JP6729276B2 - Information processing apparatus and function setting method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing device and a function setting method.

When a user prints a document in a company, a user sets a paper size, a double-sided setting, a color setting, etc. on a UI (User Interface) of a printer driver, that is, a print setting screen, and executes printing. Since the normal printer driver is not particularly limited, the user can freely make various settings. However, a company administrator (for example, an IT administrator) may want to limit print settings on the user side in order to save toner used for printing a document and prevent waste of paper. is there.

As a method of limiting the print settings, generally, there is a method of allowing a user to use a printer driver in which the default settings of the printer driver are changed so as to save toner and reduce paper. For example, the print type setting for setting either double-sided printing or single-sided printing is set to double-sided printing, page layout is set to 2 in 1, and color setting is set to monochrome printing. When printing is performed with default settings in this way, it is possible to save toner and reduce paper compared to normal printing (for example, no page layout, color printing, single-sided printing).

However, if the user changes the default setting value, it becomes impossible to save toner and reduce paper. Therefore, the print setting screen displayed on the PC terminal by the printer driver hides the setting items of the functions that the administrator does not want the user to change, and only displays the setting items of the functions that the administrator allows to change. Display it. For example, the functions that the administrator allows the user to change the settings include the paper size and the paper type, and the functions that the administrator does not want the user to change include the print type setting and the color setting. Therefore, the user is allowed to use a printer driver that is set to the duplex setting for the setting value of the print type setting item and is not displayed on the print setting screen while the setting value of the color setting item is set to monochrome. In this case, since the document is always printed by double-sided printing and monochrome printing, toner saving and paper reduction can be realized.

Patent Document 1 discloses a technique of displaying a UI screen for warning of a conflict and changing a print setting when the conflict occurs, and accepting the change of the print setting.

In Patent Document 2, when a screen activation means (i mark) displayed near a UI component corresponding to a non-settable item is selected (clicked), a UI screen for changing the setting of the conflicting item (a UI screen for eliminating the conflicting state) ) Is displayed technology is disclosed.

JP, 2010-244317, A JP, 2008-97409, A

By the way, in a conventional printer driver, for example, when a prohibition relationship occurs between the paper type setting item “thick paper” and the print type setting item “duplex printing”, the setting value of the print type setting item is set to “duplex”. You must change from "printing" to "single-sided printing." However, since the setting value of the print type setting item is maintained at "2-sided printing" and the print type setting item is hidden, the user cannot change the print type setting item to "1-sided printing", and the user cannot , "Thick paper" cannot be set in the paper type setting item.

In addition, in the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, the setting items of all the prohibited functions are also displayed on the normal print setting screen, and when the prohibition relationship does not occur, the user can set without restriction. Can be changed. For this reason, even if the printer driver disclosed in Patent Document 1 is used, it is not possible to perform the function restriction that is originally desired by the administrator.

Similarly, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, the setting items of the functions that the administrator has restricted are grayed out on the normal print setting screen, and the user cannot change the setting items. However, when many setting items are grayed out, it becomes difficult for the user to find a setting item that can be changed, and the operability becomes poor.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to make it possible to use the print setting function in accordance with the requests of both the user and the administrator.

In order to achieve at least one of the above-mentioned objects, an information processing device that reflects one aspect of the present invention includes a first function display unit, a second function non-display unit, a prohibition determination unit, and a second function. A display unit, a setting change unit, and a print instruction unit are provided.
The first function display unit displays, on the first tab, the setting items of the first function that the administrator has permitted to change on the print setting screen that is displayed on the display unit and on which the print setting is performed. The second function non-display unit does not changeably display the setting items of the second function that the administrator does not allow the user to change on the print setting screen. The prohibition determination unit determines whether a prohibition relationship occurs between the setting value of the setting item of the first function changed by the user and the setting value of the second function. The second function display unit can change the setting item of the second function for changing the setting value of the second function, which is determined to have a prohibition relationship with the changed setting value of the first function, to the print setting screen. Display on the second tab . The setting changing unit changes the setting for canceling the prohibition relationship with the setting value of the first function according to the setting value of the second function changed through the setting item of the second function displayed changeably. The print instruction unit instructs the image forming apparatus to print based on the setting values of the first function and the second function changed by the user.
The second function display unit displays a prohibition tab as a second tab on the print setting screen when a prohibition relation occurs between the setting value of the first function and the setting value of the second function,
A prohibition tab function display section for displaying setting items of the second function on the prohibition tab.
Further, in order to realize at least one of the above-mentioned objects, an information processing apparatus that reflects another aspect of the present invention includes a first function display unit, a second function non-display unit, and a prohibition determination unit. , A second function display unit, a setting change unit, and a print instruction unit.
The first function display unit displays, on the first tab, the setting items of the first function that the administrator has permitted to change on the print setting screen that is displayed on the display unit and on which the print setting is performed. The second function non-display unit does not changeably display the setting items of the second function that the administrator does not allow the user to change on the print setting screen. The prohibition determination unit determines whether or not a prohibition relationship occurs between the setting value of the setting item of the first function changed by the user and the setting value of the second function. The second function display unit can change the setting item of the second function for changing the setting value of the second function, which is determined to have a prohibition relationship with the changed setting value of the first function, to the print setting screen. Display on the second tab. The setting changing unit changes the setting for canceling the prohibition relationship with the setting value of the first function according to the setting value of the second function changed through the setting item of the second function displayed changeably. The print instruction unit instructs the image forming apparatus to print based on the setting values of the first function and the second function changed by the user.
Then, the second function display section is a mask that prevents the user from changing the setting item of the second function for changing the setting value of the second function that does not have a prohibition relationship with the setting value of the first function. And a mask display section for displaying the second tab by multiplying by.

According to the present invention, since the user cannot normally change the setting value of the second function, it is possible to save toner, paper, etc., as requested by the administrator. Also, the setting value of the second function is displayed so that it can be changed on the print setting screen when a prohibition relationship with the setting value of the first function occurs, so the user can change the setting value of the second function and print. It is also possible to instruct.
Note that the above information processing device is one embodiment of the present invention, and a function setting method and the like that reflects one aspect of the present invention has the same configuration as the information processing device that reflects one aspect of the present invention.
Problems, configurations and effects other than those described above will be clarified by the following description of the embodiments.

1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of an image forming system according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structural example of the PC terminal which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a hardware configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. It is a hardware block diagram which shows the structural example of the principal part of the image forming apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structural example of the PC terminal which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the prohibition condition table which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is an explanatory view showing a display example of a print setting screen by a conventional printer driver. It is an explanatory view showing a display example of a My tab displayed on the print setting screen according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a manner in which a paper type is selected through the print setting screen according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state where “thick paper 1” is selected as a paper type on the print setting screen according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display of the dialog box for confirming the prohibition state which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display of the prohibition tab which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display of the dialog box for confirming the setting change which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a print setting screen showing a state in which a print type setting change is confirmed through the print setting screen according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart showing a basic operation example of the printer driver according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of processing for returning the setting value of the print type to the default setting according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing example of determining whether or not to maintain the changed setting value of the print type according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display of the dialog box for confirming the setting change which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structural example of the PC terminal which concerns on the example of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of a layout tab displayed on the print setting screen according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this specification and the drawings, components having substantially the same function or configuration are designated by the same reference numerals, and a duplicate description will be omitted.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of an image forming system.

The image forming system 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a PC terminal 10 and an image forming apparatus 20 having a print function. The PC terminal 10 and the image forming apparatus 20 are connected via the network N. Although FIG. 1 shows an example in which one PC terminal 10 and the image forming apparatus 20 are connected, the number of installed apparatuses is not particularly limited.

The PC terminal 10 (an example of an information processing device) includes a platform on which browsing software (hereinafter, referred to as a browser) such as a WWW (World Wide Web) browser operates. A printer driver 41 (see FIG. 5, which will be described later) for performing predetermined print settings for the image forming apparatus 20 is installed in the PC terminal 10.

The PC terminal 10 is provided for the purpose of giving an operation instruction of the image forming apparatus 20 through a browser. As the PC terminal 10, for example, a general-purpose PC, a mobile terminal, or the like is used. The PC terminal 10 includes an operation unit 15 and a display unit 14. The PC terminal 10 displays a print setting screen 50 for controlling print settings of the image forming apparatus 20 on the display unit 14 using a browser. The print setting screen 50 is an example of a user interface displayed under the control of the printer driver 41, and the user makes print settings through the print setting screen 50. When a predetermined position on the print setting screen 50 is pressed by the operation unit 15 (for example, cursor selection) and the print setting is changed, the PC terminal 10 sends a print instruction based on the changed print setting to the image forming apparatus 20. Send.

The image forming apparatus 20 receives an image of print data received from the PC terminal 10 according to an operation instruction from the operation display unit 22 provided in the image forming apparatus 20 or a print instruction from the PC terminal 10 transmitted via the network. A forming process is performed. As the image forming apparatus 20, for example, a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, a composite machine of these, or the like can be applied.

The network N may be a LAN (Local Area Network) or a WAN (Wide Area Network), or a telephone line network, a broadband communication line network, a dedicated line, a mobile communication network, a communication satellite line, a CATV (Community Antenna Television). The configuration may include a line, an optical communication line, a wireless communication line, and the like, and an Internet service provider that connects them.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration example of the PC terminal 10.

The PC terminal 10 includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a communication I/F 13, a display unit 14, and an operation unit 15.
The control unit 11 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11a, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 11b, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 11c, etc., which are connected via a bus. ..

The CPU 11a is used as an example of a computer that controls the overall operation of the PC terminal 10. The CPU 11a gives an instruction for causing the image forming apparatus 20 to perform an image forming process (print operation) based on, for example, a setting change and a print instruction from the user performed through the operation unit 15. The CPU 11a loads various programs read from the storage unit 12 or the ROM 11b, an OS (Operating System) 16 shown in FIG. 5, which will be described later, and application software (for example, document creation software) into the RAM 11c as necessary and executes the programs. , Create document data with this application software. Then, the CPU 11a reads out the printer driver 41 shown in FIG. 5, which will be described later, from the storage unit 12, expands it in the RAM 11c and executes it, and displays the print setting screen 50 on the display unit 14. The CPU 11a transmits print data including the setting values of the setting items changed through the print setting screen 50 to the image forming apparatus 20 through the communication I/F 13.

The storage unit 12 is composed of, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a program for the CPU 11a to control each unit, an OS 16 shown in FIG. 5 described later, a printer driver 41 operating on the OS 16, various programs, and application software. Data such as is stored. Some of the data stored in the storage unit 12 is also stored in the ROM 11b.

The communication I/F (Interface) 13 is composed of a NIC (Network Interface Card), a modem, or the like, establishes a connection with a device connected via the network N, and transmits/receives data. Specifically, the print data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 20, or the apparatus information is received from the image forming apparatus 20.

The display unit 14 is composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and displays the print setting screen 50, various dialogs, and the like. The print setting screen 50 displays setting items that can be changed according to the function of the image forming apparatus 20 that the printer driver 41 instructs to print.
The operation unit 15 includes a keyboard, a mouse, a touch sensor formed on the display unit 14, and the like. The user can change various print settings displayed on the print setting screen 50 by operating the operation unit 15.

<Example of hardware configuration of image forming apparatus>
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a hardware configuration example of the image forming apparatus 20.

The image forming apparatus 20 employs an electrophotographic system that forms an image by using static electricity, and for example, four color toner images of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). It is a tandem type color image forming apparatus that superimposes the above. The image forming apparatus 20 includes an automatic document feeder (ADF: Auto Document Feeder) 21, an operation display unit 22, a paper feeding unit 24, an image forming unit 25, an intermediate transfer belt 26 (image carrier). It has a secondary transfer unit 28, a fixing unit 29, and a paper discharge tray 30.

The automatic document feeder 21 automatically feeds a document when reading the document. Then, a scanner (not shown) provided in the automatic document feeder 21 reads an image of the document placed on the upper platen glass of the image forming apparatus 20 or the image of the document automatically conveyed by the automatic document feeder 21. You can

The operation display unit 22 has a function as an operation unit for instructing the start of a job such as an image forming process. An LCD is installed in the operation display unit 22. The operation display unit 22 is composed of a touch panel, and can be operated by a user and can display information. The operation display unit 22 serves as both the operation unit and the display unit. It is also possible to configure the operation unit with a mouse, a tablet, or the like, and to configure it separately from the display unit.

The paper feed unit 24 includes a plurality of paper storage units 24a capable of storing papers of different paper sizes and paper types. In the paper feed unit 24, when the corresponding paper storage unit 24a is selected based on the instruction from the image forming apparatus 20, the paper S is taken out from the paper storage unit 24a by a paper feed unit (not shown) and is fed to the conveyance path C. The paper S is sent.

The image forming unit 25 includes four image forming units 27Y, 27M, 27C and 27K in order to form toner images of yellow, magenta, cyan and black. The image forming unit 25 controls the operations of the image forming units 27Y, 27M, 27C, and 27K of the image forming unit 25 to form Y, M, C, and K toner images. The image forming apparatus 20 also includes a plurality of rollers (conveying rollers) for conveying the sheet S on the conveying path C. These rollers are usually composed of a pair of rollers.

In the image forming mode, the image forming apparatus 20 charges the photoconductors included in the image forming units 27Y, 27M, 27C, and 27K, and exposes the photoconductors to erase electric charges to form electrostatic latent images on the photoconductors. Then, toner is attached to the electrostatic latent images of the yellow, magenta, cyan, and black photoconductors by using the developing unit, and toner images of respective colors are formed. Next, the toner images formed on the yellow, magenta, cyan, and black photoconductors are sequentially primary-transferred to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 26 rotating in the arrow direction.

Next, the toner images of the respective colors primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 26 by the secondary transfer unit 28 (secondary transfer roller) are transferred to the paper S supplied from the paper supply unit 24 and conveyed by the rollers. Next transfer. A color image is formed by secondarily transferring the toner images of the respective colors on the intermediate transfer belt 26 onto the paper S. The image forming apparatus 20 conveys the sheet S on which the color toner image is formed to the fixing unit 29.

The fixing unit 29 is a device that performs a fixing process on the sheet S on which a color toner image is formed. The fixing unit 29 pressurizes and heats the conveyed sheet S to fix the transferred toner image on the sheet S. The fixing unit 29 includes, for example, a fixing upper roller and a fixing lower roller which are fixing members. The upper fixing roller and the lower fixing roller are arranged in pressure contact with each other, and a fixing nip portion is formed as a pressure contact portion between the upper fixing roller and the lower fixing roller.

A heating unit (not shown) is provided inside the upper fixing roller. Radiant heat from this heating unit warms the roller portion on the outer peripheral portion of the fixing upper roller. The sheet S is conveyed to the fixing nip portion such that the surface (the surface to be fixed) on which the toner image is transferred by the secondary transfer unit 28 faces the upper fixing roller. The sheet S passing through the fixing nip portion is pressed by the upper fixing roller and the lower fixing roller and heated by the heat of the roller portion of the upper fixing roller. The sheet S on which the fixing process is performed by the fixing unit 29 is ejected to the sheet ejection tray 30.

FIG. 4 is a hardware configuration diagram illustrating a configuration example of a main part of the image forming apparatus 20.

The image forming apparatus 20 includes a CPU 31, a RAM 32, an HDD 33, and a communication I/F 34 in addition to the operation display unit 22 and the image forming unit 25 described above.

The CPU 31 is used as an example of a computer that controls the operation of each unit in the image forming apparatus 20. The CPU 31 controls the image forming process (printing operation) of the image forming unit 25, for example, based on a user's print instruction issued through the operation display unit 22.
The RAM 32 temporarily stores information (data) necessary for each process performed by the CPU 31. The RAM 32 is used as an example of a volatile memory.

The HDD 33 records programs and data necessary for the CPU 31 to operate, and is used as an example of a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium that stores programs executed by the image forming apparatus 20. Therefore, this program is permanently stored in the HDD 33. The computer-readable non-transitory recording medium that stores the program executed by the image forming apparatus 20 is not limited to the HDD 33, and may be, for example, an SSD (Solid State Drive), a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM. And the like.
The communication I/F 34 performs a process of transmitting/receiving data to/from a client terminal (not shown), a printer controller, or the like (not shown) connected to the image forming apparatus 20 via the network N.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration example of the PC terminal 10.

The OS 16 operating on the control unit 11 of the PC terminal 10 controls the operation of the printer driver 41 and manages the setting information and the like of the printer driver 41.

The printer driver 41 stored in the ROM 11b is expanded in the RAM 11c by the processing of the CPU 11a. The printer driver 41 displays the setting items of the permitted functions on the print setting screen 50, the prohibition tab 57 (an example of the second tab) shown in FIG. 12 described later, and displays various messages. In addition to the processing, the prohibition determination processing or the like with reference to the prohibition condition table 43a is performed. The printer driver 41 includes a user interface module 42, a prohibition processing module 43, a graphic drawing module 44, and a command issuing module 45.

The user interface module 42 causes the display unit 14 to display a print setting screen 50, a setting dialog, a message dialog, and the like. The user interface module 42 includes a permitted function display portion 42a, a non-permitted function non-display portion 42b, a non-permitted function display portion 42c, a notification icon display portion 42g, and a dialog display portion 42f.

The permitted function display unit 42a (an example of the first function display unit) displays setting items of the function A, which the administrator has permitted to change on the print setting screen 50.
The non-permitted function non-display part 42b (an example of the second function non-display part) does not changeably display the setting items of the function B that the administrator does not allow the user to change on the print setting screen 50.

The disapproval function display section 42c (an example of the second function display section) is a setting of the function B for changing the set value of the function B determined to have a prohibition relationship with the set value of the function A changed by the user. The items are changeably displayed on the prohibition tab 57 provided on the print setting screen 50. The disapproval function display portion 42c includes a prohibition tab display portion 42d and a prohibition tab function display portion 42e.
The prohibition tab display portion 42d displays the prohibition tab 57 (see FIG. 12 described later) on the print setting screen 50 when a prohibition relationship occurs between the setting value of the function A and the setting value of the function B.
The prohibition tab function display portion 42e displays the setting items of the function B on the prohibition tab 57.

The dialog display unit 42f displays a dialog including a predetermined confirmation message on the display unit 14 in various processes performed by the user.

The prohibition processing module 43 performs processing relating to the prohibition relationship between the set values of the function A and the function B. The prohibition processing module 43 includes a prohibition condition table 43a, a prohibition determination unit 43b, and a setting change unit 43c.
The prohibition condition table 43a is a table for managing a prohibition relationship between set values of the function A and the function B as shown in FIG. 6 described later.
The prohibition determination unit 43b determines whether or not a prohibition relationship occurs between the setting value of the setting item of the function A changed by the user and the setting value of the function B. At this time, the prohibition determination unit 43b refers to the prohibition condition table 43a to determine whether the set values of the function A and the function B have a prohibition relationship.
The setting changing unit 43c changes the setting for canceling the prohibition relationship with the setting value of the function A by the setting value of the function B changed through the setting item of the function B displayed changeably.

The graphic drawing module 44 performs RIP (Raster Image Processor) processing or the like on the image data of the document and creates print data to be transmitted to the image forming apparatus 20. The command issuing module 45 (an example of a print instruction unit) prints A command for issuing a print instruction to the image forming apparatus 20 is issued based on the setting values of the function A and the function B changed by the user through the setting screen 50. The print data created by the graphic drawing module 44 is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 20 together with this command.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of the prohibition condition table 43a.

Various prohibition conditions are stored in the prohibition condition table 43a. The identification number for individually identifying the prohibition condition is represented by “DPICO_xxxxxxxxx (x is an arbitrary number)”. Then, a prohibition relationship between the paper type and the print type is defined for each identification number. The prohibition condition table 43a indicates that a prohibition relationship occurs when the paper type is thick paper and the printing type is double-sided printing.

For example, “thick paper 1” represents a paper having a basis weight of 91 g/m ^{2 to} 120 g/m ² , “thick paper 1+” represents a paper having a basis weight of 121 g/m ^{2 to} 157 g/m ² , and “thick paper 1”. 2 "basis weight represents the sheet of ^{158g / m 2 ~209g / m 2} , " thick paper 3 ", basis weight represents the sheet of ^{210g / m 2 ~256g / m 2} , " thick paper 4 ", Represents a sheet having a basis weight of 257 g/m ^{2 to} 300 g/m ² . Further, the "second side" represents a sheet set on a manual feed tray (not shown) when printing on the back side of a sheet whose one side is printed on the front side. In the following description, “thick paper 1”, “thick paper 2”, and the like will be collectively referred to as “thick paper” when they are described separately.

As described above, the prohibition relationship corresponds to, for example, a case where the print type is “double-sided” and a case where the paper type is “thick paper”. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 20 cannot perform double-sided printing on the thick paper 1.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of a print setting screen 100 by a conventional printer driver.

The print setting screen 100 is composed of a plurality of tabs for each group of functions, and is used to set a print function unique to the image forming apparatus 20. Each of the tabs 101 to 108 can be arbitrarily switched by the user. The My tab 101 is used by the user to select setting items arranged in different tabs and display them collectively. The basic setting tab 102 is used to display setting items of a function for performing basic settings regarding paper and printing. The layout tab 103 is used for setting a layout (allocation method, print position adjustment, etc.) in printing. The finishing tab 104 is used to set the finishing (staple, punch, etc.) of the printed matter. The cover sheet/inserted paper tab 105 is used to insert a cover sheet or a page into a printed matter. The stamp/page print tab 106 is used to add characters and images to a document. The image quality tab 107 is used to make settings relating to the image quality of a document (color setting, image processing, etc.). The other tab 108 is used for checking the driver version and setting print settings for application software. The shaded area at the lower left of the print setting screen 100 represents invalid settings.

The user can set color printing or single-sided printing on plain paper through the conventional print setting screen 100. Then, when the conventional printer driver is used, the setting items of all the functions are displayed on the print setting screen 100. For this reason, even if it is desirable that some of the setting items cannot be changed, the user can change the setting items, and the administrator cannot restrict the changing of the setting items.

However, if the user freely sets print settings, a large amount of toner and paper will be consumed. Therefore, in the print setting screen 50 according to the present embodiment described below, the functions that the user can change are limited. That is, the print setting screen 50 displays only the setting items of the function A that the administrator has permitted to change, and hides the setting items of the function B that the administrator does not permit to change. Therefore, even if the user wants to change the set value of the function A, if a prohibition relationship occurs with the set value of the function B, the administrator cannot change the set value even with the function A that is permitted to set, and use it. I can't.

Therefore, when the setting value of the function A, which has a prohibition relationship with the setting value of the function B that is hidden on the print setting screen 50, is selected, the setting value of the function A is normally hidden so that the setting value can be used. The setting items of the function B are displayed temporarily, and the setting value of the function B is changed. Then, by releasing the prohibition relationship between the setting values of the function A and the function B, the setting value of the function displayed on the print setting screen 50 is fixed and can be used.

Specific examples of screen transitions and operation flows when the printer driver 41 releases the prohibition relationship will be described below with reference to FIGS. 8 to 14. 8 to 10, 12, and 14 show examples of screen transitions of the print setting screen 50, and FIGS. 11 and 13 show display examples of dialog boxes.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the My tab 51 displayed on the print setting screen 50.

Only the My tab 51 (an example of the first tab) is displayed on the print setting screen 50 of the printer driver 41. Among the setting items of the functions that can be set in the image forming apparatus 20, only the setting items of the function A that the administrator allows the user to change are collectively displayed on the My tab 51. The setting items of the function A displayed on the My tab 51 are only the page layout setting item 52, the document size setting item 53, and the paper type setting item 54. In other words, the user can only change the page layout, document size, and paper type setting values.

Then, in the default setting of the print setting screen 50 initially displayed by the printer driver 41, "2 in 1" is set in the page allocation setting item 52, "same paper as the original size" is set in the original size setting item 53, “Plain paper” is set in the paper type setting item 54. For example, the paper type setting item 54 is the function A, and the user can select the paper type from various setting items such as plain paper, special paper, and thick paper.

On the other hand, the setting items of the function B that the administrator does not allow the user to change are hidden on the print setting screen 50 with the setting values desired by the administrator set. For example, the print type setting item which is the function B is set in advance to double-sided printing by the administrator, and the print type setting item is not displayed on the My tab 51. As it is, the user cannot change to single-sided printing, and cannot change the paper type setting item 54 which is the function A from “plain paper” to “thick paper”. However, it is possible to change both the setting values of the function A and the function B by the method described below.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a state where the paper type is selected through the print setting screen 50.

When the user selects the paper type setting item 54, a drop-down list 55 for changing the paper type is displayed. Various paper types are displayed in the drop-down list 55. Among the setting items of the paper type that is the function A, “thick paper” has a prohibition relationship with double-sided printing of the “print type” that is the function B. For this reason, the notification icon 56 indicated by an exclamation mark is displayed on the "thick paper" to indicate to the user that a prohibition relationship with the function B occurs. The notification icon 56 is displayed by the notification icon display unit 42g that acquires the determination result of the prohibition determination unit 43b.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a state where “thick paper 1” is selected as the paper type through the print setting screen 50.

When the user selects “thick paper 1” included in the function A on the My tab 51, “thick paper 1” with a notification icon 56 is displayed in the paper type setting item 54. Then, the dialog box 61 shown in FIG. 11 is displayed.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of the dialog box 61 for confirming the prohibition status.

The dialog box 61 displays a prohibition status and a confirmation message for asking the user whether to change the setting for canceling the prohibition. In this dialog box 61, a confirmation message of a setting change for canceling the prohibition relationship that has occurred in the paper type selected by the user is displayed.

As described above, when the user selects “thick paper 1” as the paper type, the image forming apparatus 20 cannot perform double-sided printing preset by the administrator. For this reason, at the bottom of the dialog box 61, a "Yes" button 61a and a "No" button 61b (first selection button) for the user to select whether or not to temporarily change the print type to "single-sided print" Is displayed). The "Yes" button 61a is selected when the user approves the setting change, and the "No" button 61b is selected when the user cancels the setting change. When the "Yes" button 61a is pressed, the prohibition tab 57 is displayed on the print setting screen 50.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of the prohibition tab 57.

As described above, the set value of the function that the administrator allows the user to change, for example, “thick paper 1” of the paper type setting item 54 shown in FIG. 10 is the “Both sides” of the hidden function B. A prohibition relationship occurs. Then, when the user selects “thick paper 1” of the paper type setting item 54 and presses the “Yes” button 61a in the dialog box 61, the prohibition tab 57 appears on the print setting screen 50.

On the prohibition tab 57, "thick paper 1" of the paper type setting item 54 which is the function A and "double-sided" of the printing type setting item 58 which is the function B in which a prohibition relationship occurs are displayed by the user. Therefore, only the print type setting item 58 is displayed on the prohibition tab 57. Then, the setting for releasing the prohibition relationship, that is, the print type setting item 58 is changed from “double-sided” to “single-sided” so that the administrator allows the user to set the function, the paper type setting item 54. It becomes possible to change to “thick paper 1”. Then, the dialog box 62 shown in FIG. 13 is displayed.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of the dialog box 62 for confirming the setting change.

The dialog box 62 displays a message for asking the user whether to confirm the setting value selected by the user. This confirmation message indicates that the user has selected "thick paper 1" as the paper type and "single-sided" as the print type. At the bottom of the dialog box 62, a "Yes" button 62a and a "No" button 62b (an example of the second selection button) for the user to select whether to confirm the setting change are displayed. The "Yes" button 62a is selected when the user confirms the setting change, and the "No" button 62b is selected when the user cancels the setting change.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the setting change of the print type is confirmed through the print setting screen 50.

When the setting change of the print type is confirmed, the prohibition tab 57 is hidden on the print setting screen 50, and only the My tab 51 is displayed. Then, in the paper type setting item 54, “thick paper 1” is displayed as the paper type whose setting has been changed. At this time, the notification icon 56 is not displayed on the "thick paper 1" of the paper type setting item 54 which is the function A. Then, when the user presses the OK button 59 at the bottom of the screen of the My tab 51, a command including print settings for performing single-sided printing on thick paper is transmitted from the PC terminal 10 to the image forming apparatus 20 together with print data. Then, the image forming apparatus 20 performs single-sided printing on thick paper.

Next, an operation example of the printer driver 41 will be described.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a basic operation example of the printer driver 41. The function setting method according to the present embodiment is realized by the following flowcharts.

The print setting screen 50 is displayed on the display unit 14. Then, by the user operation, the setting value of the function A, which has a prohibition relationship with the setting value of the function B, is selected from a plurality of setting values (S1).

Next, the prohibition determining unit 43b refers to the prohibition condition table 43a and determines whether or not there is a setting value of the function B selected by the user and a setting value of the function B in which the prohibition relationship occurs (S2). .. If there is no setting value of the function B that causes a prohibition relationship with the setting value of the function A (NO in S2), this processing ends.

When there is a setting value of the function B that causes a prohibition relationship with the setting value of the function A (YES in S2), the dialog display unit 42f displays the setting value of the function B that can release the prohibition relationship with the setting value of the function A. , A dialog box 61 including a confirmation message is displayed (S3). Next, in order to change the setting value of the function A through the dialog box 61, a user operation is performed to determine whether to change the setting value of the function B (S4).

When the setting value of the function B is changed (YES in S4), the “Yes” button 61a of the dialog box 61 is pressed, the prohibition tab display unit 42d displays the prohibition tab 57 on the print setting screen 50, and the prohibition tab function. The display unit 42e displays the setting items of the function B on the prohibition tab 57 (S5).

Next, the setting value of the function B is changed by the setting item of the function B displayed on the prohibition tab 57 by the user operation (S6). The dialog display section 42f displays the dialog box 62 including a confirmation message for confirming to the user whether the change of the setting value of the function B may be confirmed (S7). Next, a user operation is performed through the dialog box 62 to determine whether to confirm the change of the setting value of the function B (S8).

When the "Yes" button 62a of the dialog box 62 is pressed in step S8, the setting change unit 43c confirms the change of the set value of the function B (S9), and ends this processing. For example, in step S9, the print type of the function B is changed from “double-sided” to “single-sided”.

On the other hand, if the setting value of the function B is not changed in step S4 (NO in S4) and the “No” button 61b of the dialog box 61 is pressed, the step S8 also displays “No” in the dialog box 62. When the button 62b is pressed, the setting changing unit 43c restores the changed setting values of the function A and the function B to the original setting values (S10). For example, the paper type of the function A once changed to “thick paper” is returned to the default setting “plain paper”, and the print type of the function B changed to “single-sided” is returned to the default setting “double-sided”. Then, the prohibition tab display portion 42d hides the prohibition tab 57 (S11), and ends this processing.

Next, a description will be given of the processing for returning the setting value of the print type, which is the function B whose change has been confirmed once, to the default setting.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of processing for returning the setting value of the print type to the default setting. As a premise of this description, the paper type that is the function A is changed to “thick paper” and the print type that is the function B is changed to “single-sided” by the processing shown in FIG. 15, and these changes are confirmed. Be present.

First, the setting value of the function A is changed to a value having no prohibition relation with the setting value of the function B by a user operation (S21). For example, the paper type of the function A is changed from "thick paper" to the default setting "plain paper".

Next, the prohibition determination unit 43b determines whether or not there is a set value for the function A that is in a prohibitive relationship with the set value for the function B (S22). If there is a set value for the function A that is in a prohibited relationship with the set value for the function B (YES in S22), this processing ends.

On the other hand, when the setting value of the function A is changed and the prohibition relationship with the setting value of the function B is released, there is no setting value of the function A that is in a prohibition relationship with the setting value of the function B (NO in S22). ), the setting changing unit 43c returns the setting value of the function B to the default setting (S23). For example, the print type that is the function B is changed from "single-sided" to the default setting "double-sided". Then, the prohibition tab display unit 42d hides the prohibition tab 57 from the print setting screen 50 (S24), and ends this processing.

Next, a process for determining continuous use of the set value of the paper type having the function A and the print type having the function B will be described.
FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a processing example of determining whether to maintain the changed print type setting value. As a premise of this description, it is assumed that the paper type that is the function A is set to “thick paper” and the print type that is the function B is preset to “single-sided” by the processing illustrated in FIG. 15.

First, it is determined whether the prohibition tab 57 is displayed on the print setting screen 50 (S31). If the prohibition tab 57 is not displayed (NO in S31), the prohibition relationship between the set values of the function A and the function B has been released, and this processing is ended.

The prohibition tab display portion 42d sets the changed function A and function B after the command issuing module 45 instructs the image forming apparatus to print based on the changed set values of the function A and the function B. The user is made to determine through the dialog display section 42f whether or not to maintain the value.

On the other hand, when the prohibition tab 57 is displayed (YES in S31), the dialog display unit 42f displays a dialog including a confirmation message prompting the user to confirm whether or not to use the current setting value of the function A. A box 63 is displayed to confirm whether the set value is maintained (S32).

Here, a display example of the dialog box 63 will be described.
FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of the dialog box 63 for confirming the setting change. In this dialog box 63, the user is prompted to confirm whether to use the set value of the function A without changing it.

The dialog box 63 displays a set value of the function A and a confirmation message prompting the user to confirm whether or not to use the set value of the function A while maintaining the set value. For example, when “thick paper 1” is set as the paper type that is the function A, double-sided printing preset by the administrator cannot be performed. For this reason, at the bottom of the dialog box 63, there are a "Yes" button 63a and a "No" button 63b (an example of the third selection button) for selecting whether or not to use the set value of the function A. Is displayed. The "Yes" button 63a is selected when the user agrees to maintain and use the set value of the function A, and the "No" button 63b is selected when the user does not maintain the set value of the function A. It

Then, when the “Yes” button 63a is pressed and the set value of the function A is maintained and used (YES in S32), the setting change unit 43c maintains the current set values of the function A and the function B, and prohibits the setting. The tab display part 42d ends the present process while displaying the prohibition tab 57.

On the other hand, when the "No" button 63b is pressed and the current setting value of the function A is not maintained (NO in S32), the setting changing unit 43c restores the setting value of the function B to the default setting (S33). At this time, the print type which is the function B is changed from “single-sided” to the default setting “double-sided”.

Next, the prohibition tab display unit 42d hides the prohibition tab 57 from the print setting screen 50 (S34), and the setting change unit 43c changes the setting value of the function A to the default setting (S35), and this processing To finish. At this time, the paper type of the function A is changed from “thick paper” to the default setting of “plain paper”.

In the PC terminal 10 according to the first embodiment described above, the print setting screen 50 is displayed on the display unit 14 by the printer driver 41. On the My tab 51 of the print setting screen 50, only the setting items of the function A that the administrator has permitted to use are displayed, and the setting items of the prohibited function B are not normally displayed. Therefore, the user can easily change the setting value of the setting item displayed on the My tab 51. When a prohibition relation occurs between the setting value of the function A and the setting value of the function B, the setting item of the function B is displayed on the prohibition tab 57, and the setting value of the function B is changed. It is possible to temporarily cancel the prohibition relationship between the set value of the function A and the set value of the function B. Therefore, when the prohibition relationship does not occur between the setting values of the function A and the function B, printing is performed according to the setting that the administrator desires, so that it is possible to save toner and reduce paper. On the other hand, when a prohibition relationship occurs between the set values of the function A and the function B, the set value of the function B can be temporarily used so that printing that meets the user's request can be performed.

Further, the notification icon 56 added to the set value of the function A makes it easier for the user to recognize that the set value of the function A and the set value of the function B have a prohibitive relationship. Further, when the user selects the setting value of the function A in which the prohibition relationship with the function B occurs, the dialog box 61 is displayed, so that the setting value of the function A and the setting value of the function B capable of canceling the prohibition relationship can be easily grasped. Become. Then, even when the user changes the setting value of the function B for the setting item of the function B displayed on the prohibition tab 57, the dialog box 62 is displayed to confirm the change of the setting value of the function B. It will be easier to check if it is good.

Further, after the PC terminal 10 issues a print instruction to the image forming apparatus 20 with the set values of the function A and the function B in which the prohibition relationship is temporarily released, the function A and the function B are requested by the administrator. The setting value of is returned to the default setting, and the prohibition tab 57 is hidden. Thus, when instructing printing with different paper types, the user can instruct printing with the set values of function A and function B that have automatically returned to the default settings.

On the other hand, the user can also maintain and use the set values of the function A and the function B for which the prohibition relationship was temporarily released when the previous printing was executed. In this case, the user does not have to change the setting values of the functions A and B for a plurality of jobs using the same setting value each time.

[Second Embodiment Example]
Next, the PC terminal 10 according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration example of the PC terminal 10.
FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of the layout tab 71 displayed on the print setting screen 70.

The PC terminal 10 according to the present embodiment differs from the PC terminal 10 according to the above-described first embodiment in that the PC terminal 10 includes the printer driver 41A. Then, the OS 16 operating on the control unit 11 of the PC terminal 10 controls the printer driver 41A and manages the setting information of the printer driver 41A.

The non-permitted function display portion 42c included in the printer driver 41A displays the setting items of the function B for changing the setting value of the function B in which the setting value of the function A is prohibited by the layout tab 71 (an example of the second tab). To display. Therefore, the print setting screen 70 is provided with a layout tab 71 in addition to the My tab 51. The layout tab 71 displays page allocation setting items 72, print type setting items 73, opening direction/closing direction setting items 74, binding margin setting items 75, and image shift setting items 76, which are similar to the setting items of the My tab 51. To be done.

The disapproval function display unit 42c includes a mask display unit 42h. The mask display portion 42h masks the setting items of the function B for changing the setting value of the function B, which does not have a prohibition relationship with the setting value of the function A, by masking the layout tab 71 so that the user cannot change the setting items. To display. For example, the mask display unit 42h masks only the print type setting item 73 of the setting items displayed on the layout tab 71 so that it can be changed and the other setting items are grayed out (represented by diagonal lines). , The user is not allowed to change the setting values of other setting items. Therefore, the print type setting item 73 is the only setting item for which the user can change the setting value.

In the print setting screen 70 displayed on the display unit 14 by the printer driver 41A operating on the PC terminal 10 according to the second embodiment described above, for example, when "thick paper" is selected as the paper type, The layout tab 71 appears. On the layout tab 71, graying out is released so that only the print type setting item 73 can be changed. Therefore, the user can temporarily change only the print type setting item 73.

In the layout tab 71, setting items other than the print type setting item 73 are masked and grayed out. Therefore, the user cannot change the setting items other than the print type setting item 73 as requested by the administrator. Can not. Further, also in the layout tab 71, only the setting items in which a prohibition relationship has occurred may be displayed as in the prohibition tab 57 according to the first embodiment. Then, the setting items of the function A and the function B may be displayed or hidden according to the processing of the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 15 to 17, and the setting values of the function A and the function B are also changed according to the processing of these flowcharts. May be. Also, changeable setting items may be displayed on tabs other than the layout tab 71.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it is needless to say that other various application examples and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention described in the claims.
For example, the above-described embodiment is a detailed and specific description of the configuration of the apparatus and system in order to explain the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner, and is not necessarily limited to one having all the configurations described. Further, a part of the configuration of the embodiment described here can be replaced with the configuration of another embodiment, and further, the configuration of one embodiment can be replaced with the configuration of another embodiment. It is also possible to add. In addition, it is possible to add, delete, or replace a part of the configuration of each embodiment with another configuration.
Further, the control lines and information lines are shown as being considered necessary for explanation, and not all the control lines and information lines in the product are necessarily shown. In practice, it may be considered that almost all configurations are connected to each other.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Image forming system, 10... PC terminal, 11... Control part, 14... Display part, 20... Image forming device, 41... Printer driver, 42... User interface module, 42a... Permitted function display part, 42b... Unpermitted function Non-display part, 42c... Non-permitted function display part, 42d... Prohibition tab display part, 42e... Prohibition tab function display part, 43... Prohibition processing module, 43a... Prohibition condition table, 43b... Prohibition determination part, 43c... Setting change part , 50... Print setting screen, 51... My tab

Claims (7)

A first function display unit that displays setting items of the first function that the administrator has permitted to change on the print setting screen that is displayed on the display unit and on which the print settings are made,
A second function non-display unit that does not changeably display the setting items of the second function that the administrator does not allow the user to change.
A prohibition determination unit that determines whether or not a prohibition relationship has occurred between the setting values of the setting items of the first function and the setting values of the second function,
The possible change the setting item of the second function for changing the changed setting values of the conflict relationship occurs and the determined second function of the first function to the print setting screen 2 The second function display section displayed on the tab ,
A setting changing unit for changing the setting for canceling the prohibition relation with respect to the setting value of the first function by the setting value of the second function changed through the setting item of the second function displayed changeably;
A print instruction unit for instructing printing to the image forming apparatus based on the setting values of the first function and the second function changed by the user ,
The second function display unit displays a prohibition tab as the second tab on the print setting screen when the prohibition relationship occurs between the setting value of the first function and the setting value of the second function. Department,
An information processing apparatus comprising: a prohibition tab function display unit that displays setting items of the second function on the prohibition tab . The prohibition determination unit refers to a prohibition relationship table that manages the prohibition relationship between the setting values of the first function and the second function, and determines whether the prohibition relationship exists between the setting values of the first function and the second function. The information processing device according to claim 1 . The setting changing unit changes the setting value of the first function after the setting value of the second function is changed, and sets the setting value of the first function to the setting value of the second function. When the prohibition relationship is released, the setting value of the second function is returned to the default setting,
The prohibition tab display unit, the information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, hide the prohibition tab. The prohibition tab display unit changes the changed first setting after the print instruction is given to the image forming apparatus by the print instruction unit based on the changed setting values of the first function and the second function. The prohibition tab is displayed when the set values of the first function and the second function are maintained, and the prohibition tab is hidden when the changed set values of the first function and the second function are not maintained, the information processing apparatus according to a set value of the setting change unit of the first function and the second function to claim 1 or 2 return to the default settings. A step of displaying on the first tab the setting items of the first function that the administrator has permitted to change on the print setting screen that is displayed on the display unit and on which the print setting is performed;
A step of not displaying the setting items of the second function which the administrator does not allow the user to change on the print setting screen in a changeable manner;
Determining the presence or absence of a prohibition relationship between the setting value of the setting item of the first function changed by the user and the setting value of the second function,
The possible change the setting item of the second function for changing the changed setting values of the conflict relationship occurs and the determined second function of the first function to the print setting screen 2 The steps to display on the tab ,
Displaying a prohibition tab as the second tab on the print setting screen when the prohibition relationship occurs between the setting value of the first function and the setting value of the second function,
Displaying the setting items of the second function on the prohibition tab;
Changing the setting value of the second function changed through the changeable displayed setting item of the second function to change the setting for canceling the prohibition relationship with the setting value of the first function;
A step of instructing the image forming apparatus to print based on the setting values of the first function and the second function changed by the user. A first function display unit that displays setting items of the first function that the administrator has permitted to change on the print setting screen that is displayed on the display unit and on which the print settings are made,
A second function non-display unit that does not changeably display the setting items of the second function that the administrator does not allow the user to change.
A prohibition determination unit that determines whether or not a prohibition relationship has occurred between the setting values of the setting items of the first function and the setting values of the second function,
It is possible to change the setting item of the second function for changing the setting value of the changed second function and the setting value of the second function determined to cause the prohibition relationship to the print setting screen. The second function display section displayed on the tab,
A setting changing unit for changing the setting for canceling the prohibition relation with respect to the setting value of the first function by the setting value of the second function changed through the setting item of the second function displayed changeably;
A print instruction unit for instructing printing to the image forming apparatus based on the setting values of the first function and the second function changed by the user,
The second function display unit does not allow the user to change the setting item of the second function for changing the setting value of the second function for which the prohibition relationship does not occur with the setting value of the first function. A mask display unit for displaying a mask on the second tab
Information processing device. A step of displaying on the first tab the setting items of the first function that the administrator has permitted to change on the print setting screen that is displayed on the display unit and on which the print setting is performed;
A step of not displaying the setting items of the second function which the administrator does not allow the user to change on the print setting screen in a changeable manner;
Determining the presence or absence of a prohibition relationship between the setting value of the setting item of the first function changed by the user and the setting value of the second function,
It is possible to change the setting item of the second function for changing the setting value of the changed second function and the setting value of the second function determined to cause the prohibition relationship to the print setting screen. The steps to display on the tab,
The setting item of the second function for changing the setting value of the second function in which the prohibition relationship does not occur with the setting value of the first function is masked so that the user cannot change the setting item. Steps to display on the second tab,
Changing the setting value of the second function changed through the changeable displayed setting item of the second function to change the setting for canceling the prohibition relationship with the setting value of the first function;
Issuing a print instruction to the image forming apparatus based on the setting values of the first function and the second function changed by the user.
Function setting method.

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