JP4307464B2 - Information processing apparatus and information processing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention is directed to an apparatus, an information processing method, and a method for executing a computer that eliminates the inconsistency when a condition inconsistency occurs between a plurality of setting items in setting processing conditions of the information processing apparatus. And an image forming apparatus incorporating the information processing apparatus.

  Conventionally, when a program operating on a computer receives input of setting values for defining a plurality of operation contents from a user via a user interface, the program executes processing based on the setting values.

  However, if there is an exclusive relationship among multiple setting conditions or a relationship that depends on each other among the setting conditions, each time a setting value input from the user is received, the relationship with the input setting condition and setting value Was evaluated, and it was determined whether or not there was any inconsistency in the setting conditions, and if there was inconsistency, a process for resolving it was performed. In realizing the processing, it is common to use a dedicated processing program under the condition depending on the relationship between the set values for inconsistency detection and inconsistency elimination processing.

  Alternatively, a list of conditions for multiple setting values that require inconsistency processing is stored in a file, etc., and this file is stored in a file using a general-purpose processing program that resolves inconsistencies. In some cases, it may be read to resolve inconsistencies in the setting conditions.

As the above-described prior art, for example, there is one shown in Patent Document 1 below.
JP 2001-195166 A

  However, conventionally, when the conflict processing rule is changed, it is difficult to realize the display of the user interface that matches the changed condition.

  In addition, the description of the conditions for resolving the above inconsistency (hereinafter referred to as “conflict”) by the program is performed comprehensively by the program developer. In some cases, not all conditions can be covered, and leakage, that is, inconsistency may not be completely resolved.

  According to the present invention, the user interface control unit provides the user interface update process and the message display to the conflict manager, which is the conflict processing part, so that even if the conflict processing rule is changed, a display suitable for the changed condition can be easily obtained. It aims to be realized.

  In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus and method according to the present invention mainly have the following configuration.

That is, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus that transmits print data generated using a printer driver to a printing apparatus,
A logical expression supplemented by a completion rule generated to determine an undefined state variable in the evaluation of an existing logical expression defined by using the user interface program of the printer driver and the state variable. A conflict manager program for resolving inconsistencies in setting values input to the printer driver in accordance with a rule defined using a logical expression including a state variable that can take a fake binary value; ,
When there is a mismatch between the set values, the set value in which the mismatch occurs is changed to a value that does not have a mismatch according to a rule defined using a logical expression including a state variable that can take the true or false binary value. Means for modifying and informing the user interface program from the conflict manager program by writing its value in a specific area that can be read by the user interface program;
Updating means for executing the user interface program and updating the display of the user interface of the printer driver according to the contents written in the specific area;
It is characterized by having.

Alternatively, an information processing method according to the present invention is an information processing method in an information processing apparatus that transmits print data generated using a printer driver to a printing apparatus,
A logical expression supplemented by a completion rule generated to determine an undefined state variable in the evaluation of an existing logical expression defined by using the user interface program of the printer driver and the state variable. In accordance with a rule defined using a logical expression including a state variable that can take a fake binary value, a conflict manager program for resolving inconsistencies in setting values input to the printer driver is stored in the storage means. A storage process;
When there is a mismatch between the set values, the set value in which the mismatch occurs is changed to a value that does not have a mismatch according to a rule defined using a logical expression including a state variable that can take the true or false binary value. Modifying and informing the user interface program from the conflict manager program by writing the value to a specific area that can be read by the user interface program;
An update step of executing the user interface program and updating the display of the user interface of the printer driver according to the content written in the specific area;
It is characterized by having.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, the user interface control unit provides the user interface update process and the message display in the conflict manager that is the conflict process part, so that even if the conflict process rule is changed, A display suitable for the conditions can be realized.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, conditions for complementing the basic conflict processing rule are automatically generated, so that it is possible to eliminate the conflict state without omission.

  According to still another aspect of the present invention, by adding user interface update processing and message processing to the conflict processing rule, it is possible to realize coding that is highly readable for developers and easy to maintain.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment suitable for applying the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of a print processing system in which information processing (conflict resolution processing) for eliminating this inconsistency is executed when set conditions are not consistent in an embodiment to which the present invention is applied. FIG.

  Unless otherwise specified, as long as the information processing according to the present invention is executed, a single device or a system composed of a plurality of devices can be connected via a network such as a LAN or WAN. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a system in which processing is performed.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 3000 denotes a host computer, which is a document processing in which graphics, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets, etc.) are mixed based on a document processing program stored in the ROM 3b program ROM or the external memory 11. The CPU 1 generally controls each device connected to the system bus 4.

  The program ROM 3b or the external memory 11 stores an operating system program (hereinafter referred to as OS) that is a control program for the CPU 1, and the font ROM 3a or the external memory 11 stores font data used for the above document processing. The data ROM 3c or the external memory 11 stores various data used for document processing and the like.

  Reference numeral 2 denotes a RAM which functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 1. A keyboard controller (KBC) 5 controls key input from a keyboard 9 or a pointing device (not shown). Reference numeral 6 denotes a CRT controller (CRTC) which controls display on a CRT display (CRT) 10.

  A disk controller (DKC) 7 is a hard disk (HD) and floppy (registered trademark) disk for storing a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edit files, a printer control command generation program (hereinafter referred to as a printer driver), and the like. Controls access to the external memory 11 such as (FD).

  A printer controller (PRTC) 8 is connected to the printer 1500 via a predetermined bidirectional interface (interface) 21 and executes communication control processing with the printer 1500. The CPU 1 executes, for example, an outline font rasterization process on the display information RAM set on the RAM 2 to enable WYSIWYG on the CRT 10.

  The CPU 1 opens various windows registered based on commands instructed by a mouse cursor (not shown) on the CRT 10 and executes various data processing. When executing printing, the user opens a window relating to print settings, and can set the print processing method for the printer driver including printer settings and print mode selection.

  In the printer 1500, reference numeral 12 denotes a printer CPU, which outputs to a printing unit (printer engine) 17 connected to the system bus 15 based on a control program stored in the program ROM 13 b or a control program stored in the external memory 14. An image signal as information is output. The program ROM 13b stores a control program for the CPU 12 and the like. The font ROM 13a stores font data used when generating output information, and the data ROM 13c stores information used on the host computer in the case of a printer having no external memory 14 such as a hard disk. I remember it.

  The CPU 12 can communicate with the host computer via the input unit 18 and is configured to notify the host computer 3000 of information in the printer. Reference numeral 19 denotes a RAM that functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like of the CPU 12, and is configured such that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown).

  The RAM 19 is used as an output information expansion area, environment data storage area, NVRAM, and the like. Access to the above-described external memory 14 such as a hard disk (HD) or 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.

  Reference numeral 18 denotes an operation panel described above, on which switches for operation, LED indicators, and the like are arranged. Further, the number of external memories is not limited to one, and at least one external memory is provided so that an optional font card and a plurality of external memories storing programs for interpreting printer control languages with different language systems can be connected in addition to built-in fonts. It may be configured. Furthermore, an NVRAM (not shown) may be provided to store printer mode setting information from the operation panel 1501.

  FIG. 2 shows a memory map in a state in which the user interface control program in this embodiment is loaded into the RAM 2 on the host computer 3000 and becomes executable. Note that the user interface control program in this embodiment exists as part of the print processing related program 204.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between data handled in each module in the conflict processing according to the present embodiment.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a process for generating a complement rule for complementing a basic conflict rule (hereinafter referred to as “complement rule generation process”) for resolving the conflict in the present embodiment. is there. Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, a conflict process related to setting conditions set and input from a user interface displayed by the printer driver on the CRT 10 for various settings will be described as an example. An example of a user interface screen displayed on the CRT 10 by the user through the keyboard 9 shown in FIG. 1 and controlled by the keyboard controller KBC5 is shown in FIG. By instructing to open the printer driver UI (user interface), the conflict rule complementing process starts.

  In response to an instruction to open the printer driver UI by the user, initialization processing for opening the printer driver UI is performed, and the print processing related program 204 is loaded into the RAM 2 under the management of the OS.

  The complementary rule generation process will be described with reference to FIGS.

  Here, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outline of internal processing of the user interface control unit in the present embodiment. In FIG. 3, the inference engine 302 reads the conflict processing rule 301 expressed as illustrated in FIG. 6 (conflict processing rule before the generation processing of the complementary rule) into the RAM 2 via the conflict manager 303 (step S501). ).

  Subsequently, a complementary rule is generated for a rule having two state values (ON and OFF) as values based on the conflict processing rule read in step S501 (step S502).

For example, the following (1) to (3) are examples that describe the setting status of two status values, and only one of ON or OFF is described on the left side of the same printer function as shown in the following example Assuming
A (ON) <-B (ON), C (OFF) .... (1)
A (ON) <-D (V1) .... (2)
B (OFF) <-E (OFF) ... (3)
The case (1) indicates that the setting value A is set to ON when the setting value B is set to ON and the setting value C is set to OFF, and (2) is a setting that is a multi-state setting value. When the value D is set to V1, the setting value A is set to ON as in the case where the setting value A is set to (1). Further, (3) indicates that when the set value E is set to OFF, the value of the set value B is turned OFF.

  In this case, the inference engine 302 automatically generates a rule that reverses ON / OFF as follows. That is, for the above (1) and (2), a conflict processing rule like the equation (4) is generated.

  That is, A takes an OFF state value, not an ON state.

A (OFF) <-not A (ON) ... (4)
Similarly, for (3), a conflict processing rule for changing the setting of the left side B is generated. That is, B takes an ON state value, not an OFF state.

B (ON) <-not B (OFF) ... (5)
Thus, the rules (4) and (5) automatically generated by the inference engine 302 are optimized for processing efficiency and transformed into the following (4) 'and (5)'. It will be exactly the same. That is, the content that the setting OFF of A and the setting ON of B are true is generated as a rule.

A (OFF) <-true ... (4) '
B (ON) <-true ... (5) '
The rule automatically generated so as to change to the opposite state value as in the above example is 100% as the state value that logically defines the setting condition of the control target (for example, printer, facsimile, etc.), and functions without contradiction. The logic to do this is to be matched.

  Subsequently, the complement rule generated in the state variable is reflected as shown in FIG. 4 (step 503).

  In the complement rule generation process, the state variable list 402 as shown in FIG. 4 is provided in the conflict manager 303 for all function setting items of the control target (for example, printer, facsimile, etc.). The value of this state variable is linked to the value of the corresponding member (state variable) of the internal structure 401 used in the printer driver UI. The initial values of the state variables of all printer function setting items are the initial values of the members of the internal structure 401.

For example, if the following settings are described:
A (ON) <-B (ON), C (OFF)
As shown in the state variable list 402 of FIG. 4, there is a state variable with the same name for each of the function setting items A, B, and C in the printer used in the conflict processing rule 403. The members of the printer driver UI internal structure 401 corresponding to the function setting items A, B, and C in the printer are assumed to be int cA, int cB, and int cC, respectively.

The initial value of int cA is 0, and the value of A corresponding to it is a state variable OFF corresponding to 0. Therefore, the state variable “OFF” is also set as the initial value of the state value of the printer function setting item A in the inference engine 302. Conflict check is inferred by the inference engine 302, and the following rules:
A (ON) <-B (ON), C (OFF),
Is established, the inference engine 302 changes the state variable value of the printer function setting item A on the left side to “ON”.

  After the conflict check inference is completed, the conflict manager reflects (maps) the changed value of the state variable to the corresponding member int cA of the printer driver UI internal structure 401. That is, int cA is changed from “0” to “1” corresponding to the state variable ON when the above rule is satisfied.

  The inference engine 302 changes the status variable value of the printer function setting item A to the variable _X used in the inference engine 302 by a built-in function status (a, _X) built in the inference engine. After loading the conflict processing rule, the inference engine 302 automatically generates a complement rule for resolving the conflict for all state variables that appear in the conflict processing rule.

A (_X) <-status (A, _X)
B (_X) <-status (B, _X)
C (_X) <-status (C, _X)
This means that when there is no other rule to be applied, the value of the corresponding member of the printer driver UI internal structure 401 becomes the status value of the printer function setting item.

For printer function setting item A, see
A (ON) <-B (ON), C (OFF)
If it is determined that the following relationship holds, the state value of A is set to ON in response to this. If B has no rules that depend on other than the auto-generated rules above,
B (_X) <-status (B, _X)
As a state variable. By this automatic generation rule, the value ON of the state variable of B is unified to _X, which becomes the state value of the printer function B.

  That is, if the user-defined rule does not exist or if it does not affect the printer function, the value stored in the member corresponding to the internal structure 401 of the printer driver UI is the status of the printer function. It will be value.

  Subsequently, initialization processing necessary for opening the printer driver UI is performed as other initialization processing, and a printer driver user interface (UI) illustrated in FIG. 8 is opened (step S504). After the printer driver UI is opened, the acquisition of the event sent from the OS and its processing are repeated (step S505).

  It is determined whether or not the event acquired in step S505 is an event in which the user has changed a setting item on the printer driver UI (step S506). If not (S506-No), the process continues. It is determined whether or not the printer driver UI is closed (step S512). If it is a close request (S512-Yes), an end process is performed, the printer driver UI is closed, and all processes are ended (step S513). On the other hand, if it is not a close request (S512-No), the process returns to step S505 again.

  If it is determined in step S506 that the event acquired in step S505 is a user setting change request, the complemented conflict processing rule constructed by the processing in steps S501 to S503 is applied (step S507).

  For example, when the user's setting change request is to change the Print Style shown in FIG. 8 from “1-Sided Printing” to “Booklet Printing”, the conflict processing rule is applied as shown in FIG. The basic conflict processing rule read as a part of the processing rule 301 and the state performed in FIGS. 7 (4) and 7 (5) and step S503, which are a part of the complement rule generated in step S502. This is performed for FIGS. 7 (6) to (9) reflecting the variables.

  The values of Collate, Group, Staple, and Layout members that exist as members of the printer driver UI internal structure 401 before the conflict processing rule is applied are as follows.

Collate: OFF
Group: ON
Staple: OFF
Layout: 1-Sided

  Since the user change request is to change Layout from 1-Sided to Booklet, the contents of the members of Layout are changed from “1-Sided” to “Booklet”.

Collate: OFF
Group: ON
Staple: OFF
Layout: Booklet

  Then, the printer driver UI 306 calls the conflict manager 303, the layout state variables in the state variable list are updated as described above, the inference engine 302 is subsequently called, and the application of the conflict processing rule starts.

  First, the rules of FIGS. 7 (6) to (9) are applied, and each printer function setting item in the inference engine 302 is initialized with the value of each member of the state variable list.

  Subsequently, FIG. 7 (3) is applied, and the value of Group is changed from ON to OFF.

Collate: OFF
Group: OFF
Staple: OFF
Layout: Booklet
Further, the rule of FIG. 7 (4) is applied, and Collate is changed from OFF to ON.

Collate: ON
Group: OFF
Staple: OFF
Layout: Booklet
In addition, since there is no rule to be applied, the application of the conflict processing rule in the inference engine 302 is finished.

  In the next step, the conflict manager 303 updates the state variable list (step 508) and the printer driver UI internal structure (step 509) based on the final state.

  Subsequently, the printer driver UI 306 refers to the member value of the printer driver UI internal structure to determine whether or not the UI needs to be updated (step 510).

  If there is no need to update the UI, the process directly returns to step S505. If updating is necessary, the UI is updated (step 511), and the process returns to step S505.

  In the above example, Collate is changed from “OFF” to “ON” and Group is changed from “ON” to “OFF” by changing the setting from “1-Sided Printing” to “Booklet Printing”. Therefore, the display of the printer driver UI is also updated as shown in FIG.

  The above processing is repeatedly executed until the printer driver UI is closed. When the printer driver UI is closed, all the processing is completed, the processing of the print processing related program in this embodiment is also completed, and the RAM 2 is erased by the function of the OS 405. In the present embodiment, the medium for recording the print processing related program is an external memory, but the external memory may be an FD, HD drive, CD-ROM, IC memory card, or the like. Further, it is possible to record this printing program alone or together with a program that runs on the OS or other host computer in the ROM 3b, configure it as a part of the memory map, and execute it directly by the CPU 1. .

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, there is an effect that it is possible to realize the conflict resolution processing without omission by automatically generating the conflict condition that complements the basic conflict processing rules prepared by the program developer. is there.

(Other embodiments)
In the above embodiment, the printer driver UI update processing is performed by the printer driver UI main body 306. However, as shown in FIG. 10, processing for updating the printer driver UI is performed in the conflict processing rule. The UI update process of the printer driver may be directly performed via the state variable list 304 of the conflict manager 303 when the inference engine 302 interprets the description.

  FIG. 10 is obtained by adding UI update processing to (3) of the conflict processing rules of FIG. By adding a description of {disable}, the Group radio in FIG. 9 (an example of a user interface displayed by the printer driver, in which the user selects [Booklet Printing] in the state of FIG. 8). The process of disabling button control is realized as part of the description of the conflict processing rule.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 11, it is also possible to add message box display processing that enables display of information to the user in the conflict processing rule.

  For example, the description of {Message (MSG001)} in (3) of FIG. 11 indicates processing for displaying the message box of FIG. MSG001 is an ID that points to the character string of the message text “Group setting has been adjusted to Collate” displayed in FIG. 12. ID: MSG001 and the character string indicated by the ID are a string resource to the conflict manager 303. Exist as.

  According to the present embodiment, by adding user interface update processing and message processing to the conflict processing rule, it is possible to realize coding that is highly readable for developers and easy to maintain.

Furthermore, the user interface control unit can provide a user interface update process and a message display in the conflict processing part, so that even when the conflict processing rule is changed, it is possible to easily realize a display suitable for the changed condition. To do.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a print processing system in which conflict resolution processing is executed in an embodiment to which the present invention is applied. The memory map of the state which the user interface control program in this embodiment was loaded to RAM2 on the host computer 3000 and became executable is shown. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the internal process of the user interface control part in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the relationship of the data handled by each module in the conflict process of this embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the production | generation process of a complement rule for eliminating the conflict in this embodiment. It is a figure which illustrates the conflict processing rule before the production | generation process of a complement rule. It is a figure which illustrates the conflict processing rule after the complement in this embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a user interface displayed by a printer driver in the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface displayed by a printer driver according to the present embodiment in a state where a user selects [Booklet Printing]. It is the figure which illustrated the description of the conflict processing rule in other embodiment. It is the figure which illustrated the description of the conflict processing rule in other embodiment. It is a figure which illustrates the message box displayed on the user in other embodiments.

Explanation of symbols

1 CPU
2 RAM
3 ROM
4 System bus
12 CPU
13 ROM
19 RAM
3000 host computer

Claims (7)

An information processing apparatus that transmits print data generated using a printer driver to a printing apparatus,
A logical expression supplemented by a completion rule generated to determine an undefined state variable in the evaluation of an existing logical expression defined by using the user interface program of the printer driver and the state variable. A conflict manager program for resolving inconsistencies in setting values input to the printer driver in accordance with a rule defined using a logical expression including a state variable that can take a fake binary value; ,
When there is a mismatch between the set values, the set value in which the mismatch occurs is changed to a value that does not have a mismatch according to a rule defined using a logical expression including a state variable that can take the true or false binary value. Means for modifying and informing the user interface program from the conflict manager program by writing its value in a specific area that can be read by the user interface program;
Updating means for executing the user interface program and updating the display of the user interface of the printer driver according to the contents written in the specific area;
An information processing apparatus comprising:   When setting values for setting bookbinding printing are input to the printer driver, control means is further provided for executing processing for matching inconsistencies between the input setting values and setting values for setting group sort printing. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising execution means for executing a process of matching inconsistencies in the input set values in response to the input of the set values. An information processing method in an information processing apparatus for transmitting print data generated using a printer driver to a printing apparatus,
A logical expression supplemented by a completion rule generated to determine an undefined state variable in the evaluation of an existing logical expression defined by using the user interface program of the printer driver and the state variable. In accordance with a rule defined using a logical expression including a state variable that can take a fake binary value, a conflict manager program for resolving inconsistencies in setting values input to the printer driver is stored in the storage means. A storage process;
When there is a mismatch between the set values, the set value in which the mismatch occurs is changed to a value that does not have a mismatch according to a rule defined using a logical expression including a state variable that can take the true or false binary value. Modifying and informing the user interface program from the conflict manager program by writing the value to a specific area that can be read by the user interface program;
An update step of executing the user interface program and updating the display of the user interface of the printer driver according to the content written in the specific area;
An information processing method characterized by comprising: When a setting value for setting bookbinding printing is input to the printer driver, the printer driver further includes a control process for executing processing for matching the mismatch between the input setting value and the setting value for setting group sort printing. The information processing method according to claim 4 . 5. The information processing method according to claim 4 , further comprising an execution step of executing a process of matching inconsistencies of the input set values in response to the input of the set values. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute an information processing method in an information processing apparatus that transmits print data generated using a printer driver to the printing apparatus, the information processing method comprising:
A logical expression supplemented by a completion rule generated to determine an undefined state variable in the evaluation of an existing logical expression defined by using the user interface program of the printer driver and the state variable. In accordance with a rule defined using a logical expression including a state variable that can take a fake binary value, a conflict manager program for resolving inconsistencies in setting values input to the printer driver is stored in the storage means. A storage process;
When there is a mismatch between the set values, the set value in which the mismatch occurs is changed to a value that does not have a mismatch according to a rule defined using a logical expression including a state variable that can take the true or false binary value. Modifying and informing the user interface program from the conflict manager program by writing the value to a specific area that can be read by the user interface program;
An update step of executing the user interface program and updating the display of the user interface of the printer driver according to the content written in the specific area;
A storage medium comprising:

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