JP2003316539A - Printer driver, printer host, printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To provide an initial setting screen of printing conditions in consideration of a user level. Also, an initial setting screen for printing conditions corresponding to the category of the application is provided. An initial setting screen for printing conditions provided by a printer driver and application software are provided.
1a, 201b, and 201n are associated with each other to provide an initial setting screen with the user level in mind. Further, the print condition initial setting screen provided by the printer driver 203 is associated with the category of the application software, and the application software 201a, 2
An initial setting screen corresponding to the categories 01b and 201n is provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer driver, a printer host, and a printing system including a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A printer driver receives image data of an image created by application software and creates print data in accordance with print conditions set by a user on a print condition setting screen. The user can set print conditions for image data such as sentences created by application software running on an information processing device such as a personal computer on a print condition setting screen provided by the printer driver. Items required to set this printing condition are
It is considered to vary depending on the level of the user. For example, advanced PC users tend to make detailed settings, and beginners tend to make only simple settings.

Further, the application software is
There are various types such as word processing software and photo retouching software, but the level of the user who uses them may differ depending on the type. For example, spreadsheet software and word processing software tend to be used by a wide range of users, including beginners of personal computers. On the other hand, photo retouching software for advanced users and DTP (Desk Top Publishing) tend to be used mainly by advanced users of personal computers.

Further, the items required for setting the printing conditions may differ depending on the application software. For example, print data created by word processing software, spreadsheet software, or the like is mainly text data, and often does not require detailed setting items required for photo data. On the other hand, with respect to the print data created by the photo retouching software or the DTP, detailed setting is required due to its nature.

[0005]

Conventionally, the printer driver provides only one initial setting screen for printing conditions. Further, the printer driver provides an initial setting screen composed of relatively simple setting items, assuming a beginner.
Therefore, the initial setting screen provided by the conventional printer driver cannot provide sufficient setting items for advanced users who need to set detailed printing conditions. The advanced user must search for another setting screen having necessary setting items from the initial setting screen and set the printing conditions.

Further, although the setting items required for setting the printing conditions are often different depending on the category of the application software, the conventional printer driver displays the initial setting screen of the printing conditions in consideration of the category. Not provided.

In view of the above, the present invention focuses on the fact that the application software tends to have different levels of users who use it, and that the application software may have different print condition setting items. is doing.

That is, an object of the present invention is to provide an initial setting screen which is convenient for users of various levels.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a user-friendly initial setting screen from various categories of applications.

[0010]

In order to solve the above problems, according to the present invention, an initial setting screen for printing conditions provided by a printer driver is associated with application software, and an initial setting screen in consideration of a user level is displayed. I will provide a.

For example, the printer driver of the present invention receives the image data of the image created by the application software, and creates the print data according to the print condition set by the user on the print condition setting screen. Which is a printer driver to be executed by, and which specifies the application software that has received the image data, and according to a predetermined rule,
The computer is caused to execute a process of displaying an initial setting screen of printing conditions corresponding to the specified application software.

Here, the above-mentioned predetermined rule means that the application software is associated with an initial setting screen of print conditions which is configured on the assumption of a user level using the application software. Good. Further, the predetermined rule may correspond to a plurality of application software. Further, the process of identifying the application software may be performed by being acquired from an operating system (OS) running on the computer.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the printer host of the present invention sets the print condition set by the user on the print condition setting screen based on the image data of the image created by the application software, for example. Therefore, a printer host that creates print data, and a printing unit that is configured assuming a specifying unit that specifies the application software that operates on the printer host, the application software, and a user level that uses the application software Display means for displaying the initial setting screen of the printing condition corresponding to the application software specified by the specifying means according to a rule associated with the initial setting screen of the condition in advance.

Further, the printing system of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problem is based on, for example, the image data of the image created by the application software, to set the printing condition set by the user on the printing condition setting screen. Therefore, a printing system comprising a printer host for creating print data and transmitting the print data to the printer, and a printer capable of performing a print process based on the print data, wherein the printer includes a receiving unit for the print data. The printer host, specifying means for specifying the application software operating on the printer host,
The printing condition corresponding to the application software specified by the specifying unit is in accordance with a rule in which the application software and an initial setting screen of the printing condition configured assuming a user level using the application software are associated in advance. And a display unit for displaying the initial setting screen.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, another aspect of the present invention is to associate an initial setting screen for printing conditions provided by a printer driver with a category of application software, and set an initial setting screen corresponding to the category of application software. Is provided.

For example, a printer driver according to another aspect of the present invention receives image data of an image created by application software and creates print data in accordance with print conditions set by the user on the print condition setting screen. A printer driver that causes a computer to execute the processing for specifying a category corresponding to the specified application software according to a rule that associates the processing for specifying the application software with the category of the application software in advance. And an initial setting screen of the printing condition corresponding to the specified category is displayed according to a rule in which the category and the initial setting screen of the printing condition corresponding to the category are associated in advance. And management, and characterized by causing a computer to execute. Here, the process of specifying the application software may be performed by being acquired from an operating system (OS) operating on the computer.

A printer host according to another aspect of the present invention for solving the above problem is set by a user on a print condition setting screen based on image data of an image created by application software, for example. A printer host that creates print data according to the above-mentioned printing conditions, and a specifying unit that specifies the application software that operates on the printer host, and a rule that associates the application software with the category of the application software in advance. , Corresponding to the specified category according to a rule in which the category corresponding to the application software specified by the specifying means is associated with the category and the initial setting screen of the print condition corresponding to the category. Shi Characterized by comprising a display means for displaying the initial setting screen of the print condition.

Further, a printing system according to another aspect of the present invention for solving the above problems is set by a user on a printing condition setting screen based on image data of an image created by application software, for example. A printing system comprising: a printer host that creates print data according to the print condition and sends the print data to the printer; and a printer that can perform print processing based on the print data, wherein the printer is The printer host includes a receiving unit, and the printer host identifies the application software operating on the printer host according to a rule that associates the application software with a category of the application software in advance. Application software Means for identifying a category corresponding to E A, according to a pre-associated rule and an initial setting screen for the printing conditions corresponding to the category and the category,
Display means for displaying an initial setting screen of the printing condition corresponding to the specified category.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, the first practical embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a printing system to which the present invention is applied. The printing system includes a host information processing apparatus 101 and a printer 106 connected to the host information processing apparatus 101. An image display device 104 and an input device 105 are connected to the host information processing device 101.

The host information processing apparatus 101 has a CPU 103.
It is possible to use a device such as a general personal computer including the memory 102 and the memory 102. Further, the host information processing apparatus 101 performs various information processing by the CPU 103 executing a program stored in the memory 102.

The input device 105 receives various instructions from the user and can be a device such as a keyboard or a mouse. The user inputs various commands from the input device 105 to application software operating on the host information processing device 101, inputs a print instruction to the printer 106 for image data created by the application software, and the like.

The image display device 104 displays various images such as a print condition setting screen received from the host information processing device 101. Further, the image display device 104 is
A CRT, a liquid crystal display device or the like can be used.

The printer 106 prints the print data received from the host information processing apparatus, and is controlled by the host information processing apparatus 101.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the software configuration of the host information processing apparatus 101 to which the present invention is applied.
The host information processing apparatus 101 includes application software, API 201a, APII 201b, ..., AP.
n201n and operating system OS20
2 and the printer driver 203 are constructed.

The OS 202 is an application software API 201a, APII 201 on the information processing apparatus 101.
b, ..., Basic software that enables the APn 201n and the printer driver 203 to be used.

API 201a, APII 201b, ..., APn
201n is an OS running on the host information processing apparatus 101
It is application software for operating on 202 and realizing each purpose such as document, table, and database creation. For example, API201a, APII201b,
..., APn201n has word processing software, software such as spreadsheet and photo retouch. The application software API 201a, APII 201b, ...
APn201n does not necessarily have to exist at the same time.

The printer driver 203 is used by the printer 10
6 is driver software that controls 6, and operates on the OS 202 that operates on the host information processing apparatus 101. The printer driver 203 has a user interface that receives the setting of printing conditions of the printer 106 from the user. In the present embodiment, the user interface is provided with a plurality of print condition setting screens, and the setting screen is provided in consideration of the user level. Further, the printer driver 203 is the various application software AP described above.
I201a, APII201b, ..., Image data of a document created by APn201n is received, and based on the reception data set in the above user interface, each element such as a specified paper size, orientation, and resolution is set. It is converted into the included print data and output to the printer 106.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of the printer driver 203 to which the present invention is applied. The printer driver 203 includes a print data generation unit 301 and a user interface unit 302 that receives a print condition setting from a user.
And

The print data generation unit 301 has the reception data 30 received by the user interface unit 302 from the user.
Based on 3, print data is generated from image data created by application software, and the print data is generated by the printer 1
It outputs to 06.

The user interface section 302 receives various requests from the user to generate print data. The user interface unit 302 also displays a setting screen for accepting the printing conditions of the printer in the image processing apparatus 1.
04 is displayed. The user can input various settings using the input device 105 and set the print conditions requested by the user while looking at the setting screen displayed on the image processing apparatus 104.

The user interface section 302 has a print condition initial setting screen which is composed of simple setting items, for example, as shown in FIG.
It is configured so that an initial setting screen configured with detailed setting items for advanced users shown in (4) can be provided. In this way, the user interface unit 302 can provide the two initial setting screens in order to provide the optimum initial setting screen according to the user level. Although the user interface unit 302 can provide two initial setting screens in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. It may be configured so that a plurality of initial setting screens can be provided.

Further, the user interface section 302 is
A user interface correspondence table 304 is provided in order to selectively provide the above two initial setting screens to the user. This user interface correspondence table 304
In, the application software name and the initial setting screen name are stored in association with each other. Application software tends to have different levels of users depending on its type. From this, the user level can be assumed in advance from the application name, and therefore the initial setting screen to be provided can be determined in advance. In the present embodiment, by causing the printer driver 203 to specify the application name that called itself,
An initial setting screen corresponding to the user level is provided from the data of the user interface correspondence table 304. Note that the initial setting screen of the present embodiment has a configuration in which the initial setting screen can be switched so as to be compatible with a user different from the user level assumed by the application name, as described later.

Since the user prints the image data created by the application software, the user gives a print instruction on the application software. The application software issues a print command to the printer driver 203 in response to a print instruction from the user. Printer driver 2
03 is activated by calling a print command from the application software. Here, the user interface unit 302 acquires the application software name that called the printer driver at the time of activation.

The method of acquiring this application name is OS2
It depends on 02. For example, there is a method of acquiring the application name from the function information on the OS 202. Then, the user interface unit 302 provides an initial setting screen corresponding to the application name specified by referring to the user interface correspondence table 304. That is, it is possible to realize the provision of the initial setting screen corresponding to the user level specified in association with the user interface correspondence table 304 by specifying the application.

FIG. 7 shows the user interface section 302.
Is an example of an initial setting screen of "simple setting 701" provided for beginners. The “simple setting 701” mainly includes a paper size setting 702, which is a basic setting item necessary for printing, a paper type setting 703, a print range setting 706, and an input 705 such as a print instruction. . Further, in consideration of the beginner user, in the print type 704, the print quality can be set only by clicking the setting item displayed on the screen without inputting a specific numerical value. As for the print option 707, only items that can be set with simple settings are provided. It should be noted that in the present embodiment, as described above, the simple setting 701 is performed in order to support users other than those assumed in advance.
By clicking the button of the detailed setting 708 on the screen, the configuration screen is switched to the detailed setting screen described below.

FIG. 8 is an example of an initial setting screen of "detailed setting 801" provided by the user interface unit 302 for advanced users in this embodiment. "Detailed settings 80
1 ”is the paper size setting 802 and the paper type setting 803.
A print quality setting 804, a color setting 805, a print instruction 806, a print range setting 807, a custom setting 808, a setting save 809, and a print option setting 810.

In particular, for advanced users, a color setting 805 is provided on the initial setting screen of the "detailed setting 801" so that color printing adjustment can be made in detail, and a resolution is selected in the print quality setting 804. It can be adjusted. In addition, the custom setting 8 that was not provided on the initial setting screen of "Easy setting 701"
08 and setting save 809 items that can save the set contents are provided. Note that, as described above, the “detailed setting 80
When the simple setting 811 button is clicked on the screen "1", the setting screen is switched to the simple setting 701.

In the present embodiment, the user interface section 302 has a "simple setting 701" for beginners.
Although two types of setting screens, that is, the initial setting screen of (1) and the initial setting screen of "detailed setting 801" for advanced users are provided, the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to divide the user level more finely and provide the initial setting screen corresponding to each level.

Next, the user interface correspondence table 304 formed in the user interface section 302 shown in FIG. 3 will be described. The user interface correspondence table 304 is provided to provide the initial setting screen corresponding to the application specified by the user interface unit 302 as described above.

User interface correspondence table 304
Are application software APIs 201a, APII201b, ..., APn2 used in the information processing apparatus 101.
Register the identifier of 01n "Application name 30
5 ”and the above-mentioned setting screen,“ simple setting 701 ”,
Register the identifier of "Detailed setting 801""Setting screen name 3"
06 ”.

This is because the user interface unit 302 can identify the application name that called the printer driver 203 as described above, so that the setting screen name is registered in association with the application name. This is because it is possible to provide the initial setting screen corresponding to the application from the association. In the present embodiment, the user interface correspondence table 304
Registration to the printer driver 203 is performed by the provider of the printer driver 203 during development. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the user can also register himself / herself in the user interface correspondence table 304. The user interface correspondence table 304 updated by the printer driver 203 provider is stored in the host information processing apparatus 10.
It is also possible to update the user interface correspondence table 304 by downloading it via a computer network such as the Internet connected to 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, various application software names such as “word processor A”, “word processor B”, and “spreadsheet A” are registered as identifiers in the “application name 305”. Although the application software name is used as the identifier for identifying the application in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this.

The identifier of the initial setting screen corresponding to the application software registered in the "application name 305" is registered in the "setting screen name 306".
The application software tends to have different user levels that use the application software, so that the application software is registered in advance with an initial setting screen assuming the user level.

Some user level assumptions can be made depending on the category of application software. For example, application software belonging to the word processing software category or the spreadsheet software category is often used by beginners of personal computers. Therefore, it is necessary to provide an initial setting screen that is conscious of beginners. In addition, since most of what is created by word processing software or spreadsheet software is text data, it is generally unnecessary to set detailed printing conditions. Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the "application name 305" is "word processor".
If “A” or “spreadsheet A”, the “setting screen name 306” contains the “simple setting (beginner)”, which is the identifier of the initial setting screen that consists of only simple setting items for printing conditions. It is assumed that the provider of the printer driver 203 (hereinafter referred to as “printer driver provider”) registers in advance.

Further, the assumption of the user level may be different even in the application software of the same category. For example, even application software in the same category includes those for beginners and those for advanced users. Therefore, it is necessary for application software for beginners to provide an initial setting screen in consideration of the beginners. On the contrary, application software for advanced users needs to provide an initial setting screen that is aware of advanced users. In the present embodiment, when the “application name 305” is “photo retouch A (for beginners)”, the printer driver provider registers “simple setting (beginner)” in the “setting screen name 306” in advance. I will keep it. This is because "Photo Retouch A (for beginners)" is software for beginners. On the other hand, when the “application name 305” is “photo retouch B (for advanced users)”, “setting screen name 30
"6" is the identifier of the initial setting screen configured by detailed setting items of the printing condition, "detailed setting 801 (advanced)".
The printer driver provider should register in advance. This is because "Photo Retouch B (for advanced users)" is software for advanced users.

In this way, noting that the level of the user who uses the application differs depending on the type of application, the user interface correspondence table 3 as described above is used.
If 04 is provided, by collating the application name specified by the user interface unit 302 with the user interface correspondence table 304, it is possible to provide an initial setting screen according to the user level.

Further, in the present embodiment, the user interface correspondence table 304 shows “application name 30
5 ”and“ setting screen name 306 ”are associated in advance and registered by the printer driver provider. However, when application software that has not been registered in the user interface correspondence table 304 is installed and used in the host information processing apparatus 101, it is necessary to newly register it. In addition, some users may want to change the pre-registered initial setting screen. Therefore, the user interface unit 302 provides the user interface correspondence table input change screen 401 illustrated in FIG. 4 to accept new input and setting change.

The user selects the user interface corresponding table input change screen 40 displayed on the image processing apparatus 104.
1 inputs necessary items from the input device 105 to set or change the user interface correspondence table 304. It should be noted that the input to the input field 403 may be performed by selecting on the screen a previously registered setting screen name such as “simple setting (beginner)” and “detailed setting (advanced)”.

FIG. 9 shows the user interface table 3
It is a figure which shows the flow of a process when the user interface part 302 which has 04 provides an initial setting screen corresponding to a user level.

The user interface unit 302 includes application software APIs 201a, APII201b, ..., APn20 operating on the host information processing apparatus 101.
The printer driver 203 is started by receiving a signal for starting the printer driver 203 from 1n (step 901).

The user interface section 302 obtains the application name which has transmitted the signal for starting the printer driver 203 after the start (step 902). Here, the method by which the user interface unit 302 acquires the application name differs depending on the OS 202. For example, OS
There is a method of acquiring the application name that started the printer driver 203 using the function on 202.

The user interface section 302 reads the user interface correspondence table 304 and collates it with the acquired application name (step 90).
3).

In the collation, it is confirmed whether or not the acquired application name exists in the read user interface correspondence table 304 (step 904).

If the obtained application name exists in the read user interface correspondence table 304, the initial setting screen corresponding to the application name on the user interface correspondence table 304 is selected (step 905). For example, when the application name is "word processor A", the initial setting screen of "simple setting 701" is selected.

After that, the user interface unit 302
Displays the selected initial setting screen on the image display device 104 (step 906).

The user thus makes the image processing apparatus 104
The printing conditions are set using the input device 105 based on the initial setting screen displayed in FIG. For example, when the user who uses the application "Word Processor A" sets the printing conditions as described above, the printing conditions are set on the initial setting screen of the "simple setting 701".

The print data generation unit 301 follows the reception data 303 received by the user interface unit 302.
The image data created by the application running on the host information processing apparatus 101 is assigned the specified paper size, orientation,
The print data including each element such as resolution is converted and output to the printer 106. Printer 1 that received the print data
At 06, print processing is performed based on the data.

On the other hand, if the application name acquired in step 902 does not exist in the read user interface correspondence table 304, the user interface correspondence table input change screen 401 described in FIG. 4 is displayed (step 907). In this case, the user selects the corresponding setting screen from such screen.
In the present embodiment, the input change screen 4 illustrated in FIG.
Although 01 is displayed, an initial setting screen provided in advance may be set.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide the initial setting screen in consideration of the level of the user. That is, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide the user who is a beginner with an initial setting screen of the printing conditions of the printer that is conscious of the beginner. In addition, it is possible to provide an advanced user with an initial setting screen for printing conditions of the printer that is aware of the advanced user.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the printer driver 203 according to the second embodiment of this invention. The second embodiment of the present invention has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment except for the print condition setting screen of the user interface unit 302 described below and the user interface correspondence table. In the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment will be designated by the same reference numerals.

As described in the first embodiment of the present invention, the user level can be assumed from the category of application software. In addition, the application software tends to have different setting items of printing conditions required for each category. In the second embodiment of the present invention, focusing on the latter point, it is possible to provide initial setting screens of different printing conditions corresponding to categories.

For this reason, the user interface section 302 of the printer driver 203 of the second embodiment displays a "text setting" screen including setting items of printing conditions necessary for printing text data shown in FIG. 11 described later. And Fig. 1
It is possible to provide a “photo setting” screen including setting items required for printing photo data shown in 2 and a “general setting (not shown)” screen as a default screen that does not belong to these. .

Further, the user interface section 302
Includes a user interface correspondence table A501 for selectively providing the above three setting screens to the user,
It has a user interface correspondence table B504.

This user interface correspondence table A
An application name 502 and its category 503 are associated with 501, and are registered by a printer driver provider at the time of development in this embodiment.

In the second embodiment, the printer driver 203 is made to specify the application name that called itself. After that, the printer driver 203 uses the specified application name and the user interface correspondence table 50.
Identify the category from the relationship with 1A. Furthermore, the specified category and user interface correspondence table 5
Select the initial setting screen name to be provided in relation to 01B.

FIG. 11 is an example of a “text setting 1101” screen provided by the user interface unit 302 to the application software for creating text data in the second embodiment. For example, when a sentence created by word processing software is printed by a printer, detailed setting items are often unnecessary. Therefore, the setting items of the initial screen provided in advance are limited. The screen of “text setting 1101” includes paper size setting 1102 which is a basic setting item necessary for printing,
Paper type setting 1103, print range setting 1106,
An input 1105 such as a print instruction is mainly configured. Also, consider printing of text data and print type 1
In 104, the setting items required for photo printing are not provided on the initial setting screen. The print option 1107 is also limited to simple setting items. Note that in this embodiment, a user who uses word processing software or the like may also need detailed print items. Therefore, an item for setting screen change 1108 is provided to set the photo setting screen 12.
01 or a general setting screen (not shown) can be changed.

FIG. 12 is an example of an initial screen of “photo setting 1201” provided by the user interface unit 302 to the application software for creating photo data in the second embodiment. This example is shown in FIG.
The same setting items as those of the "detailed setting 701" described in Section 2 are prepared. This is because printing the photo data often requires detailed settings.

In the present embodiment, the setting screen of the "text setting 1101" which is mainly composed of the setting items required for printing the text data and the setting item which is necessary for printing the photo data are mainly constituted. "Photo settings 1
201 "setting screen and general setting screen (not shown)
Although an example in which three screens are provided has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. It may be configured so that a plurality of initial setting screens can be provided.

Next, the user interface correspondence table A 501 and the user interface correspondence table B 502 which are configured in the user interface section 302 shown in FIG. 5 will be described. The user interface correspondence table A 501 and the user interface correspondence table B 502 are provided to provide the initial setting screen corresponding to the category of the application specified by the user interface unit 302 as described above.

User interface correspondence table A50
Reference numeral 1 denotes application software API 201a, APII 201b, ..., APn used in the information processing apparatus 101.
"Application name 50" to register the identifier of 201n
2 "and" category 503 "for registering the category identifier of the software of" application name 502 ",
It is configured to include.

The "application name 502" is the same as in the first embodiment shown in FIG.

In "Category 503", the category corresponding to the application software registered in "Application name 502" is registered. In the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG.
If "2" is "Word Processing Software A", then "Category 50"
"Word processor" is registered in advance in "3". Also, "application name 502" is "photo retouching software A"
In that case, "photo" is registered in advance in "category 503". In addition, “others” is registered in advance in the “category 503” for the “application name 502” of the identifier of the application software that is not limited to printing text data or printing photo data.

User interface correspondence table B50
Reference numeral 4 is for registering the "category 505" for registering the software category identifier, and the "text setting 1101", "photo setting 1201", and "general setting (not shown)" that are the setting screens described above. "Setting screen name 50
6 ”. The identifier of the setting screen corresponding to the category registered in the "category 505" is registered in the "setting screen name 506". For example, if “category 505” is “word processor”, “setting screen name 50
In “6”, a “text setting screen”, which is an identifier of the text setting screen 1101 mainly including setting items required for printing text data, is registered in advance. Also,
If the “category 505” is “photo”, the “setting screen name 506” is the identifier of the setting screen 1201 for the photo that mainly configures the setting items required for printing the photo data, and the “setting screen for the photo” is set. Is registered in advance. Further, if the "category 505" is "other", the "general setting screen", which is the identifier of the general setting screen (not shown), is registered in advance in the "setting screen name 506".

As described above, in this embodiment, the “application name 502” and the “category 503” are registered in the user interface correspondence table A 501 in association with each other in advance. However, when application software that has not been registered in the user interface correspondence table A501 is installed in the host information processing apparatus 101 for use, it is necessary to newly register it. Further, some users may want to change the setting screen displayed corresponding to the category registered in advance. Therefore, in this embodiment, the user interface unit 3
02 can provide a user interface correspondence table A501 input change screen 601 illustrated in FIG.

User interface correspondence table A50
1 input change screen 601 is the application name input field 6
02 and a category input field 603. The user inputs the “application name” in the application name input field 602. Further, the category input field 603 may be input by selecting a category such as “word processor”, “spreadsheet”, or “photo” that is registered in advance.

The user interface correspondence table A 501 and the user interface correspondence table B 504 according to the second embodiment of the present invention are changed in the above first embodiment.
Similar to the above embodiment, the user interface correspondence table A501 updated by the printer driver provider, and
It is also possible to download the user interface correspondence table B504 via a computer network such as the Internet connected to the host information processing apparatus 101.

In FIG. 10, the user interface section 302 having the user interface correspondence table 501 is
It is a figure which shows the flow of the process at the time of providing a user interface.

The user interface unit 302 is activated (step 1001) and the application name that activated the printer driver 203 is acquired (step 100).
2) The processing is the same as the processing shown in FIG.

The user interface section 302 reads the user interface correspondence table A501 and collates it with the acquired application name (step 1).
003).

In the collation, the acquired application name corresponds to the read user interface correspondence table A5.
It is confirmed whether or not it exists in 01 (step 100).
4).

If the acquired application name exists in the read user interface correspondence table A501, the category corresponding to the application name on the user interface correspondence table A501 is specified (step 1005). For example, when the application name is "word processing software A", the category "word processing" is specified.

After that, the user interface unit 302
Reads the user interface correspondence table B504 and specifies the "setting screen name 506" corresponding to the category acquired in step 1005 (step 100).
6).

The user interface section 302 displays the specified setting screen on the image display device 104 as an initial screen (step 1007).

On the other hand, if the application name acquired in step 1002 does not exist in the read user interface correspondence table 304, the user interface correspondence table input change screen 601 described in FIG. 6 is displayed (step 1008). In this case the user
The corresponding setting screen is set from this screen. In addition,
In the present embodiment, the input change screen 601 illustrated in FIG. 6 is displayed, but a setting screen to be provided may be set in advance. For example, when the application name acquired in step 1002 is not registered in the user interface correspondence table A501, there is a method of specifying the category as “other”. In that case, the user interface unit 302 provides the “general setting screen” whose category 505 is “other” as the initial screen by collating with the user interface correspondence table B504.

In this way, the user interface unit 302
In addition, by providing a plurality of setting screens and providing the above two user interface correspondence tables, the user interface unit 302 identifies the application that called the printer driver 203, and It is possible to provide the initial setting screen corresponding to the category of application software from the relation with the above two user interface correspondence tables. Further, it is possible to set the initial setting screen of the printing condition used by itself according to the category of the application.

[0088]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide an initial setting screen for printing conditions that takes the user's level into consideration. Also, it is possible to provide an initial setting screen of printing conditions corresponding to the category of the application.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a printing system to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a software configuration of a host information processing apparatus using a printer driver according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a functional configuration of a printer driver 203 to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an input change screen of a user interface correspondence table 304 of the printer driver according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a functional configuration of a printer driver according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an input change screen of a user interface correspondence table A501 of the printer driver according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a simple setting screen which is an embodiment of a print condition setting screen provided by the printer driver according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a detailed setting screen which is an embodiment of a print condition setting screen provided by the printer driver according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a user interface table 30 according to the present application.
5 is a diagram showing a flow of processing when the user interface unit 302 having No. 4 provides a print condition setting screen. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a flow of processing when the user interface section 302 having a user interface correspondence table A501 and a user interface correspondence table B504 according to the present application provides a printing condition setting screen.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a text setting screen which is an embodiment of a print condition setting screen provided by the printer driver according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a photo setting screen which is an embodiment of a print condition setting screen provided by the printer driver according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 ... Host information processing device 102 ... Memory 103 ... CPU 104 ... Image display device 105 ... Input device 106 ... Printer 201a ... API (application software)
I) 201b ・ ・ ・ APII (Application software I)
I) 201n ... APn (Application software
n) 202 ... OS (operating system) 203 ... Printer driver 301 ... Print data generation unit 302 ... User interface unit 303 ... Printing condition acceptance data 304 accepted by the user interface unit 302・ ・ ・ User interface correspondence table 305 ・ ・ ・ Application name 306 ・ ・ ・ Setting screen name 401 ・ ・ ・ User interface correspondence table 304
Input change screen 402 ... Application name input field 403 ... Setting screen name input field 501 ... User interface compatible table A 502 ... Application name 503 ... Category 504 ... User interface compatible Table B 505 ... Category 506 ... Setting screen name 601 ... User interface compatible table A50
1 input change screen 602 ... application name input field 603 ... category setting input field 701 ... simple setting screen 702 ... paper size setting 703 ... paper type setting 704 ... printing type setting 705・ ・ ・ Input of print instruction etc. 706 ・ ・ ・ Setting of print range 707 ・ ・ ・ Print option setting 708 ・ ・ ・ Switching setting screen to detailed setting 801 ・ ・ ・ Detail setting screen 802 ・ ・ ・ Paper size setting 803 ・..Paper type setting 804 ... Print quality setting 805 ... Color setting 806 ... Input of print instruction etc. 807 ... Print range setting 808 ... Custom setting 809 ... Setting save 810 ... Print option setting 811 ... Setting screen switching to simple setting 1101 ... Text setting screen 1102 ... Paper size setting 1103 ..Paper type setting 1104 ... Print type setting 1105 ... Input of print instruction etc. 1106 ... Print range setting 1107 ... Print option setting 1108 ... Setting screen change 1201 ... Photo setting Screen 1202 ... Paper size setting 1203 ... Paper type, print quality setting 1204 ... Color setting 1205 ... Input of print instruction etc. 1206 ... Print range setting 1207 ... Print option setting 1208 ...・ Custom setting 1209 ・ ・ ・ Setting save 1210 ・ ・ ・ Change setting screen

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A printer driver that accepts image data of an image created by application software and causes a computer to execute a process of creating print data according to a print condition set by a user on a print condition setting screen. A printer that causes a computer to execute a process of specifying the application software, and a process of displaying an initial setting screen of printing conditions corresponding to the specified application software according to a predetermined rule. driver. 2. The printer driver according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined rule is the application software and a print condition initial setting screen configured assuming a user level using the application software. A printer driver characterized by being associated. 3. The printer driver according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined rule corresponds to a plurality of application software. 4. The printer driver according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a print condition initial setting screen configured assuming a user level includes a first print condition initial setting screen and a second print condition initial setting screen. And a print initial condition setting screen, wherein the second print condition initial setting screen is configured with more detailed setting items than the first print condition initial setting screen. Printer driver. 5. A printer driver that accepts image data of an image created by application software, and causes a computer to execute a process of creating print data according to a print condition set by a user on a print condition setting screen. A process of identifying the application software, a process of identifying a category corresponding to the identified application software according to a rule that associates the application software with a category of the application software in advance, the category and the category And causing the computer to execute a process of displaying the initial setting screen of the printing condition corresponding to the specified category in accordance with a rule associated with the initial setting screen of the printing condition corresponding to. And printer driver. 6. The printer driver according to claim 1, wherein the process of specifying the application software is
A printer driver, which is acquired from an operating system (OS) running on the computer. 7. A computer-readable recording medium on which the printer driver according to claim 1 is recorded. 8. A printer host for creating print data according to print conditions set by a user on a print condition setting screen based on image data of an image created by application software. The specifying unit according to a rule in which the specifying unit that specifies the operating application software, the application software, and an initial setting screen for printing conditions that is configured assuming a user level that uses the application software are associated in advance. A display means for displaying an initial setting screen of the printing condition corresponding to the application software specified by the printer host. 9. A printer host for creating print data according to print conditions set by a user on a print condition setting screen based on image data of an image created by application software. Specifying means for specifying the operating application software; means for specifying a category corresponding to the application software specified by the specifying means according to a rule in which the application software and a category of the application software are associated in advance; Display means for displaying the initial setting screen of the printing condition corresponding to the specified category in accordance with a rule in which the category and the initial setting screen of the printing condition corresponding to the category are associated in advance. Tosu Printer host. 10. A printer host for creating print data according to print conditions set by a user on a print condition setting screen based on image data of an image created by application software and transmitting the print data to a printer, A printer capable of performing print processing based on print data, wherein the printer includes a receiving unit for the print data, and the printer host includes the application software operating on the printer host. The application software specified by the specifying unit according to a rule in which a specifying unit for specifying, the application software, and an initial setting screen of printing conditions configured on the assumption of a user level using the application software are associated in advance. Corresponding to A printing system, comprising: a display unit that displays the initial setting screen of the printing conditions. 11. A printer host for creating print data according to print conditions set by a user on a print condition setting screen based on image data of an image created by application software and transmitting the print data to a printer, A printer capable of performing print processing based on print data, wherein the printer includes a receiving unit for the print data, and the printer host includes the application software operating on the printer host. Specifying means for specifying; a means for specifying a category corresponding to the application software specified by the specifying means according to a rule in which the application software and a category of the application software are associated in advance; Printing system characterized by comprising in accordance with a previously associated rule and an initial setting screen for print conditions, and a display means for displaying the initial setting screen of the print conditions corresponding to the identified category that.