Printing system, image forming apparatus, information processing apparatus, and printing method

An image forming apparatus which configures a printing system in which a server, the image forming apparatus, and an information processing apparatus are connected via a network, and the image forming apparatus can directly print print data generated by an application provided by the server, comprising:

• a generation unit configured to generate, as plug-in information, information that associates a user interface provided by the image forming apparatus with the application provided by the server;
• a holding unit configured to hold the generated plug-in information;
• a sending unit configured to send the plug-in information to the information processing apparatus when the plug-in information has not been registered in the information processing apparatus;
• and
• a providing unit configured, when direct printing is designated, to provide, as the user interface to the information processing apparatus based on the plug-in information held by said holding unit, a direct print screen for accepting a print setting corresponding to the application that has generated print data to be printed.

An information processing apparatus which configures a printing system in which a server, an image forming apparatus, and the information processing apparatus are connected via a network, and the image forming apparatus can directly print print data generated by an application provided by the server, comprising:

• a registration unit configured to register plug-in information sent from the image forming apparatus;
• an acquisition unit configured to acquire a print setting made by a user on a print setting screen of the application provided by the server;
• a display unit configured to reflect and displays the print setting acquired by said acquisition unit based on the plug-in information on a direct print screen provided by a providing unit of the image forming apparatus when direct printing is designated for print data that is generated by the application provided by the server based on the print setting made by the user;
• and
• a designation unit configured to designate, on the direct print screen provided by the image forming apparatus, the print data acquired from the application provided by the server.

A printing method in a printing system in which a server, an image forming apparatus, and an information processing apparatus are connected via a network, and the image forming apparatus can directly print print data generated by an application provided by the server, comprising:

• a generation step of causing a generation unit of the image forming apparatus to generate, as plug-in information, information that associates a user interface provided by the image forming apparatus with the application provided by the server;
• a management step of causing a management unit of the image forming apparatus to manage the generated plug-in information;
• a sending step of causing a sending unit of the image forming apparatus to send the plug-in information to the information processing apparatus when the plug-in information has not been registered in the information processing apparatus;
• a providing step of causing a providing unit of the image forming apparatus to, when direct printing is designated, provide, as the user interface to the information processing apparatus based on the plug-in information managed in the management step, a direct print screen for accepting a print setting corresponding to the application that has generated print data to be printed;
• a registration step of causing a registration unit of the information processing apparatus to register the plug-in information sent from the image forming apparatus;
• an acquisition step of causing an acquisition unit of the information processing apparatus to acquire the print setting made by a user on the print setting screen of the application provided by the server;
• a display step of causing a display unit of the information processing apparatus to reflect and display the print setting acquired in the acquisition step based on the plug-in information on the direct print screen provided in the providing step of the image forming apparatus when direct printing is designated for print data that is generated by the application provided by the server based on the print setting made by the user;
• and
• a designation step of causing a designation unit of the information processing apparatus to designate, on the direct print screen provided by the image forming apparatus, the print data acquired from the application provided by the server.