Printing system for selecting a desired printer from plural printers connected to a network

• US 6,909,520 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2001
• Issued: 06/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RISO Kagaku Corporation
• Original Assignee: RISO Kagaku Corporation
• Inventors: Ogino, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): GARCIA, GABRIEL I
• Application Number:
  US09/757,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20020054320A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,622 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.1, 358/1.7, 358/1.9, 358/1.12, 358/1.13, 358/1.15, 358/402, 358/401, 358/451
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• 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 3/1226 Discovery of devices having required properties
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/126 Job scheduling, e.g. queuing, determine appropriate device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server

Abstract

According to the disclosed invention, printer drivers of a plurality of printers for executing print operations are automatically sequentially selected, and print processes are executed by using the selected printer drivers to realize a plurality of efficient print processes. Therefore, effort and time required to the multiple print process can be considerably reduced.

Claims

1. A printing system for printing by a selected printer by selecting a desired printer from plural printers connected to a network comprising:

a virtual printer driver activated at a printing process start, for selecting from multiple printer drivers a printer driver of a printer optimum to printing of printing data among the plural printers, and making the optimum printer execute the printing of printing data by starting the selected printer driver,

wherein the virtual printer driver comprises a printing condition memory for storing a printing condition set by the user;

a printer driver selector for selecting a printer driver optimum for printing of the printing data by referring to the printing condition; and

a status judging unit for judging the status of the printer corresponding to the selected printer driver;

wherein said printing condition memory comprises;

a priority rank memory for storing the priority rank of printing property of printing data; and

a printer condition memory for storing the printing condition of every printer of printing data.

2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing property includes color or monochromatic selection of printing of printing data, number of copies, printing paper size, countermeasure in case of busy printer or error, type of application, and resolution.

3. A printing method for printing by a selected printer by selecting a desired printer from plural printers connected to a network comprising:

using a virtual printer driver activated at a printing process start to select from multiple printer drivers a printer driver of a printer optimum to printing of printing data among the plural printers, and using the virtual printer driver to make the optimum printer execute the printing of printing data by starting the selected printer driver,

wherein the virtual printer driver selects the printer driver using a process comprising a step of setting the priority rank of printing property of printing data;

a step of setting the printing condition of each printer of printing data;

a printing property input step of entering printing property of printing data for executing printing;

a printer driver selecting step of selecting a printing driver optimum for printing of the printing data by referring to the entered printing property, priority rank of printing property, and printing condition of each printer;

a printer driver calling step of starting a selected printer driver; and

a printing step of executing printing by a printer corresponding to the selected printer driver.

4. The printing method according to claim 3, wherein the printing property includes color or monochromatic selection of printing of printing data, number of copies, printing paper size, countermeasure in case of busy printer or error, type of application, and resolution.

5. A computer-readable recording medium storing a printing program for printing by a selected printer by selecting a desired printer from plural printers connected to a network for making a computer system execute the operation comprising:

a virtual printer driver activated at a printing process start, for selecting from multiple printer drivers a printer driver of printer optimum to printing of printing data among the plural printers, and making the optimum printer execute the printing of printing data by starting the selected printer driver,

wherein the virtual printer driver activated at a printing process start comprises

a process of setting the priority rank of printing property of printing data;

a process of setting the printing condition of each printer of printing data;

a printing property input process of entering printing property of printing data for executing printing;

a printer driver selecting process of selecting a printing driver optimum for printing of the printing data by referring to the entered printing property, priority rank of printing property, and printing condition of each printer;

a printer driver calling process of starting a selected printer driver; and

a printing process of executing printing by a printer corresponding to the selected printer driver.

6. The computer-readable recording medium storing the printing program according to claim 5, wherein the printing property includes color or monochromatic selection of printing of printing data, number of copies, printing paper size, countermeasure in case of busy printer or error, type of application, and resolution.