JP2005190298A - Information processing apparatus, server apparatus, information transmission method, information processing program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor capable of easily acquiring desired print condition information. <P>SOLUTION: A host device 4 is connected, through a network L, to a server device and the other host device and configured to install a printer driver 405 corresponding to a printer for providing a print output to a printer. The printer driver 405 is provided with an established information acquisition section 451 specifying application information and printer information and acquiring the print condition information from the server device or the other information processor based on the specified application information and printer information. Thus, the desired print condition information is acquired from the server device or the other information processor. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus for printing out to a printer, a server apparatus connected to the information processing apparatus via a communication network, an information transmission method in the information processing apparatus, an information processing program, and a recording medium.

  Conventionally, every time print data is sent to a printer, the user designates the optimum print conditions desired by the user (paper size, double-sided printing, N-UP printing, color / monochrome printing) and issues a printing instruction. .

  Therefore, settings of combinations of frequently used printing conditions can be saved as user settings so that the plurality of printing conditions need not be set every time printing is performed.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a means for storing a set printing condition for each set user. With this technology, it is possible to set and read out printing condition items specialized for each logged-in user.

In Patent Document 2, the registration environment of the application stored in the storage device is analyzed, and an initial value based on the analysis result is automatically set in the driver program. Thereby, an optimal initial value corresponding to the user's application registration environment is automatically set for the driver program.
JP 2002-73314 A (publication date March 12, 2002) JP 2003-84986 A (publication date March 20, 2003)

  However, in the printer driver disclosed in Patent Document 1, although the user can reproduce settings that are frequently used for each user at the time of printing, it is said that the frequency of use is high for beginners with respect to personal computers and printers. Therefore, there is a problem that it is not always possible to reproduce the optimum setting similar to that of a user who is used to it.

  Also, the stored user settings are for the individual user and cannot be used by other users.

  Furthermore, since a combination of printing conditions is not consciously saved by the user, but the printing condition combination is automatically saved as a history, unnecessary settings are saved and extra memory is required. Further, when automatically extracting printing conditions desired by the user, it becomes difficult to extract optimum desired printing conditions.

  In the printer driver disclosed in Patent Document 2, the default setting (initial state) after installation of the printer driver is automatically performed from the state of the application and extension installed in the personal computer at the time of driver installation. User settings created by one user are not incorporated into the settings of other users.

For users who are familiar with PCs and printers, you can change various settings related to printing from the default settings to make full use of the printer's functions. However, there is a case where a printing defect can be temporarily avoided by changing the printing conditions. However, a user who is not familiar with the printer may not be able to use the printer functions well only with the default settings, or may not understand a method for temporarily avoiding printing defects. For this reason, all users cannot easily perform printing under desired printing conditions.

  As described above, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 or 2 has a problem that it is difficult for the user to obtain desired print condition settings.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus, a server apparatus, a printing condition information transmission method, a program, and a recording capable of easily obtaining desired printing condition information. To realize the medium.

  In order to solve the above problems, an information processing apparatus of the present invention is connected to a server device or another information processing apparatus via a communication network, and is an information processing apparatus that prints on a printer under arbitrary printing conditions. The server device or another information processing device stores printing condition information related to printing conditions in association with predetermined additional information, identifies the additional information, and based on the identified specific additional information, It is characterized by comprising printing condition information acquisition means for acquiring printing condition information from a server apparatus or another information processing apparatus.

  According to the above configuration, the server apparatus or other information processing apparatus stores the printing condition information and the additional information in association with each other, and the printing condition information acquisition unit specifies the additional information and specifies the specified specific additional information. Get print condition information based on. Therefore, it is possible to easily obtain print condition information desirable for the user from the server device or another information processing device.

  In order to solve the above problems, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention is connected to a server apparatus or another information processing apparatus via a communication network, and prints on a printer under arbitrary printing conditions. The server apparatus or other information processing apparatus stores printing condition information related to printing conditions in association with predetermined additional information, specifies an arbitrary keyword, and the server apparatus or other information processing apparatus The printing apparatus includes a printing condition information acquisition unit that acquires printing condition information including the specified keyword or additional printing condition information associated with the additional information including the specified keyword from the apparatus.

  According to the above configuration, the server apparatus or another information processing apparatus stores the printing condition information and the additional information in association with each other, and the printing condition information acquisition unit specifies the keyword and prints based on the specified keyword. Get condition information. Therefore, there is an effect that the printing condition information desirable for the user can be easily acquired by the server apparatus or other information processing apparatus.

  Further, in the information processing apparatus of the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, the additional information includes printer model identification information for identifying a printer model, printer configuration identification information for identifying a printer configuration, and a version for identifying a printer driver version. At least one of identification information, application identification information for identifying an application, print count information indicating the number of times of printing for each application, information processing apparatus identification information for identifying another information processing apparatus, and comment information including an arbitrary comment It is characterized by consisting of.

Each of the above information is usually well-known information and is easy for the user to specify. Therefore, there is an effect that it is possible to easily acquire printing condition information desirable for the user.

  Further, in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, the additional information includes printer model identification information for identifying a printer model and printer configuration identification information for identifying a printer configuration, and the printing condition information acquisition unit Specifies the printer model and printer configuration of the printer to be printed, and from the server device or other information processing device, the printer model identification information and printer configuration identification representing the same printer model or printer configuration as the specified printer model and printer configuration The printing condition information associated with the information is extracted, and the extracted printing condition information is acquired.

  According to the above configuration, the printing condition information acquisition unit extracts the printer model and the option configuration of the printer that are the same, thereby narrowing down and acquiring printing condition information suitable for the printer to print out. There is an effect that can be.

  Further, in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, the additional information includes printer model identification information for identifying a printer model and printer configuration identification information for identifying a printer configuration, and the printing condition information acquisition unit Specifies the printer model and printer configuration of all printers that can print and output, from the server device or other information processing device, printer model identification information and printer that represents the same printer model or printer configuration as the specified printer model and printer configuration It is characterized in that the printing condition information associated with the configuration identification information is extracted and the extracted printing condition information is acquired.

  According to the above configuration, the print condition information acquisition unit extracts the same printer as the printer driver corresponding to the printer driver in which the printer model and the optional configuration of the printer are installed. There is an effect that only corresponding printing condition information can be acquired.

  Furthermore, in addition to the above configuration, the information processing apparatus of the present invention is installed with a printer driver corresponding to the printer for printing out to the printer, and the additional information is a version for identifying the version of the printer driver. The print condition information acquisition unit includes identification information, specifies a version of a printer driver corresponding to a printer to be printed out, and converts the version identification information representing the same version as the specified version from a server device or another information processing device. It is characterized by extracting the associated printing condition information and acquiring the extracted printing condition information.

  According to the above configuration, desired printing can be performed more accurately by extracting a printer driver having the same version of the printer driver corresponding to the printer to which the printing condition information acquisition unit prints out. In addition, when the print condition information acquisition unit extracts the version of the printer driver and prints out using the extracted print condition information, it is possible to easily avoid a trouble caused by the version at the time of print output.

  Furthermore, in addition to the above configuration, the information processing apparatus of the present invention is installed with a printer driver corresponding to the printer for printing out to the printer, and the additional information is a version for identifying the version of the printer driver. The printing condition information acquisition unit includes identification information, identifies a version of the installed printer driver, and associates with the version identification information representing the same version as the identified version from the server device or another information processing device. The printing condition information is extracted, and the extracted printing condition information is acquired.

  According to the above configuration, the printing condition information acquisition unit can acquire only the printing condition information corresponding to all the printers to be printed out by extracting the installed printer driver having the same version. it can. In addition, when the print condition information acquisition unit extracts the version of the printer driver and prints out using the extracted print condition information, it is possible to easily avoid a trouble caused by the version at the time of print output.

  Furthermore, in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, the additional information includes application identification information for identifying an application, and the printing condition information acquisition unit specifies the application that created the data to be printed out. Then, printing condition information associated with application identification information representing the same application as the identified application is extracted from the server apparatus or another information processing apparatus, and the extracted printing condition information is acquired.

  According to said structure, the printing condition information acquisition means can acquire the printing condition information corresponding to the application that created the data to be printed out, and the desired printing can be performed more accurately.

  Further, in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention, in addition to the above-described configuration, the additional information includes application identification information for identifying an application, the printing condition information acquisition unit specifies an installed application, and the server It is characterized in that printing condition information associated with application identification information representing the same application as the identified application is extracted from the apparatus or another information processing apparatus, and the extracted printing condition information is acquired.

  According to said structure, the printing condition information acquisition means can acquire the printing condition information corresponding to all the installed applications. Thus, the user can easily obtain desired printing condition information in all applications.

  In addition to the above configuration, the information processing apparatus according to the present invention further includes a storage unit that stores printing condition information related to a printing condition when printing on the printer, and a printing condition information acquired by the printing condition information acquisition unit. Writing means for writing to the storage means.

  According to the above configuration, once the printing condition information acquisition unit acquires desired printing condition information from the server apparatus or other information processing apparatus, it is not necessary to acquire it again from the server apparatus or other information processing apparatus. Therefore, there is an effect that it is not necessary to repeatedly connect to the server apparatus or another information processing apparatus.

  In addition to the above configuration, the information processing apparatus according to the present invention further includes a storage unit that stores printing condition information related to a printing condition when printing on the printer, and a printing condition information acquired by the printing condition information acquisition unit. Writing means for writing to the storage means in association with the additional information, and printing condition information written in the storage means, or printing condition information and corresponding additional information are transmitted to the server device or another information processing apparatus. And transmitting means for performing the processing.

According to the above configuration, once the printing condition information acquisition unit acquires desired printing condition information from the server apparatus or other information processing apparatus, there is no need to acquire it again from the server apparatus or other information processing apparatus. There is no need to repeatedly connect to the apparatus or another information processing apparatus. The writing means writes the acquired printing condition information in association with the additional information in the storage means, and the transmitting means writes the printing condition information written in the storage means or the printing condition information and the corresponding additional information. Since the information is transmitted to the server device or another information processing device, the other information processing device can easily use the printing condition information stored in the storage unit.

  Furthermore, in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, the additional information includes comment information including an arbitrary comment, and the printing condition information acquisition unit is provided from the server apparatus or another information processing apparatus. Acquiring the printing condition information and the comment information corresponding to the printing condition information, storing the printing condition information relating to the printing condition when printing on the printer, and the printing condition information acquiring means And writing means for associating the printing condition information with the comment information and writing the information to the storage means.

  The comment information usually indicates when the corresponding printing condition information is used. For this reason, the writing means writes the printing condition information in the storage means in association with the comment information, so that the desired printing condition information can be easily read from the storage means by specifying the comment information at the time of print output. Play.

  In order to solve the above problem, the server device of the present invention is a server device connected to a plurality of information processing devices via a communication network, and relates to a printing condition when printing on an arbitrary printer. Storage means for storing printing condition information in association with predetermined additional information; acquiring the printing condition information and additional information from the information processing apparatus; and storing the acquired printing condition information and additional information in association with each other The writing means for writing in the means, the specific additional information that is the additional information specified from any one information processing apparatus or the specified keyword is received, and from the printing condition information stored in the storage means, Print condition information extracted for the information processing apparatus that extracted the print condition information based on the acquired specific additional information or keyword and sent the specific additional information It is characterized by comprising extraction means for transmitting.

  According to the above configuration, the storage unit stores the printing condition information and the additional information acquired from the information processing apparatus, and the extraction unit is based on the specific additional information or the keyword only by receiving the specific additional information or the keyword. In addition, the printing condition information desired by the information processing apparatus can be immediately transmitted to the information processing apparatus. As a result, the printing condition information stored in the server device can be shared by a plurality of information processing devices.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the server device of the present invention is a server device connected to a plurality of information processing devices via a communication network, and the information processing device includes a printing condition related to a printing condition. Information is stored in association with predetermined additional information, and collecting means for collecting printing condition information and corresponding additional information from the information processing apparatus, and the specified additional information from any one information processing apparatus Receives specific additional information or a specified keyword, extracts printing condition information based on the acquired specific additional information or keyword from the printing condition information collected by the collecting means, and transmits the specific additional information or keyword The information processing apparatus includes an extracting unit that transmits the extracted printing condition information.

  According to the above configuration, the extracting unit may transmit the printing condition information extracted from the printing condition information stored in a certain information processing apparatus to another information processing apparatus based on the specific additional information or the keyword. it can. Thereby, the information processing apparatus has an effect that desired printing condition information can be acquired from the printing condition information used in other information processing apparatuses.

The information transmission method of the present invention is set by the first information processing apparatus in a network system including a plurality of information processing apparatuses connected to each other via a communication network in order to solve the above-described problem. An information transmission method for transmitting printing condition information relating to printing conditions to a second information processing apparatus, wherein printing condition information relating to printing conditions set in the first information processing apparatus is associated with predetermined additional information, Store in any storage means communicable with the communication network, acquire additional information or keyword specified in the second information processing apparatus, and print from the storage means based on the acquired additional information or keyword The condition information or the print condition information and the corresponding additional information are read, and the read print condition information or the read print condition is read. It is characterized by transmitting the information and the corresponding additional information to the second information processing apparatus.

  According to the above method, based on the additional information or the keyword specified in the second information processing apparatus, the printing condition information related to the printing conditions set in the first information processing apparatus is transmitted to the second information processing apparatus. To do. As a result, the second information processing apparatus can obtain desired printing condition information from the first information processing apparatus, which is another information processing apparatus, only by specifying additional information or a keyword. .

  The information processing program of the present invention is a computer program that causes a computer to function as each of the above means.

  With the above configuration, the information processing apparatus or the server apparatus can be realized by realizing each unit of the information processing apparatus or the server apparatus with a computer.

  A computer-readable recording medium recording the information processing program of the present invention is a computer-readable recording medium that records the information processing program for operating the information processing apparatus or the server apparatus by causing the computer to realize the above-described units. It is a recording medium.

  With the above configuration, the information processing apparatus or the server apparatus can be realized on a computer by the information processing program read from the recording medium.

  Since the information processing apparatus, server apparatus, information transmission method, information processing program, and recording medium according to the present invention share printing condition information as described above, a user can easily obtain desired printing condition information. There is an effect that can be.

Embodiment 1
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a network print system including an information processing apparatus and a server apparatus according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the network print system includes a server device 1, a plurality of printers 2, 3, a plurality of host devices (information processing devices) 4, 5, 6, and a network L. The server device 1, the plurality of printers 2, 3, and the plurality of host devices 4, 5, 6 can communicate with each other via a communication network (hereinafter simply referred to as a network) L. The network L is, for example, a LAN (local area network).

The server apparatus 1 and the host apparatuses 4, 5, 6 are printing conditions that are information relating to printing conditions (color / monochrome printing, paper size, duplex printing, N-UP printing, data format) when printing to the printers 2, 3. The information is stored in association with host identification information and printer information and predetermined information (user setting name, application information, comment information, shared setting presence / absence information) described later. In other words, the print condition information is stored with additional information including host identification information and printer information and predetermined information (user setting name, application information, comment information, shared setting presence / absence information) to be described later. Note that information in which printing condition information and predetermined information (user setting name, application information, comment information, sharing setting presence / absence information) described later are associated with each other is referred to as user setting information.

  The host identification information is information for identifying the host apparatuses 4, 5, and 6. In this embodiment, the host identification information is a user name that uses the host apparatuses 4, 5, and 6, for example. The printer information is information related to the printers 2 and 3 to be printed by setting the printing condition information. The server apparatus 1 and the host apparatuses 4, 5, 6 can share the user setting information, the corresponding host identification information and the printer information, and the user setting information and the corresponding host identification via the network L. Information and printer information can be sent and received from each other.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the host device 4. The host devices 5 and 6 have the same configuration.

  The host device 4 includes a communication unit 401, an operation unit 402, an application unit 403, a user setting storage unit 404, a printer driver 405 for the printer 3, an image memory unit 406, a shared setting information transmission unit 407, A server address storage unit 408 and a printer address storage unit 409 are provided.

  Although not shown, the printer driver for the printer 2 having the same configuration as the printer driver 405 is also provided. Since the host device 4 has a printer driver 405 for the printer 3 and a printer driver for the printer 2, it can print out to the printers 2 and 3.

  The communication unit 401 is for communicating with the server device 1, the printers 2 and 3, and the other host devices 5 and 6 via the network L. As a result, the host device 4 can transmit and receive information to and from the server device 1, the printers 2 and 3, and the other host devices 5 and 6.

  The communication unit 401 is connected to the image memory unit 406, and acquires the IP address and print job of the printer 3 from the image memory unit 406. Then, the acquired print job is transmitted to the printer 3 via the network L based on the acquired IP address.

  The communication unit 401 is connected to the printer driver 405, and from the printer driver 405, a user setting information search instruction, user setting information and corresponding host identification information, and a new registration instruction with printer information attached thereto, or Then, the update registration instruction with the shared user setting information in the server and the application name is acquired. The IP address of the server device 1 is attached to the search instruction, new registration instruction, and update registration instruction. The communication unit 401 transmits this search instruction, new registration instruction, and update registration instruction to the server apparatus 1 via the network L based on the acquired IP address. Further, the communication unit 401 receives user setting information from the server apparatus 1 via the network L, and sends the received user setting information to the printer driver 405.

Further, the communication unit 401 is connected to the sharing setting information transmission unit 407. The communication unit 401 acquires, from the sharing setting information transmission unit 407, reply setting information including sharing setting user setting information to which the IP address of the server apparatus 1 is attached, corresponding host identification information, and printer information. Based on the acquired IP address, the communication unit 401 transmits the acquired user setting information of the shared setting, the corresponding host identification information, and printer information to the server device 1 via the network L. In addition, the communication unit 401 receives a sharing setting information transmission request from the server device 1 via the network L, and sends the received sharing setting information transmission request to the sharing setting information transmission unit 407.

  The operation unit 402 is for obtaining information from the user and transmitting information to the user. The operation unit 402 includes an input unit 421 and a display unit 422.

  The input unit 421 includes a keyboard and a mouse, and acquires information and instructions from the user. For example, when an instruction for starting an application or editing a document or the like on the application is input from the user, the input unit 421 transmits the instruction to the application unit 403. As a result, the user can start and edit the application unit 403. When the user inputs an instruction for setting printing conditions in the printer driver 405, the input unit 421 transmits the instruction to the printer driver 405. As a result, the user can edit the printing conditions of the printer driver 405 and perform printing output to the printer 3.

  The display unit 422 is configured by a display or the like, and transmits information such as a document on the application unit 403 and setting value information of the printer driver unit 402 in a display format. In addition, the display unit 422 displays that a predetermined instruction is input to the user. As a result, the user can input information desired by the user immediately via the input unit 421.

  A plurality of application software (hereinafter simply referred to as applications) 431, 432, 433,... Are installed in the application unit 403. The applications 431, 432, 433,. Editing software or the like, which is installed on an OS (not shown) from a CD-ROM or the like.

  When the application 431, 432, 433,... Is activated and receives a print instruction from the input unit 421, the application 431, 432, 433,. 3 can be printed out.

  The applications 431, 432, 433,... Receive data request signals from the printer driver 405. Upon receiving the data request signal, the applications 431, 432, 433,... Send data such as a created document to be printed to the printer driver 405. Further, the applications 431, 432, 433,... Receive an application name request signal from the printer driver 405. Upon receiving the application name request signal, the applications 431, 432, 433, ... transmit their application names to the printer driver 405.

  The user setting storage unit 404 stores user setting information to which printing condition information related to printing conditions is added with predetermined information so that the user does not need to set printing conditions each time printing is output to the printers 2 and 3. The identification information and the printer information are stored in association with each other.

  3 and 4 show a storage example of the user setting storage unit 404.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the user setting storage unit 404 stores host identification information, printer information, and user setting information in association with each other.

As described above, the host identification information is the host device 4 including the user setting storage unit 404.
In this embodiment, the user α that is the user name that uses the host device 4 is used. As the host identification information, the host name that is the name of the host device 4 or the IP address of the host device 4 may be used.

  Further, as described above, the printer information is information regarding the printers 2 and 3 that can be printed out by the host device 4 including the user setting storage unit 404, and includes the printer model name, the printer configuration, and the printer driver version.

  The printer model names are the model names of the printers 2 and 3. In this embodiment, the printer model name is DM 222 that is the model name of the printer 2 and DM 333 that is the model name of the printer 3. The printer configuration indicates an optional configuration of the printers 2 and 3. For example, information on whether or not a duplex unit for performing duplex printing is provided, and whether or not a finisher unit capable of staple output is provided. Information. In this embodiment, the user setting storage unit stores that the printer 2 has a finisher and the printer 3 has a duplex unit. The printer driver version is the version of the printer driver used when printing in the printers 2 and 3. In this embodiment, the user setting storage unit 404 stores version 2.0 of the printer driver 405 installed in the host device 4 in order to use the printer 3.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the user setting storage unit 404 stores user setting information including printing condition information used in each printer 2, 3 in association with the printer information about the printers 2, 3. doing. For example, user setting information a is stored in association with the printer 3.

  The host identification information and the printer information as shown in FIG. 3 are stored in the user setting storage unit 404 by the printer driver 405 when the printer driver 405 is installed in the host device 4.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of storage of user setting information a including printing condition information when printing is performed in the printer 3. As described above, the user setting information a includes the user α that is the user identification information, the model name that is the printer information: DM333, the configuration; the duplex unit, the IP address: 192.168.10.1, and the driver version: 2.0. Are associated with each other.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the user setting information includes a user setting name, printing condition information, application information, comment information, and shared setting presence / absence information.

  The user setting name is for identifying each user setting information. Accordingly, the printer driver 405 can acquire the user setting information of the user setting name by designating the user setting name.

  The printing condition information is information related to setting items for printing conditions at the time of printing. The setting items are color / monochrome printing, paper size, duplex printing, N-UP printing, and data format.

The application information is the application name, version, and usage count of the application unit 403 in which data such as a printed document is created. In addition, since the same printing conditions are possible for a plurality of applications 431, 432, 433,..., A plurality of application names may be included in one application information. As illustrated in FIG. 4, for example, the user setting storage unit 404 prints ten times as an application information with a user setting name α setting A by an application “Word”, and displays “Wr
It is stored that printing has been performed 20 times by an application “ite”.

The comment information is a comment about other information such as printing condition information. As illustrated in FIG. 4, for example, the user setting storage unit 404 stores “for end-of-month meeting” as comment information whose user setting name is α setting B. Thereby, the user can immediately understand that α setting B is the user setting information for the month-end meeting. In addition, the user setting storage unit 404 stores “Picture printing defect avoidance setting” as comment information whose user setting name is α setting C. Thereby, the user can immediately understand that the α setting C is user setting information for avoiding a printing defect in the application “Picture”.

  The sharing setting presence / absence information is information indicating whether or not other host apparatuses 5 and 6 may use the user setting information through the network L, that is, whether or not the user setting information is shared. The user setting storage unit 404 stores “present” as sharing setting presence / absence information when sharing, and stores “none” as sharing setting presence / absence information when not sharing.

  As shown in FIG. 4, for example, the user setting storage unit 404 sets “None” as the shared setting presence / absence information of the user setting name α setting A, and the shared setting presence / absence of the user setting names α setting B and α setting C. “Yes” is stored as information. As a result, the other host devices 5 and 6 can use the user setting information of α setting B and α setting C of the user setting storage unit 404, and the host device 4 personally sets the user setting information of α setting A. Can be owned as.

  Next, an outline of the printer driver 405 shown in FIG. 2 will be described. The printer driver 405 is a printer driver corresponding to the printer 3, generates a print job for printing out data such as a document created by the application unit 403 to the printer 3 under user-desired printing conditions, and generates the generated print This is for sending a job to the image memory unit 406.

  Further, the printer driver 405 responds to an input instruction from the operation unit 402, and print conditions including a combination of various print conditions desired by the user (color / monochrome printing, paper size, double-sided printing, N-UP printing, data format). Processing for acquiring user setting information including information, processing for storing user setting information, processing for transmitting and receiving information to and from the server device 1 via the communication unit 401 and the network L, and the like are performed. The detailed configuration and processing of the printer driver 405 will be described in detail later.

  Further, when the printer driver 405 is installed in the host device 4, the printer information regarding the printer 3 and the user name that uses the host device 4, which is host identification information for identifying the host device 4, are stored as user settings. Stored in the unit 404.

  The image memory unit 406 shown in FIG. 2 is for receiving a print job to be printed out from the printer driver 405 and spooling the received print job. The printer address storage unit 409 stores the IP addresses of the printers 2 and 3.

  When receiving a print job from the printer driver 405, the image memory unit 406 acquires an IP address corresponding to the printer 3 from the printer address storage unit 409. Then, the print job from the spooled printer driver 405 is sent to the communication unit 401. As a result, the printer 3 prints out the print job.

The sharing setting information transmission unit 407 is user setting information whose sharing setting presence / absence information stored in the user setting storage unit 404 is “present” with respect to the server device 1 via the communication unit 401 and the network L, that is, sharing This is for transmitting setting user setting information and corresponding host identification information and printer information.

  The sharing setting information transmission unit 407 receives a sharing setting information transmission request for requesting transmission of the user setting information set to be shared from the server device 1 via the network L and the communication unit 401. When the sharing setting information transmission request is received, the sharing setting information transmitting unit 407 shares the user setting information shared among the user setting information stored in the user setting storage unit 404 and the corresponding host identification information and printer information. And the IP address of the server device 1 is read from the server address storage unit 408. The shared setting information transmission unit 407 transmits to the communication unit 401 return information including user setting information with the read IP address and corresponding host identification information and printer information.

  The server address storage unit 408 stores the IP address of the server device 1.

  Next, the configuration of the printer driver 405 will be described. The printer driver for the printer 2 has the same configuration.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, the printer driver 405 includes a setting information acquisition unit 451, a user setting unit 452, a print job generation unit 453, and an application information acquisition unit 454.

  The setting information acquisition unit 451 is for acquiring appropriate user setting information from the server device 1 via the user setting storage unit 404 or the network L and the communication unit 401.

  The setting information acquisition unit 451 is connected to the operation unit 402, the user setting storage unit 404, the server address storage unit 408, the communication unit 401, and the user setting unit 452.

  The setting information acquisition unit 451 causes the display unit 422 to display predetermined default (initial) setting information as a printing condition when the printer driver 405 is activated. At this time, the setting information acquisition unit 451 displays a UI for selecting an acquisition destination from which user setting information is acquired on the display unit 422, and the user selects the acquisition destination of the user setting information by the display. Information to be acquired is input to the input unit 421. The acquisition destination selection information input to the input unit 421 is sent from the input unit 421 to the setting information acquisition unit 451.

  The setting information acquisition unit 451 includes a personal setting acquisition unit 451a and a shared setting acquisition unit 451b.

  The personal setting acquisition unit 451a reads the user setting information associated with the printer information corresponding to the printer driver 4 stored in the user setting storage unit 404 when the acquisition destination selection information is information representing the host device 4. The read user setting information is sent to the user setting unit 452. The read process will be described later. Hereinafter, the user setting information read by the personal setting acquisition unit 451a is referred to as personal user setting information.

  When the acquisition destination selection information from the input unit 421 indicates sharing, the shared setting acquisition unit 451b selects a desired user setting from the user setting information held by the host devices 5 and 6 other than the host device 4 or the server device 1. The server apparatus 1 is searched for information, the extracted user setting information is acquired, and the acquired user setting information (hereinafter, the user setting information acquired by the shared setting acquisition unit 451b is referred to as shared user setting information) is set as a setting selection unit 452c. To send to.

When acquisition destination selection information indicating sharing is acquired from the input unit 421, the sharing setting acquisition unit 451 b receives printer information corresponding to the printer driver 404 from the user setting storage unit 404 and user identification information that identifies the host device 4. The name α is read, and the user name α is used as search request source information. In addition, the sharing setting acquisition unit 451b displays an instruction to input an application name or / and keyword as a search condition on the display unit 422, and acquires the application name or / and keyword from the input unit 421. Furthermore, the sharing setting acquisition unit 451b displays an instruction to input device identification information for identifying a device from which user setting information is acquired on the display unit 422, and acquires the device identification information from the input unit 421. The device identification information includes a user name that uses the host devices 5 and 6, which is host identification information for identifying the host devices 5 and 6, and a device name of the server device 1. The sharing setting acquisition unit 451b creates a search instruction with the acquired device identification information, search request source information, printer information, and application name or / and keyword, and via the communication unit 401 and the network L. The created search instruction is transmitted to the server device 1.

  The shared user setting information is attached with identification information indicating whether the shared user setting information is stored in the server device 1 or the host devices 5 and 6. Based on the identification information, the sharing setting acquisition unit 451b stores the shared user setting information in the server shared user setting information stored in the server device 1 and the device outside the server device 1, that is, the host devices 5 and 6. It is distinguished from the shared user setting information outside the server.

  Hereinafter, when referred to as shared user setting information, it includes both in-server shared user setting information and off-server shared user setting information.

  The setting information acquisition unit 451 sends the acquired user setting information to the user setting unit 452. When the acquisition destination selection information is not input or when the acquisition destination selection information indicates that no selection is made, the setting information acquisition unit 451 sends default setting information to the user setting unit 452.

  The user setting unit 452 edits various printing conditions based on the acquired user setting information or default setting information, and prints the combined contents of the printing conditions so that a plurality of printing conditions need not be changed each time. It is for storing in a predetermined location as condition information. The user setting unit 452 is connected to the setting information acquisition unit 451, the print job generation unit 453, the application information acquisition unit 454, the user setting storage unit 404, the server address storage unit 408, the operation unit 402, and the communication unit 401. Has been.

  The user setting unit 452 includes an editing unit 452a, a setting information registration unit 452b, and a setting selection unit 452c.

  The setting selection unit 452c displays a list of user setting information or default setting information sent from the setting information acquisition unit 451 on the display unit 422, and inputs a setting selection instruction for selecting one to the user by the display. Input to the unit 421. The setting selection unit 452c sends the selected user setting information or default setting information to the editing unit 452a in response to a setting selection instruction from the input unit 421.

  The editing unit 452a is for editing (correcting) the individual user setting information, shared user setting information, or default setting information received from the setting selection unit 452c.

Upon receiving the personal user setting information, the shared user setting information, or the default setting information from the setting information acquisition unit 451, the editing unit 452a causes the display unit 422 to display the printing condition information in the received information. The user is caused to input an editing instruction for printing conditions to the input unit 421. Thereby, the user can change the printing conditions. Here, upon receiving an editing instruction from the input unit 421, the editing unit 452a edits the personal user setting information, shared user setting information, or default setting information received from the setting selection unit 452c according to the editing instruction, and sets the edited user setting. Information.

  On the other hand, when no editing instruction is received from the input unit 421, the editing unit 452a keeps the personal user setting information, shared user setting information, or default setting information received from the setting selection unit 452c.

  Further, the editing unit 452a causes the display unit 422 to display a print start registration item and a print condition registration item indicating registration of the displayed print condition, and by this display, a print start instruction and a print condition registration instruction are given to the user. Input to the input unit 421. Since the default setting information does not need to be registered, the editing unit 452a does not display the printing condition registration item on the display unit 422 when the default setting information is displayed on the display unit 422.

  Upon receiving a print start instruction from the input unit 421, the editing unit 452a sends the print condition information included in the personal user setting information, shared user setting information, default setting information, or edited user setting information to the print job generation unit 453. send. Further, upon receiving a print start instruction from the input unit 421, the editing unit 452a sends the received print start instruction to the application information acquisition unit 454.

  When receiving the printing condition registration item from the input unit 421, the editing unit 452a sends the personal user setting information, shared user setting information, or edited user setting information to the setting information registration unit 452b.

  The setting information registration unit 452b is for registering individual user setting information, shared user setting information, or edited user setting information in the user setting storage unit 404 or the server device 1. New registration to be performed and update registration to be updated with respect to the existing registration.

  The setting information registration unit 452b receives personal user setting information, shared user setting information, or post-editing user setting information from the editing unit 452a. In addition, the setting information registration unit 452b receives an application name from the application information acquisition unit 454 in a predetermined case.

  When the setting information registration unit 452b receives the non-server shared user setting information or the edited user setting information, the setting information registration unit 452b performs a new registration process according to an instruction from the input unit 421.

  In addition, when receiving the personal user setting information, the setting information registration unit 452b performs update registration processing on the user setting storage unit 404.

  Furthermore, when receiving the in-server shared user setting information, the setting information registration unit 452b performs a new registration process or an update registration process with respect to the server apparatus 1 according to an instruction from the input unit 421.

  In the case of new registration, the setting information registration unit 452b creates user setting information for new registration based on the received individual user setting information, shared user setting information, edited user setting information, and application name. Then, a new registration process is performed on the user setting storage unit 404 or the server device 1.

When new registration is performed with respect to the user setting storage unit 404, the setting information registration unit 452b identifies the printer information corresponding to the printer driver 404 to which the printer driver 404 belongs and the host device 4 from the created user setting information for new registration. The user setting storage unit 404 stores the information in association with the host identification information.

  In addition, when a new registration process is performed on the server device 1, the setting information registration unit 452 b stores the printer information corresponding to the printer driver 4 and the host identification information user for identifying the host device 4 from the user setting storage unit 404. Read the name α. Then, the setting information registration unit 452b sends to the communication unit 401 a new registration instruction with the created user setting information for new registration and the read host identification information and printer information.

  When performing update registration in the user setting storage unit 404, the setting information registration unit 452b performs update registration processing based on the received individual user setting information and application name.

  In addition, when performing update registration with respect to the server device 1, the setting information registration unit 452 b sends an update registration instruction with the shared user setting information in the server and the application name to the server device 1 via the communication unit 401 and the network L. Send to.

  The setting information registration unit 452b reads the IP address of the server device 1 from the server address storage unit 408 when performing new registration or update registration processing with respect to the server device 1.

  The contents of the processing for the user setting storage unit 404 or the server device 1 in the setting information registration unit 452b will be described in detail later.

  The print job generation unit 453 generates a print job corresponding to data such as a document created by the application unit 403 and outputs the generated print job to the image memory 406. The print job generation unit 453 receives print condition information from the user setting unit 452.

  The print job generation unit 453 includes a data format conversion unit 453a and an information addition unit 453b.

  Upon receiving the printing condition information from the user setting unit 452, the data format conversion unit 453a receives data such as a document created in the software from the applications 431, 432, 433, and so on, and the printer 3 can read the received data. Convert to a format (for example, PDL (Printer description Language)). At this time, conversion is performed according to the data format in the printing condition information received from the user setting unit 452.

  The information adding unit 453b adds the printing condition information received from the user setting unit 452 to the data whose format has been converted by the data format converting unit 453a, and sends the data to which the printing condition information has been added to the image memory unit 406.

  When the application information acquisition unit 454 receives a print start instruction from the editing unit 452a, the application 431, 432, 433,... That has created the data to be printed from the application unit 403, that is, the application 431 that has activated the printer driver. , 432, 433,..., And the acquired software names are sent to the setting information registration unit 452b.

  Next, the server device 1 will be described. The server device 1 stores user setting information, host identification information and printer information corresponding to the user setting information created and shared by the host devices 4, 5, 6 connected to the network L, and the host devices 4, 5, 6. Appropriate user setting information is extracted and transmitted in response to a request from.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the server device 1. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the server device 1 includes a communication unit 101, a shared user setting information writing unit 102, a shared user setting storage unit 104, and a search unit 103.

  The communication unit 101 is for communicating with the host devices 4, 5, 6 via the network L. Thereby, the server apparatus 1 can transmit / receive information to / from the host apparatuses 4, 5, 6.

  The communication unit 101 is connected to the network L, the shared user setting information writing unit 102, and the search unit 103. The communication unit 101 receives, from the host devices 4, 5, and 6 via the network L, a search instruction with user identification information, search request source information, printer information, application name or / and keyword, user setting information, and host From new registration instruction with identification information and printer information, shared user setting information in server and update registration instruction with application name, shared setting user setting information and corresponding host identification information and printer information Receive reply information.

  The communication unit 101 sends the received new registration instruction and update registration instruction to the shared user setting information writing unit 102 and the search instruction and reply information to the search unit 103.

  Further, the communication unit 101 receives the sharing setting information transmission request or the user setting information from the search unit 103 together with the IP address of the transmission destination, and transmits the received sharing to the host devices 4, 5, 6 having the received IP address. A setting information transmission request or user setting information is transmitted.

  The shared user setting information writing unit 102 acquires a new registration instruction and an update registration instruction from the communication unit 101, and performs new registration or update in the shared user setting storage unit 104 according to the acquired new registration instruction and update registration instruction. This is for registration processing.

  The shared user setting information writing unit 102 stores the user setting information, the host identification information, and the printer information attached to the acquired new registration instruction in the shared user setting storage unit 104 in association with each other. Further, the shared user setting information writing unit 102 updates the user setting information stored in the shared user setting storage unit 104 based on the in-server shared user setting information and the application name attached to the acquired update registration instruction. .

  New registration and update registration processing in the shared user setting information writing unit 102 will be described later.

  The shared user setting storage unit 104 stores user setting information, printer information, and user identification information transmitted from each host device 4, 5, 6 in association with each other.

  6 and 7 show examples of storage in the shared user setting storage unit 104. As shown in FIG. 6, printer information and user setting information for each printer are stored in association with the user name, which is user identification information. The user name is the name of the user who uses the host device 4, 5, or 6 that has transmitted the user setting information.

  FIG. 7 is a storage example of user setting information. The shared user setting storage unit 104 is similar to the storage example of the user setting storage unit shown in FIG. 4 except that the shared setting presence / absence information is not stored, and the user setting name, printing condition information, application information, and comment information Are stored in association with each other.

  The search unit 103 searches for user setting information suitable for a user who uses the host device 4, 5, 6 in response to a search instruction from the host device 4, 5, 6 and transmits the searched user setting information belongs to. The search unit 103 receives, from the communication unit 101, a search instruction with device identification information, search request source information, printer information, application name or / and keyword, and user setting information for sharing settings and corresponding host identification. Reply information including information and printer information is received.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the search unit 103 includes a user setting reading unit 131, a condition determining unit 132, a host address storage unit 133, and a user setting spool unit 134.

  The host address storage unit 133 stores the device names of the host devices 4, 5, and 6 and the corresponding IP addresses.

  The user setting spool unit 134 is for temporarily storing the user setting information read by the user setting reading unit 131 and the user identification information and printer information corresponding to the user setting information.

  The user setting reading unit 131 reads and reads the user setting information shared and set from the shared user setting storage unit 104 or the host device 4, 5, or 6, and the host identification information and printer information corresponding to the user setting information. This is for storing information in the user setting spool unit 134.

  The user setting reading unit 131 is connected to the communication unit 101, and receives a search instruction including search request source information, device identification information, printer information, and an application name or / and a keyword from the communication unit 101.

  When the server device 1 is included in the received device identification information, the user setting reading unit 131 stores the user setting information stored in the shared user setting storage unit 104, the corresponding user identification information and printer information. Is stored in the user setting spool unit 134. At this time, the user setting reading unit 131 attaches identification information indicating that it is in the server device 1 to the stored user setting information. Thereby, the user setting information read from the shared user setting storage unit 104 can be distinguished as in-server shared user setting information.

  If the received device identification information includes the host devices 4, 5, 6, the user setting reading unit 131 displays the IP address corresponding to the host device 4, 5, 6 as the host address storage unit 133. And transmits a sharing setting information transmission request to the host devices 4, 5, and 6 based on the acquired IP address. In response to the sharing setting information transmission request, the user setting reading unit 131 receives, from the communication unit 101, reply information including user setting information and corresponding host identification information and printer information. The user setting reading unit 131 stores user setting information, user identification information, and printer information of reply information in the user setting spool unit 134 in association with each other. At this time, the user setting reading unit 131 attaches identification information indicating that reading is performed from outside the server device 1 to the stored user setting information. Thereby, the user setting information read from the outside of the server device 1 can be distinguished as the non-server shared user setting information.

  When the user setting information and the corresponding host identification information and printer information are stored in the user setting spool unit 134, the user setting reading unit 131 sends the received search instruction to the condition determining unit 132.

The condition determination unit 132 searches the user setting information stored in the user setting spool unit 134 for information suitable for the host device 4, 5, 6 that is the search request source, and only the searched information is the search request source. Is transmitted to the host devices 4, 5, 6.

  The condition determining unit 132 receives a search instruction from the user setting reading unit 131. The condition determining unit 132 extracts user setting information from the user setting spool unit 134 based on the received search instruction, and transmits the extracted user setting information to the host device 4, 5, 6 that is the search request source. . The user setting information to be transmitted is attached with server internal / external identification information for identifying whether the information is read from the server device 1 or read from outside the server device 1.

  The processing procedure of the condition determining unit 132 will be described later.

  Next, processing contents of the host device 4 and the server device 1 when the printer driver 405 is activated will be described with reference to FIGS.

  8 to 10 are flowcharts for collecting user setting information and performing printing processing or user setting information registration processing based on the collected user setting information.

  First, the printer driver 405 is activated by an activation instruction from any of the applications 431, 432, 433,... In the application unit 403 (step 1).

  Next, as shown in FIG. 11, the setting information acquisition unit 451 displays default setting information on the display unit 422 and displays a user setting selection item for selecting an acquisition destination from which user setting information is acquired. 422 is displayed, and the display causes the user to input acquisition destination selection information for selecting an acquisition destination of user setting information to the input unit (step 2).

  Next, the setting information acquisition unit 451 selects an acquisition destination according to the presence / absence of the acquisition destination selection information from the input unit 421 and the content of the acquisition destination selection information (step 3).

  When there is no acquisition destination selection information from the input unit 421, or when the acquisition destination selection information indicates that no selection is made (No in step 3), the setting information acquisition unit 451 sets a predetermined default as a printing condition. The setting information is sent to the editing unit 452a of the user setting unit 452, and the editing unit 452a displays the default setting information on the display unit 422 (step 4).

  Next, the editing unit 452a confirms the editing instruction from the input unit 421 (step 5). When the editing instruction is canceled (cancelled in step 5), the editing unit 452a displays the print start item on the display unit 422 and confirms the start of printing (step 6).

  On the other hand, when a print start instruction is received from the input unit 421 (YES in step 6), the editing unit 452a sends print condition information of default setting information to the print job generation unit 453. The data format conversion unit 453a of the print job generation unit 453 acquires data to be printed from the application unit 403, and performs data format conversion using the data format included in the print condition information. Further, the information adding unit 453b adds the printing condition information to the data whose data format has been converted, and sends it to the image memory unit 406 (step 7). As a result, the image memory unit 406 sends the data with the print condition information added to the printer 3 via the communication unit 401 and the network L, and the printer 3 performs print output. Thereafter, the process ends.

  When the input unit 421 receives a message to cancel the start of printing (cancel at step 6), the process ends.

  On the other hand, when there is an editing instruction (YES in step 5), the editing unit 452a edits the default setting information in accordance with the editing instruction (step 8).

  Next, the editing unit 452a displays the print start item on the display unit 422 and confirms the start of printing (step 9). When a print start instruction is received from the input unit 421 (YES in step 9), the editing unit 452a, the print job generation unit 453, and the image memory unit 406 perform the same processing as in step 7 above, and print output to the printer 3. Perform (Step 10). At this time, the editing unit 452a sends a print start instruction to the application information acquisition unit 454. Upon receiving the print start instruction, the application information acquisition unit 454 acquires the application names of the applications 431, 432, 433,... That created the data to be printed from the application unit 403, and sets the acquired application names as the setting information registration unit 452b. Send to.

  Next, when canceling the print start instruction from the input unit 421 (cancellation at step 9), or after the processing of step 10 is finished, the editing unit 452a causes the display unit 422 to display print condition registration items, Confirmation of new registration of printing conditions is performed (step 11).

  When receiving a new registration instruction for printing conditions from the input unit 421 (YES in step 11), the host device 4 and the server device 1 perform a new registration process (step A) and end the process. The new registration process SA will be described later.

  If the input unit 421 receives cancellation of printing condition registration (cancel at step 11), the process is terminated.

  Next, a case where the acquisition destination selection information from the input unit 421 represents the host device 4 that is an individual (in step 3, an individual) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing after step 3 when the acquisition destination selection information represents an individual.

  When the acquisition destination selection information represents the host device 4, the personal setting acquisition unit 451a reads all the user setting information stored in the user setting storage unit 404, and sends the read personal user setting information to the setting selection unit 452c. Then, the setting selection unit 452c displays the personal user setting information on the display unit 422 (step 12).

Next, the setting selection unit 452c confirms whether the signal from the input unit 421 is a setting selection instruction for selecting one of the displayed individual user setting information or a cancellation instruction for canceling the selection (step 13). )
Next, when a cancel instruction for canceling the setting selection for selecting one individual user setting information is received from the input unit 421 (cancel at step 13), the process is terminated.

  When the setting selection unit 452c receives a setting selection instruction for selecting one individual user setting information from the input unit 421 (YES in step 13), the setting selection unit 452c receives one individual user setting information corresponding to the setting selection instruction. Select and send to the editing unit 452a.

  Next, the editing unit 452a confirms whether there is an editing instruction from the input unit 421 (step 14).

  When receiving an instruction to cancel editing from the input unit 421 (cancel in step 14), the editing unit 452a keeps the received personal user setting information as it is, displays the print start item on the display unit 422, and starts printing. Is confirmed (step 15).

When canceling the print start instruction from the input unit 421 (cancelled in step 15), the printer driver 405 and the server apparatus 1 end the processing.

  On the other hand, when a print start instruction is received from the input unit 421 (YES in step 15), the same processing as in step 7 is performed (step 16).

  Next, the editing unit 452a sends the received individual user setting information to the setting information registration unit 452b, and sends a print start instruction to the application information acquisition unit 454. Upon receiving the print start instruction, the application information acquisition unit 454 acquires the application names of the applications 431, 432, 433,... That created the data to be printed from the application unit 403, and sets the acquired application names as the setting information registration unit 452b. (Step 17).

  Next, the setting information registration unit 452b updates the application information in the personal user setting information based on the acquired application name, and creates user setting information for update. Specifically, the setting information registration unit 452b increases the use count by 1 when the received application name is included in the application information in the received individual user setting information. If there is no received application name in the application information in the received personal user setting information, the received application name and the number of times of use are added to the application information. Then, the setting information registration unit 452b overwrites the user setting information for update in place of the user setting information in the user setting storage unit 404 that is the same as the user setting name of the created user setting information for update. (Step 18). As a result, the user setting information is updated, and the process ends.

  When an editing instruction is received from the input unit 421 (editing at step 14), the printer driver 405 and the server apparatus 1 perform the processing of steps 19 to 22 and step A. Since the processing of Steps 19 to 22 is the same as the processing of Steps 8 to 11 described above, description thereof is omitted. The process of step A will be described later.

  Next, a case where the acquisition destination selection information from the input unit 421 represents sharing (shared in step 3) will be described. This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process when the acquisition destination selection information indicates sharing.

  When the acquisition destination selection information indicates sharing, the printer driver 405 and the server apparatus 1 perform shared user setting acquisition processing (step B). The processing content of step B will be described later.

  After the process of Step B, the setting selection unit 452c displays the shared user setting information sent from the sharing setting information acquisition unit 451b on the display unit 422 (Step 23).

Next, the setting selection unit 452c confirms whether the signal from the input unit 421 is a setting selection instruction for selecting one of the displayed shared user setting information or a cancellation instruction for canceling the selection (step 24). )
When receiving an instruction to cancel the setting selection for selecting one shared user setting information from the input unit 421 (cancel at step 24), the process is terminated.

  When the setting selection unit 452c receives a setting selection instruction for selecting one shared user setting information from the input unit 421 (YES in step 24), the setting selection unit 452c receives one shared user setting information corresponding to the setting selection instruction. Select and send to the editing unit 452a.

  Next, the editing unit 452a confirms whether there is an editing instruction from the input unit 421 (step 25).

  If the editing unit 452a receives the canceling of editing from the input unit 421 (cancel in step 25), the editing unit 452a keeps the received shared user setting information as it is, displays the print start item on the display unit 422, and confirms the print start. (Step 26).

  When canceling the print start instruction from the input unit 421 (cancellation at step 26), the printer driver 405 and the server device 1 end the processing.

  On the other hand, when a print start instruction is received from the input unit 421 (YES in step 26), the same processing as in step 7 is performed (step 27).

  Next, the editing unit 452a sends the acquired shared user setting information to the setting information registration unit 452b, and sends a print start instruction to the application information acquisition unit 454. Upon receiving the print start instruction, the application information acquisition unit 454 acquires the application name that created the data to be printed from the application unit 403, and sends the acquired application name to the setting information registration unit 452b (step 28).

  Next, the setting information registration unit 452b confirms whether the shared user setting information received from the editing unit 452a is the in-server shared user setting information or the off-server shared setting information (step 29). The setting information registration unit 452b performs the above confirmation based on the identification information attached to the shared user setting information indicating whether the information is stored in the server device 1 or stored in a device outside the server device 1.

  When the shared user setting information is the shared user setting information in the server (YES in step 29), the setting information registration unit 452b reads the IP address of the server device 1 from the server address storage unit 408. In addition, the setting information registration unit 452b sends an update registration instruction with the shared user setting information in the server received from the editing unit 452a and the application name received from the application information acquisition unit 454 via the communication unit 401 and the network L. To the server device 1. The shared user setting information writing unit 102 of the server apparatus 1 that acquired the update registration instruction stores the same user setting information as the user setting name of the intra-server shared user setting information attached to the update registration instruction in the shared user setting storage unit 104. Read from. The shared user setting information writing unit 102 rewrites the application information of the read user setting information on the basis of the application name given to the update registration instruction, and writes it again in the shared user setting storage unit 104 (step 30). Thereby, the user setting information is updated.

  Specifically, the process of rewriting the application information of the shared user setting information writing unit 102 is as follows. When there is an application name given to the update registration instruction in the application information of the user setting information read from the shared user setting storage unit 104, the shared user setting information writing unit 102 increases the use count by one. If there is no application name attached to the update registration instruction in the application information of the user setting information read from the shared user setting storage unit 104, the application name attached to the update registration instruction in the application information and the number of times of use: Add one time.

  After step 30, the printer driver 405 performs step 34 and step A. When an editing instruction is received from the input unit 421 (editing at step 25), the printer driver 405 and the server device 1 perform the processing of steps 31 to 34 and step A. Since the processing of steps 31 to 34 is the same as the processing of steps 8 to 11 described above, description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the new registration process (step A) will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the new registration process (step A).

  First, the setting information registration unit 452b acquires user setting information from the editing unit 452a, and displays a UI (user interface) asking for a user setting name as shown in FIG. 13 on the display unit 422. The user setting name of the user setting information to be newly registered is input to the input unit 421 (step 41). Thereby, the setting information registration unit 452b acquires the user setting name from the input unit 421.

  Next, the setting information registration unit 452b displays a UI for asking a comment on the display unit 422, and causes the user to input the comment information of the user setting information to be newly registered to the input unit 421 (step 42). As a result, the setting information registration unit 452b acquires comment information from the input unit 421.

  Next, the setting information registration unit 452b causes the display unit 422 to display a UI asking for a storage destination (new registration destination), and causes the user to input the new registration destination of the user setting information to be newly registered to the input unit 421. (Step 43). Thereby, the setting information registration unit 452b acquires information on the new registration destination. The new registration destination is either the host device 4 or the server device 1 that is a shared device outside the host device 4.

  When the new registration destination is the host device 4 (YES in step 43), the setting information registration unit 452b displays a UI asking whether or not there is a sharing setting on the display unit 422, and inputs whether or not the sharing setting is present to the user. The data is input to the unit 421 (step 44). Thereby, the setting information registration unit 452b acquires shared setting presence / absence information.

  Next, the setting information registration unit 452b displays a UI for confirming whether or not to perform new registration on the display unit 422, and instructs the user to perform new registration or cancel new registration. Is input to the input unit 421 (step 45).

  When a cancel instruction is received from the input unit 421 (NO in step 45), the new registration process (step A) is terminated, and the process returns to the processes shown in FIGS.

  When receiving a notification of new registration from the input unit 421 (YES in step 45), the setting information registration unit 452b clears the printing condition information in the user setting information and the usage count in the user setting information to zero. New registration user setting information is created, which includes the application information, the user setting name acquired in step A1, and the comment information acquired in step 42. Then, the setting information registration unit 452b stores the created user setting information for new registration in the user setting storage unit 404 in association with the printer information corresponding to the printer driver 4 and the host identification information for identifying the host device 4. (Step 46). Thereafter, the new registration process (step A) is terminated, and the process returns to the processes shown in FIGS.

  On the other hand, when the new registration destination is not the host device 4 but the server device 1 (NO in step 43), the setting information registration unit 452b causes the display unit 422 to display a UI for confirming whether or not to perform new registration. The user is caused to input to the input unit 421 either a new registration instruction for new registration or a cancellation instruction for canceling new registration (step 47).

  When a cancel instruction is received from the input unit 421 (NO in step 47), the host device 4 and the server device 1 including the setting information registration unit 452b end the processing.

When a new registration instruction is received from the input unit 421 (YES in step 47), the setting information registration unit 452b clears the printing condition information in the user setting information and the usage count in the user setting information to zero. Then, user setting information for new registration is created that includes the user setting name acquired in step A1 and the comment information acquired in step A2. Also, the setting information registration unit 452b reads out the printer information corresponding to the printer driver 4 and the user name α of the host identification information for identifying the host device 4 from the user setting storage unit 404. Then, the setting information registration unit 452b gives the server apparatus 1 a new registration instruction with the created user setting information for new registration and the read host identification information and printer information via the communication unit 401 and the network L. Send. Thereafter, the shared user setting information writing unit 102 of the server device 1 registers the user setting information, the host identification information, and the printer information attached to the new registration instruction in the shared user setting storage unit 104 in association with each other ( Step 48). Then, the new registration process (step A) is terminated, and the process returns to the processes shown in FIGS.

  Next, a shared user setting acquisition process (step B) will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the shared user setting acquisition processing (step B).

  First, the share setting acquisition unit 451 b that has received the acquisition destination selection information indicating sharing from the input unit 421 receives the printer information corresponding to the printer driver 404 from the user setting storage unit 404 and the host device 4. The user name α that is the host identification information to be identified is read, and the user name α is used as search request source information. Further, the display unit 422 displays a UI for inputting an application name and a keyword used for searching as shown in FIG. 15 and a UI for selecting the host device 5 or 6 or the server device 1 as an acquisition destination external device. By this display, the input unit 421 is caused to input an application name or / and keyword and device identification information for identifying the host device 5 or 6 or the server device 1 to the user. In this way, the share setting acquisition unit 451b acquires the search request source information, the printer information, the application name or / and keyword, and the device identification information, and generates a search instruction with these acquired (step 51). .

  Next, the sharing setting acquisition unit 451 b sends the generated search instruction to the server device 1 via the communication unit 401. At this time, the sharing setting acquisition unit 451b reads the IP address of the server device 1 from the server address storage unit 408, and sends a search instruction to the server device 1 based on the IP address.

  When the server device 1 is included in the received device identification information, the user setting reading unit 131 stores the user setting information stored in the shared user setting storage unit 104, the corresponding user identification information, and The printer information is read and stored in the user setting spool unit 134. At this time, the user setting reading unit 131 attaches identification information indicating that it is in the server device 1 to the stored user setting information.

If the received device identification information includes the host devices 4, 5, 6, the user setting reading unit 131 displays the IP address corresponding to the host device 4, 5, 6 as the host address storage unit 133. And transmits a sharing setting information transmission request to the host devices 4, 5, and 6 based on the acquired IP address. The shared setting information transmitting unit of each host device 4, 5, 6 that has received the sharing setting information transmission request shares the user setting information stored in the user setting storage unit of each host device 4, 5, 6. The user setting information and the corresponding host identification information and printer information are read out. Then, the shared setting information transmitting unit of each of the host devices 4, 5, 6 transmits the read user setting information, the corresponding host identification information, and reply information including the printer information to the server device 1. The user setting reading unit 131 that has received the reply information stores the user setting information, user identification information, and printer information of the reply information in the user setting spool unit 134 in association with each other. At this time, the user setting reading unit 131 attaches identification information indicating that reading is performed from outside the server device 1 to the stored user setting information.

  In this way, the user setting reading unit 131 acquires the user setting information and stores it in the user setting spool unit 134 (step 52).

  Next, when the user setting information and the corresponding host identification information and printer information are stored in the user setting spool unit 134, the user setting reading unit 131 sends the received search instruction to the condition determining unit 132. The condition determination unit 132 starts a search process based on the printer information attached to the search instruction, the application name, and the keyword.

  First, the condition determining unit 132 determines whether or not the user setting spool unit 134 has user setting information corresponding to printer information including the same IP address as the IP address of the printer information attached to the search instruction (step S1). 53).

  When the user setting information corresponding to the printer information including the same IP address is in the user setting spool unit 134 (YES in step B3), the condition determining unit 132 displays only the user setting information corresponding to the printer information including the same IP address. Other user setting information and corresponding user identification information and printer information are deleted from the user setting spool unit 134. That is, the condition determination unit 132 extracts only user setting information corresponding to printer information including the same IP address (step 54).

  If there is no user setting information corresponding to the printer information including the same IP address in the user setting spool unit 134 (NO in step 53), the condition determination unit 132 determines the model name and printer configuration of the printer information attached to the search instruction. It is determined whether or not user setting information corresponding to printer information including the same model name and printer configuration exists in the user setting spool unit 134 (step 55).

  When the user setting information corresponding to the printer information including the same model name and printer configuration is in the user setting spool unit 134 (YES in step 55), the condition determination unit 132 supports the printer information including the same model name and printer configuration. Other user setting information and corresponding user identification information and printer information are deleted from the user setting spool unit 134, leaving only the user setting information to be performed. That is, the condition determination unit 132 extracts only user setting information corresponding to printer information including the same model name and printer configuration (step 56).

  If there is no user setting information corresponding to the printer information including the same model name and printer configuration in the user setting spool unit 134 (NO in step 55), the condition determination unit 132 determines the model name of the printer information attached to the search instruction and It is determined whether or not user setting information corresponding to printer information including the same model name exists in the user setting spool unit 134 (step 57).

  When the user setting information corresponding to the printer information including the same model name is in the user setting spool unit 134 (YES in step 57), the condition determining unit 132 only receives the user setting information corresponding to the printer information including the same model name. Other user setting information and corresponding user identification information and printer information are deleted from the user setting spool unit 134. That is, the condition determination unit 132 extracts only user setting information corresponding to printer information including the same model name (step 58).

When the user setting information corresponding to the printer information including the same model name does not exist in the user setting spool unit 134 (NO in step 57), the condition determination unit 132 sets all the user setting information stored in the user setting spool unit 134. Leave as it is. That is, the condition determination unit 132 extracts all user setting information stored in the user setting spool unit 134 (step 59).

  After each process of steps 54, 56, 58, and 59, the condition determination unit 132 further performs a narrowing extraction process.

  First, the condition determining unit 132 determines whether or not to perform extraction based on the application name based on whether or not the application name is included in the transmitted search instruction (step 60). That is, if the application name is added to the transmitted search instruction, the condition determining unit 132 determines to perform extraction based on the application name (YES in step 60), and the application name is added to the transmitted search instruction. If not, it is determined not to perform extraction by application name (NO in step 60).

  In the case of YES at step 60, the condition determining unit 132 leaves only the user setting information having application information including the same application name, and sends other user setting information and corresponding user identification information and printer information to the user setting spool unit. Delete from 134. That is, the condition determination unit 132 extracts only user setting information having application information including the application name (step 61). Then, the process proceeds to next Step 62.

  Also in the case of NO at step 60, the condition determination unit 132 leaves all the user setting information stored in the user setting spool unit 134 as it is, and proceeds to the next step 62.

  Next, in step 62, the condition determination unit 132 determines whether or not to perform extraction based on a keyword depending on whether or not there is a keyword in the transmitted search instruction. That is, if the transmitted search instruction keyword is attached, the condition determination unit 132 determines to perform extraction by keyword (YES in step 62). If the transmitted search instruction does not have a keyword, It is determined that no keyword extraction is performed (NO in step 62).

  If YES in step 62, the condition determination unit 132 deletes other user setting information and corresponding user identification information and printer information from the user setting spool unit 134, leaving only user setting information including the same keyword. That is, the condition determination unit 132 extracts only user setting information including the same keyword (step 63). Then, the process proceeds to next Step 64.

  Also in the case of NO in step 62, the condition determination unit 132 leaves all the user setting information stored in the user setting spool unit 134 as it is, and moves to the next step 64.

  Next, in step 64, the condition determining unit 132 reads the IP address corresponding to the user name α of the search request source information attached to the search instruction from the host address storage unit 133. Then, the condition determining unit 132 sends the user setting information remaining in the user setting spool unit 134 to the host device 4 via the communication unit 101 and the network L based on the read IP address. The communication unit 401 of the host device 4 sends the received user setting information to the sharing setting acquisition unit 451b. Thereby, the sharing setting acquisition unit 451b acquires the user setting information (step 64). Thereafter, the shared user setting acquisition process (step B) is terminated, and the process returns to the process shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, the search unit 103 performs extraction in three stages from the three elements of the printer IP address, the printer model name, and the printer configuration. However, the search unit 103 extracts only one of the three elements. Alternatively, it may be extracted in any combination. In addition, the user may freely select which element is used for extraction. Furthermore, in this embodiment, user setting information is extracted by the above three elements, and then extraction is narrowed down by keyword or application. However, keyword search or application extraction is performed on all user setting information. You may go. Furthermore, the printer driver version may be used as an element for setting extraction and keyword search. The version of the printer driver can be used effectively because the same problem is likely to occur if the version is the same, such as when searching for avoidance settings for printing problems.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the search process is performed by the search unit 103 of the server device 1. In this case, there is an advantage that only one search unit 103 needs to be provided in the network printing system. However, the host devices 4, 5, and 6 may have the same configuration as the search unit 103, and the host devices 4, 5, and 6 may perform the search process. In this case, the host device 4 can directly read the user setting information from the server device 1 and the host devices 5 and 6 and search and extract the user setting information in the host device 4.

  A plurality of server devices may be connected to the network L, and search processing may be performed in each server device. When search instructions from the host devices 4, 5, and 6 are concentrated at once, the search processing can be distributed to a plurality of server devices. In this case, the server address storage unit 408 stores the IP addresses of a plurality of server devices. Then, the sharing setting acquisition unit 451b reads an IP address corresponding to the selected server device from the server address storage unit 408, and sends a search instruction together with the IP address to the communication unit 401.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the setting information registration unit 452b is configured to display a display for inputting a comment on the display unit 422 and acquire the comment information from the input unit 421 when newly registering user setting information. is there. However, when the user setting information to be newly registered includes comment information, the setting information registration unit 452b may newly register the comment information included as it is. This is because the existing comment information is usually valid information for the user to indicate when to use the user setting information.

  In this embodiment, the printer driver 405 includes the setting information acquisition unit, the user setting unit 452, and the application information acquisition unit 454. However, the configuration is not limited thereto. The setting information acquisition unit, the user setting unit 452, and the application information acquisition unit 454 may be in the host device 4 and may be outside the printer driver 405.

  In the present embodiment, the user setting storage unit 404 and the shared user setting storage unit 104 store all items (paper size and the like) as printing condition information, as shown in FIGS. The configuration. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and only items different from the default setting information may be stored. In this case, the setting information acquisition unit 451 may apply default settings to items that are not included in the acquired printing condition information. Thereby, the memory capacity of the user setting storage unit 404 and the shared user setting storage unit 104 can be reduced.

[Embodiment 2]
Another embodiment of the information processing apparatus and the server apparatus 1 according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those in the drawings described in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

In addition to the configuration of the above embodiment, the host device 4 according to the present embodiment acquires user setting information that is collectively set from the server device 1 and the other host devices 5 and 6, It has a preferable configuration to register (save). The configuration of the server device 1 is the same as that of the above embodiment shown in FIG.

  FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the host device 4 of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 16, the printer driver 405 of the host device 4 of this embodiment includes a shared setting batch acquisition unit 451c in addition to the configuration of the above embodiment.

  In addition to the functions described in the above embodiment, the communication unit 401 receives a collective search instruction (to be described later) from the shared setting collective acquisition unit 451c, and sends the received collective search instruction to the server device 1. Further, the communication unit 401 receives the batch search result from the server device 1 via the network L, and sends the received batch search result to the shared setting batch acquisition unit 451c.

  When the printer driver 405 is activated, the shared setting batch acquisition unit 451c acquires user setting information collectively set from the server device 1 and the other host devices 5 and 6, and the internal setting of the shared setting batch acquisition unit 451c. The display unit 422 displays a shared setting batch acquisition item representing a shared setting batch registration process that is a process of registering (storing). The shared setting batch acquisition items include a version extraction batch acquisition item extracted using the version of the printer driver 405 and an application extraction batch acquisition item extracted using the application names of all applications installed in the host device 4. And normal batch acquisition items that are not narrowed down. With this display, the sharing setting batch acquisition unit 451c allows the input unit 421 to input a sharing setting batch registration instruction for selecting a version extraction batch acquisition item, an application extraction batch acquisition item, or a normal batch acquisition item. it can. The share setting batch registration instruction input to the input unit 421 is sent to the share setting batch acquisition unit 451c.

  Upon receiving a sharing setting batch registration instruction for selecting a version extraction batch acquisition item, the sharing setting batch acquisition unit 451c receives printer information (all including the driver version) and host identification information corresponding to the printer driver 405 from the user setting storage unit 404. And the user name α is used as search request source information.

  In addition, upon receiving a share setting batch registration instruction for selecting an application extraction batch acquisition item, the share setting batch acquisition unit 451c requests an application name from all the applications 431, 432, 433,. A signal is sent and the application names of the applications 431, 432, 433,. Further, the shared setting batch acquisition unit 451c reads out the printer information (excluding the driver version) corresponding to the printer driver 405 and the user name α which is host identification information from the user setting storage unit 404, and searches for the user name α. Requester information.

  In addition, upon receiving a share setting batch registration instruction for selecting a normal batch acquisition item, the share setting batch acquisition unit 451c receives printer information (however, excluding the driver version) and host corresponding to the printer driver 405 from the user setting storage unit 404. The user name α which is identification information is read, and the user name α is used as search request source information.

  The shared setting batch acquisition unit 451c generates a batch search instruction with the acquired application name, read printer information, and search request source information. Further, the shared setting batch acquisition unit 451 c reads the IP address of the server device 1 from the server IP address storage unit 458. Then, the shared setting batch acquisition unit 451c sends the generated batch search instruction to the communication unit 4011 via the communication unit 401 and the network L based on the read IP address.

Further, the shared setting batch acquisition unit 451c acquires, from the communication unit 401, a batch search result indicating “no extracted user setting information” or a batch search result including the extracted user setting information.

  The shared setting batch acquisition unit 451c clears the usage count of the application information of the acquired user setting information to zero. Furthermore, the shared setting batch acquisition unit 451c displays a UI for asking the user setting name on the display unit 422, acquires a new user setting name from the input unit 421, and changes the user setting name of the acquired user setting information. The shared setting batch acquisition unit 451c associates the user setting information obtained by changing the application information and the user setting name with the printer information corresponding to the printer driver 405 and the user name α that identifies the host device 4, and the user setting storage unit Store in 404.

  The shared setting batch acquisition unit 451c can change the user setting name of the user setting information when storing the user setting information in the user setting storage unit 404. The shared setting batch acquisition unit 451c causes the display unit 422 to display a UI asking for a user setting name, and acquires a new user setting name from the input unit 421.

  Next, the shared setting batch registration process will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the sharing setting batch registration process.

  First, the printer driver 405 is activated by an instruction from the application unit 403 or an instruction from the input unit 421 (step 71).

  When the printer driver 405 is activated, the shared setting batch acquisition unit 451c causes the display unit 422 to display a shared setting batch acquisition item representing the shared setting batch registration process (step 72). This causes the input unit 421 to input a share setting batch registration instruction for selecting a version extraction batch acquisition item or an application extraction batch acquisition item. The share setting batch registration instruction input to the input unit 421 is sent to the share setting batch acquisition unit 451c.

  Next, the share setting batch acquisition unit 451c generates a batch search instruction according to the share setting batch registration instruction (step 73). Specifically, the shared setting batch acquisition unit 451c performs the following processing.

  Upon receiving a sharing setting batch registration instruction for selecting a version extraction batch acquisition item, the sharing setting batch acquisition unit 451c receives printer information (all including the driver version) and host identification information corresponding to the printer driver 405 from the user setting storage unit 404. And the user name α is used as search request source information. Then, the shared setting batch acquisition unit 451c generates a batch search instruction with the printer information (all including the driver version) and the user name α, and sends the batch search instruction to the server device 1.

  In addition, upon receiving a share setting batch registration instruction for selecting an application extraction batch acquisition item, the share setting batch acquisition unit 451c requests an application name from all the applications 431, 432, 433,. A signal is sent and the application names of the applications 431, 432, 433,. Further, the shared setting batch acquisition unit 451c reads out the printer information (excluding the driver version) corresponding to the printer driver 405 and the user name α which is host identification information from the user setting storage unit 404, and searches for the user name α. Requester information. Then, the shared setting batch acquisition unit 451c generates a batch search instruction with the application name, printer information (except for the driver version) and the user name α, and sends the batch search instruction to the server apparatus 1.

In addition, upon receiving a share setting batch registration instruction for selecting a normal batch acquisition item, the share setting batch acquisition unit 451c receives printer information (however, excluding the driver version) and host corresponding to the printer driver 405 from the user setting storage unit 404. The user name α which is identification information is read, and the user name α is used as search request source information. Then, the shared setting batch acquisition unit 451c generates a batch search instruction with the printer information (except for the driver version) and the user name α, and sends the batch search instruction to the server device 1.

  Next, when the user setting reading unit 131 of the server apparatus 1 receives the collective search instruction, the user setting reading unit 131 of the host apparatus 5 or 6 having host identification information other than the user name α that is the search request source information attached to the collective search instruction. The IP address is read from the address storage unit 143. Then, the user setting reading unit 131 sends a sharing setting information transmission request to the host devices 5 and 6 based on the read IP address. Upon receiving the sharing setting information transmission request, the sharing setting information transmitting unit of each of the host devices 5 and 6 stores the sharing setting user setting information stored in the host device 5 and the user identification information and printer information corresponding to the user setting information. Send to. As a result, the user setting reading unit 131 acquires the user setting information that is shared and stored in the host devices 5 and 6 and the corresponding user identification information and printer information. When receiving the batch search instruction, the user setting reading unit 131 reads the user setting information stored in the shared user setting storage unit 104, the corresponding user identification information, and printer information.

  In this way, the user setting reading unit 131 acquires the user setting information stored in the host devices 5 and 6 and the shared user setting storage unit 104, the corresponding user identification information and printer information, and the user setting spool. The data is stored in the unit 134 (step 74).

  Next, the condition determination unit 132 that has received the printer information and the application name attached to the batch search instruction starts search processing.

  First, the condition determination unit 132 determines whether or not the user setting spool unit 134 has user setting information corresponding to printer information including the same IP address as the IP address of the printer information included in the batch search instruction (step S1). 75).

  When the user setting information corresponding to the printer information including the same IP address is present in the user setting spool unit 134 (YES in step 75), the condition determining unit 132 displays only the user setting information corresponding to the printer information including the same IP address. Other user setting information and corresponding user identification information and printer information are deleted from the user setting spool unit 134. That is, the condition determination unit 132 extracts only user setting information corresponding to printer information including the same IP address (step 76).

  If there is no user setting information corresponding to the printer information including the same IP address in the user setting spool unit 134 (NO in step 75), the condition determination unit 132 determines the model name and printer configuration of the printer information included in the batch search instruction. It is determined whether or not user setting information corresponding to printer information including the same model name and printer configuration exists in the user setting spool unit 134 (step 77).

  When the user setting information corresponding to the printer information including the same model name and printer configuration is in the user setting spool unit 134 (YES in step 77), the condition determination unit 132 supports the printer information including the same model name and printer configuration. Other user setting information and corresponding user identification information and printer information are deleted from the user setting spool unit 134, leaving only the user setting information to be performed. That is, the condition determination unit 132 extracts only user setting information corresponding to printer information including the same model name and printer configuration (step 78).

  If the user setting information corresponding to the printer information including the same model name and printer configuration does not exist in the user setting spool unit 134 (NO in step 79), the condition determination unit 132 is the same as the model name of the printer information included in the search instruction. It is determined whether or not user setting information corresponding to the printer information including the model name exists in the user setting spool unit 134 (step 79).

  When the user setting information corresponding to the printer information including the same model name exists in the user setting spool unit 134 (YES in step 79), the condition determination unit 132 receives only the user setting information corresponding to the printer information including the same model name. Other user setting information and corresponding user identification information and printer information are deleted from the user setting spool unit 134. That is, the condition determining unit 132 extracts only user setting information corresponding to printer information including the same model name (step 80).

  When there is no user setting information corresponding to the printer information including the same model name in the user setting spool unit 134 (NO in step 79), the step condition determination unit 132 sets all user setting information in the user setting spool unit 134 and the user setting information. Corresponding user identification information and printer information are deleted (step 81). That is, the step condition determination unit 132 does not extract anything. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 87.

  After each of the steps 78, 80, and 82, the condition determination unit 132 determines whether or not to further perform the narrowing extraction process, and if so, the processing content of the narrowing extraction (step 82).

  That is, in step 82, if the application name is added to the transmitted collective search instruction, the condition determining unit 132 determines to perform a narrowing extraction process by the application (application in step 82). In step 84, if the version of the printer driver 405 is added to the transmitted collective search instruction, the condition determination unit 132 determines to perform a narrowing extraction process based on the version of the printer driver 405 (the driver in step 82. version).

  Further, in step 84, if the application name or the version of the printer driver 405 is not attached to the transmitted collective search instruction, the condition determining unit 132 determines not to perform the narrowing extraction process (NO in step 82).

  When it is determined that the narrow-down extraction process by the application is performed (application in step 82), the condition determination unit 132 sets only the user setting information having application information including the same application name as the application name assigned to the batch search instruction. The rest is deleted from the spool unit 134, and the others are deleted from the user setting spool unit 134 (step 83). In this way, the condition determination unit 132 performs a narrowing extraction process by an application.

  If it is determined that the narrowing extraction process based on the version of the printer driver 405 is performed (driver version in step 82), the condition determination unit 132 includes printer information including the same version as the version of the printer driver 405 attached to the batch search instruction. Only the user setting information corresponding to is left in the user setting spool unit 134, and the others are deleted from the user setting spool unit 134 (step 84). In this way, the condition determination unit 132 performs a narrowing extraction process based on the version of the printer driver 405.

  When the narrow-down extraction process is not performed (NO in step 82), or after step 81, the process of step 85 is performed.

In step 85, the condition determination unit 132 determines whether there is extracted information based on whether user setting information remains in the user setting spool unit 134.

  If there is extracted information (YES in step S85), the condition determining unit 132 reads the user setting information remaining in the user setting spool unit 134. Further, the condition determination unit 132 reads from the host address storage unit 133 the IP address corresponding to the user name α of the search request source information attached to the batch search instruction. Then, the condition determination unit 132 sends a batch search result including the read user setting information to the host device 4 based on the read IP address. The communication unit 401 that has received the batch search result sends the received batch search result to the shared setting batch acquisition unit 451c. Then, the shared setting batch acquisition unit 451c clears the usage count of the application information of the user setting information included in the batch search result to zero. Furthermore, the shared setting batch acquisition unit 451c displays a UI for asking the user setting name on the display unit 422, acquires a new user setting name from the input unit 421, and changes the user setting name of the acquired user setting information. The shared setting batch acquisition unit 451c associates the user setting information obtained by changing the application information and the user setting name with the printer information corresponding to the printer driver 405 and the user name α that identifies the host device 4, and the user setting storage unit The data is stored in 404 (step 86).

  On the other hand, when there is no extracted information (NO in step S85), the condition determining unit 132 generates a batch search result indicating “no extracted information”. Further, the condition determination unit 132 reads from the host address storage unit 133 the IP address corresponding to the user name α of the search request source information attached to the batch search instruction. Then, the condition determination unit 132 sends a batch search result including the read user setting information to the host device 4 based on the read IP address. The communication unit 401 that has received the batch search result sends the received batch search result to the shared setting batch acquisition unit 451c. Then, the shared setting batch acquisition unit 451c displays “no extracted information” on the display unit 422 based on the batch search result (step 87). Thereafter, the process ends.

  In the present embodiment, upon receiving a share setting batch registration instruction for selecting a version extraction batch acquisition item, the share setting batch acquisition unit 451 c receives printer information (including all driver versions) corresponding to the printer driver 405 from the user setting storage unit 404. ). However, at this time, the shared setting batch acquisition unit 451c may read out printer information (all including driver versions) corresponding to all printer drivers from the user setting storage unit 404. As a result, the host apparatus 4 can collectively acquire user setting information suitable for printers corresponding to all installed printer drivers.

  Further, in the present embodiment, upon receiving a share setting batch registration instruction, the share setting batch acquisition unit 451c reads printer information corresponding to the printer driver 405 from the user setting storage unit 404. However, at this time, the shared setting batch acquisition unit 451c may read out printer information corresponding to all printers from the user setting storage unit 404. As a result, the host device 4 can collectively acquire user setting information suitable for all printers capable of printing out.

  In the above embodiment, the setting information acquisition unit 451 is configured to acquire user setting information from the user setting storage unit 404 or the shared user setting information storage unit 104. However, the user setting information may be read from a storage medium such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk or a memory card. In this case, a recording medium reading device built in the host device 4, 5, 6 or a recording medium reading device connected to the host device 4, 5, 6 or a network is used.

Finally, each block of the host device 4 or the server device 1, particularly the user setting unit 452, the setting information acquisition unit 451, the application information acquisition unit 454, and the search unit 103 may be configured by hardware logic, Thus, it may be realized by software using a CPU.

  That is, the host device 4 or the server device 1 includes a CPU (central processing unit) that executes instructions of a control program that realizes each function, a ROM (read only memory) that stores the program, and a RAM (random) that expands the program. access memory), a storage device (recording medium) such as a memory for storing the program and various data. The object of the present invention is to record the program code (execution format program, intermediate code program, source program) of the control program of the host device 4 or the server device 1 which is software that realizes the above-described functions so that it can be read by a computer. This can also be achieved by supplying a recording medium to the host device 4 or the server device 1 and reading and executing the program code recorded on the recording medium by the computer (or CPU or MPU).

  Examples of the recording medium include a tape system such as a magnetic tape and a cassette tape, a magnetic disk such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk / hard disk, and an optical disk such as a CD-ROM / MO / MD / DVD / CD-R. Card system such as IC card, IC card (including memory card) / optical card, or semiconductor memory system such as mask ROM / EPROM / EEPROM / flash ROM.

Further, the host device 4 or the server device 1 may be configured to be connectable to a communication network, and the program code may be supplied via the communication network. The communication network is not particularly limited. For example, the Internet, intranet, extranet, LAN, ISDN, VAN, CATV communication network, virtual private network (virtual private network)
), Telephone line networks, mobile communication networks, satellite communication networks, and the like. In addition, the transmission medium constituting the communication network is not particularly limited. For example, in the case of wired communication such as IEEE 1394, USB, power line carrier, cable TV line, telephone line, and ADSL line, infrared rays such as IrDA and remote control, Bluetooth, It can also be used with radio such as 802.11 radio, HDR, mobile phone network, satellite line, and terrestrial digital network. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a carrier wave or a data signal sequence in which the program code is embodied by electronic transmission.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  According to the information processing apparatus, the server apparatus, the information transmission method, the information processing program, and the recording medium of the present invention, since the printing condition information is shared, the user can easily obtain desired printing condition information. Therefore, the present invention can be applied to a device that performs print output and a device that manages the device.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a network system including a host device, a server device, and a printer according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the said host apparatus. It is a figure which shows the memory example of the user setting memory | storage part with which the said host apparatus is provided. It is a figure which shows the example of a memory | storage of the user setting information of the user setting memory | storage part with which the said host apparatus is provided. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the said server apparatus. It is a figure which shows the memory example of the user setting memory | storage part with which the said server apparatus is provided. It is a figure which shows the example of a memory | storage of the user setting information of the user setting memory | storage part with which the said server apparatus is provided. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the printer driver of the said host apparatus, and a server apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the process of a printer driver and a server apparatus when acquiring personal user setting information. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a printer driver and a server device when acquiring shared user setting information. It is an example of a print setting screen displayed by the user setting unit of the printer driver. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a new registration process for a printer driver and a server device. It is an example of a user setting information storage screen displayed by the user setting unit of the printer driver. 5 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a printer driver and a server device when acquiring shared setting information. It is an example of a search condition setting screen displayed by the setting information acquisition unit of the printer driver. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the host apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a printer driver and a server device when sharing settings are collectively acquired.

Explanation of symbols

1 Server device 2/3 Printer 4/5 6 Host device (information processing device)
102 Shared user setting information writing unit (writing means)
103 Search part (extraction means)
104 Shared user setting storage unit (storage means)
404 User setting storage unit (storage means)
405 Printer driver 407 Share setting information transmission unit (transmission means)
431, 432, 433 Application 451 Setting information acquisition unit (printing condition information acquisition means)
452b Setting information registration unit (writing means)

Claims (18)

An information processing apparatus that is connected to a server device or another information processing apparatus via a communication network, and that prints out to a printer under arbitrary printing conditions,
The server device or other information processing device stores printing condition information related to printing conditions in association with predetermined additional information,
An information processing apparatus comprising: printing condition information acquisition means for specifying the additional information and acquiring printing condition information from the server apparatus or another information processing apparatus based on the specified specific additional information. An information processing apparatus that is connected to a server device or another information processing apparatus via a communication network, and that prints on a printer under arbitrary printing conditions,
The server device or other information processing device stores printing condition information related to printing conditions in association with predetermined additional information,
Print condition information for specifying an arbitrary keyword and acquiring print condition information including the specified keyword or additional information including the specified keyword from the server device or another information processing apparatus An information processing apparatus comprising an acquisition unit.   The additional information includes printer model identification information for identifying the printer model, printer configuration identification information for identifying the printer configuration, version identification information for identifying the version of the printer driver, application identification information for identifying the application, and the number of times of printing for each application. The information processing according to claim 1, wherein the information processing includes at least one of printing number information to be displayed, information processing device identification information for identifying another information processing device, and comment information including an arbitrary comment. apparatus. The additional information includes printer model identification information for identifying a printer model and printer configuration identification information for identifying a printer configuration,
The printing condition information acquisition unit specifies a printer model and a printer configuration of a printer to be printed, and represents a printer model or printer configuration that is the same as the specified printer model and printer configuration from a server device or another information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein printing condition information associated with the identification information and the printer configuration identification information is extracted, and the extracted printing condition information is acquired. The additional information includes printer model identification information for identifying a printer model and printer configuration identification information for identifying a printer configuration,
The printing condition information acquisition unit identifies printer models and printer configurations of all printers that can perform printing output, and represents the same printer model and printer configuration as the identified printer model and printer configuration from the server apparatus or other information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein printing condition information associated with the printer model identification information and the printer configuration identification information is extracted, and the extracted printing condition information is acquired. A printer driver corresponding to the printer for printing output to the printer is installed.
The additional information includes version identification information for identifying a version of the printer driver;
The printing condition information acquisition unit specifies a version of a printer driver corresponding to a printer to be printed out, and prints associated with version identification information representing the same version as the specified version from a server device or another information processing device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the condition information is extracted and the extracted printing condition information is acquired. A printer driver corresponding to the printer for printing output to the printer is installed.
The additional information includes version identification information for identifying a version of the printer driver;
The printing condition information acquisition unit specifies the version of the installed printer driver, and prints the printing condition information associated with the version identification information representing the same version as the specified version from the server apparatus or another information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information is extracted and the extracted printing condition information is acquired. The additional information includes application identification information for identifying an application,
The printing condition information acquisition unit identifies an application that created data to be printed and outputs printing condition information associated with application identification information representing the same application as the identified application from a server apparatus or another information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information is extracted and the extracted printing condition information is acquired. The additional information includes application identification information for identifying an application,
The printing condition information acquisition unit identifies an installed application, extracts printing condition information associated with application identification information representing the same application as the identified application from the server apparatus or another information processing apparatus, The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the extracted printing condition information is acquired. Storage means for storing printing condition information relating to printing conditions when printing on the printer;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a writing unit that writes the printing condition information acquired by the printing condition information acquiring unit into the storage unit. Storage means for storing printing condition information relating to printing conditions when printing on the printer;
A writing unit that writes the printing condition information acquired by the printing condition information acquiring unit in the storage unit in association with the additional information;
10. The printing condition information written in the storage means, or transmission means for transmitting the printing condition information and corresponding additional information to the server apparatus or another information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims. The additional information includes comment information including an arbitrary comment,
The printing condition information acquisition unit acquires printing condition information from the server device or another information processing apparatus and also acquires comment information corresponding to the printing condition information,
Storage means for storing printing condition information relating to printing conditions when printing on the printer;
The information according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising: a writing unit that associates the printing condition information acquired by the printing condition information acquiring unit with comment information and writes the comment information in the storage unit. Processing equipment. A server device connected to a plurality of information processing devices via a communication network,
Storage means for storing printing condition information relating to printing conditions when printing on an arbitrary printer in association with predetermined additional information;
Writing means for acquiring the printing condition information and additional information from the information processing apparatus, associating the acquired printing condition information and additional information with each other, and writing to the storage means;
The specific additional information or the specified keyword that is the additional information specified from any one information processing apparatus is received, and the acquired specific additional information or keyword is selected from the printing condition information stored in the storage means. A server apparatus comprising: extraction means for extracting printing condition information based on the information and transmitting the extracted printing condition information to the information processing apparatus that has transmitted the specific additional information. A server device connected to a plurality of information processing devices via a communication network,
The information processing apparatus stores printing condition information related to printing conditions in association with predetermined additional information,
Collecting means for collecting printing condition information and corresponding additional information from the information processing apparatus;
The specific additional information or the specified keyword, which is the specified additional information, is received from any one information processing apparatus, and the acquired specific additional information or keyword is selected from the printing condition information collected by the collecting means. A server apparatus comprising: extraction means for extracting the printing condition information and transmitting the extracted printing condition information to the information processing apparatus that has transmitted the specific additional information or the keyword. Information transmission method for transmitting printing condition information related to printing conditions set in first information processing apparatus to second information processing apparatus in a network system composed of a plurality of information processing apparatuses connected to each other via a communication network Because
Printing condition information relating to printing conditions set by the first information processing apparatus is associated with predetermined additional information and stored in any storage means capable of communicating with the communication network;
Acquiring additional information or a keyword specified in the second information processing apparatus;
Based on the acquired additional information or keyword, the printing condition information or the printing condition information and the corresponding additional information are read from the storage means,
An information transmission method characterized by transmitting the read print condition information or the read print condition information and corresponding additional information to the second information processing apparatus.   An information processing program for operating the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the information processing program causes a computer to function as each of the above means.   15. An information processing program for operating the server device according to claim 13 or 14 for causing a computer to function as each of the above-described means.   The computer-readable recording medium which recorded the information processing program of Claim 16 or 17.

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