Patent Publication Number: US-11662960-B2

Title: Information processing apparatus and method for controlling the same

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     The aspect of the embodiments relates to an information processing apparatus and a method for controlling the information processing apparatus. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     In an image processing apparatus, in a case where color data represented by colors in a red, green, and blue (RGB) format is to be output in a grayscale format, input RGB values are generally converted to grayscale using a predetermined conversion formula to generate output data. As an example of the predetermined conversion formula, there is National Television System Committee (NTSC) conversion. Such color conversion is effective in a case where the result of output in the grayscale format requires gradation characteristics. The NTSC conversion is processing of weighting each of R, G, and B for each color by using a predetermined coefficient, calculating the gray value of the color, and then inverting and changing the calculated gray value to a density signal. 
     However, in a case where the RGB values of input color data are converted to grayscale using a predetermined conversion formula, two colors different in the original RGB values may become the same or close as a result of the grayscale conversion. 
     In this case, the two colors different in the original RGB values cannot be distinguished from each other as a result of output in the grayscale format. Particularly, in a case where a graph is drawn so that two colors are partially superimposed or brought into contact with each other, the boundary between the two colors disappears. Thus, discrimination between colors may deteriorate. 
     Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-38242 discusses a technique for improving the discrimination of the colors between black and white. More specifically, the number of colors in image data is analyzed on a page-by-page basis. Then, correction is performed for each color so that the grayscale values of the respective colors after grayscale conversion are away from each other and a conversion table is created for each page. Then, the colors are converted to grayscale based on the created conversion table. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     According to an aspect of the embodiments, an information processing apparatus includes a transmission interface (IF) configured to transmit a print job to an image processing apparatus, and a controller having one or more processors which execute instructions stored in one or more memories. The controller is configured to perform a first print setting indicating a poster printing function that divides a single piece of image data into a plurality of pieces of image data and generates print jobs, and a second print setting indicating a correction function for correcting calculated gray values when the image processing apparatus converts a plurality of pieces of color image data to grayscale, based on a number of colors acquired from each of the plurality of pieces of color image data, generate a print job based on the performed first print setting or the performed second print setting and image data, and cause the transmission IF to transmit the generated print job. The controller is configured to, in a state where one of the first print setting and the second print setting is performed, not perform the other print setting. 
     Further features of the disclosure will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to a first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG.  2    is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG.  3    is a block diagram illustrating an information processing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG.  4    is a block diagram illustrating the image processing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG.  5    is a conceptual diagram illustrating software configurations of the image processing apparatus and the information processing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIGS.  6 A and  6 B  are diagrams illustrating a printer driver screen according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG.  7    is a conceptual diagram illustrating a module configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG.  8    is a flowchart illustrating a general overview of an analysis that is performed to generate image data for printing according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIGS.  9 A and  9 B  are diagrams each illustrating an example of a grayscale conversion table according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIGS.  10 A to  10 D  are schematic diagrams illustrating bookbinding printing according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIGS.  11 A and  11 B  are schematic diagrams illustrating poster printing according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG.  12    is a flowchart illustrating processing for determining printer driver restriction control according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIGS.  13 A to  13 D  are diagrams illustrating another examples of the printer driver screen according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG.  14    is a flowchart illustrating another example of the processing for determining the printer driver restriction control according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIGS.  15 A to  15 E  are diagrams illustrating yet another examples of the printer driver screen according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG.  16    is a flowchart illustrating control for displaying print settings of a printer driver according to a second exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG.  17    is a diagram illustrating a printer driver screen according to the second exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG.  18    is a flowchart illustrating processing for generating a print job according to the second exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG.  19    is a flowchart illustrating an analysis performed by an image processing apparatus to generate image data for printing according to the second exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG.  20    is a flowchart illustrating application of a grayscale discrimination improvement function in the case of bookbinding printing according to the second exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG.  21    is a flowchart illustrating application of a grayscale discrimination improvement function in the case of poster printing according to the second exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG.  22    is a flowchart illustrating application of a grayscale discrimination improvement function in the case of neither poster printing nor bookbinding printing according to the second exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. The following exemplary embodiments do not limit the disclosure according to the appended claims, and not all the combinations of the features described in the exemplary embodiments are essential for a method for solving the issues in the disclosure. The exemplary embodiments will be described below using an image processing apparatus as an example of an information processing apparatus. 
     A configuration of a printing system according to a first exemplary embodiment will be described.  FIG.  1    illustrates an example of the printing system according to the present exemplary embodiment. An image processing apparatus  101  and an information processing apparatus  102  can connect to each other via a network  100 . An operating system (OS) and an application are installed on the information processing apparatus  102 . In this system, a user transmits a print job from the information processing apparatus  102  to the image processing apparatus  101  using an application. In a case where the information processing apparatus  102  is an information apparatus typified by a general personal computer (PC), the information processing apparatus  102  can be configured to transmit a print job to the image processing apparatus  101 , which is the target apparatus, using a printer driver as an application. 
       FIG.  2    illustrates an external view of the image processing apparatus  101 . 
     In the image processing apparatus  101 , a document  204  is placed between a platen glass  203  and a document pressing plate  202 . The document  204  is irradiated with light from a lamp  205 . The reflected light from the document  204  is guided to mirrors  206  and  207 . A lens  208  forms an image of the light on a 3-line sensor  210 . The lens  208  is covered by an infrared cut filter  231 . 
     A motor (not illustrated) moves a mirror unit including the mirror  206  and the lamp  205  at a velocity V and moves a mirror unit including the mirrors  207  at a velocity V/2 in the direction indicated by an arrow. More specifically, each of the mirror units moves in a direction (sub-scanning direction) perpendicular to an electrical scanning direction (main scanning direction) of the 3-line sensor  210  to scan the entire surface of the document  204 . 
     The 3-line sensor  210  includes charge-coupled devices (CCDs)  210 - 1  to  210 - 3  on three lines. The 3-line sensor  210  performs color separation of input light information to read red (R), green (G), and blue (B) color components from the full-color information, and then transmits the respective color component signals to a signal processing unit  244 . Each of the CCDs  210 - 1  to  210 - 3  in the 3-line sensor  210  includes light-receiving elements corresponding to 5000 pixels. Each of the CCDs  210 - 1  to  210 - 3  can read the width (297 mm) in the short direction of an A3-size document, which is the maximum document size that can be placed on the platen glass  203 , at a resolution of 600 dpi. 
     A standard white plate  211  is used to correct data read by the CCDs  210 - 1  to  210 - 3  of the 3-line sensor  210 . The standard white plate  211  has a white color exhibiting substantially uniform reflection characteristics with visible light. 
     The signal processing unit  244  electrically processes the image signals input from the 3-line sensor  210  to generate cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) color component signals. Then, the signal processing unit  244  transmits the generated CMYK color component signals to an image output unit  245 . An image output at this time is a CMYK image subjected to halftone processing such as dithering. 
     The image output unit  245  transmits, to a laser driver  212 , a C, M, Y, or K image signal transmitted from an image reading unit  246 . The laser driver  212  modulates and drives a semiconductor laser element  213  based on the image signal input to the laser driver  212 . A laser beam output from the semiconductor laser element  213  scans a photosensitive drum  217  via a polygon mirror  214 , an F-0 lens  215 , and a mirror  216  to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum  217 . 
     A developing unit includes a magenta developing unit  219 , a cyan developing unit  220 , a yellow developing unit  221 , and a black developing unit  222 . The four developing units  219  to  222  alternately come into contact with the photosensitive drum  217  to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum  217  with toner of the corresponding colors and form a toner image. A recording sheet supplied from either of recording sheet cassettes  225  is wrapped around a transfer drum  223 , and the toner image on the photosensitive drum  217  is transferred onto the recording sheet. 
     Next, hardware configurations of the information processing apparatus  102  and the image processing apparatus  101  in the printing system will be described with reference to  FIGS.  3  and  4   .  FIG.  3    is a block diagram of the information processing apparatus  102 . An input device  306  is, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, or a touch panel and is used by the user to operate the information processing apparatus  102 . A display device  307  is a display used by the user to operate the information processing apparatus  102 . 
     For example, like a touch panel, the display device  307  may partially or entirely serve as the input device  306 . A storage device  305  is a storage medium typified by a non-volatile hard disk for saving a large amount of data, and an application and data are read from and written to the storage device  305 . A network device  308  is connected to the network  100  described with reference to  FIG.  1    and can communicate with another apparatus. 
     An initial program for starting the information processing apparatus  102  and a basic program for controlling the modules of the information processing apparatus  102  are normally stored in a read-only memory (ROM)  303 . An OS and an application are stored in the storage device  305 . When the information processing apparatus  102  is powered on, a computer startup program (boot loader) stored in the ROM  303  is executed first. Then, the program loads the OS stored in the storage device  305  into a random-access memory (RAM)  302  and then passes a control right to the OS. The OS further loads a required module and a required driver from the storage device  305  into the RAM  302 . Furthermore, based on an instruction from the user, the OS loads a required application from the storage device  305  into the RAM  302  to execute the application. 
       FIG.  4    is a block diagram of the image processing apparatus  101 . A RAM  402 , a ROM  403 , a storage device  405 , and a network device  408  are similar to those of the information processing apparatus  102 , and thus the detailed description thereof is omitted. 
     The network device  408  is connected to the network  100  and can communicate with another apparatus. For example, the network device  408  can receive print data from the information processing apparatus  102 . 
     The storage device  405  is a storage medium typified by a non-volatile hard disk for saving a large amount of data, and an application and data are read from and written to the storage device  405 . The storage device  405  stores a print job received by the network device  408 . 
     An input device  406  may include a numeric keypad or various buttons. A printing device  404  loads print data included in a print job from the RAM  402 , and prints the print data to output a print product. 
     A display device  407  receives an instruction or a setting operation from the user, and displays apparatus information regarding the image processing apparatus  101 , job progress information, various user interface screens, and the like. In a case where the display device  407  is a touch panel, the display device  407  may include at least a part of the input device  406 . Setting information received by the input device  406  is stored in the storage device  405 . 
     An image processing circuit  409  reads a raster image and an attribute image stored in the storage device  405  and performs various types of image processing for optimizing the raster image based on parameters. The image processing circuit  409  also performs image processing based on the setting information provided from the input device  406 . The image processing circuit  409  also performs processing for converting a color raster image into a gray raster image. 
     Next, the functions of the information processing apparatus  102  and the image processing apparatus  101  in the printing system according to the present exemplary embodiment will be described.  FIG.  5    illustrates a software configuration of the printing system according to the present exemplary embodiment. The software configuration is implemented by loading programs stored in the storage devices  305  and  405  of the information processing apparatus  102  and the image processing apparatus  101  into the RAMs  302  and  402  and causing central processing units (CPUs)  301  and  401  to execute the programs, respectively. 
     The image processing apparatus  101  includes a communication unit  501 , a printing unit  502 , and an input/output control unit  503 . The communication unit  501  causes the network device  408  to communicate with another apparatus via the network  100 . The printing unit  502  executes a print job in the image processing apparatus  101  and causes the printing device  404  to output a print product. 
     The input/output control unit  503  controls information input from the input device  406  and information to be output to the display device  407 . The information processing apparatus  102  includes a communication unit  511 , a job generation unit  512 , and an input/output control unit  513 . The communication unit  511  implements communication with another apparatus via the network  100 . 
     The job generation unit  512  generates print data interpretable by the image processing apparatus  101  as a print job. The input/output control unit  513  controls information input from the input device  306  and information to be output to the display device  307 . 
     While the image processing apparatus  101  according to the present exemplary embodiment has been described as including the image processing circuit  409  as a block of the image processing apparatus  101 , the image processing apparatus  101  may include an image processing unit  504  as a function of the image processing apparatus  101  as indicated by a dotted line in  FIG.  5   . In this case, the CPU  401  causes the image processing unit  504  to perform image processing. 
     Alternatively, the image processing circuit  409  or the image processing unit  504  serving as an image processing function may be included in the information processing apparatus  102 . 
     Next, a print settings user interface (UI)  600  of a printer driver will be described with reference to  FIGS.  6 A and  6 B . The print settings UI  600  is used by the information processing apparatus  102  to transmit a print job to the image processing apparatus  101 . 
     The print settings UI  600  includes function tabs  601  to  603 . Because the printer driver has a wide variety of functions, the function tabs  601  to  603  are displayed so that print settings are made on different screens depending on the type of function. Print settings (described below) do not necessarily need to be sorted on the function tabs  601  to  603  as described above. Alternatively, all the print settings may be sorted on the same function tab. 
       FIG.  6 A  illustrates the print settings UI  600  where the “Finishing” tab  601  is selected as a function tab. In the “Finishing” tab  601 , settings regarding imposition processing in printing can be made. A preview  611  visualizes, in a schematic or reduced manner, an output result to be obtained with the current print settings. 
     In a printing method selection section  621 , any of “1-sided Printing”, “2-sided Printing”, and “Bookbinding Printing” can be selected. In a printing orientation selection section  622 , either of “Portrait” and “Landscape” can be selected. In a page layout selection section  623 , the number of pages to be aggregated as imposition can be selected. In this example, in the page layout selection section  623 , the user can select “1 in 1”, “2 in 1”, or “4 in 1”, and also select a poster printing function (hereinafter referred to as poster printing) from among “Poster (2×2)”, “Poster (3×3)”, and “Poster (4×4)”. In a binding location selection section  624 , which edge of the sheet is to be bound can be selected. In this example, in the binding location selection section  624 , “Long Edge” or “Short Edge” can be selected. 
       FIG.  6 B  illustrates the print settings UI  600  where the “Print Quality” tab  603  is selected as a function tab. In the “Print Quality” tab  603 , settings regarding the print quality in printing can be made. 
     In a color mode selection section  641 , either of “Color” and “Grayscale” can be selected. In a grayscale discrimination improvement function selection section  642  (hereinafter also referred to as a function selection section  642 ), in a case where the user selects “Grayscale” in the color mode selection section  641 , the user can select whether to apply a function for improving discrimination of colors in grayscale mode (hereinafter referred to as a grayscale discrimination improvement function). 
     In the function selection section  642 , either “Do Not Use” or “Correct Density” (hereinafter also referred to as density correction) can be selected. In a brightness selection section  643  and a contrast selection section  644 , the brightness and the contrast in output can be adjusted, respectively. 
     The grayscale discrimination improvement function selection section  642  is enabled if “Grayscale” is selected in the color mode selection section  641 . 
     Pressing an OK button  631  starts processing (job generation processing) for generating a print job in which the settings made on the print settings UI  600  are reflected. The generated print job is transmitted to the image processing apparatus  101  via the network device  308 . On the other hand, pressing a Cancel button  632  cancels the print settings. 
       FIG.  7    illustrates a module configuration of the image processing apparatus  101  according to the present exemplary embodiment. 
     The network device  408  receives print data. The image processing circuit  409  analyzes the received print data as page description language data (hereinafter referred to as PDL data). Based on the analyzed PDL data, the image processing circuit  409  generates a raster image. The image processing circuit  409  converts the generated image into a video signal and outputs the video signal to the printing device  404 . At this time, the modules  404 ,  408 , and  409  may be included in the information processing apparatus  102  or may be included in the image processing apparatus  101 . 
     Next, with reference to  FIG.  8   , a description will be given of a general overview of an analysis that is performed to generate image data for printing after the network device  408  of the image processing apparatus  101  receives print data. 
     The CPU  401  causes the image processing circuit  409  to perform the processing of  FIG.  8    using a program and data read from the storage device  405 . 
     When the network device  408  receives print data, the flowchart illustrated in  FIG.  8    is started. 
     In step S 801 , the CPU  401  causes the image processing circuit  409  to acquire a print job received by the network device  408 . 
     In step S 802 , the CPU  401  causes a job analysis unit in the image processing circuit  409  to analyze the received print job. The CPU  401  confirms setting information included in the header of the print job. The setting information is, for example, the printing method, the printing orientation, the page layout, the binding location, the color mode, the on or off state of the grayscale discrimination improvement function, the brightness, and the contrast that are set for the received print job. 
     The grayscale discrimination improvement function is selectable when “Grayscale” is selected in the color mode selection section  641 . In a case where input color data represented by colors in an RGB format is to be output in “Grayscale” mode, input RGB values are converted to grayscale using a predetermined conversion formula to generate output data. 
     The grayscale discrimination improvement function is processing for converting the colors included in a page so that the gray values of the respective colors are away from each other. For example, “Correct Density” can be selected as the grayscale discrimination improvement function. The “Correct Density” (density correction) option is a correction function for improving the discrimination of colors in grayscale. 
     In step S 803 , the CPU  401  causes a page analysis unit in the image processing circuit  409  to perform data analysis on a page-by-page basis. Accordingly, the CPU  401  acquires R, G, and B values included in each page. 
     Next, in step S 804 , the CPU  401  performs a color-to-gray conversion analysis based on the R, G, and B values. If “Correct Density” is disabled, the CPU  401 , for example, analyzes the colors in the page and converts the colors to grayscale to create a conversion table. At this time, the gray values are not corrected.  FIG.  9 A  illustrates an example of a conversion table  901  that is created in a case where “Correct Density” is disabled. In this example, four colors are included in the page. In the analysis processing on the colors in the page, the image processing circuit  409  performs color-to-gray conversion on a pixel-by-pixel basis. More specifically, first, each of R, G, and B is weighted for each color using a predetermined coefficient to calculate the gray value of the color, and then the calculated gray value is inverted and changed to a density signal. 
     If “Correct Density” is enabled, the CPU  401 , for example, analyzes the colors in the page and creates a conversion table for converting the colors so that the gray values of the respective colors after grayscale conversion are away from each other.  FIG.  9 B  illustrates an example of a conversion table  902  that is created in a case where the density correction is made. 
     In this case, in the analysis processing on the colors in the page, the image processing circuit  409  performs color-to-gray conversion on a pixel-by-pixel basis. More specifically, first, each of R, G, and B is weighted for each color using a predetermined coefficient to calculate the gray value of the color. Next, the calculated gray values corresponding to the respective colors are corrected so that there is a predetermined difference between the gray values. Then, each of the corrected gray values is inverted and changed to a density signal. 
     In step S 805 , the CPU  401  performs color-to-gray conversion processing based on information (conversion table) regarding the analyzed colors. 
     In step S 806 , the CPU  401  causes the printing device  404  to form an image to be used in printing. 
     In step S 807 , the CPU  401  determines whether the formation of the image to be used in printing is completed for all the pages. If the formation of the image to be used in printing is completed for all the pages (YES in step S 807 ), the processing ends. If the formation of the image to be used in printing is not completed for all the pages (NO in step S 807 ), the processing returns to step S 803 . The analysis of image data (e.g., the formation of the image for the second page) and the printing of the formed image on a sheet by the printing device  404  (e.g., the printing of the image for the first page on a sheet) may be performed in parallel. 
     An issue of the present exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to  FIGS.  10 A to  10 D,  11 A, and  11 B . 
       FIGS.  10 A to  10 D  illustrate schematic diagrams each illustrating a product that is output when a bookbinding printing function (hereinafter referred to as bookbinding printing) is specified in the printing method selection section  621  of  FIG.  6 A  (i.e., when the setting of bookbinding printing is included in the print job described with reference to  FIG.  8   ). 
       FIG.  10 A  is a schematic side view of a product that is output when 12-page data is subjected to bookbinding printing. Numbers illustrated in  FIG.  10 A  indicate the page numbers of pages printed on the surfaces of sheets of the product.  FIG.  10 C  illustrates the page numbers of the pages printed on the front and back sides of the sheets of the product that is output when 12-page data is subjected to bookbinding printing as illustrated in  FIG.  10 A . 
     Similarly,  FIG.  10 B  is a schematic side view of a product that is output when 7-page data is subjected to bookbinding printing.  FIG.  10 D  illustrates the page numbers of pages printed on the front and back sides of sheets of the product illustrated in  FIG.  10 B  when 7-page data is subjected to bookbinding printing. In a product output by bookbinding printing, two consecutive pages in the original print data are simultaneously viewed as a double-page spread. 
     If “Do Not Use” is selected in the grayscale discrimination improvement function selection section  642  of  FIG.  6 B , the RGB values of input color image data are converted to grayscale using a predetermined conversion formula to generate output data. In this case, two colors different in the original RGB values may become the same or close as a result of the grayscale conversion. However, because the grayscale conversion is performed on a color-by-color basis, colors that are the same in different pages before the conversion remain the same also in grayscale. 
     On the other hand, if “Correct Density” is selected in the function selection section  642 , colors and the number of colors (the types of colors) in each page are analyzed to create a conversion table for converting the colors so that the gray values of the respective colors after grayscale conversion are away from each other. Then, using a different conversion table for each page, the colors are converted to grayscale on a page-by-page basis to generate output data, and printing is performed based on the generated data. 
     In other words, because colors and the number of colors are analyzed on a page-by-page basis, if a layout for bookbinding that presents different pages as a double-page spread is used as in bookbinding printing, colors that are the same in different pages before the conversion may become different if converted to grayscale. 
     More specifically, in an example of bookbinding illustrated in  FIG.  10 A , in the case of the under surface of the first output sheet from the top (as seen from in  FIG.  10 A ), a combination of the fifth and eighth pages of input data is an analysis target. In the case of the top surface of the second output sheet from the top (as seen from  FIG.  10 A ), a combination of the fourth and ninth pages of the input data is an analysis target. As a result, when the fourth and fifth pages of the input data are viewed as a double-page spread, portions originally represented by colors having the same RGB values may be conspicuously represented by different grayscale values, and this may result in a final output product having an unnatural appearance. 
       FIGS.  11 A and  11 B  schematically illustrate products that are output when poster printing is specified in the page layout selection section  623  of  FIG.  6 A  (when the setting of poster printing is included in the print job described with reference to  FIG.  8   ). 
       FIG.  11 A  illustrates image data to be output. The image data according to the present exemplary embodiment includes four squares  1110 ,  1120 ,  1130 , and  1140  and a letter “A”  1150 . In  FIG.  11 A , the four squares  1110 ,  1120 ,  1130 , and  1140  and the letter “A”  1150  are drawn in different colors from each other. 
       FIG.  11 B  illustrates products that are output when “Poster (2×2)” is specified in the page layout selection section  623 . At this time, the information processing apparatus  102  divides a single piece of image data into a plurality of pieces of image data, generates different print jobs for the respective pieces of image data, and transmits the print jobs. In other words,  FIG.  11 B  illustrates the result of the image processing apparatus  101  receiving and executing the different print jobs. In a case where the user wishes to make a poster from a single page image, poster printing allows the user to divide the single page into a plurality of pages and print these pages on a plurality of sheets, so that the user can make a poster by joining the sheets together. 
     In an example of poster printing illustrated in  FIG.  11 B , in the case of image data  1101  (of the first page) to be printed first, the square  1110  at the upper left (in red, for example) and a part of the letter “A”  1150  (in blue, for example) are to be analyzed. 
     In the case of image data  1102  (of the second page) to be printed second, the square  1120  at the upper right (in green, for example) and a part of the letter “A”  1150  (in blue, for example) are to be analyzed. 
     Thus, similarly to the example of  FIGS.  10 A to  10 D , in the example of  FIGS.  11 A and  11 B , if “Do Not Use” is selected in the function selection section  642 , the color of the letter “A”  1150  in the image data  1101  and the color of the letter “A”  1150  in the image data  1102  remain the same also in grayscale. Accordingly, the color of the letter “A”  1150  on a product output by printing the image data  1101  on a sheet and the color of the letter “A”  1150  on a product output by printing the image data  1102  on a sheet are the same. 
     On the other hand, in a case where “Correct Density” is selected in the function selection section  642 , the CPU  401  analyzes colors individually for each of the image data  1101  and the image data  1102  (i.e., on a page-by-page basis). Then, for each of the image data  1101  and the image data  1102  (i.e., for each page), the CPU  401  creates a conversion table for converting the colors so that the gray values of the respective colors after grayscale conversion are away from each other. Then, using a different conversion table for each of the image data  1101  and the image data  1102 , the colors are converted to grayscale on an image data basis to generate output data, and printing is performed based on the generated data. 
     Thus, in a case where a single print product is produced by printing a plurality of pages on a plurality of sheets and joining the sheets together as in poster printing, colors that are the same in different pages before the conversion may become different from each other if converted to grayscale. As a result, the parts of the letter “A”  1150  originally represented by the colors having the same RGB values may be represented by different grayscale values, and this may result in a final output product having an unnatural appearance. 
     To solve the issue that arises when a plurality of output products is treated as a final output product as described above, in the present exemplary embodiment, the CPU  301  of the information processing apparatus  102  performs processing for determining UI restriction control illustrated in a flowchart of  FIG.  12   . 
     The flowchart of  FIG.  12    illustrates the processing for determining the printer driver restriction control (UI restriction control), which is performed by the information processing apparatus  102  according to the present exemplary embodiment. The CPU  301  of the information processing apparatus  102  performs this processing by using a program read from the ROM  303  and held in the RAM  302 . 
     The processing for determining the UI restriction control illustrated in the flowchart of  FIG.  12    is started when any of the values set on the print settings UI  600  is changed. Alternatively, the processing may be started when any of the values set in the printing method selection section  621 , the page layout selection section  623 , and the grayscale discrimination improvement function selection section  642 , which are related to the restriction control, is changed. 
     In step S 1201 , the information processing apparatus  102  acquires the values set on the print settings UI  600 . In step S 1202 , the information processing apparatus  102  determines whether the value set in the printing method selection section  621  is “Bookbinding Printing”, the value set in the page layout selection section  623  is poster printing, or neither of “Bookbinding Printing” and poster printing is set. The poster printing corresponds to, for example, “Poster (2×2)”, “Poster (3×3)”, or “Poster (4×4)”. 
     If it is determined in step S 1202  that the value set in the printing method selection section  621  is “Bookbinding Printing”, or the value set in the page layout selection section  623  is poster printing (YES in step S 1202 ), the processing proceeds to step S 1203 . In step S 1203 , the information processing apparatus  102  performs the restriction control of the function selection section  642 . 
       FIG.  13 A  illustrates an example of the restriction control in step S 1203 . If “Bookbinding Printing” is set in the printing method selection section  621 , or poster printing is set in the page layout selection section  623  before a setting is made in the function selection section  642 , the “Correct Density” option is grayed out to be unselectable. If “Bookbinding Printing” or poster printing is set after “Correct Density” is set in the function selection section  642 , the value set in the function selection section  642  is changed to “Do Not Use”, and the “Correct Density” option is grayed out to be unselectable. 
     Next, examples of the restriction control method other than the grayed-out display will be described. Restriction control methods including the grayed-out display described above may be combined, if possible. 
     As another example of the restriction control method, as illustrated in  FIG.  13 B , a tooltip indicating that “Correct Density” is unselectable is displayed in the grayscale discrimination improvement function selection section  642 . 
     As yet another example of the restriction control method, as illustrated in  FIG.  13 C , a message indicating that “Correct Density” is unselectable is displayed in the function selection section  642 . 
     As yet another example of the restriction control method, in a case where the value set in the grayscale discrimination improvement function selection section  642  is “Correct Density”, a message or a tooltip indicating that “Correct Density” cannot be selected simultaneously with “Bookbinding Printing” or poster printing is displayed in the function selection section  642 . Then, the value set in the printing method selection section  621  or the page layout selection section  623  is returned to the value before being changed. As yet another example of the restriction control method, as illustrated in  FIG.  13 D , the OK button  631  is grayed out so that the OK button  631  cannot be pressed as long as “Correct Density” is selected in the grayscale discrimination improvement function selection section  642 . 
     In any of the restriction control methods, if the value set in the printing method selection section  621  is “Bookbinding Printing”, or the value set in the page layout selection section  623  is poster printing, the “Correct Density” option is unselectable in the grayscale discrimination improvement function selection section  642 . 
     Now, the description returns to the flowchart of  FIG.  12   . If, on the other hand, it is determined in step S 1202  that the value set in the printing method selection section  621  is not “Bookbinding Printing”, and the value set in the page layout selection section  623  is not poster printing (NO in step S 1202 ), the processing ends. In other words, the information processing apparatus  102  does not perform the restriction control of the function selection section  642 . 
     Next, the processing for determining the printer driver restriction control (UI restriction control) will be described with reference to  FIG.  14   .  FIG.  14    is a flowchart illustrating another example of the processing for determining the printer driver restriction control illustrated  FIG.  12   . The processing is performed by the CPU  301  of the information processing apparatus  102  using a program read from the ROM  303  and held in the RAM  302 . The start timing of the processing illustrated in  FIG.  14    is the same as that in  FIG.  12   . 
     In step S 1401 , the information processing apparatus  102  acquires the values set on the print settings UI  600 . In step S 1402 , the information processing apparatus  102  determines whether the value set in the grayscale discrimination improvement function selection section  642  is “Correct Density”. 
     If it is determined in step S 1402  that the value set in the grayscale discrimination improvement function selection section  642  is “Correct Density” (YES in step S 1402 ), the processing proceeds to step S 1403 . 
     In step S 1403 , the information processing apparatus  102  performs the restriction control of the printing method selection section  621  and the page layout selection section  623 . 
     As an example of the restriction control in step S 1403 , if “Correct Density” is selected in the function selection section  642  before a setting is made in the printing method selection section  621 , the “Bookbinding Printing” option is grayed out to be unselectable (as illustrated in  FIG.  15 A ). If “Correct Density” is selected after “Bookbinding Printing” is set in the printing method selection section  621 , the value set in the printing method selection section  621  is changed to “1-sided Printing”, and the “Bookbinding Printing” is grayed out to be unselectable (as illustrated in  FIG.  15 A ). 
     If “Correct Density” is selected in the function selection section  642  before a setting is made in the page layout selection section  623 , the “Poster” options are grayed out to be unselectable (as illustrated in  FIG.  15 B ). If “Correct Density” is selected after poster printing is set in the page layout selection section  623 , the value set in the page layout selection section  623  is changed to “1 in 1”, and the “Poster” options are grayed out to be unselectable (as illustrated in  FIG.  15 B ). 
     Next, examples of the restriction control method other than the grayed-out display will be described. Restriction control methods including the grayed-out display described above may be combined. 
     As another example of the restriction control method, as illustrated in  FIGS.  15 C and  15 D , a message or a tooltip indicating that “Bookbinding Printing” or poster printing cannot be set simultaneously with “Correct Density” is displayed. 
     As yet another example of the restriction control method, as illustrated in  FIG.  15 E , the OK button  631  is grayed out as long as the value set in the printing method selection section  621  is “Bookbinding Printing”, or the value set in the page layout selection section  623  is poster printing. 
     In any of the restriction control methods, if the value set in the function selection section  642  is “Correct Density”, the state where the “Bookbinding Printing” option is unselectable in the printing method selection section  621 , and the “Poster” options are unselectable in the page layout selection section  623  is maintained. 
     If, on the other hand, it is determined in step S 1402  that the value set in the grayscale discrimination improvement function selection section  642  is not “Correct Density” (NO in step S 1402 ), the information processing apparatus  102  does not perform the restriction control of the printing method selection section  621  or the restriction control of the page layout selection section  623 . 
     According to the present exemplary embodiment, by using the processing for determining the UI restriction control, it is possible to restrict the simultaneous setting of the grayscale discrimination improvement function and bookbinding printing or poster printing. As a result, it is possible to prevent the situation where, when color conversion processing that produces different grayscale conversion results for pages having different feature amounts is performed, portions originally having the same colors are converted to grayscale values having different densities and this results in a final output product having an unnatural appearance. 
     In a second exemplary embodiment, a configuration in which the functions of a plurality of image processing apparatuses are different from each other will be described. Hereinafter, a configuration in which the image processing apparatus  101  has the grayscale discrimination improvement function and an image processing apparatus  103  does not have the grayscale discrimination improvement function will be described as an example. In addition, regarding the image processing apparatus  101 , a case where the image processing apparatus  101  has a function capable of, when colors in a page are analyzed to create a grayscale conversion table, analyzing consecutive pages as a target to create a conversion table common to the consecutive pages, and a case where the image processing apparatus  101  does not have this function will be described. 
     It is assumed here that a printer driver according to the present exemplary embodiment can be used in common by the image processing apparatuses  101  and  103 . 
       FIG.  16    is a flowchart illustrating control for displaying the print settings UI  600  of the printer driver according to the present exemplary embodiment. The control is performed by the CPU  301  of the information processing apparatus  102  using a program read from the ROM  303  and held in the RAM  302 . 
     In the present exemplary embodiment, when the printer driver for the image processing apparatuses  101  and  103  is installed, the information processing apparatus  102  acquires function information regarding each of the image processing apparatuses  101  and  103  via the network  100  and stores the function information in the storage device  305 . The stored function information includes capability information regarding the grayscale discrimination improvement function. 
     The processing in the flowchart of  FIG.  16    is started when the print settings UI  600  is displayed. 
     In step S 1601 , the CPU  301  identifies an image processing apparatus selected using the printer driver. For example, the user can select, on the printer driver screen, either of the image processing apparatuses  101  and  103  illustrated in  FIG.  1   . The identified image processing apparatus is the transmission destination of a print job. 
     In step S 1602 , the information processing apparatus  102  refers to the function information regarding the identified image processing apparatus to determine whether the selected image processing apparatus has the grayscale discrimination improvement function. If the selected image processing apparatus does not have the grayscale discrimination improvement function (NO in step S 1602 ), the processing proceeds to step S 1603 . This is the case where the image processing apparatus identified in step S 1601  is the image processing apparatus  103 . 
     In step S 1603 , the information processing apparatus  102  displays the print settings UI  600  on which the grayscale discrimination improvement function selection section  642  is disabled. An example of the print settings UI  600  displayed in this case is that the grayscale discrimination improvement function selection section  642  is hidden in the “Print Quality” tab  603 . Another example of the print settings UI  600  displayed in this case is that the function selection section  642  is displayed in the “Print Quality” tab  603 , but is always grayed out and disabled. 
     Now, the description returns to step S 1602 . If the selected image processing apparatus has the grayscale discrimination improvement function (YES in step S 1602 ), the processing proceeds to step S 1604 . 
     This is the case where the image processing apparatus identified in step S 1601  is the image processing apparatus  101 . 
     In step S 1604 , the information processing apparatus  102  determines whether the image processing apparatus  101  has the function capable of performing a color-to-gray conversion analysis using consecutive pages as a target and generating a conversion table common to the consecutive pages. 
     If it is determined in step S 1604  that the image processing apparatus  101  does not have the function capable of performing a color-to-gray conversion analysis using consecutive pages as a target (NO in step S 1604 ), the processing proceeds to step S 1605 . In step S 1605 , the information processing apparatus  102  displays the print settings UI  600  on which the function selection section  642  is enabled and the simultaneous setting of the grayscale discrimination improvement function and bookbinding printing or poster printing is restricted. Examples of the print settings UI  600  displayed in this case include the configurations described in the first exemplary embodiment. 
     If it is determined in step S 1604  that the image processing apparatus  101  has the function capable of performing a color-to-gray conversion analysis using consecutive pages as a target (YES in step S 1604 ), the processing proceeds to step S 1606 . 
     In step S 1606 , the information processing apparatus  102  displays the print settings UI  600  on which “Correct Density” is selectable in the function selection section  642  and the simultaneous setting of density correction and bookbinding printing or poster printing is not restricted. Examples of the print settings UI  600  displayed in this case include a configuration in which the grayscale discrimination improvement function can be set regardless of whether bookbinding printing or poster printing is set. 
     As described above, with the configuration described with reference to  FIG.  16   , the printer driver UI can be changed depending on whether the image processing apparatus selected using the printer driver has the grayscale discrimination improvement function. Furthermore, if the image processing apparatus has the grayscale discrimination improvement function, the printer driver UI can be changed depending on whether the image processing apparatus has the function capable of analyzing consecutive pages as a target. 
     Determination of the presence or absence of the function capable of analyzing consecutive pages as a target in step S 1604  may be made based on a setting on a printer driver screen  1700  illustrated in  FIG.  17   . For example, if “Common to All Pages” illustrated in  FIG.  17    is checked, the processing proceeds to step S 1606 , and if “Common to All Pages” illustrated in  FIG.  17    is not checked, the processing proceeds to step S 1605 . An example of a configuration in which the printer driver screen  1700  is switched while being displayed is illustrated in  FIG.  17   , but the present exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. 
     Next, with reference to a flowchart illustrated in  FIG.  18   , a description will be given of processing for generating a print job in a case where the OK button  631  is pressed after the grayscale discrimination improvement function is set via the print settings UI  600  of the printer driver according to the present exemplary embodiment. 
     The print job includes, for example, print setting information including the setting of density correction made in the function selection section  642 , the setting of poster printing made in the page layout selection section  623 , and the setting of bookbinding printing made in the printing method selection section  621 , and image data. 
     In step S 1801 , the information processing apparatus  102  acquires the values set on the print settings UI  600 . In step S 1802 , the information processing apparatus  102  determines whether “Correct Density” is selected in the function selection section  642 . 
     If it is determined in step S 1802  that “Correct Density” is selected in the function selection section  642  (YES in step S 1802 ), the processing proceeds to step S 1804 . 
     In step S 1804 , the information processing apparatus  102  determines whether “Bookbinding Printing” is selected in the printing method selection section  621 . If it is determined in step S 1804  that “Bookbinding Printing” is selected in the printing method selection section  621  (YES in step S 1804 ), the processing proceeds to step S 1805 . 
     In step S 1805 , the information processing apparatus  102  generates a print job including the setting of bookbinding printing and the setting of density correction as the grayscale discrimination improvement function. The information processing apparatus  102  transmits the generated print job to the image processing apparatus  101  via the network  100 . 
     Now, the description returns to step S 1804 . If it is determined in step S 1804  that “Bookbinding Printing” is not selected in the printing method selection section  621  (NO in in step S 1804 ), the processing proceeds to step S 1806 . 
     In step S 1806 , the information processing apparatus  102  determines whether poster printing is selected in the page layout selection section  623 . If it is determined in step S 1806  that poster printing is selected in the page layout selection section  623  (YES in step S 1806 ), the processing proceeds to step S 1807 . 
     In step S 1807 , the information processing apparatus  102  generates a print job including the setting of poster printing, information indicating the number of divisions of the poster, and the setting of density correction as the grayscale discrimination improvement function, and transmits the print job to the image processing apparatus  101  via the network  100 . 
     Now, the description returns to step S 1806 . If it is determined in step S 1806  that poster printing is not selected in the page layout selection section  623  (NO in step S 1806 ), the processing proceeds to step S 1808 . 
     In step S 1808 , the information processing apparatus  102  generates a print job that does not include the setting of bookbinding printing or the setting of poster printing, but includes the setting of density correction as the grayscale discrimination improvement function. Then, the information processing apparatus  102  transmits the print job to the image processing apparatus  101  via the network  100 . 
     Now, the description returns to step S 1802 . If it is determined in step S 1802  that “Correct Density” is not selected in the function selection section  642  (NO in step S 1802 ), the processing proceeds to step S 1803 . 
     In step S 1803 , the information processing apparatus  102  generates a print job that does not include the setting of density correction as the grayscale discrimination improvement function. Then, the information processing apparatus  102  transmits the print job to the image processing apparatus  101  via the network  100 . More specifically, step S 1803  includes steps similar to steps S 1804  to S 1808 . However, the print job generated in each of steps S 1805 , S 1808 , and S 1807  included in step S 1803  does not include the setting of density correction as the grayscale discrimination improvement function. 
     Next, with reference to a flowchart illustrated in  FIG.  19   , a description will be given of an analysis that is performed to generate image data for printing after the network device  408  of the image processing apparatus  101  according to the present exemplary embodiment receives a print job. Steps S 1902 , S 1904 , and S 1906  in  FIG.  19    correspond to step S 802  in  FIG.  8   . Steps S 1903 , S 1905 , S 1907 , and S 1908  in  FIG.  19    correspond to steps S 803  to S 807  in  FIG.  8   . 
     In step S 801 , the image processing apparatus  101  receives a print job transmitted from the information processing apparatus  102  via the network  100 . 
     In step S 1902 , the image processing apparatus  101  determines whether the print job includes an instruction to apply the grayscale discrimination improvement function. If it is determined in step S 1902  that the print job does not include the instruction to apply the grayscale discrimination improvement function (NO in step S 1902 ), the processing proceeds to step S 1903 . 
     In step S 1903 , the image processing apparatus  101  generates output data without applying the grayscale discrimination improvement function. At this time, in a case where input color data represented by colors in the RGB format is to be output in grayscale mode, input RGB values are converted to grayscale using a predetermined conversion formula to generate image data to be used in printing. Then, the generated image data is transmitted to the printing device  404 . 
     If it is determined in step S 1902  that the print job includes the setting of density correction as the grayscale discrimination improvement function (YES in step S 1902 ), the processing proceeds to step S 1904 . In step S 1904 , the image processing apparatus  101  determines whether the print job includes the setting of bookbinding printing. If it is determined in step S 1904  that the print job includes the setting of bookbinding printing (YES in step S 1904 ), the processing proceeds to step S 1905 . 
     In step S 1905 , the image processing apparatus  101  applies the grayscale discrimination improvement function for bookbinding printing, generates image data to be used in printing, and transmits the image data to the printing device  404 . The details of step S 1905  will be described below with reference to  FIG.  20   . 
     If it is determined in step S 1904  that the print job does not include the setting of bookbinding printing (NO in step S 1904 ), the processing proceeds to step S 1906 . In step S 1906 , the image processing apparatus  101  determines whether the print job includes the setting of poster printing. 
     If it is determined in step S 1906  that the print job includes the setting of poster printing (YES in step S 1906 ), the processing proceeds to step S 1907 . In step S 1907 , the image processing apparatus  101  applies the grayscale discrimination improvement function for poster printing, generates image data to be used in printing, and transmits the image data to the printing device  404 . The details of step S 1907  will be described below with reference to  FIG.  21   . 
     If it is determined in step S 1906  that the print job does not include the setting of poster printing (NO in step S 1906 ), the processing proceeds to step S 1908 . In step S 1908 , the image processing apparatus  101  applies the grayscale discrimination improvement function on a page-by-page basis, generates image data to be used in printing, and transmits the image data to the printing device  404 . The details of step S 1908  will be described below with reference to  FIG.  22   . 
     The processing of step S 1905  will be described with reference to a flowchart illustrated in  FIG.  20   . 
     In step S 2001 , the image processing apparatus  101  sets a page number p to 1. In step S 2002 , the image processing apparatus  101  determines whether p is greater than the page number of the last page. 
     If it is determined in step S 2002  that p is greater than the page number of the last page (YES in step S 2002 ), the processing proceeds to step S 2011 . If it is determined in step S 2002  that p is not greater than the page number of the last page (NO in step S 2002 ), the processing proceeds to step S 2003 . In step S 2003 , the image processing apparatus  101  determines whether p is 1. If it is determined in step S 2003  that p is 1 (YES in step S 2003 ), the processing proceeds to step S 2005 . If it is determined in step S 2003  that p is not 1 (NO in step S 2003 ), the processing proceeds to step S 2004 . 
     In step S 2004 , the image processing apparatus  101  determines whether p+1 is greater than the page number of the last page. If it is determined in step S 2004  that p+1 is not greater than the page number of the last page (NO in step S 2004 ), the processing proceeds to step S 2008 . If it is determined in step S 2004  that p+1 is greater than the page number of the last page (YES in step S 2004 ), the processing proceeds to step S 2005 . 
     In step S 2005 , the image processing apparatus  101  analyzes colors included in a page with the page number p to create a conversion table. In step S 2006 , the image processing apparatus  101  converts the page with the page number p to grayscale using the conversion table created in step S 2005 . In step S 2007 , the image processing apparatus  101  updates p to p+1. 
     In step S 2008 , the image processing apparatus  101  analyzes colors included in pages with the page numbers p and p+1 to create a conversion table. In step S 2009 , the image processing apparatus  101  converts the pages with the page numbers p and p+1 to grayscale using the conversion table created in step S 2008 . In step S 2010 , the image processing apparatus  101  updates p to p+2. 
     Now, the description returns to step S 2002 . If the conversion of all the pages to grayscale is completed in step S 2002  (YES in step S 2002 ), the processing proceeds to step S 2011 . In step S 2011 , the image processing apparatus  101  transmits all the pieces of image data converted to grayscale to the printing device  404 . 
     Next, the processing of step S 1907  will be described with reference to a flowchart illustrated in  FIG.  21   . 
     In step S 2101 , the image processing apparatus  101  sets a page number p to 1. In step S 2102 , the image processing apparatus  101  sets the number of divisions of the poster included in the received print job, as the number of divisions q. In step S 2103 , the image processing apparatus  101  determines whether p is greater than the page number of the last page. 
     If it is determined in step S 2103  that p is greater than the page number of the last page (YES in step S 2103 ), the processing ends. If it is determined in step S 2103  that p is not greater than the page number of the last page (NO in step S 2103 ), the processing proceeds to step S 2104 . In step S 2104 , the image processing apparatus  101  analyzes colors included in pages with the page numbers p, p+1, p+q−1 to create a conversion table. 
     In step S 2105 , the image processing apparatus  101  converts the pages with the page numbers p, p+1, p+q−1 to grayscale using the conversion table created in step S 2105 . In step S 2106 , the image processing apparatus  101  transmits, to the printing device  404 , image data that is generated by performing the grayscale conversion and is to be used in printing. In step S 2107 , the image processing apparatus  101  updates p to p+q. 
     Next, the processing of step S 1908  will be described with reference to a flowchart illustrated in  FIG.  22   . 
     In step S 2201 , the image processing apparatus  101  sets a page number p to 1. In step S 2202 , the image processing apparatus  101  determines whether p is greater than the page number of the last page. If it is determined in step S 2202  that p is greater than the page number of the last page (YES in step S 2202 ), the processing ends. If it is determined in step S 2202  that p is not greater than the page number of the last page (NO in step S 2202 ), the processing proceeds to step S 2203 . 
     In step S 2203 , the image processing apparatus  101  analyzes colors included in a page with the page number p to create a conversion table. In step S 2204 , the image processing apparatus  101  converts the page with the page number p to grayscale using the conversion table created in step S 2204 . In step S 2205 , the image processing apparatus  101  transmits, to the printing device  404 , image data that is generated by performing the grayscale conversion and is to be used in printing. In step S 2206 , the image processing apparatus  101  updates p to p+1. 
     With the configuration according to the present exemplary embodiment, by using the processing for determining the UI restriction control, it is possible to restrict the simultaneous setting of the grayscale discrimination improvement function and bookbinding printing or poster printing, similarly to the first exemplary embodiment. As a result, it is possible to prevent the situation where, when color conversion processing that produces different grayscale conversion results for pages having different feature amounts is performed, portions originally having the same colors are converted to grayscale values having different densities and this results in a final output product having an unnatural appearance. 
     While various examples and exemplary embodiments of the disclosure have been described above, the spirit and scope of the disclosure are not limited to a particular description in the specification. 
     Other Embodiments 
     Embodiment(s) of the disclosure can also be realized by a computer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a ‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or that includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out and executing the computer executable instructions from the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network of separate computers or separate processors to read out and execute the computer executable instructions. The computer executable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or more of a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™), a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like. 
     While the disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions. 
     This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-067703, filed Apr. 3, 2020, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.