Information processing apparatus, print management apparatus, print management system and method, memory medium storing computer-readable program therein, and print control program

• US 20020093681A1
• Filed: 01/15/2002
• Published: 07/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Hitaka, Yosato
• Granted Patent: US 7,145,679 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1205 resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1208 resulting in improved quality of the output result, e.g. print layout, colours, workflows, print preview
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/122 with regard to computing resources, e.g. memory, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1225 Software update, e.g. print driver, modules, plug-ins, fonts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1227 Printer definition files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1245 by conversion to intermediate or common format
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1256 User feedback, e.g. print preview, test print, proofing, pre-flight checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1272 Digital storefront, e.g. e-ordering, web2print, submitting a job from a remote submission screen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1287 via internet
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

In a system which receives a print service via the Internet, a client is enabled to recognize the updating of printers provided for a shop which can receive the print service without installing a new printer driver for each printer, thereby enabling it to be used for printing. In a client 100, the above object is accomplished by providing means for forming print data by using a printer driver 102 which can set print set information corresponding to a plurality of printers on the basis of a printer information description file 103, forming a print order on the basis of the formed print data and the print set information set by the printer driver, promoting activation of a Web browser 108, and requesting an access to a center server 120 which can communicate via the Internet.

Claims

1. An information processing method in an information processing apparatus for requesting a print order from a print management apparatus via the Internet, comprising:

a print data forming step of forming print data by using a printer driver which can set print set information corresponding to a plurality of printers on the basis of a printer information description file;

a print order forming step of forming the print order on the basis of the formed print data and the print set information set by the printer driver; and

an access requesting step of promoting activation of a Web browser and requesting an access to the print management apparatus which can communicate via the Internet.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a printer information obtaining step of obtaining the printer information description file from said print management apparatus via the Internet,

and wherein in said print data forming step, a user interface for instructing a print setting is formed on the basis of a print setting described in the obtained printer information description file, and the print set information is set in accordance with instructed contents.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a shop information obtaining step of obtaining a shop information file describing attributes of a shop for printing and outputting the print order from said print management apparatus via the Internet,

and wherein in said print order forming step, the print order to designate a shop name included in the obtained shop information file is formed.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

an input step of, when the print order is transmitted to said print management apparatus, inputting an uploading instruction so that the print order is transmitted to said print management apparatus and managed without being print-processed; and

an uploading step of, when said uploading instruction is inputted, uploading said print order to said print management apparatus via the Internet.

5. A method according to claim 4, further comprising a print ordering step of transmitting a print ordering request for one or more print orders which were designated by the user and should be print-ordered among the print orders uploaded in said print management apparatus to said print management apparatus via the Internet.

6. A method according to claim 5, further comprising:

a list obtaining step of accessing said print management apparatus via the Internet and obtaining an order list of the print orders uploaded in said print management apparatus; and

a preview requesting step of requesting a preview display of the print order instructed by the user from the obtained order list of the print orders.

7. A memory medium which stores a print control program which can be executed by an information processing apparatus which requests a print order from a print management apparatus via the Internet, wherein said print control program comprises:

a print data forming step of forming print data by using a printer driver which can set print set information corresponding to a plurality of printers on the basis of a printer information description file;

a print order forming step of forming the print order on the basis of the formed print data and the print set information set by the printer driver; and

an access requesting step of promoting activation of a Web browser and requesting an access to the print management apparatus which can communicate via the Internet.

8. A medium according to claim 7, wherein

said print control program further comprises a printer information obtaining step of obtaining the printer information description file from said print management apparatus via the Internet,

and in said print data forming step, a user interface for instructing a print setting is formed on the basis of a print setting described in the obtained printer information description file, and the print set information is set in accordance with instructed contents.

9. A medium according to claim 7, wherein

said print control program further comprises a shop information obtaining step of obtaining a shop information file describing attributes of a shop for printing and outputting the print order from said print management apparatus via the Internet,

and in said print order forming step, the print order to designate a shop name included in the obtained shop information file is formed.

10. A medium according to claim 7, wherein

said print control program further comprises:

an input step of, when the print order is transmitted to said print management apparatus, inputting an uploading instruction so that the print order is transmitted to said print management apparatus and managed without being print-processed; and

an uploading step of, when said uploading instruction is inputted, uploading said print order to said print management apparatus via the Internet.

11. A medium according to claim 10, wherein said print control program further comprises a print ordering step of transmitting a print ordering request for one or more print orders which were designated by the user and should be print-ordered among the print orders uploaded in said print management apparatus to said print management apparatus via the Internet.

12. A medium according to claim 10, wherein said print control program further comprises:

a list obtaining step of accessing said print management apparatus via the Internet and obtaining an order list of the print orders uploaded in said print management apparatus; and

a preview requesting step of requesting a preview display of the print order instructed by the user from the obtained order list of the print orders.

14. A program according to claim 13, further comprising a printer information obtaining step of obtaining the printer information description file from said print management apparatus via the Internet,

and wherein said program allows said information processing apparatus to execute said print data forming step so as to form a user interface for instructing a print setting on the basis of a print setting described in the obtained printer information description file and set the print set information in accordance with instructed contents.

15. A program according to claim 14, further comprising a shop information obtaining step of obtaining a shop information file describing attributes of a shop for printing and outputting the print order from said print management apparatus via the Internet,

and wherein said program allows said information processing apparatus to execute said print order forming step so as to form the print order to designate a shop name included in the obtained shop information file.

16. A program according to claim 13, further comprising:

an input step of, when the print order is transmitted to said print management apparatus, inputting an uploading instruction so that the print order is transmitted to said print management apparatus and managed without being print-processed; and

an uploading step of, when said uploading instruction is inputted, uploading said print order to said print management apparatus via the Internet.

17. A program according to claim 16, wherein said program allows said information processing apparatus to further execute a print ordering step of transmitting a print ordering request for one or more print orders which were designated by the user and should be print-ordered among the print orders uploaded in said print management apparatus to said print management apparatus via the Internet.

18. A program according to claim 16, further comprising:

a list obtaining step of accessing said print management apparatus via the Internet and obtaining an order list of the print orders uploaded in said print management apparatus; and

a preview requesting step of requesting a preview display of the print order instructed by the user from the obtained order list of the print orders.

13. A print control program which can be executed by an information processing apparatus which requests a print order from a print management apparatus via the Internet, comprising:

a print data forming step of forming print data by using a printer driver which can set print set information corresponding to a plurality of printers on the basis of a printer information description file;

a print order forming step of forming the print order on the basis of the formed print data and the print set information set by the printer driver; and

an access requesting step of promoting activation of a Web browser and requesting an access to the print management apparatus which can communicate via the Internet.

19. An information processing apparatus for requesting a print order from a print management apparatus via the Internet, comprising:

print data forming means for forming print data by using a printer driver which can set print set information corresponding to a plurality of printers on the basis of a printer information description file;

print order forming means for forming the print order on the basis of the formed print data and the print set information set by the printer driver; and

access requesting means for promoting activation of a Web browser and requesting an access to the print management apparatus which can communicate via the Internet.

20. A print management method in a print management apparatus which receives a request for a print order from a client via the Internet, comprising:

a printer information transmitting step of transmitting a printer information description file describing print set information corresponding to a plurality of printers to said client via the Internet in accordance with an obtaining request from the client;

a data converting step of data-converting print data described by a page description language included in the print order which is transmitted from the client into a printer description language file as a format which does not depend on a printer of a shop; and

a print order forming step of forming a shop print order for requesting the shop to print on the basis of print set information which is included in said print order and designates a print setting and said data-converted printer description language file.

21. A method according to claim 20, further comprising:

a print order managing step of managing said shop print order in correspondence to user identification information of the client without performing a printing process; and

a transmission control step of controlling so as to transmit the designated shop print order to the shop which should execute the printing process in accordance with a print ordering instruction from the client.

22. A method according to claim 21, further comprising:

a searching step of searching the print order to be returned as an order list of the print orders among the print orders managed in said print order managing step in accordance with a request from the client with reference to said user identification information of said client; and

an order list returning step of returning the order list including said searched print order to the client who requested the order list.

23. A method according to claim 20, further comprising:

a preview image forming step of forming a preview image by data-converting an image of said data-converted printer description language file; and

a returning step of returning the formed preview image to said client via the Internet in accordance with a preview request from the client.

25. A medium according to claim 24, wherein said print control program further comprises:

a print order managing step of managing said shop print order in correspondence to user identification information of the client without performing a printing process; and

a transmission control step of controlling so as to transmit the designated shop print order to the shop which should execute the printing process in accordance with a print ordering instruction from the client.

26. A medium according to claim 25, wherein said print control program further comprises:

a searching step of searching the print order to be returned as an order list of the print orders from the print orders managed in said print order managing step in accordance with a request from the client with reference to said user identification information of said client; and

an order list returning step of returning the order list including said searched print order to the client who requested the order list.

27. A medium according to claim 24, wherein said print control program further comprises:

a preview image forming step of forming a preview image by data-converting an image of said data-converted printer description language file; and

a returning step of returning the formed preview image to said client via the Internet in accordance with a preview request from the client.

29. A program according to claim 28, wherein said program allows said print management apparatus to further execute:

a print order managing step of managing said shop print order in correspondence to user identification information of the client without performing a printing process; and

a transmission control step of controlling so as to transmit the designated shop print order to the shop which should execute the printing process in accordance with a print ordering instruction from the client.

30. A program according to claim 29, further comprising:

a searching step of searching the print order to be returned as an order list of the print orders from the print orders managed in said print order managing step in accordance with a request from the client with reference to said user identification information of said client; and

an order list returning step of returning the order list including said searched print order to the client who requested the order list.

31. A program according to claim 28, wherein said program allows said print management apparatus to further execute:

a preview image forming step of forming a preview image by data-converting an image of said data-converted printer description language file; and

a returning step of returning the formed preview image to said client via the Internet in accordance with a preview request from the client.

24. A memory medium which stores a print control program which can be executed by a print management apparatus which receives a request for a print order from a client via the Internet, wherein said print control program comprises:

a printer information transmitting step of transmitting a printer information description file describing print set information corresponding to a plurality of printers to said client via the Internet in accordance with an obtaining request from the client;

a data converting step of data-converting print data described by a page description language included in the print order which is transmitted from the client into a printer description language file as a format which does not depend on a printer of a shop; and

a print order forming step of forming a shop print order for requesting the shop to print on the basis of print set information which is included in said print order and designates a print setting and said data-converted printer description language file.

28. A print control program which can be executed by a print management apparatus which receives a request for a print order from a client via the Internet, comprising:

a printer information transmitting step of transmitting a printer information description file describing print set information corresponding to a plurality of printers to said client via the Internet in accordance with an obtaining request from the client;

data converting step of data-converting print data described by a page description language included in the print order which is transmitted from the client into a printer description language file as a format which does not depend on a printer of a shop; and

a print order forming step of forming a shop print order for requesting the shop to print on the basis of print set information which is included in said print order and designates a print setting and said data-converted printer description language file.

32. A print management apparatus which receives a request for a print order from a client via the Internet, comprising:

printer information transmitting means for transmitting a printer information description file describing print set information corresponding to a plurality of printers to said client via the Internet in accordance with an obtaining request from the client;

data converting means for data-converting print data described by a page description language included in the print order which is transmitted from the client into a printer description language file as a format which does not depend on a printer of a shop; and

print order forming means for forming a shop print order for requesting the shop to print on the basis of print set information which is included in said print order and designates a print setting and said data-converted printer description language file.