JP3720585B2 - Information processing apparatus, print processing method thereof, and storage medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a print processing system, a print processing method, an information processing apparatus, and a storage medium, and more specifically, a print processing system and a print processing method in which an information processing apparatus and a plurality of printing apparatuses are connected via a network, and The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus that manages the printing apparatus, and a storage medium that stores various data including a program executed by the information processing apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a print processing system in which an information processing device and a plurality of printing devices are connected via a network, application software (hereinafter referred to as “application”) is conventionally stored in the information processing device, The information processing apparatus manages a plurality of printing apparatuses.
[0003]
That is, in this type of print processing system, a search is made for a print device that can be used by an application in the information processing device based on the identification information specified by the management protocol for managing the network, and the print mode setting and print device Individual information (specific printing conditions) such as the presence or absence of additional equipment is individually acquired from each printing apparatus.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Therefore, in the above-described conventional print processing system, when it is desired to manage or acquire individual information unique to each printing apparatus such as color printing and double-sided printing, a usable printing apparatus searched by an application of the information processing apparatus by the user And individual information obtained from the printing apparatus must be collated one by one, and there is a problem that it takes time to select a desired printing apparatus.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of such problems, information Ru can be easily selected printing devices available from a plurality of printers connected to the network paper processing apparatus and printing It is an object to provide a processing method and a storage medium.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus connected to a plurality of printing apparatuses via a network, wherein a first information acquisition request is sent to the plurality of printing apparatuses on the network. A first transmission unit that transmits a response, a first reception unit that receives a response to the first information acquisition request, and a user who can manage among the plurality of printing apparatuses based on the received response Display control means to be displayed on the display unit as a first display for confirmation by the user, control means for inputting a specific printing condition from the user, and a printing apparatus to which the user has confirmed the first display. Second transmission means for transmitting the second information acquisition request, and second reception means for receiving a response to the second information acquisition request, wherein the display control means is controlled by the second reception means. Receive It was based on the response, characterized in that to display the printing device capable of executing print processing based on the specific printing condition among the first display printing apparatus to confirm to the user on the display unit as a second display It is said.
[0007]
The print processing method according to the present invention is a print processing method of an information processing apparatus connected to a plurality of printing apparatuses via a network, and sends a first information acquisition request to the plurality of printing apparatuses on the network. A first transmission step of transmitting, a first reception step of receiving a response to the first information acquisition request from the printing device, and a printing device that can be managed by the information processing device based on the received response A display control step for causing the display unit to display a first display for allowing the user to confirm, a control step for inputting specific printing conditions from the user via the operation unit of the information processing device, and the first display A second transmission step of transmitting a second information acquisition request to the printing apparatus confirmed by the user, and a second reception step of receiving a response to the second information acquisition request, The display control step includes a printing device capable of executing a printing process based on the specific printing condition among the printing devices confirmed by the user in the first display based on the response received in the second receiving step. The second display is displayed on the display unit .
[0009]
A storage medium according to the present invention is a storage medium stored as a program for causing a computer to execute a print processing method of an information processing apparatus connected to a plurality of printing apparatuses via a network. A first transmission module that transmits a first information acquisition request to a plurality of printing apparatuses on the network; a first reception module that receives a response to the first information acquisition request; and the received response Display control module for displaying on the display unit as a first display for allowing the user to confirm a printing apparatus that can be managed by the information processing apparatus, and a control module for inputting a specific printing condition from the user A second transmission module that transmits a second information acquisition request to the printing apparatus that the user has confirmed on the first display; The second receiving module that receives a response to the second information acquisition request, and the identification among the printing devices that the user has confirmed in the first display based on the response received by the second receiving module And a second display control module that causes the display unit to display a printing apparatus capable of executing a printing process based on the printing conditions as a second display .
[0010]
Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the embodiments of the present invention below.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0012]
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a print processing system according to the present invention. The print processing system includes a host computer 1 serving as an information processing apparatus and a plurality of printers 2 serving as printing apparatuses (first To fifth printers 2 a to 2 e) are connected via the network 3.
[0013]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the printer 2. The printer 2 exchanges data between the output unit 4 for outputting print data and the host computer 1 to operate the output unit 4. And a print control unit 5 to be controlled.
[0014]
The print control unit 5 includes an interface 6 that transmits / receives data to / from the host computer 1, a command analysis unit 7 that analyzes print data and print control codes such as characters and images from the host computer 1, The pattern development unit 8 that develops print data, the network control unit 9 that manages communication with the host computer 1, the network management control unit 10 that controls the management protocol of the network 3, and the internal bus 11 And a control unit 12 connected to each component to control the entire apparatus.
[0015]
FIG. 3 is a format diagram showing a data structure stored in a storage unit (not shown) of the host computer. The storage unit stores a management application storage area 13 for managing the printer 2 using the management protocol of the network 3. An all managed printer list storage area 14 for registering all printers that can be managed in the management application storage area 13, and a conditional printer list for registering all printers satisfying specific print conditions specific to the printer for each specific print condition It has a storage area 15 and a specific print condition storage area 16 for registering specific specific print conditions by user input.
[0016]
In the present embodiment, in the conditional printer list storage area 15, the printer list having specific printing conditions can be individually registered in each of n conditional printer lists (1). In the area 16, m specific printing conditions (1)... (M) specific to each printer including printing types such as double-sided printing, single-sided printing, and color printing / monochrome printing can be registered. The contents stored in the storage unit can be appropriately displayed on a display unit (not shown) of the host computer 1.
[0017]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the print processing method according to the present invention, and this program is executed by the CPU (not shown) of the host computer.
[0018]
In step S1, a first information acquisition request signal is transmitted by broadcast to the first to fifth printers 2a to 2e, and whether or not each of the printers 2a to 2e is a printer that can be controlled by the management protocol of the network 3. The first to fifth printers 2a to 2e are inquired.
[0019]
Then, the first to fifth printers 2a to 2e that have received the first information acquisition request signal receive the first information acquisition request signal via the interface 6 under the management of the network control unit 9. The received packet is analyzed under the control of the network management control unit 15, and the analysis result is returned to the host computer 1 as management protocol information for the printers 2a to 2e.
[0020]
Next, when a response from each of the printers 2a to 2e is received in step S2, the process proceeds to step S3, where the response received from each of the printers 2a to 2e is analyzed, and whether or not the printer can be controlled by the management protocol of the network 3. Judging. If the answer is negative (No), the process advances to step S13 to hide the display unit (not shown) without displaying a list. For example, if it is determined that the first printer 2a among the first to fifth printers 2a to 2e cannot be controlled by the management protocol, the display unit (not shown) of the first printer 2a is displayed. Control not to display the list.
[0021]
On the other hand, printers for which the answer to step S3 is affirmative (Yes) are registered in the all managed printer list storage area 14 as printers that can be controlled by the network management protocol (step S4). For example, when it is determined that the second to fifth printers 2b to 2e among the first to fifth printers 2a to 2e are printers that can be controlled by the management protocol, the second to fifth printers 2b are used. ˜2e are registered in the all managed printer list storage area 14.
[0022]
In step S5, a list of printers registered in the all-managed printer list storage area 14, for example, the second to fifth printers 2b to 2e is displayed on a display unit (not shown). That is, the second to fifth printers 2b to 2e are displayed in a list on the display unit.
[0023]
Next, in step S6, it is determined whether or not a specific printing condition for determining the printer should be input. If the answer is negative (No), the process returns to step S5. If the answer is affirmative (Yes), the process proceeds to step S7, and the specific printing is performed by operating a keyboard (not shown) of the host computer 1 or the like. Enter the condition.
[0024]
In step S8, for the printers registered in the all-managed printer list storage area 14 (for example, the second to fifth printers 2b to 2e) in order to obtain information on whether or not there is a printer having specific printing conditions. A second information acquisition request signal is transmitted by broadcasting.
[0025]
The second to fifth printers 2 a to 2 e receive the first information acquisition request signal via the interface 6 under the control of the network control unit 9, and control the received packet to the network management control unit 15. The analysis is performed, and the analysis result is returned to the host computer 1 as management protocol information for each of the printers 2b to 2e.
[0026]
Next, when a response is received from each printer (second to fifth printers 2b to 2e) registered in the all managed printer list storage area 14 in step S9, the response content is analyzed in subsequent step S10. It is determined whether the destination printer that has responded has specific printing conditions. If the answer is negative (No), the process proceeds to step S13 so that the list is not displayed on the display unit of the host computer 1, while the answer is affirmative (Yes). Is registered in the conditional printer list storage area 15 as having specific printing conditions, and in the subsequent step S12, the printers registered in both the all-managed printer list 14 and the conditional printer list 15 are displayed in a list, and the process is terminated. As a result, among the first to fifth printers 2a to 2e connected to the network 3, the first printer 2a that is not registered in the all managed printer list storage area 14 and the conditional printer list storage area 15 are registered. The second printer 2b that has not been displayed is not displayed in a list on the display unit (not shown) of the host computer 1, and the third to third printers that are redundantly registered in the all managed printer list storage area 14 and the conditional printer list storage area 15 are displayed. 5 are displayed in a list on the display unit (not shown) of the host computer 1.
[0027]
As described above, in this embodiment, even when a printer having specific printing conditions such as color printing or double-sided printing is selected and image data is output, the host computer 1 lists printers having these specific printing conditions. Since the display is performed, the printer searched by the host computer 1 by the user and the specific print condition sent from each printer are collated one by one as in the prior art, and a desired printer is selected from the searched printers. Can be saved by the user himself / herself, and the user can easily select a desired printer and print it out.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, even when a printing apparatus having specific printing conditions such as color printing or double-sided printing is selected and image data is output, the information processing apparatus has these specific printing conditions. Since a list of printing devices to be displayed is displayed, the user checks the printing conditions of the printing devices searched by the information processing device one by one as in the prior art, and the user himself selects a desired printer from the searched printers This is advantageous in that the user can easily select a desired printing apparatus and perform print output.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a print processing system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a printer constituting the print processing system.
FIG. 3 is a format diagram showing a data structure of a storage unit of a host computer.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a print processing method according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Host computer (information processing equipment)
2a to 2e First to fifth printers (printing apparatuses)
13 Management application (discriminating means, display means)
14 All managed printers list (managed printer storage area)
15 Condition printer list (specific printing device storage area)
16 Specific printing condition storage area (specific condition storage area)

Claims (13)

An information processing apparatus connected to a plurality of printing apparatuses via a network,
First transmission means for transmitting a first information acquisition request to a plurality of printing apparatuses on the network;
First receiving means for receiving a response to the first information acquisition request;
Display control means for displaying on the display unit as a first display for allowing the user to confirm manageable ones of the plurality of printing devices based on the received response;
Control means for inputting specific printing conditions from the user;
A second transmission means for transmitting a second information acquisition request to the printing apparatus confirmed by the user in the first display;
Second receiving means for receiving a response to the second information acquisition request;
The display control means is a printing apparatus capable of executing a printing process based on the specific printing condition among the printing apparatuses confirmed by the user in the first display based on the response received by the second receiving means. An information processing apparatus displaying on the display unit as a second display . The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus confirmed by the user in the first display is a printing apparatus that can be managed by at least the management protocol of the network . The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specific printing condition includes at least a color / monochrome printing condition and a duplex / single-sided printing condition . Storage means for storing at least one of a first printing device list in which printing devices that can be managed by the information processing device are registered and a second printing device list in which printing devices satisfying the specific printing condition are registered. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The display control unit causes the display unit to display the first display based on the first printing device list stored in the storage unit, and based on the second printing device list stored in the storage unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second display is displayed on a display unit . Based on a response to the first information acquisition request, first determination means for determining whether the printing apparatus can be managed, and based on the response to the second information acquisition request, the specific printing The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second determination unit that determines whether or not the printing apparatus is capable of executing a printing process based on conditions . A print processing method of an information processing apparatus connected to a plurality of printing apparatuses via a network,
A first transmission step of transmitting a first information acquisition request to a plurality of printing apparatuses on the network;
A first receiving step of receiving a response to the first information acquisition request from the printing apparatus;
Based on the received response, a display control step for causing the display unit to display the first display for allowing the user to check the printing apparatus that can be managed by the information processing apparatus;
A control step of inputting specific printing conditions from the user via the operation unit of the information processing apparatus;
A second transmission step of transmitting a second information acquisition request to the printing apparatus confirmed by the user in the first display;
A second receiving step of receiving a response to the second information acquisition request,
The display control step can execute a printing process based on the specific printing condition among the printing devices confirmed by the user in the first display based on the response received in the second receiving step. Is displayed on the display unit as a second display . The print processing method according to claim 7, wherein the printing apparatus that the user confirms with the first display is a printing apparatus that can be managed at least by the management protocol of the network . 9. The print processing method according to claim 7, wherein the specific printing conditions include at least a color / monochrome printing condition and a duplex / single-sided printing condition . At least one of a first printing device list in which printing devices that can be managed by the information processing device are registered and a second printing device list in which printing devices that satisfy the specific printing condition are registered is stored in the storage unit. The print processing method according to claim 7, further comprising a storing step . The display control step causes the display unit to display the first display based on the first printing device list stored in the storage unit, and based on the second printing device list stored in the storage unit. The print processing method according to claim 10, wherein the second display is displayed on a display unit . Based on a response to the first information acquisition request, a first determination step of determining whether the printing apparatus can be managed by the information processing apparatus, and a response to the second information acquisition request 12. The method according to claim 7, further comprising a second determination step of determining whether or not the printing apparatus is capable of executing a printing process based on the specific printing condition. Print processing method . A storage medium stored as a program for causing a computer to execute a print processing method of an information processing apparatus connected to a plurality of printing apparatuses via a network,
The program includes: a first transmission module that transmits a first information acquisition request to a plurality of printing apparatuses on the network;
A first receiving module for receiving a response to the first information acquisition request;
Based on the received response, a first display control module that causes a display unit to display a first display for allowing a user to check a printing apparatus that can be managed by the information processing apparatus;
A control module for inputting specific printing conditions from the user;
A second transmission module for transmitting a second information acquisition request to the printing apparatus confirmed by the user in the first display;
A second receiving module for receiving a response to the second information acquisition request;
Based on the response received by the second receiving module, the printing device that can execute the printing process based on the specific printing condition among the printing devices that the user has confirmed on the first display is used as the second display. A storage medium comprising: a second display control module for displaying on a display unit .

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