Patent Publication Number: US-2011063664-A1

Title: Print setting support apparatus and print setting support method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from: U.S. provisional application 61/242,974, filed on Sep. 16, 2009; the entire contents all of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     Embodiments described herein relate generally to a technique to reduce an operation load in a print operation using a printer driver. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Hitherto, when a print instruction is given to an image forming apparatus from a printer driver, a user is required to select a desired print setting on the printer driver. 
     In recent years, the functions of an image forming apparatus are increasing, and a technique is disclosed in which setting contents frequently used by the user are registered as “favorite setting” in the printer driver. According to the related art technique, the user can easily give a print instruction under a desired print setting by selecting the registered “favorite setting”. 
     However, the above related art has a problem that the user must perform an operation of “selecting the favorite setting” and the specific additional operation is still required. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a system structural view showing a print processing system including a print setting support apparatus. 
         FIG. 2  is a function block diagram for explaining the print setting support apparatus. 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart for explaining a flow of a registration process of “favorite setting” in the print setting support apparatus. 
         FIG. 4  is a view showing an example of a print screen of an application displayed on a display section  806  of a PC  1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a view showing an example of a print setting screen of a printing by a printer driver. 
         FIG. 6  is a view showing a screen example of a GUI for inputting a setting name of “favorite setting” displayed on the display section  806 . 
         FIG. 7  is a view showing an example of a recording file of “favorite setting” in a related art printer driver. 
         FIG. 8  is a view showing an example of a recording file of “favorite setting”. 
         FIG. 9  is a flowchart showing a flow of a print setting in the print setting support apparatus. 
         FIG. 10  is a view showing a screen display example of a print setting screen  5 ′ of the printer driver in a state where favorite setting is automatically applied. 
         FIG. 11  is a flowchart for explaining auto application of “favorite setting” in the print setting support apparatus of the embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  is a view showing another example of the print setting screen of the printer driver in the print setting support apparatus of the embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In general, according to an embodiment, a print setting support apparatus includes a content information acquisition section, a determination section, a setting value acquisition section and a setting application section. The content information acquisition section acquires print content information relating to a content of a printing scheduled to be executed. The determination section determines, based on the print content information acquired by the content information acquisition section, whether a specified favorite setting as a previously set print setting is to be applied. The setting value acquisition section acquires information relating to the specified favorite setting when the determination section determines that the specified favorite setting is to be applied. The setting application section automatically applies, as a print setting, a setting content of the specified favorite setting based on the information acquired by the setting value acquisition section. 
     Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a system structural view showing a print processing system including a print setting support apparatus of an embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the print processing system of the embodiment includes a PC (Personal Computer)  1 , a server  7  and an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral)  9 . Incidentally, here, although a case where an equipment to execute a printing is the MFP is exemplified, no limitation is made to this. It is needless to say that various equipments capable of performing the printing, such as a general printer, can be adopted. 
     The PC  1 , the server  7  and the MFP  9  are connected to be capable of communicating with each other through a LAN (Local Area Network) or a WAN (Wide Area Network). Incidentally, the connection method may be wired communication or wireless communication as long as communication can be resultantly performed. 
     Here, the PC (Personal Computer)  1  has a function as the print setting support apparatus. The server  7  stores various information used in the print processing system. The MFP (Multi Function Peripheral)  9  can perform one-side printing, two-side printing, monochrome printing, color printing, N in  1  printing (layout printing), scanning and the like. The MFP  9  performs a printing, a scanning and the like by an instruction transmitted to the MFP  9  via the LAN from a printer driver installed in the PC  1 . 
     The PC  1  includes a processor  801 , an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit)  802 , a MEMORY  803 , a HDD (Hard Disk Drive)  804 , an operation input section  805  and a display section  806 . 
     The server  7  includes a processor  701 , an ASIC  702 , a MEMORY  703  and a HDD  704 . 
     The MFP  9  includes a processor  901 , an ASIC  902 , a MEMORY  903  and a HDD  904 . 
     In the print processing system of this embodiment, the processor  801 , the processor  701  and the processor  901  serve to perform various processes in the print processing system, and serve to realize various functions by executing programs stored in the MEMORY  803 , the MEMORY  703 , the MEMORY  903 , the HDD  804 , the HDD  704 , the HDD  904  and the like. Incidentally, it is needless to say that the processor  801 , the processor  701  and the processor  901  can be realized by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) capable of executing equivalent arithmetic processing. Besides, the HDD  804 , the HDD  704  and the HDD  904  can also be substituted by a storage device such as, for example, a flash memory. 
     The MEMORY  803 , the MEMORY  703  and the MEMORY  903  can be constructed of, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory), a VRAM (Video RAM), a flash memory or the like, and serve to store various information and programs used in the print processing system. 
     The display section  806  can be constructed of, for example, an electronic paper, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an EL (Electronic Luminescence), a PDP (Plasma Display Panel), a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) or the like. 
     The operation input section  805  can be constructed of, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, a touchpad, a graphics tablet, a dedicated button or the like. 
     Besides, the functions of the display section  806  and the operation input section  805  can be realized by a so-called touch panel display. 
       FIG. 2  is a function block diagram for explaining the print setting support apparatus. 
     The print setting support apparatus of this embodiment includes a content information acquisition section  101 , a determination section  102 , a setting value acquisition section  103 , a setting application section  104 , an auto application propriety setting section  105 , a history information acquisition section  106 , and a setting content change section  107 . 
     The content information acquisition section  101  acquires “print content information” relating to the content of a printing scheduled to be executed from the MEMORY  803 , the HDD  804 , the server  7  or the like. Here, as “the printing scheduled to be executed”, for example, a printing in which a print setting is scheduled to be performed from now on can be mentioned. 
     Specifically, the print content information acquired by the content information acquisition section  101  is, for example, as follow: 
     (1) identification information (application ID, etc.) for identifying an application which started a printer driver to instruct execution of the printing; 
     (2) process information of an equipment in which the printer driver to instruct execution of the printing is started, 
     (3) an extension (JPG, GIF, etc.) of a data file as an object of the printing; 
     (4) a specific character string contained in the data file as the object of the printing; and 
     (5) information relating to a color value of an image contained in the data file as the object of the printing. 
     Based on the print content information acquired by the content information acquisition section  101 , the determination section  102  determines whether or not a specified “favorite setting” as a print setting previously set in the HDD  804  or the like is to be applied. Incidentally, it is not always necessary that the “favorite setting” is stored in the storage device provided in the PC  1 , and for example, it can be stored in a storage device such as the HDD  704  provided in the server  7 . 
     Specifically, the determination section  102  performs a determination process as described below. 
     (1) When an application indicated by identification information acquired by the content information acquisition section  101  is a specified application in which the specified favorite setting is to be applied, it is determined that the specified favorite setting is automatically applied. 
     (2) When process information acquired by the content information acquisition section  101  is specified process information in which the specified favorite setting is to be applied, it is determined that the specified favorite setting is automatically to be applied. 
     (3) When an extension acquired by the content information acquisition section  101  is a specified extension in which the specified favorite setting is to be applied, it is determined that the specified favorite setting is automatically to be applied. 
     (4) When the content information acquisition section  101  acquires a specific character string, it is determined that the specified favorite setting is not automatically to be applied. 
     (5) When the content information acquisition section  101  acquires information relating to a specific color value contained in the data file, it is determined that the specified favorite setting is automatically to be applied. 
     When the determination section  102  determines that the specified “favorite setting” is to be applied, the setting value acquisition section  103  acquires information relating to the specified favorite setting. 
     Incidentally, when the setting value acquisition section  103  can not acquire the specified “favorite setting” in the equipment (for example, the PC  1  etc.) in which the printer driver to instruct execution of the printing is started, the specified “favorite setting” can be acquired from the server  7  or the like (external equipment) connected to the PC  1  (print setting support apparatus) to be capable of communicating therewith. 
     Besides, when the determination section  102  determines that the specified “favorite setting” is to be applied as the print setting, the setting value acquisition section  103  acquires, from, for example, the HDD  804 , information relating to the specified favorite setting previously correlated with the application indicated by the identification information acquired by the content information acquisition section  101 . 
     The setting application section  104  automatically applies the setting content of the specified “favorite setting” as the print setting based on the information acquired by the setting value acquisition section  103 . 
     Only when the automatic application propriety setting section  105  sets that the setting content of the specified favorite setting is automatically applied as the print setting, the setting application section  104  automatically applies the setting content of the specified “favorite setting” as the print setting. 
     The automatic application propriety setting section  105  sets whether or not the setting content of the specified favorite setting is automatically applied as the print setting based on an operation input of a user to the operation input section  805  and based on the information acquired by the setting value acquisition section  103 . 
     The history information acquisition section  106  acquires history information (log data) indicating operation history of the user in the equipment in which the printer driver to instruct the execution of the printing is started. Here, it is assumed that “the equipment in which the printer driver to instruct the execution of the printing is started” is the PC  1 . Besides, the log data as the history information is acquired from the HDD  804  by the processor  801 . 
     The setting content change section  107  changes (updates) the content of the specified “favorite setting” based on the history information acquired by the history information acquisition section  106 . 
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart for explaining a flow of a registration of “favorite setting” in the print setting support apparatus. 
     The user operates the operation input section  805  and can register “favorite setting” having an arbitrary setting content with respect to plural print setting items such as two-side printing, one-side printing, color printing and monochrome printing. 
     First, the processor  801  starts a printer driver from, for example, a document creation application or an image browsing application based on the operation input of the user to the operation input section  805  of the PC  1  (ACT  101 ). 
       FIG. 4  is a view showing an example of a print setting screen of an application displayed on the display section  806  of the PC  1 . The user operates the operation input section  805 , selects an arbitrary one of plural printer drivers listed in a pull-down menu  401 , and depresses a “Properties” button  402  to start a print setting screen (see  FIG. 5 ) for a printing of the selected printer driver. 
     The user operates the operation input section  805  or the like, and performs print setting on a GUI  5  of the started printer driver, in which plural setting items  501  to  504  are a desired setting content (ACT  102 ). 
     The user operates the operation input section  805  or the like, and depresses a “Save” button  505  on the GUI  5  displayed on the display section  806  of the PC  1  for registration to “favorite setting” (ACT  103 ). 
     The user can input a setting name of the “favorite setting” at the time of registration of the “favorite setting” on the GUI  5 .  FIG. 6  is a view showing a screen example of the GUI for inputting the setting name of the “favorite setting” displayed on the display section  806 . When the user depresses the “Save” button  505 , the processor  801  displays a UI screen shown in  FIG. 6  on the display section  806 . 
     At the time of registration of the “favorite setting” in the printer driver, the processor  801  causes the HDD  804  to store, as a part of the “favorite setting”, a process name (process ID, etc in addition to this) of the application which starts the printer driver. 
     When the above setting is performed, the printer driver causes the HDD  804  to store, as a recording file, the value set on the GUI and the name of the application which started the printer driver. 
       FIG. 7  is a view showing an example of a recording file of “favorite setting” in a related art printer driver. In the example shown in  FIG. 7 , the name “My favorite” given to the recording file is recorded.  FIG. 8  is a view showing an example of a recording file of “favorite setting” in this embodiment. In the example shown in  FIG. 8 , the name “Word processing application” of the application correlated with the setting content of the recording file is recorded. 
       FIG. 9  is a flowchart showing a flow of a print setting in the print setting support apparatus of this embodiment. 
     This is the flowchart showing the flow of a print setting in the print setting support apparatus of this embodiment. 
     First, when the user operates the operation input section  805  to give a print instruction from an arbitrary application, the processor  801  displays a UI of a print screen of the application on the display section  806  (ACT  201 ). 
     When the user depresses an “OK” button on the print screen UI (see  FIG. 4 ), the processor  801  automatically acquires the process name of the application, which started the printer driver, from a specified storage area of the MEMORY  803  or the HDD  804 , and automatically applies, as the print setting, the “favorite setting” previously correlated with the process name. 
     When the user depresses the “OK” button on the print screen UI (see  FIG. 4 ), the processor  801  starts the printing under the “favorite setting” (ACT  202 ). 
       FIG. 10  is a view showing a screen display example of a print setting screen  5 ′ of the printer driver in a state where the favorite setting is automatically applied. As shown in the drawing, according to the print setting support apparatus of this embodiment, since the user is not required to select the “favorite setting”, the setting item corresponding to the pull-down menu  501  shown in  FIG. 5  is not displayed. 
     By adopting such structure, the user can automatically apply the previously set print setting without performing a specific print setting operation at the time of print execution, and can easily obtain a desired print result. 
       FIG. 11  is a flowchart for explaining auto application of the “favorite setting” in the print setting support apparatus of this embodiment. 
     First, the processor  801  starts the printer driver from, for example, a document creation application or an image browsing application based on the operation input of the user to the operation input section  805  or the like of the PC  1  (ACT  501 ). 
     Next, when the application to issue a print instruction is the application already registered in a specific storage area of the HDD  804  (ACT  502 , Yes), the processor  801  causes the display section  806  to display a GUI in which the “favorite setting” previously stored in the HDD  804  or the like correlated with the identification information of the application is applied as the print setting (ACT  503 ). 
     On the other hand, when the application to issue the print instruction is not the application already registered in the specific storage area of the HDD  804  (ACT  502 , No), the processor  801  causes the display section  806  to display a GUI in which default print setting of the printer driver previously stored in the HDD  804  or the like is applied (ACT  504 ). 
     When the user gives some operation input to the operation input section  805 , the processor  801  performs change of the print setting or the like according to the operation content, and the print setting is completed (ACT  505 ). 
       FIG. 12  is a view showing another example of the print setting screen of the printer driver in the print setting support apparatus of this embodiment. 
     A checkbox  508  for enabling selection of whether or not “favorite setting” is automatically applied is provided on a print setting screen  5 ″ shown in  FIG. 12 . 
     When the user operates the operation input section  805  and the checkbox  508  is checked, the processor  801  automatically performs the application of the “favorite setting” to the print setting. On the other hand, when the checkbox  508  is not checked, the automatic application of the “favorite setting” to the print setting is not performed, and the printing is performed based on the default print setting set in the printer driver or the print setting manually set by the user. 
     By doing so, the user can select whether or not the previously set “favorite setting” is automatically applied. 
     The respective operations of the process in the print setting support apparatus are realized by causing the processor  801  to execute a print setting support program stored in the memory  802 . Here, the print setting support program can be contained in, for example, a printer driver program for realizing the function of the printer driver. 
     Further, the program to cause the computer constituting the print setting support apparatus to execute the foregoing respective operations can be provided as the print setting support program. In this embodiment, although the description is made on the case where the program for realizing the function to carry out the invention is previously stored in the storage area provided in the apparatus, no limitation is made to this. The same program may be downloaded from a network to the apparatus, or a computer readable recording medium storing the same program may be installed in the apparatus. A form of the recording medium may be any form as long as the recording medium can store a program and can be read by the computer. Specifically, the recording medium may be, for example, an internal storage device mounted in the computer, such as a ROM or a RAM, a portable storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk, a DVD disk, a magneto-optical disk or an IC card, a database to hold a computer program, another computer and its database, a transmission medium on a line or the like. Besides, the function obtained by install or download in advance in this way may be realized in cooperation with an OS (Operation System) in the apparatus. 
     Incidentally, the program may be an execution module in which a part or the whole thereof is dynamically created. 
     Besides, it is needless to say that at least a part of various processes realized by causing the processor to execute the program in the above embodiments can be executed by a circuit in the ASIC  802 . 
     As described above in detail, according to the technique disclosed in this specification, the technique to reduce the operation load in the case where print setting is performed can be provided. 
     While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of invention. Indeed, the novel apparatus and methods described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the apparatus and methods described herein may be made without departing from the sprit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.