Printing apparatus, method, system and computer-readable storage media using a printing environment determination program
View Patent ↗A printing system includes a terminal apparatus and a server apparatus. The terminal apparatus is connected to a printing apparatus through a local area network. The server apparatus communicates with the terminal apparatus through an external communication network on an outside of the local area network and executes an application in response to an operating signal received from the terminal apparatus. The terminal apparatus includes a specifying unit, a research unit, and a selecting unit. The specifying unit specifies a model of a printing apparatus connected to the terminal apparatus through the local area network by executing an environmental research program. The research unit determines whether a printing apparatus driver corresponding to the model specified by the specifying unit is present in either the terminal apparatus or the server apparatus. The selecting unit selects either a first method or a second method.
1. A printing system comprising:
a terminal apparatus that is connected to a printing apparatus through a local area network; and
a server apparatus that communicates with the terminal apparatus through an external communication network on an outside of the local area network and executes an application in response to an operating signal received from the terminal apparatus,
wherein the terminal apparatus includes:
a specifying unit that specifies a model of a printing apparatus connected to the terminal apparatus through the local area network by executing a printing environment determination program;
a determination unit that determines whether a printing apparatus driver corresponding to the model specified by the specifying unit is present in either the terminal apparatus or the server apparatus; and
a selecting unit that selects based on the result of the determination by the determination unit either:
a first method of printing comprising:
receiving a print instruction and print data from an application executed by the server apparatus,
generating print information in accordance with the print instruction received in the printing apparatus driver of the terminal apparatus and
transmitting the print information to the printing apparatus, or
a second method of printing comprising:
causing the printing apparatus driver in the server apparatus to generate print information in accordance with the print instruction of the application and transmitting the print information from the server apparatus to the printing apparatus.
2. The printing system according to claim 1 , wherein the selecting unit of the terminal apparatus selects either the first method or the second method based on a given condition when the printing apparatus driver corresponding to the model of the printing apparatus is present in both the terminal apparatus and the server apparatus.
3. The printing system according to claim 1 , wherein the terminal apparatus gives a request for selecting the first method or the second method in the server apparatus.
4. The printing system according to claim 1 , wherein the server apparatus transmits, to the terminal apparatus, the printing environment determination; program in response to a request for a printing operation which is given from the terminal apparatus and installs the printing environment determination; program into the terminal apparatus.
5. A printing environment determination; method comprising:
specifying a model of a printing apparatus connected to a terminal apparatus through a local area network;
determining whether a printing apparatus driver corresponding to a model specified by the specifying step is present in either the terminal apparatus or a server apparatus connected to an external communication network on an outside of the local area network; and
selecting either:
a first method for receiving a print instruction from an application executed by the server apparatus depending on the result of the determination of the determining step, generating print information in accordance with the print instruction received in the printing apparatus driver of the terminal apparatus and transmitting the print information to the printing apparatus, or
a second method for causing the printing apparatus driver in the server apparatus to generate print information in accordance with the print instruction of the application and transmitting the print information from the server apparatus to the printing apparatus.
6. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a process for printing environment determination of a printing system, the method comprising:
specifying a model of a printing apparatus connected to a terminal apparatus through a local area network;
determining whether a printing apparatus driver corresponding to a model specified by the specifying step is present in either the terminal apparatus or a server apparatus connected to an external communication network on an outside of the local area network; and
selecting either:
a first method for receiving a print instruction from an application executed by the server apparatus depending on a result of the determination of the determining step, generating print information in accordance with the print instruction received in the printing apparatus driver of the terminal apparatus and transmitting the print information to the printing apparatus, or
a second method for causing the printing apparatus driver in the server apparatus to generate print information in accordance with the print instruction of the application and transmitting the print information from the server apparatus to the printing apparatus.