Patent Description:
There are printing devices which are connected to a network, and which receive data from an information processing device over the network and print the data. Additionally, an information processing device generating print data to be sent to a printing device, by using a printer driver (or printing application) designed to use individual printing devices, has been known for some time.

In recent years, information processing devices generating print data without using a printer driver (or printing application) designed to use individual printing devices are known. For example, print data is generated by a generic printing service provided as a function of the operating system (OS) of the information processing device, a generic printing service provided by a print server or the like in the cloud, or the like, and that data is then sent to a printing device. With such a generic printing service, a network protocol for executing printing having sent print data to a printing device (Internet Printing Protocol; IPP) is provided, and the printing process is realized by communication between the printing device and the information processing device according to that protocol.

For example, PTL <NUM> discloses searching out nearby MFPs through NFC communication and displaying a list of discovered MFPs in a screen of a mobile communication terminal device upon an image being selected and designated for printing through that screen. A protocol suited to the sending of image data is then selected on the basis of protocol information from the selected MFP, and image data for printing is then sent.

It is desirable that a print server, an information processing device, or the like that provides a generic printing service compliant with a standard such as IPP being capable of handling a variety of types of printing devices. Thus to handle different functions, specifications, and so on from printing device to printing device, it is necessary for the information processing device which uses the generic printing service to manage configuration information for the printing devices. PTL <NUM> discloses a method for storing sets of printer driver settings in advance. PTL <NUM> discloses automatically deciding a printer for printing based on a stored printing mode. And PTL <NUM> discloses a printer designating third print setting information based on received first and second print setting information.

When the information processing device generates print data using a generic printing service such as IPP, the print data is generated on the basis of the configuration information of the printing device. However, with a generic printing service, in order to handle a variety of printing devices, print settings are made through a print job settings screen that is made common for different types of printing devices. It is therefore not necessarily the case that the user will be able to make the print settings s/he wishes to use. In particular, there are situations where the finishing processes or the like provided individually by printer vendors (e.g., unique region-specific puncher standards and folding process standards, special binding process standards) cannot be set through the print settings screen provided by a generic printing service. Thus even if a function has been successfully provided to a user through a printer driver (or printing application) designed to be used with various printing devices, there is a possibility of that the function cannot be used if the printing device is used through a generic printing service. Furthermore, for functions such as making favorite print settings used in routine tasks, which are provided by conventional printer drivers or the like, there is a possibility of that those functions cannot be used if the printing device is used through a generic printing service.

An object of the present invention is to solve at least one of the above-described problems with the conventional techniques.

An object of the present invention is to provide a system that improves the convenience when printing through a generic printing service.

In order to achieve the above object, there is provided the printing device according to claims <NUM>-<NUM>, and the control method according to claim <NUM> and the method according to claim <NUM>.

According to the present invention, there is an effect in that a printed product to which complex setting information has been applied can be obtained, even when printing through a generic printing service from an information processing device.

The accompanying drawings, which are included in and constitute part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the present invention, and along with those descriptions serve to illustrate the principles of the present invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinafter in detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the following embodiments are not intended to limit the claims of the present invention, and that not all of the combinations of the aspects that are described according to the following embodiments are necessarily required with respect to the means to solve the problems according to the present invention.

<FIG> is a block diagram for describing the configuration of a printing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

A multifunction peripheral (MFP) <NUM> and an access point (AP) <NUM> are connected to a LAN (Local Area Network) <NUM> so as to be capable of communicating with each other. In the first embodiment, an MFP <NUM> having a scan function, a printing function, a fax sending/receiving function, a box function, and the like will be described as an example of a printing device. Meanwhile, mobile terminals <NUM> and <NUM>, which are tablets, smartphones, or the like, will be described as examples of information processing devices. Note that in the following descriptions, the tablet <NUM>, the smartphone <NUM>, and the like are collectively referred to as "information processing devices". The information processing devices can communicate with the MFP <NUM> over the LAN <NUM> via the AP <NUM>. Although the first embodiment describes the foregoing exemplary configuration as an example of the printing system, the present invention is not limited thereto, as long as at least one or more information processing devices and a printing device are communicatively connected over a network. Additionally, the network may be wireless or wired.

First, the MFP <NUM> will be described. The MFP <NUM> has a reading function for reading images on a document, and a printing function for printing images onto a sheet (a recording medium). The MFP <NUM> can execute a printing process on the basis of print data received over the network.

<FIG> is a block diagram for describing the hardware configuration of the MFP <NUM> according to the first embodiment.

The MFP <NUM> has the reading function for reading images on a sheet, and a printing function for printing images onto a sheet. The MFP <NUM> also has a file sending function for sending images to an external information processing device, and so on. Although the first embodiment describes the MFP <NUM> as an example of the printing device, the printing device is not limited thereto. For example, an SFP (Single Function Peripheral) or the like, which does not have a reading function, may serve as the printing device.

A control unit <NUM>, which includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) <NUM>, controls the overall operations of the MFP <NUM>. The CPU <NUM> carries out various types of control, such as printing control and reading control, by deploying programs stored in ROM (Read Only Memory) <NUM> or storage <NUM> into RAM <NUM> and executing those deployed programs. The ROM <NUM> stores control programs, a boot program, and the like that can be executed by the CPU <NUM>. The RAM (Random Access Memory) <NUM> is the main storage memory of the CPU <NUM>, and provides as a work area or a temporary storage region for deploying various types of control programs. The storage <NUM> stores print data, image data, various types of programs, and various types of setting information. Although the present first embodiment assumes that the storage <NUM> is an auxiliary storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or the like, non-volatile memory such as an SSD (Solid State Drive) may be used as well.

Note also that with the MFP <NUM> according to the first embodiment, it is assumed that the single CPU <NUM> executes the respective processes in the flowcharts described later using a single memory (the RAM <NUM>), but another format may be used as well. For example, the respective processes shown by the flowcharts described later may be executed with a plurality of CPUs, RAM, ROM, and storage operating in tandem. Some of the processes may be executed using hardware circuits such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or the like.

An operation unit interface (I/F) <NUM> connects an operation unit <NUM> to the control unit <NUM>. The operation unit <NUM> includes a display unit, which has touch panel functionality, various types of physical keys, and the like, and functions as a display unit that displays information, an accepting unit that accepts user instructions, and the like. A reading unit I/F <NUM> connects a reading unit (scanner) <NUM> to the control unit <NUM>. The reading unit <NUM> generates image data by reading a document. Note that the generated image data is stored in the storage <NUM> or the RAM <NUM>. Additionally, the image data generated by the reading unit <NUM> is sent to the information processing devices, used to print an image onto a sheet, or the like. A printing unit I/F <NUM> connects a printing unit (a printer engine) <NUM> to the control unit <NUM>. Image data, which has been generated by analyzing a print job received from an information processing device, is transferred from the control unit <NUM> to the printing unit <NUM> via the printing unit I/F <NUM>. The printing unit <NUM> receives control commands and a print job to be printed from the control unit <NUM>, and on the basis of that print job, prints an image onto a sheet transported from a paper feed cassette (not shown). Note that the printing method of the printing unit <NUM> may be an electrophotographic method, or may be an ink jet method. Another printing method can be applied as well, such as a thermal transfer method. The control unit <NUM> is also connected to the LAN <NUM> via a communication unit I/F <NUM>. The communication unit I/F <NUM> sends image data, information, and the like to the information processing devices on the LAN <NUM>, receives print jobs, information, and the like from the information processing devices on the LAN <NUM>, and so on.

An image processing unit <NUM> has a RIP (Raster Image Processor) function that expands a print job received over the LAN <NUM> and generates image data to be used in printing. The image processing unit <NUM> can also carry out resolution conversion, correction processing, and the like on the image data obtained by expanding the print job. Although the first embodiment assumes that the image processing unit <NUM> is realized by a hardware circuit (an ASIC, an FPGA, or the like), the image processing unit <NUM> is not limited thereto. For example, the MFP <NUM> may further include a processor for use in image processing, and the image processing, the process for expansion into print data, and the like may be realized by that processor executing an image processing program. In this case, the flowcharts described later are assumed to be realized by the processor and the CPU <NUM> working in tandem. Furthermore, the configuration may be such that a program for carrying out image processing is executed by the CPU <NUM>, and image processing, the process for expansion into print data, and the like are carried out. The image processing may also be carried out by combining any of these.

A sheet processing unit I/F <NUM> connects the control unit <NUM> to a sheet processing unit <NUM>. The sheet processing unit <NUM> receives control commands from the control unit <NUM>, and in accordance with those control commands, carries out post-processing on the sheet that has been printed onto by the printing unit <NUM>. For example, post-processing such as aligning a plurality of sheets, punching holes in a sheet, combining a plurality of sheets, and the like is executed. The sheet processing unit <NUM> according to the first embodiment can carry out two types of binding processes. One is a binding process that binds sheets using staples (stapling, hereinafter), and with this stapling, a plurality of sheets can be bound using staples. The other is a binding process that binds sheets without using staples (stapleless binding, hereinafter). In the stapleless binding process, a plurality of sheets are bound by pressing the plurality of sheets using a special blade, sheets are bound by punching holes in a plurality of sheets and bending the sheets back, or the like. The stapleless binding process does not require consumables such as staples, and thus the binding process can be carried out without worrying about the cost of such consumables. However, compared to the binding process that binds sheets using staples, the stapleless binding process has a lower upper limit on the number of sheets that can be bound (e.g., approximately <NUM> to <NUM> sheets). The post-processing functions, post-processing capabilities, and so on of the sheet processing unit <NUM> are communicated to the control unit <NUM> via the sheet processing unit I/F <NUM> in advance (e.g., when the MFP <NUM> is started up), and are stored in the storage <NUM> or the RAM <NUM>.

<FIG> is a function block diagram for describing the software configuration of the MFP <NUM> according to the present first embodiment. Note that in the present first embodiment, it is assumed that the respective function modules illustrated in <FIG> are achieved by the CPU <NUM> executing programs that have been loaded into the RAM <NUM>.

An IPP printing service control module <NUM> communicates, to the information processing devices, a search identifier for searching out printing presets saved in a printing preset saving module <NUM> and printer configuration information obtained from an engine control module <NUM> together as "printer information". The printing preset includes printing specifications such as color or black-and-white, single- or -double-sided, N-up, and the like, post-processing specifications such as binding, punching, or folding, and so on. The search identifier is an identifier of the user who registered the printing preset in the MFP <NUM> (owner identification information). The printer configuration information is function information of the printer (here, the MFP <NUM>). When an MFP is shared among multiple people, several printing presets are registered in the MFP. When a printer search/capability obtainment request of that information processing device is received, the identifier of the printing preset to be communicated is searched out on the basis of the owner identification information of the information processing device included in the request. The matching printing preset is communicated to the information processing device that made the request. The method of communicating the printing preset extracted using the owner identification information is realized by an IPP printer search/response protocol. Furthermore, when a print job based on the IPP standard is received from an information processing device over the network, the IPP printing service control module <NUM> passes that print job to a print job generating module <NUM>.

A UI control module <NUM> displays printing preset registration UI screens, which will be described later with reference to <FIG>. After a user has logged in, the user can save desired printing preset information in the printing preset saving module <NUM>, display, edit, and delete that information, and so on. The UI control module <NUM> obtains information pertaining to the state of a print job being processed from a job control module <NUM>, and displays the processing state of the print job in the UI screen. The print job generating module <NUM> receives the print job from the information processing device through the IPP printing service control module <NUM> and writes the job into a data reception control module <NUM>, and furthermore registers the job as a new job in the job control module <NUM> and requests the printing process to start. If the received print job is an IPP print job, the print job generating module <NUM> passes the print setting information to be applied to the print job to a job attribute saving module <NUM> through a mobile job settings updating module <NUM>. Data of print jobs that are not IPP jobs is written directly into the job attribute saving module <NUM> by the print job generating module <NUM>.

The mobile job settings updating module <NUM> is called through the print job generating module <NUM>, and searches out the identifier of the printing preset included in the IPP header of the received print job. If the printing preset identifier is embedded in the IPP header, the data in the printing preset saving module <NUM> is searched using the identifier, and the printing preset corresponding to the identifier is obtained. Upon obtaining the corresponding print setting information from the printing preset identifier, the mobile job settings updating module <NUM> sets the obtained printing preset in the job attribute saving module <NUM>.

The printing preset saving module <NUM> saves the printing presets set by the user of the information processing device through the UI screens illustrated in <FIG> in the storage <NUM>. If a saved printing preset has been updated, the details of that update are communicated to the IPP printing service control module <NUM>. Upon receiving the notification of the printing preset update, the IPP printing service control module <NUM> communicates an update made to the printer information (the printing preset and the preset identifier) to the information processing devices on the network through the IPP protocol.

The data reception control module <NUM> is a buffer region for print jobs received from the print job generating module <NUM>, and temporarily saves each print job in the storage <NUM>. When the job control module <NUM> instructs a PDL analyzing module <NUM> to carry out a PDL analyzing process on the print job, the PDL analyzing module <NUM> makes a request for the print job to the data reception control module <NUM>. As a result, the data reception control module <NUM> passes the data of the print job to the PDL analyzing module <NUM>.

Upon receiving the registration of a print job from the print job generating module <NUM>, the job control module <NUM> saves attribute information of that print job in the job attribute saving module <NUM>. The job control module <NUM> also instructs the PDL analyzing module <NUM> to analyze the print job, and furthermore causes page data to be saved by a page control module <NUM> and a page attribute saving module <NUM> in units of pages. The page data created by the PDL analyzing module <NUM> is saved by the page control module <NUM> and the page attribute saving module <NUM> on a page-by-page basis, in sequence.

The job attribute saving module <NUM> saves the attribute information of the print job. The attribute information includes items set as IPP job attributes, such as a "number of copies", and items set on the basis of the printing preset, such as "Nup (collective printing)", "printed sides (single-sided/double-sided) settings", "color/black-and-white mode", and "finishing settings". The information further includes items set by the PDL analyzing module <NUM>, such as information of text objects within the page. These are all managed by the job attribute saving module <NUM>, in association with job IDs. The page control module <NUM> controls the page analysis process by the PDL analyzing module <NUM>, a RIP process by a RIP control module <NUM>, and a printing control process by a printing control module <NUM>. The printing control module <NUM> obtains image data for which RIP is complete from a page saving module <NUM>, separates the data into CMYK colors, and transfers the result to the engine control module <NUM>. The engine control module <NUM> receives individual pieces of CMYK image data from the printing control module <NUM> in units of pages, and controls the printing unit <NUM> to carry out a printing process for each page.

<FIG> is a sequence chart for describing a processing sequence carried out when causing the MFP <NUM> to print from an information processing device, in the printing system according to the present first embodiment.

In S401, the user of the information processing device registers printing presets through the UI screens (<FIG>) of the operation unit <NUM> in the MFP <NUM>. It is assumed that users can register individual printing presets in the MFP <NUM> according to the first embodiment. The details registered at that time are saved in the printing preset saving module <NUM> along with an owner name (the owner identification information) for identifying the user. The management tables in <FIG> indicate specific examples of what is registered here.

After the registration, in S402, the user causes a printer search request to be sent from the information processing device using the IPP protocol. This search request includes the owner identification information (<NUM>, in <FIG>), which is the identifier of the user.

Upon receiving this search request, in S403, the MFP <NUM> searches out registered printing presets using the owner identification information included in the search request. Then, in S404, the MFP <NUM> returns the search result (the identifiers of printing presets matching the owner identification information) to the information processing device, along with the configuration information of the MFP <NUM> (<NUM> in <FIG>), through the IPP protocol. As a result, in S405, the information processing device saves the identifiers of the individual printing presets for each user, and the printer configuration information, sent from the MFP <NUM> through the IPP protocol. Details of this will be given later with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>.

Next, in S406, when the user of the information processing device displays a printing screen (<NUM> in <FIG>) in the information processing device, the identifier of the printing presets saved in S405 (<NUM> in <FIG>) are displayed in a printing dialog. The list of the printing preset identifiers differs from user to user. Details will be given later with reference to <FIG>.

Next, in S407, the user of the information processing device selects the identifier of a printing preset registered in the MFP <NUM> and presses a print button (<NUM> in <FIG>). As a result, in S408, the information processing device sends a print job, including a printing preset identifier, to the MFP <NUM>.

Accordingly, in S409, the MFP <NUM> obtains the setting information of the printing presets registered in S401 from the printing preset identifier appended to the print job, and then requests the print settings of the print job in accordance with the setting information of the printing preset. Then, in S410, printing based on the print job is executed in accordance with those print settings.

S411 to S417 which follow thereafter indicate processing steps for a case where the user of the information processing device has updated the printing presets in the MFP <NUM> after a set amount of time. Upon detecting that the user has updated the printing presets in S411, in S412, the MFP <NUM> sends a printing preset update notification, including the owner identifier, to the information processing device. In S413, the information processing device compares the owner identification information in the updated printing presets with the owner information of the information processing device. If the owner identification information of the updated printing presets matches the owner information of the information processing device, the process advances to S414. If, however, the owner identification information of the updated printing presets does not match the owner information of the information processing device, the information processing device determines that the update is not directed at the information processing device itself, and therefore does not carry out a process for updating the printing presets.

Next, in S414, the information processing device sends, to the MFP <NUM>, a request to obtain the printing preset identifier. This obtainment request includes the owner identifier of the information processing device. Having received the request to obtain the printing preset identifier, in S415, the MFP <NUM> searches out the printing presets corresponding to the owner identifier included in the request to obtain the printing presets. In S416, the MFP <NUM> sends, to the information processing device, the identifier of the printing presets corresponding to the owner identifier found through the search performed in S415. As a result, in S417, the information processing device updates the identifier of the printing presets stored as the print settings with the identifier of the printing presets received from the MFP <NUM>.

When the printing presets are updated in the MFP <NUM> through the processing from S411 to S417 described above, the MFP <NUM> notifies the information processing device that the update has taken place. Then, upon determining that the updated printing presets are the printing presets it itself requires, the generic printing service of the information processing device can reobtain those printing presets.

<FIG> are diagrams for describing a specific example of printing presets saved in the storage <NUM> by the printing preset saving module <NUM> of the MFP <NUM> according to the first embodiment.

<NUM> denotes items which are printing preset identifiers, of "estimate form", "application form", "accounting", "diagram", "catalog", and "DM (direct mail)". <NUM> denotes printing resets corresponding to the owner identification information (owner name) of the person who registered the printing presets. If a user manipulates the UI screen in the operation unit <NUM> of the MFP <NUM> to register a single piece of preset information, one row's worth of data is saved in the management table.

In the example illustrated in <FIG>, setting information such as color/black-and-white printing, printed sides (single-sided/double-sided), Nup, the presence/absence of binding (stapling, stapleless binding), punching, folding, and so on is included as printing presets. Furthermore, Nup includes the type thereof; binding includes the respective binding positions; punching includes the presence/absence of punching and the number of holes; and folding includes the presence/absence of folding, the type of the fold, and so on. Note that the settings indicated by <NUM> to <NUM> in <FIG> are merely examples, and can be varied as appropriate on the basis of the printing capabilities and post-processing capabilities of the MFP <NUM>. For example, a black-and-white MFP can be configured so that "color" cannot be registered as a printing preset.

<FIG> are diagrams for describing examples of a UI screen when registering a printing preset in the MFP <NUM> according to the first embodiment. These screens are displayed in the screen of the operation unit <NUM> by the UI control module <NUM>, and values set by the user are obtained through these screens.

Processing carried out when the user registers a printing preset in the MFP <NUM> will be described first. First, a login screen <NUM>, in which the user presses a login button <NUM>, is displayed in the operation unit <NUM>, in a preset list screen <NUM>, illustrated in <FIG>. In this screen, the user enters a username <NUM> and a password <NUM>, and presses an OK button <NUM>. When the information entered here matches information already registered in the MFP <NUM>, the user can log into the MFP <NUM>. After logging in, the user can add, edit, and delete printing presets and so on through the list screen <NUM>. For the printing presets registered after the user has logged in, the logged-in user becomes the owner of those printing presets, and the printing presets can only be used from an information processing device by the owner. Note that the owner name of the printing presets is held in an owner identifier <NUM> in the table illustrated in <FIG>.

<FIG> is a flowchart for describing processing by the MFP <NUM> through which the user of the information processing device manipulates the UI screens in <FIG> and saves printing presets input to the MFP <NUM>. Note that the processing indicated in this flowchart is achieved by the CPU <NUM> executing programs deployed into the RAM <NUM>. Accordingly, the following descriptions of <FIG> assume that the CPU <NUM> is the entity executing each step.

The following will describe <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> altogether, in sequence. The list screen <NUM> in <FIG> is a screen that displays a list of presets for print settings.

First, when the CPU <NUM> detects that the user has pressed an add button <NUM> in the list screen <NUM> in S801, the process advances to S802, where the CPU <NUM> displays a preset registration screen <NUM>, illustrated in <FIG>, in the operation unit <NUM>. This preset registration screen <NUM> is a screen for entering a "registration name", which serves as an identifier of a printing preset. In the case of a printing preset that is shared with all users, the user enters the registration name and presses the "next" button <NUM>. The name of the printing preset entered through this preset registration screen <NUM> and user identification information of the login user respectively correspond to the preset identifier <NUM> and the owner identifier <NUM> in the management table illustrated in <FIG>. Here, after the user has entered the registration name and pressed the "next" button <NUM>, the process advances to S803, where the CPU <NUM> displays a preset registration screen <NUM>, illustrated in <FIG>, in the operation unit <NUM>. The processing of S803 to S810 that follows thereafter is processing for obtaining the details of settings for each of printing preset items selected by the user through preset registration screens <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, illustrated in <FIG>.

In S803, the preset registration screen <NUM>, for the case where a printing mode <NUM> has been selected, is displayed in the operation unit <NUM>. Here, the printing mode selected by the user through the preset registration screen <NUM>, namely color printing or black-and-white printing, is obtained. The printing mode setting value selected here corresponds to color print settings <NUM> in the management table illustrated in <FIG>.

Next, when printed sides <NUM> is selected, the process advances to S804, where the CPU <NUM> displays the preset registration screen <NUM> in the operation unit <NUM>. In this preset registration screen <NUM>, single-sided or double-sided can be selected as the setting for the printed sides, and the CPU <NUM> obtains the setting value for the printed sides selected here. This setting value corresponds to printed side settings <NUM> in the management table.

Next, when Nup <NUM> is selected, the process advances to S805, where the CPU <NUM> displays the preset registration screen <NUM> in the operation unit <NUM>. The CPU <NUM> then obtains Nup settings, which are set through the preset registration screen <NUM> and indicate how many printing pages are to be printed onto a single sheet at a reduced size. This setting value corresponds to Nup settings <NUM> in the management table.

Next, binding settings are made in S806 to S808. Here, the user can select whether stapleless binding or stapling is to be carried out for the binding process, as well as the binding positions and binding number. When binding <NUM> is selected, the process advances to S806, where the CPU <NUM> displays the preset registration screen <NUM> in the operation unit <NUM>. Whether or not to carry out binding, and when carrying out binding, whether to carry out stapling or stapleless binding, can be selected through the preset registration screen <NUM>. Furthermore, when binding is to be carried out, the binding position, e.g., upper-left, lower-left, upper-right, and lower-right, can be selected, and the CPU <NUM> obtains the setting values. This setting value corresponds to binding settings <NUM> in the management table. When stapling is selected in S806, the process advances to S807, where the CPU <NUM> obtains stapling, as selected by the user, and the binding position, after which the process advances to S809. On the other hand, when stapleless binding is selected in S806, the process advances to S808, where the CPU <NUM> obtains stapleless binding, as selected by the user, and the binding position, after which the process advances to S809. These setting values correspond to binding settings <NUM> in the management table. Although not illustrated in the flowchart, the process advances from S806 to S809 if the user has selected not to carry out binding.

Next, when punching <NUM> is selected, the process advances to S809, where the CPU <NUM> displays the preset registration screen <NUM> in the operation unit <NUM>. Here, the user can specify whether or not to carry out punching, and when carrying out punching, the number and positions of the holes. The CPU <NUM> obtains the setting information set through the preset registration screen <NUM>. The value set here corresponds to punching settings <NUM> in the management table.

Next, when folding <NUM> is selected, the process advances to S810, where the CPU <NUM> displays the preset registration screen <NUM> in the operation unit <NUM>. Here, the user can set whether or not to carry out folding, as well as the type of the fold. In this manner, the CPU <NUM> obtains the information of the folding which has been set. The value set here corresponds to folding settings <NUM> in the management table.

Note that the processing from S803 to S810 can be cycled through freely during the settings by pressing tab buttons <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> in the preset registration screens. When the settings are complete and a save button <NUM> is pressed in the preset registration screen, the process advances to S811, where the CPU <NUM> carries out an exclusivity check among the set items. If the exclusivity check shows no problems, the process advances to S812, where the CPU <NUM> saves the setting values in the management table illustrated in <FIG> (saves the values in the storage <NUM>). Note that if the exclusivity check in S811 shows a problem, an indication to that effect is displayed as in a preset registration error screen <NUM>. In response, the user redoes the settings by carrying out the processing of S803 to S810 again. This ensures that the user does not make an erroneous printing preset setting. Note that a confirmation screen, including an illustration or the like for confirming the final product to be printed, may be displayed before saving the details selected in S812. In this case, if the MFP <NUM> has received a user instruction indicating that the settings are OK through the confirmation screen, the process advances to S812. On the other hand, if the MFP <NUM> has received a user instruction indicating that the settings are to be redone, the process advances to S803, so that the various settings can be redone.

<FIG> and <FIG> are diagrams for describing an example of a request to obtain capability information of the printing device and information pertaining to the printing preset identifier, and a response thereto, between the information processing device and the MFP <NUM> according to the first embodiment.

An obtainment request message <NUM> sent to the MFP <NUM> from an information processing device is for obtaining only the information pertaining to the identifier of a printing preset registered by the user of the information processing device that issued the request. As such, information pertaining to an owner identifier <NUM>, which indicates the user of the information processing device as the owner of the printing preset, is included. This message <NUM> requests information pertaining to the identifier of a printing preset corresponding to an owner identifier of "suzuki".

A message <NUM> includes a printer capability response, as well as information pertaining to the identifier of a printing preset included in the capability response, and these are sent from the MFP <NUM> to the information processing device. <NUM> denotes a plurality of printing presets having a list structure, including identifiers <NUM> for individual printing presets, and owner information <NUM> of those printing presets. The message <NUM> is an example of the capability response to the message <NUM>. In the message <NUM>, three printing presets designated with the owner identifier of "suzuki" are registered in the MFP <NUM>, and it can be seen that the identifiers of those printing presets are "estimate form", "application form", and "diagram".

A message <NUM> is an example of the data of the print job generated by the information processing device and sent to the MFP <NUM>. Here, job attributes include a printing preset identifier <NUM> and a printing preset owner identifier <NUM>.

Upon receiving this print job, the mobile job settings updating module <NUM> of the MFP <NUM> searches the printing preset saving module <NUM> using this printing preset identifier <NUM> as a search key, obtains the printing presets corresponding to the preset identifier <NUM> ("estimate form" here) having the owner identifier of "suzuki", and carries out the printing process.

For example, assuming that the management table illustrated in <FIG> is registered, this estimate form is to be printed in color, as <NUM> in <NUM> on one side, with the upper-left of the printed sheet being bound through stapleless binding, and discharged without punching or folding.

Print settings in a generic printing service will be described next. <FIG> is a diagram for describing an example of a print settings screen displayed by the information processing device according to the first embodiment.

A screen <NUM> indicates a printing dialog called from an application in the information processing device. At the stage when the screen <NUM> is first displayed, a printer (MFP) to be used for the printing has not yet been selected, and thus no details are displayed for a printer display field <NUM>, a printing preset identifier <NUM>, and so on. Next, when the user presses a printer search button <NUM> in this screen, the screen transitions to a printing device selection screen <NUM>. The information processing device sends a search packet, for searching out printing devices (MFPs) on the LAN <NUM> (S402 in <FIG>), while this selection screen <NUM> is being displayed. Here, when the MFP <NUM> returns a response in S404 of <FIG>, the information of the MFP <NUM> that returned the response to the information processing device (S404) is displayed in the screen of the information processing device. The screen <NUM> indicates an example of a case where three printing devices have been found. Here, <NUM> will be described as a printing device corresponding to the MFP <NUM>, for explanatory purposes.

When the user selects one of the printing devices ("Printer (<NUM>)" here) through the selection screen <NUM>, the screen returns to the screen <NUM>, and the printer identifier "Printer (<NUM>)" is displayed in the printer display field <NUM>. Additionally, a guidance button <NUM> for an identifier selection screen <NUM> is displayed on the basis of the information of the printing preset identifier received from the MFP <NUM> (S405/<NUM>). Then, when the guidance button <NUM> is pressed in the selection screen <NUM>, the screen transitions to the screen <NUM>, where a list <NUM> of printing preset identifiers that can be used by the selected printing device (MFP) is displayed.

Assuming that the user identifier is "suzuki", "estimate form" <NUM> , "application form" <NUM>, and "diagram" <NUM> are saved as printing presets having an owner identifier <NUM> of "suzuki" saved in the management table (<FIG>) in the printing preset saving module <NUM>. Accordingly, "estimate form", "application form", and "diagram" are displayed as indicated by the list <NUM> in the printing preset selection screen <NUM>, using the preset identifiers.

Here, when the user selects (S407) a single printing preset identifier ("estimate form" here) in the printing preset selection screen <NUM>, the screen in the information processing device returns to the screen <NUM>. At this time, in the screen <NUM>, the identifier of the selected printer, i.e., "Printer (<NUM>)", is displayed in the printer display field <NUM>, and the printing preset of "estimate form" is displayed as well. If the user presses a print button <NUM> in this state, a print job in which the printing preset identifier is embedded is sent from the information processing device to the MFP <NUM> (S408). Then, in the MFP <NUM>, that estimate form is printed in color, <NUM> in <NUM>, and on one side, with the upper-left of the printed sheet bound through stapleless binding, and the sheet discharged with no punching and no folding.

<FIG> is a flowchart for describing processing through which the MFP <NUM> receives a print job and prints according to the first embodiment. Note that the processing indicated in this flowchart is achieved by the CPU <NUM> executing programs deployed into the RAM <NUM>. Accordingly, the following descriptions of <FIG> assume that the CPU <NUM> is the entity executing each step.

First, in S1001, the CPU <NUM> receives a print job sent from the information processing device, and saves the received print job in the storage <NUM> in S1002. The process then advances to S1003, where the CPU <NUM> analyzes the IPP header of that print job, and then determines whether or not a printing, preset identifier is included. If it is determined that a printing preset identifier is included, the process advances to S1004, and if not, the process advances to S1007.

In S1004, the CPU <NUM> searches out a printing preset registered in the storage <NUM>, e.g., registered in the management table illustrated in <FIG>, on the basis of the printing preset identifier included in the print job and the owner identification information of the print job. The process then advances to S1005, where the CPU <NUM> determines whether or not a printing preset that matches the printing preset identifier included in the print job and the owner identification information of that print job is registered. If it is determined that a matching printing preset is registered, the process advances to S1006, but if not, the process advances to S1011, where error processing is carried out, after which the process ends. In this error processing, a message indicating that no corresponding printing preset is present is displayed in the operation unit <NUM>, for example, and an error response is returned to the information processing device that sent the print job.

In S1006, the CPU <NUM> creates print setting information reflecting the matching printing preset. This process will be described later with reference to the flowchart in <FIG>.

The process then advances to S1007, where the CPU <NUM> analyzes the PDL data included in the print job, and in S1008, a RIP process is carried out to expand the PDL data into bitmap data. The process then advances to S1009, where the expanded page data is output to the printing unit <NUM> and printed. In this printing process, the printing is carried out according to the printing specifications in which the printing preset has been reflected in S1006. The process then advances to S1010, where the CPU <NUM> determines whether or not the printing is complete for the final page; if the printing is not complete, the process returns to S1007, and the above-described processing is repeated. The process ends when the printing of the print data specified in the print job is complete. Note that if post-processing such as a binding process, a punching process, a folding process, or the like is set for the printed product, it is assumed that the CPU <NUM> executes the post-processing for the printed sheets in addition to the printing process in S1009. In this case, the CPU <NUM> executes the post-processing on the sheets in tandem with the printing unit <NUM> and the sheet processing unit <NUM>.

<FIG> is a flowchart for describing processing for reflecting the printing preset in the print data, carried out in S1006 of <FIG>.

First, in S1101, the CPU <NUM> causes color print settings <NUM> (<FIG>), which correspond to the owner identification information and the printing preset identifier, to be reflected. For example, if the above-described printing preset identifier is "estimate form" and the owner identification information is "suzuki", "color" is set, according to <FIG>. The process then advances to S1102, where the CPU <NUM> causes printed side settings <NUM>, which correspond to the owner identification information and the printing preset identifier, to be reflected. For example, if the above-described printing preset identifier is "estimate form" and the owner identification information is "suzuki", "single-sided" is set, according to <FIG>. The process then advances to S1103, where the CPU <NUM> causes Nup settings <NUM>, which correspond to the owner identification information and the printing preset identifier, to be reflected. For example, if the above-described printing preset identifier is "estimate form" and the owner identification information is "suzuki", "<NUM> in <NUM>" is set, according to <FIG>. The process then advances to S1104, where the CPU <NUM> causes binding settings <NUM>, which correspond to the owner identification information and the printing preset identifier, to be reflected. For example, if the above-described printing preset identifier is "estimate form" and the owner identification information is "suzuki", "stapleless binding" is set, with a binding position of "upper-left", according to <FIG>. The process then advances to S1105, where the CPU <NUM> causes punching settings <NUM>, which correspond to the owner identification information and the printing preset identifier, to be reflected. For example, if the above-described printing preset identifier is "estimate form" and the owner identification information is "suzuki", "no punching" is set, according to <FIG>. The process then advances to S1106, where the CPU <NUM> causes folding settings <NUM>, which correspond to the owner identification information and the printing preset identifier, to be reflected. For example, if the above-described printing preset identifier is "estimate form" and the owner identification information is "suzuki", "no folding" is set, according to <FIG>. Lastly, the process advances to S1107, where the CPU <NUM> checks whether any conflicts have arisen due to the combination of the IPP job setting values and the setting values overwritten by the printing presets, such as the number of copies to be printed; and if there are no problems, the settings are overwritten with the updated print settings and saved in the storage <NUM>. If a conflict has arisen here, an indication to that effect may be displayed in the operation unit <NUM>, communicated to the information processing device that sent the job, or the like.

According to the present first embodiment as described thus far, the user registers a printing preset in the MFP <NUM> in advance, and the identifier of the registered printing preset is communicated, along with IPP protocol printer capability information, to the information processing device being operated by the user. As a result, the user of the information processing device can carry out printing in which the printing preset is reflected in the print job, without making complicated printing preset settings, simply by selecting the identifier of the printing preset from a UI screen and instructing the printing to be carried out. As a result, a printed product having complex printing specifications can be obtained even from a mobile terminal such as the tablet <NUM>, the smartphone <NUM>, or the like.

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described next. The foregoing first embodiment describes a case where the identifier of a printing preset is communicated to an information processing device as IPP protocol printer capability information. In the second embodiment, in addition to the identifier of the printing preset, the MFP <NUM> communicates information indicating print settings corresponding to that preset, illustrated as examples in <FIG> (also called "printing attributes"), to the information processing device. When the printing preset identifier is selected from the printing dialog, the information processing device reflects information of the details of that preset in the current print settings. In other words, the printing system according to the second embodiment provides a configuration in which, when a user operation for selecting a preset has been accepted through the printing dialog, the details corresponding to the preset are reflected in the print settings screen on the information processing device side. This processing makes it possible to confirm the details of the printing preset from the printing dialog in the information processing device. Note that in the second embodiment, the hardware configurations of the prerequisite devices are the same as in the first embodiment. Detailed descriptions of configurations identical to those in the first embodiment will be omitted.

A specific control method according to the second embodiment will be described next. When sending the capability response indicated by S404 in <FIG>, which includes the configuration information and the identification information, to the information processing device, the MFP <NUM> sends a capability response to which the print settings (also called "printing attributes") corresponding to the identification information of the preset have been added. The differences between the capability response according to the first embodiment and the capability response according to the second embodiment will be described using <FIG> and <FIG>.

The MFP <NUM> according to the second embodiment communicates, to the information processing device, a printing preset including the printing attributes for each preset illustrated in <FIG>, in addition to the printing preset identifiers <NUM> and the printing preset owner information <NUM>. In other words, attributes corresponding to <NUM> in <FIG>, namely "color, <NUM> in <NUM>, single-sided printing, stapleless binding in the upper-left of the sheet", are added to the printing preset having a name of "estimate form". Likewise, attributes corresponding to <NUM> in <FIG>, namely "black-and-white, <NUM> in <NUM>, double-sided printing", are added to the printing preset having a name of "application form". Furthermore, attributes corresponding to <NUM> in <FIG>, namely "black-and-white, <NUM> in <NUM>, single-sided printing, two points binding on the left of the sheet, z-folding", are added to the printing preset having a name of "diagram".

A process for reflecting the settings in a case where the information processing device has accepted a user operation for selecting a preset through the printing dialog will be described next using <FIG>.

<FIG> depicts a view illustrating an example of a screen displayed in an operation unit of the information processing device <NUM>, <NUM>, or the like by the processor of the information processing device. A screen <NUM> indicates a printing dialog called from an application in the information processing device. The printer search, the processing carried out when the print button is pressed, and so on are the same as the processing described in the first embodiment with reference to <FIG>, and thus will not be described here. Here, for explanatory purposes, a case where "Printer (<NUM>)" has been selected through a user operation but no printing preset has been selected will be described as an example.

When a printer is selected through a user operation, the processor of the information processing device displays a guidance button <NUM> in the screen <NUM>. When the guidance button <NUM> is selected through a user operation, the processor of the information processing device transitions the screen displayed in the operation unit of the information processing device to a screen <NUM>. The screen <NUM> is a screen similar to the screen <NUM> according to the first embodiment, and is a screen for selecting a preset to be used from among a list of presets. When a user operation for selecting one of the items from the list of presets displayed in the screen <NUM> has been accepted, the processor of the information processing device transitions the screen displayed in the operation unit of the information processing device to a screen <NUM>. Here, a case where "diagram" has been selected from the list will be described as an example, for explanatory purposes. The processor of the information processing device changes the print settings displayed in the printing dialog on the basis of the attributes corresponding to the "diagram" printing preset, i.e., "black-and-white, <NUM> in <NUM>, single-sided printing, two points binding on the left of the sheet, z-folding".

Returning to the descriptions of <FIG>, the processor of the information processing device displays information <NUM>, indicating that the print settings based on the preset have been applied, in the screen <NUM>. The information <NUM> is displayed for a predetermined amount of time (e.g., <NUM> seconds) after transitioning to the screen <NUM>. Once the predetermined amount of time has passed, the processor fades the display of the information <NUM> out from the screen <NUM>.

An options button <NUM> is a button used when confirming and changing the current print settings. When the options button <NUM> is selected through a user operation, the processor of the information processing device transitions the screen displayed in the operation unit of the information processing device to a settings screen <NUM>. A region <NUM> in the settings screen <NUM> is a region for confirming and changing the current print settings. Here, print settings to which the "diagram" printing preset has been applied are shown as an example. As a result of the above-described application process, a color mode setting <NUM> has been set to black-and-white, and a double-sided print setting <NUM> has been set to off. A Nup setting <NUM> is set to <NUM> in <NUM>, and a binding setting <NUM> is set to "double", indicating two points binding. Furthermore, a punching setting <NUM> is set to off, and a folding setting <NUM> is set to on.

In this manner, the second embodiment makes it possible to provide a configuration in which the details of a preset selected by the user are applied to the print settings, and the user can confirm the preset setting details. The printing process carried out after the preset has been selected is the same as in S407 to S410 in <FIG>, described in the first embodiment, and that process will thus not be described here.

The second embodiment describes a configuration where the print settings applied on the basis of the printing preset selected by a user operation made through the region <NUM> can be changed as an example; however, the configuration is not limited thereto. For example, when a printing preset is selected, the information processing device may prohibit the print settings from being changed. Additionally, attribute information indicating whether or not to permit changes to the settings can be provided for each printing preset. For example, if an attribute that cannot be interpreted by the print service (e.g., stapleless binding) has been set as an attribute for the printing preset, the CPU <NUM> of the MFP <NUM> stores the printing preset along with added information indicating that the settings are not permitted to be changed. A printing preset including this information is also sent for the capability response to the information processing device.

In this case, the processor of the information processing device prohibits the settings from being changed through the region <NUM> when a printing preset is designated and a setting is made that does not permit changes to the settings made in that printing preset. Through this processing, situations where settings are changed on the printing service side can be suppressed in cases such as where an attribute with which the printing service of the information processing device is not compliant is set in the printing preset. Additionally, in this case, information indicating that the settings in that printing preset are prohibited from being changed may be displayed in addition to the information <NUM>. On the other hand, the processor of the information processing device carries out control so as to accept changes to the settings through the region <NUM> when a printing preset is designated and a setting is made for permitting changes to the settings in the preset.

The foregoing embodiments describe an example in which printing can be carried out using a user's desired print settings, even from a generic printing service, by registering printing presets and identifiers thereof in an MFP in advance. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, with an MFP having a hot folder provided with print settings (a shared folder for holding print jobs provided by the MFP), a "folder name" of the hot folder may be sent to an identifier for the capability response of the printer, included in the message <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. In this case, upon determining that a print job received through IPP includes a hot folder identifier, the MFP stores the received print job in the hot folder specified by the identifier. The MFP may then overwrite the print settings of the print job with the print settings set in the hot folder in which the print job is stored, and then execute the printing process according to S <NUM> and on.

Furthermore, the foregoing embodiments describe an example in which, when the printer capabilities are communicated with a generic printing service as described with reference to S402 to S404 in <FIG>, the printing preset is narrowed down on the basis of the owner identification information received from the generic printing service in S402. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a printer capability response including the identifiers of all of the registered printing presets may be returned. In this case, to suppress a situation in which many printing presets are displayed in the printing preset selection screen <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, a limit (e.g., an upper limit of <NUM>) may be provided for the number of printing presets that can be stored in the MFP, for example.

This can also be applied in a case where the owner identification information sent by the generic printing service differs from the user identification information registered in the printing preset (the information for identifying the user of the MFP). In this case, an administrator of the MFP registers a correspondence relationship between the owner identification information sent by the generic printing service and the identification information of the user using the MFP <NUM> through a user management screen, which is not shown. The correspondence relationship registered through the user management screen is stored in a user DB, a table, or the like. In this case, the generic printing service sends a unique identifier indicating the information processing device (e.g., a device serial number, a wireless LAN MAC address, or the like) instead of the owner identification information that is sent to the MFP in S402, S413, and so on. By using the correspondence relationship stored in a user DB, a table, or the like in the processing of S403, S415, or the like, the MFP <NUM> specifies the user of the MFP <NUM> associated with the unique identifier received from the information processing device. The MFP <NUM> then returns a list of printing preset identifiers, which have been registered by the specified user, to the information processing device.

Note that the generic printing service described in the foregoing embodiments assumes a printing service compliant with IPP, a printing service based on the IPP specifications but having a proprietary extension, or the like, for example. For example, the present invention can be applied in a generic printing application, printing service, or the like preinstalled in the OS of the information processing device. Additionally, the present invention can be applied in a printing service, a printing application, or the like that supports printing devices from multiple vendors, for example.

The foregoing embodiments describe, as an example, a case where when the MFP <NUM> has received a print job including a printing preset identifier, the print settings of the print job are overwritten with the corresponding attributes in the printing preset; however, the present invention is not limited thereto. A configuration is also possible in which the corresponding attributes and the printing preset are compared with the print settings included in the received print job, after which the print settings can be overwritten. For example, if single-sided printing is set as an attribute in the printing preset selected by the user, but double-sided printing has been explicitly designated through the printing dialog, control can be carried out to prioritize the double-sided printing designated by the user. In this case, in the application process described in S1101 to S1106, if the print job includes print settings that are explicitly designated, those print settings may be prioritized.

According to the present embodiment, a printed product to which complex print settings have been applied can be obtained, without sacrificing the operability of printing from a communication terminal such as a mobile device.

The present invention can also be realized as a process executed by supplying a program implementing one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus over a network or by a storage medium and then causing one or more processors of a computer of the system or apparatus to read out and execute the program. The invention can also be realized by a circuit (an ASIC, for example) that implements one or more functions.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention. Therefore, to apprise the public of the scope of the present invention, the following claims are made.

Claim 1:
A printing device (<NUM>) that is able to communicate over a network with an information processing device executing a print service for generating a print job, the printing device comprising:
registering means (S401) for registering a set of print setting values and an identifier corresponding to the set of print setting values, wherein one of the print setting values cannot be set through a print setting screen of the print service;
first receiving means (S402) for receiving from the information processing device a request for obtaining information about the printing device;
sending means (S404) for sending the identifier registered by the registering means to the information processing device as a response to the received request;
second receiving means (S408) for receiving the print job including print data and the identifier from the information processing device; and
processing means (S409/S410) for processing the received print data according to the print setting values obtained from the identifier received from the information processing device and corresponding to the one of print setting values registered by the registering means.