PRINTER DRIVER WITH OPTION SEARCH FUNCTION
20220026839 · 2022-01-27
Inventors
- SangMin Lee (SeongNam-si, KR)
- Jeonghun KIM (Seongnam-si, KR)
- Jeehee LEE (Seongnam-si, KR)
- Chaeeun KIM (Seongnam-si, KR)
Cpc classification
G06F3/1205
PHYSICS
G03G15/502
PHYSICS
G06F3/1225
PHYSICS
G06F3/1204
PHYSICS
G06F3/1253
PHYSICS
International classification
Abstract
An example apparatus for providing a user interface of a printer driver may include a user interface device, a processor, and a memory. The processor, by executing instructions stored in the memory and executable by a computer, is to provide, through a user interface device, a user interface of a printer driver equipped with a search function to search for a print option, display, on the user interface, a print option list including at least one print option corresponding to the user's input, in response to the user's input using the search function, and display, on the user interface, a setting menu corresponding to a print option selected by the user among a plurality of setting menus corresponding to print options, according to a user's selection from the displayed print option list.
Claims
1. An apparatus for providing a user interface of a printer driver, the apparatus comprising: a user interface device; a processor; and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor, wherein the processor, by executing the instructions, is to: provide, through the user interface device, a user interface of a printer driver equipped with a search function to search for a print option, display, on the user interface, in response to an input of a user using the search function, a print option list including at least one print option corresponding to the user's input, and display, on the user interface, a setting menu corresponding to a print option selected by the user among a plurality of setting menus corresponding to print options, according to a user's selection from the displayed print option list.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one print option corresponding to the user's input includes a print option that is supported by at least one image forming apparatus connected to the apparatus for providing a user interface of a printer driver.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor, by executing the instructions, is to display, through the user interface device, the print option list indicating access path information on the user interface or category information of the at least one print option for each at least one print option.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor, by executing the instructions, is to display, through the user interface device, the print option list including the at least one print option corresponding to a synonym matching the user's input, based on a print option matching table storing synonyms for each print option.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor, by executing the instructions, is to display, through the user interface device, the print option list including only print options supported by an image forming apparatus assigned to be an image forming apparatus to perform a print job on the user interface, among the at least one print option corresponding to the user's input.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor, by executing the instructions, is to: provide, through the user interface device, the print option list together with a search function to search for an image forming apparatus that supports a print option that is not supported by an image forming apparatus assigned to be an image forming apparatus to perform a print job on the user interface, among the at least one print option corresponding to the user's input, provide an image forming apparatus list including an image forming apparatus that supports a print option that is not supported, in response to a user's input requesting the search function, and assign an image forming apparatus selected by the user to be an image forming apparatus to perform a print job, according to a user's selection from the provided image forming apparatus list.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor, by executing the instructions, is to: provide, through the user interface device, an update function to update the printer driver when no print option corresponding to the user's input is found, provide an update information list including update information comprising a print option corresponding to the user's input, in response to a user's input requesting the update function, the update information list being obtained from a server storing update information of a printer driver, and update the printer driver with update information selected by the user, according to a user's selection from the provided update information list.
8. A method of providing a user interface of a printer driver, the method comprising: providing a user interface of a printer driver equipped with a search function to search for a print option; displaying, on the user interface, in response to an input of a user using the search function, a print option list including at least one print option corresponding to the user's input; and displaying, on the user interface, a setting menu corresponding to a print option selected by the user among a plurality of setting menus corresponding to print options, according to a user's selection from the displayed print option list.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one print option corresponding to the user's input includes a print option that is supported by at least one image forming apparatus connected to the apparatus for providing a user interface of a printer driver.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein the displaying of the print option list on the user interface comprises displaying the print option list indicating access path information on the user interface or category information of the at least one print option for each at least one print option.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein the displaying of the print option list on the user interface comprises displaying the print option list including the at least one print option corresponding to a synonym matching the user's input, based on a print option matching table storing synonyms for each print option.
12. The method of claim 8, wherein the displaying of the print option list on the user interface comprises displaying the print option list including only print options supported by an image forming apparatus assigned to be an image forming apparatus to perform a print job on the user interface, among the at least one print option corresponding to the user's input.
13. The method of claim 8, wherein the displaying of the print option list on the user interface comprises: providing the print option list together with a search function to search for an image forming apparatus that supports a print option that is not supported by an image forming apparatus assigned to be an image forming apparatus to perform a print job on the user interface, among the at least one print option corresponding to the user's input; searching for an image forming apparatus that supports a print option that is not supported, in response to a user's input requesting the search function; providing an image forming apparatus list including the found image forming apparatus, and assigning an image forming apparatus selected by the user to be an image forming apparatus to perform a print job, according to a user's selection from the provided image forming apparatus list.
14. The method of claim 8, wherein the displaying of the print option list on the user interface comprises: providing an update function to update the printer driver when no print option corresponding to the user's input is found; obtaining update information comprising the print option corresponding to the user's input from a server storing update information of a printer driver, in response to a user's input requesting the update function; providing an update information list including the obtained update information; and updating the printer driver with update information selected by the user, according to a user's selection from the provided update information list.
15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions for providing a user interface of a printer driver, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising: instructions to provide a user interface of a printer driver equipped with a search function to search for a print option; instructions to display, on the user interface, a print option list including at least one print option corresponding to the user's input, in response to an input of a user using the search function; and instructions to display, on the user interface, a setting menu corresponding to a print option selected by the user among a plurality of setting menus corresponding to print options, according to a user's selection from the displayed print option list.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0002] Various examples will be described below by referring to the following figures.
[0003]
[0004]
[0005]
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[0007]
[0008]
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES
[0014] In the following description, various examples are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present specification and the drawings, constituent elements having substantially the same functions are referenced by the same reference numerals and thus redundant descriptions thereof may be omitted.
[0015]
[0016] Referring to
[0017] The apparatus 200 may provide a user interface of a printer driver and may be an apparatus that controls the image forming apparatus 100 or may be included in the apparatus to control the image forming apparatus 100.
[0018]
[0019] Referring to
[0020] The user interface device 110 may include an input unit for receiving an input for performing an image forming job from a user and an output unit for displaying information such as a result of the performing of the image forming job or a state of the image forming apparatus 100. The processor 120 may control an operation of the image forming apparatus 100 and may include at least one processing unit such as a central processing unit (CPU). The processor 120 may execute software or a program stored in the memory 130, may read out data or a file stored in the memory 130, or may store a new file in the memory 130. The communication interface device 140 may perform wired or wireless communication with another device or a network. For example, when the communication interface device 140 receives a print instruction signal and a print job object from an external apparatus, the processor 120 may control the received print job object to be output through a print unit 151. Although the image forming unit 150 is illustrated to include the print unit 151, a scan unit 152, and a facsimile unit 153, only some of the above elements may be included as necessary or an element for performing a different type of an image forming job may be further included.
[0021] The apparatus 200 for providing a user interface of a printer driver may include a memory 210, a processor 220, a communication interface device 230, and a user interface device 240. The apparatus 200 for providing a user interface of a printer driver may be an apparatus that controls the image forming apparatus 100.
[0022] The memory 210 may store instructions that are executable by the processor 220. The memory 210 may store an operating system and application programs. The memory 210 may store a printer driver, which may be a universal printer driver and may be provided together by the operating system.
[0023] The processor 220 may execute the instructions stored in the memory 210 to execute the printer driver. The printer driver may perform processing on a print job object so that the image forming apparatus 100 performs a print job. The print job object may be changed to a final form that may be printed by a printer, by sequentially passing through a series of printer filters provided by the printer driver.
[0024] The communication interface device 230 may be connected to the image forming apparatus 100 or an external server (not shown) to perform communication with each other. The communication interface device 230 may transmit, to the image forming apparatus 100, a print job object processed by the printer driver in the apparatus 200 for providing a user interface of a printer driver.
[0025] The user interface device 240 may include an input unit for receiving a user's input and an output unit for displaying a result of the operation performed by the apparatus 200 for providing a user interface of a printer driver. The user interface device 240 may provide a user interface of a printer driver.
[0026] The names of the above-described elements of the image forming apparatus 100 and the apparatus 200 for providing a user interface of a printer driver may vary, and each of the image forming apparatus 100 and the apparatus 200 for providing a user interface of a printer driver may include at least one of the above-described elements, some elements may be omitted, or other additional elements may be further included.
[0027] Hereinafter, various examples of setting a print option desired by a user in a user interface of a printer driver so that the apparatus 200 for providing a user interface of a printer driver requests the image forming apparatus 100 to perform a print job are presented below.
[0028]
[0029] Referring to
[0030] The apparatus 200 for providing a user interface of a printer driver may display, on the user interface, in response to an input of the user using the search function, a print option list including at least one print option corresponding to the user's input in operation S320. The apparatus 200 for providing a user interface of a printer driver may interactively display, on the user interface, a print option list including at least one print option corresponding to the user's input, at a location where a user's input is input to a search window.
[0031] The apparatus 200 for providing a user interface of a printer driver may display, on the user interface, a setting menu corresponding to the print option selected by the user among the setting menus corresponding to a plurality of print options, according to a user's selection from the displayed print option list in operation S330. In an example, the setting menus corresponding to the print options may be scrolled on the user interface of a printer driver so that the same result as moving to a position of a setting menu corresponding to the print option selected from the print option list may be obtained. The apparatus 200 for providing a user interface of a printer driver may change a corresponding area of the user interface so that a user may directly access a setting menu corresponding to the print option selected by a user from the displayed print option list among the setting menus corresponding to the print options.
[0032] When the setting of a print option through the user interface of a printer driver is completed, the apparatus 200 for providing a user interface of a printer driver may create a print job object in a form printable by the image forming apparatus 100, by using a printer driver, and transmit the printable form to the image forming apparatus 100.
[0033]
[0034] Referring to
[0035] In the example of
[0036] As illustrated in
[0037] In the example of
[0038] In the example of
[0039] As seen from the example of
[0040]
[0041] Referring to
[0042]
[0043] Referring to
[0044] The apparatus 200 for providing a user interface of a printer driver may display a print option list including at least one print option corresponding to a synonym that matches a user's input, based on a print option matching table storing synonyms prepared in advance for each print option. Furthermore, the apparatus 200 for providing a user interface of a printer driver may display a print option list indicating at least one print option corresponding to a synonym that matches the user's input and a description together for each at least one print option, based on the print option matching table storing synonyms prepared in advance for each print option and descriptions.
[0045] As illustrated in
[0046] As illustrated in
[0047]
[0048] Referring to
[0049] The apparatus 200 for providing a user interface of a printer driver may select only a print option supported by the image forming apparatus 100 that is assigned to be an image forming apparatus to perform a print job on the user interface, among at least one print option corresponding to the user's input in operation S720.
[0050] The apparatus 200 for providing a user interface of a printer driver may display a print option list including the selected print option only on the user interface in operation S730.
[0051] Accordingly, only the print options supported by the image forming apparatus 100 that the apparatus 200 for providing a user interface of a printer driver assigned to be an image forming apparatus to perform a print job may be provided as a result of the search to a user. When the user does not intend to perform a print job in an image forming apparatus other than the image forming apparatus 100 that is currently assigned, as a search result is further compressed and provided, user convenience may be provided and a print job may be performed rapidly.
[0052] When the image forming apparatus 100 that is assigned to be an image forming apparatus to perform a print job does not support a print option desired by the user, an image forming apparatus that supports the print option desired by the user is searched for, and an image forming apparatus to perform a print job needs to be newly assigned. An example related thereto is described below with reference to
[0053]
[0054] Referring to
[0055] The apparatus 200 for providing a user interface of a printer driver may determine whether there is a print option that is not supported by the image forming apparatus 100 assigned to be an image forming apparatus to perform a print job on the user interface, among at least one print option corresponding to the user's input in operation S820.
[0056] When there is no print option that is not supported by the image forming apparatus 100 among at least one print option corresponding to the user's input, the apparatus 200 for providing a user interface of a printer driver may display a print option list including a found print option on the user interface in operation S830.
[0057] In contrast, where there is a print option that is not supported by the image forming apparatus 100 among at least one print option corresponding to the user's input, the apparatus 200 for providing a user interface of a printer driver may provide a print option list with a search function to search for an image forming apparatus that supports the print option in operation S840.
[0058] The apparatus 200 for providing a user interface of a printer driver may search for an image forming apparatus that supports a print option that is not supported by the image forming apparatus 100, in response to a user's input requesting a search function in operation S850.
[0059] The apparatus 200 for providing a user interface of a printer driver may provide a list of image forming apparatuses including the found image forming apparatus in operation S860.
[0060] The apparatus 200 for providing a user interface of a printer driver may assign an image forming apparatus selected by the user to be an image forming apparatus to perform a print job, according to a user's selection from the provided image forming apparatus list in operation S870.
[0061]
[0062] Referring to
[0063] As illustrated in
[0064]
[0065] Referring to
[0066] The apparatus 200 for providing a user interface of a printer driver may determine whether there is a found print option in operation S1020.
[0067] When a print option corresponding to the user's input is found, the apparatus 200 for providing a user interface of a printer driver may display a print option list including the found print option on the user interface in operation S1030.
[0068] In contrast, when no print option corresponding to the user's input is found, the apparatus 200 for providing a user interface of a printer driver may provide an update function to update a printer driver instead of a print option list in operation S1040.
[0069] The apparatus 200 for providing a user interface of a printer driver may obtain, in response to a user's input requesting an update function, update information of a printer driver comprising the print option corresponding to the user's input, from a server storing update information of a printer driver in operation 51050. The server storing the update information of a printer driver may have an update information table. The server may check the version of a printer driver installed in the apparatus 200 for providing a user interface of a printer driver, and transmit at least one piece of update information corresponding to a subsequent version to the apparatus 200 for providing a user interface of a printer driver. Alternatively, the server may transmit update information of a printer driver including a print option requested by the apparatus 200 for providing a user interface of a printer driver, to the apparatus 200 for providing a user interface of a printer driver.
[0070] The apparatus 200 for providing a user interface of a printer driver may provide an update information list including the obtained update information in operation S1060.
[0071] The apparatus 200 for providing a user interface of a printer driver may update the printer driver with updated information selected by the user, according to a user's selection from the provided update information list in operation S1070. As the printer driver is updated, a print option that was not searched for before updating is searched for, and a print option list including a found print option may be displayed on the user interface.
[0072]
[0073] Referring to
[0074] Examples regarding the above-described method of providing a user interface of a printer driver may be provided in the form of an application or a computer program stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium to execute each operation of the above-described method in the apparatus 200 for providing a user interface of a printer driver.
[0075] The above-described example methods of providing a user interface of a printer driver may be implemented in the form of a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for storing instructions or data that is executable by a computer or a processor. The examples can be written as computer programs and can be implemented in general-use digital computers that execute the programs using a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. Examples of the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium include read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), flash memory, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, CD+Rs, CD-RWs, CD+RWs, DVD-ROMs, DVD-Rs, DVD+Rs, DVD-RWs, DVD+RWs, DVD-RAMs, BD-ROMs, BD-Rs, BD-R LTHs, BD-REs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, magneto-optical data storages, optical data storages, hard disks, solid-state disks (SSDs), and instructions or software, related data, data files, and data structures, and any devices capable of providing instructions or software, related data, data files, and data structures to a processor or a computer so that the processor or the computer may execute the instructions may be employed.