Information processing device and system

Abstract

[Problem] To provide an information processing device, an information processing program, and a system that make it possible to improve the ability of a user to select an appropriate printing device. [Solution] An information processing device (40) that transmits printing data is characterized by making it possible to acquire the status and printing capabilities of a printing device (30) that is registered to a printing management system (20) that manages printing from the printing device (30) itself and to display the status and printing capabilities of the printing device (30) before allowing a user to select the printing device (30) as a transmission destination for printing data.

Description

Information processing apparatus and system

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and a system for transmitting print data.

[0002] Conventionally, when registering a printing device in a print management system that manages printing, it is known to register the printing capability of the printing device at the time of registering the printing device in the print management system to the print management system (for example, see Patent Document 1). When a user selects a printing device to be used for printing from among the printing devices registered in the print management system, the information processing apparatus displays only the printing capabilities supported by the print management system among the printing capabilities of the printing devices registered in the print management system.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-170258

[0004] However, in the conventional technology, since the user cannot confirm the printing capability of the printing device at the time when the user selects the printing device, there is a problem that the user may not be able to select an appropriate printing device.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus and a system that can improve the possibility that a user can select an appropriate printing device.

[0006] The information processing apparatus of the present invention is an information processing apparatus that transmits print data, and is characterized in that it can acquire at least one piece of information on the status of a printing device registered in a print management system that manages printing and the printing capability from the printing device itself, and display the information before causing the user to select the printing device as a transmission destination of the print data.

[0007] With this configuration, the information processing device of the present invention can obtain at least one piece of information regarding the status and printing capabilities of a printing device registered in the print management system from the printing device itself, and display this information before allowing the user to select the printing device as the destination for sending print data. As a result, the user can confirm at least one piece of information regarding the status and printing capabilities of the printing device at the time of selecting the printing device, thereby improving the likelihood that the user can select an appropriate printing device.

[0008] The information processing device of the present invention may, when acquiring the printing capabilities supported by the print management system from the print management system and acquiring the printing capabilities of the printing device registered in the print management system from the printing device itself, display only the printing capabilities supported by the print management system among the printing capabilities acquired from the printing device.

[0009] The information processing device of the present invention may obtain communication information necessary for communicating with the printing device from the print management system, and may also obtain the information from the printing device using the communication information obtained from the print management system.

[0010] The information processing device of the present invention displays a screen for setting the destination, the screen includes an object for specifying whether the destination is the printing device or the print management system, and the information processing device obtains the information from the printing device when the object is in a state where the destination is specified as the printing device, and the object may be in a state where the destination is specified as the print management system when the display of the screen is started.

[0011] The present invention comprises an information processing device for transmitting print data, a printing device, and a print management system for managing printing, wherein the information processing device can obtain at least one piece of information from the printing device itself, such as the status of the printing device and its printing capabilities, which are registered in the print management system, and can display the information before allowing the user to select the printing device as the destination for the print data.

[0012] With this configuration, the system of the present invention allows the information processing device to acquire at least one piece of information regarding the status and printing capabilities of a printing device registered in the print management system from the printing device itself, and to display this information before the information processing device allows the user to select the printing device as the destination for sending print data. As a result, the user can confirm at least one piece of information regarding the status and printing capabilities of the printing device at the time of selecting the printing device, thereby improving the likelihood that the user can select an appropriate printing device.

[0013] The information processing apparatus and system of the present invention can improve the likelihood that users can select an appropriate printing device.

[0014] This is a block diagram of an example system according to one embodiment of the present invention. This is a block diagram of an example print management system shown in Figure 1 when it is configured with one computer. This is a diagram showing an example of user management information shown in Figure 2. This is a diagram showing an example of device management information shown in Figure 2. This is a diagram showing an example of support printing capability information shown in Figure 2. This is a diagram showing an example of print result history information shown in Figure 2. This is a block diagram of an example of a printing device shown in Figure 1 when it is configured with an MFP. This is a diagram showing an example of printing capability information shown in Figure 7. This is a diagram showing an example of device status information shown in Figure 7. This is a block diagram of an example of a print data transmission device shown in Figure 1 when it is configured with a PC. This is a block diagram of an example of a device registration device shown in Figure 1 when it is configured with a PC. This is a sequence diagram of the operation of the system shown in Figure 1 when a user logs in to the print management system via the device registration device. This is a sequence diagram of the operation of the system shown in Figure 1 when a printing device is registered in the print management system. This is a diagram showing an example of the device list page displayed in the operation shown in Figure 13. This is a flowchart of the operation of the print data transmission device shown in Figure 10 when a printer driver for the print management system is generated. This is a flowchart of the operation of the print data transmission device shown in Figure 10 when the destination for print data in print managed by the print management system is set. Figure 16 shows an example of the destination settings screen displayed during the operation shown in Figure 16. Figure 17 shows an example of the destination settings screen when the printing device information is displayed in the device list area. Figure 16 shows an example of the print capability screen displayed during the operation shown in Figure 16. Figure 10 is a flowchart of the operation of the print data transmission device when sending print data with the printer driver for the print management system selected. Figure 2 is a flowchart of the operation of the print management system when outputting a report.

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0016] First, the configuration of a system according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0017] Figure 1 is a block diagram of an example of the system 10 according to this embodiment.

[0018] As shown in Figure 1, system 10 includes a print management system 20 for managing printing. The print management system 20 may be composed of one computer, such as a PC (Personal Computer), or it may be composed of multiple computers. The print management system 20 may also be configured on the cloud.

[0019] System 10 includes a printing device 30 that performs printing. System 10 may also include printing devices other than the printing device 30. The printing device may be, for example, a dedicated printer or an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral).

[0020] System 10 includes a print data transmission device 40, which is an information processing device that transmits print data to a printing device. System 10 may also include other print data transmission devices besides the print data transmission device 40 that transmit print data to a printing device. The print data transmission device may be configured as, for example, a PC, tablet, or smartphone.

[0021] System 10 includes a device registration device 50 for registering printing devices with the print management system 20. System 10 may also include other device registration devices for registering printing devices with the print management system 20 besides the device registration device 50. The device registration device may be composed of, for example, a PC, tablet, or smartphone.

[0022] The print management system 20 and the printing devices in system 10 can communicate with each other via a network 11 such as the Internet. The print management system 20 and the print data transmission device in system 10 can communicate with each other via a network 11 such as the Internet. The print management system 20 and the device registration device in system 10 can communicate with each other via a network 11 such as the Internet. The printing devices in system 10 and the print data transmission device in system 10 can communicate with each other via a network 11 such as the Internet.

[0023] Figure 2 is a block diagram of an example of a print management system 20 configured with a single computer.

[0024] As shown in Figure 2, the print management system 20 includes an operation unit 21 which is an operation device such as a keyboard or mouse into which various operations are input; a display unit 22 which is a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) that displays various information; a communication unit 23 which is a communication device that communicates with external devices via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet, or directly via wired or wireless connection without going through a network; a storage unit 24 which is a non-volatile storage device such as a semiconductor memory or HDD (Hard Disk Drive) that stores various information; and a control unit 25 which controls the entire print management system 20.

[0025] The storage unit 24 can store a print management program 24a for managing printing. The print management program 24a may be installed in the print management system 20 during the manufacturing stage, or it may be additionally installed in the print management system 20 from an external storage medium such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, or it may be additionally installed in the print management system 20 from a network.

[0026] The memory unit 24 is capable of storing user management information 24b for managing users.

[0027] Figure 3 shows an example of user management information 24b.

[0028] As shown in Figure 3, the user management information 24b includes, for each user, a user ID as user identification information, a user password, and a user role. Roles include, for example, administrator and general user. The user management information 24b shown in Figure 3 is depicted with some information omitted.

[0029] As shown in Figure 2, the storage unit 24 is capable of storing device management information 24c for managing printing devices.

[0030] Figure 4 shows an example of device management information 24c.

[0031] As shown in Figure 4, the device management information 24c includes a device ID as identification information for the printing device, and an IP (Internet Protocol) address and hostname as communication information necessary for communicating with the printing device, for each printing device. The device ID may be, for example, the serial number of the printing device. The device management information 24c shown in Figure 4 is depicted with some information omitted.

[0032] As shown in Figure 2, the storage unit 24 can store support printing capability information 24d, which indicates the printing capability of the printing device (hereinafter referred to as "printing capability") that is supported by the printing management system 20.

[0033] Figure 5 shows an example of the support printing capability information 24d.

[0034] As shown in Figure 5, the printing capabilities indicated in the support printing capability information 24d include, for example, the printing color mode, the size of the recording medium, the printing surface mode, the staples used to bind the printed recording medium, the punches used to make holes in the printed recording medium, and blank page skipping, which prevents printing of blank pages in the print data. The printing color mode can be black and white printing or color printing. The printing surface mode can be single-sided printing or double-sided printing. Some information is omitted in the support printing capability information 24d shown in Figure 5.

[0035] As shown in Figure 2, the storage unit 24 is capable of storing print result history information 24e, which shows the history of print results (hereinafter referred to as "print results").

[0036] Figure 6 shows an example of print result history information 24e.

[0037] As shown in Figure 6, the print result history information 24e includes, for example, the date and time the print was performed, the device ID of the printing device used to perform the print, the color mode of the print, the size of the recording medium used in the print, the print surface mode of the print, whether or not stapling was performed in the print, whether or not punching was performed in the print, and whether or not blank page skipping was performed in the print. Some information is omitted in the print result history information 24e shown in Figure 6.

[0038] The control unit 25 shown in Figure 2 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores programs and various data, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) used as a working area for the CPU of the control unit 25. The CPU of the control unit 25 executes programs stored in the storage unit 24 or the ROM of the control unit 25.

[0039] The control unit 25 implements a print management unit 25a that manages printing by executing a print management program 24a.

[0040] Figure 7 is a block diagram of an example of a printing device 30 that is composed of an MFP.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 7, the printing device 30 is a computer comprising: an operation unit 31 which is an operation device such as a button for inputting various operations; a display unit 32 which is a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) for displaying various information; a printer 33 which is a printing device that prints an image on a recording medium such as paper; a scanner 34 which is a reading device that reads an image from a document; a communication unit 35 which is a communication device that communicates with an external device directly by wire or wirelessly via a network such as a LAN or the Internet or without a network; a facsimile communication unit 36 which is a facsimile device that performs facsimile communication with an unillustrated external facsimile apparatus via a communication line such as a public telephone line; a storage unit 37 which is a non-volatile storage device such as a semiconductor memory or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) for storing various types of information; and a control unit 38 that controls the entire printing device 30.

[0042] The storage unit 37 can store a print control program 37a for controlling printing. The print control program 37a may, for example, be installed in the printing device 30 at the manufacturing stage of the printing device 30, may additionally be installed to the printing device 30 from an external storage medium such as a USB memory, or may additionally be installed to the printing device 30 from a network.

[0043] The storage unit 37 can store printing capability information 37b indicating the printing capability of the printing device 30 itself.

[0044] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the printing capability information 37b.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 8, examples of the printing capabilities indicated in the printing capability information 37b include a printing color mode, a size of the recording medium, a printing surface mode, stapling for binding printed recording media, and blank page skipping that does not print blank pages in print data. Part of the information is omitted in the printing capability information 37b shown in FIG. 8.

[0046] In the printing capability information 37b shown in FIG. 8, only monochrome printing is indicated as a printing color mode. That is, for example, the printing device 30 is provided with a mechanism for performing color printing and is set to prohibit execution of color printing, or is not provided with a mechanism for performing color printing.

[0047] In the printing capability information 37b shown in FIG. 8, there is no item of punching for forming holes on a printed recording medium. That is, for example, the printing device 30 is provided with a mechanism for performing punching and is set to prohibit execution of punching, or is not provided with a mechanism for performing punching.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 7, the storage unit 37 can store device status information 37c indicating the status of the printing device 30 itself.

[0049] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the device status information 37c.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 9, the statuses indicated by the device status information 37c include, for example: a "general status" representing the general status of the printing device 30 itself; "C toner remaining amount" indicating the remaining amount of cyan toner set in the printing device 30 itself as a percentage; "M toner remaining amount" indicating the remaining amount of magenta toner set in the printing device 30 itself as a percentage; "Y toner remaining amount" indicating the remaining amount of yellow toner set in the printing device 30 itself as a percentage; "K toner remaining amount" indicating the remaining amount of black toner set in the printing device 30 itself as a percentage; and "set recording medium size" representing the size of the recording medium set in the printing device 30 itself. The "general status" indicated by the device status information 37c includes, for example: "Ready" indicating a state where printing can be performed; "Paper Empty" indicating a state where no error has occurred in the printing device itself but printing cannot be performed because no recording medium is set; and "Error" indicating a state where printing cannot be performed because some error has occurred in the printing device itself. In the device status information 37c shown in FIG. 9, part of the information is omitted.

[0051] The control unit 38 shown in Figure 7 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM that stores programs and various data, and RAM as memory used as a working area for the CPU of the control unit 38. The CPU of the control unit 38 executes programs stored in the storage unit 37 or the ROM of the control unit 38.

[0052] The control unit 38 implements a print control unit 38a that controls printing by executing the print control program 37a.

[0053] Figure 10 is a block diagram of an example of a print data transmission device 40 configured with a PC.

[0054] As shown in Figure 10, the print data transmission device 40 includes an operation unit 41 which is an operation device such as a keyboard or mouse into which various operations are input; a display unit 42 which is a display device such as an LCD that displays various information; a communication unit 43 which is a communication device that communicates with external devices via a network such as a LAN or the Internet, or directly via wired or wireless connection without going through a network; a storage unit 44 which is a non-volatile storage device such as a semiconductor memory or HDD that stores various information; and a control unit 45 that controls the entire print data transmission device 40.

[0055] The storage unit 44 can store the printer driver 44a. The storage unit 44 can also store printer drivers other than the printer driver 44a. For example, the printer driver may be installed on the print data transmission device 40 during the manufacturing stage, or it may be additionally installed on the print data transmission device 40 from an external storage medium such as a USB memory, or it may be additionally installed on the print data transmission device 40 from a network.

[0056] The storage unit 44 can store a destination setting program 44b, which is an information processing program for setting the destination of print data in printing managed by the print management system 20. The destination setting program 44b may be installed in the print data transmission device 40 during the manufacturing stage, or it may be additionally installed in the print data transmission device 40 from an external storage medium such as a USB memory, or it may be additionally installed in the print data transmission device 40 from a network.

[0057] The storage unit 44 can store system information 44c indicating the IP address and hostname of the print management system 20.

[0058] The storage unit 44 can store destination information 44d, which indicates the IP address and hostname of the destination for print data in print management managed by the print management system 20.

[0059] The control unit 45 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM that stores programs and various data, and RAM as memory used as a workspace for the CPU of the control unit 45. The CPU of the control unit 45 executes programs stored in the storage unit 44 or the ROM of the control unit 45.

[0060] The control unit 45 implements a print data transmission unit 45a that transmits print data by executing the printer driver 44a. Similarly, the control unit 45 implements a print data transmission unit for each printer driver by executing the printer driver.

[0061] The control unit 45 implements a destination setting unit 45b that sets the destination for print data in print managed by the print management system 20 by executing a destination setting program 44b.

[0062] Figure 11 is a block diagram of an example of a device registration device 50 configured with a PC.

[0063] As shown in Figure 11, the device registration device 50 includes an operation unit 51 which is an operation device such as a keyboard or mouse into which various operations are input; a display unit 52 which is a display device such as an LCD that displays various information; a communication unit 53 which is a communication device that communicates with external devices via a network such as a LAN or the Internet, or directly via wired or wireless connection without going through a network; a storage unit 54 which is a non-volatile storage device such as a semiconductor memory or HDD that stores various information; and a control unit 55 that controls the entire device registration device 50.

[0064] The storage unit 54 is capable of storing a web browser program (hereinafter referred to as the "web browser program") 54a. The web browser program 54a may, for example, be installed in the device registration device 50 during the manufacturing stage, or it may be additionally installed in the device registration device 50 from an external storage medium such as a USB memory, or it may be additionally installed in the device registration device 50 from a network.

[0065] The control unit 55 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM that stores programs and various data, and RAM as memory used as a workspace for the CPU of the control unit 55. The CPU of the control unit 55 executes programs stored in the storage unit 54 or the ROM of the control unit 55.

[0066] The control unit 55 implements a web browser 55a by executing a web browser program 54a.

[0067] Next, we will explain the operation of system 10.

[0068] First, we will explain the operation of the system 10 when a user logs in to the print management system 20 via the device registration device 50.

[0069] Figure 12 is a sequence diagram of the operation of system 10 when a user logs in to the print management system 20 via the device registration device 50.

[0070] Users can instruct the device registration device 50 via the operation unit 51 of the device registration device 50 to access the login web page (hereinafter referred to as the "login page") provided by the print management unit 25a of the print management system 20. When the web browser 55a of the device registration device 50 is instructed to access the login page provided by the print management unit 25a of the print management system 20, it accesses the login page provided by the print management unit 25a, as shown in Figure 12 (S101).

[0071] When the print management unit 25a of the print management system 20 receives an access request in S101, it sends the login page data to the web browser 55a (S102).

[0072] When the web browser 55a of the device registration device 50 receives the data transmitted in S102, it displays a login page on the display unit 52 of the device registration device 50 based on the received data (S103). The login page allows the user to enter their user ID and password, or to enter their user ID and password and then instruct the user to log in to the print management system 20.

[0073] When the web browser 55a is instructed to log in to the print management system 20 on the login page, it requests the print management system 20 to log in using the user ID and password combination that was entered on the login page at the time the user was instructed to log in to the print management system 20 (S104).

[0074] When the print management unit 25a of the print management system 20 receives the request in S104, it performs authentication of the user who is the target of the request in S104 (S105). Specifically, the print management unit 25a determines that user authentication was successful if the combination of user ID and password included in the request in S104 is included in the user management information 24b. On the other hand, the print management unit 25a determines that user authentication failed if the combination of user ID and password included in the request in S104 is not included in the user management information 24b.

[0075] If the print management unit 25a determines that the authentication performed in S105 failed, it notifies the device registration device 50 that login is not permitted (S106).

[0076] When the web browser 55a of the device registration device 50 receives the notification in S106, it displays a login denial on the display unit 52 (S107).

[0077] When the print management unit 25a of the print management system 20 determines that the authentication performed in S105 was successful, it notifies the device registration device 50 of permission to log in (S108).

[0078] When the web browser 55a of the device registration device 50 receives the notification in S108, it displays permission to log in on the display unit 52 (S109).

[0079] Next, we will explain the operation of system 10 when a printing device is registered in the print management system 20.

[0080] Figure 13 is a sequence diagram of the operation of system 10 when a printing device is registered in the print management system 20.

[0081] If the administrator is logged into the print management system 20 via the device registration device 50, they can instruct the device registration device 50 via the operation unit 51 of the device registration device 50 to access a web page (hereinafter referred to as the "device list page") that displays a list of printing devices registered in the print management system 20. When the web browser 55a of the device registration device 50 is instructed to access the device list page provided by the print management unit 25a of the print management system 20, it accesses the device list page provided by the print management unit 25a (S121).

[0082] When the print management unit 25a of the print management system 20 receives an access request in S121, it sends the data of the device list page generated based on the device management information 24c to the web browser 55a (S122).

[0083] When the web browser 55a of the device registration device 50 receives the data transmitted in S122, it displays the device list page 300 (see Figure 14) on the display unit 52 of the device registration device 50 based on the received data (S123).

[0084] Figure 14 shows an example of the device list page 300.

[0085] The device list page 300 shown in Figure 14 includes a device list area 301, which is an area that displays the device ID, IP address, and hostname included in the device management information 24c of the print management system 20 for each printing device, and a registration button 302, which is an object for registering a printing device with the print management system 20.

[0086] As shown in Figure 13, after the processing in S123 is completed, if the registration button 302 is pressed, the web browser 55a notifies the print management system 20 that the registration button 302 has been pressed (S124).

[0087] When the print management unit 25a of the print management system 20 receives the notification in S124, it sends data for a web page for registering a printing device (hereinafter referred to as the "device registration page") to the web browser 55a (S125).

[0088] When the web browser 55a of the device registration device 50 receives the data transmitted in S125, it displays a device registration page on the display unit 52 of the device registration device 50 based on the received data (S126). The device registration page allows the administrator to input the device ID, IP address, and hostname of the printing device, and also allows the administrator to instruct the registration of the printing device to the print management system 20 after the device ID, IP address, and hostname have been entered.

[0089] After the processing in S126 is completed, if the web browser 55a is instructed to register a printing device with the printing management system 20 on the device registration page, it requests the printing management system 20 to register the combination of device ID, IP address, and hostname that was entered on the device registration page at the time the instruction to register the printing device with the printing management system 20 was given (S127).

[0090] When the print management unit 25a of the print management system 20 receives the request in S127, it registers the combination of device ID, IP address, and hostname included in the request in S127 into the device management information 24c (S128). In other words, the print management unit 25a registers the printing device instructed by the administrator.

[0091] When the processing in S128 is completed, the print management unit 25a sends the data of the device list page generated based on the device management information 24c to the web browser 55a (S129).

[0092] When the web browser 55a of the device registration device 50 receives the data transmitted in S129, it displays the device list page 300 on the display unit 52 of the device registration device 50 based on the received data (S130).

[0093] Next, we will describe the operation of the print data transmission device 40 when a printer driver for the print management system 20 is generated.

[0094] Figure 15 is a flowchart showing the operation of the print data transmission device 40 when a printer driver for the print management system 20 is generated.

[0095] The provider of the print management system 20 provides a printing device. For example, a user can instruct the print data transmission device 40 via the operation unit 41 of the print data transmission device 40 to display the settings screen of the printer driver for the printing device provided by the provider of the print management system 20, which is among the printer drivers stored in the print data transmission device 40. When the control unit 45 of the print data transmission device 40 is instructed to display the settings screen of the printer driver, it displays the settings screen of the printer driver for which display has been instructed on the display unit 42, as shown in Figure 15 (S141).

[0096] The user can instruct the settings for the print management system 20 on the settings screen displayed in S141. After the processing in S141 is completed, the control unit 45 determines whether or not the settings for the print management system 20 have been instructed until it determines that the settings for the print management system 20 have been instructed (S142).

[0097] When the control unit 45 determines in S142 that it has been instructed to set a port for the print management system 20, it generates a printer driver with the port for the print management system 20 set, i.e., a printer driver for the print management system 20, on the storage unit 44 (S143), and then terminates the operation shown in Figure 15.

[0098] Next, we will explain the operation of the print data transmission device 40 when the destination for print data is set in print managed by the print management system 20.

[0099] Figure 16 is a flowchart showing the operation of the print data transmission device 40 when the destination for print data is set in print managed by the print management system 20.

[0100] The user can instruct the print data transmission device 40 via the operation unit 41 of the print data transmission device 40 to display a screen for setting the destination of print data in print managed by the print management system 20 (hereinafter referred to as the "destination setting screen"). When the destination setting unit 45b of the print data transmission device 40 is instructed to display the destination setting screen, it displays the destination setting screen 310 (see Figure 17) on the display unit 42, as shown in Figure 16 (S161).

[0101] Figure 17 shows an example of the destination setting screen 310.

[0102] As shown in Figure 17, the destination setting screen 310 includes a checkbox 311 as an object for specifying whether or not to enable direct print mode, which is a mode of operation for directly sending print data to a printing device; a device list area 312 as an area for displaying a list of printing devices for specifying the destination in direct print mode; an update button 313 as an object for updating the list displayed in the device list area 312; a cancel button 314 for canceling the setting of the destination of print data in printing managed by the print management system 20; and an OK button 315 for setting the destination of print data in printing managed by the print management system 20.

[0103] Checkbox 311 is unchecked when the destination setting screen 310 is displayed in S161.

[0104] The update button 313 is grayed out and cannot be operated when the checkbox 311 is unchecked. The update button 313 can be operated when the checkbox 311 is checked.

[0105] The OK button 315 is grayed out and cannot be operated when the checkbox 311 is checked and no printing device is selected in the device list area 312. The OK button 315 can be operated when the checkbox 311 is checked and a printing device is selected in the device list area 312. The OK button 315 can be operated when the checkbox 311 is not checked.

[0106] As shown in Figure 16, when the processing in S161 is completed, the destination setting unit 45b of the print data transmission device 40 determines whether or not there has been a change in the checkbox 311 from an unchecked state to a checked state (S162).

[0107] If the destination setting unit 45b determines in S162 that the checkbox 311 has changed from an unchecked state to a checked state, it requests the print management system 20 to provide the device ID, IP address, and hostname of all printing devices registered in the print management system 20, and the printing capabilities supported by the print management system 20, using the IP address and hostname shown in the system information 44c (S163). Upon receiving the request in S163, the print management unit 25a of the print management system 20 transmits the device ID, IP address, and hostname for each printing device, which are included in the device management information 24c, and the printing capabilities shown in the supported printing capability information 24d, to the print data transmission device 40.

[0108] When the processing in S163 is completed, the destination setting unit 45b of the print data transmission device 40 determines whether the device ID, IP address, and hostname for each printing device registered in the print management system 20, and the printing capabilities supported by the print management system 20 have been transmitted from the print management system 20 (S164).

[0109] When the destination setting unit 45b determines in S164 that the device ID, IP address, and hostname for each printing device registered in the print management system 20, and the printing capabilities supported by the print management system 20 have been transmitted from the print management system 20, it uses the IP address and hostname for each printing device transmitted from the print management system 20 to request the printing capabilities and status of each printing device (S165). Upon receiving the request in S165, the print control unit of the printing device transmits the printing capabilities indicated in the printing capability information of the printing device itself and the status indicated in the device status information of the printing device itself to the print data transmission device 40.

[0110] When the processing in S165 is completed, the destination setting unit 45b determines whether or not the results of communication with all printing devices that requested printing capability and status in S165 have been obtained, until it determines that the results of communication with all printing devices that requested printing capability and status in S165 have been obtained (S166). Here, the destination setting unit 45b determines that the communication with the printing device was successful if it receives the printing capability and status of the printing device from the printing device that requested printing capability and status in S165. Also, the destination setting unit 45b determines that the communication with the printing device was unsuccessful if it fails to connect with the printing device that requested printing capability and status in S165.

[0111] When the destination setting unit 45b determines in S166 that it has obtained the results of communication with all printing devices that requested printing capability and status in S165, it displays the host name and device ID of the printing device received from the print management system 20, and the status of the printing device itself received from the printing device that requested printing capability and status in S165, in the device list area 312 for each printing device (S167). Here, the destination setting unit 45b displays "Disconnected" as the "general status" of the printing device for which communication failure was obtained as a result of the communication, indicating that communication is impossible.

[0112] Figure 18 shows an example of the destination setting screen 310 when information about a printing device is displayed in the device list area 312.

[0113] In the destination setting screen 310 shown in Figure 18, the device list area 312 includes a detailed display button 312a for each printing device, which serves as an object for displaying the printing capabilities of the printing device.

[0114] The user can check the status of the printing device displayed in the device list area 312 and select a printing device in the device list area 312. The destination setting screen 310 shown in Figure 18 shows the state where the printing device with device ID "D00000002" is selected.

[0115] As shown in Figure 16, when the destination setting unit 45b executes the process in S167, it executes the process in S162.

[0116] If the destination setting unit 45b determines in S162 that there has been no change in the checkbox 311 from an unchecked state to a checked state, it determines whether or not the update button 313 has been pressed (S168).

[0117] If the destination setting unit 45b determines in S168 that the update button 313 has been pressed, it executes the process in S163.

[0118] If the destination setting unit 45b determines in S168 that the update button 313 has not been pressed, it determines whether or not the detail display button 312a has been pressed (S169).

[0119] When the destination setting unit 45b determines in S169 that the detailed display button 312a has been pressed, it identifies only the printing capabilities of the printing device targeted by the detailed display button 312a that are supported by the print management system 20, based on the printing capabilities of the printing device targeted by the detailed display button 312a and the printing capabilities supported by the print management system 20 (S170).

[0120] When the processing in S170 is completed, the destination setting unit 45b displays a print capability screen 320 (see, for example, Figure 19) as a pop-up window on the display unit 42, which shows the print capability identified in S170 (S171).

[0121] Figure 19 shows an example of the print capability screen 320.

[0122] As shown in Figure 19, the print capability screen 320 includes a print capability area 321 that shows the print capability identified in S170, and a close button 322 for closing the print capability screen 320. When the close button 322 is pressed, the destination setting unit 45b terminates the display of the print capability screen 320 by the display unit 42.

[0123] Users can check the printing capabilities of the printing device displayed in the printing capability area 321 of the printing capability screen 320 and select a printing device in the device list area 312 of the destination setting screen 310.

[0124] As shown in Figure 16, when the processing of S171 is completed, the destination setting unit 45b executes the processing of S162.

[0125] If the destination setting unit 45b determines in S169 that the detailed display button 312a has not been pressed, it determines whether or not there has been a change in the checkbox 311 from a checked state to an unchecked state (S172).

[0126] If the destination setting unit 45b determines in S172 that the checkbox 311 has changed from a checked state to an unchecked state, it terminates the display of the printing device in the device list area 312 (S173) and executes the process in S162.

[0127] If the destination setting unit 45b determines in S172 that there was no change in the checkbox 311 from a checked state to an unchecked state, it determines whether or not the cancel button 314 was pressed (S174).

[0128] When the destination setting unit 45b determines in S174 that the cancel button 314 has been pressed, it terminates the display of the destination setting screen 310 by the display unit 42 (S175) and ends the operation shown in Figure 16.

[0129] If the destination setting unit 45b determines in S174 that the cancel button 314 has not been pressed, it then determines whether or not the OK button 315 has been pressed (S176).

[0130] If the destination setting unit 45b determines in S176 that the OK button 315 has not been pressed, it executes the process in S162.

[0131] When the destination setting unit 45b determines in S176 that the OK button 315 has been pressed, it determines whether or not the checkbox 311 was checked at the time the OK button 315 was pressed (S177).

[0132] If the destination setting unit 45b determines in S177 that the checkbox 311 is checked when the OK button 315 is pressed, it overwrites the IP address and hostname of the printing device that was selected in the device list area 312 when the OK button 315 was pressed with the destination information 44d (S178), and then executes the process in S175.

[0133] If the destination setting unit 45b determines in S177 that the checkbox 311 is not checked when the OK button 315 is pressed, it overwrites the IP address and hostname shown in the system information 44c with the destination information 44d (S179) and executes the process in S175.

[0134] Next, we will describe the operation of the print data transmission device 40 when sending print data with the printer driver for the print management system 20 selected.

[0135] Figure 20 is a flowchart showing the operation of the print data transmission device 40 when sending print data with the printer driver for the print management system 20 selected.

[0136] When the printer driver for the print management system 20 is selected and the destination setting unit 45b of the print data transmission device 40 is instructed to send print data, it sends the print data to the destination identified by the IP address and hostname shown in the destination information 44d, as shown in Figure 20 (S181).

[0137] If the destination of the print data in S181 is the print management system 20, the print management system 20 stores the print data received in S181 in the storage unit 24. Therefore, the user can perform a so-called pull print, which involves retrieving the print data stored in the print management system 20 upon request from a printing device and printing it.

[0138] If the destination of the print data in S181 is a printing device, the printing device that is the destination of the print data in S181 performs printing using a printer based on the print data transmitted in S181 and sends the print result to the print data transmission device 40.

[0139] When the processing in S181 is completed, the destination setting unit 45b of the print data transmission device 40 determines whether the destination of the print data in S181 is the print management system 20 based on the IP address and hostname shown in the system information 44c (S182).

[0140] If the destination setting unit 45b determines in S182 that the destination for the print data in S181 is the print management system 20, it terminates the operation shown in Figure 20.

[0141] If the destination setting unit 45b determines in S182 that the destination of the print data in S181 is not the print management system 20, it will continue to determine whether or not a print result has been sent from the destination of the print data in S181 until it determines that a print result has been sent from the destination of the print data in S181 (S183).

[0142] When the destination setting unit 45b determines in S183 that a print result has been sent from the destination of the print data in S181, it sends the print result sent from the destination of the print data in S181 to the print management system 20 (S184). When the print management unit 25a of the print management system 20 receives the print result sent in S184, it stores the received print result in the print result history information 24e.

[0143] When the processing in S184 is completed, the destination setting unit 45b terminates the operation shown in Figure 20.

[0144] Next, we will explain how the print management system 20 operates when outputting a report.

[0145] Figure 21 is a flowchart showing the operation of the print management system 20 when outputting a report.

[0146] Users can log in to the print management system 20 via a computer (not shown) in addition to logging in via the device registration device 50. If a user is already logged in to the print management system 20 via a computer, they can request the print management system 20 to output a report via the computer. When the print management unit 25a of the print management system 20 receives a request for report output, it generates a report based on the print result history information 24e (S201). The print management unit 25a does not reflect in the report any print results related to printing capabilities that the print management system 20 does not support.

[0147] When the processing in S201 is completed, the print management unit 25a sends the report generated in S201 to the computer that requested the report output (S202), and then terminates the operation shown in Figure 21. Therefore, the computer displays the report that was sent in S202 on its own display unit.

[0148] As described above, the print data transmission device 40 can obtain the status of the print device registered in the print management system 20 from the print device itself (YES in S165 and S166), and display the status of this print device (S167) before allowing the user to select the print device as the destination for print data (S178). Therefore, the user can check the status of the print device at the time of selection, and as a result, the likelihood of the user selecting an appropriate print device can be improved.

[0149] The print data transmission device 40 can obtain the printing capabilities of a printing device registered in the print management system 20 from the printing device itself (YES in S165 and S166), and display the printing capabilities of this printing device (S171) before allowing the user to select the printing device as the destination for print data (S178). As a result, the user can confirm the printing capabilities of the printing device at the time of selection, thereby improving the likelihood that the user will be able to select an appropriate printing device. For example, even if a printing device registered in the print management system 20 has a new attachment, such as an attachment for stapling, attached to it after it has been registered in the print management system 20, the print data transmission device 40 can obtain the new printing capabilities realized by this attachment from the printing device itself. Similarly, even if a printing device registered in the print management system 20 has a new function added to it, such as a blank page skipping function, through a firmware update of the printing device itself after it has been registered in the print management system 20, the print data transmission device 40 can obtain the new printing capabilities realized by this function from the printing device itself.

[0150] When the print data transmission device 40 obtains the printing capabilities supported by the print management system 20 from the print management system 20 (YES in S163 and S164) and obtains the printing capabilities of the printing devices registered in the print management system 20 from the printing devices themselves (YES in S165 and S166), it displays only the printing capabilities supported by the print management system 20 from the printing capabilities obtained from the printing devices (S170 and S171), thereby improving convenience.

[0151] The print settings that can be set in the printer driver for the print management system 20 are the same as the print settings that can be set in the printer driver for the printing device from which this printer driver was generated. Therefore, in the printer driver for the print management system 20, it may be possible to set print settings that do not correspond to the printing capabilities of the printing device whose IP address and hostname are indicated in the destination information 44d. When a user selects the printer driver for the print management system 20 and instructs the user to send print data, if the user has set print settings in the printer driver for the print management system 20 that do not correspond to the printing capabilities of the printing device whose IP address and hostname are indicated in the destination information 44d, the printing device whose IP address and hostname are indicated in the destination information 44d may produce printouts that the user did not expect. However, since users can check the printing capabilities of a printing device whose IP address and hostname are shown in the destination information 44d using the printing capabilities screen 320, and then set print settings corresponding to the printing capabilities of this printing device in the printer driver for the print management system 20, or check the printing capabilities of a printing device using the printing capabilities screen 320 and then set a printing device with printing capabilities corresponding to the desired print settings as the destination for print data in the printer driver for the print management system 20, the possibility of unexpected printouts being generated by the printing device can be reduced.

[0152] The print data transmission device 40 obtains communication information necessary for communicating with the printing device from the print management system 20 (YES in S163 and S164), and uses the communication information obtained from the print management system 20 to obtain information from the printing device (YES in S165 and S166). Therefore, the print data transmission device 40 does not need to manage the latest communication information of the printing device, thus improving convenience.

[0153] The print data transmission device 40 acquires information from the print device (YES in S165 and S166) when the checkbox 311 on the destination setting screen 310 for setting the destination of print data is checked, meaning that the destination is specified as the print device. However, when the display of the destination setting screen 310 starts, the checkbox 311 is unchecked, meaning that the destination is specified as the print management system 20. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the acquisition of information from the print device when the destination is not the print device, and as a result, the communication load can be reduced.

[0154] In this embodiment, the printing device uses toner to perform printing, but it may also use ink to perform printing.

Claims

An information processing device for transmitting print data, An information processing device characterized by being able to obtain at least one piece of information from the printing device itself, such as the status of the printing device and the printing capability, which are registered in a print management system that manages printing, and to display the information before allowing the user to select the printing device as the destination for the print data. 　 The printing capabilities supported by the aforementioned printing management system are obtained from the aforementioned printing management system. The information processing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, when obtaining the printing capabilities of the printing device registered in the print management system from the printing device itself, it displays only the capabilities that the print management system supports among the printing capabilities obtained from the printing device. 　 The system obtains communication information necessary to communicate with the printing device from the print management system. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it acquires the information from the printing device using the communication information acquired from the print management system. 　 The screen for setting the recipient is displayed, The aforementioned screen includes an object for specifying whether the destination is the printing device or the print management system, The information processing device, when the object is in a state where the destination is specified as the printing device, obtains the information from the printing device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, at the time the display of the screen is started, the object is in a state in which the destination is specified as the print management system. 　 An information processing device for transmitting print data, Printing devices and, A print management system for managing prints and Equipped with, The information processing device is characterized in that it can obtain at least one piece of information from the printing device itself, which is registered in the print management system, regarding the status and printing capabilities of the printing device, and can display the information before allowing the user to select the printing device as the destination for the print data.

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