Apparatus and method for efficiently controlling printers associated with different networks based upon acquired printer or network information, and nontransitory computer readable recording medium for causing computer to function as the same

A printer control apparatus which controls plural kinds of printers by use of a universal printer driver which is capable of communicating with the plural kinds of printers via a network and which supports the plural kinds of printers,

• the printer control apparatus comprising:
• network information storage means;
• a network information acquiring section that acquires network information for determining whether or not a second network connected to the printer control apparatus this time is identical to a first network connected to the printer control apparatus previous time and that causes the network information thus acquired to be stored in the network information storage means;
• printer information storage means;
• a printer search section that conducts a search for printers connected to the network, acquires printer information indicative of the printers thus extracted by the search, and causes the printer information thus acquired to be associated with the network information and to be stored, as history information, in the printer information storage means;
• a printer information acquiring section that compares network information of the second network and network information of the first network, and in a case where the network information of the second network is different from the network information of the first network and where the history information stored in the printer information storage means does not include the printer information of the second network, the printer information acquiring section acquiring the printer information from the printer search section by causing the printer search section to conduct the search, whereas in a case where the network information of the second network is different from the network information of the first network and where the history information stored in the printer information storage means includes the printer information of the second network or in a case where the network information of the second network is identical to the network information of the first network, the printer information acquiring section acquiring the printer information corresponding to the network information of the second network from the printer information storage means without causing the printer search section to conduct the search and
• a printer list creating section that (i) creates a printer list that shows, as a list of printers connected to the network to which the printer control apparatus is currently connected, the printer information acquired by the printer information acquiring section and (ii) causes printer information of a selected printer which is a printer selected from the printer list by a user to be associated with the network information of the network to which the printer control apparatus is currently connected and to be stored in the printer information storage means,
• the printer information containing at least information indicative of model names of the respective printers corresponding to the printer information,
• in a case where (i) the printer information acquiring section determines that the network information of the second network is different from the network information of the first network and (ii) printer information, which is acquired by the printer information acquiring section, of printer connected to the second network contains printer information of a printer whose model name is identical to that of the selected printer which has been selected by the user while the selected printer is being connected to the first network, the printer list creating section causing the printer information of the printer, whose model name is identical to that of the selected printer, to be listed high on the printer list.

A printer control method for controlling plural kinds of printers by use of a universal printer driver which is capable of communicating with the plural kinds of printers via a network and which supports the plural kinds of printers,

• the printer control method comprising the steps of:
• (a) conducting a search for printers connected to the network, acquiring printer information indicative of the printers thus extracted by the search, and causing the printer information thus acquired to be stored in printer information storage means;
• (b) acquiring network information for determining whether or not a second network used this time is identical to a first network used previous time and that causes the network information thus acquired to be stored in network information storage means;
• (c) comparing network information of the second network and network information of the first network, and in a case where the network information of the second network is different from the network information of the first network, acquiring the printer information by carrying out the step (a), whereas in a case where the network information of the second network is identical to the network information of the first network, acquiring the printer information stored in the printer information storage means without carrying out the step (a);
• (d) creating a printer list that shows, as a list of printers connected to the network to which the printer control apparatus is currently connected, the printer information acquired by the printer information acquiring section;
• and
• (e) causing printer information of a selected printer which is a printer selected from the printer list by a user to be associated with the network information of the network to which the printer control apparatus is currently connected and to be stored in the printer information storage means,
• wherein the printer information contains at least information indicative of model names of the respective printers corresponding to the printer information, and
• in a case wherein (i) it is determined that the network information of the second network is different from the network information of the first network and (ii) printer information, which is acquired by the printer information acquiring section, of printer connected to the second network contains printer information of a printer whose model name is identical to that of the selected printer which has been selected by the user while the selected printer is being connected to the first network, the printer list creating section causes the printer information of the printer, whose model name is identical to that of the selected printer, to be listed high on the printer list.

A printing system which includes a printer control apparatus, plural kinds of printers connected to the printer control apparatus via a network, and a network information managing apparatus that provides network information, the printer control apparatus controlling the plural kinds of printers by use of a universal printer driver which is capable of communicating with the plural kinds of printers via the network and which supports the plural kinds of printers

• the printing system comprising:
• printer information storage means;
• a printer search section that conducts a search for printers connected to the network, acquires printer information indicative of the printers thus extracted by the search, and causes the printer information thus acquired to be stored in the printer information storage means;
• network information storage means;
• a network information acquiring section that acquires network information for determining whether or not a second network connected to the printer control apparatus this time is identical to a first network connected to the printer control apparatus previous time and that causes the network information thus acquired to be stored in the network information storage means;
• a printer information acquiring section that compares network information of the second network and network information of the first network, and in a case where the network information of the second network is different from the network information of the first network, the printer information acquiring section acquiring the printer information from the printer search section by causing the printer search section to conduct the search, whereas in a case where the network information of the second network is identical to the network information of the first network, the printer information acquiring section acquiring the printer information from the printer information storage means without causing the printer search section to conduct the search;
• and
• a printer list creating section that (i) creates a printer list that shows, as a list of printers connected to the network to which the printer control apparatus is currently connected, the printer information acquired by the printer information acquiring section and (ii) causes printer information of a selected printer which is a printer selected from the printer list by a user to be associated with the network information of the network to which the printer control apparatus is currently connected and to be stored in the printer information storage means,
• the printer information containing at least information indicative of model names of the respective printers corresponding to the printer information,
• in a case where (i) the printer information acquiring section determines that the network information of the second network is different from the network information of the first network and (ii) printer information, which is acquired by the printer information acquiring section, of printer connected to the second network contains printer information of a printer whose model name is identical to that of the selected printer which has been selected by the user while the selected printer is being connected to the first network, the printer list creating section causing the printer information of the printer, whose model name is identical to that of the selected printer, to be listed high on the printer list.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium in which a program for causing a computer to function as each section of a printer control apparatus which controls plural kinds of printers by use of a universal printer driver which is capable of communicating with the plural kinds of printers via a network and which supports the plural kinds of printers,

• the printer control apparatus including:
• printer information storage means;
• a printer search section that conducts a search for printers connected to the network, acquires printer information indicative of the printers thus extracted by the search, and causes the printer information thus acquired to be stored in the printer information storage means;
• network information storage means;
• a network information acquiring section that acquires network information for determining whether or not a second network connected to the printer control apparatus this time is identical to a first network connected to the printer control apparatus previous time and that causes the network information thus acquired to be stored in the network information storage means;
• a printer information acquiring section that compares network information of the second network and network information of the first network, and in a case where the network information of the second network is different from the network information of the first network, the printer information acquiring section acquiring the printer information from the printer search section by causing the printer search section to conduct the search, whereas in a case where the network information of the second network is identical to the network information of the first network, the printer information acquiring section acquiring the printer information from the printer information storage means without causing the printer search section to conduct the search;
• and
• a printer list creating section that (i) creates a printer list that shows, as a list of printers connected to the network to which the printer control apparatus is currently connected, the printer information acquired by the printer information acquiring section and (ii) causes printer information of a selected printer which is a printer selected from the printer list by a user to be associated with the network information of the network to which the printer control apparatus is currently connected and to be stored in the printer information storage means,
• the printer information containing at least information indicative of model names of the respective printers corresponding to the printer information,
• in a case where (i) the printer information acquiring section determines that the network information of the second network is different from the network information of the first network and (ii) printer information, which is acquired by the printer information acquiring section, of printer connected to the second network contains printer information of a printer whose model name is identical to that of the selected printer which has been selected by the user while the selected printer is being connected to the first network, the printer list creating section causing the printer information of the printer, whose model name is identical to that of the selected printer, to be listed high on the printer list.