Printing system, information processing apparatus and printing apparatus

• US 9,406,007 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2014
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Murata, Mareyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Worku, Negussie
• Application Number:
  US14/338,449
• Publication Number:
  US 20150029549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 358 113- 115, 358/1.2, 358/498, 358/448, 709/201, 399/79, 399/323
• US Class Current: 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 3/1238 Secure printing, e.g. user identification, user rights for device usage, unallowed content, blanking portions or fields of a page, releasing held jobs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1258 by updating job settings at the printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1809 relating to the printing process
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1823 for evaluating the resources needed, e.g. rasterizing time, ink, paper stock
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/4065 Managing print media, e.g. determining available sheet sizes feeding means G06K15/16

Abstract

An image processing apparatus includes a communication unit configured to communicate with a printing apparatus, and a first controller configured to generate a first print job designating one of a plurality of sheet trays of the printing apparatus, and a second print job not designating any one of the plurality of sheet trays of the printing apparatus. A printing apparatus includes an image forming unit, an operation unit, and a second controller configured to determine whether a print job received from the image processing apparatus is the first print job or the second print job. When the first print job is received, the second controller controls the image forming unit to execute the first print job using the sheet tray designated by the first print job, while when the second print job is received, it is executed using a sheet tray designated through the operation unit.

Claims

1. A printing system having an image processing apparatus and a printing apparatus which are communicatably connected with each other, the printing apparatus having a plurality of sheet trays respectively accommodating sheets on which images are to be formed,

the image processing apparatus comprising:

a first network interface configured to communicate with the printing apparatus; and

a first processor,

the printing apparatus comprising;

a second network interface configured to communicate with the image processing apparatus;

an image forming unit;

an operation unit including a display unit; and

a second processor,

wherein the first processor is configured to;

acquire, from a user, a selection of a first setting value designating a sheet tray or a second setting value indicating that the user will designate a sheet tray to be used through the operation unit;

generate, in response to acquiring the first setting value, a first print job designating one of the plurality of sheet trays to be used in the first print job in accordance with the first setting value, and generate, in response to acquiring the second setting value, a second print job not designating any one of the plurality of sheet trays through the printing apparatus when executing the second print job; and

transmit a generated one of the first print job and the second print job to the printing apparatus, and

wherein the second processor is configured to;

determine whether a received print job which is received from the image processing apparatus is the first print job or the second print job;

control, in response to receiving the first print job, the image forming unit to form an image, based on the first print job, on a sheet accommodated in the sheet tray designated by the first print job; and

control, in response to receiving the second print job, the display unit of the operation unit to display a tray designating screen, acquire a designation of one of the plurality of sheet trays through the operation unit, and control the image forming unit to form an image, based on the second print job, on a sheet accommodated in a sheet tray which is designated through the operation unit.

2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein:

the first processor is configured to acquire a user instruction to execute a secure printing; and

the acquisition of the second setting value includes the user instruction to execute a secure printing.

3. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein:

the first print job includes a tray-designating command; and

the second print job does not include the tray-designating command.

4. The printing system according to claim 3, wherein:

the second processor determines that the received print job is the first print job when the tray-designating command is included in the received print job; and

the second processor determines that the received print job is the second print job when the tray-designating command is not included in the received print job.

5. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the first processor is configured to:

acquire user designation of a sheet type;

obtain information of the plurality of trays from the printing apparatus;

determine whether the sheet type designated by the user matches the obtained information; and

enable selection of the second setting value when the sheet type designated by the user does not match the obtained information.

6. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the first processor is configured to:

acquire user designation of a sheet type;

obtain information of the plurality of sheet trays from the printing apparatus;

determine whether the sheet type designated by the user matches the obtained information; and

disable selection of the second setting value when the sheet type designated by the user matches the obtained information.

7. The printing system according to claim 6, wherein:

the image processing apparatus has a display;

the first processor is configured to display selectable items including the first setting value and the second setting value, the second setting value being displayed but not selectable when the sheet type designated by the user matches the obtained information.

8. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a network interface configured to communicate with a printing apparatus; and

a processor,

wherein the processor is configured to;

acquire, from a user, a selection of a first setting value designating a sheet tray or a second setting value indicating that the user will designate a sheet tray to be used through an operation unit of the printing apparatus; and

generate a first print job and a second print job to be transmitted to the printing apparatus through the network interface,

wherein the first print job, designating one of a plurality of sheet trays of the printing apparatus to be used when the first print job is executed, is generated in response to acquiring the first setting value, and

the second print job, not designating any one of the plurality of sheet trays of the printing apparatus and requiring designation of one of the plurality of sheet trays through the printing apparatus when the second print job is executed, is generated in response to acquiring the second setting value.

9. A printing apparatus having a plurality of sheet trays configured to respectively accommodate sheets on which images are to be formed,

the printing apparatus comprising:

a network interface configured to communicate with an image processing apparatus;

an image forming unit;

an operation unit including a display unit; and

a processor configured to;

determine whether a print job which is received from the image processing apparatus through the network interface is a first print job or a second print job, the first print job including a command designating a sheet tray to be used for executing the first print job, the second print job including a command indicating that a user will designate one of the plurality of sheet trays to be used for executing the second print job through the printing apparatus;

control, when the received print job is the first print job, the image forming unit to form an image, based on the first print job, on a sheet accommodated in the sheet tray designated by the first print job; and

control, when the received print job is the second print job, the display unit of the operation unit to display a tray designating screen, acquire a designation of one of the plurality of sheet trays through the operation unit, and control the image forming unit to form an image, based on the second print job, on a sheet accommodated in a sheet tray which is designated through the operation unit,

wherein the processor determines that the received print job is the first print job when the command designating a sheet tray to be used for executing the first print job is included in the received print job; and

wherein the processor determines that the received print job is the second print job when the command indicating that a user will designate one of the plurality of sheet trays to be used for executing the second print job through the printing apparatus is included in the received print job.