Abstract:
Disclosed is a user interface to carry out a book printing in which one sheet is associated with a plurality of pages of a book, wherein the user interface is capable of setting different print modes for the sheets constituting the book.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a user interface and a computer readable medium storing a computer program for print setting.  
         [0003]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0004]     So far, book printing has been performed in a printer, MFP (multi function peripheral) and the like, in which documents are printed to a plurality of sheets to form a book. For example, JP 2002-244493A (hereinafter referred to as patent document 1) discloses that different print mode can be set for a cover sheet from that for the other sheet in book printing.  
         [0005]     However, in the technique disclosed in patent document 1, only one identical print mode is applied to all sheets other than a cover sheet. Thus, when a special sheet different from the other sheets (for example, a sheet of different paper type, M weight or paper color) is used for a certain sheet other than a cover sheets it has been necessary to print whole sheets of a book firstly and to substitute a certain sheet with the separately printed special sheet. Thus, it has been problematic that book making process takes a lot of trouble and has low processing efficiency.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention was achieved with consideration of the above circumstances. One of the objects of the present invention is to make it possible to set a print mode on a per-sheet basis.  
         [0007]     In order to achieve at least one of the above mentioned objects, according to one embodiment reflecting the first aspect of the invention, a user interface is to carry out a book printing in which one sheet is associated with a plurality of pages of a book, the user interface being capable of setting different print modes for the sheets constituting the book.  
         [0008]     Herein, the print mode is typically to specify a sheet. For example, a paper size, a paper feed tray, a paper type (plain paper, board paper and the like), an M weight, a paper color and the like can be given.  
         [0009]     Preferably, a display section displays a plurality of page numbers corresponding to pages that are laid out to a same sheet to which at least one of the print modes has been set.  
         [0010]     Preferably, each of the print modes is settable on a per-page basis.  
         [0011]     In the print mode on a per-page basis, the set print mode is preferably applied to whole of the sheet, when the print mode is set to any one page of a plurality of pages laid out to the sheet.  
         [0012]     In setting the print mode on a per-page basis, the display section preferably displays a warning screen, when different print modes are set to two or more different pages of a plurality of pages that are to be laid out to one sheet.  
         [0013]     In setting the print mode on a per-page basis, when a print mode is set to a page, a display section preferably displays a sheet number of the sheet to which the page is laid out.  
         [0014]     Preferably, the user interface sets the different print modes for the sheets constituting the book if one print job is to print on at least two sheets.  
         [0015]     In order to achieve at least one of the above mentioned objects, according to one embodiment reflecting the second aspect of the invention, a computer executable program is to carry out a book printing in which one sheet is associated with a plurality of pages of a book, wherein the computer executable program provide a user with a user interface capable of setting different print modes for the sheets constituting the book.  
         [0016]     Preferably, the computer executable program is to display on a display section a plurality of page numbers corresponding to pages that are laid out to a same sheet to which at least one of the print modes has been set.  
         [0017]     Preferably, the computer executable program is to set each of the print modes on a per-page basis.  
         [0018]     In setting the print mode on a per-page basis, the set print mode is preferably applied to whole of the sheet, when the print mode is set to any one page of a plurality of pages laid out to the sheet.  
         [0019]     In setting the print mode on a per-page basis, the display section preferably displays a warning screen, when different print modes are set to two or more different pages of a plurality of pages that are to be laid out to one sheet.  
         [0020]     In setting the print mode on a per-page basis, when a print mode is set to a page, a display section preferably displays a sheet number of the sheet to which the page is laid out.  
         [0021]     Preferably, the different print modes for the sheets constituting the book if one print job is to print on at least two sheets. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]     These and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the appended drawings, and thus are not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention, and wherein;  
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a view showing a constitution of a print system of the embodiment of the invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing a main structure of a PC and printer constituting the print system;  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart showing a print setting process executed in the print system;  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is a view showing a whole setting screen displayed on a display section of the PC;  
         [0027]      FIG. 5  is a view showing a per-sheet basis setting list screen displayed on the display section of the PC;  
         [0028]      FIG. 6  is a view showing a list name displayed on a list name item;  
         [0029]      FIG. 7  is a view showing a per-sheet basis setting screen displayed on the display section of the PC;  
         [0030]      FIG. 8  is a view showing the sheet setting screen where a print mode is set only by designation of sheet number;  
         [0031]      FIG. 9  is a view showing the sheet setting list screen where a print mode is set only by designation of sheet number;  
         [0032]      FIG. 10  is a view showing the sheet setting screen where a print mode is set only by designation of page number;  
         [0033]      FIG. 11  is a view showing the sheet setting list screen where a print mode is set only by designation of page number;  
         [0034]      FIG. 12  is a view showing a warning message displayed on the display section of the PC. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0035]     Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.  
         [0036]     First, a constitution of the embodiment will be described.  
         [0037]      FIG. 1  is a whole constitution of a print system  100  of the present embodiment. As show in  FIG. 1 , the print system  100  comprises a PC (personal computer)  1  and a printer  2  which are connected with each other through a communication network N so as to be communicated with each other.  
         [0038]     The communication network N is composed of a LAN (local area network) in which a computer and network equipments are connected with each other by a standard such as ETHERNET®, token ring, FDDI (fiber distributed data interface) and the like, a WAN (wide area network) in which LANs are connected with each other through a leased line, or the like.  
         [0039]     Instead of the printer  2 , an image forming apparatus can be used, such as an MFP (multi function peripheral) comprising a plurality of functions such as a copier, scanner and printer altogether. Further, the number of the PC  1  or printer  2  constituting the print system  100  is not especially limited. In the present embodiment, a booklet printing is explained as an example, however it is not limited thereto. Hereinafter in the present embodiment, a paper output as a result of printing of the printer  2  is referred to as a “sheet”.  
         [0040]      FIG. 2  shows a main structure of the PC  1  and printer  2 . PC  1  mounts a printer driver which is software to control a printer, and comprises an input section  10  and display section  12  as a setting member to set a print mode. PC  1  sends the print mode set with the setting member  10  to the printer  2 . In the present embodiment, the print mode comprises paper size, feeder tray, paper type (plain paper, board paper or the like), M weight, paper color and the like, and does not limited thereto.  
         [0041]     The input section comprises a keyboard, mouse and the like to input various orders. The display section  12  comprises a display such as an LCD (liquid crystal display).  
         [0042]     When a book in which one sheet is composed of a plurality of pages is printed (book printing), a print mode is set on a per-sheet basis or on a per-page basis which constitute the book by controlling the input section  11 . When the print mode is set on a per-sheet basis, the display section  12  displays a plurality of page numbers whose pages are arranged to the sheet where the print mode has been set.  
         [0043]     When the print mode is set to any one page of the plurality of pages arranged to one sheet, the set print mode is applied to the whole sheet. Further, two or more print modes are set to different pages among the pages arranged to one sheet, the display section  12  displays a warning screen (see  FIG. 12 ). Further, when a print mode is set page by page, the display section  12  displays a sheet number of a sheet to which the set page is arranged. The above-described setting of the print mode is applied when one print job prints two or more sheets.  
         [0044]     The printer  2  comprises a plurality of paper feed tray (not shown), papers having different size, type (plain paper, board paper or the like), M weight, paper color or the like can be housed by the feed tray. Further, the printer  2  comprises a print controller  20  and an image forming member  30  as shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0045]     The print controller  20  comprises a print condition analyzing section  21 , page layout section  22 , print data forming section  23  and data output section  24 .  
         [0046]     The print condition analyzing section  21  analyzes a print condition from data sent from the PC  1 . The page layout section  22  lays out the pages so that an output results a booklet. The print data forming section  23  forms data which is printed to each sheet (print data). The data output section  24  set the print data and print mode to each seat, and outputs it to the image forming member  30 .  
         [0047]     The image forming member  30  performs a print process according to the print mode and print data to the designated paper by a predetermined method (for example, a laser beam method).  
         [0048]     In the present embodiment, the printer  2  comprises the print controller  20 . However, function of the print controller  20  can be included in a print controller separated from the printer  2 , or the print driver.  
         [0049]     Next, operation of the present embodiment will be described.  
         [0050]     First, a print setting process executed in the print system  100  will be described with reference to the flowchart of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0051]     First, a setting member  10  of the PC  1  sets the print condition (step S 1 ). In step S 1 , the display section  12  displays the whole setting screen as shown in  FIG. 4  firstly. The whole setting screen is to set the print mode of a whole document (all sheets). As shown in  FIG. 4 , a paper size setting section  31 , a paper feed tray setting section  32 , a paper type setting section  33 , an M weight setting section  34  and a paper color setting section  35  are arranged therein. The print mode is set by inputting necessary information to the respective setting sections of the whole setting screen with the input section  11 .  
         [0052]     When a “per-sheet basis setting” item in the whole setting screen in  FIG. 4  is designated with the input section  11 , the display section  12  displays the per-sheet basis setting list screen as shown in  FIG. 5 . The per-sheet basis setting list screen is to display a list of the print mode which has set on a per-sheet basis. As shown in  FIG. 5 , a per-sheet basis setting check box  41 , a list name display section  42 , a list display section  43 , a sheet add button  44 , an update button  45 , an edit button  46  and a delete button  47  are arranged therein. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the list name display section  42  can display a plurality of lists, and different per-sheet basis setting can be saved to each displayed list.  
         [0053]     The per-sheet basis setting list screen of  FIG. 5  shows one example of making a booklet composed of two sheets, where two pages of a document are printed to both sides of the sheet respectively. When the per-sheet basis setting check box  41  of the per-sheet basis setting list screen is checked in  FIG. 5 , the sheet add button  44  becomes available. When the sheet add button  44  is pushed, the per-sheet basis setting screen as shown in  FIG. 7  is displayed.  
         [0054]     The per-sheet basis setting screen is to set the print mode on a per-sheet basis. As shown in  FIG. 7 , a sheet number setting section  51 , a page number setting section  52 , a paper feed tray setting section  53 , a paper type setting section  54 , an M weight setting section  55 , a paper color setting section  56 , an OK button  57  to save a set condition, a cancel button  58  to cancel the set condition are arranged therein. In the per-sheet basis setting screen of  FIG. 7 , the print mode is set by inputting sheet number to the sheet number setting section  51  or page number to the page number setting section  52  or inputting both of the sheet number and page number, and further inputting necessary information to the other setting section, and pushing an OK button  57 .  
         [0055]     As shown in  FIG. 8 , for example, the print mode can be set in a condition that page number is not input in the page number setting section  52  but sheet number is input in the sheet number setting section  51  in the per-sheet basis setting screen. In this case, a page number column of the list display section  43  do not display page number in the per-sheet basis setting list screen as shown in  FIG. 9 . When the updating button  45  is pushed, all page numbers which are arranged to the set sheet are displayed as shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0056]     Further, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the print mode can be set in a condition that sheet number is not input in the sheet number setting section  51  but page number is input in the page number setting section  52  in the per-sheet basis setting screen. In this case, a sheet number column of the list display section  43  do not display sheet number in the per-sheet basis setting list screen as shown in  FIG. 9 . When the updating button  45  is pushed, sheet number to which the set page are arranged and all the pages arranged to the sheet are displayed as shown in  FIG. 5 . Thus, when the print mode is set to one page of a plurality of pages arranged to one sheet, the set print mode is also set to the whole sheet.  
         [0057]     When the print condition is set in the PC  1 , data of the set condition is sent to the printer  2  and a page layout (impositioning) of each sheet are set in the printer  2  (step S 2 ). In step S 2 , the print condition analyzing section  21  analyzes the received print condition firstly, and the page layout section  22  sets the page layout. (impositioning) so that an output results a book.  
         [0058]     For example, when a booklet composed of 8 pages is printed, the impositioning is performed so that pages 1 and 8 of a document are printed to a front side of the first sheet by 2 in 1, pages 2 and 7 are printed to the back side thereof by 2 in 1, pages 3 and 6 are printed to a front side of the second sheet by 2 in 1, and pages 4 and 5 are printed to the back side thereof by 2 in 1.  
         [0059]     When a page layout for each sheet is set, it is judged whether per-sheet basis setting is set as the print condition or not (step S 3 ). The per-sheet basis setting is one set with the per-sheet basis setting screen of  FIG. 7  and the per-sheet basis setting list screen of  FIG. 5 .  
         [0060]     In step S 3 , when it is judged that the per-sheet basis setting has not been set (step S 3 ; NO), the print mode which has set in the whole setting screen of  FIG. 4  is set to all sheets uniformly (step S 4 ) and the process shifts to step S 8 . In step S 3 , when it is judged that the per-sheet basis setting has been set (step S 3 ; YES), the print mode is set on a per-sheet basis according to the print condition which has set in step S 1  (step S 5 ).  
         [0061]     When the print mode is set on a per-sheet basis, it is judged whether different print modes are set in a plurality of pages in one sheet or not (step S 6 ). In step S 6 , it is judged that different print modes are set in a plurality of pages in one sheet (step S 6 ; YES), the display section  12  of the PC  1  displays a warning message as shown in  FIG. 12  (step S 7 ) and the process returns to step S 1  so that the setting process of print condition is performed again.  
         [0062]     In step S 6 , it is judged that different print mode are not set in a plurality of pages in one sheet (step S 6 ; NO), the print data and print mode are set on a per-sheet basis (step S 8 ) and said print data and print mode are output to the image forming member  30  (step S 9 ). Then, the print setting process is terminated.  
         [0063]     As described above, according to the print system  100  of the present embodiment, the print mode is set on a per-sheet basis which is to be output in book printing. Thus, even in a case of a book of complex constitution, where different type of sheets are used, it becomes possible to finish the book easily only in one printing process.  
         [0064]     In the above embodiment, the print condition analyzing section  21  of the printer  2  judges whether different print modes are set in a plurality of pages in one identical sheet or not. However, the PC  1  may also judge that. That is, in the setting of a print condition of step S 1 , the print driver may monitor whether different print modes are set in a plurality of pages in one identical sheet or not. At the time different print mode is set, for example, the display section  12  displays the warning message as shown in  FIG. 12 .  
         [0065]     The present application is based on the entire disclosure, including the specification, claims, drawings, and abstract, of Japanese Patent Application No. Tokugan 2005-188145 filed with Japan Patent Office on Jun. 28, 2005.