Patent ID: 12197797

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings and the like.

First Embodiment

FIG.1illustrates a network configuration according to the present embodiment. A mobile terminal device (information processing apparatus)2000can access the network via an access point2013. A printer1000, a printer1001, and a printer1002are connected to the network.

As shown inFIG.1, each printer internally holds the model name and the IP address information. Additionally, each printer has different capabilities, and internally holds information that indicates the capabilities.

For example, the printer1000supports the following formats as processable print formats. Specifically, the printer1000supports PDF (Portable Document Format), PWG-Raster, and JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group). Additionally, the printer1000supports LPR (Line Printer Remote) and IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) as communication protocols.

FIG.2illustrates a hardware configuration of the mobile terminal device2000. The mobile terminal device2000includes a SoC2001, RAM2002, flash memory2003, a Bluetooth unit2004, a WiFi unit2005, and an NFC unit2006. Additionally, the mobile terminal device2000also includes a power source2007, a voice/audio unit2008, a touch panel2009, an LED2010, a camera unit2011, and a sensor unit2012.

A principal unit for hardware execution is the SoC (System on a chip)2001, and a principal unit for software control is a program stored in the flash memory2003. The flash memory2003stores a variety of programs. The programs are deployed in the RAM (Random Access Memory)2002, interpreted, and executed by SoC.

The Bluetooth unit2004performs communication by Bluetooth (registered trademark). The WiFi unit2005performs wireless communication via the access point2013. The NFC unit2006is a communication unit that performs short-range wireless communication. The power source2007supplies necessary electric power to each unit in the mobile terminal device2000. The voice/audio unit2008includes, for example, a microphone and a speaker, and is used for the input-output of voice.

The touch panel2009is an operation input unit that is operated by user's fingers. The LED (Light Emitting Diode)2010is used for a variety of displays. The camera unit2011includes an imaging unit that shoots photos and moving images. The sensor unit2012includes, for example, a GPS (Global Positioning System), an acceleration sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, and a proximity sensor.

Each unit is connected to the SoC2001, and the mobile terminal device2000is connectable to the network via the access point2013. In the present embodiment, although the OS (operating system) is assumed to be, for example, the “Android OS” (registered trademark) of Google Inc., the present invention is not limited thereto.

FIG.3illustrates a software configuration that operates on the mobile terminal device2000. This software program is stored in the flash memory2003. Applications112to114installed in the mobile terminal device2000have functions for displaying and printing contents (data) such as photos, documents, Web pages via a printing system100of the OS.

The printing system100includes a UI (User Interface) unit101, a control unit102, a communication unit103, a print plug-in management unit104, a detected result receiving unit105, a standard printer search unit106, and a standard printing unit107. The UI unit101is a user interface of the printing system100. The control unit102controls the operation of the print plug-in installed in the mobile terminal device2000.

The communication unit103performs network communication with the printers1000to1002using the WiFi unit2005. The print plug-in management unit104manages information about the print plug-in installed in the mobile terminal device2000. The detected result receiving unit105receives a notification of the result for detection of the printer on the network by the print plug-in.

The standard printer search unit106is a search function of a printer installed in advance in the OS of the mobile terminal device2000and searches for a printer on the network in response to a request from the applications112to114. The standard printing unit107is a printing function installed in the mobile terminal device2000in advance. After converting data transmitted from each application into the standard printing format in response to a request from the applications112to114, the standard printing unit107transmits the data to the printer by the standard communication protocol.

In the present embodiment, the first search protocol and the first printing method supported by the printing system100as standard are respectively referred to as the standard search protocol and the standard printing method. The printing method includes a predetermined printing format and a predetermined communication protocol. In the present embodiment, for example, “Bonjour” is used as an example of the standard search protocols. Additionally, as an example of the predetermined format of the standard printing method, for example, “PWG-Raster” is used. Additionally, “IPP” is used as an example of a predetermined communication method of the standard printing method. In the present embodiment, the format of data transmitted from the applications112to114is PDF format.

If instructions for performing printing are provided from the user via the UI unit101, the application transmits data in PDF format to the standard printing unit107. The standard printing unit107is a renderer that converts the received data into the standard printing format, PWG-Raster. The standard printing unit107transmits the converted data to the printer1000via the communication unit103by using the IPP protocol.

A print plug-in200is composed of a printer search unit201, a printing processing unit202, a package name203, and a vendor name204. The print plug-in200supports a second search protocol and a second printing method that are different from the first search protocol and the first printing method. The print plug-in200can realize functions such as searching for a printer that is different from the standard printer search unit106and the standard printing unit107of the printing system.100, generating a print job, obtaining a printer status, and the like.

The print plug-in200bridges the printing system100and a printer to be used. Note that althoughFIG.3illustrates a state in which only the print plug-in200is installed, a plurality of print plug-ins can be installed in the mobile terminal device2000. The print plug-in can be installed and uninstalled as necessary, and the print plug-in management unit104manages the installation state of each print plug-in.

The printer search unit201searches for printers on the network by using multicast or broadcast. The printer search unit201uses SLP (Service Location Protocol), Multicast-DNS (Domain Name System), and the like as a search protocol. Note that the search protocol used by the printer search unit201is not limited thereto, and, for example, may be different for each print plug-in.

The printing processing unit202performs a rendering process on PDL (Page Description Language) data or image data printable by the printers1000to1002. The package name203is a unique name assigned to the print plug-in200, for example, “jp.co.efg.xxxxx”. Regarding the package name203, different names are assigned for each print plug-in and each print plug-in stores the names. The vendor name204is a name of the vendor that provides the print plug-in200.

A print plug-in setting300is a region that stores setting values related to the print plug-in200. The print plug-in setting300is stored in the flash memory2003. The supporting print plug-in table150is a table that stores a list of printers on the network detected by the standard printer search unit106and a list of print plug-ins that support the printers. The details about the supporting print plug-in table will be described below.

FIG.4illustrates an example of the supporting print plug-in table150. The supporting print plug-in table150includes a vendor name1101, a package name1102, and a download site1103. The vendor name1101stores a vendor name obtained from the printer on the network by the standard printer search unit106. The package name1102stores a package name of the print plug-in.

The download site1103stores the URL information of the download site of the print plug-in. That is, the supporting print plug-in table150stores information about the vendor name and the package name, and the download site of the print plug-in as a list of print plug-ins in association with each other. By referring to the supporting print plug-in table150, it is possible to connect the printer searched on the network and the print plug-in that supports the printer.

Accordingly, if the print plug-in that supports the printer that has been found has not been installed, the printing system100can guide a user to the download site. For example, table data1104shows the following information. In the case of the printer having a vendor name “ABC”, the package name of the supporting print plug-in is “jp.co.abc.xxxxx”, and the download site of the print plug-in is “http: store.abc.printplugin”.

FIGS.5A to5CandFIGS.6A to6Cillustrate examples of a screen displayed by the printing system100.FIG.5Aillustrates a screen400on which data to be printed on the application is displayed. If the user taps a printing button401on the screen400, the UI unit101of the printing system100is invoked. The UI unit101of the printing system100displays the screens shown inFIG.5B,FIG.5C, orFIG.6Adepending on conditions.

In the present embodiment, if the user taps the printing button401inFIG.5A, the UI unit101of the printing system100displays the printing setting screen. The process before the printing setting screen is displayed will be described below.

FIGS.7and8are a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the printing system100after the printing button401has been tapped. The process shown inFIGS.7and8is realized by loading the program stored in the flash memory2003into the RAM2002and executing it by the SoC2001.

If the printing button401is tapped, in step S501, the control unit102of the printing system100instructs the standard printer search unit106to search for a printer. The standard printer search unit106searches for a printer on the network by using the standard search protocol, Bonjour, via the communication unit103. In step S502, the control unit102instructs the printer search unit201of the print plug-in200installed in the mobile terminal device2000to search for a printer.

In step S504, the detected result receiving unit105receives the printer information detected from the standard printer search unit106and the printer search unit201, which are instructed to search for a printer. The printer information is received as a message conforming to the search protocol used by the standard printer search unit106or the printer search unit201. For example, if Bonjour is used as a search protocol, a TXT Record is received. In step S504, the control unit102registers the printer information received in step S503in the list of detected printers. Details of the list of detected printers will be described below.

FIG.9illustrates an example of the list of detected printers. A detected printer list700consists of a model name701, an IP address702, a notification source703, a support of standard printing704, a vender705, and a plug-in706. The data of one row of the detection printer list700shows the data for one detected printer. The detected printer list700is stored in the RAM2002.

The model name701stores the model name of the detected printer. The IP address702stores the IP address of the detected printer. The notification source703stores notification source information when the detected result receiving unit105receives the detected result in step S503. If the detected result receiving unit105receives the detected result from the standard printer search unit106in step S503, “standard search” is stored in the notification source703.

In contrast, in step S503, if the detected result receiving unit105receives the detected result from the printer search unit201of the print plug-in200, the package name of the print plug-in is stored in the notification source703. In the example shown inFIG.9, the detected result of the model name701“Printer-D” shows that the print plug-in200is the notification source and “jp.co.efg.xxxxx” that is a package name of the print plug-in200is stored in the notification source703.

The item of support of standard printing704indicates the presence or absence of the support of a print job generated by the standard printing unit107. In the example shown inFIG.9, if the support of the print job generated by the standard printing unit107is present, “Yes” is stored in the item of support of standard printing704, and if the support of the print job generated by the standard printing unit107is absent, “No” is stored. More specifically, in the present embodiment, if the control unit102determines that the detected printer supports both the standard printing format “PWG-Raster” and the standard communication protocol “IPP”, “Yes” is stored in the item of support of standard printing704.

In contrast, if the control unit102determines that the detected printer does not support any of the standard printing format and the standard communication protocol, “No” is stored in the item of support of standard printing704. The control unit102determines the presence or absence of the support of the standard printing format and the standard communication protocol depending on the contents of the response from the printer received by the standard printer search unit106. Note that the item of support of standard printing704is stored only if the notification source of the detected result is the standard printer search unit106and “NA”, meaning “Not applicable”, is stored if the notification source is the printing plug-in200.

The vendor705stores the name of the vendor that provides the detected printer. The plug-in706stores information as to whether or not the print plug-in supporting the printer is installed on the mobile terminal device2000. If a print plug-in that supports the printer has been installed on the mobile terminal device2000, “Installed” is stored. If not, “Not installed” is stored.

The print plug-in management unit104determines whether or not a print plug-in that supports the printer is installed on the mobile terminal device2000by referring to whether or not a print plug-in supporting the vendor name of each printer is installed. Note that the plug-in706is stored only if the notification source of the detected result is the standard printer search unit106. In contrast, if the notification source is the printing plug-in200, “NA” meaning “not applicable” is stored.

The description will return to the flowchart ofFIG.7. In step S505, the control unit102determines whether or not the printer shown by the printer information received in step S503is the printer that has been used in the previous printing via the printing system100. More specifically, the control unit102determines the above based on printer information (not illustrated) stored in the flash memory2003during the previous printing via the printing system100.

If it is determined in step S505that the printer has been used for the previous printing, the process proceeds to step S506, and the control unit102determines the printer to be used displayed on a printing setting screen402shown inFIG.5B, to be the printer that has been used for the previous printing.

The printing setting screen402shown inFIG.5Bincludes a target printer display region403, a printing setting region404, and a printing button405. The target printer display region403is a region that displays a printer to be used. The user provides instructions for the use of the printing system100by tapping the printing button405. After confirming the desired printing setting in the printing setting region404, the user taps the printing button405so that data of the application is transmitted to the printer to be used, which is displayed on the target printer display region403.

In the example shown inFIG.5B, the printer having the printer name, “Printer-A” and IP address, “192.168.0.10”, which has been determined to be the printer used in the previous printing in step S505, is selected in the target printer display region403. If the output destination of data is changed to another printer, the user taps the target printer display region403.

If the target printer display region403is tapped, a printer list screen408shown inFIG.6Bis displayed. On the printer list screen408inFIG.6B, the UI unit101displays the printers on the network based on the printer information stored in the detected printer list700(FIG.9). Details of the process when the printer is selected by the tapping on the printer list screen408will be described below with reference toFIG.10.

In contrast, if it is determined in step S505that the printer is not the one that has been used for the previous printing, the process proceeds to step S507, and the control unit102determines whether or not the printer detected in step S503is the final one. If it is determined in step S507that the printer is the final one, the process proceeds to step S508inFIG.8. In contrast, if it is determined in step S507that the printer is not the final one, the process returns to step S503, and the processes from steps S503to S507are repeated.

In step S508, the control unit102determines whether or not the printer that is determined to be the printer used in the previous printing in step S505has been found. If it is determined in step S508that the printer used for the previous printing has not been found, the process proceeds to step S509, and if it is determined that the printer has been found, the process proceeds to step S510.

In step S509, the control unit102selects one printer from the detected printer list700(FIG.9) registered in step S504. Then, the UI unit101displays the selected printer in the target printer display region403inFIG.5B. Note that if the control unit102selects the printer in step S509, any standard for selecting the printer may be used. For example, the control unit102may preferentially select the printer first detected in step S503, or may preferentially select the printer for which the item of support of standard printing704of the detected printer list700is “Yes”.

In step S510, the control unit102refers to the detected printer list700and determines whether or not the notification source703of the printer displayed on the target printer display region403is a “standard search”. If it is determined in step S510that the notification source703is not a “standard search”, the process proceeds to step S512, and if it is determined that the notification source703is a “standard search”, the process proceeds to step S511.

In step S511, the control unit102refers to the detected printer list700and determines whether or not the item of support of standard printing704of the printer displayed on the target printer display region403is “Yes”. If it is determined in step S511that the item of support of standard printing704is “Yes”, the process proceeds to step S512. If it is determined that the item of support of standard printing704is other than “Yes”, the process proceeds to step S513.

In step S512, the control unit102displays the printing setting screen402including the target printer display region403, the printing setting region404, and the printing button405as shown inFIG.5Bvia the UI unit101, and the process ends. In the present embodiment, althoughFIG.5Bis used as an example of the printing setting screen402, the contents of the printing setting screen402displayed in step S512are different depending on whether the notification source is the standard search or the print plug-in in step S510.

In step S513, the control unit102determines whether or not the print plug-in that supports the printer displayed on the target printer display region403is available in a store that is an application distribution service. More specifically, the control unit refers to the supporting print plug-in table150(FIG.4), and if the print plug-in associated with the vendor name of the printer displayed on the target printer display region403is present, the control unit determines that the plug-in is available at the store.

In step S513, if it is determined that the supporting print plug-in is available at the store, the process proceeds to step S514. If it is determined that the supporting print plug-in is not available at the store, the process proceeds to step S515. In step S514, the control unit102hides the display of the printing setting region404as shown inFIG.5Cvia the UI unit101, additionally displays a download button406instead of the printing button405, and ends the process.

Specifically, if the printer detected by the standard search protocol does not support the standard printing method, the control unit102controls the display so as to display an object that activates a function for downloading the plug-in that supports the printer. In the present embodiment, the download button406is a means for activating the function for downloading the print plug-in that supports the printer.

If the download button406is tapped, as shown inFIG.6C, the screen transitions to a store screen410of the print plug-in that supports the printer displayed on the target printer display region403. If an install button411is tapped on the store screen410inFIG.6C, the print plug-in management unit104downloads the print plug-in supplied on the download site1103that supports the printer in the mobile terminal device2000.

Subsequently, the print plug-in management unit104installs the print plug-in that has been downloaded in the mobile terminal device2000. Note that, in the present embodiment, although the download button406is shown as a means for activating the function for downloading the print plug-in, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, if it is determined in step S513that the supporting print plug-in is available at the store, it may be possible to control the display so that the display of the screen directly transitions to the store screen410of the print plug-in.

In step S515, the control unit102hides the display of the printing setting region404as shown inFIG.6Avia the UI unit101while displaying a download button407in a gray-out state instead of the printing button405, and ends the process.

Next, a description will be given of a process executed by the printing system100if a printer is selected on the printer list screen408shown inFIG.6B.FIG.10is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the printing system100if a printer409is selected on the printer list screen408shown inFIG.6B. The process shown inFIG.10is realized by loading the program stored in the flash memory2003into the RAM2002and executing the program by the SoC2001.

It is assumed that the printer409is tapped on the printer list screen408. In step S601, the control unit102obtains the information about the tapped printer from the detected printer list700(FIG.9). In step S602, the control unit102determines whether or not the notification source703of the printer information obtained in step S601is a “standard search”.

In step S602, if it is determined that the notification source703is a “standard search”, the process proceeds to step S603. In contrast, if it is determined in step S602that the notification source703is not a “standard search”, in other words, the printer search unit201of the print plug-in200is the notification source, the process proceeds to step S604.

In step S603, the control unit102determines whether or not the item of support of standard printing704of the printer information obtained in step S601is “Yes”, in other words, whether or not the printer supports standard printing. In step S603, if it is determined that the printer supports standard printing, the process proceeds to step S604. If it is determined that the printer does not support standard printing, the process proceeds to step S605.

In step S604, the control unit102displays the printing setting screen402inFIG.5Bin the following state via the UI unit101. Specifically, in the target printer display region403of the printing setting screen402, the printer409tapped on the printer list screen408is displayed. Then, the control unit102ends the process.

In step S605, the control unit102determines whether or not the print plug-in that supports the printer409that was tapped on the printer list screen408is available in the store. Since the determination as to whether or not the print plug-in supporting the printer409that has been tapped on the printer list screen408is available in the store is similar to that in step S513, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. In step S605, if it is determined that the print plug-in that supports is available in the store, the process proceeds to step S606, and if it is determined that the print plug-in that supports is not available in the store, the process proceeds to step S607.

In step S606, the control unit102displays the store screen410of the print plug-in that supports the printer409selected on the printer list screen408as shown inFIG.6Cvia the UI unit101, and ends the process. In step607, the control unit102displays an error message (not illustrated) indicating that there is no print plug-in that is available via the UI unit101, and ends the process.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, during printing from the information processing apparatus, the printing system included in the OS of the information processing apparatus and the print plug-in can be separately used to match the user's intention without diminishing the convenience to the user. For example, in a case where a printer that does not support the standard printing method, which has been detected by the standard search protocol, is selected, if the print plug-in that supports the printer is not installed, the user can be guided to download the print plug-in.

Second Embodiment

If the printer supports standard printing, the printer search unit201of the print plug-in200that has been installed and the standard printer search unit106of the printing system.100can detect the same printer. In this case, in the first embodiment, the same printers are displayed in duplicate on the printer list screen. The display of the same printers on the printer list screen may confuse the user.

However, it is inconvenient for a user who wants to continue using the standard printing function to simply hide the display of the printer that has been detected by the standard printer search unit106on the printer list screen. In contrast, in the present embodiment, if the print plug-in and the printing system detect the same printers, the setting is possible so as not to impair the convenience for the user who wants to use the standard printing function while avoiding the inconvenience of the same printers being displayed in duplicate.

FIGS.11A to11Cillustrate an example of the setting screen of the print plug-in that has been installed.FIG.11Aillustrates a printing setting screen800of the print plug-in that has been installed. The printing setting screen800has a print plug-in list801. On the print plug-in list801, a list of printing plug-ins installed on the mobile terminal device2000is displayed. If a specific print plug-in is tapped on the print plug-in list801, the display of the screen transitions to a print plug-in setting screen810that performs the setting related to the selected print plug-in.

FIG.11Billustrates the print plug-in setting screen810that performs the setting related to a specific plug-in tapped on the printing setting screen800. The print plug-in setting screen810has a print plug-in validating setting811and a printer list812. The print plug-in validating setting811validates or invalidates a specific print plug-in targeted on the print plug-in setting screen810.

If the print plug-in is invalidated by the print plug-in validating setting811, the printing system100does not invoke the print plug-in. The printer list812displays a list of printers found by the printer search unit201of the print plug-in. If the printer displayed on the printer list812is tapped, the display of the screen transitions to a printer setting screen that performs the setting related to the selected printer.

FIG.11Cillustrates a printer setting screen820that performs the settings related to the printer that has been tapped on the print plug-in setting screen810. The printer setting screen820is present for each printer found by the printer search unit201of the print plug-in. The printer setting screen820has a validating setting821of the standard printing function. The validating setting821of the standard printing function validates or invalidates the standard printing function of the printer targeted on the printer setting screen820.

If the printer validating setting821is set to “ON” on the printer setting screen820, the standard printing function is validated. Alternatively, if the validating setting821of the printer is set to “OFF” on the printer setting screen820, the standard printing function is invalidated. The setting contents of the validating setting821of the standard printing function are stored in the flash memory2003as the print plug-in setting300(FIG.3).

In the present embodiment,FIG.12is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the printing system100after the printing button401inFIG.5Ahas been tapped. Note that the same reference numerals are given to the same processes in the flowcharts (FIGS.7and8) described as the operation of the printing system100in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted. The process illustrated inFIG.12is realized by loading a program stored on the flash memory2003into the RAM2002, and executing the program by the SoC2001.

After the processes in steps S501to S503are executed, in step S901, the control unit102determines whether or not the notification source of the printer information received by the detected result receiving unit105in step S503is the standard printer search unit106. If it is determined in step S901that the notification source is the standard printer search unit106, the process proceeds to step S902. If it is determined that the notification source is not the standard printer search unit106, the process proceeds to step S504.

In step S902, the control unit102inquires the printer search unit201of the print plug-in200about the validating settings of the standard printing function of the printer indicated by the printer information received in step S503. The printer search unit201of the print plug-in200refers to the validating setting821of the printer stored in the print plug-in setting300, and notifies the control unit102of the result.

In step S903, the control unit102determines whether or not the standard printing function of the printer is valid based on the validating setting about which notification has been provided by the printer search unit201of the print plug-in200in step S902. If it is determined in step S903that the standard printing function is valid, the process proceeds to step S504, and the control unit102registers the printer information received in step S503in the detected printer list700.

In contrast, if it is determined in step S903that the standard printing function is invalid, the process proceeds to step S507without registering the printer information received in step S503in the detected printer list700. That is, the printer in which the standard printing function is invalid is not displayed on the target printer display region403inFIG.5Bor the printer list screen408inFIG.6Bas the detected result of the standard printer search unit106.

Note that as the detected result of the printer search unit201of the print plug-in200, the printer is displayed on the target printer display region403inFIG.5Band the printer list screen408inFIG.6B. In other words, a printer in which the standard print function has been invalidated is not to be used as a printer corresponding to the standard search protocol, but is to be used as a printer corresponding to the search protocol of the print plug-in.

Third Embodiment

Differences in printing results may occur in the same printer between printing using the print plug-in200and printing using the standard printing function of the printing system100due to the different printing processing units. In such a case, it is conceivable that a user who prefers the printing result of the standard printing function continues to use the standard printing function.

However, in this case, it is not possible to use the extension function of the print plug-in200provided by the vendor. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, the print plug-in200uses the printing function of the standard printing unit107, thereby allowing the use of the extending function of the print plug-in as well while using the standard printing function for the generation of the printing data.

FIG.13is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the printing system100and the print plug-in200after the printing button405inFIG.5Bhas been tapped. The process illustrated inFIG.13is realized by loading the program stored in the flash memory2003into the RAM2002and executing it by the SoC2001.

In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the print plug-in200, which supports the printer displayed on the target printer display region403that has been selected as a target to be printed inFIG.5B, has already been installed in the mobile terminal device2000. When the printing button405is tapped inFIG.5B, the process inFIG.13starts. In step S1201, the control unit102of the printing system100instructs the printing processing unit202of the print plug-in200to initialize the print job.

In step S1202, the printing processing unit202of the print plug-in200obtains the setting contents of the validating setting821of the standard printing function of the print plug-in setting300(FIG.3) stored in the flash memory2003. In step S1203, the printing processing unit202refers to the print plug-in setting300obtained in step S1202and determines whether or not the standard printing function is valid.

If it is determined in step S1203that the standard printing function is invalid, the process proceeds to step S1204. If it is determined in step S1203that the standard printing function is valid, the process proceeds to step S1205. Note that in the determination in step S1203, although the printing processing unit202refers to the validating setting821of the standard printing function stored in the print plug-in setting300, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the settings for validation or invalidation of the standard printing function may be displayed on the printing setting region404inFIG.5Band may be set for each execution of printing, that is, for each print job.

In step S1204, the printing processing unit202notifies the control unit102of the printing system100that “PDF” servers as the data format of the print job. In step S1205, the printing processing unit202notifies the control unit102of the printing system100that “JPEG” serves as the data format of the print job.

In step S1206, the control unit102of the printing system100receives information about the data format of the print job for which notification has been provided by the printing processing unit202of the print plug-in200. In step S1207, the control unit102refers to the information about the data format of the print job received in step S1206and determines whether or not data conversion is necessary. In the present embodiment, the format of data transmitted from the application112to the printing system100during printing is PDF format.

If the information about the data format received in step S1206is other than the PDF format, it is determined that data conversion is necessary, and the process proceeds to step S1208. If it is determined that data conversion is not necessary, the process proceeds to step S1209. In step S1208, the standard printing unit107of the printing system100rasterizes the PDF format data transmitted from the application112, and then converts it into the JPEG format.

Specifically, in step S1204, the printing processing unit202notifies the control unit102of the data format to request the printing system100to perform data conversion, in other words, to generate printing data. Note that, in the present embodiment, an example of the conversion to the JPEG format is described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the conversion to any format may be allowed.

In step S1209, the control unit102instructs the printing processing unit202of the print plug-in200to perform printing. At this time, the control unit102transmits information about the data format of the printing data together with the printing data to the printing processing unit202. More specifically, if it is determined in step S1207that data conversion is necessary, the printing data for which the data format is converted in step S1208is transmitted to the printing processing unit202.

In contrast, if it is determined in step S1207that the data conversion is not necessary, the PDF format data is transmitted from the application112as printing data to the printing processing unit202. In step S1210, the printing processing unit202of the print plug-in200receives the printing data and the information about the data format of the printing data that has been transmitted from the control unit102of the printing system100.

In step S1211, the printing processing unit202determines whether or not the data conversion is necessary based on the information about the data format of the printing data received in step S1210. If the validating setting821(FIGS.11A to11C) of the standard printing function of the printer selected as a printer to be used, in other words, the printer shown in the target printer display region403inFIG.5Bis set to “ON”, the printing processing unit202receives printing data in JPEG format in step S1210. Hence, it is determined in step S1211that the data conversion is unnecessary, and the process proceeds to step S1213.

In contrast, if the validating setting821of the standard printing function of the printer selected as a printer to be used, in other words, the printer shown in the target printer display region403inFIG.5B, is set to “OFF”, the printing processing unit202receives printing data in PDF format in step S1210. Hence, it is determined in step S1211that data conversion is necessary, and the process proceeds to step S1212.

In step S1212, after rasterizing the data in PDF format received in step S1210, the printing processing unit202of the print plug-in200converts the data into JPEG format. In step S1213, the printing processing unit202transmits the printing data to the printer to be used together with the job attribute in which the setting values set in the printing setting region404inFIG.5Bis applied, and ends the process.

Other Embodiments

Embodiments of the present invention 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 embodiments 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 embodiments, 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 embodiments and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiments. 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 present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention 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. 2017-012337, filed Jan. 26, 2017, which is hereby incorporated by reference wherein in its entirety.