Printing system, image forming apparatus, and printing method

The present invention is an image forming apparatus.<u style="single">, Printing system</u>An image forming apparatus that executes printing in response to a printing request received over a network, particularly regarding a method and a program.<u style="single">, Printing system</u>Regarding methods and programs.

Conventionally, the PDL (Page Description Language) that can be interpreted for each printer is fixed. Therefore, in a PC (Personal Computer) or the like that requires printing from a printer, it is necessary to convert the electronic document to be printed into print data by PDL that can be interpreted by the printing destination printer.

On the other hand, in recent years, there are printers that can accept not only print data but also electronic documents as they are as print targets. Such a printer has the ability to convert an electronic document received from a PC into a PDL and print it. Therefore, it is not always necessary to convert to print data on the PC side.<patcit num="1"><text>Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-108345</text></patcit>

<p num="0004"> However, in the past, the format of data to be transmitted to the printer was determined by the PC on the print request side. Therefore, there is a problem that the printing process lacks flexibility or efficiency.</p><p num="0005"> The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and is an image forming apparatus capable of improving the flexibility or efficiency of printing processing.<u style="single">, Printing system</u>The purpose is to provide methods and programs.</p>

<p num="0006"> Therefore, in order to solve the above problems, the present invention is an image forming apparatus via a network.<u style="single">Of the electronic data held by the connected information processing device</u>A print request receiving means that receives a print request and records the print request in a storage means,<u style="single">A display control means for displaying a list of print requests recorded in the storage means on the display means and a list displayed on the display means are selected.</u>The printing is based on whether or not there is a printer description language that can be processed by the image forming apparatus in the list of printer description languages that can be output by the information processing device of the print request source included in the print request. A determination means for determining whether or not to have the information processing device perform conversion of electronic data related to a request into print data, and the above-mentioned for the information processing device when the information processing device is made to perform conversion to print data. When a print data transmission request is transmitted and the information processing apparatus is not made to perform conversion to print data, the electronic data transmission request to the information processing apparatus is transmitted, and the printing is returned in response to the transmission request. It has a data acquisition means for receiving data or the electronic data, and prints the data acquired by the acquisition means.</p><p num="0007"> In such an image forming apparatus, the flexibility or efficiency of the printing process can be improved.</p>

<p num="0008"> According to the present invention, the flexibility or efficiency of the printing process can be improved.</p>

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the information processing system 1 shown in the figure, one or more image forming devices 10, one or more user PCs 20, and a net application management server 30 are connected to a network 40 (wired or wireless) such as a LAN (Local Area Network). It doesn't matter.) It is connected by.

The user PC 20 is a PC (Personal Computer) assigned to each user, and has an application (hereinafter, referred to as net application) that provides a predetermined service in cooperation with the image forming apparatus 10. In the figure, the print application 21 and the scan application 22 are shown as examples of the net application. The print application 21 is a net application that causes an image forming device 10 that can communicate via the network 40 to execute a print job, and is a UI control unit 211, an application information transmission unit 212, a cooperation unit 213, a print data generation unit 214, and a print data generation unit 214. It has an attribute information management file 215 and so on.

The UI control unit 211 displays various display screens related to the print application 21 on the display device of the user PC. The application information transmission unit 212 transmits a registration request for the application information of the print application 21 to the net application management server 30 in response to the input of the print instruction. The application information includes information necessary for executing the print application 21. In the present embodiment, the application information of the printing application 21 corresponds to a printing request to the image forming apparatus 10. The cooperation unit 213 controls communication (information exchange, etc.) for cooperation with the image forming apparatus 10. The print data generation unit 214 generates print data (PDL (Page Description Language) data) of a document file (electronic data) to be printed by the image forming apparatus 10 by using a printer driver installed in the PC 20. The attribute information management file 215 is a file that stores the attribute information of the print application 21. The attribute information includes, for example, an identifier of the print application 21 (app ID), a user ID of a user who is the owner of the print application 21, an initial value of print setting information (information indicating printing conditions), and the like.

On the other hand, the scan application 22 is a net application that executes a predetermined process (for example, distribution or storage) on the image data scanned by the image forming apparatus 10. The scan application 22 has a UI control unit 221, an application information transmission unit 222, a cooperation unit 223, a scan data processing unit 224, an attribute information management file 225, and the like.

The UI control unit 221 displays various display screens related to the scan application 22 on the display device of the user PC. When the scan application 22 is started, the application information transmission unit 222 transmits a registration request for the application information of the scan application 22 to the net application management server 30. The app information includes the information required to run Scan App 22. The cooperation unit 223 controls communication (exchange of information, etc.) for cooperation with the image forming apparatus 10. The attribute information management file 225 is a file that stores the setting information for the scan application 22. The scan data processing unit 224 executes a predetermined process (delivery, storage, etc.) on the image data scanned by the image forming apparatus 10 and transferred to the user PC 20. The attribute information management file 225 is a file that stores the attribute information of the scan application 22. The attribute information includes, for example, the identifier of the scan application 22 (app ID), the user ID of the user who owns the scan application 22, the initial value of the scan setting information (information indicating the scan condition), and the like.

As can be seen from the fact that the user ID of the owner of each net application is recorded in the attribute information management file 215 or 225 of the print application 21 and the scan application 22, each net application belongs to the user. Therefore, even if they are the same net application, if the users to which each net application belongs are different, each net application is distinguished as different. For example, a net application belonging to user A is basically allowed to be used only by user A. The net application belonging to user B is basically allowed to be used only by user B. However, for example, by giving the usage authority to another user by the access control function, it may be possible to use the net application owned by another person.

Although only one user PC 20 is shown in the figure, a plurality of user PC 20s may be connected to the network 40. However, the net application that each user PC 20 has may be different.

The net application management server 30 is a computer having an application information registration unit 31, an advertising unit 32, an application information providing unit 32, an intermediary unit 34, and the like. The application information registration unit 31 receives the application information registration request transmitted from the user PC 30, and stores the application information in the application information management table 35. The application information management table 35 is generated in the storage device of the net application management server 30 for each user. That is, each application information management table 35 manages the application information of the net application belonging to the corresponding user. The advertising unit 32 advertises (broadcasts, multicasts, etc.) the user ID included in the application information received by the application information registration unit 31 on the network 40. Advertising is performed on a user-by-user basis (user ID-based). Specifically, after an advertisement is made for user A, even if new application information belonging to user A is received, the advertisement corresponding to the application information is not performed. That is, the advertisement by the advertising unit 32 is information for notifying the image forming apparatus 10 that a user who has become able to use some kind of net application has newly occurred. However, the advertisement may be performed in units of application information. In this case, duplicate advertisements will be issued for the same user, but the duplicates may be eliminated on the image forming apparatus 10 side. The application information providing unit 33 provides (transmits) the application information registered in the application information management table 35 to the image forming device 10 in response to the request from the image forming device 10. The mediation unit 34 mediates the communication between the net application and the image forming apparatus 10.

In addition, any user PC 20 may also serve as the net application management server 30. That is, the application information registration unit 31, the advertisement unit 32, the application information provision unit 33, the mediation unit 34, and the like may be implemented in any of the user PC 20s.

The image forming apparatus 10 is a multifunction device that realizes functions such as printing, scanning, copying, and fax transmission / reception in a single housing. However, an apparatus (printer, scanner, copier, facsimile, etc.) that realizes any one of the functions may be used as the image forming apparatus 10. The image forming apparatus 10 includes a user detection unit 121, a UI control unit 122, an application information acquisition unit 123, a net application cooperation unit 124, a function control unit 125, a user management table 126, a net application management table 127, and a print data generation unit 127. It has a print data processing unit 128 and the like.

The user detection unit 121 detects the existence of a user who can use the net application based on the advertisement issued by the net application management server 30, and registers the user ID and the like included in the advertisement in the user management table 126. .. The user management table 126 is a table that manages a list of users whose available net applications exist on the network 40. The UI control unit 122 receives input such as an operation instruction of the net application from the user. That is, although the net application is arranged on the user PC 20, it can also be operated from the operation panel of the image forming apparatus 10. The application information acquisition unit 123 acquires the application information of the net application belonging to the user selected from the users registered in the user management table 126 from the net application management server 30. The net application cooperation unit 124 controls communication with the net application. The function control unit 125 controls the execution of the function requested by the net application. For example, printing or scanning is executed under the control of the function control unit 125. The print data generation unit 127 converts the document file into print data. The print data processing unit 128 generates a print image based on the print data.

Subsequently, the hardware configuration of each device will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration example of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 10 includes hardware such as a controller 11, a scanner 12, a printer 13, a modem 14, an operation panel 15, a network interface 16, and an SD card slot 17.

The controller 11 includes a CPU 111, a RAM 112, a ROM 113, an HDD 114, and the like. The ROM 113 records various programs and data used by the programs. The RAM 112 is used as a storage area for loading a program, a work area of the loaded program, and the like. The CPU 111 realizes various functions by processing the program loaded in the RAM 112. The HDD 114 records the program and various data used by the program (for example, the user management table 126).

The scanner 12 is hardware for reading image data from a document. The printer is hardware for printing the print image generated by the print data processing unit 128 on the printing paper. The modem 14 is hardware for connecting to a telephone line, and is used for transmitting and receiving image data by fax communication. The operation panel 15 is hardware provided with input means such as buttons for receiving input from the user and display means such as a liquid crystal panel. The network interface 16 is hardware for connecting to a network such as a LAN (whether wired or wireless). The SD card slot 17 is used to read the program recorded on the SD card 80. That is, in the image forming apparatus 10, not only the program recorded in the ROM 113 but also the program recorded in the SD card 80 can be loaded into the RAM 112 and executed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration example of the user PC according to the embodiment of the present invention. The user PC 20 of FIG. 3 includes a drive device 200, an auxiliary storage device 202, a memory device 203, a CPU 204, an interface device 205, a display device 206, and an input device 207, which are connected to each other by bus B, respectively. Has.

A program that realizes processing on the user PC 20 is provided by a recording medium 201 such as a CD-ROM. When the recording medium 201 on which the program is recorded is set in the drive device 200, the program is installed in the auxiliary storage device 202 from the recording medium 201 via the drive device 200. However, the program does not necessarily have to be installed from the recording medium 201, and may be downloaded from another computer via the network. The auxiliary storage device 202 stores the installed program and also stores necessary files, data, and the like.

The memory device 203 reads and stores the program from the auxiliary storage device 202 when the program is instructed to start. The CPU 204 realizes the function related to the user PC 20 according to the program stored in the memory device 203. The interface device 205 is used as an interface for connecting to a network. The display device 206 displays a programmatic GUI (Graphical User Interface) or the like. The input device 207 is composed of a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and is used for inputting various operation instructions.

The processing procedure of the information processing system 1 will be described below. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the processing procedure of the print application on the user PC.

In response to the start instruction of the print application 21 input by the user on the user PC 20, the UI control unit 211 causes the display device 106 to display the main screen of the print application 21 (S101). Subsequently, the UI control unit 211 accepts the user to select the document file to be printed (S102). The document file is selected, for example, by dragging and dropping the document file icon onto the main screen of the print application 21.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing how a document file is dragged and dropped onto the main screen. In the figure, the icon of the file A is dragged and dropped on the main screen 510 displayed on the display device 106. Although the main screen 510 is shown by a simple rectangle, it may be provided with display parts such as a toolbar and a pull-down menu. The document file may also be selected via a file dialog (a dialog for selecting a file existing on the file system) displayed by selecting a tool button or a menu item.

In response to the selection of the document file, the UI control unit 211 records the file name and file type (file format) of the selected document file in the memory device 103. The file type is determined based on the file extension.

Subsequently, the UI control unit 211 displays the icon of the selected document file on the main screen 510 and displays the print setting screen on the display device 106 (S103).

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example of the print setting screen. In the figure, the print setting screen 520 is displayed on the right side of the main screen 510. A detailed display example of the print setting screen 520 is shown on the right side of the figure. In the example of the figure, the number of copies to be printed, the printing direction, the color mode, double-sided printing, aggregate printing, and the like can be set on the print setting screen 520. However, these setting items are merely examples, and the types of setting items are not limited to predetermined ones.

When the value of each setting item is set on the print setting screen 510, the UI control unit 211 records the set information (hereinafter, referred to as print setting information) in the memory device 103 (S105). Subsequently, the application information transmission unit 211 acquires a list of printer description language (PDL) types supported by the printer driver installed on the user PC 20 (S106). The list of printer description languages can be obtained as follows. First, get a list of printer drivers installed on user PC20. Subsequently, the printer description language supported by each acquired printer driver is acquired from each printer driver.

Subsequently, the application information transmission unit 211 generates the application information of the print application 21 based on the information acquired in the above step, and transmits the registration request of the application information to the net application management server 30 (S107). Information for communicating with the net application management server 30 (for example, IP address or host name) is registered in each user PC 20 in advance.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of application information of the print application. In the figure, the application information includes an application ID, a user ID, a linkage function identifier, a net application address, a display name, print setting information, a file name, a file format, a PDL list, and the like.

The application ID is identification information that uniquely identifies each net application. The user ID is identification information of the user who is the owner of the print application 21. The cooperation function identifier is information for identifying a function (in other words, a function used by the net application) that the image forming apparatus 10 that cooperates with the net application needs to have. Examples of the linkage function identifier include "print" and "scan". Print indicates a printing function. Scan indicates a scanning function. The print application 21 uses the print function of the image forming apparatus 10. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 7, "print" is used as the linkage function identifier. The net application address is identification information (for example, URL, etc.) for uniquely identifying each net application in network communication. The display name is a character string for displaying the name of the net application. The application ID, user ID, linkage function identifier, net application address, and display name are acquired from, for example, the attribute information management file 215.

The print setting information is the print setting information set on the print setting screen 510. However, the value stored in the attribute information management file 215 may be included. The file name and file format are the file name and file format acquired from the document file to be printed and recorded in the memory device 103. The PDL list is a list of printer description languages that the printer driver of the user PC 20 can support (output) acquired by the application information transmission unit 211.

Subsequently, the processing procedure executed by the transmission of the application information in step S107 will be described. FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram for explaining a processing procedure at the time of transmitting application information.

In step S111, the application information transmitted from the application information transmission unit 212 is received by the application information registration unit 31 of the net application management server 30. The application information registration unit 31 registers the application information in the application information management table 35 corresponding to the user ID included in the received application information. If the app information management table 35 corresponding to the user ID does not exist, the app information registration unit 31 generates the app information management table 35 corresponding to the user ID, and displays the app information in the generated app information management table 35. Register (S112).

When the application information management table 35 is newly generated (that is, when the application information is registered for the first time for the user related to the user ID included in the received application information), the advertising unit 32 is received. An advertisement including the user ID included in the application information and the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) for acquiring the application information is issued on the network 40 (S113). The application information acquisition URL is a unique URL for each application information management table 35. For example, when the application information registration unit 31 generates the application information management table 35, the application information registration unit 31 generates an application information acquisition URL for the application information management table 35. Here, the application information management table 35 is generated for each user. Therefore, the URL for acquiring application information is unique for each user.

Subsequently, when the user detection unit 121 of the image forming apparatus 10 receives the advertisement, the user ID and the application information acquisition URL included in the advertisement are registered in the user management table 126 (S114).

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a user management table. As shown in the figure, the user management table 126 manages a pair of a user ID and an application information acquisition URL. The figure shows an example in which records are registered for user A and user B. The user management table 126 is stored in the HDD 114, for example.

After that, the user who has instructed printing via the print application 21 on the user PC 20 moves to the image forming apparatus 10 at an arbitrary timing, and operates the printing application 21 from the image forming apparatus 10. When a plurality of image forming devices 10 are connected to the network 40, the same advertisement is received by the user detection unit 121 of each image forming device 10, and the user ID is displayed in the user management table 126 of each image forming device 10. And the URL for acquiring application information is registered. Therefore, the user can execute the process shown in FIG. 10 from any of the plurality of image forming devices 10.

FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram for explaining a processing procedure when the print application is operated by the image forming apparatus.

When the user inputs an instruction to use the net application via the operation panel 15 (S201), the UI control unit 122 of the image forming apparatus 10 displays the user selection screen based on the information registered in the user management table 126. Display on the operation panel 15 (S202). In step S202, the UI control unit 122 may acquire user information from the net application management server 30 and display the user selection screen based on the acquired user information. In this case, step S113 in FIG. 8 does not necessarily have to be performed. However, for example, step S113 may be executed by unicast for a specific image forming apparatus 10 having a subnet different from that of the net application management server 30 (an IP address is registered in the net application management server 30 in advance). ..

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display example of the user selection screen. On the user selection screen 610 shown in the figure, buttons are displayed for each user ID. In the figure, a button 611 corresponding to user A and a button 612 corresponding to user B are displayed.

Subsequently, the user presses the button corresponding to his / her user ID on the user selection screen 610 (S203). Upon pressing the button, the application information acquisition unit 123 acquires the application information acquisition URL associated with the user ID corresponding to the selected button from the user management table 126. Note that the user may be authenticated in response to the pressing of the button corresponding to the user ID, and the subsequent processing may be executed only when the user is authenticated.

Subsequently, the application information acquisition unit 123 transmits an application information acquisition request to the application information acquisition URL (S204). The request for acquiring the application information is received by the application information providing unit 33 of the net application management server 30. The application information providing unit 33 is all the net applications registered in the application information management table 35 corresponding to the application information acquisition URL (that is, the application information management table 35 corresponding to the user who is operating the image forming device 10). The application information of the above is acquired, and the list of the acquired application information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 10 (S205). When transmitting the list of application information, the application information providing unit 33 sets a URL for relaying communication between the image forming device 10 and each net application (hereinafter referred to as "net application relay URL") for each net application. Generate. The application information providing unit 33 adds the net application relay URL generated for each net application to the application information corresponding to each net application, and the image forming device lists the application information to which the net application relay URL is added. Send to 10. Therefore, the application information transmitted in step S205 has a configuration as shown in FIG. 12, for example.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a configuration example of application information transmitted from the net application management server to the image forming apparatus.

The application information shown in the figure is the one in which the URL for relaying the net application is added to the application information in FIG. In step S205, a list of application information as shown in the figure is transmitted. Here, a list of application information is also called a list that contains only one application information.

The URL for relaying the net application may be generated when the application information registration unit 31 registers the application information in the application information management table 35, and may be added to the application information.

Subsequently, the UI control unit 122 of the image forming apparatus 10 records a list of received application information in RAM 112, and displays a net application selection screen based on the list of the application information (S206).

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a display example of the net application selection screen. A button is displayed for each net application on the net application selection screen 620 shown in the figure. In the figure, the button 621 corresponding to the scan application 22, the button 622 corresponding to the print application 21 related to the print instruction of the file A, and the button 623 corresponding to the print application 22 related to the print instruction of the file B are displayed. ing.

By the way, in the scan application 22, the buttons are displayed in the application unit, whereas in the print application 22, the buttons are displayed in the print request unit (that is, the print job unit). This is due to the difference in the issuance timing of the application information registration request between the two online applications. That is, as described in FIG. 4, the print application 22 issues a registration request for application information in response to the input of the print request (transmits to the net application management server 30). Therefore, if a print request is input for file A and then a print request is input for file B, FIGS. 4 and 8 are executed for each document file. As a result, with respect to the print application 21, application information is registered in the net application information management table 35 for each print request (for each print job).

On the other hand, the scan application 22 issues application information when the scan application 22 is started. That is, the process shown in FIG. 8 is executed when the scan application 22 is started. As a result, regarding the scan application 22, application information is registered in the application information management table 35 for each application.

Then, a button is displayed on the application selection screen 620 for each application information. Therefore, the button is displayed for each print request (print job) for the print application 21, and the button is displayed for each application for the scan application 22.

Regarding the print application 21, displaying buttons for each print job is in consideration of operability. That is, suppose that the button is displayed for each application of the print application 21 as well. In this case, after performing the usage instruction of the net application (1) user selection on the user selection screen 610 (2) selection of the print application 21 on the application selection screen 620 (3), the file to be printed is selected (4). ) Is required (the number in parentheses indicates the number of operations). Therefore, at least four input operations are required. Moreover, the operability of the operation panel 15 of the image forming apparatus 10 is lower than that of a user interface (mouse, keyboard, etc.) generally provided in a PC (Personal Computer). Selecting a document file to be printed using such an operation panel 15 further increases the operation load. Further, in order to make the document file stored in the user PC 20 selectable from the image forming apparatus 20, the implementation cost of the program to be implemented in the image forming apparatus 20 also increases.

On the other hand, when the button is displayed for each print job as in the present embodiment, the usage instruction of the net application (1) user selection on the user selection screen 610 (2) print application 21 on the application selection screen 620. Only three input operations such as selection (3) are required.

Therefore, the print application 21 of the present embodiment issues an application information registration request in response to the print request so that the button is displayed for each print job. In FIG. 13, the button 622 is grayed out. This point will be described later.

Subsequently, on the net application selection screen 620, when the button corresponding to the print application 21 related to any print job is selected and the start key of the operation panel 15 is pressed (S207), the net application cooperation unit 124 is displayed. Recognizes that printing should be executed based on the linkage function identifier (print) included in the application information (hereinafter referred to as current application information) corresponding to the pressed button. It is necessary to obtain print data in order to perform printing. Therefore, the net application cooperation unit 124 executes the print data (data in the printer description language) of the document file to be printed on the image forming apparatus 10, or on the user PC 20 side where the print application 21 is arranged. Decide whether to execute it (S208). Further, when it is determined that the user PC 20 is to generate the print data, the net application cooperation unit 124 also determines the type of the printer description language used for the print data to be generated by the user PC 20. That is, in the present embodiment, either the user PC 20 or the image forming apparatus 10 does not always generate print data, but the printing data generating subject dynamically changes according to the state of the image forming apparatus 10. ..

Subsequently, the net application cooperation unit 124 transmits a print data or document file transmission request to the net application relay URL included in the current application information according to the determination result (S209). If it is determined that the print data is generated by the user PC 20, the print data is the target of the transmission request. If it is determined that the print data generator is the image forming apparatus 10, the document file is the target of the transmission request. The file name included in the current application information is specified in the transmission request. If the print data is the target of the transmission request, the type of printer description language is also specified.

The transmission request of the print data or the document file addressed to the URL for relaying the net application is received by the intermediary unit 34 of the net application management server 30. The mediation unit 34 acquires the application information corresponding to the URL for relaying the net application from the application management table 35, and forwards the transmission request of the print data or the document file to the net application address included in the application information ( S210).

The request for transmitting the print data or the document file addressed to the net application address is received by the cooperation unit 213 of the print application 21 on the user PC 20. When the target of the transmission request is print data, the cooperation unit 213 requests the print data generation unit 214 to generate the print data. The print data generation unit 214 acquires a document file having a file name specified in the print data transmission request from the auxiliary storage device 102, and generates print data of the document file (S211). At this time, the print data generation unit 214 generates the print data of the document file by using a printer driver capable of generating the printer description language specified in the print data transmission request.

On the other hand, when the target of the transmission request is a document file, the cooperation unit 213 acquires the document file with the file name specified in the print data transmission request from the auxiliary storage device 102 (S211).

Subsequently, the cooperation unit 213 returns the generated print data or the acquired document file to the mediation unit 34 of the management server 30 (S212). Subsequently, the intermediary unit 34 transfers the print data or the document file to the net application cooperation unit 124 of the image forming apparatus 10 (S213).

The net application cooperation unit 124 inputs the received print data or document file to the function control unit 125. When the input data is print data, the function control unit 125 causes the print data processing unit 128 to generate a print image based on the print data, and transfers the generated print image to the print paper to the printer 13. Let (S214).

On the other hand, when the input data is a document file, the function control unit 125 causes the print data generation unit 127 to convert the document file into print data, and the print data processing unit generates a print image based on the print data. Let 128 run it. Further, the function control unit 125 causes the printer 13 to transfer the generated print image to the printing paper (S214).

While the process of FIG. 10 is being executed, the process of FIG. 8 can also be executed in parallel. Specifically, the user management table 126 of the image forming apparatus 10 is set in the user management table 126 of the image forming apparatus 10 based on the application information registration request from the net application of the user PC 20 related to the user different from the user who is currently operating the image forming apparatus 10. The user ID and the like included in the application information can be registered.

Next, the point that the button 622 is grayed out in FIG. 13 will be described. This indicates that the capability of the image forming apparatus 10 cannot completely correspond to the print setting information set for the corresponding print job by the button 622. That is, the print destination is not specified on the print setting screen 520 of the print application 21. Therefore, the setting items that can be set on the print setting screen 520 are not always compatible with the image forming apparatus 10 that is the operation target of the user. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 10 may not be able to completely correspond to the print setting information set on the print setting screen 520.

The grayout of the button 622 is the processing procedure shown in FIG. 14 for each button corresponding to the print application 21 when the UI control unit 122 of the image forming apparatus 10 displays the net application selection screen 620 (step S206 in FIG. 10). It is realized by executing.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining the processing procedure executed when the button of the print application is displayed.

In step S211 the UI control unit 122 extracts the print setting information from the application information corresponding to the button to be processed. Subsequently, the UI control unit 122 acquires the capability information of the image forming apparatus 10 (S212). The capability information is list information of print setting items that the image forming apparatus 10 can handle, and is stored in, for example, the HDD 114. Subsequently, the UI control unit 122 determines whether all the setting items specified in the print setting information are included in the ability information, thereby designating the setting items that the image forming apparatus 10 cannot handle. Whether or not it is determined (S213).

If there is a setting item that cannot be handled, that is, if there is a setting item that is not included in the capability information among the setting items specified in the print setting information (Yes in S213), the UI control unit 122 handles it. The impossible setting item is recorded in the memory device 103 in association with the button to be processed (S214). Subsequently, the UI control unit 122 grays out the button to be processed (S215).

On the other hand, when there is no unsupported setting item, that is, when all the setting items specified in the print setting information are included in the capability information (No in S213), the UI control unit 122 is set as the processing target. Display the button in normal color (S216).

When the grayed out button 622 is selected, the UI control unit 122 notifies the user of the unsupportable setting items recorded in the memory device 103.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of notification of a setting item that cannot be handled. On the net application selection screen 620 of the figure, the notification screen 625 is overwritten. On the notification screen 625, a message indicating that color printing is not possible and an inquiry as to whether or not to execute printing are displayed. The user presses the Yes button 6251 on the notification screen 625 if he / she wants to perform printing even if color printing is not possible. The user presses the No button 6252 if he / she wants to stop printing.

When the Yes button 6251 is pressed, the button 622 is in the selected state. When the No button 6252 is pressed, the button 622 is not selected. When the start key of the operation panel 15 is pressed while the button 622 is in the selected state, the process described in step S207 and subsequent steps of FIG. 10 is executed for the print job related to the button 622. However, in this case, the setting items that cannot be handled are ignored and printing is executed.

Subsequently, the details of the determination process in step S208 will be described. FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining the processing procedure of the determination process of the printing data generation main body.

In step S221, the net application cooperation unit 124 acquires the PDL list from the current application information. Next, the net application cooperation unit 124 determines whether or not there is a PDL (printer description language) that the print data processing unit 128 of the image forming apparatus 10 can handle (process) in the acquired PDL list. (S222). The printer description language supported by the print data processing unit 128 may be acquired by inquiring to the print data processing unit 128, or may be determined based on the information stored in the HDD 114. Although the print data processing unit 128 is represented by one rectangle in FIG. 1, the print data processing unit 128 may exist for each compatible printer description language.

When the printer description language supported by the print data processing unit 128 is included in the PDL list (that is, when there is a printer description language that can be generated by the user PC 20 that can be processed by the print data processing unit 128). ), The net application cooperation unit 124 determines whether or not the number of standby jobs of the image forming apparatus 10 is equal to or greater than a predetermined number (preset threshold value) (S223). Here, the number of standby jobs may be the number of all application information recorded in the RAM 112 by the application information acquisition unit 123 (that is, the number of buttons on the net application selection screen 620), or the application information. Among the numbers, it may be the number of application information related to the print application 21. Whether or not the information is the application information related to the print application 21 may be determined based on, for example, whether or not the value of the linkage function identifier is "print".

When the number of standby jobs is equal to or greater than a predetermined number (Yes in S223), the net application cooperation unit 124 determines that the print data is generated by the user PC 20 (S224). This is because the standby job is digested by reducing the load on the image forming apparatus 10. Next, the net application cooperation unit 124 uses the printer description language supported by the print data processing unit 128 among the printer description languages included in the PDL list for the print data to be generated by the user PC 20. Language (S225). If there are multiple applicable printer description languages, one of them may be selected. For example, the print data processing unit 128 may set a priority among the printer description languages that can be supported, and select the printer description language having the highest priority among the corresponding printer description languages. However, if the print data processing unit 128 can handle all the printer description languages included in the PDL list, the image forming apparatus 10 should not select the printer description language, but the user PC 20 should select the printer description language. You may do it. In this case, the printer description language may not be specified in step S209 of FIG.

On the other hand, if there is no printer description language that the print data processing unit 128 can support among the printer description languages included in the PDL list (No in S222), or if the number of waiting jobs is less than the specified number (No in S223). ), The net application cooperation unit 124 determines that the printing data is generated mainly by the image forming apparatus 10 (S226).

In addition to the number of standby jobs, the print data generator may be determined by considering other indicators that can determine the load of the image forming apparatus 10, such as the CPU 111 usage rate and the memory usage. Good.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 10 or the user PC 20 can dynamically take on the role of generating print data. As a result, the flexibility and efficiency of the entire printing process can be improved.

In this embodiment, an example in which the net application management device 30 mediates between the user PC 20 and the image forming device 10 has been described. In such a form, by consolidating the devices that communicate with the image forming device 10 into the net application management device 30, the correspondence of the communication protocol with the image forming device 10 can be limited to the net application management device 30. There are advantages. Further, there is an advantage that the amount of communication to the image forming apparatus 10 can be reduced. However, each user PC 20 and the image forming apparatus 10 may directly communicate with each other. In this case, it is sufficient that each user PC 20 has the function of the net application management device 30.

Although the examples of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and various modifications are made within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims. Can be changed.

<figref num="1">It is a figure which shows the structural example of the information processing system in embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="2">It is a figure which shows the hardware configuration example of the image forming apparatus in embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="3">It is a figure which shows the hardware configuration example of the user PC in embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="4">It is a flowchart for demonstrating the processing procedure of a print application on a user PC.</figref><figref num="5">It is a figure which shows how the document file is dragged and dropped to the main screen.</figref><figref num="6">It is a figure which shows the display example of a print setting screen.</figref><figref num="7">It is a figure which shows the example of the application information of a print application.</figref><figref num="8">It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the processing procedure at the time of transmission of application information.</figref><figref num="9">It is a figure which shows the configuration example of the user management table.</figref><figref num="10">It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the processing procedure at the time of operating a print application from an image forming apparatus.</figref><figref num="11">It is a figure which shows the display example of a user selection screen.</figref><figref num="12">It is a figure which shows the configuration example of the application information transmitted from the net application management server to the image forming apparatus.</figref><figref num="13">It is a figure which shows the display example of the net application selection screen.</figref><figref num="14">It is a flowchart for demonstrating the processing procedure which is executed when the button of a print application is displayed.</figref><figref num="15">It is a figure which shows the notification example of the setting item which cannot correspond.</figref><figref num="16">It is a flowchart for demonstrating the processing procedure of the determination process of the print data generation subject.</figref>

Code description

1 Information processing system 10 Image forming device 11 controller 12 scanner 13 Printer 14 modem 15 Operation panel 16 network interface 17 SD card slot 20 user PC 21 print app 22 Scan app 30 Net application management server 31 App Information Registration Department 32 Advertising Department 33 App Information Department 34 Mediation Department 40 networks 80 SD card 111 CPU 112 RAM 113 ROM 114 HDD 121 User detector 122 UI control unit 123 App information acquisition department 124 Net application cooperation department 125 Function control unit 126 User management table 127 Print data generator 128 Print data processing unit 200 drive device 201 Recording medium 202 Auxiliary storage 203 Memory device 204 CPU 205 Interface device 206 Display device 207 Input device 211 UI control unit 212 App information transmitter 213 Cooperation Department 214 Print data generator 215 Attribute information management file 221 UI control unit 222 App information transmitter 223 Cooperation Department 224 Scan data processing unit 225 Attribute information management file