JP4193574B2 - Installation method, supplier information change method, and program used therefor - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an installation method, a purchaser information changing method, and a program used therefor, and more specifically, adapting a peripheral device that involves consumption of consumables to a computer and providing purchaser information of consumables consumed by the peripheral device. Installation method for installing a compatible program that can be provided by a predetermined providing method into a computer, a supplier information changing method for changing the purchaser information added to the compatible program installed on the computer by such an installation method, and these methods Regarding the program.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, this type of printer driver provides information for purchasing ink on the printer status screen displayed on the monitor connected to the computer when the ink remaining in the inkjet printer is low. It has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this printer driver, information for purchasing ink such as URLs of a plurality of sales sites that sell ink online and addresses of nationwide sales outlets is acquired from a server connected to a computer via the network. Display on the monitor.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-123384 A (FIG. 3)
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in such a printer driver, URLs of a plurality of sales sites that sell ink online and addresses of sales outlets nationwide that sell ink are obtained from a server and provided. Since the address is displayed, the user must select which sales site or store to purchase. At this time, depending on the user, even if there is a request to purchase at a sales site operated by a store that has consulted when purchasing a printer, the target sales site is found from the URLs of many sales sites. It may be difficult to do this. Such a problem occurs not only in the printer but also in peripheral devices that involve consumption of consumables.
[0005]
The installation method and the purchaser information changing method of the present invention are adapted to adapt a peripheral device accompanied by consumption of consumables to a computer and to provide purchaser information of consumables consumed by the peripheral device by a predetermined providing method. It is an object of the present invention to provide purchase destination information of a desired consumable item in a program. The program of the present invention installs a matching program for adapting a peripheral device accompanied by consumption of consumables to the computer and providing purchase destination information of consumables consumed by the peripheral device in a predetermined providing method. It is an object to provide desired purchaser information as purchaser information provided by the matching program.
[0006]
[Means for solving the problems and their functions and effects]
In order to achieve at least a part of the above-described object, the installation method, the supplier information changing method, and the program used for them adopt the following means.
[0007]
The installation method of the present invention includes:
An installation method for installing a compatible program in a computer that adapts a peripheral device accompanied by consumption of the consumable to the computer and can provide purchase destination information of the consumable consumed by the peripheral device by a predetermined providing method,
(A) reading the stored compatible program from the first storage medium storing the compatible program, and installing it on a computer;
(B) Reading the stored purchase destination information from the second storage medium storing the purchase destination information and adding it to the installed compatible program so that it can be used.
This is the gist.
[0008]
According to the installation method of the present invention, the first adaptable program capable of adapting the peripheral device accompanying the consumption of the consumables to the computer and providing the purchase destination information of the consumables consumed by the peripheral device by the predetermined providing method. Read from the storage medium and install it in the computer, and the purchaser information is readably added from the second storage medium and added to the compatible program. In the case of providing the information, the purchase destination information read from the second storage medium can be provided. Therefore, by using the second storage medium in which desired purchase destination information is stored, the desired purchase destination information can be provided to the conforming program.
[0009]
Here, the “purchase information” may be information for purchasing consumables from a store that sold the peripheral device. “Purchase information” includes the URL of a sales site managed by a store where consumables can be purchased, information for sending an e-mail to a store for purchasing consumables, and the FAX number of the store. It is also possible to include information for printing a document for purchasing consumables with information on the phone number of a store where consumables can be purchased. The “second storage medium” may be a medium provided by a store that sells the peripheral device. The “predetermined providing method” may be a method of providing in accordance with the display of the usage status of the peripheral device.
[0010]
In such an installation method of the present invention, the step (b) requests that the second storage medium be set in the computer, and the purchase destination is set after the second storage medium is set in the computer in accordance with the request. It may be a step of reading and adding information, or the step (b) may be a step of adding by writing the purchase destination information in the registry of the installed compatible program. it can.
[0011]
In the installation method of the present invention, the peripheral device may be a printer, the conforming program may be a printer driver, and the consumable may be a recording agent.
[0012]
The program for the installation method of the present invention causes a computer to adapt the peripheral device accompanying consumption of consumables to the computer, and to install the peripheral device in any one of the above aspects of the present invention. An installation method for installing in a computer a compatible program that can provide purchase destination information of consumables consumed in a predetermined manner, and (a) storing the stored program from a first storage medium storing the compatible program (B) Read the stored purchaser information from the second storage medium storing the purchaser information and add it to the installed compatible program for use. The gist is to execute each step of the installation method as each procedure.
[0013]
According to the program for the installation method of the present invention, the computer causes each step of the installation method of the present invention according to any one of the above aspects to be executed as each procedure. When the conforming program provides the purchase destination information of the consumables by a predetermined providing method, the effect that the purchase destination information read from the second storage medium can be provided and the desired purchase destination information are stored. By using this storage medium, it is possible to achieve the same effects as the effect that the desired program information can be provided to the compatible program.
[0014]
The purchaser information changing method of the present invention is an installation method of the present invention according to any one of the above-described aspects, that is, basically, a peripheral device with consumption of consumables is adapted to a computer and consumed by the peripheral device. An installation method for installing in a computer a conforming program capable of providing purchase information of consumables by a predetermined providing method, wherein (a) the stored conformance is stored from the first storage medium storing the conforming program. An installation that reads a program and installs it on a computer, and (b) reads the stored purchase destination information from a second storage medium in which the purchase destination information is stored and adds it to the installed compatible program so that it can be used. Purchasing to change the supplier information added to the conforming program installed on the computer by the method An information how to change,
(C) Accept supplier information for change,
(D) The received supplier information is added instead of the supplier information added to the conforming program.
This is the gist.
[0015]
According to the supplier information changing method of the present invention, since the supplier information to be changed is accepted and added instead of the supplier information added to the conforming program, the conforming program supplies the consumables supplier information to the predetermined place. When the information is provided by the providing method, the purchased supplier information can be provided. Therefore, by accepting desired purchase destination information, it is possible to cause the matching program to provide desired purchase destination information.
[0016]
In such a supplier information changing method of the present invention, the step (c) is a step of reading and adding the supplier information from the third storage medium storing the supplier information to be changed. You can also In this case, the purchase destination information read from the third storage medium by the compatible program can be provided as the purchase destination information of the consumable item. Therefore, by using the third storage medium in which desired purchase destination information is stored, the desired purchase destination information can be provided to the conforming program.
[0017]
In the purchaser information changing method according to the present invention using the third storage medium, the step (c) requests that the third storage medium be set in a computer, and the third storage medium is added in response to the request. It is also possible to read and add the purchase destination information after the storage medium is set in the computer.
[0018]
In the purchaser information changing method of the present invention using a third storage medium, the third storage medium is a medium in which a plurality of purchaser information is stored, and the step (c) is the third storage medium. It is also possible to read and add the purchase destination information selected from the plurality of purchase destination information stored in the storage medium. If it carries out like this, desired purchase place information can be added to a suitable program among a plurality of purchase place information memorized by the 3rd storage medium. As a result, desired supplier information can be provided to the matching program.
[0019]
A program for a purchaser information change method of the present invention is stored in a computer with a purchaser information change method of the present invention according to any one of the above-described aspects, i.e., basically a peripheral device associated with consumption of consumables is stored in a computer. A conforming program that can be adapted and provided with a predetermined providing method for purchasing information on consumables consumed by the peripheral device is added to the conforming program installed on the computer by the installation method of the present invention. A supplier information changing method for changing supplier information, wherein (c) the supplier information to be changed is received, and (d) the received supplier information is replaced with the supplier information added to the conforming program. The main point is to execute the steps of the supplier information changing method to be added as a procedure.
[0020]
According to the program for the purchaser information change method of the present invention, the computer causes the computer to execute the steps of the purchaser information change method of the present invention according to any one of the above aspects as a procedure. The effect of the method, for example, when the conforming program provides the purchase destination information of consumables by a predetermined providing method, by receiving the purchase destination information received or desired purchase destination information It is possible to achieve the same effect as the effect that the desired program information can be provided to the conforming program.
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described using examples. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a configuration of a computer system 20 to which an installation method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The computer system 20 is configured around a CPU (not shown) and includes a computer main body 22 having a CR-ROM drive 22a, a keyboard 24, a mouse 25, and a display 26. In the state shown in the figure, the printer 30 purchased from now on is shown. You are connected and trying to set up.
[0022]
In the box in which the purchased printer 30 is packed, a printer cable 32 for connecting the printer 30 and the computer main body 22 is bundled, and “disk 1” storing a printer driver 42 and a setup program 44 is stored. The displayed setup disk 40, the purchaser information acquisition disk 50 displayed as "Disk 2" storing the dealer information 52 where the printer 30 was sold, the information change program 62 for changing the purchaser information, An information change disk 60 labeled “Disk 3” storing the change information 64 is included. In the embodiment, the setup disk 40 displayed as “Disc 1” and the information change disk 60 displayed as “Disc 3” are bundled by the manufacturer that manufactured the printer 30 and described as “Disc 2”. The purchaser information acquisition disk 50 is bundled by a store that sells the printer 30.
[0023]
The printer driver 42 of the embodiment not only adapts the printer 30 to the computer system 20 but also reads and displays the status of the printer 30 (for example, the remaining amount of ink), and issues a warning when the remaining ink amount is low. Or to order an ink cartridge.
[0024]
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the store information 52 stored in the purchase destination information acquisition disk 50. In the embodiment, as the store information 52, the store ID, the store name, the URL of the page selling the ink cartridge of the sales site operated by the store, the address of the store, the phone of the ink cartridge at the store. The telephone number of the department that accepts the order, the FAX number of the department that accepts the FAX order of the ink cartridge at the dealer, the mail address of the department that accepts the mail order of the ink cartridge at the dealer, and the like. As described above, since the purchase destination information acquisition disk 50 is bundled by the store that sells the printer 30, a different purchase destination information acquisition disk 50 is prepared for each sale store and bundled with the printer 30. Will be. The dealer information 52 is used when an ink cartridge is ordered by the installed printer driver 42 when any of the ink cartridges used in the printer 30 is low. The use of such store information 52 will be described later.
[0025]
Next, processing when the printer 30 is connected to the computer system 20 by the printer cable 32, the setup disk 40 is set in the CR-ROM drive 22a of the computer system 20, and the printer driver 42 is installed in the computer main body 22 will be described. To do. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the setup process when the setup program 44 is read into the computer main body 22 and executed. When this setup process is executed, the computer system 20 first reads the printer driver 42 from the setup disk 40 and executes a process for installing the printer driver 42 so as to be compatible (step S100). Since the installation of the printer driver 42 is the same as a normal installation, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.
[0026]
When the installation of the printer driver 42 is completed, an information screen illustrated in FIG. 4 is displayed, and a request is made to replace the purchaser information acquisition disk 50 labeled “Disk 2” with the CR-ROM drive 22 a of the computer main body 22. (Step S110). When the purchaser information acquisition disk 50 is set in the CR-ROM drive 22a by the user and the [Next] button is pressed, the store information 52 stored in the purchaser information acquisition disk 50 is read (step S120). The read dealer information 52 is registered in the registry so that it can be used when ordering ink by the installed printer driver 42 (step S130). Then, a message indicating that the installation of the printer driver 42 has been completed is displayed (step S140), and the setup process is terminated.
[0027]
Next, the ordering of ink using the printer driver 42 installed in the computer system 20 will be described. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a warning screen displayed on the display 26 of the computer system 20 by the printer driver 42 when the remaining amount of the color ink “Yellow” is low. In the example of FIG. 5, information such as a coping method when the ink remaining amount is low is displayed, and the ink remaining amount is displayed by a numerical value display and a picture display by percentage for each ink. A mark indicating that the remaining amount of ink is low is attached to ink with a small amount of remaining ink. In the example of FIG. 5, an “ink order” button is provided. When the “ink order” button is pressed, the printer driver 42 displays an ink order screen illustrated in FIG. 6 on the display 26. As shown in the drawing, the remaining amount (ink remaining amount), the ink model number, and information for ordering ink (ink ordering information) are displayed on the ink ordering screen.
[0028]
At the bottom of the ink ordering screen, buttons for each method of ordering ink, that is, a “Web” ordering button, a “Fax ordering” button, a “phone ordering” button, and a “mail ordering” button are displayed. The store information 52 registered in the registry in the setup process of FIG. 2 is used when a button for each method for ordering ink is operated. For example, when the “Web” order button is pressed, a response on the Internet using the URL of a page selling ink cartridges of a sales site operated by a sales store in the sales store information 52 registered in the registry is used. For example, a page of a site selling ink cartridges as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed so that ink can be ordered on the web. Further, when the “Fax order” button is pressed, the dealer name or FAX is used by using the dealer name in the dealer information 52 registered in the registry or the FAX number of the department that accepts the FAX order of the ink cartridge at the dealer. The order sheet of the ink cartridge as illustrated in FIG. 8 in which the number is incorporated is printed by the printer 30 so that the ink can be ordered using the order sheet. When the “telephone order” button is pressed, the name of the dealer in the dealer information 52 registered in the registry and the telephone number of the department that accepts the telephone order for the ink cartridge at the dealer are displayed on the display 26 and the telephone is displayed. When the “Email order” button is selected, the name of the dealer in the dealer information 52 registered in the registry and the mail address of the department that accepts the mail order for the ink cartridge at the dealer are displayed. Use it to order ink by email. The telephone order screen and the mail order screen are the same as the FAX order shown in FIG.
[0029]
Next, a process for changing the store information 52 registered in the registry when the printer driver 42 is installed will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of purchase destination information change processing. This process is performed when the information change disk 60 is set in the CR-ROM drive 22a of the computer system 20 and the information change program 62 is executed. In this purchase destination information change process, first, an information change screen is displayed (step S200), and a process of inputting the purchase store information 52 is executed (step S210). An example of the information change screen is shown in FIG. In the information change screen of the example of FIG. 10, the default store information of the manufacturer and the store information of various stores are referred to as the change information 64 of the information change disk 60. By selecting and inputting “default”, “ABC store”, “XYZ store”, etc., the corresponding store information 52 can be read from the information change disk 60 and input. When the store information 52 of the purchase destination is input, the read store information 52 is registered in place of the store information registered in the registry (step S220), and information indicating that the purchase destination information has been changed. An end message is displayed (step S230), and the purchaser information changing process is ended.
[0030]
In this way, by changing the store information 52 used when ordering ink by the printer driver 42, the purchase destination when each button for ink ordering on the ink ordering screen illustrated in FIG. 6 is pressed is changed. That is, when the store information 52 is changed from the information of the ABC store to the information of the XYZ store, when the “Web” order button is pressed on the ink order screen, the ABC store operates until the change is made. After changing the page that sold the ink cartridge on the sales site, display the page selling the ink cartridge on the sales site operated by the XYZ dealer, and change it when the "Fax order" button is pressed After the change, the order sheet incorporating the name of the ABC dealer and the FAX number printed on the printer 30 is changed, and the order sheet incorporating the name of the XYZ dealer and the fax number is printed on the printer 30. It is.
[0031]
According to the installation method of the printer driver 42 and the setup program 44 used at that time in the embodiment described above, the purchase destination information is used as the purchase destination when ordering ink when the remaining amount of ink in the printer 30 is low. Since the dealer information 52 stored in the information acquisition disk 50 is registered in the registry, the sales site operated by the dealer that sold the printer 30 when the user orders ink due to the low ink level. Or an order form in which the FAX number of the dealer is incorporated. As a result, by selling the printer 30 to the store, it is possible to have expectations for the sale of ink consumed by the sold printer 30.
[0032]
Further, according to the method of changing the store information 52 of the embodiment and the information change program 62 used at that time, the store information 52 to be changed is input and replaced with the store information 52 registered in the registry. Since registration is performed, store information of a desired store can be registered in the registry. As a result, when the user orders ink due to the low ink remaining amount, a page of a sales site operated by a desired sales store is displayed, or an order form in which the FAX number of the sales store is embedded is displayed. Can be printed.
[0033]
Here, in the installation method of the embodiment, the installation process of the printer driver 42 in step S100 of the setup process in FIG. 3 corresponds to the step (a) of reading the compatible program stored in the first storage medium and installing it in the computer. Similarly, the process of reading the store information 52 from the purchase destination information acquisition disk 50 and registering it in the registry in steps S110 to S130 of the setup process is performed by reading the purchase destination information stored in the second storage medium. This corresponds to the step (b) to be added to the compatible program so as to be usable.
[0034]
Further, in the method of changing the store information 52 of the embodiment, the step (c) of accepting the purchase destination information for changing the processing of selecting and inputting the store information 52 in the step S210 of the purchase destination information changing process of FIG. Similarly, the supplier information received in the process of registering the dealer information 52 input in step S220 of the supplier information change process in place of the dealer information 52 registered in the registry is added to the conforming program. This corresponds to the step (d) of adding in place of the purchaser information.
[0035]
In the embodiment, the dealer information 52 includes the URL of the sales site operated by the dealer, the telephone number of the dealer, the FAX number of the dealer, and the mail address of the dealer, and when the user orders ink. Display the sales site of the store where the printer 30 is sold, print an order form in which the FAX number of the store is embedded, display the phone number of the store on the display 26, and send it to the store. Ink ordering mail was prepared, but the ink ordering method does not need to include all of these sales sites, faxes, telephones, and emails. Any two or three combinations may be used.
[0036]
In the embodiment, the information change program 62 and the change information 64 are stored in the information change disk 60 different from the setup disk 40. However, the information change program 62 and the change information 64 are stored in the printer driver 42 and the setup program. As in the case of 44, it may be stored in the setup disk 40.
[0037]
In the setup program 44 and the information change program 62 of the embodiment, the store information 52 including the URL, FAX number, telephone number, and mail address is read and registered in the registry, but the URL, FAX number, telephone number, It is also possible to read e-mail addresses individually and register them in the registry.
[0038]
In the information change program 62 of the embodiment, the purchase destination is selected and inputted from the list displayed, but the URL, FAX number, telephone number, mail address, etc. may be directly inputted sequentially.
[0039]
In the embodiment, it is applied to ink as a consumable for the printer 30, but it may be applied to other recording agents such as toner such as a laser printer. In the embodiment, the computer 30 that consumes consumables is applied to the printer 30. However, the computer 30 may be applied to peripheral devices other than the printer.
[0040]
The embodiments of the present invention have been described using the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course you get.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of the configuration of a computer system 20;
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of store information 52;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a setup process.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an information screen.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a warning screen.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an ink ordering screen.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a page of a site operated by an ABC store.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an order form transmitted by FAX to an ABC store.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of purchase destination information change processing.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a purchase destination information change screen.
[Explanation of symbols]
20 Computer System, 22 Computer Main Unit, 22a CR-ROM Drive, 24 Keyboard, 25 Mouse, 26 Display, 30 Printer, 32 Printer Cable, 40 Setup Disk, 42 Printer Driver, 50 Supplier Information Acquisition Disk, 52 Dealer Information, 60 Information change disk, 62 Information change program, 64 Change information.

Claims (13)

An installation method for installing a compatible program in a computer that adapts a peripheral device accompanied by consumption of the consumable to the computer and can provide purchase destination information of the consumable consumed by the peripheral device by a predetermined providing method,
(A) reading the stored compatible program from the first storage medium storing the compatible program, and installing it on a computer;
(B) Reading the stored purchase destination information from a second storage medium storing information for purchasing consumables from the store that sold the peripheral device as the purchase destination information, and installing the conformity An installation method that is added to the program so that it can be used.   The step (b) requests to set the second storage medium in the computer, and reads and adds the purchase destination information after the second storage medium is set in the computer in response to the request. The installation method according to claim 1.   3. The installation method according to claim 1, wherein the step (b) is a step of adding the purchase destination information by writing it in a registry of the installed compatible program. The second storage medium, How in accordance with claim 1 which is the medium provided 3 by retailers selling the peripheral device. The purchase destination information includes a URL of a sales site managed by a store where consumables can be purchased, information for sending an e-mail to a store for purchasing consumables, and a FAX number of the store. information for printing the document for consumables, how wherein a is any one of claims 1 to 3 information comprising any of consumables available sales shop phone number. The installation method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the predetermined providing method is a method of providing according to a display of a usage state of the peripheral device. The installation method according to any one of claims 1 to 6 ,
The peripheral device is a printer;
The conforming program is a printer driver;
The consumable is a recording agent. Installation method. A computer, the steps of the method Installation according to any one of claims 1 to 7 program to be executed as each step. A claims 1 to 7 purchase information changing method for changing a purchase information added to the adaptation program installed on the computer by installing method of any,
(C) Accept supplier information for change,
(D) A supplier information changing method for adding the received supplier information in place of the supplier information added to the conforming program. 10. The purchaser information changing method according to claim 9, wherein the step (c) is a step of reading and adding the purchaser information from the third storage medium storing the purchaser information to be changed. The step (c) requests to set the third storage medium in the computer, and reads and adds the purchase destination information after the third storage medium is set in the computer in response to the request. The purchaser information changing method according to claim 10 . The purchaser information changing method according to claim 10 or 11 ,
The third storage medium is a medium in which a plurality of purchaser information is stored,
The step (c) is a step of reading and adding selected purchase destination information among the plurality of purchase destination information stored in the third storage medium. A program causing a computer to execute the steps of the purchaser information changing method according to any one of claims 9 to 12 as a procedure.

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