JP2008243140A - Printing support system and printing support program - Google Patents

Abstract

Inconsistency between a display relating to a printing method included in content data and an actual printing method is prevented.
A print support system includes a content data acquisition unit that acquires content data, an ecology mark database that stores association information between an ecology mark and a printing method, and content data based on the ecology database. An ecology mark discriminating unit 103 for discriminating an ecology mark to be printed, and a print job definition data generating unit 104 for generating print job definition data for realizing a printing method corresponding to the ecology mark.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a print support system that supports printing using print job definition data, and a print support program.

In recent years, the environmental impact of printed materials has been taken into consideration, and printed materials that have been subjected to environmental measures are often displayed indicating the contents of the environmental measures in an attempt to improve the image of the issuing company. As a technique for printing such a display on a printed matter, techniques shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are shown. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for selecting and printing an appropriate display corresponding to a product characteristic when a user inputs or selects the characteristic of the product. Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for determining whether or not the printing paper can be recycled as recycled paper by estimating the amount of toner used in the printing paper, and printing a specific display according to the determination result. Has been.

By the way, in recent years, the technology of on-demand printing has progressed, and an occasion where an on-demand printing machine is used for printing a small number of copies such as “reprinting” when a printed matter is insufficient is increasing. In on-demand printing, for example, PostScript (trademark of Adobe Systems)
Page Description Language (PDL: Page Description Language)
) Etc., based on the print data. In general, when printing print data in a page description language, information about a print job is displayed as print job definition data (DPA: Document).
ent Printing Application, JDF: Job Definit
ion format) and the like, and a printing control method based on this is known.
JP 2005-169897 A JP 2006-267642 A

However, since an on-demand printing machine employs a printing method different from general printing (offset printing or gravure printing) such as an electrophotographic method or an ink jet method, a printing medium and a recording agent to be used are limited. For this reason, for example, when there is content data that uses soy oil ink as an offset printing in consideration of the environment and has a notation to that effect (for example, “use soy oil ink”), the content data is There is a problem in that when using an on-demand printing machine, “use soybean oil ink” is displayed even though soybean oil ink is not used. Creating and distributing such printed material is not only a false representation, but also a downgrading of the image of the printer or publisher, and is handled by an incorrect recycling method (for example, paper reuse) due to an incorrect representation. In extreme cases, it may cause damage by misrepresentation.

On the other hand, the techniques shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2 both print an appropriate recycle mark by an operator's input or the like, and when the recycle mark is already included in the content data, I couldn't avoid the problem.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a print support system and a print support program that can execute appropriate printing in accordance with designation of a printing method.

[Mode 1] In view of the above problems, a printing support system according to mode 1
Content data acquisition means for acquiring content data;
A printing method display determination database storing information for identifying a display relating to a printing method;
A printing method display determining means for determining a display relating to a printing method included in the content data based on the printing method display determining database;
Print job definition data generation means for generating print job definition data for performing print settings based on the determination result by the print method display determination means;
It is provided with.

If comprised in this way, content data will be acquired by the content data acquisition means, the display regarding the printing method contained in the content data will be determined by the printing method display determination means, and the print job definition data generation means based on the determination result, Print job definition data is generated. As a result, if the content data includes a display related to the printing method,
Appropriate print settings can be made corresponding to the display, and even when content data is printed in different printing environments such as on-demand printing, the consistency between the actual printing method and the display of printed matter can be maintained. it can.

[Mode 2] Furthermore, the printing support system according to mode 2 is the same as that in mode 1.
The print job definition data generation unit generates print job definition data for realizing the print method for the display determined by the print method display determination unit.
According to this configuration, the print job definition data generating means generates print job definition data for realizing the printing method shown in the display. Therefore, by using this print job definition data, printing using the printing method shown in the display is executed, and the consistency between the display related to the printing method displayed on the printed matter and the actual printing method can be maintained. .

[Mode 3] Furthermore, the printing support system according to mode 3 is the same as in mode 2.
In place of generating print job definition data for realizing the printing method for the display by the print job definition data generating means, content data correcting means for correcting a display relating to the printing method included in the content data is provided. It is characterized by that.
With this configuration, for example, when the printing method for display cannot be realized, the content data correcting unit corrects the display related to the printing method included in the content data. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the misrepresentation.
Note that the correction of the display relating to the printing method includes deletion.

[Mode 4] Furthermore, the printing support system according to mode 4 is the same as that in mode 3.
The print job definition data generation means generates print job definition data for realizing an alternative print method instead of generating print job definition data for realizing the print method for the display,
The content data correction means includes content data correction means for correcting a display relating to a printing method included in the content data in accordance with the alternative printing method.

With this configuration, when a printing method for display cannot be realized, print job definition data for realizing an alternative printing method is generated by the print job definition data generation unit, and content is generated accordingly. The display relating to the printing method is corrected by the data correction means. Therefore, not only the misrepresentation can be prevented, but also a more preferable alternative printing method can be applied.

[Mode 5] Furthermore, the printing support system according to mode 5 is the system according to any one of modes 1 to 4,
The printing method display determination database stores information on print job definition data corresponding to the display relating to the printing method,
The print job definition data generation unit generates the print job definition data based on the print method display determination database.
According to this configuration, the print job definition data generation unit acquires the print job definition data corresponding to the display relating to the printing method determined by the printing method display determination unit based on the printing method display determination database, and displays it on the display. Corresponding print job definition data is generated.

Note that the printing method display determination database does not need to be configured in one device and can be distributed to a plurality of devices as long as the correspondence between the printing method display and the print job definition data can be acquired. It may be configured. Similarly, the information for identifying the display relating to the printing method used by the printing method display determination unit and the information of the print job definition data corresponding to the display relating to the printing method do not need to be stored in one apparatus. The data may be distributed and stored in a plurality of devices.

[Mode 6] Furthermore, the printing support system according to mode 6 is the same as in mode 5,
The printing method display determination database stores information for identifying a display relating to the printing method as a determination rule in an if-then format in which a condition clause is used and a print job definition data corresponding to the display is a result clause. It is characterized by.
According to this configuration, the print job definition data generation unit can generate print job definition data corresponding to the display according to the determination rule stored in the print method display determination database.

[Mode 7] Furthermore, the printing support system according to mode 7 is any one of modes 1 to 6,
The display relating to the printing method is an ecology-related display.
With this configuration, even when the display relating to the printing method is the ecology-related display and the environmentally-friendly printing method is displayed, the display is discriminated and an appropriate printing is performed by the print job definition data generation unit. Job definition data can be generated and an appropriate printing method can be executed.

[Mode 8] Further, the printing support program according to mode 8
A content data acquisition step of acquiring content data;
A printing method display determination step for determining a display relating to a printing method included in the content data based on a printing method display determination database storing information for identifying a display relating to the printing method;
A print job definition data generation step for generating print job definition data for performing print settings based on the determination result of the print method display determination step;
And a program for causing a computer to execute the process.
With this configuration, when the program is read by the computer and the computer executes processing according to the read program, the same operations and effects as those of the printing support system according to mode 1 can be obtained.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 shows functional blocks of a printing support system 100A according to the first embodiment.
The printing support system 100A in FIG. 1 is configured as a partial function of the host terminal 100 described later. Then, the printing support system 100A is based on the content data acquisition unit 101 that acquires content data, the ecology mark database 102 that stores information for identifying ecology marks, and the information stored in the ecology mark database 102. An ecology mark determination unit 103 that determines an ecology mark included in the content data acquired by the content data acquisition unit 101. Furthermore, the print support system 100A includes a print job definition data generation unit 104 that generates print job definition data for performing print settings based on the determination result by the ecology mark determination unit 103.

A hardware configuration of the host terminal 100 shown in FIG. 2 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, the host terminal 100 includes a CPU 30 that controls operations and the entire system based on a control program, a ROM 32 that stores a control program for the CPU 30 in a predetermined area, and data read from the ROM 32 and the like. And a RAM 34 for storing calculation results required in the calculation process of the CPU 30 and an I / F 38 for mediating input / output of data to / from an external device, which are signals for transferring data The buses 39 are connected to each other so as to be able to exchange data.
The I / F 38 includes, as external devices, an input device 40 such as a keyboard and a mouse that can input data as a human interface, a storage device 42 that stores data, tables, and the like as files, and a screen based on image signals. And a signal line for connecting to the network 199 are connected.

FIG. 3 shows an example of content data.
As content data, data that partially displays an ecology mark E as shown in FIG. 3 is input. The data format is, for example, a page description language data format (PDF format, Pos
tScript format, etc.), data format of application software such as Microsoft Word, image data format such as bitmap, TIFF, JPEG, etc. are not particularly limited.

FIG. 15 shows examples of ecology marks.
In this embodiment, the ecology mark is intended to include a display relating to a content data printing method. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, an ecology mark indicating that printing has been performed using environmentally friendly ink such as soybean oil ink, or that printing has been performed on environmentally friendly printing media such as recycled paper is displayed. Applicable ecology mark.

FIG. 4 shows an example of print job definition data.
The print job definition data is data used for print processing as described above. In the present embodiment, setting of a printing method is included, and thereby printing processing using the printing method can be executed. Examples of the setting of the printing method include setting of the type of printing medium, the double-sided printing method, and the type of ink. In the print job definition data shown in FIG. 4, a tag set of a start tag and an end tag is nested between a predetermined start tag (for example, <print setting>) and an end tag (for example, </ print setting>). Describes the printing method. The print job definition data is, for example, XML (eXtensible Markup L
language) and the like.
Note that the print job definition data is a concept that includes both print job definition data that describes the specifications of a desired print product as a final product by print processing and print job setting data that describes settings related to the printing apparatus.

FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of the ecology mark database.
The ecology mark database stores information for identifying the ecology mark, and stores the ecology mark and the setting content for realizing the printing method displayed by the ecology mark in association with each other. In addition, in the example of FIG.
Information of “content type” is also attached, and when the ecology mark discrimination process is performed, the ecology mark corresponding to the content data type can be selected and the discrimination process can be performed.

Next, the operation of the printing support system 100A will be specifically described along the flowchart shown in FIG. The operation of the print support system 100A is realized by executing a program constituting a part of the print support program on the host terminal 100.
First, in step S101, the content data acquisition unit 101 acquires content data. Next, in step S102, an object is extracted from the content data. The object is a group of data of the same kind including character data, image data, and the like, and is extracted by an arbitrary method. For example, in the case of character data, the entire character data included in the content data may be extracted as a single object. 1 as a column
A group of character data in a single area may be extracted as one object.

Next, in step S103, the ecology mark determination unit 103 performs step S1.
The object extracted in 02 and the ecology mark stored in the ecology mark database 102 are collated. Specifically, for example, when the object is composed of character data, the ecology mark stored in the ecology mark database 102 shown in FIG. 5 is selected with the “content type” being “text”, and the ecology mark is selected. It is determined whether or not the mark is included in the object. If the object is image data, for example, feature extraction is performed on the object, and the ecology mark database 1 is extracted.
Compare with the ecology mark feature data stored in 02.

If an ecology mark that matches the object is found as a result of the collation in step S103 (step S104: yes), the process proceeds to step S105. Step S10
5, the setting contents of the printing method corresponding to the ecology mark are acquired from the ecology mark database 102 and stored, and the process proceeds to step S106. On the other hand, when an ecology mark that matches the object is not found (step S104: no), the process proceeds to step S105 without executing the process of step S105.

In step S106, it is determined whether all objects extracted in step S102 have been collated. If there are unmatched objects (step S106: no), the process returns to step S103, and until all objects have been collated. Step S10
The process from 3 to S106 is repeated. When collation is completed (step S106: yes), the process proceeds to step S107, and print job definition data including the settings stored in step S105 is generated.

In the above-described printing support system 100A, for example, when the content data shown in FIG. 3 is input, “catalog”, “company name” and “recycled 100% recycled paper” are used from the character data in the continuous area. "Is extracted as an object, and each object is checked against an ecology mark. As a result, “recycle 100” shown in FIG.
Matching with an ecology mark made up of character data of “% recycled paper” is determined, and print job definition data as shown in FIG. 4 is generated based on the setting contents of the corresponding printing method.

In this way, the print support system 100A generates print job definition data including setting of an appropriate printing method according to the ecology mark included in the content data.
Printing that matches the display by the ecology mark can be executed. For this reason, when performing on-demand printing based on the content data, it is possible to prevent false display and to widely ensure execution of printing in consideration of the environment.

In the above embodiment, the content data acquisition unit 101 corresponds to the content data acquisition unit of form 1, the ecology mark determination unit 103 corresponds to the printing method display determination unit of forms 1 and 2, and the ecology mark database 102 forms. The print job definition data generation unit 104 corresponds to a print job definition data generation unit according to the first embodiment. Further, the processing by the content data acquisition unit 101 corresponds to the content data acquisition step of form 8, the processing by the ecology mark determination unit 103 corresponds to the printing method display determination step of forms 8 and 9, and the print job definition data generation unit 104. This processing corresponds to the print job definition data generation step of form 8.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 7 shows functional blocks of the print support system 100B of the second embodiment. The first
The description of the same configuration as the embodiment will be omitted, and only different parts will be described.
The print support system 100B of FIG. 7 includes a content data correction unit 105 that corrects content data in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment. In addition, the ecology mark determination unit 103 ′ holds device capability information of the printing apparatus to which the host terminal 100 is connected, and based on this, can the printing method displayed on the ecology mark be implemented by the printing apparatus? If the content data correction unit 105 cannot delete the ecology mark, the content data correction unit 105 has a function of deleting the ecology mark.

FIG. 8 shows an operation flow of the printing support system 100B.
The processing from step S101 to S104 is the same as in the first embodiment. Step S1
If a suitable ecology mark is searched in 04 (step S104: yes), the process proceeds to step S105A, and it is determined whether a printing method to be displayed on the ecology mark is feasible. As a result of the determination, when it is determined that it cannot be realized by the printing apparatus (step S105A: n
In o), the process proceeds to step S105B, where the content data correction unit 105 corrects the content data acquired in step S101, and deletes the portion corresponding to the ecology mark in the content data. On the other hand, when it is determined that it is feasible (step S105A)
: Yes) acquires and stores the setting contents for realizing the printing method to be displayed on the ecology mark from the ecology mark database 102 in step S105C.
After completing the above steps S103 to S105C for all objects, the first
Print job definition data including the stored settings is generated as in the embodiment (step S10).
7).

Assume that content data as shown in FIG. 9 is input to the print support system 100B as described above. In this case, character strings of “catalog”, “company name”, and “uses soybean oil ink” and image data are extracted as objects. And
As a result of collation with the ecology mark database 102, it is determined that the two objects are the ecology marks E-1 and E-2 that display the use of soybean oil ink. Therefore, when the soybean oil ink can be used in the printing apparatus, print job definition data including the setting of soybean oil ink is generated. On the other hand, when soybean oil ink cannot be used in the printing apparatus, the content data does not include the ecology marks E-1 and E-2. As described above, when the ecology mark is included in the content data and the printing method for displaying the ecology mark cannot be realized, the content data can be corrected to prevent the misrepresentation.
In the above embodiment, the content data correction unit 105 corresponds to a content data correction unit of form 3, and the processing by the content data correction unit 105 corresponds to a content data correction step of form 10.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a printing support system according to the third embodiment will be described. The print support system of the third embodiment is substantially the same as the print support system 100B of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 7, but the content of information stored in the ecology mark database 102 and the processing by the ecology mark determination unit 103 ′. The contents are slightly different.

FIG. 10 shows a configuration example of the ecology database of the third embodiment.
The ecology database in FIG. 10 defines settings and alternative notations for realizing an alternative printing method in addition to settings for realizing a printing method for displaying an ecology mark as information corresponding to the ecology mark. The alternative printing method is a printing method that substitutes the printing method for displaying the ecology mark, and is different from the printing method for displaying the ecology mark. However, in the present embodiment, a printing method in consideration of the environment is similarly adopted. The alternative notation is a mark corresponding to the alternative printing method, and is used instead of the ecology mark included in the content data when the alternative printing method is executed.

FIG. 11 shows an operation flow of the printing support system of the third embodiment.
The flow of FIG. 11 is substantially the same as the process shown in FIG. 8 of the second embodiment, and step S of FIG.
The only difference is that the processes of steps S105D to S105F are performed instead of the process of 105B. Specifically, when a suitable ecology mark is searched and it is determined that the printing method displayed by the ecology mark is not feasible (step S105A: no), the process proceeds to step S105D. If it is feasible (step S105A: yes)
Stores the setting for realizing the printing method to be displayed on the ecology mark as in step S105C of FIG. 8 (step S105G).

In step S105D, it is determined whether an alternative printing method corresponding to the ecology mark can be realized. As a result, when an alternative printing method is feasible (step S105D: yes
) Stores the settings for realizing the alternative printing method stipulated in the ecology mark database, and changes the ecology mark included in the content data to alternative notation (
Step S105E) and the process proceeds to Step S106. On the other hand, when the alternative printing method cannot be realized or when the alternative printing method is not set (step S105D: no), the ecology mark included in the content data is deleted at step S105F, and step S1 is executed.
Move to 06. Thereafter, when the processing of steps S103 to S105G is completed for all objects, print job definition data including the settings stored in step S105G and step S105E is generated (step S107).

In the printing support system as described above, it is assumed that content data as shown in FIG. 9 is input, for example. In this case, the soybean oil ink cannot be used in the printing apparatus.
It is assumed that printing using water-based ink, which is an alternative printing method shown in FIG. In this case, in step S105E, the ecology mark is replaced with an alternative notation, and the content data is modified as shown in FIG. Further, as the print job definition data, print job definition data as shown in FIG. 13 in which the ink setting is changed to water-based ink is generated. In this way, if the printing method displayed on the ecology mark cannot be realized, print job definition data for realizing an environmentally friendly alternative printing method is generated, and in such a case, printing with less burden on the environment is also possible. Can be executed.

In the above-described embodiment, the content data correction unit corresponds to the content data correction unit of form 4, and the processing by the content data correction unit 105 corresponds to the content data correction step of form 11.
The print support system according to the present invention has been described with reference to the first to third embodiments. However, the application of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, in the embodiment, the case of acquiring content data has been described, but print job definition data may be acquired simultaneously with the content data as print data. In this case, a print method setting is added to the acquired print job definition data. Moreover, in the said embodiment, although only the ecology mark was mentioned as a display regarding a printing method, it is not limited to this.

As shown in FIG. 14, the correspondence between the ecology mark and the print job definition data is determined as an if-then discriminant rule using the ecology mark as a conditional clause and the print job definition data corresponding to the ecology mark as a result clause. It may be stored in an ecology database. In the example of FIG. 14, when the character strings “100%” and “recycled paper” are located within 5 characters, the paper type of the print job definition data is set to recycled paper with a regeneration rate of 100%. As described above, when the if-then discrimination rule is used, fine rules can be set according to the ecology mark, and there is an advantage that the system configuration is easy.
The SOYINK logo mark in FIGS. 5, 9, 10 and 15 is a registered trademark.

It is a functional block of a printing support system. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of a host terminal. It is a figure which shows the example of content data. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of print job definition data. It is a figure which shows the structural example of an ecology mark database. It is an operation | movement flow of a printing assistance system. It is a functional block of a printing support system. It is an operation | movement flow of a printing assistance system. It is an example of content data. It is a figure which shows the structural example of an ecology database. It is an operation | movement flow of a printing assistance system. It is an example of content data. It is an example of print job definition data. It is an example of a discrimination rule in an if-then format. It is an example of an ecology mark.

Explanation of symbols

39 bus, 40 input device, 42 storage device, 44 display device, 100
Host terminal, 100A, 100B printing support system, 100 playback rate, 1
01 content data acquisition unit, 102 ecology mark database, 103
Ecology mark determination unit, 104 Print job definition data setting unit, 105 Content data correction unit

Claims (8)

Content data acquisition means for acquiring content data;
A printing method display determination database storing information for identifying a display relating to a printing method;
A printing method display determining means for determining a display relating to a printing method included in the content data based on the printing method display determining database;
Print job definition data generation means for generating print job definition data for performing print settings based on the determination result by the print method display determination means;
A printing support system comprising: 2. The print support according to claim 1, wherein the print job definition data generation unit generates print job definition data for realizing the print method for the display determined by the print method display determination unit. system. In place of generating print job definition data for realizing the printing method for the display by the print job definition data generating means, content data correcting means for correcting a display relating to the printing method included in the content data is provided. The printing support system according to claim 2. The print job definition data generation means generates print job definition data for realizing an alternative print method instead of generating print job definition data for realizing the print method for the display,
The print support system according to claim 3, wherein the content data correction unit corrects a display related to a print method included in the content data in accordance with the alternative printing method. The printing method display determination database stores information on print job definition data corresponding to the display relating to the printing method,
The print support system according to claim 1, wherein the print job definition data generation unit generates the print job definition data based on the print method display determination database. The printing method display determination database stores information for identifying a display relating to the printing method as a determination rule in an if-then format in which a condition clause is used and a print job definition data corresponding to the display is a result clause. The printing support system according to claim 5. The display relating to the printing method is an ecology-related display.
7. The printing support system according to any one of 6. A content data acquisition step of acquiring content data;
A printing method display determination step for determining a display relating to a printing method included in the content data based on a printing method display determination database storing information for identifying a display relating to the printing method;
A print job definition data generation step for generating print job definition data for performing print settings based on the determination result of the print method display determination step;
A printing support program, comprising: a program for causing a computer to execute a process comprising:

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