JP2013168112A - Function adding program and print control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To add a function to a monolithic printer driver later without rewriting and recompiling and re-installing the source code, and minimizing a delay in printing processing time Provide a program that can do.
This program is a computer-readable function addition program that makes it possible to add a function for executing processing other than processing to be executed at the time of printing to a printer driver, and an output source that outputs information to be printed The step of receiving the print target information from the output source, the step of calling the printer driver and transmitting the print target information to the printer driver, and the process of transmitting the print target information are asynchronous. And causing the computer to execute a process based on the function using the information to be printed.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention provides a program that allows a function to be added to the printer driver later without changing the contents of the monolithic printer driver, and adds the function by implementing the program and uses the program. The present invention relates to a print control system that can be used.

  Many printer drivers provided for printers of the past models are monolithic printer drivers. The monolithic printer driver is a printer driver composed entirely of one module.

  In the market, many printers of such past models are still used, and many monolithic printer drivers are also used for printing with the printers. When adding a function to the monolithic printer driver, it is necessary to recompile and recompile the source code and reinstall it.

  For example, it is conceivable to add a function for outputting a log later when it becomes necessary to perform a failure analysis on a printer driver that does not output a log in order to place importance on performance. In the conventional technique, the source code must be rewritten and recompiled and reinstalled only in order to add a function for outputting the log. In such a method, it takes time for the function to be added, which is not desirable in terms of cost.

  By the way, a printer driver having a plug-in function has been proposed as a printer driver capable of easily adding functions (for example, see Patent Document 1). The plug-in function is a technique for adding a function as a plug-in to the printer driver without recompilation or re-installation in order to expand the function of the printer driver. By mounting a printer driver having this plug-in function, functions can be added later without changing the printer driver.

  In addition, one or more driver plug-in modules are detected as device drivers that interface with the operating system, information corresponding to the detected driver plug-in modules is provided to the operating system, and then each detected driver plug-in is detected. A device driver configured to dynamically access module functions has also been proposed (see Patent Document 2).

  By implementing this device driver, you can dynamically expand the functionality based on the number and type of driver plug-in modules detected by this device driver without having to redesign, recompile, and retest the device driver. it can.

  However, in order to use the extended functions using the drivers described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, in a device in which a monolithic driver has already been mounted and used, a plug corresponding to the model of the device is used. You must re-install the driver with in-function from the configuration and reinstall it. For example, when it is desired to add only a function for outputting a log, it is troublesome to re-create and reinstall a driver just to add this function, which is not desirable in terms of cost. This is because the creation of such a driver requires more time, labor, and cost than rewriting the source code.

  When a function is added, the time required for printing becomes longer by the processing time for the added function. Newly added functions include functions that are directly related to printing, such as the character and image drawing function, if the monolithic printer driver has an image-only drawing function, such as the function that outputs the log described above. Some functions are not directly related to printing. If the added function is a function that is not directly related to printing, the print process is waited until the process by the function is completed, regardless of the print process. Depending on the function to be added, it may take a considerable amount of time until the processing is completed, and this greatly reduces productivity.

  Therefore, functions can be added later to the monolithic printer driver without rewriting and recompiling and re-installing the source code, and minimizing the delay in the printing process. It has been desired to provide programs and systems that can be used.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention is a computer-readable program that enables a printer driver to add a function for executing processing other than processing to be executed at the time of printing, and this program stores information to be printed. A step of receiving a call from an output source to output, receiving information on a print target from the output source, a step of calling a printer driver, transmitting the received print target information to the printer driver, and a step of sending the print target information to the printer driver A program is provided that causes a computer to execute a step of executing a process based on the function by using received information to be printed asynchronously with a process to be transmitted to the computer.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a printing system. The figure which showed the software structure of the printing control system. The figure which illustrated the DLL name of each software. The flowchart which showed the flow of the process which outputs a log. The sequence diagram which showed the flow of the process which outputs a log. Shown is the flow of processing executed when a function addition program with a function that can draw figures and characters and a function that can output logs is added to a printer driver that can draw only image data. flowchart. Shown is the flow of processing executed when a function addition program having a function that can draw characters and a function that can output logs is added to a printer driver that does not support drawing DDI. Sequence Diagram. The functional block diagram of a printing control system.

  FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a printing system for executing printing. This printing system includes a printer 10 as an image forming apparatus that executes printing, and a PC 11 as a printing control system that controls the printer 10, and the printer 10 and the PC 11 are connected via a network 12. It is said that.

  In FIG. 1, the printer 10 and the PC 11 are provided one by one, but two or more printers and PCs may be included, and the printer 10 and the PC 11 are connected by a cable. There may be. When a plurality of PCs are provided, a printer server that performs control so that the printer can be shared can be provided.

  The printer 10 receives a print command from the PC 11 and executes printing. As the printer 10, a laser printer or an ink jet printer can be adopted. In addition to a printing function, an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) having a plurality of functions such as a scanner function and a FAX function can also be adopted. The printer 10 includes an engine that executes printing based on a print command, a controller that controls the engine, and a network I / F that is connected to the network 12.

  The PC 11 has an application for creating a document to be printed, a printer driver for converting the created document file into a print command that can be interpreted by the printer 10, and a file such as a document created by the application to the printer driver. To connect to the network 12, an OS that controls the entire PC 11, including a sending process, a storage device that stores other software and data, a CPU that executes an application, a printer driver, the OS, and other software Network I / F, a display device for displaying a created document, and a keyboard for inputting characters and an input device such as a mouse for selecting an icon displayed on the screen of the display device. Composed.

  Here, the printer driver mounted on the PC 11 does not have a plug-in function, and a new model cannot be added unless the source code is rewritten and recompiled and reinstalled. It is a monolithic printer driver used in Hereinafter, the monolithic printer driver will be described in detail as a monolithic printer driver using a Windows (registered trademark) print architecture.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration of the PC 11 as the print control system. The PC 11 includes the above-described application 20, OS 21, printer driver 22, and communication module 23 for realizing communication between the printer 10. Further, the PC 11 includes an asynchronous module 24 and an intermediate module 25 for realizing exchange between the OS 21 and the printer driver 22 and the asynchronous module 24 as a function addition program for realizing an additional function. Is done. The function addition program is a program that is added later to add a function, and the application 20 and the OS 21 function as an output source that outputs information to be printed to the function addition program.

  Any software is stored in the storage device, and is read from the storage device and executed by the CPU. Then, each process is performed by the execution, but in order to facilitate the explanation, it will be described below that each software executes each process.

  The application 20 is used for generating a document file or the like. The user can generate and output information to be printed using the application 20, but the information to be printed output by the application 20 is sent to the printer driver 22 via the OS 21. Passed.

  In addition to data such as characters, graphics, and images, the print target information includes font, monochrome / color, number of copies, presence / absence of aggregate printing, presence / absence of double-sided printing, paper size, paper feed direction, printing Information such as range and enlargement / reduction is included.

  In the present invention, the OS 21 does not send the information to be printed to the printer driver 22, but first sends it to the intermediate module 25, and if the intermediate module 25 has an additional function, After performing some processing, the information to be printed including the execution result of the processing is sent to the printer driver 22, and when there is no additional function, the information to be printed is processed without any processing. Send to. The printer driver 22 converts the received information to be printed into a print command that can be interpreted by the printer 10, and transmits the print command to the printer 10 via the communication module 23.

  Further, the intermediate module 25 performs the above-described processing or performs processing to send information to be printed to the printer driver 22 without performing anything, and communication, search, log storage, etc. added as functions are performed. The processing other than the processing to be executed at the time of printing is outsourced to the asynchronous module 24.

  The asynchronous module 24 executes the entrusted process asynchronously with the intermediate module 25 while performing the process to be executed at the time of printing (for example, while performing drawing with an additional function). That is, the intermediate module 25 executes a process that is directly required for the printing process, while the asynchronous module 24 executes a process that is not directly required for the printing process. By performing the processes in parallel in this way, it is possible to minimize the delay in the printing process that accompanies the function addition.

  The application 20 calls a GDI (Graphic Driver Interface) function of the OS 21 in order to send information to be printed to the OS 21 and execute a drawing process. A function is a group of instructions that receive data called an argument, execute processing as defined, and return the execution result. The OS 21 receives information to be printed from the application 20 in response to the GDI function call.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the OS 21 executes a drawing process and calls a DDI (Device Driver Interface) function to convert it into a print command. The DDI function called by the OS 21 is exported by the intermediate module 25. Therefore, the OS 21 calls the DDI function that the intermediate module 25 has.

  Note that the OS 21 is not aware of the intermediate module 25 when calling the DDI function. This is because the DDI function defined in the printer architecture of Windows (registered trademark) is exported to the intermediate module 25, and the OS 21 is only aware of calling the DDI function, so in which module the DDI function exists. This is because there is no awareness of what to do.

  Such a DDI function is also exported to the printer driver 22 in the same manner. Therefore, the intermediate module 25 can call the DDI function of the printer driver 22 without being aware that the DDI function exists in the printer driver 22.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the intermediate module 25 is arranged between the OS 21 and the printer driver 22, receives a DDI function call from the OS 21, and receives information to be printed from the OS 21. Further, the intermediate module 25 calls a DDI function exported by the printer driver 22 in order to cause the printer driver 22 to execute subsequent processing.

  The intermediate module 25 performs some processing on the information to be printed, performs processing to send the information to be printed to the printer driver 22, and inquires the printer driver 22 about the function of the printer 10. It is also possible to perform processing on information relating to the function of the printer driver 22 returned from the printer driver 22. An example of this processing will be described later.

  Here, the following method can be adopted as an example for realizing the software configuration as shown in FIG. Until the function addition program is added, the OS 21 calls the DDI function of the printer driver 22 to process information to be printed. As shown in FIG. 3A, the printer driver 22 has a DLL (Dynamic Link Library) corresponding to the DDI function that the OS 21 calls. This DLL converts information to be printed passed from the OS 21 into a print command that can be interpreted by the printer 10.

  In FIG. 3A, the name “driver.dll” is assigned as the DLL name for identifying the DLL. The OS 21 uses this DLL name to call the DDI function of this DLL.

  Therefore, when creating the DLL of the intermediate module 25 that exports the DDI function, the DLL name of the DLL is made the same as the DLL name of the printer driver 22, and the DDI function with the DLL name of another name is called. To do. Then, the DLL name of the printer driver 22 is changed to the DLL name of the other name.

  Specifically, it is as shown in FIG. That is, the DLL name of the intermediate module 25 is named “driver.dll” originally assigned to the printer driver 22, and the DLL name of the printer driver 22 is changed from “driver.dll” to another “originaldriver.dll”. To the name. In FIG. 3B, the DLL name “asynchronous.dll” is also given to the asynchronous module 24, and this DLL name is used when the intermediate module 25 calls the asynchronous module 24.

  In this way, the OS 21 can call the intermediate module 25 using the DLL name originally assigned to the printer driver 22 known to the OS 21 and send information to be printed. The intermediate module 25 receives the information to be printed, performs any processing when it has an additional function, and then calls the printer driver 22 using the DLL name newly given to the printer driver 22. Subsequent processing can be executed.

  The above example is merely an example. As another method, it is possible to use a hook provided by the OS 21 and execute the intermediate module 25 as a hook process, and to perform some process when it has an additional function. is there.

  Thus, by adding the intermediate module 25 and the asynchronous module 24 and changing only the DLL name of the printer driver 22, functions can be added without changing the contents of the printer driver 22 at all. Further, since processing other than the processing to be executed at the time of printing is not directly related to printing and can be performed asynchronously, as described above, the delay of the printing processing time due to the addition of the function can be minimized. it can.

  As an example of processing performed by the application 20, the OS 21, the printer driver 22, the asynchronous module 24, and the intermediate module 25, the flow of processing for outputting a log will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This process starts from step 400, and in step 405, the application 20 starts printing. In step 410, the application 20 calls the OS 21 and sends information to be printed to the OS 21.

  In step 415, the OS 21 calls the intermediate module 25 and sends information to be printed to the intermediate module 25. In step 420, the intermediate module 25 calls the asynchronous module 24 and sends information to be printed to the asynchronous module 24. In step 425, since the intermediate module 25 has no additional function, the intermediate module 25 calls the printer driver 22 without performing any processing, and sends information to be printed to the printer driver 22.

  In step 430, the asynchronous module 24 executes a process of outputting a log asynchronously with the process in which the intermediate module 25 sends the information to be printed to the printer driver 22. The asynchronous module 24 outputs image data or the like as information to be printed as a log, and stores it in a storage device such as a memory. This makes it possible to perform failure analysis later using this log.

  In step 435, the printer driver 22 converts the received information to be printed into a print command that can be interpreted by the printer 10, and transmits the print command to the printer 10. When this transmission is finished and the process of outputting the log is finished, the process proceeds to step 440 and this process is finished.

  A specific example of processing for outputting a log will be described with reference to the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 5. The OS 21 calls a DDI function of the intermediate module 25 using a DLL name. The intermediate module 25 receives information to be printed from the OS 21, and sends information on arguments of the DDI function to the asynchronous module 24. At this time, only the address of the information is passed as argument information.

  The asynchronous module 24 refers to the address received from the intermediate module 25 and outputs the argument information as a log. Thereafter, the intermediate module 25 acquires the address of the DDI function that the printer driver 22 has from the DLL name of the printer driver 22. The intermediate module 25 calls the DDI function of the printer driver 22 using the acquired address.

  The printer driver 22 converts the received information to be printed into a print command and transmits it to the printer 10, and receives a notification from the printer 10 that the print output has been completed. In addition, the printer driver 22 can be notified when any error occurs in the printer 10. Examples of the error include a paper jam and out of toner. The printer driver 22 returns the notification to the intermediate module 25, and the intermediate module 25 returns to the OS 21. In response to the notification, the OS 21 displays on the screen of the display device that printing has ended.

  When image data is stored as a log, it takes a lot of time because the data size is large compared to character or graphic data. However, since the asynchronous module 24 executes the process of outputting this log asynchronously with the process performed by the intermediate module 25, the delay until the intermediate module 25 calls the DDI function of the printer driver 22 can be reduced. The printing process can be executed efficiently.

  As another example of processing, when a printer driver that can only draw image data has a function that allows the function addition program to output a log and to draw graphics and characters in addition to images The flow of processing to be executed will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This process starts from step 600, and in step 605, the application 20 starts printing. In step 610, the application 20 calls the OS 21 and sends information to be printed to the OS 21.

  In step 615, the OS 21 inquires about available functions before sending information to be printed to the intermediate module 25. In response to the inquiry, in step 620, the intermediate module 25 inquires of the printer driver 22 about the function.

  In step 625, the printer driver 22 can only draw an image as its function, and returns that information to the intermediate module 25 as information regarding the function. Since the intermediate module 25 has a function of drawing characters, graphics, and images in step 630, the intermediate module 25 can draw characters, graphics, and images instead of the information about the functions received from the printer driver 22. Is returned to the OS 21 as information about the function.

  In response to this, in step 635, the OS 21 sends character data, graphic data, and image data to the intermediate module 25 as information to be printed. In step 640, the intermediate module 25 sends the received data to the asynchronous module 24, and in step 645, characters, graphics, and images are drawn using these data instead of the printer driver 22.

  On the other hand, in step 650, the asynchronous module 24 executes a process of outputting a log asynchronously with the drawing performed by the intermediate module 25. When the drawing is finished, the intermediate module 25 returns the result to the OS 21, and the OS 21 sends information to be printed including the result to the intermediate module 25 in step 655. The information to be printed at this time is a drawing result and print setting information.

  In step 660, the intermediate module 25 sends the information to be printed to the printer driver 22. In step 665, the printer driver 22 converts the received information to be printed into a print command that can be interpreted by the printer 10. 10 to send. When this transmission is finished and the process of outputting the log is finished, the process proceeds to step 670 and the process is finished.

  Here, the intermediate module 25 is assumed to have a function of drawing characters, graphics, and images, but the function to be added is not limited to this. For example, the character color is changed to red. For example, it is possible to add a function for drawing and changing the number of print settings from one to two, for example, sending the information to the printer driver 22 and printing with the changed number of copies.

  When the function to be added is a drawing function, the OS 21 sends only character data, graphic data, and image data to the intermediate module 25, receives a drawing result from the intermediate module 25, and displays the drawing result, print setting information, and the like. Can be sent to the printer driver 22 via the intermediate module 25 as information to be printed. In the case of a function for changing the print setting, the OS 21 sends only the print setting information to the intermediate module 25, receives the changed print setting information from the intermediate module 25, and displays the print setting information, image data, and the like. Information to be printed can be sent to the printer driver 22 via the intermediate module 25. In this way, various functions can be added.

  In the above example, information related to the function of the intermediate module 25 is returned to the OS 21 instead of information related to the function acquired from the printer driver 22, but information related to both functions may be returned, and the user may select one of them. It may be made possible. In this case, the intermediate module 25 returns both pieces of information to the OS 21, and the OS 21 can display both pieces of information on the screen of the display device and accept the user's selection. As a result, not only the added function but also the function of the printer driver 22 can be selected and used.

  Referring to the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 7, the number of drawing DDIs that can be supported by a printer driver that does not support drawing DDI is increased, and a function for outputting a log is added when a function addition program is implemented. Will be described. The OS 21 inquires about the available functions to the intermediate module 25, and the intermediate module 25 that receives the inquiry inquires the printer driver 22 about the functions of the printer driver 22.

  Since the printer driver 22 does not have a drawing DDI function, the printer driver 22 returns a message to that effect to the intermediate module 25. The intermediate module 25 replies to the OS 21 that the character can be drawn because it has a DDI function for drawing the character. In response to this, the OS 21 assumes that the printer driver 22 supports a DDI function for drawing characters.

  Therefore, the OS 21 calls a character drawing DDI function of the intermediate module 25. In response to this, the intermediate module 25 requests the asynchronous module 24 to output a log, draws characters instead of the printer driver 22, and returns the result to the OS 21. The OS 21 sends information to be printed including the result to the intermediate module 25, and the intermediate module 25 sends it to the printer driver 22 to execute the subsequent processing.

  The printer driver 22 converts the received information to be printed into a print command and transmits it to the printer 10, and receives a notification from the printer 10 that the print output has been completed. The printer driver 22 is also notified when any error occurs in the printer 10. The printer driver 22 returns the notification to the intermediate module 25, and the intermediate module 25 returns to the OS 21. In response to the notification, the OS 21 displays on the screen of the display device that printing has ended.

  Here, the function of drawing only characters and the function of drawing characters, graphics, and images have been described. However, when the printer driver 22 does not support drawing DDI, only the function of drawing graphics or drawing only images. It is also possible to add a function to draw characters and graphics, characters and images, graphics and images, and characters, graphics and images. Further, when the printer driver 22 has a function of drawing only an image, the intermediate module 25 has a function of drawing characters and images, graphics and images, characters, graphics and images, and these functions can be added. It is.

  In addition, as an example of processing other than the processing to be executed at the time of printing performed by the asynchronous module 24, the processing for outputting a log has been described as an example. However, as described above, processing for communicating with the outside, It may be a search process or the like.

  Examples of the process for communicating with the outside include a process for transmitting information to be printed to a server device or the like via a network. The process for searching for a character string includes a process for searching for a specific command character string included in a file described by PostScript (registered trademark). These are merely examples, and processing other than these may be used.

  These processes can be executed in step 430 shown in FIG. 4 and step 650 shown in FIG. In addition, these processes performed asynchronously are not limited to one of the processes for outputting the log, but two of the process for outputting the log, the process of communicating with the outside, and the process of searching for the character string or It may be a combination of all.

  In the present invention, a function addition program including the intermediate module 25 and the asynchronous module 24 can be provided. This program is stored in a recording medium such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD, an SD card, or a USB memory. Can be provided. In addition, this program can be stored in a server device connected to a network and provided by the server device in response to a download request.

  In addition to the above program, a print control system such as the PC 11 in which this program is installed can be provided. Furthermore, a printing system including the printing control system and an image forming apparatus such as the printer 10 can be provided.

  Here, a functional block diagram of a print control system in which the function addition program is installed is shown in FIG. 8, and the system configuration will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the processing performed by this system has been described above, and is omitted here. The system includes an application 20, an OS 21, a printer driver 22, a communication module 23, an intermediate module 25, and an asynchronous module 24 as illustrated in FIG. 2, which are executed by the CPU and function as each functional unit. For this reason, a system is provided with each function part.

  The print control system corresponds to each software as the function unit, and includes an application execution unit 30, a control unit 31, a print control unit 32, a communication unit 33, an intermediate processing unit 35, and an asynchronous processing unit 34. Is provided. The intermediate processing unit 35 receives the information to be printed from the control unit 31 and sends the information to be printed to the asynchronous processing unit 34. The second processing unit sends the information to be printed to the printer driver 22. 37. When the function to be added is only a process other than the process to be executed at the time of printing, the additional function can be implemented with such a configuration.

  However, when executing processing such as drawing of characters, graphics, and images that is not supported by the printer driver 22 and should be executed at the time of printing, the print control system further includes a third processing unit for executing this processing. It is supposed to be prepared.

  The first processing unit 36 can receive an inquiry about a function from the control unit 31 among the application execution unit 30 and the control unit 31 that are output sources that output information to be printed, and can return information about the function. The results executed by the three processing units can also be returned. The second processing unit 37 can inquire about the function to the printer driver 22 in response to the inquiry received by the first processing unit 36, and can acquire information on the function from the printer driver 22.

  The function addition program and the print control system of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and other embodiments are described. It can be modified within the range that can be conceived by those skilled in the art, such as addition, change, deletion, etc., and any embodiment is included in the scope of the present invention as long as the operation and effect of the present invention are exhibited. is there. Therefore, although described here as a program for adding a function to the printer driver, it is possible to provide this function addition program to add a function to other device drivers. A device control system in which this program is installed can also be provided.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Printer, 11 ... PC, 12 ... Network, 20 ... Application, 21 ... OS, 22 ... Printer driver, 23 ... Communication module, 24 ... Asynchronous module, 25 ... Intermediate module, 30 ... Application execution part, 31 ... Control part 32 ... Print control unit, 33 ... Communication unit, 34 ... Asynchronous processing unit, 35 ... Intermediate processing unit, 36 ... First processing unit, 37 ... Second processing unit

JP 2010-282505 A Japanese Patent No. 3745344

Claims (10)

A computer-readable function addition program that makes it possible to add a function to execute a process other than the process to be executed at the time of printing to a printer driver, wherein the function addition program includes:
Receiving a call from an output source that outputs information to be printed and receiving the information to be printed from the output source; and
Calling the printer driver and transmitting the information to be printed to the printer driver;
A function addition program that causes a computer to execute a step based on the function using the information to be printed asynchronously with the process to transmit the information to be printed.   The function addition program is arranged between the output source and the printer driver, and can receive a call from the output source by having the same function as that of the printer driver called by the output source. The function addition program according to claim 1, wherein the printer driver can be called by calling a function of the printer driver.   The function addition program according to claim 2, further comprising the step of acquiring an address to a function of the printer driver and calling a function of the printer driver with reference to the address.   The step of executing the process to be executed at the time of printing using the information of the print target is further executed, and the step of transmitting the information of the print target transmits the information of the print target including the execution result of the process The function addition program according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   In response to an inquiry about the function from the output source, the printer driver is inquired to obtain information on the function of the printer driver, and information on the added function is substituted for the acquired information on the function. The function addition program according to claim 1, further causing a step of returning to the output source to be executed.   When the function of the printer driver is a function of drawing only an image, the function of the function addition program is a function of drawing a character and an image, a function of drawing a figure and an image, or a character and a figure The function addition program according to claim 1, wherein the function addition program is a function for drawing an image and an image.   The processing other than the processing to be executed at the time of printing is one of processing for outputting the information to be printed as a log, processing for communicating with the outside via a network, processing for searching for a character string, or a combination thereof. The function addition program according to any one of claims 1 to 6. A print control system in which a function addition program is installed to add a function for executing a process other than the process to be executed at the time of printing to the printer driver, and the added function can be used, and the function addition program is executed. The print control system is
A first processing unit that receives a call from an output source that outputs information to be printed and receives the information to be printed from the output source;
A second processing unit that calls the printer driver and transmits the information to be printed to the printer driver;
A printing control system that functions as an asynchronous processing unit that executes processing based on the function using the information to be printed asynchronously with the processing to transmit the information to be printed.   The second processing unit further functions as a third processing unit that executes processing to be executed at the time of printing using the printing target information, and the second processing unit transmits the printing target information including an execution result of the processing. The printing control system according to claim 8.   The second processing unit receives an inquiry about the function from the output source, inquires the printer driver, acquires information about the function of the printer driver, and the first processing unit relates to the acquired function. The print control system according to claim 8 or 9, wherein information relating to the function to be added is returned to the output source instead of the information.