Designating an image processing apparatus based on limited selection conditions
AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorRyuzou Koana
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a system having a computer and a plurality of printers connected to the computer. A printer selector selects a printer which can perform printing in the output form inputted by an operator through an input unit such as a keyboard or the like, based on print job data or printer data or the like. By inputting the output form, a printer having desired function e.g., printer capable of color printing or capable of both-sides printing and the like, is automatically selected.
Claims12
A data processing apparatus having a printer driver for generating print data in accordance with a print request issued by an application program assigning the generated print data to one of a plurality of image output apparatuses and that communicates with the plurality of image output apparatuses via a network, said data processing apparatus comprising:
- limiting means for limiting selection conditions of functions provided by the plurality of image output apparatuses, which are associated with printing and capable of being designated by an operator, within a range so defined that at least one of the plurality of image output apparatuses satisfies a selection condition that can be designated by the operator among the limited selection conditions, the range being represented by a sum of the functions provided by each respective one of the plurality of image output apparatuses on the network;
- control means for controlling a display device to display the selection conditions limited by said limiting means in a form such that the operator can designate a desired selection condition;
- generating means for generating a plurality of lists in a case where a plurality of selection conditions are designated by the operator, the plurality of lists respectively corresponding to the plurality of designated selection conditions and each of the lists including one or more image output apparatuses satisfying the corresponding selection condition;
- selecting means for selecting an image output apparatus satisfying the plurality of designated selection conditions based on the plurality of lists generated by said generating means;
- and
- constructing means for constructing, within the data processing apparatus, a plurality of logical interfaces, for transmitting the print data directly to one of the plurality of image output apparatuses via the network, each of the plurality of logical interfaces respectively corresponding to the plurality of image output apparatuses, wherein the generated print data is assigned to one of the plurality of image output apparatuses that is selected based on a selection condition designated by the operator and information which is stored in advance and which indicates print functions of the plurality of image output apparatuses.
A data processing method for a data processing apparatus having a printer driver for generating print data in accordance with a print request issued by an application program assigning the generated print data to one of a plurality of image output apparatuses and that communicates with the plurality of image output apparatuses via a network, said data processing method comprising the steps of:
- limiting selection conditions of functions provided by the plurality of image output apparatuses, which are associated with printing and capable of being designated by an operator, within a range so defined that at least one of the plurality of image output apparatuses satisfies a selection condition that can be designated by the operator among the limited selection conditions, the range being represented by a sum of the functions provided by each respective one of plurality of image output apparatuses on the network;
- controlling a display device to display the selection conditions limited by said limiting step in a form such that the operator can designate a desired selection condition;
- generating a plurality of lists in a case where a plurality of selection conditions are designated by the operator, the plurality of lists respectively corresponding to the plurality of designated selection conditions and each of the lists including one or more image output apparatuses satisfying the corresponding selection condition;
- selecting an image output apparatus satisfying the plurality of designated selection conditions based on the plurality of lists generated by said generating step;
- and
- constructing, within the data processing apparatus, a plurality of logical interfaces, for transmitting the print data directly to one of the plurality of image output apparatuses via the network, each of the plurality of logical interfaces respectively corresponding to the plurality of image output apparatuses, wherein the generated print data is assigned to one of the plurality of image output apparatuses that is selected based on a selection condition designated by the operator and information which is stored in advance and which indicates print functions of the plurality of image output apparatuses.
A memory medium storing computer-executable process steps for a data processing method of a data processing apparatus having a printer driver for generating print data in accordance with a print request issued by an application program assigning the generated print data to one of a plurality of image output apparatuses and that communicates with the plurality of image output apparatuses via a network, said computer-executable process steps comprising the steps of:
- limiting selection conditions of functions provided by the plurality of image output apparatuses, which are associated with printing and capable of being designated by an operator, within a range so defined that at least one of the plurality of image output apparatuses satisfies a selection condition that can be designated by the operator among the limited selection conditions, the range being represented by a sum of the functions provided by each respective one of plurality of image output apparatuses on the network;
- controlling a display device to display the selection conditions limited by said limiting step in a form such that the operator can designate a desired selection condition;
- generating a plurality of lists in a case where a plurality of selection conditions are designated by the operator, the plurality of lists respectively corresponding to the plurality of designated selection conditions and each of the lists including one or more image output apparatuses satisfying the corresponding selection condition;
- selecting an image output apparatus satisfying the plurality of designated selection conditions based on the plurality of lists generated by said generating step;
- and
- constructing, within the data processing apparatus, a plurality of logical interfaces, for transmitting the print data directly to one of the plurality of image output apparatuses via the network, each of the plurality of logical interfaces respectively corresponding to the plurality of image output apparatuses, wherein the generated print data is assigned to one of the plurality of image output apparatuses that is selected based on a selection condition designated by the operator and information which is stored in advance and which indicates print functions of the plurality of image output apparatuses.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.