JP2008181175A - Printing device capability providing system, printing device capability providing program, and printing device capability providing method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides accurate device capability information according to the state of a printing apparatus.
A printing apparatus capability providing system A includes a print case information acquisition unit 107, a print case D
B108 and the apparatus capability estimation part 104 are provided. The print case information acquisition unit 107 acquires print job setting data relating to a print request and stores the print job setting data in the print case DB 108 as print case information. The device capability estimation unit 104 estimates and outputs the device capability of the printing apparatus based on a plurality of accumulated print case information.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a printing device capability providing system, a printing device capability providing program, and a printing device capability providing method capable of appropriately grasping the device capability of a printing apparatus that converts according to a state.

Conventionally, by using the device capability information of the printing device stored in the printing device or the printer control device, it is possible to select an appropriate printing device or perform print settings according to the device capability of the printing device. (See Patent Documents 1 and 2).
JP-A-7-306764 JP-A-9-190313

However, the technique shown in the above-mentioned patent document only uses fixed device capability information stored in the printing apparatus or printer control apparatus. For this reason, for example, when the double-sided printing cannot be performed due to a failure of the double-sided unit, the color toner runs out and color printing cannot be performed, and only monochrome printing is possible, or when the partial failure occurs, the device capability is temporarily In this case, the optimum printing apparatus could not be selected.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems. A printing device capability providing system, a printing device capability providing program capable of acquiring and providing accurate information on the device capability of a printing apparatus, and
The object is to provide a printing equipment capability providing method.

[Mode 1] In order to solve the above problems, a printing equipment capability providing system according to claim 1 of the present invention according to mode 1 is provided.
A print case information acquisition means for acquiring print case information including print job definition data including print settings and information of a printing apparatus that has executed the print job for the executed print job;
Print case information storage means for storing print case information about the one or more print jobs acquired by the print case information acquisition means;
Device capability estimation means for estimating the device capability of a printing apparatus based on the print case information stored in the print case information storage means;
It is characterized by providing.

With this configuration, it is possible to estimate the device capability for estimating the device capability of the printing apparatus based on the actually executed printing case information, so that an accurate device capability according to the state of the printing device is acquired and provided. it can. Therefore, by using the accurate device capability information provided in this way, it is possible to select an appropriate printing apparatus and perform appropriate print settings.
Here, this system may be realized as a single device, terminal, or other device, or may be realized as a network system in which a plurality of devices, terminals, or other devices are communicably connected. . In the latter case, each component may belong to any one of a plurality of devices and the like as long as they are connected so as to communicate with each other. For example, it may be arranged in any of a printing device, a printer server, a client device, and the like.

Further, as an executed print job, not only a successful print job but also a failed print job may be considered. In this case, execution success / failure information can also be acquired as case information.
The print job definition data including print settings refers to data including detailed settings of a printing apparatus used for print processing. Specifically, for example, the finished size, the type of printing medium, the number of copies, the duplex printing method, the information about the ink to be used, and the imposition (folding, cutting, multiple pages on one side of the paper so that the finished size is reached) Information relating to the size, imposition method, detailed coordinate information in imposition, folding method, and cutting position used for the printing.
The printing device information acquired by the printing case information acquisition unit may be information that can specify the printing device that has executed the print job. For example, an identification number uniquely assigned to the printing device may be used. Applicable.

[Mode 2] Furthermore, the printing equipment capability providing system according to mode 2 is as follows.
The device capability estimating means estimates the device capability in response to an inquiry about the device capability of the printing apparatus, and outputs an estimation result.
According to this configuration, in response to an inquiry about the device capability of the printing apparatus, the device capability can be estimated based on new device capability information at the time of the inquiry. For this reason, it is possible to acquire and provide an accurate device capability quickly according to the state of the printing apparatus. Therefore, by using the accurate device capability information provided in this way, an appropriate printing device can be selected,
Appropriate print settings can be made.

[Mode 3] Furthermore, the printing equipment capability providing system according to mode 3 is as described in mode 1.
Device capability storage means for storing the estimation result by the device capability estimation means;
Device capability output means for outputting the estimation result stored in the device capability storage means in response to an inquiry about the device capability of the printing apparatus, and
It is configured that the estimation by the device capability estimation unit can be performed at a timing independent of the inquiry about the device capability of the printing apparatus.

If configured in this way, the already estimated device capability information can be used, so that it is possible to respond quickly to inquiries and to respond to a large number of inquiries. For example, it is appropriate for a printer server that generates many print jobs. It is a simple configuration.
As in the first mode, it is possible to acquire and provide an accurate device capability according to the state of the printing apparatus. Therefore, by using the accurate device capability information provided in this way, it is possible to select an appropriate printing apparatus and perform appropriate print settings.

[Form 4] Furthermore, the printing equipment capability providing system according to form 4 is the form 3,
The estimation of the device capability by the device capability estimation unit is repeatedly performed at intervals,
The device capability storage means stores the latest estimation result by the device capability estimation means.
If comprised in this way, the latest estimation result can be memorize | stored in an apparatus capability memory | storage means,
The device capability output means can provide appropriate device capability information corresponding to the current situation in response to the inquiry. Therefore, by using the accurate device capability information provided in this way, it is possible to select an appropriate printing apparatus and perform appropriate print settings.
The estimation by the device capability estimation unit can be performed, for example, every predetermined time, or can be performed every time a print job is executed.

[Mode 5] Furthermore, the printing equipment capability providing system according to mode 5 is any one of modes 1 to 4,
The apparatus capability estimation means estimates at least one of the apparatus capability of the printing apparatus for each print setting and the apparatus capability of the printing apparatus for a combination of print settings.

If comprised in this way, the apparatus capability of the printing apparatus about each desired print setting can be estimated,
Alternatively, the device capability of the printing apparatus for a desired combination of print settings can be estimated. That is, unlike the case of using device capability information having predetermined contents, when estimating based on print case information, it is possible to acquire and provide detailed device capability information according to the purpose. Therefore, by using the device capability information according to the purpose provided in this way, it is possible to select an appropriate printing apparatus and perform appropriate print settings.

[Mode 6] Furthermore, the printing equipment capability providing system according to mode 6 is the system according to any one of modes 1 to 5,
The device capability estimation means performs the estimation based on the latest one or a predetermined number of the print case information stored in the print case information storage means.
If comprised in this way, the estimation result of the apparatus capability more suitable for the present condition can be obtained based on the newest printing case information. Therefore, by using the accurate device capability information provided in this way, it is possible to select an appropriate printing apparatus and perform appropriate print settings.

[Mode 7] Furthermore, the printing equipment capability providing system according to mode 7 is the system according to any one of modes 1 to 6,
An ideal device capability storage means for storing ideal device capability information, which is information of the device capability that the printing apparatus can exhibit in an ideal state,
The device capability estimation unit performs the estimation with reference to ideal device capability information of the printing apparatus stored in the ideal device capability storage unit.

In addition to the actual printing examples, more accurate device capacity estimation is performed by referring to the device capability information of the printing device when it is in an ideal state where no failure has occurred. Can do. Therefore, by using the accurate device capability information provided in this way, it is possible to select an appropriate printing apparatus and perform appropriate print settings. In addition, the number of case information used for estimation can be reduced to shorten the processing time and the storage capacity.

[Mode 8] Furthermore, the printing equipment capability providing system according to mode 8 is as follows.
The ideal device capability storage unit is configured by a set of ideal device capability storage units provided in each of one or more printing apparatuses to be estimated by the device capability estimation unit, and the ideal device capability storage unit includes: The ideal device capability information about the printing apparatus provided with the device is stored.
With this configuration, it is possible to estimate the device capability in response to an increase in the number of printing apparatuses, and it is possible to provide accurate device capability information even when the system configuration is changed. Therefore, by using the accurate device capability information provided in this way, it is possible to select an appropriate printing apparatus and perform appropriate print settings.

[Mode 9] Further, the printing equipment capability providing program according to mode 9 is:
A print case information acquisition step for acquiring print case information including print job definition data including print settings and information of a printing apparatus that has executed the print job for the executed print job;
A print case information storage step of storing, in a print case information storage means, print case information for one or more of the print jobs acquired in the print case information acquisition step;
A device capability estimation step for estimating a device capability of a printing apparatus based on the print case information stored in the print case information storage unit;
And a program for causing a computer to execute the process.
With such a configuration, when the program is read by the computer and the computer executes processing in accordance with the read program, the same operations and effects as those of the printing apparatus capability providing system of mode 1 can be obtained.

[Mode 10] Further, a printing device capability providing program according to mode 10 is
In response to the inquiry about the device capability of the printing apparatus, the device capability estimation step includes:
The apparatus capability is estimated, and an estimation result is output.
With such a configuration, when the program is read by the computer and the computer executes processing according to the read program, the same operation and effect as those of the printing apparatus capability providing system according to mode 2 can be obtained.

[Mode 11] Furthermore, the printing equipment capability providing program according to mode 11 is
A device capability storage step of storing the estimation result of the device capability estimation step in a device capability storage means;
A device capability output step of outputting an estimation result stored in the device capability storage means in response to an inquiry about the device capability of the printing apparatus, and
It is configured that the estimation by the device capability estimation step can be performed at a timing independent of the inquiry about the device capability of the printing apparatus.
With such a configuration, when the program is read by the computer and the computer executes processing in accordance with the read program, the same operations and effects as those of the printing apparatus capability providing system of mode 3 can be obtained.

[Mode 12] Further, a printing apparatus capability providing program according to mode 12 is
The estimation of the device capability by the device capability estimation step is repeatedly performed at intervals,
The device capability storage means stores the latest estimation result obtained by the device capability estimation step.
With such a configuration, when the program is read by the computer and the computer executes processing according to the read program, the same operations and effects as those of the printing apparatus capability providing system according to mode 4 can be obtained.

[Mode 13] Further, the printing equipment capability providing program according to mode 13 is described in modes 9-11.
In either
In the device capability estimation step, at least one of the device capability of the printing apparatus for each print setting and the device capability of the printing apparatus for a combination of print settings is estimated.

[Form 14] Furthermore, the printing equipment capability providing program according to form 14 includes forms 9-13.
In either
In the device capability estimation step, the estimation is performed based on the latest one or a predetermined number of the print case information stored in the print case information storage unit.
With such a configuration, when the program is read by the computer and the computer executes processing in accordance with the read program, the same operation and effect as those of the printing apparatus capability providing system of mode 6 can be obtained.

[Mode 15] Further, the printing equipment capability providing program according to mode 15 is described in modes 9-14.
In either
An ideal device capability storage means for storing ideal device capability information, which is information of the device capability that the printing apparatus can exhibit in an ideal state,
In the device capability estimation step, the estimation is performed with reference to ideal device capability information of the printing apparatus stored in the ideal device capability storage means.
With such a configuration, when the program is read by the computer and the computer executes processing in accordance with the read program, the same operations and effects as those of the printing apparatus capability providing system of mode 7 can be obtained.

[Mode 16] Further, the printing equipment capability providing method according to mode 16 includes:
A print case information acquisition step for acquiring print case information including print job definition data including print settings and information of a printing apparatus that has executed the print job for the executed print job;
A print case information storage step of storing, in a print case information storage means, print case information for one or more of the print jobs acquired in the print case information acquisition step;
A device capability estimation step for estimating a device capability of a printing apparatus based on the print case information stored in the print case information storage unit;
It is characterized by including.
Thereby, the same effect as that of the printing apparatus capability providing system according to mode 1 can be obtained.

[Mode 17] Further, the printing equipment capability providing method according to mode 17 is as described in mode 16.
In response to the inquiry about the device capability of the printing apparatus, the device capability estimation step includes:
The apparatus capability is estimated, and an estimation result is output.
Thereby, an effect equivalent to that of the printing apparatus capability providing system according to mode 2 is obtained.
[Mode 18] Furthermore, the printing equipment capability providing method according to mode 18 is as described in mode 16.
A device capability storage step of storing the estimation result of the device capability estimation step in a device capability storage means;
A device capability output step of outputting an estimation result stored in the device capability storage means in response to an inquiry about the device capability of the printing apparatus, and
It is configured that the estimation by the device capability estimation step can be performed at a timing independent of the inquiry about the device capability of the printing apparatus.
Thereby, the same effect as that of the printing apparatus capability providing system according to mode 3 can be obtained.

[Mode 19] Furthermore, the printing equipment capability providing method according to mode 19 is as follows.
The estimation of the device capability by the device capability estimation step is repeatedly performed at intervals,
The device capability storage means stores the latest estimation result obtained by the device capability estimation step.
Thereby, the same effect as that of the printing apparatus capability providing system according to mode 4 can be obtained.

[Mode 20] Furthermore, the printing equipment capability providing method according to mode 20 is any one of modes 16 to 19,
In the device capability estimation step, at least one of the device capability of the printing apparatus for each print setting and the device capability of the printing apparatus for a combination of print settings is estimated.
Thereby, an effect equivalent to that of the printing apparatus capability providing system according to mode 5 is obtained.

[Mode 21] Furthermore, the printing equipment capability providing method according to mode 21 is any one of modes 16 to 20,
In the device capability estimation step, the estimation is performed based on the latest one or a predetermined number of the print case information stored in the print case information storage unit.
Thereby, an effect equivalent to that of the printing apparatus capability providing system according to mode 6 is obtained.

[Mode 22] Furthermore, the printing equipment capability providing method according to mode 22 is any one of modes 16 to 21,
An ideal device capability storage means for storing ideal device capability information, which is information of the device capability that the printing apparatus can exhibit in an ideal state,
In the device capability estimation step, the estimation is performed with reference to ideal device capability information of the printing apparatus stored in the ideal device capability storage means.
Thereby, an effect equivalent to that of the printing apparatus capability providing system according to mode 7 is obtained.

[Mode 23] Further, the printing equipment capability providing method according to mode 23 is as described in mode 22.
The ideal device capability storage unit is configured by a set of ideal device capability storage units provided in each of one or more printing apparatuses to be estimated by the device capability estimation step, and the ideal device capability storage unit includes: The ideal device capability information about the printing apparatus provided with the device is stored.
Thereby, an effect equivalent to that of the printing apparatus capability providing system according to mode 8 is obtained.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[First embodiment]
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a printing system including a host terminal 100 to which a printing apparatus capability providing system A of the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of client terminals 2-1 to 2-m (m is a natural number) are connected to a plurality of printing apparatuses 5-1 to 5 through a host terminal 100.
-3. Then, printing is executed by transmitting a print request from the client terminal 2 to the printing apparatus 5 via the host terminal 100. A print request from the client terminal 2 is a PDF (Portable Document Format) to be printed.
This is performed with content data such as print job definition data described later.

FIG. 2 shows functional blocks of the host terminal 100 of the first embodiment.
2 transmits a print request to the printing apparatus 5 based on the print request reception unit 101 that receives the print request transmitted from the client terminal 2 and the reception of the print request in the print request reception unit 101. And a print relay processing unit 102 that controls each unit of the host terminal 100 so as to perform the above processing. Further, the host terminal 100, based on a command from the print relay processing unit 102, a printing device selection unit 103 that selects a printing device 5 that executes a print job according to a print request from a plurality of printing devices 5, and a printing A device capability estimation unit 104 that estimates the device capability of the printing apparatus 5 in response to an inquiry from the device selection unit 103 and outputs the estimated device capability information.

The host terminal 100 further includes a print job setting data generation unit 105 that generates print job setting data including detailed print settings for the printing apparatus 5 according to the printing apparatus 5 selected by the printing apparatus selection unit 103; And a print request transmission unit 106 that transmits the print job setting data generated by the print job setting data generation unit 105 to the selected printing apparatus 5. When the print request is transmitted to the printing apparatus 5 by the print request transmission unit 106, the print case information acquisition unit 107 that acquires print case information from the print request data and the print case information acquisition unit 107 acquire the print case information. A print case database (hereinafter, also referred to as a print case DB) 108 that stores print case information.

Next, the configuration of the host terminal 100 will be described in detail.
FIG. 3 shows a hardware configuration of the host terminal 100.
As shown in FIG. 3, the host terminal 100 includes a CPU 30 that controls operations and the entire system based on a control program, a ROM 32 that stores a control program for the CPU 30 in a predetermined area, and data read from the ROM 32 and the like. And a RAM 34 for storing calculation results required in the calculation process of the CPU 30 and an I / F 38 for mediating input / output of data to / from an external device, which are signals for transferring data The buses 39 are connected to each other so as to be able to exchange data.
The I / F 38 includes, as external devices, an input device 40 such as a keyboard and a mouse that can input data as a human interface, a storage device 42 that stores data, tables, and the like as files, and a screen based on image signals. And a signal line for connecting to the network 199 are connected.

Next, the print job definition data will be described.
FIG. 4 shows an example of print job definition data received from the client terminal 2.
The print job definition data is data that defines the contents of a print job related to a print request, and includes information such as print specifications and print settings. The print specifications are, for example, finished size, type of print medium, print finished appearance, number of copies, duplex printing method, content data and page to be printed, and information on ink to be used. The print setting is a detailed setting of the printing apparatus 5 used for the printing process. For example, imposition (printing is performed by allocating a plurality of pages on one side of the sheet so that a finished size is obtained after folding and cutting). The information includes the size of the paper, the imposition method, detailed coordinate information for imposition, the folding method, and the cutting position.

As shown in FIG. 4, the print job definition data includes a predetermined start tag (for example, <printing apparatus>
) And an end tag (for example, </ print device>), the contents of the print job are set by describing a tag set of a start tag and an end tag in a nested manner. For example, XML (eXt
It can be described in a markup language such as enable Markup Language).

Also, the print job definition data received from the client terminal 2 in this embodiment is data that does not include print settings. On the other hand, the print job setting data generated by the print job setting data generation unit 105 is print job definition data including print settings. After selecting the printing device 5 that executes the print job in the host terminal 100, the print job setting data is generated from the client terminal 2. Based on the received print job definition data, the print setting of the printing apparatus 5 is generated.

FIG. 5 shows an example of print case information stored in the print case DB 108.
As shown in FIG. 5, the print case information includes the print job identification number, the print job definition data that defines the contents of the print job, the transmission destination, and the print job for which the print request is transmitted to the printing apparatus 5. The identification information of the printing apparatus 5 (printing apparatus name in FIG. 5) and the transmission time are associated with each other. A plurality of print case information for one print job is recorded in the print case DB 108 in the order of transmission of print requests to the printing apparatus 5. In the example of FIG. 5, the contents of the paper size, color, and duplex printing (both duplex printing and simplex printing) are described. Note that the print job definition data in the print case information may be stored in a table format for each item as shown in FIG. 5, or only the link to the print job definition data may be included in the print case information. Good.

FIG. 6 shows an example of device capability information of the printing apparatus 5 output from the device capability estimation unit 104.
The device capability information is data describing the device capability for each print setting of the printing apparatus 5 as shown in FIG. In the example of FIG. 6, the corresponding paper size, double-sided printing availability, and color are listed as the print settings, and the device capability of the printing apparatus 5 (corresponding print settings) is described for each print setting.
Next, the print request relay process of the host terminal 100 will be described. This host terminal 100
The print request relay process is executed by the CPU 30 executing one or a plurality of programs that define the print request relay process including the printing device capability providing program as an example of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of the print request relay process.
First, in step S101, the print request receiving unit 101 waits for reception of a print request. If a print request has been received (step S101: Yes), the process proceeds to step S102. In step S102, the print relay processing unit 10 determines whether the print device 5 is specified in the print job definition data included in the print request received by the print request receiving unit 101.
Judged by 2. If the printing device 5 is designated (step S102: Yes), the processing of the subsequent steps S103 and S104 is skipped, and the process proceeds to step S105. If there is no designation of the printing device 5 (step S102: No), the printing device selection unit 103 selects the printing device 5 (steps S103 to S104).

In the printing apparatus selection unit 103, first, in step S103, the device capability estimation unit 104.
The device capability information of the printing apparatus 5 is acquired.
FIG. 8 shows device capability estimation processing in the device capability estimation unit 104. This processing is performed by the CPU 30 executing a printing device capability providing program that is an example of the present invention.

First, in step S201, when it is detected that an inquiry about the device capability has occurred (Yes), the print case information is read from the print case DB 108 in the subsequent step S202. The number of read print case information is, for example, a predetermined number.
Subsequently, in step S203, the device capability of the printing apparatus 5 is estimated based on the print case information read in step S202. For example, when print case information as shown in FIG. 5 is used, the print case information is classified for each printing device 5 using the printing device 5 as a transmission destination as a key, and printing included in the print case information of each printing device 5 Based on the job definition data, device capability information of each printing apparatus 5 is generated.

Specifically, based on the contents of the print settings for the paper size, color, and duplex printing in the print job definition data of FIG. 5, the device capability information for each corresponding print setting, that is, the corresponding paper size, color, and duplex printing. The device capability information about whether or not is available is generated. A method for generating device capability information from a plurality of pieces of print case information is not particularly limited and varies depending on print settings. For example, it is assumed that print settings included in at least one piece of print case information can be executed by the printing apparatus 5. It may be set in the device capability information, or the weight of the print case information related to a new print request may be increased.

Referring to the example of FIG. 6, the device capability information is the latest 10 print case information (No.
. n-9-No. n). The device capability information of the printing apparatus 5-2 is the No. transmitted to the printing apparatus 5-2. n-5 and no. The device capability information of the printing apparatus 5-3 is generated based on the print case information related to other print requests transmitted to the printing apparatus 5-3. . Then, assuming that print settings included in at least one print case information among a plurality of print case information can be executed by the printing apparatus 5, device capability information for each print setting is generated. That is, all the paper size types included in at least one print case information are set in the device capability information of the corresponding paper size, and the device capability information for double-sided printing is duplex printing in at least one print case information. Is included, the color device capability information is set to “color” if color is set in at least one print case information.
On the other hand, since the printing device 5-1 has not been used once in the past 10 times, the device capability information for each print setting is not set.
Thereafter, in step S204, the device capability information of each printing apparatus 5 generated in step S203 is output to the printing apparatus selection unit 103.

Returning to FIG. 7, when the device capability information of the printing device 5 is output from the device capability estimation unit 104, the printing device selection unit 103 issues a print request from the plurality of printing devices 5 based on the input device capability information. An executable printing device 5 is selected and output to the print relay processing unit 102 (step S).
104). Specifically, based on the device capability information of each printing device 5, it is determined whether the specifications prescribed in the print job definition data received by the print request receiving unit 101 can be executed for each printing device 5. If it can be executed, the printer 5 is selected. At this time, it is determined whether or not all the specified specifications can be executed. If there is no executable printing apparatus 5, for example, a printing apparatus 5 that can execute the preferential specifications is selected, The printing device 5 having the largest number of specification items that can be executed is selected, the print setting that can be replaced with a specification that cannot be executed is replaced with another print setting, and the printing device 5 that can execute the printing setting that cannot be replaced is selected. Or How to select is predetermined. In the example of FIG. 4, the double-sided color printing is set with the paper size A3 in the print job definition data relating to the print request. Therefore, FIG. 6 shows a printing apparatus 5-3 that can execute the printing based on the device capability information. Select.

In subsequent step S105, the print job setting data generation unit 105 generates print job definition data including detailed print settings for the printing apparatus 5 output from the printing apparatus selection unit 103. Then, in the subsequent step S106, the print job setting data generation unit 105.
The print request including the print job definition data generated in (1) is transmitted from the print request transmission unit 106 to the selected printing apparatus 5.

Thereafter, in step S107, the print case information acquisition unit 107 acquires the transmitted print job definition data, adds information such as a transmission time, generates print case information, and registers it in the print case DB 108. When the print request relating to the print job definition data in FIG. 4 is transmitted, the print case information shown in FIG. 9 is generated and registered in the print case DB 108. The registered print case information is used to estimate the device capability at the next and subsequent print requests.
As described above, by estimating the device capability based on the print case information, accurate device capability information corresponding to the actual state of the printing device can be acquired, so that an appropriate printing device can be selected.

In the first embodiment, the device capability estimation unit 104 corresponds to the device capability estimation means of the printing device capability providing system of modes 1, 2 and 6, and the processing by the device capability estimation unit 104 is performed in modes 9, 10 and 10. This corresponds to the device capability estimation step of the printing device capability providing program of mode 14 and the printing device capability providing method of modes 16, 17 and 21. In addition, the print case information acquisition unit 107 corresponds to the print case information acquisition unit of the form 1, and the print case information acquisition unit 107.
The processing by corresponds to the print case information acquisition step of Form 9 and Form 16. The print case DB 108 corresponds to the print case information storage unit of the form 1, the form 6, the form 9, the form 14, the form 16, and the form 21.

The application of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.
For example, in the above embodiment, the device capability information for all print settings is generated based on the same number of print case information, but the device capability information is generated based on different numbers of print case information according to the print settings. It may be generated. For example, for print settings that are rarely used (double-sided printing, color printing, use of A3 size among paper sizes, etc.), the contents are set based on more or long-term print case information than other print settings. It may be. Further, it may be possible to inquire about the printing device 5 to be estimated and the device capability specifying the device capability.

Further, as in the first embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the centralized arrangement of the units constituting the printing device capability providing system A in the host terminal 100. For example, the printing case information is accumulated in each printing device 5. A printing example may be acquired from each printing device 5 when the device capability is estimated. Alternatively, the device capability estimation unit 104 may be provided on the client terminal 2 side to acquire print case information from the host terminal 100 and estimate the device capability.
Further, the printing apparatus 5 and the client terminal 2 may be directly connected without arranging the host terminal 100. In this case, the printing equipment capability providing system A provided in the host terminal 100
May be provided in the client terminal 2 as it is, or the print case information may be stored in the printing apparatus 5 as described above.

In the first embodiment, an appropriate printing device 5 is selected on the system side with respect to the print request. However, based on the acquired device capability information, candidates for the printing device 5 that can execute the print request are extracted.
It may be displayed via a print setting screen (printer driver setting or the like) for the user using the plurality of client terminals 2 and may be selected by the user. Similarly, print setting parameters that can be selected based on the acquired device capability information may be limited and displayed on the print setting screen, and the user may select print settings (for example, A3 size cannot be set).

FIG. 24 shows an example of a print setting screen displayed to the user. As a result of comparing the acquired device capability information with the print job definition data relating to the user's print request, in the example of FIG. 24, the printing apparatuses 5 that can execute the print request are the printing apparatuses 5-2 and 5-3. It is narrowed down to. Therefore,
Only the printing apparatuses 5-2 and 5-3 are selectably displayed in the pull-down menu M options on the print setting screen, and the printing apparatus 5-1 that cannot execute the print request is not displayed.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to what has the same structure and function as 1st Example, the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted, and it demonstrates centering on a different part from 1st Example.
FIG. 10 shows functional blocks of the printing equipment capability providing system A2 of the second embodiment.
The printing apparatus capability providing system A2 in FIG. 10 includes a host terminal 100B and each printing apparatus 5-1.
˜5-3 are distributed functional blocks. Although not shown, the configurations of the host terminal 100B and the printing apparatus 5 other than the printing equipment capability providing system A2 are the same as the host terminal 100 and the printing apparatus 5 of the first embodiment.

The printing device capability providing system A2 includes ideal device capability storage units 51-1 to 51-3 that are provided in the respective printing devices 5-1 to 5-3 and store ideal device capability information of the own device, and a host. An ideal device capability information inquiry unit 109 that is provided in the terminal 100B and inquires each of the printing apparatuses 5-1 to 5-3 to acquire ideal device capability information; a print case information acquisition unit 107;
The printing example DB 108 and the device capability estimation unit 104b are provided. Then, the device capability estimation unit 104b of the printing device capability providing system A2 includes the device capability information inquiry unit 10.
9, the device capability is estimated based on the ideal device capability information of the printing apparatus 5 acquired in 9 and the print case information acquired from the print case DB 108.

FIG. 11 shows an example of ideal device capability information.
The ideal device capability information is device capability information that the printing apparatus 5 can exhibit in an ideal state, that is, device capability information in a state where no failure or the like has occurred. In this embodiment, the ideal device capability storage unit 51-1 of the printing device 5-1 stores ideal device capability information of the printing device 5-1, as shown in FIG. The ideal device capability information (FIG. 11 (b)) is stored in the ideal device capability storage unit 51-2 of the printing device 5-2, and the ideal device capability information (FIG. 11 (c)) of the printing device 5-3 is stored in the printing device 5. -3 ideal device capability storage unit 51-3.

FIG. 13 shows a flowchart of the estimation process of the device capability estimation unit 104b. This processing is performed by the CPU 30 executing a printing device capability providing program that is an example of the present invention.
First, in step S301, an inquiry about the device capability of the printing apparatus 5 is awaited. The inquiry is made by, for example, the printing apparatus selection unit 103 as described in the first embodiment. When an inquiry about the device capability of the printing apparatus 5 occurs (step S301: Yes),
Print case information is read from the print case DB 108 (step S302). Subsequently, the ideal device capability information of each printing device 5 is acquired from the ideal device capability storage units 51-1 to 51-3 of each printing device 5 whose device capability is to be estimated (step S303).

In the subsequent step S304, it is determined whether there is a device capability (print setting) that has not been used a predetermined number of times or for a predetermined period of the ideal device capability information of the printing apparatus 5, that is, whether there is a device capability that does not appear in the print case information. If there is an unused device capability (step S30)
4: Yes) sets the device capabilities of the ideal device capability information excluding the unused device capabilities to the device capability information for estimation (step S305). On the other hand, if there is no unused device capability (step S304: No), the ideal device capability information is set to the device capability information for estimation as it is (step S306).

The processes in steps S304 to S306 are repeated for all the printing apparatuses 5 that are the target of the apparatus capability, and when all the printing apparatuses 5 are completed (step S307: Yes), the apparatus capability information is output (step S308). Thereby, device capability information as shown in FIG. 12 is output. In FIG. 12, in order to make it easy to understand the state in which the ideal device capability information is removed, the device capabilities determined not to be used are shown with a strikethrough, but in actual device capability information, The device capability is not included, or is included in a state associated with information indicating that execution is not possible.

As described above, if the ideal device capability information is used for estimation, the estimation process becomes efficient, or
Accurate estimation can be performed with less information and the number of steps. That is, a state where a certain device capability does not appear as print case information includes two cases: a case where it cannot be temporarily used, and a case where it is a device capability that cannot be originally used in the estimation target printing apparatus 5. This is because when the ideal device capability information is used, the latter case can be grasped in advance, so that it is only necessary to exclude the case as an estimation target and estimate only the case where the device capability that should originally be available cannot be temporarily used. . Specifically, for example, if the device capability is estimated accurately based on the print case information including the device capability that is used only once in 50 times in the normal use state, a considerable number of print case information This is because, if it is known that such device capability cannot be used even in an ideal state, the number of print case information can be reduced.

In the second embodiment, the device capability estimation unit 104b corresponds to the device capability estimation means in the printing device capability providing system of mode 8 and the printing device capability providing method of mode 23. Similarly, the ideal device capability storage unit 51- 1 to 51-3 correspond to the ideal device capability storage units of modes 8 and 23, and these aggregates correspond to ideal device capability storage means. In addition, device capability estimation means 1
The estimation process by 04b corresponds to a device capability estimation step in the printing device capability providing method of form 23.

[Third embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Since the third embodiment is substantially the same as the second embodiment, the description will focus on the differences from the second embodiment.
FIG. 14 shows functional blocks of the printing equipment capability providing system A3 according to the third embodiment.
The printing equipment capability providing system A3 in FIG. 14 is configured by a host terminal 100C. In addition,
Although not shown, the configurations of the host terminal 100C and the printing apparatus 5 other than the printing equipment capability providing system A3 are the same as those of the host terminal 100 and the printing apparatus 5 of the first embodiment.

Then, the printing device capability providing system A3 makes an inquiry to the ideal device capability DB (database) 112 that stores the ideal device capability information of each of the printing apparatuses 5-1 to 5-3 and the ideal device capability DB 112, thereby inquiring the ideal device capability. An ideal device capability information inquiry unit 111 that acquires information, a print case information acquisition unit 107, a print case DB 108, and a device capability estimation unit 104b are configured. That is, in the second embodiment, the ideal device capability information is distributed and stored in the ideal device capability storage units 51-1 to 51-3 of each printing apparatus 5, but in the third embodiment, the ideal device capability information is stored in the ideal device capability DB 112. It is different in that it is memorized in a lump.

FIG. 15 shows an example of ideal device capability information stored in the ideal device capability DB 112. The ideal device capability information for each printing device 5 is the same as the information of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 11 except that the ideal device capability information of all the printing devices 5 is described collectively. ing.
Note that the processing of the device capability estimation unit 104b is the second except for the processing of step S303 in FIG.
In this embodiment, the ideal device capability information acquisition process corresponding to step S303 makes an inquiry to the ideal device capability DB 112 as described above to acquire ideal device capability information.

Even when configured as described above, as in the second embodiment, it is possible to improve the efficiency of estimation processing and improve estimation accuracy. If the ideal device capability information is stored in a lump, the printing device 5
There is an advantage such as excellent responsiveness because it is not necessary to collect the ideal device capability information from the printing apparatus 5 and can cope with the case where the device itself does not have the device capability information. On the other hand, when the ideal storage information is acquired from the printing device 5 as in the second embodiment, the load on the host terminal 100 or the like can be reduced, and the printing system change (change of the controlling printing device 5) can be quickly handled. There are advantages such as being able to.

In the third embodiment, the ideal device capability DB 112 corresponds to the ideal device capability storage unit in the printing device capability providing system of form 7, the printing device capability providing program of form 15, and the printing device capability providing method of form 22. Further, the device capability estimation unit 104b corresponds to the device capability estimation means of the form 7, and the processing by the device capability estimation unit 104b corresponds to the device capability estimation step of the modes 15 and 22.

[Fourth embodiment]
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to what has the same structure and function as 1st Example, the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted, and it demonstrates centering on a different part from 1st Example.
FIG. 16 shows functional blocks of the host terminal 100D to which the printing equipment capability providing system of the present invention is applied. The host terminal 100D shown in FIG. 16 differs from the host terminal 100 of the first embodiment in the configuration of the device capability estimation unit 104d, specifically, the content of the estimation process is the same, but the estimation timing is different. The estimation is not performed when the request is received, but is performed after the print request relay processing is completed. In order to realize this timing difference, a device capability storage unit 113 that stores device capability information of the printing apparatus estimated by the device capability estimation unit 104d.
A device capability inquiry unit 114 that makes an inquiry to the device capability storage unit 113 to acquire device capability information.

FIG. 17 shows a flowchart of print request relay processing in the host terminal 100D. This process is performed by the CPU 30 executing a program including a printing device capability providing program that is an example of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 17, the print relay process by the host terminal 100D is almost the same as the flowchart shown in FIG. 7 of the first embodiment. When a print request is received, the printing apparatus is not designated. The device capability information of each printing device 5 is acquired, and based on this, the printing device 5 that executes the print request is selected. After sending a print request to the selected printing device 5,
Print examples are recorded (steps S101 to S107). However, in the device capability information acquisition process in step S103 ′, the device capability inquiry unit 114 performs the device capability storage unit 113.
In that the device capability information stored in advance in the device capability storage unit 113 is acquired.

FIG. 18 shows a flowchart of device capability estimation processing in the host terminal 100D. This processing is performed by the CPU 30 executing a printing device capability providing program that is an example of the present invention.
The host terminal 100D monitors whether or not the print case recording process shown in step S107 of FIG. When it is detected that the printing case recording process has been performed (step S401: Yes), the printing case information is read from the printing case DB 108 (step S402), and then the device capability estimation unit 104d estimates the device capability (step S402). S403). Since the contents of the processing in these steps S402 and S403 are the same as those in steps S202 and S203 in FIG. The device capability estimation unit 104
When d estimates the device capability, it outputs the estimated device capability information to the device capability storage unit 113. The device capability information estimated here is the same as that shown in FIG. 6, and the newly estimated device capability information is stored every time the estimation process is performed.

That is, when the latest print case information is generated, the device capability is estimated based on the print case information including the print case information, and the estimated device capability information is stored. As a result, the latest device capability information based on the latest print case is stored in the device capability storage unit 113.
Whenever a print request is received from the client terminal 2, the device capability is not estimated but when the print request is received, the device capability information preliminarily estimated and stored in the device capability storage unit 113 is used. As a result, the latest device capability information can be acquired quickly. Therefore, a print request can be processed quickly, and excellent responsiveness can be provided. This is particularly effective in a printing system in which many printing requests are generated in a short time.

In the fourth embodiment, the device capability storage unit 113 includes a printing device capability providing system according to modes 3 and 4, a printing device capability providing program according to modes 11 and 12, and a printing device capability providing method according to modes 18 and 19. It corresponds to a device capability storage means. In addition, the device capability estimation unit 104e corresponds to the device capability estimation means of the third and fourth modes, and the processing by the device capability estimation unit 104e corresponds to the device capability estimation step of the mode 11, mode 12, mode 18 and mode 19. To do. Further, the device capability inquiry unit 114 corresponds to the device capability output unit of the form 3, and the processing by the device capability inquiry unit 114 corresponds to the device capability output step of the modes 11 and 18.

The application of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, in the fourth embodiment, the device capability information update process is performed every time the print request relay process is performed, but may be performed every predetermined period. Further, as in the second and third embodiments, the device capability estimation process may be performed with reference to the ideal device capability information. Further, the device capability storage unit 113 is connected to each printing device 5-1.
˜5-3 may be distributed and the device capability information of the own device may be stored in each of the printing devices 5-1 to 5-3.

[Fifth embodiment]
Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to what has the same structure and function as 1st Example, the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted, and it demonstrates centering on a different part from 1st Example.
FIG. 19 shows functional blocks of the host terminal 100E to which the printing equipment capability providing system of the present invention is applied. The host terminal 100E illustrated in FIG. 19 includes a print result receiving unit 115 that receives the print result of the print request from the printing apparatus 5 that has transmitted the print request. The print case information acquiring unit 107e includes the print result receiving unit 115. Is added to the print case information and registered in the print case DB 108. The device capability estimation unit 104e includes an item capability estimation unit e1 that estimates the device capability for each print setting, and a combination capability estimation unit e2 that estimates the device capability for a combination of print settings. The combination capability estimation unit e2
In the present embodiment, information on combinations of print settings that cannot be executed by each printing apparatus 5 is output. In addition, the estimation process of the item capability estimation part e1 is the same as the apparatus capability estimation part 104 of 1st Example.

FIG. 20 shows an example of print case information. As described above, in this embodiment, the print result receiving unit 1
The print result received in 15 is added as an item of print case information, and information indicating execution failure when a print error message is received from the printing apparatus 5 (“×” in the example in the figure).
When the message indicating successful printing is received, information indicating successful printing ("O" in the example in the figure) is set. The other items are the same as the information shown in FIG.
FIG. 21 shows device capability estimation processing in the device capability estimation unit 104e. This processing is performed by the CPU 30 executing a printing device capability providing program that is an example of the present invention.

First, in step S501, when it is detected that an inquiry about the device capability from the printing apparatus selection unit 103 has occurred (Yes), in the subsequent step S502, the printing example DB
The successful printing case information is read from 108. Here, in this embodiment, it is assumed that the total number of reading of the print case information is set to 13 in advance. The printing success case information means printing case information whose printing result is printing success. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 20, the latest 13 pieces of printing case information (N
o. n-No. In the case of n-12), 8 pieces of case information are read. Subsequently, the item capability estimation unit e1 estimates the device capability for each print setting based on the read successful print case information (step S503). This is the same estimation processing as step S203 shown in FIG. 8, and in this embodiment, in at least one print case information, the print setting set in the print request can also be executed in the device capability information. Set as there is. In this way, as shown in FIG. 22, device capability information for each print setting is generated.

Next, in step S504, printing failure case information is read. The print failure case information is print case information whose print result is a print failure. In the example of FIG. 20, three pieces of print case information are read. In subsequent step S505, the device capability for the combination of print settings is estimated based on the print failure case information. In this embodiment, information on combinations of print settings that cannot be executed is generated, and as a result, information as shown in FIG. 23 is generated. In the example of FIG. 23, for example, in the printing apparatus 5-2, if the print setting is a combination of paper size = A3, color = monochrome, duplex / single side = single side, it cannot be executed.

When the above processing is completed, the device capability estimation unit 104e outputs both the device capability information for each print setting and the device capability information for each print setting combination to the device capability inquiry source (step S506). . Upon receiving such two types of device capability information, the printing device selection unit 103 selects the printing device 5 that is determined to be able to execute a print request based on both of the two types of device capability information. More specifically, it is possible to execute a print setting combination that can be executed by the device capability information for each print setting, excluding the print setting combination determined by the device capability information for the print setting combination. Used as information for various print settings.

As described above, when estimating the device capabilities based on the print case information, not only the device capabilities for each print setting, but also the device capabilities for more detailed and appropriate purposes such as the device capabilities for a combination of print settings. Capability can be estimated. Further, when not only a printing success case but also a printing failure case is used, it is possible to estimate the device capability to a finer content.
Note that the device capability estimation unit 104e of the fifth embodiment corresponds to the device capability estimation means in the printing device capability providing system of the fifth embodiment, and the processing by the device capability estimation unit 104e is performed in the thirteenth mode.
This corresponds to the listening capability estimation step of the printing device capability providing program and the printing device capability providing method of the form 20.
The application of the present invention is not limited to the fifth embodiment. For example, a combination of executable print settings may be estimated based on the successful printing case information without using the printing failure case information.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system. It is a figure which shows the functional block of the host terminal of 1st Example. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of a host terminal. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of print job definition data. It is a figure which shows the example of printing example information. It is a figure which shows the example of the apparatus capability information output from an apparatus capability estimation part. It is a flowchart of a print request relay process. It is a flowchart which shows the estimation process of apparatus capability. It is a figure which shows the printing example information registered after printing request transmission. It is a functional block of the printing apparatus capability provision system of 2nd Example. It is a figure which shows an example of ideal apparatus capability information. It is a figure which shows the apparatus capability information output in 2nd Example. It is a flowchart of the estimation process of an apparatus capability estimation part. It is a functional block of the printing apparatus capability provision system of 3rd Example. It is a figure which shows an example of ideal apparatus capability information. It is a functional block of the host terminal of 4th Example. It is a flowchart of a print request relay process. It is a flowchart of an estimation process of apparatus capability. It is a functional block of the host terminal concerning 5th Example. It is a figure which shows the example of printing example information. It is a flowchart of an estimation process of apparatus capability. It is a figure which shows the example of the apparatus capability information about each print setting. It is a figure which shows the example of the apparatus capability information about the combination of print setting. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen displayed on a client terminal.

Explanation of symbols

100 host terminal, 5 printing device, 2 client terminal

Claims (10)

A print case information acquisition means for acquiring print case information including print job definition data including print settings and information of a printing apparatus that has executed the print job for the executed print job;
Print case information storage means for storing print case information about the one or more print jobs acquired by the print case information acquisition means;
Device capability estimation means for estimating the device capability of a printing apparatus based on the print case information stored in the print case information storage means;
A printing equipment capability providing system comprising: 2. The printing device capability providing system according to claim 1, wherein the device capability estimation means estimates the device capability in response to an inquiry about the device capability of the printing apparatus and outputs an estimation result. Device capability storage means for storing the estimation result by the device capability estimation means;
Device capability output means for outputting the estimation result stored in the device capability storage means in response to an inquiry about the device capability of the printing apparatus, and
The printing device capability providing system according to claim 1, wherein the estimation by the device capability estimation unit is configured to be performed at a timing independent of an inquiry about the device capability of the printing apparatus. . The estimation of the device capability by the device capability estimation unit is repeatedly performed at intervals,
The printing device capability providing system according to claim 3, wherein the device capability storage unit stores a latest estimation result by the device capability estimation unit. The apparatus capability estimation means estimates at least one of the apparatus capability of the printing apparatus for each print setting and the apparatus capability of the printing apparatus for a combination of print settings. 5. The printing equipment capability providing system according to any one of 4 above. The said apparatus capability estimation means performs the said estimation based on the newest one or the predetermined number of said print case information memorize | stored in the said print case information storage means. Printing equipment capability providing system. An ideal device capability storage means for storing ideal device capability information, which is information of the device capability that the printing apparatus can exhibit in an ideal state,
7. The printing according to claim 1, wherein the device capability estimation unit performs the estimation with reference to ideal device capability information of a printing apparatus stored in the ideal device capability storage unit. Equipment capability providing system. The ideal device capability storage unit is configured by a set of ideal device capability storage units provided in each of one or more printing apparatuses to be estimated by the device capability estimation unit, and the ideal device capability storage unit includes: 8. The printing device capability providing system according to claim 7, wherein the ideal device capability information about the printing apparatus provided with the device is stored. A print case information acquisition step for acquiring print case information including print job definition data including print settings and information of a printing apparatus that has executed the print job for the executed print job;
A print case information storage step of storing, in a print case information storage means, print case information for one or more of the print jobs acquired in the print case information acquisition step;
A device capability estimation step for estimating a device capability of a printing apparatus based on the print case information stored in the print case information storage unit;
A printing apparatus capability providing program, comprising: a program for causing a computer to execute a process comprising: A print case information acquisition step for acquiring print case information including print job definition data including print settings and information of a printing apparatus that has executed the print job for the executed print job;
A print case information storage step of storing, in a print case information storage means, print case information for one or more of the print jobs acquired in the print case information acquisition step;
A device capability estimation step for estimating a device capability of a printing apparatus based on the print case information stored in the print case information storage unit;
A printing apparatus capability providing method characterized by comprising:

Images