WO2023183024A1

WO2023183024A1 - Universal print driver with queue management

Info

Publication number: WO2023183024A1
Application number: PCT/US2022/043946
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sohye KIM; Jeonghun Kim; Sangmin Lee; Junyoung Choi; Mikyung CHOI
Original assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Priority date: 2022-03-22
Filing date: 2022-09-19
Publication date: 2023-09-28
Also published as: KR20230137595A

Abstract

An example information processing apparatus performs operations of creating a first printer queue that uses, as a destination printer, one of at least one printer supported by a universal printer driver (UPD), storing, in association with the first printer queue, attribute information comprising a unique device identifier of the destination printer and connection settings information regarding the destination printer, and based on receiving an event that triggers updating of the attribute information in the first printer queue, updating, based on the attribute information and an environment of a current network to which the information processing apparatus is attached with the UPD installed therein, the attribute information with connection settings information with which the destination printer is to perform printing.

Description

UNIVERSAL PRINT DRIVER WITH QUEUE MANAGEMENT

BACKGROUND

[0001] There exist many different types of image forming apparatuses, including dedicated printers, scanners, copiers, facsimile machines, etc., and also multi-function products (MFPs). An MFP acts as an all-in-one solution to provide a combination of, e.g., print, photocopy, scan, and fax functions.

[0002] There may be installed in a user device a printer driver to control a print functionality through an image forming apparatus. The user device may use a universal printer driver (UPD) to perform the print functionality control for a plurality of image forming apparatuses that are network-connected in a local or remote manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] Various examples will be described below by referring to the following figures.

[0004] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an information processing apparatus in which a universal printer driver (UPD) may be implemented to create a direct printer queue and update information regarding printer connection settings according to an example.

[0005] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a UPD to create a direct printer queue and update printer connection settings information according to an example.

[0006] FIG. 3 illustrates a method of creating a first printer queue as a direct printer queue and updating information regarding connection settings of a printer according to an example.

[0007] FIG. 4 illustrates a method of creating a first printer queue according to an example.

[0008] FIG. 5 illustrates a method of updating information regarding connection settings of a printer according to an example.

[0009] FIG. 6 illustrates a method of updating a printing path using an internet protocol (IP) address of a printer according to an example.

[0010] FIG. 7 illustrates a method of updating a printing path using a unique device identifier of a printer according to an example.

[0011] FIG. 8 illustrates a method of performing printing via a first printer queue according to an example.

[0012] FIG. 9 illustrates a print interface to indicate direct printer queues according to an example.

[0013] FIG. 10 illustrates a user interface for use with a UPD in creating and deleting a direct printer queue according to an example.

[0014] FIG. 11 illustrates a method of creating and managing information regarding connection settings of a destination printer associated with a direct printer queue according to an example.

[0015] FIG. 12 is a schematic illustration of a computer readable recording medium according to an example.

[0016] FIG. 13 illustrates a situation in which a printer IP address is updated in a direct printer queue according to an example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Examples of the present disclosure relate to a technology of providing a universal printer driver (UPD). A UPD is a driver that supports a singledriver usage by a user’s information processing apparatus across a plurality of image forming apparatus. In an example, performing a print job using the UPD may include selecting, from among printers that are supported by the UPD and listed in a UPD printer queue, a printer to be used for the print job and sending the print job through a communication port that is set for the selected printer.

[0018] In a case of using a UPD for printing, a user may desire to replace a destination printer with another printer. In that case, the user may input, on a screen that indicates attributes of printers associated with the UPD, a change as to which printer is to be used for the printing. Further, based on an occurrence of a change in a network environment in which the destination printer and the UPD are located, the UPD may change information regarding the port through which to connect to the destination printer. This is because the UPD is connected via one port, and arranged to transfer the print job to any supported printer with which to perform the printing in a local or remote manner.

[0019] Examples of the present disclosure relate to an apparatus, a method, and a recording medium to create a printer queue that has, as its direct destination printer with which to perform printing, one of a plurality of printers supported by a UPD and that also enables dynamic management of a printing path as there occurs a change in a network environment in which the destination printer and the UPD are located. In an example, the UPD is to create a direct printer queue for an individual destination printer, independently of a UPD printer queue, and store, in association with the created direct printer queue, attribute data including a unique device identifier or universally unique identifier (UUID) of the individual destination printer and information regarding connection settings thereof, e.g., an IP address, a cloud ID, a printing path, and the like. In an example, based on the created direct printer queue being selected for printing, the UPD may send a print job to the destination printer designated in the direct printer queue at any time by using the attribute information stored in the direct printer queue. Further, even based on a change occurring in the network environment in which the destination printer and the UPD are located, the attribute information, e.g., the IP address of the destination printer, the printing path according to which the destination printer is accessible, and the like, that is included in the direct printer queue may be dynamically updated without a user manually changing a port of the destination printer or without any deactivation of the destination printer. [0020] Various terms used in the present disclosure are chosen from a terminology of commonly used terms in consideration of their function herein, which may be appreciated differently depending on an intention, a precedent case, or an emerging new technology. In specific instances, some terms are to be construed as set forth in detail in the detailed description. Accordingly, the terms used herein are to be defined consistently with their meanings in the context of the present disclosure, rather than simply by their plain and ordinary meaning. [0021] The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” “containing,” etc. are used herein to specify the presence of the elements listed thereafter. Unless otherwise indicated, these terms and variations thereof are not meant to exclude the presence or addition of other elements.

[0022] As used herein, ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” and so forth are meant to identify several similar elements. Unless otherwise specified, such terms are not intended to impose limitations, e.g., a particular order of these elements or of their use, but rather are used merely for referring to multiple elements separately. For instance, an element may be referred to in an example with the term “first” while the same element may be referred to in another example with a different ordinal number such as “second” or “third.” In such examples, such ordinal terms are not to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Also, the use of the term “and/or” in a list of multiple elements is inclusive of all possible combinations of the listed items, including any one or plurality of the items.

[0023] The term “image forming job” as used herein may encompass any of a variety of image-related jobs that involve an operation of forming an image and/or other processing operations, e.g., creation, generation, and/or transfer of an image file. The term “job” as used herein may encompass a chain of processes that facilitate an image forming job, as well as the image forming job per se. By way of example, an image forming apparatus may perform an image forming job, such as a print job, a copy job, a scan job, a facsimile or other transmission job, a storage job, a coating job, or the like.

[0024] The term “image forming device” or “image forming apparatus” as used herein may encompass any of a variety of devices, such as a printer, a scanner, a facsimile machine, a multi-function product (MFP), a display device, and the like, that are capable of performing an image forming job. In some examples, an image forming apparatus may be a two-dimensional (2D) or a three- dimensional (3D) image forming apparatus. Such image forming apparatus may provide various additional functions, as well as basic ones, for example, print, copy, and scan functions.

[0025] The term “user” as used herein may refer to a person who manipulates an image forming apparatus to operate an image forming job. Further, the term “administrator” as used herein may refer to a person who has access to the entire functionality of an image forming apparatus. In some examples, one person may have both roles of an administrator and user.

[0026] The terms “electronic device,” “electronic apparatus,” or “user device” as used herein may refer to any information processing device, such as, for example, a computer, a laptop, a table PC, a mobile telephone terminal, or the like, that may be used by a user.

[0027] The term “universal printer driver (UPD)” may refer to a driver that facilitates single-print-driver control and management of operations of at least one printer.

[0028] Examples of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein. Rather, these examples are given in order to provide a better understanding of the scope of the present disclosure.

[0029] These and other features of the examples will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0030] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an information processing apparatus in which a universal printer driver (UPD) may be implemented to create a direct printer queue and update information regarding printer connection settings according to an example.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 1 , an information processing apparatus 100 may include a processor 110, a UPD 120, a memory 130, and an operating system 140. In an example, the information processing apparatus 100 may also include an additional component, e.g., a power supply unit to supply power to the above- mentioned components, a user interface unit, a communications unit to communicatively couple to those components or external entities, or the like. In another example, the information processing apparatus 100 may include some of, but not all of, the components shown in FIG. 1. Further, the information processing apparatus 100 may be a single device or may be configured with a plurality of interconnected devices. [0032] In some examples, the processor 110 may control a function of the information processing apparatus 100. For example, the processor 110 may be implemented with a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or other processing circuitry to perform the example operations described herein. For example, the processor 110 may execute an instruction stored in the memory 130. The processor 110 may also read other information stored in the memory 130. In addition, the processor 110 may store new information in the memory 130 and may update information stored in the memory 30. For example, the processor 110 may obtain, from the memory 130, information used to control the information processing apparatus 100 or may store such information in the memory 130.

[0033] The UPD 120 may perform various functions by which the information processing apparatus 100 may control the functionality of an image forming apparatus. For example, the UPD 120 may be used to control a plurality of image forming apparatuses without their respective printer drivers being installed in the information processing apparatus 100. In order to perform an image forming job through the UPD 120, the information processing apparatus 100 may select, from among multiple image forming apparatuses connected with the information processing apparatus 100, a destination printer to be used via the UPD 120. Further, the UPD may support both local printing and remote printing. That is, the UPD may be used for printing with a local printer or with a remote printer. In an example, the UPD 120 may create a direct printer queue having, as its destination printer, one of a plurality of available printers and store, in association with the direct printer queue, attribute information including a unique device identifier of the destination printer and information regarding connection settings of the destination printer. Further, the UPD 120 may update the attribute information in the direct printer queue based on receiving an event that triggers updating of the attribute information.

[0034] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a UPD to create a direct printer queue and update printer connection settings information according to an example.

[0035] In various examples, a printer application 200 may be associated with a printer device and may be installed, together with the UPD 120, in the information processing apparatus 100. The printer application 200 may provide a printer setting function 201 and a printer selection function 202. The printer setting function 201 may provide for verifying which printer is being used by a user and changing printer settings by, e.g., adding a printer to be used or deleting an unused printer. The printer selection function 202 may provide for searching for printers that are available to the user. Examples of the printers available to the user may include a printer which exists on a network environment of the information processing apparatus having the UPD installed therein and which is therefore available for local printing and a printer which is not available for local printing, but is available for remote printing through a cloud server. In an example, a single printer may be available for both local printing and remote printing. Other types of printers are also contemplated herein. Based on the user selecting one printer, e.g., a first printer, from a list of found printers, a direct printer queue 220 may be created having the selected printer as its destination printer and may be referred to as, e.g., a first printer queue.

[0036] A printer queue may send a print job to a destination printer associated with a printer driver. In an example, the direct printer queue uses the UPD as its printer driver. In an example, the user may select, from a list of printer queues on a print interface such as printer driver user interface 121 , a printer queue for a desired destination printer and make a request for printing therewith. FIG. 9 shows an example of a print interface, on which an example printer queue list is presented. In an example, based on the printout being initiated, a printing system of the operating system 140 may send print data to the UPD associated with the direct printer queue. The UPD may render the received print data into job data so as to transfer the print job to the destination printer in accordance with the attribute information stored in the direct printer queue.

[0037] In some examples, a printer queue management service 210 may be installed, via the printer application 200 or the UPD 120, in the information processing apparatus 100. The printer queue management service 210 may perform operations of, e.g., creating and updating the printer queue.

[0038] In some examples, in response to an event that has occurred in the user’s information processing apparatus, an event handler 211 may provide for receiving and processing the event. In an example, the event may be an event that triggers updating of the attribute information in the direct printer queue. For example, the event may include a network event in which there is a change in the network environment of the information processing apparatus with the UPD installed therein through the operating system 140, or an event in which the attribute information regarding the destination printer of the first printer queue is indicated. For example, such indication event may occur in a circumstance in which, in the process of printing through the user’s manipulation of an application that supports a print function, the first printer queue is indicated in a print interface of the application or in which the user verifies and manages the attribute information in the first printer queue. Further, the event that triggers updating of the attribute information may occur while the printing is currently being performed. For example, updating of the attribute information may be triggered during generation of a print job upon the user clicking on a print button in the print interface to proceed with the printing operation.

[0039] In some examples, a printer queue manager function 212 may receive attribute information regarding the user’s selected printer, such as a unique device identifier of the printer, the information regarding the connection settings of the printer, or the like, create the direct printer queue 220 having the user’s selected printer as its destination printer, and store, in association with the printer queue, the attribute information regarding the destination printer. Further, based on receiving an event occurrence through the event handler 211 , the printer queue manager may use the attribute information in the direct printer queue to update the connection settings information such as a printing path available in the network environment to which the information processing apparatus is currently attached with the UPD installed therein.

[0040] The direct printer queue 220 may send a print job to the destination printer. The direct printer queue 220 may be created by the printer queue management service 210, which is installed through the UPD. The direct printer queue 220 may have the attribute information regarding the destination printer and thus use the attribute information based on sending the print job to the destination printer.

[0041] In an example, the direct printer queue 220 may be a printer queue that uses the UPD 120 as a printer driver and has, as its destination printer, one of a plurality of image forming apparatuses supported by the UPD. The direct printer queue 220 may be created or deleted by the UPD. Based on the direct printer queue being created, the attribute information regarding the destination printer of the direct printer queue may be associated with and stored in the printer queue.

[0042] The attribute information stored in the direct printer queue may include the unique device identifier or UUID of the destination printer and the information regarding the connection settings of the destination printer. A unique device identifier may include an ID to uniquely distinguish an apparatus on a network, and thus may be used to identify each of a plurality of image forming apparatuses that exist on a network in which an information processing apparatus having installed therein a UPD is located. For example, a UUID of a destination printer may be used to identify whether the destination printer exists on a network in which an information processing apparatus is located with a UPD installed therein.

[0043] The information regarding the connection settings of the destination printer may include information regarding a printing path of the printer, as well as an IP address or a cloud ID of the printer. The printing path information may include information regarding a printing mode that may be performed by the destination printer. In an example, the printing path may include a first printing path and a second printing path. For example, the first printing path may be a local printing path while the second printing path may be a remote printing path such as a cloud printing path. For example, based on the destination printer existing on the network in which the information processing apparatus having the UPD installed therein is located, i.e. , based on local printing being available, the printing path may be set as a local printing path. Based on the destination printer not existing on the network in which the information processing apparatus having the UPD installed therein is located, the printing path may be set as a remote printing path. Further, the connection settings information may include information used for local printing and remote printing. In the case of local printing, the connection settings information may include an IP address of the destination printer, which may be used for sending of a print job from the printer queue to the destination printer. In the case of remote printing, the connection settings information may include a cloud printer ID of the destination printer, which may be used for sending of a print job through a cloud server to the destination printer. A cloud printer ID, hereinafter also referred to as ‘cloud ID’, is a unique ID that a cloud server uses to identify a corresponding printer based on performing remote printing. For example, upon request from a user for printing with a destination printer for which a remote printing path is set and for which a print job is destined, the UPD may upload the print job to a cloud server, which may identify the destination printer by using its cloud ID and transfer the printjob to the destination printer.

[0044] As described above, the UPD 120 serves as a single driver by which to control and manage operations of at least one printer. In an example, a settings item 122 may provide a variety of options for creating and deleting a printer queue. In an example, a job transfer manager 123 may transfer a print job to a destination printer that is set in a current printer queue. Based on the printing path information stored in the direct printer queue 220 indicating that the destination printer has a local printing path, the job transfer manager 123 may transfer the print job to the destination printer by using certain information such as an IP address of the destination printer. Based on the destination printer having a remote printing path, the job transfer manager 123 may transfer the print job to a cloud server by using a cloud ID of the destination printer.

[0045] Various example operations of creating a direct printer queue and updating connection settings information are described below.

[0046] FIG. 3 illustrates a method of creating a first printer queue as a direct printer queue and updating information regarding connection settings of a printer according to an example.

[0047] In an example, the information processing apparatus may handle the operations of FIG. 3 by performing the same using a processor of the information processing apparatus or an application, module, or other machine readable instructions component implemented by the processor. Thus, these operations should not be construed as being performed by a specific component of the example information processing apparatus.

[0048] At operation S300, the information processing apparatus, with a UPD installed therein, creates a first printer queue that uses, as a destination printer, one of a plurality of printers supported by the UPD. The “destination printer” refers to a printer that is provided with a print job transferred through the first printer queue and performs printing accordingly. An example of the creation of the first printer queue will be described below with reference to FIG. 4.

[0049] FIG. 4 illustrates a method of creating a first printer queue according to an example.

[0050] Examples of operation S300 are described with reference to FIG. 4. Based on a user running a printer application installed in the information processing apparatus and launching a printer selection item of the printer application in order to create a direct printer queue to perform printing with a single direct printer, the printer application may indicate, at operation S310, a list of at least one printer that is available to the user. The at least one printer that is available to the user may include a printer which is available in a local network environment, i.e., a network environment to which the information processing apparatus is attached, and a cloud printer which is registered with a cloud server as its user.

[0051] Based on the user selecting, at operation S320, one of the at least one indicated printer as a destination printer, the printer application may acquire, at operation S330, attribute information regarding the selected printer. Based on the selected printer being a local printer, the printer application may obtain an IP address of the printer. Based on the selected printer being a cloud printer registered with the cloud server, the printer application may obtain a cloud ID from a list of cloud printers, which is provided from the cloud server. As described above, the attribute information may include a unique device identifier of the selected printer and information regarding connection settings of the selected printer. Based on the selected printer being indicated to the printer queue management service and the attribute information regarding the selected printer being transmitted to the printer queue management service, the printer queue management service may create, at operation S340, the first printer queue with its destination printer defined as the selected printer.

[0052] Turning back to FIG. 3, based on the first printer queue being created, the information processing apparatus stores, at operation S400, in association with the first printer queue, the attribute information including the unique device identifier of the destination printer of the first printer queue and the information regarding the connection settings thereof. As described above, the unique device identifier may be used to identify whether the destination printer exists on a network to which the information processing apparatus is attached with the UPD installed therein. Further, the connection settings information may include a printing path of the destination printer and may include an IP address or a cloud ID of the destination printer. The IP address of the destination printer may be used in a situation in which the destination printer is used for local printing. The cloud ID of the destination printer may be used in a situation in which the destination printer is used for remote printing.

[0053] Based on the first printer queue being created and the attribute information being stored, the information processing apparatus may receive a certain event that triggers updating of the attribute information in the first printer queue. Based on receiving the event, the information processing apparatus may perform, at operation S500, based on the already stored attribute information in the first printer queue and a current network environment to which the information processing apparatus having the UPD installed therein is attached, updating of the attribute information with connection settings information with which the destination printer of the first print queue is to perform printing. An example of updating of attribute information in the first printer queue will be described below with reference to FIG. 5.

[0054] FIG. 5 illustrates a method of updating information regarding connection settings of a printer according to an example.

[0055] The information processing apparatus may receive, at operation S510, an event that triggers updating of the attribute information in the first printer queue. For example, as described above, the event that triggers updating of the attribute information may include, e.g., a network event in which there is a change in a network environment of the information processing apparatus with the UPD installed therein through the operating system 140. The information processing apparatus, e.g., the processor thereof, may receive a network-related event from the operating system based on the network event occurring in the information processing apparatus. Such network event may be caused by a change of the network to which the information processing apparatus is attached, by the user starting up the information processing apparatus and logging in to the operating system, or by other circumstances. The event that triggers updating of the attribute information may include an event in which the attribute information regarding the destination printer of the first printer queue is indicated. For example, such indication event may occur in a circumstance in which, in the process of printing through the user’s manipulation of an application that supports a print function, the first printer queue is indicated in a print interface of the application or where the user verifies and manages the attribute information in the first printer queue.

[0056] Based on receiving the certain event that triggers updating of the attribute information in the first printer queue, the information processing apparatus may update, based on the attribute information in the first printer queue and the current network environment to which the information processing apparatus having the UPD installed therein is attached, the connection settings information with which the destination printer is to perform printing.

[0057] As described above, the connection settings information regarding the destination printer may include information regarding the printing path of the destination printer, as well as the IP address or the cloud ID of the destination printer. As described above, the printing path information may include information regarding a printing mode that may be performed by the destination printer, including, e.g., a first and a second printing path. In an example, the first printing path may be a local printing path while the second printing path may be a remote printing path. The IP address or the cloud ID may be used to perform printing via the first printing path or the second printing path, respectively. In an example, the IP address of the destination printer may be used for the printing via the first printing path and stored in the connection settings information. Likewise, the cloud ID of the destination printer may be used for the printing via the second printing path and stored in the connection settings information.

[0058] The information processing apparatus may identify, at operation

5520, whether the IP address of the destination printer is present on the current network to which the information processing apparatus is attached with the UPD installed therein. Based on the IP address of the destination printer being present on the current network, which indicates that the destination printer is available for local printing, the information processing apparatus may update, at operation S540, to the first printing path, the printing path in the connection settings information contained in the attribute information in the first printer queue. An example of the identifying of whether the IP address of the destination printer is present on the current network will be described below with reference to FIG. 6.

[0059] FIG. 6 illustrates a method of updating a printing path using an internet protocol (IP) address of a printer according to an example.

[0060] The information processing apparatus may identify, at operation

5521 , whether the IP address of the destination printer is present in the connection settings information in the attribute information stored in association with the printer queue. Based on the IP address of the destination printer not being present in the connection settings information, it is not possible to identify whether the IP address stored in the attribute information is valid on the current network to which the information processing apparatus is attached. Therefore, based on the IP address not being present in the connection settings information, the information processing apparatus may identify, at operation S530, whether there exists, on the current network of the information processing apparatus, an apparatus having an identifier identical to the unique device identifier of the destination printer, which is stored in the attribute information.

[0061] Based on the IP address being present in the connection settings information, the information processing apparatus may identify, at operation S522, whether the IP address stored in the attribute information is valid on the current network to which the information processing apparatus is attached. Based on the IP address not being valid, i.e. , the IP address of the destination printer is not present on the current network, the IP address of the destination printer might have been changed, and thus the operation S530 of identifying whether there exists, on the current network, an apparatus having an identifier identical to the unique device identifier of the destination printer, which is stored in the attribute information, may be performed. In an example, a change of the IP address of the destination printer may include there being a change of the IP address such that the destination printer remains within a network where local printing is available. For example, the IP address of the printer may be a dynamic IP address. Based on the IP address not being valid, i.e., the IP address of the destination printer is present on the current network, the destination printer is available for local printing and thus the information processing apparatus may update, at operation S540, to a local printing path, the printing path in the connection settings information retained in the attribute information in the first printer queue. In addition, updating the printing path to a local printing path may be preceded by identifying whether the unique device identifier of the printer is identical to a unique device identifier stored in the attribute information.

[0062] Turning back to FIG. 5, based on identifying that the IP address stored in the attribute information is not valid on the current network to which the information processing apparatus is attached, the information processing apparatus may identify, at operation S530, whether there exists, on the current network to which the information processing apparatus is attached, a printer having an identifier identical to the unique device identifier stored in the attribute information in the first printer queue. As described above, a UIIID is an ID that uniquely distinguishes a device on a network, and thus may be used to identify each of a plurality of image forming apparatuses that exist on a network in which an information processing apparatus having installed therein a UPD is located. The first print queue is created to have associated therewith and stored therein the attribute information, which may include the unique device identifier of its destination printer. If it is identified that there exists, on the current network, a printer having an identifier identical to the unique device identifier stored in the attribute information in the first printer queue, which indicates that the destination printer is available for local printing, the information processing apparatus may update, at operation S550, to the first printing path, the printing path in the connection settings information contained in the attribute information in the first printer queue. Based on identifying that there does not exist, on the current network, a printer having an identifier identical to the unique device identifier stored in the attribute information in the first printer queue, the destination printer is not available for local printing and thus the information processing apparatus may update, at operation S560, to a remote printing path, the printing path in the connection settings information contained in the attribute information in the first printer queue. An example of the updating of the connection settings information through the unique device identifier will be described below with reference to FIG. 7.

[0063] FIG. 7 illustrates a method of updating a printing path using a unique device identifier of a printer according to an example.

[0064] First, the information processing apparatus may invoke, at operation S531 , the unique device identifier included in the attribute information in the first printer queue. The unique device identifier is one that uniquely identifies the destination printer of the first printer queue. The information processing apparatus may identify, at operation S532, whether there exists, on the currently attached network, an apparatus having an identifier identical to the unique device identifier. This operation may be performed by comparing a unique device identifier of an apparatus that exists on the network to that included in the attribute information in the first printer queue. Based on identifying that there does not exist an apparatus having the identical identifier, the destination printer of the first printer queue does not exist on the current network to which the information processing apparatus is attached, i.e. , the destination printer does not exist in a local network environment, and thus the information processing apparatus may update, at operation S560, to a remote printing path, the printing path in the connection settings information retained in the attribute information in the first printer queue.

[0065] Based on identifying that there exists an apparatus having the identical identifier, the destination printer of the first printer queue exists on the current network to which the information processing apparatus is attached, i.e., the destination printer exists in a local network environment, and thus the information processing apparatus may update, at operation S550, to a local printing path, the printing path in the connection settings information retained in the attribute information in the first printer queue. Further, in such case, the destination printer’s IP address stored in the attribute information in the first printer queue may not identify an actual one, or based on such actual printer existing, may not be identical to its IP address. Accordingly, the information processing apparatus may update, at operation S551 , the IP address of the destination printer, which appears in the connection settings information retained in the attribute information in the first printer queue, to an IP address of the actual destination printer. Different orders of operations are possible and contemplated herein. In an example, the order of the operations S550 and S551 may be interchangeable. These operations involve the use of UIIID to allow successful local printing even a situation in which there occurs a change of the IP address of the destination printer.

[0066] Some example operations of using the first printer queue to perform printing will be discussed in the following.

[0067] FIG. 8 illustrates a method of performing printing via a first printer queue according to an example.

[0068] An example flow for processing of a print job may include, based on the user initiating printing by providing to the printer application a print instruction, the application may transfer print data to the printing system of the operating system, which may send, to a driver associated with the printer queue, the information for printing. In an example, the driver associated with the first printer queue may be the UPD. The UPD may render the received data into job data readable by the printer. The job transfer manager of the UPD may use the attribute information stored in the direct printer queue to transfer the print job to the destination printer defined in the present printer queue.

[0069] Upon the user initiation of printing, the print function supporting application may indicate a print interface. In an example, the print function supporting application may be an application that is available for printing purposes, including, e.g., Word, PowerPoint, PDF applications, or the like. Other examples of the print function supporting application are also contemplated herein, including, e.g., all other applications that support a print function.

[0070] For example, based on the user clicking on a print button in the application to print out a document, a print interface may be indicated thereon for providing functions of selecting a printer queue targeted for printing, changing settings of print data, and the like. The user may make, at operation S600, on the print interface, a request for printing with the first printer queue.

[0071] As described above, examples of the event that triggers updating of the attribute information in the first printer queue may include an event in which the attribute information regarding the destination printer of the first printer queue is indicated, as well as a network event in which there is a change in the network environment of the information processing apparatus having the UPD installed therein through the operating system. For example, such indication event may occur in a circumstance in which, in the process of printing through the user’s manipulation of an application that supports a print function, the first printer queue is indicated in a print interface of the application or in which the user verifies and manages the attribute information in the first printer queue. Further, in an example, the event that triggers updating of the attribute information may occur while the printing is currently being performed. For example, there may be a change in the network environment after the attribute information is updated with the first printer queue indicated in the print interface, but before the user sends the print request to the printer queue. This may thus trigger updating of the attribute information in the process of generation of the print job upon the user clicking on the print button to proceed the printing operation.

[0072] As such, in an example, the operation S500 of updating the attribute information in the first printer queue may be performed while the printing is being performed through the first printer queue.

[0073] Based on the request for printing with the first printer queue being received at operation S610, the connection settings information regarding the destination printer may be read out at operation S620, where the connection settings information may be retained in the updated attribute information in the first printer queue. The information regarding the printing path of the destination printer may be verified at operation S630 from the connection settings information. Based on the verified printing path information, the print job may be sent at operation S640 to the destination printer of the first printer queue. In an example, based on the updated printing path being a local printing path, which indicates that the destination printer of the first printer queue exists on the current network to which the information processing apparatus is attached, the print job may be transferred to the destination printer by using its IP address contained in the connection settings information regarding the destination printer. Based on the updated printing path being a remote printing path, which indicates that the destination printer of the first printer queue does not exist on the current network to which the information processing apparatus is attached, the print job may be transferred via a cloud server to the destination printer by using its cloud ID contained in the connection settings information regarding the destination printer. As such, the user-initiated printing may be successfully performed based on the dynamically updated connection settings information in the first printer queue.

[0074] As discussed above, in various examples, an enhanced user experience may be provided, in which, given a number of available printers, a user may create a direct printer queue having, as its destination printer, the user’s desired printer with which to perform printing and may thus have no difficulty in selecting the printer queue on an application, and in which, even in a situation in which there occurs a change in a network environment to which the destination printer or the UPD is attached, the printing may be successfully performed without the user manually changing a port of the destination printer or without any deactivation of the destination printer.

[0075] FIG. 9 illustrates a print interface to indicate direct printer queues according to an example.

[0076] A traditional UPD configures a printer queue such that, based on a user desiring to change the destination printer to be used for printing, the user is to click on, e.g., a Printer Attributes item of the UPD as shown in FIG. 9, and make, on a Printer Attributes screen, a change of the to-be-used printer to his/her desired printer. In contrast, examples of the present disclosure provide a direct printer queue that is created having the user’s desired printer as its direct printer with which to perform printing. This may make it more convenient for the user to select his/her desired destination printer for printing on a print function supporting application as, for example, there are indicated below the UPD printer queue a number of direct printer queues such as a first printer queue and a second printer queue, as shown in FIG. 9.

[0077] FIG. 10 illustrates a user interface for use with a UPD in creating and deleting a direct printer queue according to an example.

[0078] As described above, there may be provided in the settings item of the UPD a screen on which a direct printer queue may be created or deleted. For example, based on the settings item of the UPD being selected (e.g., clicked), there may be indicated a screen for providing a variety of functions with which the user may create or deleted a printer queue, as depicted in FIG. 10.

[0079] In an example, there may be provided a function of creating a printer queue based on a selection of a printer to be used for printing being made on a Search Printers screen, as discussed with respect to FIG. 4. A printer application may have a Select Printer item with which to search for at least one printer that is available to the user. Based on a printer being selected from among the listed available printers, there may be created a direct printer queue having the selected printer as its destination printer. Further, attribute information regarding the printer may be stored within, and in association with, the direct printer queue. On the other hand, in an example, there may be provided a function of deleting a printer queue for a previously selected printer based on a change being made on the Search Printers screen as to which printer is to be used for printing. For example, based on the user changing the to-be-used printer from Printer A to Printer B, direct printer queue A may be deleted.

[0080] In an example, there may be provided a function of creating a direct printer queue for a favorite printer to store, in association with the direct printer queue, attribute information regarding the printer based on the favorite printer being selected by the user on the Printer Search screen. On the other hand, in an example, there may be provided a function of deleting a direct printer queue for a favorite printer based on the favorite printer being deselected by the user.

[0081] In an example, there may be provided a function of creating a direct printer queue based on addition of a printer being made in the printer application. As described above, the printer setting item of the printer application may provide a printer setting function of adding a printer to be used. Based on the printer application being executed and a printer being added at the printer setting item, a direct printer queue for the added printer may be created and attribute information regarding the printer may be stored in association with the direct printer queue. On the other hand, in an example, there may be provided a function of deleting a direct printer queue of a managed printer based on the printer being deleted in the printer application.

[0082] Furthermore, there may be provided a function of creating a printer queue based on addition of a printer being made in a printer portal site on which the printer may be managed by the user. The printer portal site may be a website in which a printer application may be visually presented so that the user may manage his/her remote printer or cloud printer. A direct printer queue may be created for a printer based on its addition being made on the printer portal website, as is otherwise made in the printer application. In this case, the printer application may receive and process a change made in the printer portal site. On the other hand, in an example, there may be provided a function of deleting a direct printer queue for a printer managed on the printer portal site based on deletion of the printer being made thereon. Further, there may be provided a function of deleting all direct printer queues that are created for respective printers.

[0083] Based on a direct printer queue being created, the information processing apparatus may display, on a print interface, attribute information regarding the created first printer queue. As described above, the print interface may include an interface for providing a function of selecting a printer targeted for printing, a function of changing settings of print data, or other functions based on the user clicking on a print button in the application to print out a document. For example, based on the print interface indicating a Print Attributes screen for the created first printer queue and the Print Attributes screen indicating a Destination Printer Information screen, the user may verify the attribute information regarding the destination printer. As described above, the attribute information in the first printer queue may include a unique device identifier, an IP address, a cloud ID, and a printing path of the destination printer of the first printer queue, for example, all of which are displayed in the printer interface.

[0084] In an example, the created direct printer queue may have a name including a printer name and a UIIID of the destination printer. In an example, the direct printer queue may be named Printer A(#UUID1 ), Printer A(#UU I D2), or the like. Based on a number of printers having an identical printer model, the printers may have their respective different UlllDs. Accordingly, the names of their respective printer queues may be made easy to distinguish by incorporating thereinto the UlllDs.

[0085] In an example, the created direct printer queue may have a name given in accordance with a user-defined rule. The user-defined rule may include a name of the destination printer, a location of the printer, attribute information regarding the direct printer queue, such as, e.g., a UIIID, an IP address, a cloud ID, and other information by which the printer is easily identifiable. The user may also add thereto a user-defined string.

[0086] FIG. 11 illustrates a method of creating and managing information regarding connection settings of a destination printer associated with a direct printer queue according to an example.

[0087] In an example, a method 1100 of creating and managing information regarding connection settings of a destination printer may be performed by an information processing apparatus that uses a UPD to control an image forming apparatus.

[0088] The method 1100 may include creating, at operation S1110, a first printer queue that uses, as a destination printer, one of at least one printer that is supported by the UPD, storing, at operation S1120, in association with the first printer queue, a unique device identifier of the destination printer and information regarding connection settings of the destination printer, and, based on receiving a certain event that triggers updating of attribute information in the first printer queue, updating, at operation S1130, based on the attribute information in the first printer queue and a current network environment to which an information processing apparatus is attached, the attribute information with a printing path with which the destination printer is to perform printing. [0089] In an example, operation S1110 may include indicating a list of at least one printer that is available to a user, selecting, from among the at least one indicated printer, one printer to be used by a user as a destination printer, obtaining the attribute information regarding the selected printer, and creating the first printer queue such that the first printer queue uses the selected printer as the destination printer.

[0090] The creation of the first printer queue is followed by the operation S1120 of storing, in association with the first printer queue, the attribute information, including the unique device identifier of the destination printer of the first printer queue of the first printer queue and the connection settings information regarding the destination printer.

[0091] In an example, operation S1130 may include receiving the event that triggers updating of the attribute information in the first printer queue, identifying whether an IP address of the destination printer is present on the current network to which the information processing apparatus is attached with the UPD installed therein, based on identifying that the IP address is not present on the current network, identifying whether there exists, on the current network to which the information processing apparatus is attached, a printer having an identifier identical to the unique device identifier stored in the attribute information in the first printer queue.

[0092] The operation of identifying whether the IP address of the destination printer is present on the current network to which the information processing apparatus is attached with the UPD installed therein may include identifying whether the IP address of the destination printer is present in the connection settings information in the attribute information stored in association with the first printer queue, and based on identifying that the IP address is present in the connection settings information, identifying whether the IP address stored in the attribute information in the first printer queue is valid on the current network to which the information processing apparatus is attached. Based on identifying that the IP address is not valid, identifying whether there exists, on the current network to which the information processing apparatus is attached, a printer having an identifier identical to the unique device identifier stored in the attribute information in the first printer queue.

[0093] The operation of identifying whether there exists, on the current network to which the information processing apparatus is attached, a printer having an identifier identical to the unique device identifier stored in the attribute information in the first printer queue may include invoking the unique device identifier included in the attribute information in the first printer queue and identifying whether there exists on the current network an apparatus having an identifier identical to the unique device identifier. The above operation may further include, based on identifying that there exists the apparatus having the identical identifier, updating the printing path to a local printing path and updating the IP address of the printer accordingly. The above operation may further include, based on identifying that there does not exist the apparatus having the identical identifier, updating the printing path to a remote printing path.

[0094] FIG. 12 is a schematic illustration of a computer readable recording medium according to an example.

[0095] As shown in FIG. 12, a computer readable recording medium 1200 stores a computer program that is executable by a processor and programmable to implement operations of the aforementioned methodology, such as the example operations of the information processing apparatus described above with respect to FIGS. 1 to 10 and the example operations of the method described above with respect to FIG. 11.

[0096] The computer readable recording medium 1200 may include a set of program instructions that direct the processor to perform specific operations. With reference to FIG. 12, an example of the computer readable recording medium 1200 will be described.

[0097] As shown in FIG 12, based on being executed by a computer, the instructions cause the computer to perform operations of creating, at instruction S1210, a first printer queue that uses, as a destination printer, one of at least one printer supported by a UPD, storing, at instruction S1220, in association with the first printer queue, attribute information including a UPD of the destination printer and connection settings information regarding the destination printer, and, based on receiving an event that triggers updating of the attribute information in the first printer queue, updating, at instruction S1230, based on the attribute information and a current network environment to which an information processing apparatus having installed therein the UPD is attached, the attribute information with connection settings information with which the destination printer is to perform printing.

[0098] In an example, upon execution of instructions stored in the computer readable recording medium 1200, the operations S1210, S1220, and S1230 illustrated in FIG. 12, as well as the operations described above with respect to FIGS. 1 to 10 and the operations described above with respect to FIG. 11 , may be performed by the computer, for example, the above-described information processing apparatus.

[0099] The above-described computer readable recording medium may be a non-transitory readable medium. The term “non-transitory readable medium” as used herein refers to a medium that is capable of semi-permanently storing data and is readable by an apparatus, rather than a medium, e.g., a register, a cache, a volatile memory device, etc., that temporarily stores data. For example, the foregoing program instructions may be stored and provided in a CD, a DVD, a hard disk, a Blu-ray disc, a USB, a memory card, a ROM device, or any of other types of non-transitory readable media.

[00100] In an example, the methodology disclosed herein may be incorporated into a computer program product. The computer program product may be available as a product for trading between a seller and a buyer. The computer program product may be distributed in the form of a machine-readable storage medium, e.g., compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM), or distributed online through an application store, e.g., PlayStore™. For the online distribution, at least a portion of the computer program product may be temporarily stored, or temporarily created, in a storage medium such as a server of the manufacturer, a server of the application store, or a storage medium such as memory of a relay server.

[00101] FIG. 13 illustrates a situation in which a printer IP address is updated in a direct printer queue according to an example.

[00102] FIG. 13 shows in (a) a situation which existed before IP addresses of destination printers are changed. Direct printer queue A-1 , the destination printer of which is printer A-1 , has stored therein attribute information including that destination printer A-1 has a UIIID of 1 and destination printer A-1 has an IP address of 123.456.678.001. Likewise, direct printer queue B-1 , the destination printer of which is printer B-1 , has stored therein information including that destination printer B-1 has a UIIID of 2 and destination printer B-1 has an IP address of 123.456.678.002.

[00103] FIG. 13 shows in (b) a situation which develops after the IP addresses of the destination printers are changed. For example, in direct printer queue A-1 , the IP address has been changed to 123.456.789.003. As described above, based on there being a change of the IP address of the destination printer, the use of a UIIID of the destination printer to update the attribute information in the printer queue with the new IP address of the destination printer may facilitate convenient and successful printing without a need for a user to manually change the attribute in the printer queue, although in an existing approach, the manual change would be made on, e.g., an Attributes screen of the printer queue.

[00104] The foregoing description has been presented to illustrate and describe examples. It should be understood that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. In various examples, suitable results may be achieved based on the above-described techniques being performed in a different order, and/or based on some of the components of the above-described systems, architectures, devices, circuits, and the like being coupled or combined in a different manner, or substituted for or replaced by other components or equivalents thereof.

[00105] Although the foregoing examples are described in the context of image forming apparatuses, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to such image forming apparatuses and is applicable in other situations where a universal device driver is to be used for utilization of a plurality of devices.

[00106] Therefore, the scope of the disclosure is not to be limited to the precise form disclosed, but rather defined by the following claims and equivalents thereof.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising: a processor; and a memory to store instructions that are executable by the processor and that cause the processor to perform operations of: creating a first printer queue that uses, as a destination printer, one of at least one printer supported by a universal printer driver (UPD); storing, in association with the first printer queue, attribute information comprising a unique device identifier of the destination printer and connection settings information regarding the destination printer; and based on receiving an event that triggers updating of the attribute information in the first printer queue, updating, based on the attribute information and an environment of a current network to which the information processing apparatus is attached with the UPD installed therein, the attribute information with connection settings information with which the destination printer is to perform printing.

2. The information processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the creating of the first printer queue comprises: indicating a list of at least one printer available to a user; obtaining attribute information regarding one of the at least one printer that is selected by the user; and creating the first printer queue such that the first printer queue uses the selected printer as the destination printer.

3. The information processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the connection settings information regarding the destination printer comprises an IP address and a printing path of the destination printer, and wherein the updating of the attribute information comprises: identifying whether the IP address of the destination printer is present on the current network to which the information processing apparatus is attached; and based on identifying that the IP address of the destination printer is present on the current network to which the information processing apparatus is attached, updating, to a first printing path, the printing path in the connection settings information comprised in the attribute information.

4. The information processing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the updating of the attribute information further comprises: based on identifying that the IP address of the destination printer is not present on the current network to which the information processing apparatus is attached: identifying whether there exists, on the current network to which the information processing apparatus is attached, a printer having a unique device identifier identical to the unique device identifier stored in the attribute information in the first printer queue; and based on identifying that there exists the printer having the identical unique device identifier, updating, to the first printing path, the printing path in the connection settings information comprised in the attribute information, to the first printing path.

5. The information processing apparatus of claim 4, wherein, based on the printer having the identical unique device identifier existing, the updating, to the first printing path, of the printing path in the connection settings information comprised in the attribute information further comprises: updating, to an IP address of the printer having the identical unique device identifier, the IP address in the connection settings information in the first printer queue.

6. The information processing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the updating of the attribute information further comprises: based on identifying that the printer having the identical unique device identifier does not exist, updating, to a second printing path, the printing path in the connection settings information comprised in the attribute information.

7. The information processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the event comprises a network event in which there is a change in a network environment of the information processing apparatus with the UPD installed therein.

8. The information processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the event comprises an event in which the attribute information regarding the destination printer of the first printer queue is indicated, and wherein, based on receiving a request for printing with the first printer queue, the processor is caused to: invoke the connection settings information in the first printer queue; verify an updated printing path of the destination printer, comprised in the connection settings information, and send a print job to the destination printer using, according to the verified printing path, an IP address or a cloud identifier (ID) of the destination printer, comprised in the connection settings information.

9. A method of creating and managing a direct printer queue, the method comprising: creating a first printer queue that uses, as a destination printer, one of at least one printer supported by a universal printer driver (UPD); storing, in association with the first printer queue, attribute information comprising a unique device identifier of the destination printer and connection settings information regarding the destination printer; and based on receiving an event that triggers updating of the attribute information in the first printer queue, updating, based on the attribute information and an environment of a current network to which an information processing apparatus is attached with the UPD installed therein, the attribute information with connection settings information with which the destination printer is to perform printing.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the creating of the first printer queue comprises: indicating a list of at least one printer available to a user; obtaining attribute information regarding one of the at least one printer that is selected by the user; and creating the first printer queue such that the first printer queue uses the selected printer as the destination printer.

11 . The method of claim 9, wherein the connection settings information regarding the destination printer comprises an IP address and a printing path of the destination printer, and wherein the updating of the attribute information comprises: identifying whether the IP address of the destination printer is present on the current network to which the information processing apparatus is attached; and based on identifying that the IP address of the destination printer is present on the current network to which the information processing apparatus is attached, updating, to a first printing path, the printing path in the connection settings information comprised in the attribute information.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the updating of the attribute information further comprises: based on identifying that the IP address of the destination printer is not present on the current network to which the information processing apparatus is attached: identifying whether there exists, on the current network to which the information processing apparatus is attached, a printer having a unique device identifier identical to the unique device identifier stored in the attribute information in the first printer queue; and based on identifying that the printer having the identical unique device identifier exists, updating, to the first printing path, the printing path in the connection settings information comprised in the attribute information, to the first printing path.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the updating of the attribute information further comprises: based on identifying that the printer having the identical unique device identifier does not exist, updating, to a second printing path, the printing path in the connection settings information comprised in the attribute information.

14. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium having stored therein instructions to perform a method of creating and managing a direct printer, the non-transitory computer readable recording medium comprising: instructions to create a first printer queue that uses, as a destination printer, one of at least one printer supported by a universal printer driver (UPD); instructions to store, in association with the first printer queue, attribute information comprising a unique device identifier of the destination printer and connection settings information regarding the destination printer; and instructions to, based on receiving an event that triggers updating of the attribute information in the first printer queue, update, based on the attribute information and an environment of a current network to which the information processing apparatus is attached with the UPD installed therein, the attribute information with connection settings information with which the destination printer is to perform printing.

15. The non-transitory computer readable recording medium of claim 14, wherein the connection settings information regarding the destination printer comprises an IP address and a printing path of the destination printer, and wherein the updating of the attribute information comprises: identifying whether the IP address of the destination printer is present on the current network to which the information processing apparatus is attached; and based on identifying that the IP address of the destination printer is present on the current network to which the information processing apparatus is attached, updating, to a first printing path, the printing path in the connection settings information comprised in the attribute information.