Printing apparatus and control program therefor

• US 20040046973A1
• Filed: 09/03/2003
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd. (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd. (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Matsuo, Koichi, Ito, Atsushi, Sugimoto, Tetsuya, Sugahara, Yoshinori, Matsumoto, Yukinori, Maeda, Toshihiro, Komaki, Yoshio
• Application Number:
  US10/653,231
• Publication Number:
  US 20040046973A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• 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 3/1253 Configuration of print job parameters, e.g. using UI at the client
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1279 Controller construction, e.g. aspects of the interface hardware
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1806 Receiving job control commands

Abstract

Multiple ports that receive print jobs are logically set in a printing apparatus, and attributes used for specifying printing settings are assigned to at least one of these multiple ports. When a print job is received, the printing apparatus refers to attributes of the port that received the print job, and processes the print job based on these attributes. As a result, a printing apparatus is provided in which the burden of configuring various settings pertaining to print jobs, such as the printer settings that govern the printer driver, is reduced.

Claims

1. A printing apparatus comprising:

a multiple ports that receive print jobs are logically set, and attributes used for specifying printing settings are assigned to at least one of said multiple ports; and

a controller that, when a print job is received, processes said print job based on the printing settings specified in the attributes while referring to the port that received the print job.

2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attributes for at least one of said ports include user authorization information.

3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attributes for at least one of said ports include fee charging information indicating the fee to be charged for the use of each port.

4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said printing settings include finishing settings relating to such tasks as stapling and hole punching.

5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said printing settings include settings relating to color and monochrome printing.

6. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said printing settings include RIP settings such as 1-UP and 2-UP settings.

7. A program product that controls a printing apparatus, wherein multiple ports that receive print jobs are logically set and attributes used for specifying printing settings are assigned to at least one of said multiple ports, and wherein said printing apparatus is controlled such that when a print job is received, said print job is processed based on the printing settings specified in the attributes while referring to the port that received the print job.

8. The program product according to claim 7, wherein the printing apparatus is controlled such that user authorization information is assigned as an attribute associated with at least one of said multiple ports.

9. The program product according to claim 7, wherein fee charging information that indicates a fee charged for use of a port is assigned as an attribute associated with at least one of said multiple ports.

10. A control method for controlling a printing apparatus, said method comprising:

logically setting multiple ports that receive print jobs,

assigning attributes used for specifying the printing settings to at least one of said multiple ports; and

processing a received print job based on the printing settings specified for the attributes of the port that received the print job while referring to the attributes for said port.

11. The control method according to claim 10, wherein the print resolution setting is included in the attributes for specifying said printing settings.