes a server control unit 30 and a server communication unit 31.

[0047] The server control unit 30 includes a server processor 300, which is a processor that executes programs such as a CPU, and a server memory 310, and controls each unit of the server device 3. The server processor 300 functions as a server communication control unit 301 and a server processing unit 302 by reading and executing a control program 311 stored in the server memory 310.

[0048] The server memory 310 is a memory. The server memory 310 stores a control program 311 executed by the server processor 300, data processed by the server processor 300, a path information management DB 312, a server set management DB 313, and the like. The server memory 310 has a non-volatile storage area. The server memory 310 may also have a volatile storage area and constitute a work area for the server processor 300.

[0049] The path information management DB 312 stores one record for each hot folder HF. Each record stored in the path information management DB 312 includes path information and name information of the printer 1. In the following description, the name information of the printer 1 will be referred to as "printer name information."

[0050] The server set management DB 313 stores one record for each print setting set registered in the PC 2. Each record stored in the server set management DB 313 includes set name information and set identification information.

[0051] The server communication unit 31 includes communication hardware that complies with a predetermined communication standard, such as a communication circuit, etc. The server communication unit 31 communicates with the PC 2 and the terminal device 4 via the global network GN under the control of the server control unit 30.

[0052] The server communication control unit 301 communicates with the PC 2 and the terminal device 4 via the server communication unit 31 .

[0053] The server processing unit 302 performs various processes related to the path information management DB 312 and the server set management DB 313 .

[0054] Next, the operation of the printing system 1000 will be described. First, the operation of the PC 2 related to the installation of the first application 211 will be described. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printing system 1000. In FIG. 2, a flowchart FA shows the operation of the PC 2, and a flowchart FB shows the operation of the server device 3.

[0055] The PC processor 200 installs the first application 211 (step SA1). Note that the PC processor 200 may acquire the first application 211 to be installed from a storage medium connected to the PC 2, or may download the first application 211 to be installed from a predetermined device connected to the global network GN.

[0056] After the first application 211 is installed in step SA1, the PC processor 200 functions as a transmission control unit 204, a registration unit 205, a generation unit 206, and a notification unit 207.

[0057] If the second application 212 is not installed before the installation in step SA1, the PC processor 200 installs the second application 212 before or after step SA1.

[0058] Once the first application 211 is installed, the registration unit 205 registers the printer 1 connected to the PC 2 (step SA2). For example, as shown in FIG. 1, if a first printer 1A and a second printer 1B are connected to the PC 2, the registration unit 205 registers each of the first printer 1A and the second printer 1B in step SA2.

[0059] Between steps SA1 and SA2, the PC processor 200 may perform user authentication of the user who uses the first application 211 using a function of the first application 211. In a configuration in which user authentication is performed, the PC processor 200 advances the process from step SA1 to step SA2 if the user authentication is successful.

[0060] When the printer 1 is registered, the registration unit 205 registers the print setting set (step SA3). If multiple print setting sets are set by input operations, the registration unit 205 registers each of the multiple print setting sets in step SA3.

[0061] When the registration unit 205 registers the print setting set, the PC processor 200 restarts the first application 211 (step SA4).

[0062] After restarting, the generation unit 206 generates a hot folder HF for each printer 1 registered in step SA2 (step SA5). For example, if the registration unit 205 registered the first printer 1A and the second printer 1B in step SA2, the generation unit 206 generates a first hot folder HF1 and a second hot folder HF2.

[0063] Next, the registration unit 205 registers the hot folder HF created in step SA5 (step SA6). If multiple hot folders HF are created in step SA5, the registration unit 205 registers each of the multiple hot folders HF.

[0064] Next, the notification unit 207 notifies the server device 3 of the set name information and set identification information for each print setting set registered in step SA3 (step SA7).

[0065] Next, for each hot folder HF registered in step SA6, the notification unit 207 notifies the server device 3 of the path information of the hot folder HF and the printer name information of the printer 1 corresponding to that hot folder HF (step SA8). Note that the printer name information may be the address information of the printer 1, the serial number of the printer 1, or the model number of the printer 1. The notification unit 207 acquires the printer name information from the printer 1 using a predetermined method.

[0066] As shown in the flowchart FB, the server communication control unit 301 of the server device 3 receives the set name information and the set identification information from the PC 2 (step SB1).

[0067] Next, the server processing unit 302 generates a record including the set name information and set identification information received by the server communication control unit 301, and stores the generated record in the server set management DB 313 (step SB2).

[0068] The server communication control unit 301 receives the path information and printer name information from PC2 (step SB3).

[0069] Next, the server processing unit 302 generates a record including the path information and printer name information received by the server communication control unit 301, and stores the generated record in the path information management DB 312 (step SB4).

[0070] As described above, in this embodiment, a hot folder HF is automatically generated by inputting information related to a print setting set, and the generated hot folder HF is automatically registered on the PC 2. In conventional hot folder HF settings, the operation of inputting a print setting set, the operation of creating a hot folder HF, and the operation of associating the created hot folder HF with the input print setting set were performed for each print setting set. As a result, conventionally, the time required to set up a hot folder HF could be long. However, in this embodiment, the only user operation performed to set up a hot folder HF is inputting information related to the print setting set. This simplifies the operation of setting up a hot folder HF, and reduces the time required to set up a hot folder HF.

[0071] Next, the operation of the printing system 1000 related to printing using the hot folder HF will be described. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printing system 1000. In FIG. 3, flowchart FC shows the operation of the terminal device 4, flowchart FD shows the operation of the server device 3, flowchart FE shows the operation of the PC 2, and flowchart FF shows the operation of the printer 1.

[0072] As shown in flowchart FC, the terminal device 4 receives a designation of the printer 1 and a designation of the print setting set from the user (step SC1).

[0073] In step SC1, the terminal device 4 displays a user interface for accepting the specification of the printer 1 and the specification of the print setting set. The terminal device 4 communicates with the server device 3 to obtain display data for displaying this user interface. When the server device 3 receives a request for display data from the terminal device 4, it generates display data for the user interface for accepting the specification of the printer 1 and the specification of the print setting set and sends it to the terminal device 4. This user interface displays the printer name information stored in the path information management DB 312, and also displays the set name information stored in the server set management DB 313. This user interface accepts the specification of the printer 1 when the name information of the printer 1 is selected, and accepts the specification of the print setting set when the set name information is selected.

[0074] The terminal device 4 transmits the print job to the server device 3 (step SC2). The print job transmitted in step SC2 is associated with the printer name information of the printer 1 specified in step SC1 and the set name information of the print setting set specified in step SC1.

[0075] As shown in the flowchart FD, the server communication control unit 301 of the server device 3 receives a print job, printer name information, and set name information from the terminal device 4 (step SD1).

[0076] Next, the server processing unit 302 obtains, from the path information management DB 312, path information associated with the printer name information associated with the print job received from the terminal device 4 (step SD2).

[0077] Next, the server processing unit 302 acquires, from the server set management DB 313, the set identification information associated with the set name information associated with the print job received from the terminal device 4 (step SD3).

[0078] Next, the server processing unit 302 generates print job related information including the path information acquired in step SD2, the JDF file containing the set identification number received in step SC1, and the print job received in step SD1 (step SD4).

[0079] Next, the server communication control unit 301 transmits the print job related information to the PC 2 (step SD5).

[0080] As shown in flowchart FE, the receiving unit 202 of the PC 2 receives print job related information from the server device 3 (step SE1).

[0081] Next, the storage unit 203 stores the print job included in the print job related information received in step SE1 in the hot folder HF (step SE2).

[0082] Next, the transmission control unit 204 transmits the print job and print setting set information stored in step SE2 to the printer 1 (step SE3).

[0083] As shown in flowchart FF, the printer communication control unit 101 of printer 1 receives print setting set information and a print job from PC 2 (step SF1).

[0084] Next, the print control unit 102 generates print data based on the print setting set information and print job received in step SF1 (step SF2). The print data generated in step SF2 is data for printing the print job received in step SF1 using the print setting set indicated by the print setting set information received in step SF1.

[0085] Next, the print control unit 102 performs printing based on the print data generated in step SF2 (step SF3).

[0086] Next, the operation of the printing system 1000 related to the synchronization of set identification information will be described. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printing system 1000. In FIG.

[0087] As shown in the flowchart FG, the notification unit 207 of the PC2 determines whether or not a trigger for synchronizing the set identification information has occurred (step SG1).

[0088] In this embodiment, the triggers for synchronizing the set identification information are a first trigger and a second trigger. The first trigger is when the registration unit 205 newly registers a print setting set. The second trigger is when the first application 211 is launched. The notification unit 207 monitors the PC set management DB 214, and determines that the first trigger has occurred when a new record is stored in the PC set management DB 214. Furthermore, when the first application 211 is launched, the notification unit 207 determines that the second trigger has occurred.

[0089] When the notification unit 207 determines that a trigger for synchronizing the set identification information has occurred (step SG1: YES), it notifies the server device 3 of all records in the PC set management DB 214. Alternatively, the notification unit 207 first notifies the server device 3 of only the set identification information, and then notifies the server device 3 of records associated with the set identification information that are not stored in the server set management DB 313 from the PC set management DB 214 (step SG2).

[0090] As shown in the flowchart FH, the server communication control unit 301 of the server device 3 receives the record from the PC 2 (step SH1).

[0091] Next, the server processing unit 302 updates the record stored in the server set management DB 313 to the record received by the server communication control unit 301 (step SH2).

[0092] As described above, when a synchronization trigger occurs, the set identification information is synchronized between PC 2 and server device 3. This allows server device 3 to designate a print setting set registered on PC 2 as the print setting set to apply to a print job. Furthermore, because the set identification information is synchronized between PC 2 and server device 3, it is possible to prevent an incident in which a user of terminal device 4 is unable to designate a print setting set that should be registered on PC 2. That is, in a configuration in which server device 3 sends a print job to PC 2, synchronizing the set identification information allows the print setting set registered on PC 2 to be applied to the print job. In particular, when applying a print setting set to a print job when first application 211 is launched for the first time on a newly used PC 2, the set identification information is synchronized between the existing PC 2 and server device 3, so it is possible to designate the set identification information and apply the print setting set synchronized with server device 3 to the print job. This reduces the effort required to create print setting sets each time even on a newly used PC 2.

[0093] As described above, the PC 2 can communicate with the server device 3. The PC 2 includes a PC memory 210 that stores a first application 211, and a PC processor 200. By executing the first application 211, the PC processor 200 functions as a registration unit 205 that registers the printer 1, a generation unit 206 that automatically generates, for each printer 1 registered by the registration unit 205, a hot folder HF that can store print jobs sent from the server device 3, and a notification unit 207 that notifies the server device 3 of path information that indicates the folder path of the hot folder HF generated by the generation unit 206.

[0094] According to this, a hot folder HF is automatically generated for each printer 1. Therefore, there is no need to manually generate a hot folder HF for each set of print settings that stores print jobs sent from the server device. Furthermore, compared to a configuration in which a hot folder HF is generated for each set of print settings, the number of hot folders HF can be reduced, and therefore the number of hot folders HF managed by the PC 2 and the server device 3 can be reduced. This simplifies the generation and management of hot folders HF, making it easier to print using hot folders HF.

[0095] The registration unit 205 registers a print setting set, which is a combination of a plurality of print settings, in the PC 2. The notification unit 207 notifies the server device 3 of the set identification information of the print setting set registered by the registration unit 205.

[0096] According to this, when a print job is sent from the server device 3, the server device 3 can specify the print setting set registered in the PC 2 as the print setting set to be applied to the print job.

[0097] When the registration unit 205 newly registers a print setting set, the notification unit 207 notifies the server device 3 of the set identification information of the newly registered print setting set.

[0098] This allows the set identification information to be notified to the server device 3 at an appropriate time, thereby preventing the server device 3 from being unable to specify a print setting set registered in the PC 2 as the print setting set to be applied to a print job.

[0099] The notification unit 207 notifies the server device 3 of the set identification information when the first application 211 is started.

[0100] This allows the set identification information to be notified to the server device 3 at an appropriate time, thereby preventing the server device 3 from being unable to specify a print setting set registered in the PC 2 as the print setting set to be applied to a print job.

[0101] The PC memory 210 stores a second application 212 that differs from the first application 211. The PC memory 210 stores print setting set information that indicates each print setting set registered in the registration unit 205. By executing the second application 212, the PC processor 200 functions as a receiving unit 202 that receives path information, a print job, and set identification information from the server device 3, and a storage unit 203 that associates the print job received by the receiving unit 202 with the set identification information received by the receiving unit 202 and stores the print job in a hot folder HF that corresponds to the folder path indicated by the path information received by the receiving unit 202. By executing the first application 211, the PC processor 200 further functions as a transmission control unit 204 that transmits the print setting set information of the print setting set indicated by the set identification information stored in the storage unit 203 and the print job stored in the storage unit 203 to the printer 1 that corresponds to the hot folder HF in which the storage unit 203 stored the print job.

[0102] This allows printing to be performed using different sets of print settings on a single printer 1, even in a configuration in which a hot folder HF is generated for each printer 1. This makes it easy to print using a hot folder HF.

[0103] The set identification information is written in the JDF file.

[0104] This allows for easy printing using a hot folder HF by utilizing a standard data format.

[0105] The generation unit 206 generates a hot folder HF when the first application 211 is first launched after the first application 211 is installed.

[0106] This allows the hot folder HF to be automatically generated when the computer is restarted after the first application 211 is installed.

[0107] The control method of the PC 2 capable of communicating with the server device 3 is to register the printer 1, automatically generate a hot folder HF for each registered printer 1 that can store print jobs sent from the server device 3, and notify the server device 3 of path information indicating the folder path of the generated hot folder HF.

[0108] This provides the same effect as that of PC2 described above.

[0109] The first application 211 causes the PC processor 200 of the PC 2 that can communicate with the server device 3 to function as a registration unit 205 that registers the printer 1, a generation unit 206 that automatically generates a hot folder HF that can store print jobs sent from the server device 3 for each printer 1 registered by the registration unit 205, and a notification unit 207 that notifies the server device 3 of path information indicating the folder path of the hot folder HF generated by the generation unit 206.

[0110] This provides the same effect as that of PC2 described above.

[0111] The above-described embodiment merely shows a specific example of application of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, and can be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0112] In the above-described embodiment, an example configuration was shown in which two printers 1 are connected to the PC 2. However, the number of printers 1 connected to the PC 2 may be one or three or more. In this configuration, the number of hot folders HF created in the PC memory 210 corresponds to the number of printers 1 connected to the PC 2.

[0113] In the above-described embodiment, a large format printer was used as an example of a printing device, but the printing device may also be a multifunction device having various functions such as printing and scanning functions, a textile printing machine, or a device that prints on paper such as A4 or A3.

[0114] In the above-described embodiment, the PC 2 is exemplified as an information processing device, but the information processing device is not limited to the PC 2. The information processing device may be any device that can communicate with the server device 3.

[0115] The printer processor 100, PC processor 200, and server processor 300 may be configured with a single processor or multiple processors. The printer processor 100, PC processor 200, and server processor 300 may be hardware programmed to implement the corresponding functional units. In other words, the printer processor 100, PC processor 200, and server processor 300 may be configured with, for example, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

[0116] The printer 1, PC 2, and server device 3 shown in FIG. 1 are merely examples, and the specific implementation form is not particularly limited. In other words, it is not necessary to implement hardware corresponding to each unit individually; it is of course possible to configure the functions of each unit to be realized by a single processor executing a program. Furthermore, some of the functions realized by software in the above-described embodiment may be implemented as hardware, or some of the functions realized by hardware may be implemented as software. In addition, the specific detailed configurations of the other units of the printer 1, PC 2, and server device 3 may also be changed as desired.

[0117] The operation step units shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4 are divided according to the main processing content to facilitate understanding of the operation of each part of the printing system 1000, and the method of dividing the processing units or their names does not limit the present invention. The processing may be divided into more step units depending on the processing content. Furthermore, one step unit may be divided so that it includes more processing. Furthermore, the order of the steps may be changed as appropriate within the scope that does not impede the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0118] 1...printer (printing device), 1A...first printer (printing device), 1B...second printer (printing device), 2...PC (information processing device), 3...server device, 4...terminal device, 10...printer control unit, 11...printer communication unit, 12...printing unit, 13...heating unit, 14...printer display unit, 15...printer input unit, 20...PC control unit, 21...PC communication unit, 22...PC display unit, 23...PC input unit, 30...server control unit, 31...server communication unit, 100...printer processor, 101...printer communication control unit, 102...printing control unit, 110...printer memory, 111...control program, 200...PC processor (processor), 201...transmitting unit, 202...receiving unit, 203 ...storage unit, 204...transmission control unit, 205...registration unit, 206...generation unit, 207...notification unit, 210...PC memory (storage unit), 211...first application (first program, program), 212...second application (second program), 213...correspondence management DB, 214...PC set management DB, 300...server processor, 301...server communication control unit, 302...server processing unit, 310...server memory, 311...control program, 312...path information management DB, 313...server set management DB, 1000...printing system, GN...global network, HF...hot folder, HF1...first hot folder, HF2...second hot folder, LN...local network.

Claims

1. An information processing device capable of communicating with a server device, a storage unit that stores a first program and a second program that is different from the first program; a processor; The processor executes the first program, a registration unit for registering a printing device; a generating unit that automatically generates a hot folder capable of storing a print job transmitted from the server device for each of the printing devices registered by the registration unit; a notification unit that notifies the server device of path information that indicates a folder path of the hot folder generated by the generation unit; the registration unit registers a print setting set, which is a combination of a plurality of print settings, in the information processing device; the notification unit notifies the server device of identification information of the print setting set registered by the registration unit; the storage unit stores print setting set information indicating the print setting set for each of the print setting sets registered in the registration unit; The processor executes the second program, a receiving unit that receives the path information, the print job, and the identification information of the print setting set from the server device; a storage unit that stores the print job received by the receiving unit and identification information of the print setting set received by the receiving unit in the hot folder corresponding to the folder path indicated by the path information received by the receiving unit; The processor executes the first program, and further functions as a transmission control unit that transmits the print setting set information of the print setting set indicated by the identification information of the print setting set stored in the storage unit and the print job stored in the storage unit to the printing device corresponding to the hot folder in which the storage unit has stored the print job. Information processing device.

2. the notification unit notifies the server device of identification information of the print setting set when the registration unit newly registers the print setting set. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. the notification unit notifies the server device of identification information of the print setting set when the first program is started.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The identification information is described in a JDF (Job Definition Dorma) file. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

5. the generation unit generates the hot folder when the first program is first launched after the first program is installed. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

6. A method for controlling an information processing device capable of communicating with a server device, comprising: Register the printing device, automatically generating a hot folder for each registered printing device that can store print jobs sent from the server device; notifying the server device of path information indicating a folder path of the generated hot folder; A print setting set, which is a combination of a plurality of print settings, is registered in the information processing device; notifying the server device of identification information of the registered print setting set; storing print setting set information indicating the print setting set for each of the registered print setting sets; receiving the path information, the print job, and identification information of the print setting set from the server device; storing the received print job and the identification information of the received print setting set in the hot folder corresponding to the folder path indicated by the received path information; transmitting the print setting set information of the print setting set indicated by the identification information of the stored print setting set and the stored print job to the printing device corresponding to the hot folder that stored the print job; A method for controlling an information processing device.

7. A processor of an information processing device that can communicate with a server device, a registration unit for registering a printing device; a generating unit that automatically generates a hot folder capable of storing a print job transmitted from the server device for each of the printing devices registered by the registration unit; a notification unit that notifies the server device of path information that indicates a folder path of the hot folder generated by the generation unit; Functioning as a transmission control unit, the registration unit registers a print setting set, which is a combination of a plurality of print settings, in the information processing device; the notification unit notifies the server device of identification information of the print setting set registered by the registration unit; a storage unit of the information processing device stores print setting set information indicating the print setting set for each of the print setting sets registered in the registration unit; The transmission control unit When the print job received by the information processing device from the server device and the identification information of the print setting set received by the information processing device from the server device are stored in the hot folder corresponding to the folder path indicated by the path information received by the information processing device from the server device, transmitting the print setting set information of the print setting set indicated by the identification information of the stored print setting set and the stored print job to the printing device corresponding to the hot folder in which the print job is stored; program.

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