Image forming apparatus and method of controlling same, and information processing apparatus and method

Abstract

Provided are an image forming apparatus and a method of controlling the same, an information processing apparatus and an information processing method, and a program for implementing these methods, in which the fact that a setting is to be changed can be reported to a host apparatus through a simple arrangement. The image forming apparatus for attaining this object includes storage unit for storing the latest set value of the apparatus, transmitting unit for transmitting the latest set value, which has been stored in the storage unit, to the host apparatus in response to a request from the host apparatus, and updating unit for receiving a print setting from the host apparatus and updating the latest set value stored in the storage unit.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An image forming apparatus for receiving data from a host device and forming an image, comprising: 
 a storage unit for storing a set value;    a transmitting unit for transmitting the set value, which has been stored in said storage unit, in response to a request from the host device; and    an updating unit for updating the set value, which has been stored in said storage unit, based upon print data received from the host device.    
     
     
         2 . An image forming apparatus for receiving data from a host device and forming an image, comprising: 
 a storage unit for storing a set value; and    a notifying unit for deciding a set value of the image forming apparatus in response to an image formation request from the host device, comparing the set value decided and the set value that has been stored in said storage unit, processing the image formation request if the two set values agree and, if the two set values do not agree, notifying the host device of this fact.    
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the set value that has been stored in said storage unit includes size or type or both size and type of a sheet-like medium on which an image is formed.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an image forming unit for forming an image by an ink-jet method; 
 wherein the set value that has been stored in said storage unit includes a setting of distance between an ink-jet printhead and a sheet.    
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a panel for displaying messages and specifying inputs;    a determination unit for determining whether data received from the host device includes a confirmation command; and    a confirmation unit for displaying a message on said panel and prompting an input in response to this message if said determination unit has determined that the data includes a confirmation command;    wherein an image is formed based upon the data if an input in response to the message is made by said confirmation unit.    
     
     
         6 . An information processing apparatus for forming an image by an image forming unit, comprising: 
 an acquisition unit for acquiring a set value from the image forming unit; and    a comparison unit for comparing a specified set value in image formation and the set value that has been acquired by said acquisition unit, transmitting an image formation request to the image forming unit if the two set values agree and, if the two set values do not agree, displaying this fact by a display.    
     
     
         7 . An image forming system in which an image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus are connected, wherein said image forming apparatus comprises: 
 a storage unit for storing a set value of said image forming apparatus;    a transmitting unit for transmitting the set value, which has been stored in said storage unit, in response to a request from said information processing apparatus; and    an updating unit for updating the set value, which has been stored in said storage unit, based upon print data received from said information processing apparatus; and    said information processing apparatus comprises:    an acquisition unit for acquiring a set value from said image forming apparatus; and    a comparison unit for comparing a specified set value in image formation and the set value that has been acquired by said acquisition unit, transmitting an image formation request to said image forming apparatus if the two set values agree and, if the two set values do not agree, displaying this fact by a display.    
     
     
         8 . An image forming system comprising the image forming apparatus set forth in  claim 2 , and an information processing apparatus, which is connected to said image forming apparatus, for receiving notification from said image forming apparatus and displaying it on a display.  
     
     
         9 . An image forming system in which a latest set value that has been stored in a printer is acquired and, if the set value differs from a set value that has been specified, this fact is reported.  
     
     
         10 . A method of controlling an image forming apparatus that receives data from a host device and forms an image, said method comprising: 
 a storage step of storing a set value of the apparatus in a storage unit;    a transmitting step of transmitting the set value, which has been stored in said storage unit, in response to a request from the host device; and    an updating step of updating the set value, which has been stored in said storage unit, based upon print data received from the host device.    
     
     
         11 . A method of controlling an image forming apparatus that receives data from a host device and forms an image, said method comprising: 
 a storage step of storing a set value of the apparatus in a storage unit; and    a notifying step of deciding a set value of the image forming apparatus in response to an image formation request from the host device, comparing the set value decided and the set value that has been stored in said storage unit, processing the image formation request if the two set values agree and, if the two set values do not agree, notifying the host device of this fact.    
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a determination step of determining whether data received from the host device includes a confirmation command; and    a confirmation step of displaying a message on a panel, which is for displaying messages and specifying inputs, and prompting an input in response to the message if it is determined at said determination step that the data includes a confirmation command;    wherein an image is formed based upon the data if an input in response to the message is made at said confirmation step.    
     
     
         13 . An information processing method for forming an image by an image forming unit, comprising: 
 an acquisition step of acquiring a set value from the image forming unit; and    a comparison step of comparing a specified set value in image formation and the set value that has been acquired at said acquisition step, transmitting an image formation request to the image forming unit if the two set values agree and, if the two set values do not agree, displaying this fact by display means.    
     
     
         14 . A method of controlling a printer in which a latest set value that has been stored in a printer is acquired and, if the set value differs from a set value that has been specified, this fact is reported.  
     
     
         15 . A computer program product storing a program for controlling an image forming apparatus that forms an image, said program comprising: 
 code of a storage step of storing a set value of the apparatus in storage means;    code of a transmitting step of transmitting the set value, which has been stored in said storage means, in response to a request from a host device; and    code of an updating step of updating the set value, which has been stored in said storage means, based upon print data received from the host device.    
     
     
         16 . A computer program product storing a program for controlling an image forming apparatus that forms an image, said program comprising: 
 code of a storage step of storing a set value of the apparatus in storage means; and    code of a step of deciding a set value of the image forming apparatus in response to an image formation request from a host device, comparing the set value decided and the set value that has been stored in said storage means, processing the image formation request if the two set values agree and, if the two set values do not agree, notifying the host device of this fact.    
     
     
         17 . A printing system for transmitting print settings, which have been set by a printer driver, to a printer, said printer performing printing in accordance with these settings, wherein: 
 said printer driver includes an acquisition unit for acquiring print settings that have been stored by the printer; and    said printer includes:    a storage unit for storing print settings according to which printing was performed last; and    a transmitting unit for transmitting stored print settings to said printer driver in response to a request from said printer driver.    
     
     
         18 . An input/output system comprising a host computer and an input/output device connected to said host computer by an interface that is capable of bidirectional communication, wherein: 
 said input/output unit includes:    a paper-thickness adjusting unit for dealing with thickness of paper;    a calculating unit for calculating an appropriate paper-thickness adjustment position from information that has been transmitted from said host computer; and    a storage unit for storing the paper-thickness adjustment position that has been calculated; and    said host computer includes:    a receiving unit for receiving information indicating paper-thickness adjustment position from said input/output unit; and    a determination unit for determining whether the information indicating paper-thickness adjustment position is appropriate for an input/output operation sought by an operator.    
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the set value is stored in said storage unit together with an identifier for identifying a user.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the identifier is one assigned to a control program in the host device.  
     
     
         21 . A printing system comprising: 
 a printer capable of utilizing a plurality of types of printing media, said printer including: 
 a storage unit for storing a type of printing medium on which printing has been performed; and  
 means for responding to an inquiry from a host with the type of printing medium that has been stored in said storage unit; and  
   a host device including: 
 an acquisition unit for inquiring about and acquiring, from said printer, a type of printing medium that was printed on last; and  
 a display unit for displaying a confirmation message to a user if the type of printing medium acquired by said acquisition unit and a type of printing medium set by the user do not agree.  
   
     
     
         22 . The system according to  claim 21 , wherein said host device sends said printer a confirmation command, which is for placing said printer in a standby state, if the type of printing medium acquired by said acquisition unit and the type of printing medium set by the user do not agree; 
 said printer further includes a confirmation input unit; and    if said printer has been placed in the standby state by the confirmation command, printing by said printer is resumed in a case where confirmation has been input by said confirmation input unit.    
     
     
         23 . The system according to  claim 22 , wherein said host device allows the user to select whether or not to place said printer in the standby state if the type of printing medium acquired by said acquisition unit and the type of printing medium set by the user do not agree.  
     
     
         24 . A printing system in which type of medium on which printing was performed last is acquired from a printer and, if formation of an image on a medium of a type different from the type of the first-mentioned medium has been specified, reporting this fact to a user.  
     
     
         25 . A computer program product storing a computer program, said program comprising: 
 code for acquiring a type of medium on which printing was performed last, the type of medium having been stored in a memory of a printer; and    code for comparing the type of medium on which printing was performed last and a type of medium, for which image formation has been specified, stored in a memory of a computer, and if the two types of media do not agree, outputting notification of this fact to a user.