Abstract: The present invention realizes a network printing system capable of accumulating and chasing printed data. Further, by providing a job chasing function on the printer driver side, detailed setting can be done to extract history information of the job chasing function. The detailed setting to extract history information to chase a job can be done only by a specific administrator or user so that the job can be reliably chased, whereas the administrator or user can obtain desired history information. Accordingly, a precise jog chasing system can be established.

Abstract: A printing control apparatus is provided which can produce an appropriate copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image by adding a monochrome copy-forgery-inhibited pattern even if monochrome mode printing is performed in the condition in which a color copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is set. When the monochrome mode printing is performed in the condition in which the color copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is set, and if the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern color is output with its color unchanged, the color is not converted into 100% black. Considering this, when a forced monochrome mode is selected, even if the user's setting for the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is color, the color is changed to monochrome (black) before output.

Abstract: An effective environment can be freely constructed in which multifunctional processing equivalent to high performance multifunction peripherals can be executed easily at low cost, by utilizing the print function of a printer driver as well as by selectively utilizing the functions of peripheral devices. In a print system environment where a print job can be issued to a printer 150 through a printer driver 203, the printer driver 203 communicates with predetermined peripheral devices thereby to search them for information of a peripheral device that can execute a substitute function processing, and updates the display of a print setting screen of the printer driver so as to allow utilization of a predetermined substitute function, in accordance with the retrieved substitute function information.

Abstract: A printing control apparatus is provided which can produce an appropriate copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image by adding a monochrome copy-forgery-inhibited pattern even if monochrome mode printing is performed in the condition in which a color copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is set. When the monochrome mode printing is performed in the condition in which the color copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is set, and if the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern color is output with its color unchanged, the color is not converted into 100% black. Considering this, when a forced monochrome mode is selected, even if the user's setting for the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is color, the color is changed to monochrome (black) before output.

Abstract: Generation/non-generation of print data for a printer driver is controlled in correspondence with an external print policy for a document to be printed. The print policy includes a print policy file, and defines print-inhibited items in a predetermined description. The predetermined description includes a description directly stored in the print policy file, and a description that requires an external reference.

Abstract: There is disclosed an information processing device that displays a link related to one peripheral device on a device screen. The information processing device includes obtaining means for obtaining device information of a peripheral device, link forming means for forming the link corresponding to setting information obtained by the obtaining means, and access means for accessing a device management program that manages the peripheral device corresponding to the link when it is determined that an instruction of the link formed by the link forming means has been provided on the device screen.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a decision unit configured to determine whether or not print image data includes copy-forgery-inhibited-pattern image data. Based on a decision result of the decision unit regarding whether or not the print image data includes the copy-forgery-inhibited-pattern image data, a processing unit of the image processing apparatus is configured to determine whether first compression processing is to be performed or second compression processing is to be performed and apply the decided compression processing to the print image data.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus generates printing image data of a printing image and copy-forgery-inhibited-pattern-image data of a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image to be added to the printing image. The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image includes a latent image and a background image. The apparatus includes a selecting unit and a printing-data generating unit. The selecting unit selects either the transparent-printing designation or overlay-printing designation, the transparent-printing designation is used for generating printing data so that the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is superimposed on the printing image, and the overlay-printing designation is used for generating printing data so that the printing image is superimposed on the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image. The printing-data generating unit generates printing data based on the printing designation selected by the selecting unit.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus which has a first drawing conversion unit which converts first drawing information generated by an application of a first type into first print information which can be processed by a printer driver of a first type, and a second drawing conversion unit which converts second drawing information generated by an application of a second type into second print information which can be processed by a printer driver of a second type, includes a determination unit which determines the type of application as an output source with respect to the printer driver as an output destination, a detection unit which detects printer drivers which match the type of application from installed printer drivers, and a display control unit which displays printer drivers on a display for selecting a printer driver as the output destination of the application.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus performs a density adjustment process for generating an image containing a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image for warning against the use of copy products. To help users to easily adjust the density of a latent image portion and a background portion in the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, the image processing apparatus determines a density relationship of the latent image portion and the background portion by performing a plurality of adjustment operations, in combination, different in the amount of adjustment relating to the range of variable density in at least one of the latent image portion and the background portion, and sets, based on the density relationship, the density data of each of the latent image portion and the background portion in the data of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a decision unit configured to determine whether or not print image data includes copy-forgery-inhibited-pattern image data. Based on a decision result of the decision unit regarding whether or not the print image data includes the copy-forgery-inhibited-pattern image data, a processing unit of the image processing apparatus is configured to determine whether first compression processing is to be performed or second compression processing is to be performed and apply the decided compression processing to the print image data.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus performs a density adjustment process for generating an image containing a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image for warning against the use of copy products. To help users to easily adjust the density of a latent image portion and a background portion in the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, the image processing apparatus determines a density relationship of the latent image portion and the background portion by performing a plurality of adjustment operations, in combination, different in the amount of adjustment relating to the range of variable density in at least one of the latent image portion and the background portion, and sets, based on the density relationship, the density data of each of the latent image portion and the background portion in the data of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image.

Abstract: The present invention realizes a network printing system capable of accumulating and chasing printed data. Further, by providing a job chasing function on the printer driver side, detailed setting can be done to extract history information of the job chasing function. The detailed setting to extract history information to chase a job can be done only by a specific administrator or user so that the job can be reliably chased, whereas the administrator or user can obtain desired history information. Accordingly, a precise jog chasing system can be established.

Abstract: A method includes determining whether a program module for varying print settings for a printer driver is participating in print processing when the printer driver executes print processing; and switching a part of the print settings for the printer driver to the print settings according to the program module when the program module is participating in the print processing.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus generates printing image data of a printing image and copy-forgery-inhibited-pattern-image data of a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image to be added to the printing image. The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image includes a latent image and a background image. The apparatus includes a selecting unit and a printing-data generating unit. The selecting unit selects either the transparent-printing designation or overlay-printing designation, the transparent-printing designation is used for generating printing data so that the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is superimposed on the printing image, and the overlay-printing designation is used for generating printing data so that the printing image is superimposed on the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image. The printing-data generating unit generates printing data based on the printing designation selected by the selecting unit.

Abstract: The present invention realizes a network printing system capable of accumulating and chasing printed data. Further, by providing a job chasing function on the printer driver side, detailed setting can be done to extract history information of the job chasing function. The detailed setting to extract history information to chase a job can be done only by a specific administrator or user so that the job can be reliably chased, whereas the administrator or user can obtain desired history information. Accordingly, a precise jog chasing system can be established.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus generates printing image data of a printing image and copy-forgery-inhibited-pattern-image data of a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image to be added to the printing image. The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image includes a latent image and a background image. The apparatus includes a selecting unit and a printing-data generating unit. The selecting unit selects either the transparent-printing designation or overlay-printing designation, the transparent-printing designation is used for generating printing data so that the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is superimposed on the printing image, and the overlay-printing designation is used for generating printing data so that the printing image is superimposed on the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image. The printing-data generating unit generates printing data based on the printing designation selected by the selecting unit.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus specifies an area wherein a tint block image is applied, or an area wherein a tint block is not applied. A user selects either an application mode or a non-application mode in an area 2250 to specify a tint block application area or a tint block non-application area, and selects, in an area 2251, a shape for a tint block application area or a tint block non-application area. Then, the user employs, for example, a mouse to adjust the size and the location of the selected figure, and specifies the tint block application area or the tint block non-application area. The printer driver employs the selected area information to generate tint block application/non-application area information, and employs this information to create tint block image data while taking into account the area.

Abstract: A printing system which allow an administrator to change the settings of client apparatuses concerning the apparatus configuration of a printer, on his/her own initiative. Apparatus configuration information on the printer is acquired from the printer by a server apparatus via the network. The acquired apparatus configuration information on the printer is coupled to driver data, and the driver data having the apparatus configuration information on the printer coupled thereto is installed in the client apparatuses in response to an installation instruction from a user without waiting for an installation request to be received from any of the client apparatuses via the network.

Abstract: A mechanism for performing tab paper printing and test printing by simple operation is provided. A printer performs a print process with an image formation position unshifted in the test printing and a print process with the image formation position shifted in the tab paper printing. In case of performing the tab paper printing after the test printing, the printing is performed by using print data already held in the printer or a host computer. It structured to enable to output to a plain paper a print result in which a decoration is added only to a tab position correspondence portion, enable to change its decoration method, and enable easy discrimination of the position. By the above structure, a user can easily correct the position of the content intended to be printed on a tab, and costs necessary for the tab paper used in the test can be reduced.