PRINTING SYSTEM, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND PRINTING METHOD
An image forming apparatus is connected a client terminal and a data processing apparatus via a network. The client terminal stores electronic data from which a printing target is selected. The data processing apparatus stores data pertaining to the printing target. The image forming apparatus includes a list reception unit receiving list data pertaining to a list including the one printing target from the data processing apparatus, a printing execution reception unit receiving an instruction to execute printing of the printing target included in the list, a printing data transmission request unit transmitting a request for transmitting a target printing data corresponding to the printing target to the client terminal, a target printing data reception unit receiving the target printing data generated by the client terminal in response to the request from the image forming apparatus, and a printing unit executing printing of the target printing data.
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This application is a Continuation application of the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/636,834 filed on Dec. 14, 2009, and is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-333731 filed on Dec. 26, 2008, in the Japanese Patent Office, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printing system, an image forming apparatus, and a printing method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, PDL (Page Description Language) is set to be interpretable in correspondence with each printer. Therefore, in a case where a PC (Personal Computer) requests a printer to print a printing target (electronic document), the PC is to convert the electronic document into printing data described in a PDL that can be interpreted by the printer.
Recently, however, some printers are able to accept not only printing data but also an electronic document itself as a printing target. Such printers have functions of converting an electronic document received from a PC and printing the electronic document. Therefore, the conversion into printing data does not always need to be performed by the PC side.
Conventionally, however, the type of data format of the electronic document to be transmitted to the printer is decided by the PC side (the side requesting the printer to perform a printing process). Because such decision is made by the PC side, it is difficult to perform a printing process efficiently and flexibly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention may provide an image forming apparatus, a printing control method, and a computer-readable recording medium thereof that substantially eliminate one or more of the problems caused by the limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
Features and advantages of the present invention are set forth in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent from the description and the accompanying drawings, or may be learned by practice of the invention according to the teachings provided in the description. Objects as well as other features and advantages of the present invention will be realized and attained by an image forming apparatus, a printing control method, and a computer-readable recording medium thereof particularly pointed out in the specification in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, an embodiment of the present invention provides an image forming apparatus connected to a network, the image forming apparatus including: a storage part; a printing request receiving part configured to receive a printing request from a data processing apparatus via the network and record the printing request in the storage part, the printing request including a page description language list indicating at least one page description language applicable to the data processing apparatus; a determining part configured to determine whether the data processing apparatus is to convert electronic data associated to the printing request into printing data based on whether the page description language list includes a page description language processable by the image forming apparatus; a data obtaining part configured to transmit a first request for transmitting the printing data to the data processing apparatus when the determining part determines that the data processing apparatus is to convert the electronic data into the printing data and transmit a second request for transmitting the electronic data to the data processing apparatus when the determining part determines that the data processing apparatus is not to convert the electronic data into the printing data and configured to receive the printing data or the electronic data in response to the first and second request; and a printing part configured to perform printing based on the printing data or the electronic data obtained from the data obtaining part.
Another embodiment of the present invention provides a printing control method executed with an image forming apparatus connected to a network, the printing control method including the steps of: a) receiving a printing request from a data processing apparatus via the network, the printing request including a page description language list indicating at least one page description language applicable to the data processing apparatus; b) recording the printing request in a storage part of the image forming apparatus; c) determining whether the data processing apparatus is to convert electronic data associated to the printing request into printing data based on whether the list of page description languages includes a page description language processable by the image forming apparatus; d) transmitting a first request for transmitting the printing data to the data processing apparatus when the data processing apparatus is determined to convert the electronic data into the printing data; e) transmitting a second request for transmitting the electronic data to the data processing apparatus when the data processing apparatus is determined not to convert the electronic data into the printing data; f) receiving the printing data or the electronic data in response to the first and second request; and g) printing data received in step f).
Another embodiment of the present invention provides a computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing an image forming apparatus connected to a network to perform a printing control method, the printing control method including the steps of: a) receiving a printing request from a data processing apparatus via the network, the printing request including a page description language list indicating at least one page description language applicable to the data processing apparatus; b) recording the printing request in a storage part of the image forming apparatus; c) determining whether the data processing apparatus is to convert electronic data associated to the printing request into printing data based on whether the list of page description languages includes a page description language processable by the image forming apparatus; d) transmitting a first request for transmitting the printing data to the data processing apparatus when the data processing apparatus is determined to convert the electronic data into the printing data; e) transmitting a second request for transmitting the electronic data to the data processing apparatus when the data processing apparatus is determined not to convert the electronic data into the printing data; f) receiving the printing data or the electronic data in response to the first and second request; and g) printing data received in step f).
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
In the following, embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The user PC 20 is a PC (Personal Computer) assigned to each user. The user PC 20 includes an application(s) for providing a predetermined service(s) in cooperation with the image forming apparatus 10 (hereinafter also referred to as “network application”). In the embodiment of
The UI controlling part 211 is for displaying a screen regarding various printing applications 21 on a display apparatus 206 (described in detail below) of the user PC 20. The application data transmitting part 212 is for transmitting a request for registering application data of the printing application 21 (registration request) in correspondence with a printing instruction(s) input by the user via the UI controlling part 211. The application data includes data necessary for executing the printing application 21. It is to be noted that, in this embodiment, the application data of the printing application serve as a request for requesting the image forming apparatus 10 to perform printing (printing request). The cooperating part 213 is for controlling communications (e.g., exchanging of data) for cooperating with the image forming apparatus 10. The printing data generating part 214 generates printing data of a document file (electronic data) (PDL data (Page Description Language data)) which are to be printed by the image forming apparatus 10. The printing data generating part 214 generates the printing data by using a printer driver installed in the user PC 20. The attribute data managing file 215 is for storing attribute data of the printing application 21. The attribute data include, for example, an identifier (application ID) of the printing application 21, a user ID of the user having propriety of the printing application 21, and initial values of the printing setting data (data indicating printing conditions).
The scanning application 22 is a network application for executing predetermined processes (e.g., a transmission process (broadcasting process), data storing process) on image data scanned by the image forming apparatus 10. The scanning application 22 includes, for example, a UI (User Interface) controlling part 221, an application data transmitting part 222, a cooperating part 223, a scanned data processing part 224, and an attribute data managing file 225.
The UI controlling part 221 is for displaying a screen regarding various scanning applications 22 on the display apparatus 206 of the user PC 20. The application data transmitting part 222 is for transmitting a request for registering application data of the scanning application 22 (registration request) when the scanning application 22 is activated. The application data includes data necessary for executing the scanning application 22. The cooperating part 223 is for controlling communications (e.g., exchanging of data) for cooperating with the image forming apparatus 10. The attribute data managing file 225 is for storing data regarding settings of the scanning application 22 therein. The scanning data processing part 224 is for performing various processes (e.g., data transmission or data storage) on image data scanned by the image forming apparatus 10 and transferred to the user PC 20. The attribute data managing file 225 is also for storing attribute data of the scanning application 22. The attribute data of the scanning application 22 include, for example, an identifier of the scanning application 22 (application ID), a user ID of the user having propriety of the scanning application 22, and initial values of scanning setting data (data indicating scanning conditions). The user ID of the proprietor of each network application is recorded in the attribute data managing file 215 of the printing application 21 and the attribute data managing file 225 of the scanning application 22. Thus, each of the network applications belongs to a user. Accordingly, even if a network application is the same, the network application is differentiated with respect to each user to which the network application belongs. For example, in a case where a network application belongs to user A, access is basically permitted only for user A. Further, in a case where a network application belongs to user B, access is basically permitted only for user B. However, access to a network application may be permitted for a third person, for example, by using an access control function and granting the third person access to the network application.
Although only a single user PC 20 is illustrated in the embodiment of the
The network application server 30 may be a computer including, for example, an application data registering part 31, an advertising part 32, an application data providing part 32, and a mediating part 34. The application data registering part 31 is for receiving a request for registering application data (registration request) along with the application data transmitted from the user PC 20 and storing the transmitted application data in an application data management table 35. The application data management table 35 is generated by a storage apparatus of the network application management server 30 in correspondence with each user. That is, each application data management table 35 manages application data of a network application belonging to each user. The advertising part 32 is for advertising (e.g., broadcasting, multicasting) the user ID included in the application data received by the application data registering part 31 throughout the network 40. The advertising is performed in user units (in user ID units). For example, even in a case where new application data are newly received after advertising of user A is performed, the advertising part 32 does not perform advertising in correspondence with the newly received data. This is because the advertising by the advertising part 32 is for reporting that there is a new user that can use (access) a network application. The advertising, however, may be performed in units of application data. In this case where advertising is performed in units of application data, an advertisement corresponding to the same user may be issued (user overlap). Nevertheless, such overlap of users can be eliminated at the side of the image forming apparatus 10. The application data providing part 33 is for providing (transmitting) the application data registered in the application data management table 35 to the image forming apparatus 10 in response to a request from the image forming apparatus 10. The mediating part 34 is for mediating communications between the network application and the image forming apparatus 10.
It is to be noted that one of the user PCs 20 may be used to serve as both a user PC 20 and a network application management server 30. That is, one of the user PCs 20 may also include the application data registering part 31, the advertising part 32, the application data providing part 33, and the mediating part 34.
In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 10 is a multifunction machine that realizes plural functions (e.g., printing, scanning, copying, facsimile communications) within a single body (housing). Alternatively, the image forming apparatus 10 may be used to realize one of the plural functions. The image forming apparatus 10 includes a user detecting part 121, a UI controlling part 122, an application data obtaining part 123, a network application cooperating part 124, a function controlling part 125, a user management table 126, a printing data generating part 127, and a printing data processing part 128.
The user detecting part 121 is for detecting the user having access to the network application based on the advertisement issued by the network application management server 30 and registering data included in the advertisement (e.g., user ID) in the user management table 126. The user management table 126 is for managing a list of users existing in the network 40 which have access to the network application. The UI controlling part 122 is for receiving input (e.g., instructions for operating the network application) from the user. In other words, although the network application is allocated in the user PC 20, the network application can be controlled from a control panel 15 (described below) of the image forming apparatus 10. The application data obtaining part 123 is for obtaining application data from the network application management server 30. For example, the application data obtaining part 123 obtains application data of a network application belonging to a user selected from the users registered in the user management table 126. The network application cooperating part 124 is for controlling communications with respect to the network application. The function controlling part 125 is for controlling execution of functions requested from the network application. For example, processes such as printing and scanning are performed according to the controls of the function controlling part 125. The printing data generating part 127 is for converting data into document file printing data. The printing data processing part 128 is for generating printing images based on printing data.
Next, hardware configurations of each apparatus of this embodiment are described.
The controller 11 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 111, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 112, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 113, and a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 114. Various program and data used by the programs are recorded in the ROM 113. The RAM 112 is used, for example, as a storage space for loading a program(s) therein or a work space for processing the loaded program. The CPU 111 is for executing various functions by processing the loaded program. The HDD 114 stores programs and data used by the programs (e.g., user management table 126) therein.
The scanner 12 is hardware for reading image data from a document. The printer 13 is hardware for printing a printing image generated by the printing data processing part 128 to a sheet(s) of paper (printing paper). The modem 14 is hardware for connecting to a telephone line. The modem 14 is used for transmitting/receiving image data by facsimile communications. The control panel 15 is hardware including, for example, an input unit (e.g., button) for receiving input from the user and a display unit (e.g., liquid crystal panel). The network interface 16 is hardware for connecting with a network (e.g., LAN) regardless of whether the connection is wireless or wired. The SD card slot 17 is used for reading a program(s) recorded to a SD card (computer-readable recording medium) 80. That is, with the image forming apparatus 10, not only programs recorded in the ROM 113 but also programs recorded in the SD card 80 are loaded to the RAM 112 and executed by the CPU 111.
In a case where there is an instruction (command) to activate the program, the memory 203 reads out the program from the auxiliary storage unit 202 and stores the program therein. The CPU 204 executes the functions of the user PC 20 according to the program stored in the memory 203. The interface unit 205 is used as an interface for connecting with a network. The display unit 206 is for displaying, for example, a GUI (Graphical User Interface) according to the program. The input unit 207 includes, for example a keyboard and/or a mouse for inputting various operations and instructions (command).
Next, procedures (steps) of a data processing system 1 are described.
In accordance with an instruction to activate the printing application 21 (activation instruction) input from the user, the UI control part 211 orders a display unit 206 to display a main screen 510 (described below) of the printing application 21 (Step S101). Then, the UI control part 211 receives a selection of a document file (printing target) from the user (Step S102). The selection of the document file may be performed by, for example, dragging a document file icon and dropping the document file icon into a main screen 510 displayed on the display unit 206.
Based on the selection of the document file, the UI control part 211 records the file name and the file type (file format) of the selected document file to the memory unit 203. The type of file is determined based on the extension of the document file.
Then, the UI control part 211 displays the icon of the selected document file in the main screen 510 along with displaying a printing setting screen 520 on the display unit 206 (Step S103).
When the values of the setting items of the are set to the printing setting screen 510, the UI control part 211 records the set data (hereinafter also referred to as “printing setting data”) in the memory unit 203 (Step S105). Then, the application data transmitting part 211 obtains a list of types of page description languages (PDL) applicable for the printer driver installed in the user PC 20 (Step S106). The obtaining of the list of PDLs may be performed as follows. First, a list of printer drivers installed in the user PC 20 is obtained. Then, a PDL(s) corresponding to the printer drivers in the obtained list are obtained from each of the printer drivers.
Then, the application data transmitting part 211 generates application data of the printing application 21 based on the data obtained in Steps S105 and 5106 and transmits the application data along with a request requesting registration of the application data to the network application management server 30 (Step S107). Data for communicating with the network application management server 30 (e.g., IP address, host address) are registered beforehand in each user PC 20.
The application ID is identification data which uniquely identifies each network application. The user ID is identification data which identifies the user (owner of the printing application 21). The cooperation function identifier is data which identifies necessary functions of the image forming apparatus 10 cooperating with the network application (i.e. functions to be used by the network application). For example, the cooperation function identifier may be, “print” or “scan” in which “print” represents a printing function and “scan” represents a scanning function. The printing application 21 uses the printing function of the image forming apparatus 10. Therefore, the cooperation function identifier in the example of
The printing setting data are data that are set by using the printing setting screen 520. The printing setting data may include a value stored in the attribute data managing file 215. The file name and the file format are data obtained from the document file (printing target) and recorded in the memory unit 103. The PDL list is a list of page description languages obtained from the application data transmitting part 211 in which the page description languages are applicable (capable of being output) to the printer driver of the user PC 20.
Next, procedures of an exemplary operation performed when application data are transmitted in Step S7 is described.
In Step S111, the application data registering part 31 of the network application management server 30 receives application data transmitted from the application data transmitting part 212 and registers the received application data to the application data management table 35 corresponding to the user ID included in the received application data. In a case where no application data management table 35 corresponding to the user ID exists, the application data registering part 31 generates an application data management table 35 corresponding to the user ID and registers the received application data in the generated application data management table 35 (S112).
In a case where the application data management table 35 is generated (that is, a case where application data of a user corresponding to the user ID included in the received application data are registered for the first time), the advertising part 32 issues an advertisement on the network 40 (Step S113). In this embodiment, the advertisement contains the user ID included in the received application data and a URL for obtaining the application data (application data obtainment URL). The application data obtainment URL is a URL unique to each application data management table 35. For example, in a case where the application data registering part 31 generates an application data management table 35, the application data registering part 31 generates an application obtainment URL corresponding to the generated application data management table 35. In this embodiment, the application data management table 35 is generated with respect to each user. Therefore, the application data obtainment URL is unique to each user.
Then, when the user detecting part 121 of the image forming apparatus 10 receives the advertisement, the user detecting part 121 registers the user ID and the application data obtainment URL included in the advertisement to the user management table 126. (Step S114).
Then, the user, having instructed printing from the user PC 20 via the printing application 21, shifts to the image forming apparatus 10 at a predetermined timing and controls the printing application 21 from the image forming apparatus 10. It is to be noted that, in a case where plural image forming apparatuses 10 are connected to the network 40, the same advertisement is received by the user detecting part 121 of each of the image forming apparatuses 10 and the user ID and the application data obtainment URL contained in the advertisement are registered by the user management table 126 of each of the image forming apparatuses 10. Accordingly, the user is able to perform the below-described operation (procedure) of
When the user inputs an instruction to use a network application via the control panel 15 (Step S201), the UI control part 122 of the image forming apparatus 10 displays a user selection screen on the control panel 15 based on data registered in the user management table 126 (Step S202). In an alternative case, the UI control part 122 may obtain user data from the network application management server 30 and display the user selection screen based on the obtained user data in Step S202. In this alternative case, the performing of Step S113 of
Then, in Step S203, the user selects a button corresponding to the user ID of the user himself/herself by pressing the corresponding button displayed on the user selection screen 610. In response to the pressing of the button, the application data obtaining part 123 obtains the application data obtainment URL associated to the user ID of the selected button from the user management table 126. It is to be noted that, user recognition (user authentication) may be performed when the button corresponding to the user ID is selected. In this case, subsequent procedures are performed only when the user has been authenticated.
Then, in Step S204, the application data obtaining part 123 transmits a request for obtaining application data (application data obtainment request) destined to a corresponding application data obtainment URL. The application data obtainment request transmitted from the application data obtaining part 123 is received by the application data providing part 33 of the network application management server 30. The application data providing part 33 obtains all of the network application data registered in the application data management table 35 corresponding to the application data obtainment URL (i.e. the application data management table 35 corresponding to the user operating the image forming apparatus 10) and transmits a list of the obtained application data (application data list) (Step S205). In the case of transmitting the application data list, the application data providing part 33 generates a URL for relaying communications between the image forming apparatus 10 and each network application (network application relay URL) in correspondence with each network application. The application data providing part 33 adds (attaches) the network application relay URL to application data corresponding to each network application and transmits a list of application data having attached the network application relay URL attached thereto to the image forming apparatus 10. Accordingly, the application data in the application data list transmitted in Step S205 may have a configuration such as the one illustrated in
The application data illustrated in
Then, the UI control part 122 of the image forming apparatus 10 records the received application data list to the RAM 112 and displays a network application selection screen (Step S206).
In this embodiment, buttons are displayed in units of printing requests (i.e., units of printing jobs) in a case where the network application is a printing application 21 whereas buttons are displayed in units of applications in a case where the network application is a scanning application 22. This difference is due to the difference of the timing in which a registration request is transmitted (issued) from the two network applications (scanning application, printing application). That is, the printing application 22 issues a registration request (registration request transmitted to the network application management server 30) in accordance with input of a printing request. Accordingly, in a case where a printing request for a file (e.g., document file) B is input after a printing request for a file (e.g., document file) A, the steps illustrated in
On the other hand, in a case where the network application is a scanning application 22, the scanning application 22 issues application data when the scanning application 22 is activated. That is, the procedures (steps) illustrated in
Further, buttons are displayed in units of application data on the application selection screen 620. Accordingly, in a case where the network application is a printing application 21, buttons are displayed in units of printing requests (printing jobs). In a case where the network application is a scanning application 22, buttons are displayed in units of applications.
In the case where the network application is a printing application 21, buttons are displayed in units of printing jobs in view of operability (maneuverability).
For example, supposing that buttons are displayed in units of applications in a case where the network application is a printing application 21, an inputting operation (inputting maneuver) is to be performed at least four times. The inputting operations to be performed are: (1) instructing use of a network application, then (2) selecting a user on the user selection screen 610, then (3) selecting a printing application 21 on the application selection screen 620, and then (4) selecting a file (printing target) to be printed. The number in the parenthesis (1)-(4) indicates the number of times the inputting operation (inputting operation) is performed. In addition, the control panel 15 of the image forming apparatus 10 generally tends to have lower operability compared to a user interface (e.g., mouse, keyboard) of a PC (Personal Computer). Thus, selecting a document file as a printing target by using the control panel 15 increases the operation load. Further, enabling selection of document files stored in the user PC from the image forming apparatus 20 leads to an increase of the cost for installing a necessary program(s) to the image forming apparatus 20.
On the other hand, by displaying buttons in units of printing jobs in a case where the network application is a printing application 21, an inputting operation (inputting maneuver) is performed three times. The inputting operations (inputting maneuvers) that are performed are: (1) instructing use of a network application, then (2) selecting a user on the user selection screen 610, and then (3) selecting a printing application 21 on the application selection screen 620.
Accordingly, in this embodiment of the present invention, in a case where the network application is a printing application 21, buttons are displayed in units of printing jobs. In
Then, in Step S207, a button corresponding to the printing application 21 for performing one of the printing jobs is selected by pressing the button and a start key of the control panel 15 is pressed for instructing execution of the printing application 21. Accordingly, the network application cooperating part 124 recognizes that a printing operation is to be executed based on a cooperation function identifier (“print”) included in the application data corresponding to the pressed button (hereinafter also referred to as “current application data”). In order to execute the printing operation, printing data are to be obtained. Therefore, the network application cooperating part 124 determines whether printing data (data in the form of page description language) of the document file to be printed should be generated by the image forming apparatus 10 or the user PC 20 at which the printing application 21 is allocated (Step S208). In a case where the network application cooperating part 124 determines that the printing data are to be generated by the user PC 20, the network application cooperating part 124 determines the type of page description language to be used for generating the printing data. In this embodiment, printing data are not always generated by either one of the user PC 20 or the image forming apparatus 10; instead, the entity that generates printing data dynamically changes according to the status of the image forming apparatus 10.
Then, the network application cooperating part 124 transmits a request for transmission of document data or a document file (transmission request) to the network application relay URL included in the current application data according to the result of the determination by the network application cooperating part 124 (Step S209). In a case where the network application cooperating part 124 determines that the printing data are to be generated by the user PC 20, the object requested to be transmitted is printing data. In a case where the network application cooperating part 124 determines that the printing data are to be generated by the image forming apparatus 10, the object requested to be transmitted is a document file. In the transmission request, a file name included in the current application data is designated. Further, in a case where the object requested to be transmitted is printing data, the type of page description language is also designated in the transmission request.
The transmission request addressed to the network application relay URL is received by the mediating part 34 of the network application management server 30. The mediating part 34 obtains the application data corresponding to the network application relay URL from the application management table 35 and transfers the transmission request to the network application address included in the obtained application data (Step S210).
Then, the transmission request addressed to the network application address is received by the cooperating part 213 of the printing application 21 of the user PC 20. In a case where the object requested to be transmitted is printing data, the cooperating part 213 requests the printing data generating part 214 to generate printing data. The printing data generating part 214 obtains a document file having a file name designated in the transmission request from the auxiliary storage unit 102 and generates printing data of the document file (Step S211). In the step of generating the printing data, the printing data generating part 214 generates printing data of the document file by using a printer driver that can generate (output) the printing data in a page description language designated in the transmission request.
On the other hand, in a case where the object requested to be transmitted is a document file, the cooperating part 213 obtains a document file having a file name designated in the transmission request from the auxiliary storage unit 102 (Step S211).
Then, the cooperating part 213 returns the generated printing data or the obtained document file to the mediating part 34 of the network application management server 30 (Step S212). Then, the mediating part 34 transfers the printing data or the document file to the network application cooperating part 124 of the image forming apparatus 10 (Step S213).
The network application cooperating part 124 inputs the transferred printing data or the document file to the function controlling part 125. In a case where printing data are input, the function controlling part 125 instructs (controls) the printing data processing part 128 to generate a printing image based on the printing data and instructs (controls) the printer 13 to transfer the generated printing image onto a printing paper (Step S214).
On the other hand, in a case where a document file is input, the function controlling part 125 instructs (controls) the printing data generating part 127 to convert the document file to printing data and instructs (controls) the printing data processing part 128 to generate a printing image based on the printing data converted from the document file (Step S213). Further, the function controlling part 125 instructs (controls) the printer 13 to transfer the generated printing image onto a printing paper (Step S214).
The procedures (steps) of
Next, an embodiment where the button 622 of
The button 622 is grayed out by performing the below-described procedures of
In Step S1411, the UI control part 122 extracts printing setting data from the application data corresponding to the button to be processed (target process button). Then, the UI control part 122 obtains ability data from the image forming apparatus 10 (Step S1412). The ability data includes a list of printing settings (printing setting items) that are applicable to the image forming apparatus 10. The ability data are stored in, for example, the HDD 114 of the image forming apparatus 10. Then, the UI control part 122 determines whether there are any printing setting items that cannot be applied to the image forming apparatus 10 by determining whether all of the printing setting items designated in the printing setting data are included in the ability data (Step S1413).
In a case where there is an inapplicable setting item (i.e. a case where a printing setting item designated in the printing setting data is not included in the ability data) (Yes in Step S1413), the UI control part 122 associates the inapplicable printing setting to the target process button and records the inapplicable printing setting in association with the target process button (Step 1414). Then, the UI control part 122 grays out the target process button (Step S1415).
In a case where there is no inapplicable setting item (i.e. a case where all printing setting item designated in the printing setting data are included in the ability data) (No in Step S1413), the UI control part 122 displays the target process button with a regular color (Step S1416).
In a case where the grayed out button 622 is selected, the UI control part 122 reports the inapplicable printing setting item stored in the RAM 112 to the user.
If the user wishes to execute a printing operation even if color printing cannot be performed, the user presses a Yes button 6251 on the reporting screen 625. If the user does not wish to execute a printing operation, the user presses a No button 6252 on the reporting screen 625.
When the Yes button 6251 is pressed, the button 622 turns into a selected state. When the No button 6252 is pressed, the button 622 does not turn into a selected state. When the start key of the control panel 15 is pressed in the case where the button 622 is in a selected state, the printing job corresponding to the button 622 is executed according to Step 5207 and the steps thereafter illustrated in
Next, a determining operation of Step S208 is described according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In Step S1621, the network application cooperating part 124 obtains a list of PDL from the current application data. Then, the network application cooperating part 124 determines whether the obtained PDL list includes a PDL (Page Description Language) applicable to (processable for) the printing data processing part 128 of the image forming apparatus 10 (Step S1622). A page description language applicable to the printing data processing part 128 can be obtained by querying the printing data processing part 128. Further, whether the page description language is applicable to the printing data processing part 128 can be determined based on data stored in the HDD 114. In
In a case where a page description language applicable to the printing data processing part 128 is included in the PDL list (i.e. a case where a page description language that can be processed by the printing data processing part 128 is included in the page description languages that can be generated in the user PC 20), the network application cooperating part 124 determines whether the number of jobs in standby (standby jobs) in the image forming apparatus 10 is equal to or greater than a predetermined number (a threshold set beforehand) (Step S1623). The number of standby jobs may be the total number of application data items recorded in the RAM 112 by the application data obtaining part 123 (that is, the number of buttons on the network application selection screen 620). Further, the number of standby jobs may be the number of application data items related to the printing application 21 included the application data recorded in the RAM 112.
Whether application data are related to the printing application may be determined based on whether the value of the cooperation function identifier is “print”.
In a case where the number of standby jobs is equal to or greater than the predetermined number (Yes in Step 1623), the network application cooperating part 124 determines that the printing data generating entity is the user PC 20 (Step S1624). Accordingly, by reducing the workload of the image forming apparatus 10, standby jobs can be handled (executed). Then, the network application cooperating part 124 selects the page description language applicable to the printing data processing part 128 from the page description languages in the PDL list and sets the selected page description language as the page description language to be generated by the user PC 20 (page description language to be used for the printing data) (Step S1625). In a case where there are plural corresponding page description languages, a given page description language can be selected. For example, the printing data processing part 128 may prioritize the applicable page description languages beforehand and select the page description language having highest priority. In a case where all of the page description languages included in the PDL list are applicable to the printing data processing part 128, the page description language may be selected by the user PC 20 instead of selecting by the image forming apparatus 10. In this case, the page description language need not be designated in Step S209 of
Either in a case where there is no page description language applicable to the printing data processing part 128 in the PDL list (No in Step 1622) or a case where the number of standby jobs is less than the predetermined number (No in Step 1623), the network application cooperating part 124 determines that the printing data generating entity is the image forming apparatus 10 (Step S1626).
It is to be noted that, besides the number of standby jobs, the determining of the entity that should generate the printing data may be performed by referring to the indices enabling the CPU 111 to determine the workload of the image forming apparatus (e.g., usage rate of CPU 111, memory capacity).
With the above-described embodiment, the role for generating printing data can be dynamically set to the image forming apparatus 10 or the user PC 20. As a result, the printing process can be performed efficiently and flexibly.
The above-described embodiment of the present invention is a case where the network application management apparatus 30 mediates the user PC 20 and the image forming apparatus 10. In the above-described embodiment, by concentrating (gathering) the apparatuses/units communicating with the image forming apparatus 10 to the network application management apparatus 30, the communication protocol used for communicating with the image forming apparatus 10 can be limited to the network application management apparatus 30. Further, the amount of data for communicating with the image forming apparatus 10 can be reduced. In an alternative case, the communications may be performed directly between each user PC 20 and the image forming apparatus 10. In this alternative case, each user PC 20 includes the function(s) of the network application management apparatus 30.
The present invention is not limited to the specifically disclosed embodiments, and variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A printing system connecting a client terminal, a data processing apparatus, and an image forming apparatus via a network, the printing system comprising:
- the client terminal including a printing target reception unit configured to receive selection of a printing target selected from electronic data;
- the data processing apparatus including a printing data reception unit configured to receive data pertaining to the printing target selected from the electronic data; and
- the image forming apparatus including a list reception unit configured to receive list data pertaining to a list including the printing target from the data processing apparatus, a printing execution reception unit configured to receive an instruction to execute printing of the printing target included in the list, and a printing data transmission request unit configured to transmit a request for transmitting a target printing data corresponding to the printing target;
- wherein the client terminal further includes a printing data transmission request reception unit configured to receive the request from the image forming apparatus, a printing data generation unit configured to generate the target printing data corresponding to the printing target in response to the request from the image forming apparatus, and a printing data transmission unit configured to transmit the target printing data,
- wherein the image forming apparatus further includes a target printing data reception unit configured to receive the target printing data, and a printing unit configured to execute printing of the target printing data.
2. The printing system as claimed in claim 1,
- wherein the printing data reception unit is further configured to receive user identification data associated with the printing target from the client terminal,
- wherein the list reception unit is further configured to receive list data including the printing target associated with the user identification data with respect to a particular user.
3. The printing system as claimed in claim 1,
- wherein the printing data generation unit is further configured to generate the target printing data in a PDL (Page Description Language) applicable to the printing unit of the image forming apparatus.
4. The printing system as claimed in claim 1,
- wherein the printing data transmission request unit is further configured to designate a PDL (Page Description Language) together with the request for transmitting the target printing data;
- wherein the printing data generation unit is further configured to generate the target printing data in the PDL (Page Description Language) designated by the printing data transmission request unit.
5. The printing system as claimed in claim 1,
- wherein the image forming apparatus further includes a list display unit and a display unit,
- wherein the data pertaining to the printing target includes a file name of an electronic data corresponding to the printing target,
- wherein the list display unit is configured to display the list including the printing target that includes the file name of the electronic data in the display unit,
- wherein the printing execution reception unit is further configured to receive an instruction to execute printing of the printing target selected from the list displayed in the display unit by a user.
6. The printing system as claimed in claim 1,
- wherein the image forming apparatus further includes a determination unit configured to determine whether the generation of the target printing data is to be executed by the printing data generation unit of the client terminal,
- wherein when the determination unit determines that the generation of the target printing data is to be executed, the printing data transmission request unit transmits the request for transmitting the target printing data corresponding to the printing target.
7. An image forming apparatus connected a client terminal and a data processing apparatus via a network, the client terminal storing electronic data from which a printing target is selected, the data processing apparatus storing data pertaining to the printing target, the image forming apparatus comprising:
- a list reception unit configured to receive list data pertaining to a list including the one printing target from the data processing apparatus;
- a printing execution reception unit configured to receive an instruction to execute printing of the printing target included in the list;
- a printing data transmission request unit configured to transmit a request for transmitting a target printing data corresponding to the printing target to the client terminal;
- a target printing data reception unit configured to receive the target printing data generated by the client terminal in response to the request from the image forming apparatus; and
- a printing unit configured to execute printing of the target printing data.
8. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 7,
- wherein the data processing apparatus is configured to receive user identification data associated with the printing target from the client terminal,
- wherein the list reception unit is further configured to receive list data including the printing data associated with the user identification data with respect to a particular user.
9. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 7,
- wherein the printing data transmission request unit is further configured to designate a PDL (Page Description Language) together with the request for transmitting the target printing data;
- wherein the client terminal is configured to generate the target printing data in the PDL (Page Description Language) designated by the printing data transmission request unit.
10. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:
- a list display unit and a display unit;
- wherein the data pertaining to the printing target includes a file name of an electronic data corresponding to the printing target,
- wherein the list display unit is configured to display the list including the printing target including the file name of the electronic data in the display unit,
- wherein the printing execution reception unit is further configured to receive an instruction to execute printing of the printing target selected from the list displayed in the display unit by a user.
11. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:
- a determination unit configured to determine whether the generation of the target printing data is to be executed by the printing data generation unit of the client terminal;
- wherein when the determination unit determines that the generation of the target printing data is to be executed, the printing data transmission request unit transmits the request for transmitting the target printing data corresponding to the printing target.
12. A printing method using a printing system connecting a client terminal, a data processing apparatus, and an image forming apparatus via a network, the printing method comprising the steps of:
- receiving, by way of the client terminal, selection of a printing target selected from electronic data;
- receiving, by way of the data processing apparatus, data pertaining to the printing target selected from the electronic data;
- receiving, by way of the image forming apparatus, list data pertaining to a list including the printing target from the data processing apparatus,
- receiving, by way of the image forming apparatus, an instruction to execute printing of the printing target included in the list;
- transmitting, by way of the image forming apparatus, a request for transmitting a target printing data corresponding to the printing target;
- receiving, by way of the client terminal, the request from the image forming apparatus;
- generating, by way of the client terminal, the target printing data corresponding to the printing target in response to the request from the image forming apparatus;
- transmitting, by way of the client terminal, the target printing data;
- receiving, by way of the image forming apparatus, the target printing data; and
- executing, by way of the image forming apparatus, printing of the target printing data.
13. The printing method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising the steps of:
- receiving, by way of the data processing apparatus, user identification data associated with the printing target from the client terminal; and
- receiving, by way of the image forming apparatus, list data including the printing data associated with the user identification data with respect to a particular user.
14. The printing method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a step of generating, by way of the client terminal, the target printing data in a PDL (Page Description Language) applicable to the image forming apparatus.
15. The printing method as claimed in claim 12,
- further comprising the steps of:
- designating, by way of the image forming apparatus, a PDL (Page Description Language) together with the requesting of transmitting the target printing data; and
- generating, by way of the client terminal, the target printing data in the PDL (Page Description Language) designated by the image forming apparatus.
16. The printing method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising the steps of:
- displaying, by way of the image forming apparatus, the list including the printing target in a display unit including a file name of an electronic data corresponding to the printing target in a display unit of the image forming apparatus; and
- receiving, by way of the image forming apparatus, an instruction to execute printing of the printing target selected from the list displayed in the display unit by a user.
17. The printing method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising the steps of:
- determining, by way of the image forming apparatus, whether the generation of the target printing data is to be executed by the client terminal;
- transmitting, by way of the image forming apparatus, the request for transmitting the target printing data corresponding to the printing target when the generation of the target printing data is determined to be executed.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 24, 2013
Publication Date: Jan 23, 2014
Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD. (Tokyo)
Inventor: Ryuichi IKEURA (Kanagawa)
Application Number: 14/034,757
International Classification: G06F 3/12 (20060101);