# US 8,542,371 B2 · Information processing method and information processing apparatus

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- Number: US 8,542,371 B2
- Document ID: US8542371B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/696,548
- Filed: 2010-01-29
- Published: 2010-08-19
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 2009-02-18
- Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Hiroshi Ozaki
- Inventors: Hiroshi Ozaki
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8542371B2

## CPC

- H04N 1/00421: {using drop-down menus}
- G06F 3/1205: {resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets}
- G06F 3/1257: {by using pre-stored settings, e.g. job templates, presets, print styles}
- G06F 3/1284: {Local printer device}
- H04N 1/00432: {using tabs}
- H04N 1/0044: {for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet}
- H04N 1/00482: {outputting a plurality of job set-up options, e.g. number of copies, paper size or resolution}
- H04N 1/32502: {in systems having a plurality of input or output devices}
- H04N 1/32534: {details of interfacing}
- G06F 3/1254: {Automatic configuration, e.g. by driver}
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

An information processing apparatus with a printer driver, which generates print data to be output to an image forming apparatus, corresponding to a plurality of image forming apparatuses registers a compound setting that information indicating output destinations corresponding to the plurality of image forming apparatuses and a plurality of print settings are combined, and sets information indicating an output destination included in the compound setting to the printer driver.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An information processing method in an information processing apparatus for outputting print data to one of a plurality of image forming apparatuses in accordance with a print instruction from application software, the method comprising:
setting, when a combination of a plurality of print settings for the print data is registered, information indicating an output destination corresponding to one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses as a composite setup including the combination of the plurality of print settings;
controlling the information processing apparatus such that the print data is output to an image forming apparatus corresponding to the output destination indicated by the information set as the composite setup, in a case that the composite setup is designated by a user upon the print instruction; and
notifying, as a function of a device driver for the image forming apparatus, an operating system of the information processing apparatus of the information indicating the output destination set as the composite setup so that the print data is output to the image forming apparatus corresponding to the output destination indicated by the information indicating the output destination set as the composite setup, in a case that the composite setup is designated by the user and the information indicating the output destination set as the composite setup is different from information indicating an output destination set by the operating system,
wherein, according to the notification, the information indicating the output destination set by the operating system is updated.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the setting of the information indicating the output destination set as the composite setup is performed by a selection via a first screen displaying a list of a plurality of output destinations corresponding to the plurality of image forming apparatuses.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, wherein the first screen includes an instruction function for inquiring whether or not the combination of the plurality of print settings included in the composite setup is executable to an image forming apparatus corresponding to the selected output destination.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising displaying a second screen for setting whether to allow a user to set the information indicating the output destination set as the composite setup.

### Claim 5

An information processing apparatus for outputting print data to one of a plurality of image forming apparatuses in accordance with a print instruction from application software, the information processing apparatus comprising:
a setting unit configured to set, when a combination of a plurality of print settings for the print data is registered, information indicating an output destination corresponding to one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses as a composite setup including the combination of the plurality of print settings;
a control unit configured to control the information processing apparatus such that the print data is output to an image forming apparatus corresponding to the output destination indicated by the information set as the composite setup, in a case that the composite setup is designated by a user upon the print instruction; and
a notification unit configured to notify, as a function of a device driver for the image forming apparatus, an operating system of the information processing apparatus of the information indicating the output destination set as the composite setup so that the print data is output to the image forming apparatus corresponding to the output destination indicated by the information indicating the output destination set as the composite setup, in a case that the composite setup is designated by the user and the information indicating the output destination set as the composite setup is different from information indicating an output destination set by the operating system,
wherein, according to the notification, the information indicating the output destination set by the operating system is updated.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium recording a program for causing a computer to execute the information processing method according to claim 1.