JP2005267542A - Driver providing device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a driver providing device and method for enabling a user who has received the provision of a device driver to use a network device only by installing the device driver without the need for performing the change of setting suitable for the configuration of the network device. <P>SOLUTION: A configuration monitoring part 12 monitors the configuration of a device 1, and a configuration information preparing part 13 generates an installer 20 including a configuration information file 21 and a device driver 22 on which configuration to be monitored by the configuration monitoring part 12 is reflected, and a Web server functioning part 11 transmits the installer 20 to terminal equipment 3-1 in response to the download request of the installer from a Web browser 30. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a driver providing apparatus and method, and more particularly to a driver providing apparatus and method for providing each terminal device with a device driver of a network device used from a plurality of terminal devices via a network.

  In recent years, with the development of network technology, devices such as printers, fax machines, and scanners are provided as network devices corresponding to the network, and are shared by a plurality of terminal devices connected to the network.

  Similarly, with the development of network technologies, web technologies used on the Internet and intranets have improved, and many terminal devices have been operated as web clients.

  Under such circumstances, recently, a network device includes a web server function, and various settings for the network device can be performed from a terminal device operating as a web client.

In addition to performing various settings using the web server function, the device driver of the network device is stored in the network device, and the device driver is provided to each terminal device using the web server function. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-202986 A

  However, when the technology described in Patent Document 1 is used, the device driver provided to each terminal device is fixed. Therefore, when an option is attached to a network device, the device driver is provided. After installing the device driver in the terminal device, the user who has received the provision must provide settings according to the configuration of the network device.

  Therefore, the present invention does not require a user who has received a device driver to change settings in accordance with the configuration of the network device, and uses the network device only by installing the device driver. It is an object of the present invention to provide a driver providing apparatus and method capable of performing the above.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is directed to a driver providing apparatus for providing a device driver of a network device that executes a job based on an instruction from a terminal apparatus connected via a network. Web server means for displaying a web page in response to a request from the web client, configuration monitoring means for monitoring the configuration of the network device, and a device driver installer reflecting the configuration monitored by the configuration monitoring means An installer generating means for generating, and the web server means transmits the installer generated by the installer generating means to the terminal device in response to a request from the web client.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the installer generating means includes configuration information generating means for generating configuration information indicating the configuration monitored by the configuration monitoring means, and the configuration information An installer including the configuration information generated by the generation unit and the device driver is generated.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the installer generating unit generates the installer when the web server unit receives a request from the web client. .

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the installer generating unit generates the installer when the configuration monitoring unit detects a change in the configuration.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the configuration is the presence or absence of an option attached to the network device.

  The invention according to claim 6 is a web server means for executing a job based on an instruction from a terminal device connected via a network and displaying a web page in response to a request from a web client of the terminal device. A device providing method for providing a device driver for a network device comprising: a device driver monitoring device configured to monitor the configuration of the network device, reflecting the monitored configuration; The web server means transmits to the terminal device in response to a request from the web client.

  According to a seventh aspect of the invention, in the sixth aspect of the invention, the installer includes configuration information indicating the configuration and the device driver.

  The invention of claim 8 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 6, the installer is generated when the web server means receives a request from the web client.

  The invention according to claim 9 is the invention according to claim 6, wherein the installer is generated when a change in the configuration is detected by the monitoring.

  According to a tenth aspect of the invention, in the sixth aspect of the invention, the configuration is the presence or absence of an option attached to the network device.

  According to the present invention, the configuration of a network device is monitored, a device driver installer reflecting the monitored configuration is generated, and the generated installer is transmitted by the web server unit in response to a request from a web client. Since it is configured to transmit to the terminal device, the user who has received the installer can install the device driver set according to the configuration of the network device in the terminal device only by starting the installer.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a driver providing apparatus and method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a device according to the first embodiment and a configuration example of a network including the device.

  As shown in the figure, the device 1 is connected to a plurality of terminal devices 3 (3-1 to 3-n) via a network 4.

  The device 1 is a network device such as a printer, a fax machine, or a scanner, and is shared by the terminal devices 3.

  The terminal device 3 is a computer such as a PC (personal computer) and can execute various processes by operating various application software. The terminal device 3 has a web browser 30 installed as one of application software. A general-purpose computer can be used as the computer and the web browser 30 constituting the terminal device 3. In FIG. 1, the web browser 30 is omitted in the terminal devices 3-2 to 3 -n. However, in the same manner as in the terminal device 3-1, the web browser 30 is installed. To do.

  Here, the configuration of the device 1 will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the device 1 includes a Web server function unit 11, a configuration monitoring unit 12, a configuration information creation unit 13, and a storage unit 14.

  The Web server function unit 11 operates as a Web server, and provides various Web pages including a device driver download page to the Web browser 30 and the like.

  The configuration monitoring unit 12 monitors the configuration of options and the like attached to the device 1. There are various options that can be attached to the device 1. For example, when the device 1 is a printer, there are an additional memory, a tray, a duplex unit, and the like. When the device 1 is a scanner, an additional device is available. Memory, ADF (Auto Document Feeder), etc.

  The configuration information creation unit 13 creates configuration information indicating the configuration of the device 1 monitored by the configuration monitoring unit 12 based on an instruction from the Web server function unit 11.

  The storage unit 14 stores page information (not shown) of each Web page displayed by the Web server function unit 11 and an installer 20 for installing a device driver of the device 1. The installer 20 includes a configuration information file 21 in which configuration information created by the configuration information creation unit 13 is recorded, and a device driver 22 corresponding to the device 1. Further, since the installer 20 is an executable file, the device driver 22 is installed in the terminal device 3 by executing the installer 20 on the terminal device 3, and according to the configuration information recorded in the configuration information file 21. Will be set.

  Next, the flow of device driver provision processing in the configuration shown in FIG. 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of the device driver providing process according to the first embodiment.

  In the device driver providing process, first, when the user performs an operation of designating the URL of the device 1 on the web browser 30 of the terminal device 3 (step 101), the web browser 30 accesses the web server function unit 11 of the device 1. .

  Subsequently, when the web server function unit 11 responds and sends information for displaying the top page to the web browser 30 (step 102), the web browser 30 displays the top page (step 103). On the top page, information on the device 1 and a link to a page for instructing processing are displayed.

  Next, when the user operates the web browser 30 to select a link to the device driver download page (step 103), the web server function unit 11 displays the device driver download page in response thereto. The information is sent to the web browser 30 (step 104), and the web browser 30 displays a device driver download page (step 105).

  When the user requests a device driver download from the device driver download page (step 107), the Web server function unit 11 that has received the request causes the configuration information creation unit 13 to operate. The configuration information creation unit 13 creates configuration information based on the configuration of the device 1 monitored by the configuration monitoring unit 12 and records the configuration information in the configuration information file 21 (step 108), and the installer 20 including the configuration information file 21. Is created (step 109). The process by the configuration information creation unit 13 is actually a process of rewriting the configuration information file 21 as necessary.

  When the configuration information creation unit 13 creates the installer 20, the web server function unit 11 sends the installer 20 to the web browser 30 (step 110), and the web browser 30 acquires the installer 20 and stores it in the terminal device 3. Store (step 111), and the device driver providing process is terminated.

  If the installer stored in the terminal device 3 is subsequently activated by the user, the device driver 22 is installed in the terminal device 3 and set in the device driver 22 according to the configuration information recorded in the configuration information file 21. Apply.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a device according to the second embodiment and a configuration example of a network including the device.

  As shown in the figure, the device 5 is connected to a plurality of terminal devices 3 (3-1 to 3-n) via a network 4.

  The device 5 is a network device such as a printer, a fax machine, and a scanner, and is shared by each terminal device 3.

  The terminal device 3 is a computer such as a PC (personal computer) and can execute various processes by operating various application software. The terminal device 3 has a web browser 30 installed as one of application software. A general-purpose computer can be used as the computer and the web browser 30 constituting the terminal device 3. In FIG. 3, the web browser 30 is omitted in the terminal devices 3-2 to 3 -n. However, as in the terminal device 3-1, the web browser 30 is installed. To do.

  Here, the configuration of the device 5 will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the device 1 includes a Web server function unit 51, a configuration monitoring unit 52, a configuration information creation unit 53, and a storage unit 54.

  The Web server function unit 51 operates as a Web server, and provides various Web pages including a device driver download page to the Web browser 30 and the like.

  The configuration monitoring unit 52 monitors the configuration of options and the like attached to the device 1. There are various options that can be attached to the device 5. For example, when the device 1 is a printer, there are an additional memory, a tray, a duplex unit, etc., and when the device 1 is a scanner, it is added. Memory, ADF (Auto Document Feeder), etc.

  When the configuration monitoring unit 12 detects a change in the configuration of the device 5, the configuration information creation unit 53 creates configuration information indicating the configuration of the device 5 based on the detection result.

  The storage unit 54 stores page information (not shown) of each Web page displayed by the Web server function unit 51 and an installer 20 for installing a device driver of the device 5. The installer 20 includes a configuration information file 21 in which configuration information created by the configuration information creation unit 53 is recorded, and a device driver 22 corresponding to the device 5. Further, since the installer 20 is an executable file, the device driver 22 is installed in the terminal device 3 by executing the installer 20 on the terminal device 3, and according to the configuration information recorded in the configuration information file 21. Will be set.

  Next, the flow of device driver provision processing in the configuration shown in FIG. 3 will be described. 4 and 5 are flowcharts illustrating the flow of the device driver providing process in the second embodiment.

  In the device driver providing process of the second embodiment, the device 5 side constantly performs configuration monitoring and installer creation processing based on the monitoring result.

  In this process, the configuration monitoring unit 52 of the device 5 monitors the configuration of the device 5 (step 201), and when detecting that the configuration has been changed (YES in step 202), the configuration information creating unit 53 is operated.

  The configuration information creation unit 53 creates configuration information based on the configuration change detected by the configuration monitoring unit 52 and records it in the configuration information file 21 (step 203), and creates the installer 20 including the configuration information file 21. (Step 204). Note that the processing by the configuration information creation unit 53 is actually processing for rewriting the configuration information file 21 as necessary.

  In the process of actually providing a device driver, first, when the user performs an operation of designating the URL of the device 1 on the Web browser 30 of the terminal device 3 (step 211), the Web browser 30 performs the Web server function of the device 5. The unit 51 is accessed.

  Subsequently, when the web server function unit 51 responds and sends information for displaying the top page to the web browser 30 (step 212), the web browser 30 displays the top page (step 213). On the top page, information on the device 5 and a link to a page for instructing processing are displayed.

  Next, when the user operates the web browser 30 to select a link to the device driver download page (step 213), the web server function unit 51 displays the device driver download page in response thereto. The information is sent to the web browser 30 (step 214), and the web browser 30 displays a device driver download page (step 215).

  When the user requests the device driver download from the device driver download page (step 217), the web server function unit 51 that has received the request sends the installer 20 stored in the storage unit 54 to the web browser 30. (Step 218), the Web browser 30 acquires the installer 20 and stores it in the terminal device 3 (Step 219), and ends the device driver providing process.

  Since the installer stored in the terminal device 3 is created by the configuration information creation unit 53 when the configuration of the device 5 is changed, the terminal device is subsequently activated by the user. 3, the device driver 22 is installed, and the device driver 22 is set according to the configuration information recorded in the configuration information file 21.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a device according to the first embodiment and a configuration example of a network including the device. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a device driver providing process according to the first exemplary embodiment. It is the figure which showed the functional structure of the device in Example 2, and the structural example of the network containing this device. 12 is a flowchart (1) illustrating a flow of a device driver providing process in the second embodiment. 12 is a flowchart (1) illustrating a flow of a device driver providing process in the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Device 3-1 to 3-n Terminal device 4 Network 5 Device 11 Web server function part 12 Configuration monitoring part 13 Configuration information creation part 14 Storage part 20 Installer 21 Configuration information file 22 Device driver 30 Web browser 51 Web server function part 52 Configuration monitoring unit 53 Configuration information creation unit 54 Storage unit

Claims (10)

In a driver providing device that provides a device driver of a network device that executes a job based on an instruction from a terminal device connected via a network,
Web server means for displaying a web page in response to a request from a web client of the terminal device;
Configuration monitoring means for monitoring the configuration of the network device;
An installer generating means for generating an installer of a device driver reflecting the configuration monitored by the configuration monitoring means,
The web server means transmits the installer generated by the installer generation means to the terminal device in response to a request from the web client. The installer generating means
Comprising configuration information generating means for generating configuration information indicating the configuration monitored by the configuration monitoring means;
The driver providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an installer including the configuration information generated by the configuration information generation unit and the device driver is generated. The installer generating means
The driver providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the web server means generates the installer when receiving a request from the web client. The installer generating means
The driver providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the configuration monitoring unit generates the installer when the configuration change is detected. The configuration is as follows:
The driver providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein there is presence / absence of an option attached to the network device. A device driver for a network device comprising a web server means for executing a job based on an instruction from a terminal device connected via a network and displaying a web page in response to a request from a web client of the terminal device A driver providing method for providing,
The network device configuration is monitored, a device driver installer reflecting the monitored configuration is generated, and the generated installer is sent to the terminal device in response to a request from the web client by the web server means. A method for providing a driver, comprising: transmitting. The installer
7. The driver providing method according to claim 6, further comprising configuration information indicating the configuration and the device driver. The installer
7. The driver providing method according to claim 6, wherein the web server means is generated when a request from the web client is received. The installer
The driver providing method according to claim 6, wherein the driver providing method is generated when a change in the configuration is detected by the monitoring. The configuration is as follows:
7. The method of providing a driver according to claim 6, wherein there is an option that is attached to the network device.

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