PRINT RELAY SYSTEM, PRINT RELAY SYSTEM CONTROL METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM

• US 20120120437A1
• Filed: 09/29/2011
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Nanaumi, Yoshihito
• Granted Patent: US 8,860,988 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 3/1247 by conversion to printer ready format
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1255 Settings incompatibility, e.g. constraints, user requirements vs. device capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1257 by using pre-stored settings, e.g. job templates, presets, print styles
• 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 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration

Abstract

A print relay system capable of executing a communication between a print service system configured to provide a print setting screen to an information terminal operated by a user, to receive a print setting set by the user via the provided print setting screen, and to generate a print job based on the received print setting and stored settings for an image forming apparatus configured to output image data based on the print job includes a receiving unit configured to receive a print job, which is transmitted in a case that a print instruction is input by the information terminal to the print service system, a job updating unit configured to update the print job received by the receiving unit, and a job transmission unit configured to transmit the print job updated by the job updating unit to the image forming apparatus.

Claims

1. A print relay system capable of executing a communication between a print service system configured to provide a print setting screen to an information terminal operated by a user, to receive a print setting set by the user via the provided print setting screen, and to generate a print job based on the received print setting and stored settings for an image forming apparatus configured to output image data based on the print job, the print relay system comprising:

a transmission unit configured to transmit to the information terminal, a detailed print setting screen via which a detailed print setting that cannot be set via the print setting screen can be set;

a receiving unit configured to receive a print job, which is transmitted in a case that a print instruction is input by the information terminal to the print service system;

a job changing unit configured to receive the detailed print setting set by the user via the detailed print setting screen transmitted by the transmission unit and to convert the print job received by the receiving unit into a new print job based on the receive detailed print setting; and

a job transmission unit configured to transmit the new print job which has been converted by the job changing unit to the image forming apparatus.

2. The print relay system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit is configured, if information indicating that the detailed print setting that cannot be set via the print setting screen is to be set is received from the information terminal operated by the user, to transmit the detailed print setting screen.

3. The print relay system according to claim 2, wherein the job transmission unit is configured, if any information indicating that the detailed print setting that cannot be set via the print setting screen is to be set is not received from the information terminal operated by the user, to transmit at least print setting information, among information included in the print job received by the receiving unit, to the image forming apparatus without changing the print setting information.

4. The print relay system according to claim 3, wherein the job changing unit is configured to convert the print job into a new print job by rewriting at least the print setting information included in the print job.

5. The print relay system according to claim 1, wherein the detailed print setting that cannot be set via the print setting screen only can be set via the detailed print setting screen.

6. The print relay system according to claim 5, wherein both the detailed print setting that cannot be set via the print setting screen and a print setting that can be set via the print setting screen can be set via the detailed print setting screen.

7. The print relay system according to claim 6, wherein

the detailed print setting screen includes at least one item among required setting items and image forming apparatus unique setting items, and a common setting item,

wherein the common setting item is an item for setting the print setting that can be set via the print setting screen,

wherein the required setting item is an item for setting a print setting which cannot be set via the print setting screen and which is required to be set to utilize the image forming apparatus, and

wherein the image forming apparatus unique setting item is an item for setting a print setting which cannot be set via the print setting screen and which is required to be set to utilize a function of the image forming apparatus.

8. The print relay system according to claim 7, wherein

the common setting item includes an item for executing a setting of at least one of a two-sided print setting, a paper size, and a bookbinding print setting,

wherein the required setting item includes an item for executing a setting for charging a customer, and

wherein the image forming apparatus unique setting item includes an item for executing a setting related to finishing.

9. The print relay system according to claim 8, wherein the transmission unit is configured, if it is determined that a combination of print settings that is not supported by the image forming apparatus has been set in the print setting included in the print job based on the print setting information included in the print job received by the receiving unit and information about the image forming apparatus, which is a destination of transmitting the print job, to transmit a detailed print setting screen including the common setting item.

10. A method for controlling a print relay system including a print service system configured to provide a print setting screen to an information terminal operated by a user, to receive a print setting set by the user via the provided print setting screen, and to generate a print job based on the received print setting and stored settings for an image forming apparatus configured to output image data based on the print job, the print relay system being capable of executing a communication between the print service system and the image forming apparatus, the method comprising:

causing a transmission unit to transmit to the information terminal, a detailed print setting screen via which a detailed print setting that cannot be set via the print setting screen can be set;

causing a receiving unit to receive a print job, which is transmitted in a case that a print instruction is input by the information terminal to the print service system;

causing a job changing unit to receive the detailed print setting set by the user via the detailed print setting screen transmitted by the transmission unit and to convert the print job received by the receiving unit into a new print job based on the receive detailed print setting; and

causing a job transmission unit to transmit the new print job which has been converted by the job changing unit to the image forming apparatus.

11. A non-transitory storage medium storing a program to cause a computer to execute a method for controlling a print relay system, the print relay system including a print service system configured to provide a print setting screen to an information terminal operated by a user, to receive a print setting set by the user via the provided print setting screen, and to generate a print job based on the received print setting and stored settings for an image forming apparatus configured to output image data based on the print job, the print relay system being capable of executing a communication between the print service system and the image forming apparatus, the method comprising:

causing a transmission unit to transmit to the information terminal, a detailed print setting screen via which a detailed print setting that cannot be set via the print setting screen can be set;

causing a receiving unit to receive a print job, which is transmitted in a case that a print instruction is input by the information terminal to the print service system;

causing a job changing unit to receive the detailed print setting set by the user via the detailed print setting screen transmitted by the transmission unit and to convert the print job received by the receiving unit into a new print job based on the receive detailed print setting; and

causing a job transmission unit to transmit the new print job which has been converted by the job changing unit to the image forming apparatus.

12. A print relay system capable of executing a communication between a print service system configured to provide a print setting screen to an information terminal operated by a user, to receive a print setting set by the user via the provided print setting screen, and to generate a print job based on the received print setting and stored settings for an image forming apparatus configured to output image data based on the print job, the print relay system comprising:

a receiving unit configured to receive a print job, which is transmitted in a case that a print instruction is input by the information terminal to the print service system;

a job updating unit configured to update the print job received by the receiving unit; and

a job transmission unit configured to transmit the print job updated by the job updating unit to the image forming apparatus.