JP5671878B2 - Print setting apparatus, control program for print setting apparatus, recording medium, and printing system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a print setting device for generating a print job, a control program for the print setting device, and a printing system including the print setting device.

  Unlike a print job in a general office, a print job used for POD (Print On Demand) often has complicated settings such as imposition setting and finishing setting. When performing such settings on the client PC, the user must open the driver screen from the application and then open the property screen on the driver screen. When the user completes complicated setting operations on the property screen and then closes the screen to issue a print instruction, job processing by the printer is finally started.

  The user setting operation as described above requires a certain time. However, when the number of pages of the print data is large or the print data includes complex image data, the subsequent processing by the printer driver and the printer are performed. It takes a long time for each process, such as transfer, or a combination of these processes. Therefore, it is a critical theme how to obtain a desired print output in a short time when a complicated setting work is required as in a print job used for POD.

  In relation to this, in Patent Document 1 below, it is determined whether or not a print setting exists in a job received from a host device. If there is no print setting, print setting information stored in advance is stored. There has been proposed a direct printing system including an output device to be automatically applied. According to this system, since the print setting work prior to the print instruction is omitted, the time required to complete the printing can be shortened. However, the print setting information needs to be prepared in advance and is automatically applied. The output result desired by the user is not always obtained by the print setting information.

JP 2006-137016 A

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the problems associated with the above-described prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a print setting apparatus and a print that can shorten the time required from a print instruction by a user to completion of print output. A control program for a setting device and a printing system are provided.

  The above object of the present invention is achieved by the following means.

(1) A print setting device for generating a print job to be executed by a printing device, wherein the job transmission unit transmits the print job to the printing device, and the print job is transmitted by the job transmission unit. The change instruction accepting unit that starts accepting a change instruction for a print setting to be applied to the print job from the time it is received by the printing apparatus, and the change instruction accepted by the change instruction accepting unit A change instruction transmission unit that transmits to the printing apparatus, and the change instruction reception unit includes a change instruction that is not changeable after the print job is started to be executed by the printing apparatus among print settings to be applied to the print job. A first accepting unit for accepting an instruction to change a group of print settings, and a first accepting unit that can be changed even after the printing apparatus starts executing the print job. A second accepting unit for accepting an instruction to change the print setting of the group, wherein the first accepting unit finishes accepting the change instruction before starting the execution of the print job by the printing apparatus, and 2. The print setting device, wherein the accepting unit finishes accepting the change instruction after the printing device starts executing the print job.
(2) A print setting device for generating a print job to be executed by a printing device, wherein the job transmission unit transmits the print job to the printing device, and the print job is transmitted by the job transmission unit. The change instruction accepting unit that starts accepting a change instruction for a print setting to be applied to the print job from the time it is received by the printing apparatus, and the change instruction accepted by the change instruction accepting unit A change instruction transmission unit that transmits to the printing apparatus, and the change instruction reception unit includes a change instruction that is not changeable after the print job is started to be executed by the printing apparatus among print settings to be applied to the print job. A first accepting unit for accepting an instruction to change a group of print settings, and a first accepting unit that can be changed even after the printing apparatus starts executing the print job. A second accepting unit for accepting an instruction to change the print setting of the group, wherein the first accepting unit displays a first operation screen for accepting the change instruction for the print setting of the first group on a display device. And displaying the second operation screen for receiving the change instruction for the second group of print settings on the display device separately from the first operation screen. The print setting device.
(3) The job transmission unit transmits the print job without accepting the change instruction, and the job transmission unit is transmitted by the change instruction transmission unit when transmitting the print job to the printing apparatus. When it is determined that the instruction to suspend execution of the print job and the instruction to change the print setting transmitted by the change instruction transmission unit are received until the instruction to change the print setting is received, The print setting according to (1) or (2), wherein a command to execute the print job to which the print setting after the change based on the change instruction is applied is transmitted to the printing apparatus. apparatus.

( 4 ) The print setting apparatus according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the job transmission unit transmits the print job to which a default print setting is applied.

(5) the change instruction transmission unit, the change identification information of the print job should be applied to the changed print settings to instruct based, the (1) to which and transmits together with the change instruction (4 The print setting device according to any one of the above.

( 6 ) A print setting device control program for generating a print job to be executed by the printing device, the procedure (A) for transmitting the print job to the printing device, and the printing in the step (A). A procedure (B) for starting acceptance of a print setting change instruction to be applied to the print job between when the job is transmitted and when it is received by the printing apparatus; A procedure (C) to be transmitted to the apparatus, and the procedure (C) is a first of the print settings to be applied to the print job that cannot be changed after the printing apparatus starts executing the print job. The procedure (C1) of receiving the change instruction of the print setting of the group and transmitting it to the printing apparatus, and the second setting of the print setting that can be changed after the printing apparatus starts executing the print job Receiving a change instruction and transmitting it to the printing apparatus (C2), and further accepting the change instruction for the first group of print settings before the printing apparatus starts executing the print job. Causing the print setting apparatus to execute a procedure (D) for ending and a procedure (E) for ending acceptance of the change instruction for the print settings of the second group after the printing apparatus starts executing the print job. A control program characterized by that.
(7) A print setting apparatus control program for generating a print job to be executed by the printing apparatus, the procedure (A) for transmitting the print job to the printing apparatus, and the printing in the procedure (A). A procedure (B) for starting acceptance of a print setting change instruction to be applied to the print job between when the job is transmitted and when it is received by the printing apparatus; A procedure (C) to be transmitted to the apparatus, and the procedure (C) is a first of the print settings to be applied to the print job that cannot be changed after the printing apparatus starts executing the print job. The procedure (C1) for receiving the change instruction of the print setting of the group and transmitting it to the printing apparatus, and the change of the second group of print settings that can be changed after the printing apparatus starts executing the print job. A procedure (C2) for receiving an instruction and transmitting it to the printing apparatus, wherein the change of the first group of print settings via the first operation screen displayed by the display apparatus is performed in the procedure (C1). An instruction is accepted, and in the step (C2), the change instruction for the second group of print settings is accepted via the second operation screen displayed by the display device separately from the first operation screen. control program characterized.
(8) In step (A), in order to execute the print job, the print job is transmitted to the printing apparatus without receiving the change instruction and print settings to be applied to the print job are received. A command to suspend execution of the print job, and a command to execute the print job to which the print setting is applied when it is determined that the print setting has been received. The control program according to (6) or (7), characterized in that:

( 9 ) The control program according to any one of (6) to (8), wherein in the step ( A ), the print job to which a default print setting is applied is transmitted.

( 10 ) In the step (C), the identification information of the print job to which the print setting is to be applied is transmitted together with the print setting , any one of the above (6) to (9) The control program described in 1.

( 11 ) A computer-readable recording medium on which the control program according to any one of ( 6 ) to ( 10 ) is recorded.

( 12 ) A printing system including a printing apparatus that executes a print job and a print setting apparatus that generates the print job, the job transmission unit transmitting the print job from the print setting apparatus side to the printing apparatus side; A change instruction accepting unit that starts accepting a print setting change instruction to be applied to the print job until the print job transmitted by the job transmitting unit is received on the printing apparatus side; Based on the job receiving unit that receives the print job transmitted by the job transmitting unit on the printing apparatus side, and the change instruction received by the change instruction receiving unit based on the print job received by the job receiving unit. A setting application unit that applies the changed print setting, and the print application after the change based on the change instruction is applied by the setting application unit. A job execution unit that executes the print job; and a display unit that displays a list of received jobs that are the print jobs received by the job reception unit. The change instruction reception unit includes the display unit An instruction for changing a print setting to be applied to the print job selected by the user from the received job list displayed by the user is received, and the display unit is a print job that has not been received by the job reception unit. A printing system further displaying a list of received jobs.
(13) The printing system according to (12), wherein the list displayed by the display unit includes a blank corresponding to each of the unreceived jobs.

( 14 ) The printing system according to ( 12) or (13) , wherein the list displayed by the display unit stores a user ID preset for each print job.

( 15 ) A user ID unique to each user is preset in each of the print jobs, and the display unit is a list of the print jobs in which the same user ID as the login ID to the printing system is set. The printing system according to any one of ( 12 ) to ( 14 ) above, wherein only the display is displayed .

  According to the present invention, since a print job change instruction to be applied to the print job is started after the print job is transmitted by the print setting device and received by the printing device, the user can The change instruction can be input by effectively utilizing the time until the printer receives the message. As a result, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the time required from a print instruction for a print job with complicated print settings to completion of print output.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the printing system which concerns on the 1st-3rd embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of PC concerning the 1st-3rd embodiment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer controller according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the printer engine which concerns on the 1st-3rd embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process of PC concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a printer controller according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention. It is the schematic which shows an example of the printing instruction | indication screen which concerns on the 1st-3rd embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic which shows an example of the print setting screen which concerns on 1st, 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the printer controller which concerns on 2nd, 3rd embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of the job list which concerns on 2nd, 3rd embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process of PC which concerns on 2nd, 3rd embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process of the web browser which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process of the web browser which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a printer controller according to a third embodiment of the present invention. It is the schematic which shows an example of the print setting screen which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic which shows an example of the print setting screen which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the other example of the print setting screen which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a time series figure which shows the procedure of the process by the conventional printing system. FIG. 4 is a time series diagram illustrating a processing procedure by the printing system according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention. It is a time series diagram which shows the procedure of the process by the printing system which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a printing system S according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system S includes a PC 1 as a print setting apparatus and a printer 2 as a printing apparatus that executes a print job received from the PC 1, and these are connected via a network N. . Here, the network N is a LAN according to standards such as Ethernet (registered trademark), token ring, FDDI, or a WAN in which LANs are connected by a dedicated line. The types and the number of devices connected to the network N are shown in FIG. It is not limited to the example shown in 1.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 2 according to the present embodiment controls the operation of each unit and executes image processing (RIP or the like) for a print job, and printing based on the print job after image processing. The printer engine 22 is configured to execute processing, and these are connected via an internal bus so that bidirectional communication is possible. The printer controller 21 and the printer engine 22 may be devices independent from each other. In this case, both are connected via a dedicated interface cable, IEEE1394, or the like.

  Next, the configuration of the device will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the PC 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the PC 1 includes a CPU 11, a memory 12, a storage device 13, a display device 14, an input device 15, and an input / output I / F 16, which are connected via a bus 17 for exchanging signals. It is connected. These components will be described in order below.

  The CPU 11 is a control circuit composed of a microprocessor or the like for executing control of the above-described units and various arithmetic processes in accordance with a program, and each function of the PC 1 is exhibited by the CPU 11 executing a program corresponding thereto. The memory 12 is a main storage area including a RAM that temporarily stores programs and data as a work area, and a ROM that stores various programs.

  The storage device 13 is an auxiliary storage area such as an HDD for storing various programs including an operating system (OS). In particular, the storage device 13 accesses various application software for creating / editing a document file, a printer driver for making print settings for the document file, and other devices (such as the printer 2) on the network N, and A web browser for displaying information held in the device is provided.

  The display device 14 is a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) for displaying various types of information to the user. As will be described later, the display device 14 has a print instruction screen U1 (see FIG. 7), which is a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for print instructions provided by an application, and a print setting provided by a printer driver or a web browser. A print setting screen U2 (see FIG. 8) which is a GUI is displayed.

  The input device 15 is a keyboard or a mouse for receiving various operation instructions from the user. The input / output I / F 16 is an interface for connecting the PC 1 to the network N and communicating with other devices on the network N including the printer 2.

  Next, FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the printer controller 21 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the printer controller 21 includes a CPU 211, a memory 212, a storage device 213, an input / output I / F 214, and a video I / F 215, which are connected via a bus 216 for exchanging signals. Has been. These components will be described in order below.

  The CPU 211 is a control circuit composed of a microprocessor or the like for executing control of the above-described units and various arithmetic processes according to a program, and each function of the printer controller 21 is exhibited by the CPU 211 executing a corresponding program. The memory 212 is a main storage device including a RAM that temporarily stores programs and data as a work area, and a ROM that stores various programs.

  The storage device 213 is an auxiliary storage device configured by appropriately combining a read-only storage device and a large-capacity random access storage device. The input / output I / F 214 is an interface for communicating with other devices on the network N. The video I / F 215 is an interface for communicating with the printer engine 22.

  Next, FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the printer engine 22 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the printer engine 22 includes an image forming unit 221, an operation unit 222, a paper feed unit 223, and a paper discharge unit 224, which are connected via a bus 225 for exchanging signals. ing. These components will be described in order below.

  The image forming unit 221 includes a charging process for charging the photosensitive drum, an exposure process for forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum with laser light, and a toner image by attaching toner to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum. Electrophotographic printing comprising: a developing process for forming a toner image; a transfer process for transferring a toner image on a photosensitive drum to a recording sheet by a transfer belt; and a fixing process for heating and fixing the toner image transferred to the recording sheet by a fixing roller. The image is printed on the recording paper by the processing. Note that the printing method employed by the image forming unit 221 is not limited to the above-described electrophotographic method, and may be other printing methods such as an impact method, a thermal transfer method, and an inkjet method.

  The operation unit 222 is an operation panel having a function of displaying status information and the like of the printer engine 22 to the user and a function of acquiring various operation instructions from the user. The paper feed unit 223 is a mechanism for sending out the recording paper stored in the paper feed tray for each size to the image forming unit 221, and the paper discharge unit 224 discharges the recording paper that has been printed by the image forming unit 221. It is a mechanism for sending out to the paper tray.

  Next, an outline of the operation of the printing system S according to the present embodiment will be described using a flowchart. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the PC 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The algorithm shown by the flowchart of FIG. 5 is stored as a control program in the storage device 13 of the PC 1, and is read out and executed in the memory 12 at the start of operation.

  First, the PC 1 edits a print job on the application (S101). When a print instruction is received from the user, the printer driver is activated (S102). When the printer driver is activated in S102, a print instruction screen U1 as shown in FIG.

  Here, the print instruction screen U1 according to the present embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 7, the print instruction screen U1 includes a “property” button b1 for detailed print setting of the print job, a “cancel” button b2 for canceling the print instruction, and a final print instruction after the setting is completed. For example, an “OK” button b3 for transmitting a job according to default print settings, and the like. These will be described in order below.

  When the “property” button b1 is pressed, the print instruction screen U1 on the display device 14 is switched to a print setting screen U2 as shown in FIG. On the print setting screen U2, the user can input detailed print settings for each setting item such as “basic”, “imposition”, “image quality”, and “finish”. When the “OK” button b5 on the print setting screen U2 is pressed, the currently displayed print setting screen U2 is switched to the original print instruction screen.

  When the “OK” button b3 is pressed, a print job to which the print settings already input on the print setting screen U2 are applied is transmitted to the printer controller 21. As described above, the operation when the “property” button b1 or the “OK” button b3 is pressed is the same as that of the conventional printer driver.

  On the other hand, when the “Send” button b4 is pressed, the print job to which the default print setting is applied is sent to the printer controller 21. Then, the currently displayed print instruction screen U1 is automatically switched to a print setting screen U2 as shown in FIG. On this print setting screen U2, the user can input a print setting change instruction for the print job being transferred to the printer controller 21. This point will be further described later.

  Referring to FIG. 5 again, the PC 1 determines whether or not the “Send” button b4 has been pressed on the print instruction screen U1 being displayed, that is, whether or not job transmission by default print settings has been designated by the user (S103). ).

  Note that the function of acquiring a “send” instruction from the user in S103 can also be realized by providing a check box such as “send as default” on the conventional print instruction screen. According to this example, the printer driver accepts a “send” instruction when the “OK” button or the like is pressed while the check box is checked. Furthermore, this function can be realized by a right-click menu of a mouse, a plug-in menu for an application, independent utility software, or the like.

  When the “Send” button b4 is pressed (YES in S103), the PC 1 applies the default print setting to the print job, converts it to an appropriate printer language such as PS or PCL, and then the printer controller. 21 (S104). In order to reduce the number of subsequent print setting changes, print settings frequently used by the user are stored in advance in the storage device 13 or the like, and this is applied to a print job instead of the default print settings. Also good.

  Further, the print job transmitted in S104 has a command (hereinafter simply referred to as “hold command”) to the printer controller 21 that the execution of RIP should be suspended until a print setting change instruction to be applied to the print job is received. It shall be added.

  Subsequently, the PC 1 switches the print instruction screen U1 being displayed on the display device 14 to a print instruction screen U2 as shown in FIG. 8 (S105). Accordingly, the PC 1 starts accepting a print setting change instruction (hereinafter also simply referred to as “change instruction”) to be applied to the print job without waiting for the completion of reception of the print job on the printer controller 21 side. be able to. When the PC 1 receives a change instruction from the user on the print setting screen U2 being displayed (S106), the PC 1 determines whether or not an “OK” button b5 indicating completion of setting on the screen is pressed (S107). ).

  If the “OK” button b5 is pressed (YES in S107), the change instruction received from the user in S106 is transmitted to the printer controller 21 (S108), and the series of processing ends (end). On the other hand, when the “OK” button b5 is not pressed (NO in S107), the process returns to S106 described above. Note that the job ID of the print job transmitted in S104 is added to the change instruction transmitted in S107. As a result, the printer controller 21 can determine which print job the received change instruction is for.

  On the other hand, when the “Send” button b4 is not pressed on the print instruction screen U1 (NO in S103), the same processing as that of the conventional printer driver is executed. That is, the PC 1 determines whether or not the “property” button b1 is pressed on the print instruction screen U1 (S109). When the “property” button b1 is pressed (YES in S109), the currently displayed print instruction screen U1 is switched to the print setting screen U2 as shown in FIG. 8, and detailed print settings are received from the user (S110). ). Then, the print setting screen U2 being displayed is switched to the original print instruction screen.

  If the “property” button b1 is not pressed (NO in S109), it is further determined whether or not the “cancel” button b2 is pressed (S113). If the “cancel” button b2 is pressed (YES in S113), the series of processing ends (end), and if the “cancel” button b2 is not pressed (NO in S113), the process returns to S103.

  Thereafter, the PC 1 determines whether or not the “OK” button b3 is pressed on the print instruction screen U1 being displayed (S111). If the “OK” button b3 is pressed (YES in S111), the print setting based on the instruction received in S110 is applied to the print job, converted into an appropriate printer language, and then sent to the printer controller 21. Transmit (S112). Thereafter, the PC 1 ends the series of processes (end). If the “OK” button b3 is not pressed (NO in S111), the process returns to S110 described above.

  Next, FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the printer controller 21 according to the present embodiment. The algorithm shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 is stored as a control program in the storage device 213, and is read out and executed in the memory 212 at the start of operation.

  First, after completing the reception of the print job transmitted from the PC 1 (S201), the printer controller 21 determines whether or not a hold command is added to the print job (S202). If a hold instruction is added (YES in S202), it is further determined whether a change instruction for the print job has already been received (S203). This determination is made by collating the job ID of the print job received in S201 with the job ID added to the received change instruction.

  If the change instruction has been received (YES in S203), the changed print settings based on the change instruction are applied to the print job (S204), and the process proceeds to S205. If the change instruction has not been received (S204) (NO in S203) Wait until it is received. On the other hand, if no hold command is added to the print job received in S201 (NO in S202), the process proceeds to S205 as it is. Thereafter, the printer controller 21 executes RIP for the print job whose settings have been changed in S204 (S205), transfers the RIP-completed print job to the printer engine 22 (S206), and ends a series of processing. (End).

  As described above, according to the printing system S according to the present embodiment, a change instruction for a print job is received from when the print job is transmitted by the PC 1 (printer driver) until it is received by the printer controller 21. Thus, the user can input the change instruction by effectively utilizing the time until the print job is received by the printing apparatus. As a result, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to shorten the time required from a print instruction to a print job with complicated print settings to completion of print output.

FIG. 19 is a time-series diagram for explaining the above-described effects. FIG. 18 is a time series diagram according to the prior art for comparison. As shown in FIG. 19, according to the present embodiment, “print setting by the user”, which conventionally had to be completed before “job transfer” to the printer controller, can be performed in parallel with “job transfer”. Therefore, the required time T1 from the printing instruction by the user to the start of job execution (RIP) can be shortened.
Second Embodiment
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described focusing on differences from the first embodiment described above. The configuration of the printing system S according to the present embodiment is the same as the configuration according to the first embodiment described above, except for the following points. Therefore, the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment are used for common components.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the printer controller 21 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, the printer controller 21 according to the present embodiment includes a job management unit M for managing print jobs scheduled to be executed by the printer 2 in addition to the components of the printer controller 21 according to the first embodiment. It has. The job management unit M holds a job list L in which status information of each print job is stored, and obtains a change instruction for a specific print job by displaying the job list L with a web browser. It has a function to do. This point will be further described later.

  FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the job list L displayed by the web browser. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the job list L includes “status”, “job name”, “job ID”, “user ID”, and “user ID” for each print job (No. 1 to 7) scheduled to be processed by the printer 2. Information such as “file size”, “date / time”, “application”, “paper size”, “paper type”, “paper feed tray”, “paper output tray”, and the like is stored. When “user ID” is stored in the job list L, the web browser displays only information related to a print job in which the same “user ID” as the logged-in user ID is set in the printer controller 21. It is preferable.

  Each print job is automatically registered in the job list L when a job ID (described later) transmitted from the printer driver is received by the job management unit M. However, it is also possible for the user to access the job management unit M via a web browser and manually register a print job to be newly transmitted in the job list L. In this case, the user manually inputs the “job name”, “job ID”, “user ID”, and the like of the new print job in the job list L. No. in the figure. It is also possible to apply the same print setting to a plurality of print jobs using a wild card “*” as in FIG. Further, the job management unit M can automatically determine a user ID, job ID, application name, and the like set in advance for each print job and register them in the job list L.

  Next, an outline of the operation of the printing system S according to the present embodiment will be described using a flowchart. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the PC 1 according to the present embodiment. The algorithm shown in the flowchart of FIG. 11 is stored as a control program in the storage device 13 of the PC 1, and is read out and executed in the memory 12 at the start of operation. Note that the processing procedure of the printer controller 21 according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment described above, and a description thereof will be omitted (see FIG. 5).

  First, S301 to S303 are the same as S101 to S103 in FIG. If the “Send” button b4 is not pressed in S303 (NO in S303), the process proceeds to S307 to S311. These procedures are the same as S109 to S113 in FIG.

  On the other hand, if the “Send” button b4 is pressed in S303 (YES in S303), the job ID of the print job is sent to the printer controller 21 (S304). The job ID is added to the job list L by the job management unit M. Then, the PC 1 applies default print settings to the print job, converts it into an appropriate printer language, and transmits it to the printer controller 21 (S305), as in S104 described above. Thereafter, the PC 1 accesses the job management unit M through the web browser (S306), and ends the series of processes (end).

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the job management unit M accessed by the web browser in S306 described above. The algorithm shown in the flowchart of FIG. 12 is stored as a control program in the storage device 213 of the printer controller 21, and is read into the memory 212 and executed when the operation starts.

  As shown in FIG. 11, first, the job management unit M displays the job list L on the web browser (S401). The job list L at this time preferably displays individual print jobs in accordance with their statuses in consideration of user convenience (see FIG. 10).

  Subsequently, the job management unit M receives a selection of a specific print job in the displayed job list L from the user (S402). At this time, it is also possible to accept selection of a plurality of print jobs at the same time. When a print job is selected in S402, the job list L (see FIG. 10) on the web browser is switched to the print setting screen U2 (see FIG. 8) for the selected print job.

  Subsequently, the job management unit M receives a change instruction for the print job selected in S402 from the user through the print setting screen U2 being displayed (S403). Thereafter, the job management unit M determines whether or not an “OK” button b5 indicating completion of setting on the displayed print setting screen U2 has been pressed (S404). If the “OK” button b5 is pressed (YES in S404), the series of processing ends (end), and if the “OK” button b5 is not pressed (NO in S404), the process returns to S403 described above. .

As described above, according to the printing system S according to the present embodiment, since the job list L as shown in FIG. 10 is displayed prior to accepting the change instruction for each print job, the user can check the status of each print job. After confirming the above, a change instruction for a desired print job can be input. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, in addition to the operational effects of the first embodiment described above, an additional operational effect of improving user convenience when a plurality of print jobs are scheduled to be executed by the printer 2 is exhibited. The
<Third Embodiment>
Next, the third embodiment of the present invention will be described focusing on the differences from the second embodiment described above. The configuration of the printing system S according to the present embodiment is the same as the configuration according to the first embodiment described above, except for the following points. Therefore, the same reference numerals as those in the second embodiment are used for common components.

  15 and 16 are schematic views showing print setting screens U2a and U2b according to the present embodiment, respectively. These screens can be switched between each other by a tab operation. As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, in this embodiment, each setting item can be changed only before the RIP start by the printer controller 21 (that is, cannot be changed after the RIP starts). These are classified into “pre-transfer settings” that can be changed after the RIP is started by the printer controller 21 (until the transfer of the RIP-completed print job), and these are classified by separate print setting UI screens U2a and U2b. A change instruction is accepted.

  15 and 16, the RIP pre-setting includes “paper size”, and the pre-transfer setting includes “paper basis weight”, “paper type”, and “number of copies”. Combinations can be changed as appropriate. 15 and 16, the print setting screen U2a for “RIP pre-setting” and the print setting screen U2b for “pre-transfer setting” are not displayed on separate tab screens, but as shown in FIG. One print setting screen U2 may be divided into a part that accepts a change instruction for “pre-RIP setting” and a part that accepts a change instruction for “pre-transfer setting”.

  Next, an outline of the operation of the printing system S according to the present embodiment will be described using a flowchart. FIGS. 13 and 14 are flowcharts showing processing procedures of the job management unit M and the printer controller 22 according to the present embodiment. The algorithm shown in these flowcharts is stored as a control program in the storage device 213 of the printer controller 21, and is read into the memory 212 and executed when the operation starts. Note that the processing procedure of the PC 1 according to this embodiment is the same as that of the above-described second embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted (see FIG. 11).

  Here, a processing procedure of the job management unit M according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, since S501 to S502 are the same as S401 to S402 described above, the description thereof is omitted. Subsequently, the job management unit M accepts from the user an instruction to change “pre-RIP setting” for the print job selected in S502 from the print setting screen U2a for “pre-RIP setting” displayed on the web browser ( S503). Thereafter, the job management unit M determines whether or not the “OK” button b5 indicating the completion of setting on the currently displayed “pre-RIP setting” print setting screen U2a has been pressed (S504). When the “OK” button b5 is pressed (YES in S504), the print setting screen U2a for “pre-RIP setting” being displayed is switched to the print setting screen U2b for “pre-transfer setting”, which will be described later. In step S505, if the “OK” button b5 is not pressed (NO in step S504), the process returns to step S503 described above.

  Subsequently, the job management unit M receives an instruction to change “setting before transfer” from the user through the print setting screen U2b for “setting before transfer” displayed on the web browser (S505). After that, the job management unit M determines whether or not the “OK” button b5 indicating the completion of setting on the currently displayed “pre-transfer setting” print setting screen U2b has been pressed (S506). If the “OK” button b5 is pressed (YES in S506), the series of processing ends (end). If the “OK” button b5 is not pressed (NO in S506), the process returns to S505 described above. .

  Subsequently, a processing procedure of the printer controller 21 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, after completing the reception of the print job transmitted from the PC 1 (S601), the printer controller 21 determines whether or not a hold instruction is added to the print job (S602). In the first embodiment described above, an instruction that execution of RIP should be suspended until a change instruction is received from the printer driver is added to the print job as a “hold instruction”. , The execution of RIP is suspended until a change instruction for “pre-RIP setting” is accepted on the web browser, and further, the transfer of the RIP-completed print job to the printer engine 22 is suspended until the change instruction for “pre-transfer setting” is accepted. The instruction that should be added is added as a “pending instruction”.

  If a hold instruction is added (YES in S602), the printer controller 21 has received a change instruction for “pre-RIP setting” for the print job on the print setting screen U2a (see FIG. 15). It is further determined whether or not (S603). If the “pre-RIP setting” change instruction has been received (YES in S603), the print setting after the change based on the change instruction is applied to the print job (S604), and the process proceeds to S605 and has been received. If not (NO in S603), it waits until it is accepted. On the other hand, if no hold instruction is added to the print job received in S601 (NO in S602), the RIP for the print job is immediately executed (S608), and the process proceeds to S609 described later.

  Subsequently, the printer controller 21 executes RIP on the print job for the print job whose setting has been changed in S604 (S605), and then a change instruction of “pre-transfer setting” for the print job is printed setting. It is further determined whether it has been received on the screen U2b (S606). If the “pre-transfer setting” change instruction has been received (YES in S606), the changed print setting based on the change instruction is applied to the RIP-completed print job (S607), and the process proceeds to S609. If it has not been accepted (NO in S606), it waits until it is accepted.

  Thereafter, the printer controller 21 transfers the print job whose settings have been changed in S607 to the printer engine 22 (S609), and ends a series of processing (END).

  As described above, according to the printing system S according to the present embodiment, the acceptance of the change instruction for “setting before transfer” is continued in parallel with the start of the RIP by the printer controller 21. The period during which the change instruction can be input can be extended. As a result, according to the present embodiment, in addition to the operational effects of the first and second embodiments described above, there is an additional operational effect that the user can spend a long time by inputting a change instruction for “setting before transfer”. Demonstrated.

  FIG. 20 is a time-series diagram for explaining the above-described effects. As shown in FIG. 20, according to the present embodiment, “print setting by user”, which was interrupted before the start of RIP in the example of FIG. 19, continues for a predetermined period (T2) after the start of RIP. Will be. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the time required from the user's print instruction to the start of job execution (RIP) is shortened, and the period during which the user can input the “pre-transfer setting” change instruction is extended by a predetermined time T2. be able to.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims. For example, in the above embodiment, the printer 2 is taken as an example of a printing apparatus that executes a print job. However, the printing apparatus includes a multifunction peripheral device (MFP) having a scan function, a print function, a copy function, a facsimile transmission / reception function, and the like. ) May be realized as one function.

  The print setting apparatus according to the present invention can be realized by a dedicated hardware circuit for executing the above procedure, or by executing a program describing the above procedure by the CPU. When the present invention is realized by the latter, a program for operating the print setting apparatus may be provided by a computer-readable recording medium such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk or CD-ROM, or via a network such as the Internet. May be provided online. Here, the program recorded on the computer-readable recording medium is usually transferred to and recorded on a ROM, a hard disk, or the like. In addition, the program may be provided as a single application software, or may be incorporated into the software of the same device as one function of the print setting device.

1 PC,
11 CPU,
12 memory,
13 storage device,
14 display device,
21 Printer controller,
211 CPU,
212 memory,
213 storage device,
22 Printer engine,
212 image forming unit,
L Job list,
M Job Management Department,
S printing system,
U1 print instruction screen,
U2 print setting screen.

Claims (15)

A print setting device for generating a print job executed by a printing device,
A job transmission unit that transmits the print job to the printing apparatus;
A change instruction accepting unit that starts accepting a print setting change instruction to be applied to the print job between the time when the print job is transmitted by the job transmitting unit and the time when the print device receives the print job;
A change instruction transmission unit that transmits the change instruction received by the change instruction reception unit to the printing apparatus;
The change instruction reception unit receives a first instruction for changing a first group of print settings that cannot be changed after the printing apparatus starts executing the print job among the print settings to be applied to the print job. A second accepting unit for accepting an instruction to change the second group of print settings that can be changed even after the printing apparatus starts executing the print job,
The first accepting unit finishes accepting the change instruction before starting execution of the print job by the printing apparatus;
The print setting apparatus, wherein the second accepting unit finishes accepting the change instruction after the printing apparatus starts executing the print job . A print setting device for generating a print job executed by a printing device,
A job transmission unit that transmits the print job to the printing apparatus;
A change instruction accepting unit that starts accepting a print setting change instruction to be applied to the print job between the time when the print job is transmitted by the job transmitting unit and the time when the print device receives the print job;
A change instruction transmission unit that transmits the change instruction received by the change instruction reception unit to the printing apparatus;
The change instruction reception unit receives a first instruction for changing a first group of print settings that cannot be changed after the printing apparatus starts executing the print job among the print settings to be applied to the print job. A second accepting unit for accepting an instruction to change the second group of print settings that can be changed even after the printing apparatus starts executing the print job,
The first receiving unit causes a display device to display a first operation screen for receiving the change instruction for the print setting of the first group,
The second accepting unit displays a second operation screen for accepting the change instruction for the print setting of the second group on the display device in distinction from the first operation screen. Setting device. The job transmission unit transmits the print job without accepting the change instruction,
The job transmission unit should suspend the execution of the print job until it receives the print setting change instruction transmitted by the change instruction transmission unit when transmitting the print job to the printing apparatus. An instruction to execute the print job to which the changed print setting based on the change instruction is applied when it is determined that the change instruction of the print setting transmitted by the change instruction transmission unit is received The print setting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print setting apparatus transmits the information to the printing apparatus. The print setting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job transmission unit transmits the print job to which a default print setting is applied . The change instruction transmission unit transmits identification information of the print job to which the print setting after the change based on the change instruction is to be applied, together with the change instruction. The print setting device described in 1. A control program for a print setting device for generating a print job to be executed by a printing device,
A procedure (A) for transmitting the print job to the printing apparatus;
A procedure (B) for starting reception of an instruction to change a print setting to be applied to the print job between the time when the print job is transmitted in the procedure (A) and the time when the print device receives the print job;
Receiving the change instruction and transmitting it to the printing apparatus (C),
The procedure (C) receives the change instruction of the first group of print settings that cannot be changed after the printing apparatus starts executing the print job among the print settings to be applied to the print job, A procedure (C1) for transmitting to the apparatus and a procedure (C2) for receiving the change instruction for the second group of print settings that can be changed after the printing apparatus starts executing the print job and transmitting to the printing apparatus (C2) And including
A step (D) of ending acceptance of the change instruction for the print settings of the first group before execution of the print job by the printing apparatus;
A control program for causing the print setting apparatus to execute a procedure (E) of ending acceptance of the change instruction for the second group of print settings after the printing apparatus starts executing the print job. A control program for a print setting device for generating a print job to be executed by a printing device,
A procedure (A) for transmitting the print job to the printing apparatus;
A procedure (B) for starting reception of an instruction to change a print setting to be applied to the print job between the time when the print job is transmitted in the procedure (A) and the time when the print device receives the print job;
Receiving the change instruction and transmitting it to the printing apparatus (C),
The procedure (C) receives the change instruction of the first group of print settings that cannot be changed after the printing apparatus starts executing the print job among the print settings to be applied to the print job, A procedure (C1) for transmitting to the apparatus and a procedure (C2) for receiving the change instruction for the second group of print settings that can be changed after the printing apparatus starts executing the print job and transmitting to the printing apparatus (C2) And including
In the procedure (C1), the change instruction for the print setting of the first group is received via the first operation screen displayed by the display device,
In the procedure (C2), the change instruction for the second group of print settings is received via the second operation screen displayed separately from the first operation screen by the display device. program. In the step (A), in order to execute the print job, the print job is transmitted to the printing apparatus without accepting the change instruction and the print setting to be applied to the print job is received. Transmitting to the printing apparatus a command to suspend execution of the job and a command to execute the print job to which the print setting is applied when it is determined that the print setting has been accepted. The control program according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that The control program according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein in the step (A), the print job to which a default print setting is applied is transmitted . In the step (C), identification information of the print job to which the print setting after the change based on the change instruction is to be applied is transmitted together with the change instruction. Control program described in one. A computer-readable recording medium in which the control program according to claim 6 is recorded. A printing system comprising a printing device that executes a print job, and a print setting device that generates the print job,
A job transmission unit that transmits the print job from the print setting apparatus side to the printing apparatus side;
A change instruction accepting unit that starts accepting a print setting change instruction to be applied to the print job before the print job transmitted by the job transmitting unit is received by the printing apparatus;
A job receiving unit that receives the print job transmitted by the job transmitting unit on the printing apparatus side;
A setting applying unit that applies the changed print setting based on the change instruction received by the change instruction receiving unit to the print job received by the job receiving unit;
A job execution unit that executes the print job to which the print setting after the change based on the change instruction is applied by the setting application unit;
A display unit that displays a list of received jobs that are the print jobs received by the job receiving unit;
The change instruction accepting unit accepts a print setting change instruction to be applied to the print job selected by the user from the received job list displayed by the display unit,
The printing system further displays a list of unreceived jobs that are the print jobs not received by the job receiving unit. The printing system according to claim 12, wherein the list displayed by the display unit includes a blank corresponding to each of the unreceived jobs. The printing system according to claim 12 or 13 , wherein the list displayed by the display unit stores a user ID set in advance for each of the print jobs . Each print job has a user-specific user ID set in advance,
15. The printing according to claim 12, wherein the display unit displays only a list of the print jobs in which the same user ID as a login ID to the printing system is set. system.