JP6929112B2 - Information processing equipment, programs and information processing methods - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a technique for searching for and displaying a printer.

Conventionally, a technique for printing with a printer on a network has been proposed. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique of searching for a printer connected to a network and outputting to the printer found by the search.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-345102

When the printer has a plurality of communication methods, there are cases where a plurality of connection paths exist between the information processing device and the printer. If the information processing device searches for a printer in such a situation, the same printer may be found more than once in different routes.

If the printers found in duplicate are displayed as separate options, the user has to select the printer of the desired route from many options, which impairs convenience.

On the other hand, it is an object of the present invention to prevent the printers found by the search from being displayed in duplicate, and to make it possible to set a route for the selected printer.

The information processing device according to the present invention for achieving the above object is
A reception means that accepts instructions to search for a printer from the operating system,
A search means for searching for a printer when the above instruction is received, and
Among the printers found by the above search, a detection means for detecting a printer found in duplicate in a plurality of routes, and
A response means for responding to the instruction for searching for a printer with a printer search result for displaying the printers found in duplicate in the plurality of routes as one.
A printer selected by the user from the search results of the printer, which is duplicated in the plurality of routes and is selected by the user from a plurality of routes corresponding to the printers displayed as one. It is characterized by having a control means for displaying a print setting screen including a print setting item which is an item different from the route according to the route on the display means.

According to the present invention, the printer found by the search is displayed without duplication, and the route can be selected on the print setting screen, so that the convenience of the user regarding the printer and the route selection can be improved.

Diagram showing the system configuration Hardware configuration diagram of each device that composes the system Software configuration diagram of each device that composes the system OS flow diagram on the basic print setting screen of the first embodiment Flow chart of the printing system and the printing plug-in at the time of searching for the printer of the first embodiment Flow diagram of the print plug-in at the time of the extended print setting of the first embodiment Flow chart of the printing plug-in at the time of printing of Example 1. Screen display example of Example 1 Flow diagram of the print plug-in at the time of the extended print setting of the second embodiment Flow chart of the print plug-in at the time of printing of Example 2 Screen display example of Example 2

[Example 1]
The system configuration in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The system of this embodiment includes a printer 110, a mobile terminal 120, and a cloud 130. The mobile terminal 120 is an example of an information processing device. The printer 110 and the mobile terminal 120 can be connected to each other and communicate with each other via the network 100 or the wireless communication 101. The wireless communication 101 is WFD (Wi-fi Direct), Bluetooth (registered trademark), or the like. Further, the cloud 130 is composed of a plurality of servers, and manages the registered printer 110 and communicates with the mobile terminal 120 through the network 100. The mobile terminal 120 can communicate with the printer 110 via the cloud 130.

The hardware configuration of each device of the printer 110, the mobile terminal 120, and the cloud 130 included in the system of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The hardware configuration may differ depending on the device. Reference numeral 201 denotes each device constituting the system of this embodiment. Reference numeral 202 denotes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), which is a unit that executes various programs and realizes various functions. Reference numeral 203 denotes a ROM (Read Only Memory), which is a unit for storing various programs. Reference numeral 204 denotes a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the CPU 202 loads the program stored in the ROM 203 into the RAM 204 and executes the program. The RAM 204 is also a unit that is also used as a temporary working storage area for the CPU 202. The Input / Output interface 205 is an interface unit that transmits data to each device and a display (not shown) connected to a server, and also receives data from a pointing device or a touch display (not shown). The NIC (Network Interface Card) 206 is a unit for connecting each device constituting the system of this embodiment to the network 100. The wireless device 207 is a unit for connecting each device by wireless communication 101, and may have a plurality of units such as WFD and Bluetooth (registered trademark). The unit described above can transmit and receive data via the bus 208.

In addition, when the CPU 202 executes the process based on the program stored in the ROM 203, the software configuration of each device as shown in FIG. 3 and the process of each step of the flowchart described later are realized.

Next, the software configuration of each device constituting the system of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The idea described in this embodiment is realized by loading the program recorded in the ROM 203 into the RAM 204 and executing the program in the CPU 202.

The printer 110 has a control unit 311, a communication unit 312, a printing unit 313, and an information storage unit 314. The control unit 311 controls the cooperation of each unit of the printer 110. The communication unit 312 connects to the mobile terminal 120 through the network 100 or the wireless communication 101, responds to a printer search and a capability information request, and receives a print job. The print unit 313 prints the print job received by the communication unit 312. The information storage unit 314 is a part that stores the printing capability of the printer 110, and the communication unit 312 acquires information from the information storage unit 312 and transmits the information to the mobile terminal 120.

For printing from a mobile terminal to a printer, there is a form in which a printing system installed in an OS (Operating System) is used. In the printing system, it is possible to introduce a printing plug-in to realize printing suitable for each printer, and each printer vendor develops and publishes this. The print plug-in has a function to search for a printer by network search, etc., converts an input manuscript file into a PDL format (Page Description Language) suitable for each printer, adds print setting information, and generates a print job. Has a function to print.

Next, the software configuration of the mobile terminal 120 having such a printing system and a printing plug-in will be described. The mobile terminal 120 includes a control unit 321, an application 322, a printing system 323, a printing plug-in 324, an information storage unit 325, and a communication unit 326. The control unit 311 controls the cooperation of each unit of the mobile terminal 120. The application 322 is a part operated by the user, and calls the printing system 323 according to the user operation to instruct printing.

The printing system 323 functions as a part of the OS and controls the printing of the mobile terminal 120. Further, the printing system 323 is called from the application 322 and gives an instruction to the printing plug-in 324 according to the user operation. In addition, the basic print setting screen on which basic print setting items can be set can be displayed, and the printers found by the print plug-in 324 in the search can be displayed in a list as the printer search result. When printing is executed, print data is generated, and the generated print data is passed to the print plug-in 324.

According to the printing system 323, the printing plug-in 324 performs communication with the printer such as searching for a printer, acquiring printer capability information, and printing instructions through the communication unit 326. It also displays and controls the extended print setting screen. When printing is executed, the print settings set by the user and the print data received from the print system 323 are converted into a print job and transmitted to the printer 110 through the communication unit 326.

The information storage unit 325 is a part that stores data of the mobile terminal 120, and print settings and the like are stored. The communication unit 326 connects to the printer 110 through the network 100 or the wireless communication 101, and transmits a printer search and a print instruction.

The cloud 130 has a control unit 331, a communication unit 332, a printing unit 333, a printer management unit 334, and an information storage unit 335. The control unit 331 controls the cooperation of each unit of the cloud 130. The communication unit 332 connects the printer 110 and the mobile terminal 120 through the network 100, receives printer capability information, and transmits a print job. The print unit 333 is a part that generates print data and a print job. The print job is transmitted to the printer 110 through the communication unit 332, and printing is executed. The printer management unit 334 is a part that manages registration information, user authority, and the like of the printer 110. The information storage unit 335 is a part that stores the capacity information and connection information of the printer 110 and the information used by the printer management unit 334.

From this, the printing flow in this embodiment will be described with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. 4 to 7 and the screen display example of FIG.

First, a series of flow of the printing process of the mobile terminal 120 will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. The printing process of the mobile terminal 120 is started by issuing a printing instruction from the application 322. FIG. 8A is a screen of the application 322, and when the print instruction button 801 is pressed, a print instruction is given and the print system 323 is started.

When the printing system 323 is started, it first instructs the printing plug-in 324 to acquire the capability information of the default printer (S401). The default printer is the printer that was printed last time, or the printer that is preset by the OS or the user.

Next, the printing system 323 receives the capability information acquired by the print plug-in 324 communicating with the printer 110 (S402). The capability information at this time may be stored in advance in association with the default printer, and may be acquired. Further, the acquisition of the ability information at this time is executed by an arbitrary print route, and it does not matter which print route is used. Alternatively, the print route to be preferentially used may be set in advance by the user or the printer, and the print route may be determined according to the setting, or the setting of the default printer may be followed.

The print system 323 displays the basic print setting screen of FIG. 8B based on the capability information acquired in S402 (S403). FIG. 8B has a printer name 811, a basic print setting item 812, an extended print setting button 813, a print preview 814, and a print button 815. The printer name 811 is the selected output destination printer 110, and when the user selects this portion (S404), the printer search process described in the flow chart of FIG. 5 to be described later is performed (S405). The basic print setting item 812 is a basic print setting item and can be arbitrarily changed by the user. The extended print setting button 813 is an item for setting an extended function, and when the user selects this part (S406), the print plug-in is instructed to display the extended print setting screen described in the flow chart of FIG. 6 described later (S407). ). The print preview 814 displays a preview of print data. The print button 815 is a button for executing printing, and when the user presses this button (S408), print data is generated, and the print plug-in 324 is instructed to perform the printing process described in the flow chart of FIG. 7, which will be described later. (S409).

Next, the printer search process of S405 will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. FIG. 5A is a flow chart of the printing system 323, and FIG. 5B is a flow chart of the printing plug-in 324.

When the printer search process is started, the printing system 323 first displays the printer list screen shown in FIG. 8C (S501). At this point, unlike the screen shown in FIG. 8C, the printer is not displayed or the printer is displayed only from the history information. Next, the print system 323 instructs the print plug-in 324 to search (S502), and the print plug-in 324 receives the printer search instruction from the printing system 323 of the operating system (S511).

Multiple print plug-ins can be installed, and they are divided into enabled and disabled states. The print system 323 gives a search instruction only to the print plug-in in the valid state, and does not give a search instruction to the print plug-in in the invalid state. When there are a plurality of active print plug-ins, the print system 323 displays the printer search results received from the plurality of active print plug-ins in a mixed manner on the printer list screen shown in FIG. 8 (c). do. The enabled state and the disabled state can be changed on the setting screen (not shown) of the mobile terminal 120.

Upon receiving the printer search instruction, the print plug-in 324 searches for the printer 110 through the network 100 or the wireless communication 101 (S512). The print plug-in 324 holds the connection information and the basic information received from the printer 110 in the information storage unit 325 (S513). Next, the print plug-in 324 determines whether the printer found by the search includes the same printer (S514). This determination is made by referring to the UUID (Universally Unique Identifier) and MAC (Media Access Control) addresses included in the basic information acquired and held in S513. Among the printers found by the search, two or more printers having the same UUID and MAC address are determined to be the same printer.

The print plug-in 324 returns the search result of the printer found by the search to the printing system 323, excluding the printers determined to be duplicated by S514 (S515). Specifically, when there are two or more printers having the same UUID and MAC address in S514, one of the printers is returned to the printing system 323 as a search result. As a result of the processing of S515, in response to the instruction to search for the printer of the OS, the printer for displaying the printers found in duplicate in a plurality of routes as a single option on the printer list screen of FIG. 8C. The search result can be responded. As a result, the same printer having a plurality of print paths is displayed together.

The print plug-in performs the processes of S512 to S515 for each print path, and ends the process when all the searches are completed.

When the processing of the print plug-in 324 is completed, the print system 323 additionally displays the search result received from the print plug-in 324 in the printer list shown in FIG. 8 (c) (S503). The printing system 323 repeats the processes of S502 to S503 for the installed print plug-in, and then accepts the printer selection from the user (S504). When the user selects a printer, the printing system 323 instructs the print plug-in 324 to acquire the capability information of the selected printer 110 (S505).

The print plug-in 324 acquires the capability information of the selected printer 110 in response to the instruction. At this time, the ability information is acquired by the route displayed in the printer list shown in FIG. 8 (c). Note that the acquisition of ability information may be configured to be executed by an arbitrary print path. Alternatively, a print route to be preferentially used may be set in advance by the user or the printer, and the print route may be determined according to the setting.

Next, the printing system 323 receives the capability information acquired by the print plug-in 324 communicating with the printer 110 (S506). The print system 323 displays the basic print setting screen again based on the capability information acquired in S505 (S507). This completes the printer search process.

The process of the print plug-in 324 that has received the extended print setting screen display instruction according to S407 of FIG. 4 will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. The print plug-in 324 instructed to display the extended print setting screen acquires the print path and connection information of the selected printer 110 (S601). The print path and the connection information are the information held in S513 of FIG. 5B, and are acquired from the information storage unit 325. Next, the print plug-in 324 determines whether or not the selected printer 110 can print in a plurality of print paths from the information acquired in S601 (S602). If a plurality of print paths are not possessed, the extended print setting screen shown in FIG. 8 (d-1) is displayed (S603).

The extended print setting screen shown in FIG. 8 (d-1) has an extended print setting item 831 and an enter button 832. The extended print setting item 831 is a special setting of the printer 110, and the item is determined by the capacity information of the printer 110. The item set in the extended print setting item 831 is, for example, an item for setting the contents of secure printing or user authentication printing. The enter button 832 is a button for determining the extended print setting, and when the user presses this button, the extended print setting is determined. This button may be a back button, a back button mounted on the main body hardware of the mobile terminal 120, or a back button on the screen provided by the OS may be regarded as a decision. Although the print path selection item 833, which will be described later, is not displayed in FIG. 8 (d-1), it may be configured to be displayed. When the print route selection item 833 is displayed in FIG. 8 (d-1), the printer corresponding to the extended print setting screen can use only one route for the print process, so the print route of the target printer is simply confirmed. Is displayed so that it cannot be changed to other print paths. In addition, as a display method, the control may be displayed in gray so that it can be identified that it cannot be changed to other options.

On the other hand, when it is determined in S602 that there are a plurality of print paths, the print plug-in 324 displays the extended print setting screen shown in FIG. 8 (d-2) (S604). Here, the extended print setting screen is displayed according to the ability information acquired by the print plug-in 324 at the timing of S505 or the ability information acquired in S606 described later.

The extended print setting screen shown in FIG. 8 (d-2) has an extended print setting item 831, a decision button 832, and a print route selection item 833. Since the extended print setting item 831 and the enter button 832 are the same as those in FIG. 8 (d-1), the description thereof will be omitted. The print path selection item 833 is an item for selecting a print path to be used for the print process for the printer 110.

The print plug-in 324 determines whether or not the print route has been changed by the user using the print route selection item 833 (S605), and if the print route is changed, communicates with the printer 110 using the selected print route and outputs capability information. Reacquire (S606). The print plug-in 324 updates the extended print setting screen based on the capability information acquired in S606 (S607). After displaying the screen, the print plug-in 324 accepts the press of the enter button 832 (S608). The print plug-in 324 that has received the decision from the user in S608 saves the set contents of the extended print setting item 831 and the print route selection item 833 in the information storage unit 325 (S609). After that, the extended print setting screen is closed, and the screen returns to the basic print setting screen by the printing system 323 (S610). This completes the process of the print plug-in 324 when the extended print setting screen is displayed.

In this way, when the extended print setting screen corresponding to a printer that is grouped into a single option in the printer list is called, the print plug-in is used for the print process of the printer from multiple routes found for the printer. Display the extended print setting screen where you can select the route.

The process of the print plug-in 324 when the print instruction is given in S409 of FIG. 4 will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. First, the print plug-in 324 that has received the print instruction determines whether or not the extended print setting has been made on the extended print setting screen (S701). This determination is made based on the information stored in S609, and if this information exists, it is determined that the extended print setting has been made. If the extended print setting has been made, a print job is generated from the print data received from the print system 323, the basic setting, and the extended print setting, and is transmitted to the printer 110 (S702).

When it is determined in S701 that the extended print setting has not been made, the print plug-in 324 determines whether or not the selected printer 110 can print in a plurality of print paths (S703). This determination is made based on the information held in S513, and the information is acquired from the information storage unit 325. When it is determined in S703 that printing can be performed only in one printing path, the printing process described in S702 is performed. When it is determined in S703 that printing is possible in a plurality of print paths, the print path selection screen shown in FIG. 8 (e) is displayed (S704).

The print route selection screen shown in FIG. 8 (e) has a print route selection button 841 and a print decision button 842. The print route selection button 841 is a button for selecting one route to be used for the print process from the plurality of print routes found for the selected printer 110, and is displayed based on the information held in S513. The item initially selected at this time is the print path used for information acquisition in S402 or S505. The print decision button 842 is a button for deciding to print and giving a print instruction.

When the print plug-in 324 receives the print instruction (S705), the print plug-in 324 connects to the printer 110 by the print path of the print path selection button 841 set by the user, acquires the ability information from the printer 110, and obtains the print setting and the ability information. Matching is performed (S706). Matching is a process of detecting the difference between the print setting and the ability information, rounding the print setting according to the ability information, or replacing the print setting with an alternative setting. After the matching process is completed, a print job is generated and the print job is transmitted to the printer 110 (S702). As described above, the printing process is executed.

The method of allowing the user to arbitrarily change the print path has been described above even when the same printers found by the search in a plurality of print paths are collectively displayed and selected.

[Example 2]
In the first embodiment, a method of enabling the print path to be changed on the extended print setting screen and acquiring the capability information from the printer 110 each time the change is made has been described (S605-607). In this embodiment, a configuration in which capability information is acquired only when printing is instructed will be described.

The processing flow in this embodiment will be described with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. 9 to 10 and the UI diagram of FIG. The configuration and other processes are the same as those in the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of the print plug-in 324 that received the extended print setting screen display instruction in S407 in this embodiment. The print plug-in 324 instructed to display the extended print setting screen acquires the print path and connection information of the selected printer 110 (S901). The print path and connection information are information held in S513 and are acquired from the information storage unit 325. Next, the print plug-in 324 determines whether or not the selected printer 110 can print in a plurality of print paths from the information acquired in S901 (S902). If printing is not possible with a plurality of print paths, the extended print setting screen shown in FIG. 8 (d-1) is displayed (S903). When it is determined that there are a plurality of print paths, the print plug-in 324 displays the extended print setting screen shown in FIG. 8 (d-2) (S904).

The print plug-in 324 that has received the decision from the user in S905 stores and holds the setting contents of the extended print setting item 831 and the print route selection item 833 in the information storage unit 325 (S906). After that, the extended print setting screen is closed, and the process returns to the processing of the basic print setting screen by the printing system 323 (S907). This completes the process of the print plug-in 324 when the extended print setting screen is displayed.

In the flow chart of FIG. 10, the process of the print plug-in 324 when the print instruction is given in S409 will be described. First, the print plug-in 324 that has received the print instruction determines whether or not the extended print setting has been made on the extended print setting screen (S1001). This determination is made based on the information stored in S906, and if this information exists, it is determined that the extended print setting has been made. If the extended print setting has been made, it is confirmed on the extended print setting screen whether or not the print path has been changed (S1002). As a method of checking, whether or not the route has been changed in the print route selection item 833 on the extended print setting screen of FIG. 8 (d-2) is set in the flag, and if the flag is valid, the extended print setting screen is displayed. It is conceivable to judge that the route has been changed. When the print path has been changed, the printer 110 is connected to the print path of the print path selection button 841 set on the extended print setting screen, the ability information is acquired from the printer 110, and the print setting and the ability information are matched. (S1003). This process is the same as S706.

At this time, an embodiment in which the screen of FIG. 11 is displayed to indicate to the user that matching is to be performed and to select whether to execute the process is also possible. FIG. 11 has a cancel button 1101 and a print button 1102. The cancel button 1101 is a button for canceling the process, and when this button is pressed, the process returns to the basic print setting screen. The print button 1102 is a print execution button, and when this button is pressed, the process of S1003 is executed.

After the matching process is completed, the print plug-in 324 generates a print job and sends the print job to the printer 110 (S1004).

If there is no difference in S1002, the printing process described in S1004 is performed.

When it is determined in S1001 that the extended print setting has not been made, the print plug-in 324 determines whether or not the selected printer 110 can print in a plurality of print paths (S1005). This determination is made based on the information held in S513, and the information is acquired from the information storage unit 325. When it is determined in S1005 that printing can be performed only by one printing path, the printing process described in S1004 is performed.

When it is determined in S1005 that printing is possible in a plurality of print paths, the print path selection screen shown in FIG. 8 (e) is displayed (S1006). When the print plug-in 324 receives the print instruction (S1007), the print plug-in 324 acquires the ability information from the printer 110 at the print path of the print path selection button 841 set by the user, and matches the print setting with the ability information (S1008). The matching process is the same as the process described in S1003. After the matching process is completed, a print job is generated and the print job is transmitted to the printer 110 (S1004). As described above, the printing process is executed.

As described above, in the embodiment of the first embodiment, a method of omitting the time required for acquiring the ability information each time and performing the matching process at the time of printing has been described.

[Other Examples]
The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiment to a system or device via a network or storage medium, and one or more processors in the computer of the system or device reads and executes the program. It can also be realized by the processing to be performed. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

Claims (17)

A reception means that accepts instructions to search for a printer from the operating system,
A search means for searching for a printer when the above instruction is received, and
Among the printers found by the search, the detection means for detecting the printers found in duplicate in a plurality of routes, and
A response means for responding to the instruction for searching for a printer with a printer search result for displaying the printers found in duplicate in the plurality of routes as one.
A printer selected by the user from the search results of the printer, which is duplicated in the plurality of routes and is selected by the user from a plurality of routes corresponding to the printers displayed as one. An information processing apparatus comprising: a control means for displaying a print setting screen including a print setting item which is an item different from the route according to the route on a display means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the item according to the route selected by the user is a print setting item according to the information acquired from the printer in the route selected by the user. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an acquisition means for acquiring the information of the printer from the printer by a route selected by the user. A second receiving means for receiving a print instruction for a printer selected from the operating system,
When the print instruction is received, it has a determination means for determining whether or not the setting has been made on the print setting screen.
The control means is found for the selected printer when it is determined that the setting has not been made on the print setting screen and the selected printer can perform printing processing in a plurality of routes. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein a display means displays a selection screen for selecting one route to be used for the printing process from the plurality of routes. The control means includes the display of the route to the printer when the print setting screen corresponding to the printer that can use only one route used for the print process is called, and displays the print setting screen that cannot change the route. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the information processing apparatus is displayed. A search method for searching for printers and
A means for displaying the information of the printer found by the search on the display means, and a means for displaying the printers found in duplicate in a plurality of routes as one on the display means.
A printer selected by the user from the printers on which the information is displayed, according to the routes selected by the user from the plurality of routes corresponding to the printers on which the information is displayed collectively. An information processing apparatus comprising: a means for causing the display means to display a print setting screen including a print setting item which is an item different from the route. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the item according to the route selected by the user is a print setting item according to the information acquired from the printer in the route selected by the user. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising an acquisition means for acquiring the information of the printer from the printer by a route selected by the user. The information processing device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the information acquired from the printer is the capability information of the printer. The plurality of routes according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the plurality of routes include a route for directly connecting the information processing device and the printer and a route for connecting via the cloud. Information processing device. The information processing device according to claim 10, wherein the route selected by the user is the route that is directly connected. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 11, further comprising a generation means for generating a print job based on a value set for the print setting item. The search process to search for a printer and
In the step of displaying the information of the printer found by the search on the display means, the step of displaying the printers found in duplicate in a plurality of routes as one on the display means.
A printer selected by the user from the printers on which the information is displayed, according to the routes selected by the user from the plurality of routes corresponding to the printers on which the information is displayed collectively. An information processing method comprising a step of causing the display means to display a print setting screen including a print setting item which is an item different from the route. The information processing method according to claim 13, wherein the item according to the route selected by the user is a print setting item according to the information acquired from the printer by the route selected by the user. The information processing method according to claim 14, further comprising an acquisition step of acquiring the information of the printer from the printer by a route selected by the user. The information processing method according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the information acquired from the printer is the capability information of the printer. A program for causing a computer to execute the information processing method according to any one of claims 13 to 16.

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