JP2001243031A - Printing controller and its controlling method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing controller for storing and displaying print setting for a printing device as history information, and for re-using the desired print setting from the history information and a method for controlling the printing controller. SOLUTION: In a host computer 3000, plural print setting for a printer 1500 is stored in an RAM 2 as history information, and when printing is performed by the printer 1500, the history information stored in the RAM 2 is displayed at a CRT 10. Then, a user is allowed to select the desired history information as the print setting based on the displayed history information, and the printing device 1500 is allowed to perform printing according to the selected printing setting.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a print control apparatus for making print settings for a printing apparatus and a control method therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the demands of users for printing apparatuses have been diversified, and their print settings have become more complicated.
Therefore, a function is provided for naming and saving various print settings. This function is provided, for example, on a screen for performing print setting as “favorite”, and enables the user to reuse the print setting by calling a list stored in “favorite” from the screen.

[0003]

However, the function in the above-described conventional example requires a work of naming and saving print settings, and it is desired to reuse past print settings that were not intended to be reused. However, there is a drawback in that the user must rely only on the memory and reset the print settings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem. By storing and displaying print settings for a printing apparatus as history information, a desired print setting can be reused from the history information. An object of the present invention is to provide a print control device and a control method therefor.

Another object of the present invention is to improve user convenience by generating and displaying new print settings from history information.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a print control apparatus according to the present invention comprises a storage means for storing a plurality of print settings for a printing apparatus as history information, and a history stored by the storage means. Display means for displaying information; selection means for selecting desired history information as print settings from the history information displayed by the display means; and control means for controlling the printing apparatus in accordance with the print settings selected by the selection means. And characterized in that:

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling a print control apparatus, comprising: storing a plurality of print settings for a printing apparatus as history information; and storing the history information stored in the storage step. A display step of displaying, a selection step of selecting desired history information as print settings from the history information displayed by the display step, and a control step of controlling the printing apparatus according to the print settings selected by the selection step. It is characterized by having.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer control system according to the present embodiment. As shown, the printer control system includes a host computer 30.
00 and a printer 1500.

Incidentally, if the functions of the present invention are realized, even if it is a single device or a system including a plurality of devices, connection is made via a network such as LAN or WAN, and processing is performed. The present invention can be applied to a system in which is performed.

A host computer 3000 shown in FIG.
Is a program ROM in the ROM 3 or an external memory (H
D, FD) 11 based on a document processing program or the like stored in the document processing program 11 and the like, and a CPU 1 for executing document processing in which graphics, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets and the like) are mixed, and is connected to the system bus 4. The CPU 1 generally controls each device. A program ROM in the ROM 3
The external memory 11 stores an operating system (hereinafter referred to as “OS”) which is a control program of the CPU 1, and a font ROM in the ROM 3 and the external memory 11.
Stores font data and the like used in document processing, and the data ROM in the ROM 3 and the external memory 11 store various data used in document processing and the like. The RAM 2 functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like for the CPU 1.

In the host computer 3000, reference numeral 5 denotes a keyboard controller (KBC), which controls key input from a keyboard 9 or a pointing device (not shown). 6 is a CRT controller (CRT
C) to control the display on the CRT display (CRT) 10. Reference numeral 7 denotes a disk controller (DKC), which stores a boot program, various applications, font data, a user file, an edit file, a printer control command generation program (hereinafter, “printer driver”), a hard disk (HD), a floppy disk ( The access to the external memory 11 such as FD) is controlled. Reference numeral 8 denotes a printer controller (PRTC), which is a bidirectional interface (interface) 2
1 to perform communication control processing with the printer 1500 connected thereto.

The CPU 1 executes, for example, a process of rasterizing an outline font into a display information area set on the RAM 2, and outputs the W on the CRT 10.
YSIWYG is possible. Further, the CPU 1
Various registered windows are opened based on a command specified by a mouse cursor or the like (not shown) on the RT 10,
Perform various data processing. Thus, when printing is performed, the user can open a window related to print settings and set a printer and a print processing method for a printer driver including selection of a print mode.

On the other hand, in the printer 1500, reference numeral 12 denotes a printer CPU.
The system bus 1 is controlled based on a control program or the like stored in the OM or a control program or the like stored in the external memory 14.
An image signal as output information is output to a printing unit (printer engine) 17 connected to the printer unit 5. This ROM 1
3 stores a control program of the CPU 12 and the like, a font ROM in the ROM 13 stores font data and the like used when generating output information, and a data ROM in the ROM 13 stores In the case of a printer having no external memory 14 such as a hard disk, information used on the host computer is stored.

The CPU 12 can communicate with the host computer 3000 via the input unit 18 and can notify the host computer 3000 of information in the printer 1500 and the like. The RAM 19 stores the CPU 12
RAM which functions as a main memory or a work area of the R, and is connected to an optional port (not shown).
The memory capacity can be expanded by the AM.

The RAM 19 is used for an output information development area, an environment data storage area, an NVRAM, and the like. Access to the external memory 14 such as a hard disk (HD) and an IC card is controlled by a memory controller (MC) 20. The external memory 14 is connected as an option and stores font data, an emulation program, form data, and the like. Operation panel 1
Reference numeral 501 denotes a switch for operation and an LED display.

The number of the external memory 14 is not limited to one, but a plurality of the external memories can be connected. In addition to the built-in fonts, an optional card and a plurality of external memories storing a program for interpreting a printer control language of a different language can be connected. It may be configured as follows. Furthermore, an NVRAM (not shown) may be provided to store printer mode setting information from the operation panel 1501.

Next, a description will be given of a typical printing process executed by a host computer to which a printing apparatus such as a printer is directly connected or connected via a network.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a printing process executed in the host computer 3000. An application 201, a graphic engine 202, a printer driver 203, and a system spooler 204 in FIG.
It is a program module that exists as a file stored in the external memory 11 and is loaded into the RAM 2 and executed by a module that uses the OS or its module at the time of execution. Further, the application 201 and the printer driver 203 can be added to the FD of the external memory 11, a CD-ROM (not shown), or the HD of the external disk 11 via a network (not shown).

First, the application 201 stored in the external memory 11 is loaded into the RAM 2 and executed. From this application 201 to the printer 150
When an instruction to perform printing on 0 is given by the keyboard 9 or a mouse (not shown), output (drawing) is performed using the graphic engine 202 which is similarly loaded into the RAM 2 and becomes executable.

Here, the graphic engine 202 similarly loads the printer driver 203 prepared for each printing apparatus from the external memory 11 to the RAM 2, and sets the output of the application 201 to the printer driver 203. And G received from the application 201
Based on DI (Graphic Device Interface) function, DDI (D
evice Driver Interface) and outputs a DDI function to the printer driver 203.

Thus, the printer driver 203 converts the command into a control command recognizable by the printer 1500, for example, PDL (Page Description Language) based on the DDI function received from the graphic engine 202.
The converted printer control command is passed to the system spooler 204 loaded in the RAM 2 by the OS, and output as print data to the printer 1500 via the interface 21.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a memory map of the RAM 2 on the host computer 3000. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the printing program 302
5 is a memory map in a state where the memory map is loaded into the RAM 2 and becomes executable. Here, the print program 302 in the present embodiment includes a print setting program described later. The related data 301 includes print history data (not shown).
The data is stored in the external memory 11 from the AM 2.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a setting screen in the print program 32, which is grouped for each sheet according to the contents of the print settings. Also, on each sheet, 40
A control object capable of selecting a set value for each print setting as represented by 1 is arranged, and is displayed so that the current set value can be recognized. If further detailed settings are required for the set values, all print settings are made by displaying a separate screen (not shown) using a button control represented by 402 or the like.

Further, the user can press the "OK" button 403 to apply the print settings to the immediately succeeding print. Furthermore,
The “cancel” button 404 discards the setting process. An “Apply” button 405 causes the print program 302 to change the current print settings to the application 201.
Is used as the initial value when loaded into the RAM 2.
A “help” button 406 is a button for calling a help file for explaining the function of the print program 302. A “return to default” button 407 is a button for returning the initial values of the print settings to the settings immediately after installation.

Here, the "favorite" function in this embodiment will be described. Reference numeral 408 denotes a control for displaying the name of the print setting group stored in the favorite item. This control is displayed in common for all sheets, and print settings are stored by naming and saving print settings for all sheets.
When the “add” button 409 is pressed, a screen such as that shown in FIG. 12, for example, is displayed, and the result of changing the current print settings can be additionally registered. Further, when the “edit” button 410 is pressed, a screen such as that shown in FIG. 13 may be displayed, and the currently registered favorite setting may be overwritten with the current print setting change result.

As described above, in the present embodiment,
As with the "favorite" function, the purpose of storing and displaying the history of past print settings without storing the name is to reuse complicated print settings.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a "history display" button for displaying a history of print settings in this embodiment. The “history display” button 501 is provided in, for example, a print setting screen as shown in FIG. 4, and when pressed, displays a history display screen as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 6, corresponding setting values, such as 602, are displayed below the setting item name sub-item, such as 601. Also, sub-item 601
Is also in the form of a button, and when the button is pressed, the values of the respective items are sorted in order of increasing or decreasing frequency. In this case, the sorting is performed line by line, and each print setting group is not changed.

Reference numeral 603 denotes an "OK" button for closing the display screen, and reference numeral 604 denotes "Delete" for deleting the selected print setting highlighted in the figure from the history.
Button. Reference numeral 605 denotes a “delete all” button for deleting all print histories. Reference numeral 606 denotes a “display in print order” button for displaying in order of printing time from the sort display by pressing the sub-item 601. That is, the print time is internally stored in the history data. Reference numeral 607 denotes a “setting generation” button for calculating, for example, the printing setting most frequently used in the past based on the history data, and providing the user with a new initial value.
Incidentally, the flow of the processing by pressing this button will be described later.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a “display item setting” button for selecting an item to be displayed in the sub-item shown in FIG. 6 from the print setting history according to the present embodiment.
The “display item setting” button 701 is provided in, for example, a print setting screen as shown in FIG. 4, and when pressed, displays a history display item selection screen as shown in FIG.

As shown at 801 in FIG. 8, print items arranged on each sheet in FIG. 4 are displayed, and a check box indicating whether or not to display each item is provided at the head of each item. The state of the check box immediately after the display corresponds to the current display item of the sub-item in FIG. Reference numeral 802 denotes an “OK” button for updating the selection state of the display item by pressing the check box 801, and reference numeral 803 denotes a “Cancel” button for discarding a change in the selection state. Although not shown, a button for returning to the settings immediately after installation may be provided.

FIG. 9 is an example of a print setting generation screen based on the history displayed when the “generate setting” button 607 in FIG. 6 is pressed. Here, an example is assumed in which the frequency is calculated for the items of the history data, and the most used combination of print settings is displayed as a plurality of candidates. In addition, the user can select one from a plurality of candidates, and the user can apply the immediately following print setting by pressing an “apply” button 901 or do not apply the specified candidate by using an “cancel” button 902 as a print setting. It is. Further, a “favorite registration” button 903 allows registration to “favorite” like 408 in FIG. Note that if a candidate that is considered appropriate cannot be generated by predetermined internal processing, a message display as shown in FIG. 10 is displayed.

Here, on the print setting screen shown in FIG. 4, the history of the print setting is stored, and the "history display" shown in FIG.
An operation flow of reusing complicated print settings by pressing the button 501 to display a history display screen as shown in FIG. 6 will be described.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of the print setting operation in this embodiment. First, in step S1101, a print setting screen as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed, and an event from the user is waited. Thereafter, when an event is input, the input event is checked in steps S1102 to S1106.

If it is determined in step S1102 that the input event is the "OK" button 403, the process proceeds to step S1.
The process proceeds to step 107, where the settings changed on the print setting screen are stored as print settings, and the process exits. In step S1103, if the input event is the “cancel” button 404, the process proceeds to step S1108,
Discard the changed settings and exit this process.

If it is determined in step S1104 that the input event is the "apply" button 405, the process proceeds to step S1104.
Go to step 109, and change the changed settings to the next print program 3
02 is newly stored in the RAM 2 by the application 201.
Stored as the initial value when loaded inside. And
Returning to step S1101, the above processing is repeated. If it is determined in step S1105 that the input event is the “return to standard” button 407, the process proceeds to step S11.
10. Go to the RAM 2 by the application 201
Reset the value immediately after installation as the initial value when loaded during. Then, the process returns to step S1101,
The above processing is repeated.

If the input event is the "history display" button 501 in step S1106, the flow advances to step S1111 to display a history display screen as shown in FIG. The operation flow from the history display screen will be described later with reference to FIG. Then, step S110
Returning to step 1, the above processing is repeated. If none of the buttons described above, the flow advances to step S1112 to perform a normal print setting process. Then, the process returns to step S1101, and the above processing is repeated.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the flow of operation from the history display screen. First, step S1401
, Wait for an event from the user on the history display screen as shown in FIG. Thereafter, when an event is input, the input event is checked in steps S1402 to S1407.

If it is determined in step S1402 that the input event is the "OK" button 603, the process proceeds to step S1.
The process proceeds to 408, where the current print setting is changed to the print setting selected from the history display screen, and the display returns to the print setting screen. Also,
If it is determined in step S1403 that the input event is the “delete” button 604, the process advances to step S1409 to delete the selected print setting history item from the history data. Then, the process returns to step S1401, and the above processing is repeated.

In step S1404, if the input event is a "delete all" button 605, the flow advances to step S1410 to delete all the history data. Then, the process returns to step S1401, and the above processing is repeated. In step SI405, if the input event is the "display in print order" button 606, the flow advances to step S1411 to sort and display the print setting history items in chronological order. Then, the process returns to step S1401, and the above processing is repeated.

If it is determined in step S1406 that the input event is the "generate setting" button 607, the flow advances to step S1412 to generate a new print setting from the history data. As a result, a setting generation screen as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed. indicate. The operation flow from the setting generation screen will be described later with reference to FIG. Then, step S140
Returning to step 1, the above processing is repeated. Step S1
In 412, if the input event is a “sub-item” button, the flow advances to step S1413 to sort and display the history data in descending order of selection frequency for the corresponding sub-item. Then, the process returns to step S1401, and the above processing is repeated.

If none of the buttons described above, the flow advances to step S1414 to perform other normal processing.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the flow of operation from the setting generation screen. First, step S1501
, Waits for an event from the user on the setting generation screen as shown in FIG. Thereafter, when an event is input, in steps S1502 to S1504, the input event is checked.

In step S1502, if the input event is an "apply" button 901, step S1
The process proceeds to step 505, where the selected item among the generated print settings is reflected in the print settings, and the process exits. If it is determined in step S1503 that the input event is the "cancel" button 902, the process advances to step S1506 to ignore the input from the setting generation screen and exit from this processing.

In step S1504, if the input event is a "favorite registration" button 903, the flow advances to step S1507 to perform favorite addition processing.
Then, the process returns to step S1501, and the above processing is repeated. If none of the buttons described above, the flow advances to step S1508 to perform other normal processing. And
Returning to step S1501, the above processing is repeated.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in a print program, past print settings are stored and displayed as history information, thereby saving the trouble of resetting complicated print settings and inputting names. Work can be omitted, and past print settings can be reused.

Further, by generating and displaying a new print setting from the history information, it is possible to provide the user with a highly convenient print setting. Then, by displaying the generated print settings, it is possible to provide the user with highly convenient print settings.

Further, by displaying the print settings stored as the history information and enabling the displayed history information to be deleted, the resetting work can be facilitated.

Further, by storing the time-series data, it is possible to provide the user with convenient print settings.

The present invention can be applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), and can be applied to a single device (for example, a copier, a facsimile). Device).

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (CPU or MP)
It goes without saying that U) can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

[0057]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By storing and displaying print settings for the printing apparatus as history information, it is possible to reuse desired print settings from the history information, thereby improving user convenience.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer control system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a printing process executed in a host computer 3000.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a memory map of a RAM 2 on a host computer 3000.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen in a print program 32.

FIG. 5 is an example of a “history display” button for displaying a history of print settings in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting history screen according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an example of a “display item setting” button for selecting an item to be displayed as a sub-item shown in FIG. 6 from a print setting history according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a history display item selection screen according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an example of a print setting generation screen based on a history in the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a message when print generation is impossible.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a print setting operation according to the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting addition screen for a “favorite” function.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting change screen of a “favorite” function.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a flow of an operation from a history display screen.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of an operation from a setting generation screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CPU 2 RAM 3 ROM 4 System bus 12 CPU 13 ROM 19 RAM 1500 Printer 3000 Host computer

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Satoshi Nishikawa 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Yasuo Mori 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon F term in the company (reference) 2C061 HJ07 HN15 5B021 AA01 NN19 PP08

Claims (11)

[Claims] A storage unit configured to store a plurality of print settings for a printing apparatus as history information; a display unit configured to display the history information stored by the storage unit; A print control apparatus comprising: a selection unit that selects history information as a print setting; and a control unit that controls the printing apparatus in accordance with the print setting selected by the selection unit. 2. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a deletion unit that deletes at least one of the pieces of history information displayed by the display unit. 3. The print control device according to claim 1, further comprising a generation unit that generates a new print setting based on the history information displayed by the display unit. 4. The print control apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising displaying the print settings generated by said generation means. 5. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage unit stores time-series data added to said plurality of print settings. 6. A storage step of storing a plurality of print settings for a printing apparatus as history information, a display step of displaying the history information stored in the storage step, and a desired information from the history information displayed in the display step. A control method for a print control device, comprising: a selection step of selecting history information as a print setting; and a control step of controlling the printing apparatus according to the print setting selected in the selection step. 7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising a deleting step of deleting at least one of the pieces of history information displayed in the displaying step. 8. The control method according to claim 6, further comprising a generation step of generating a new print setting based on the history information displayed in the display step. 9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising displaying the print settings generated in the generation step. 10. The control method according to claim 6, wherein in the storing step, time-series data is added to the plurality of print settings and stored. 11. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program code of a control method of a print control device, wherein the code is for a storage step of storing a plurality of print settings for a printing device as history information; A code of a display step of displaying the history information, a code of a selection step of selecting desired history information from the displayed history information as print settings, and a control step of controlling the printing apparatus according to the selected print settings. And a storage medium comprising: