Printing instruction apparatus, printing system, printing instruction method, and computer readable medium

A printing system comprising:

• a printing apparatus configured to print an image on a recording medium;
• and
• a printing instruction apparatus configured to instruct the printing apparatus to print an image,
• wherein the printing instruction apparatus includes:
• a definition unit configured to define a function of the printing apparatus,
• a group storage unit configured to store, for each of groups of printing apparatuses categorized in accordance with a predetermined rule, function information indicating a function provided in a printing apparatus which belongs to a group of the groups, from among functions defined by the definition unit,
• a difference storage unit configured to store difference information indicating a group to which an apparatus type belongs and a difference between types of printing apparatuses and functions of the printing apparatuses, and
• a determination unit configured to determine a function of the apparatus type, based on the function information corresponding to the apparatus type which is identified by the group indicated by the difference information.

A printing instruction method comprising:

• defining, performed by at least one processor, a function of a printing apparatus;
• storing, performed by the at least one processor, for each of groups of printing apparatuses categorized in accordance with a predetermined rule, function information indicating a function provided in a printing apparatus which belongs to a group of the groups, from among defined functions;
• storing, performed by the at least one processor, difference information indicating a group to which an apparatus type belongs and a difference between apparatus types of printing apparatuses and functions of the printing apparatuses;
• and
• determining, performed by the at least one processor, a function of the apparatus type, based on the function information corresponding to the apparatus type which is identified by the group indicated by the difference information.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a process for printing instruction, the process comprising:

• defining a function of a printing apparatus;
• storing, for each of groups of printing apparatuses categorized in accordance with a predetermined rule, function information indicating a function provided in a printing apparatus which belongs to a group of the groups, from among defined functions;
• storing difference information indicating a group to which an apparatus type belongs and a difference between apparatus types of printing apparatuses and functions of the printing apparatuses;
• and
• determining a function of the apparatus type, based on the function information corresponding to the apparatus type which is identified by the group indicated by the difference information.