JP2002211086A - Print system and image processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print system in which cost is reduced by reducing a main program as much as possible except a basic program for booting a printer controller. SOLUTION: In a program ROM 103 of a controller, a Boot program and a download program are stored and a main program is not stored. Consequently, a small capacity ROM suffices for the main program. Immediately after Boot, the main program is downloaded from a host using a download program and held in a RAM 105. The main program held in the RAM is uploaded to a host additionally set with an IP address as a new host and the stored main program is transferred to the RAM and held again when it is designated as a download host from a printer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printing system in which a printing apparatus or an image processing apparatus having a printing function (for example, a digital copying machine combined with a printing function) is connected to a host device via communication means. More specifically, the present invention relates to a printing system that stores a main program for processing print data in a storage medium other than a non-volatile storage medium on a printer controller that controls a printing operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional printer processes and prints data transmitted from a host via a network. Therefore, image processing and a host interface (hereinafter referred to as "I / F") are provided on a board of the printer controller.
Various system programs necessary for performing control, printer engine I / F control, memory control, and the like are stored in a nonvolatile storage medium. In addition, in order to expand the functions of printers that are connected to the network and operate,
The option programs and font data that are not supported by the controller's standard system program can be downloaded from the host on the network, or downloaded from the host on the network to upgrade the version of the system program. There have been proposals to rewrite the storage medium.

[0003]

However, in the method proposed heretofore, the program is downloaded via a network in order to optionally add a main system function, or the main program is downloaded in order to upgrade the main program. In any case, a standard main program for controlling the entire printer controller and performing print processing must be stored in a nonvolatile storage medium (ROM) or the like on the printer controller in advance. However, since the main program is an information amount occupying most of the nonvolatile memory, the memory capacity of the nonvolatile memory is increased, leading to an increase in cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art in a printing system, and has as its object to reduce the capacity (ROM capacity) of firmware of a printer controller. Another object of the present invention is to provide a printing system and an image processing system provided with the printing system, in which other software except for some basic software for booting is reduced as much as possible and cost is reduced. The firmware capacity of the controller (ROM capacity)
As a means for obtaining a main program for processing print data, which is software reduced from
An object of the present invention is to provide a means that can reliably acquire an appropriate program, reflects user's intention, has good operability, and is highly convenient.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing system in which a printing apparatus having a printer controller having a communication function is connected to a host device via a communication unit, wherein the printer controller is provided with a non-volatile memory. A storage unit other than the non-volatile storage unit is prepared to store a program for initializing a device, a program for performing communication, a program for controlling the storage unit, and a main program for processing print data. This is a printing system characterized by the following.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printing system according to the first aspect, the printer controller comprises:
When the power of the printing apparatus is turned on, after the device is initialized, the communication function is operated, the main program held by the host device is transferred via communication means, and downloaded to the RAM. .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printing system according to the second aspect, the main program is held in a plurality of host devices, and a host device to be downloaded can be selected from the main program. It is assumed that.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the printing system according to the second or third aspect, the printer controller has a function of additionally setting an IP address of a host device from which the main program can be downloaded. It is characterized by the following.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the printing system according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, the printer controller uploads the main program to a host device connected via communication means. It is characterized by having a function.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the printing system according to the fourth aspect, the printer controller comprises:
When the IP address of the host device is additionally set, a function for uploading the main program to the corresponding host device in conjunction with the setting operation is provided.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the printing system according to the fifth aspect, the printer controller comprises:
A function for uploading the main program in response to an upload control command issued by the host device is provided.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the printing system according to the fifth or sixth aspect, the printer controller uploads the main program in conjunction with reception of print data transmitted by the host device. It is characterized by having.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the printing system according to the eighth aspect, the printer controller comprises:
It is characterized in that it has a function of judging the necessity of upload execution by comparing the version information of the main program added to the print data transmitted by the host device with the latest version information.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing system including the printing system according to any one of the first to ninth aspects.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described based on the following embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a configuration related to a printer controller of a printing apparatus (printer) constituting a printing system according to the present invention. FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a printing system showing a host device connected to a printer via a network. FIG. 3 shows a configuration and an operation example of a program stored in a program ROM and a RAM on the printer controller. The configuration of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the printing system includes a host A111, a host B112, and a host C113 as host devices connected to the printer 10 via a network. Configured to connect. In this system, hosts 111 to 111, which are upper devices of the printer 10,
The printer 113 (the host 110 in FIG. 1) transmits print data and print control setting commands from the printer driver on the host to the printer 10. Also, besides this,
As will be described in detail later, when acting as a download host, a program to be installed or uploaded and held (a main program operating on the printer controller of the printer 10), an upload command, and the like are transmitted and uploaded from the printer side. And receives program data used by the printer controller.

As shown in FIG. 1, a CPU 101 and an ASIC 10 are provided on the side of the printer 10 which receives a print job or the like transmitted from the printer driver of the hosts 111 to 113.
2. Program ROM 103, font ROM 104, RAM1
05, engine interface 106, NVRAM 107, F
A printer controller 100 having a CI 108 and a printer engine 109 are provided. CPU 101 is program R
The printer controller 1 uses the program of the OM 103, various commands from the host I / F circuit, print data, and the like.
00 controls the entire 00. ASIC 102 is ROM 103, 104, RAM 105, NVRAM on printer controller 100
An ASIC that controls a bus to an external I / F such as a device or network such as a host 107, and a host I / F
An F circuit is included. The program ROM 103 is a rewritable nonvolatile storage medium in which a control program of the printer controller 100 and an image correction pattern of the FCI 108 are stored. The font ROM 104 is a mask ROM that stores font pattern data. The RAM 105 is a work memory of the CPU 101, an input buffer for input data, a page buffer for print data, and a RAM used for downloading a control program such as a main program which operates on the printer controller 100 and is transmitted via the network.
The engine I / F 106 communicates print data, print control commands, and status with the printer engine 109. The NVRAM 107 is a rewritable non-volatile memory for storing print control settings of the printer. FCI10
Reference numeral 8 denotes an image correction device that corrects video data in the page buffer and transmits the video data to the printer engine 109.
The printer engine 109 is a printing mechanism that actually performs printing and outputs the data on paper.

The configuration of the data (program) held in the program ROM 103 and the RAM 105 on the printer controller 100 will be described in detail. Program ROM 103
In addition, the RAM 105 stores the printer 1 as an essential program for operating the printer controller 100.
0 power-on, start up the printer controller 100 (initialize the devices on the printer controller 100 and the network I / F controller) Boot program 1
14 and a main program 116 that processes print data sent from the host and controls the entire controller. Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 3, these programs are stored in a Program ROM, which requires a large-capacity ROM. In the present invention, as shown in FIG.
14 and the download program 115, that is, the host 11
0 stores a program for downloading a main program (a main program for processing print data and controlling the entire controller) held therein, and does not store the main program 116 here. Because of this, small capacity ROM
103 is enough. The main program 116 is downloaded from the host 110 using the download program 115 and is stored in the RAM 105.

Here, the main program 11 executed using the download program 115 in the present embodiment
6 will be described. In the example shown here, the program ROM of the printer controller 100 is used.
The boot program 114 and the download program 115 are stored in the host 103. When the download program 115 is activated, the host A 111 and the host B 11
2 has a main program (printer controller 1) in advance.
It is assumed that a main program 116 that processes print data 00 and controls the entire controller is installed in a predetermined directory. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure from when the power of the printer 10 is turned on to when the main system program 116 starts up. This operation procedure will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This flow is first started by turning on the power of the printer 10 (S40). When the power of the printer 10 is turned on, the printer controller 100 accesses the program ROM 103 and
To initialize the printer controller 100, that is, the device on the printer controller 100, the ASIC 1
02 is initialized (S4).
1).

After initialization, the program ROM 103 is accessed and the download program 115 is executed. The download program 115 performs the following procedures (S42 to S42).
45) is performed. First, it is confirmed whether or not the host A 111 is in a communicable (power ON) state by a network command (S42). When the host A 111 is active, the host A 111 is connected to the host A 111 by an FTP command, and the main program 1 of the printer controller 100 is connected.
Then, the main program 116 is transferred to a predetermined directory of the host A 111 in which the program 16 is stored, the main program 116 is transferred by a Get command, and the data is downloaded to the RAM 105 (S43). If the host A 111 is not active (communication impossible) in S42, the host B 11
2 is in a communicable state (S4).
4). If the host B 112 is not active (communication impossible), the process returns to S42, and this procedure is repeated until any of the hosts can communicate. In S44, if the host B 112 is able to communicate, the host B 112 is connected to the host B 112 by an FTP command, and is moved to a predetermined directory of the host B 112 in which the main program 116 of the printer controller 100 is stored. The data is transferred by the Get command, and the data is downloaded to the RAM 105 (S45). After successful download, disconnect the communication with the host. RA
After downloading the main program 116 onto the M105, the program counter of the CPU 101 is stored in the RAM 105.
Is moved to the start address where the main program 116 is written (Jump; see FIG. 3) (S46), the main program on the RAM 105 is executed, and the printer controller 100
The main program 116 starts up, and becomes ready for printing.

In this embodiment, a method of downloading a main program from a host connected via a network is employed. In this method, a plurality of hosts A or B are selected as hosts to be downloaded. I am trying to connect. Therefore, even when the power of a certain host is turned off, the main program can be downloaded from another host and the main program of the printer controller can be started, so that the possibility that the starting cannot be disabled can be further reduced.

Next, another embodiment according to the present invention will be described. In the above embodiment, the main program (main program for processing the print data of the printer controller 100 and controlling the entire controller) is installed in advance on a plurality of hosts and downloaded from the host, so the program is downloaded. When the host is limited and the power of the host is not turned on, the printer cannot operate. In this embodiment, in order to solve this problem, the IP address of the host that downloads the main program can be additionally set from the printer,
In addition, the main program can be uploaded (copied) to any additionally set host, and the operability when adding a download host is automatically improved by automatically uploading the main program to the host. Things.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the configuration and operation of a program stored in the program ROM and RAM on the printer controller in the present embodiment. In this embodiment, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, similarly to the previous embodiment (see FIG. 3), the program ROM 103 stores a boot program 114 and a download program 115, that is, a program for downloading the main program held by the host 110, The main program 116 is not stored here. For this reason, a small-capacity ROM 103 is sufficient. The main program 116 is downloaded from the host 110 using the download program 115 and is stored in the RAM 105. Further, the main program 116 stored in the RAM 105 is uploaded to a host to which an IP address is additionally set as a new host by an operation of an operation unit (not shown), stored therein, and stored therein.
16 is transferred to the RAM 105 when it is designated as a download host by the printer, and is held again.

The main program 116 in the present embodiment
The download operation will be described. This is performed using the download program 115 stored in the program ROM 103 of the printer controller 100. Here, when the download program 115 is started, the main program 116 is installed in a predetermined directory in the host A 111 in advance, and the host B 111
It is assumed that the main program 116 is not installed in 112. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure including an additional setting of an IP address from when the power of the printer 10 is turned on until the main program 116 starts up. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of additional setting of an IP address and uploading of the main program 116 performed after the main program 116 is started and before the power is turned off. This operation procedure will be described in detail with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. This flow is started by turning on the power of the printer 10 as shown in FIG. 6 (S61). When the power of the printer 10 is turned on, the printer controller 10
0 accesses the program ROM 103, executes the boot program 114, and initializes the printer controller 100, that is, devices on the printer controller 100,
The network I / F control unit of the ASIC 102 is initialized (S62).

After initialization, the program ROM 103 is accessed and the download program 115 is executed. The download program 115 executed here is:
The download function of the previous embodiment
It has additional settings of IP address and upload function of main program. As a procedure, it is checked whether or not to add the IP address of the host to download (S63). An operation unit (not shown) that additionally sets the IP address selected by the user as a new host
In step S64, an IP address is added and registered as the host X to download the newly set host (S64). Once the registration is set, it is stored in the NVRAM (non-volatile memory) 107 on the printer controller 100 and managed as the host X to be downloaded thereafter. After the registration operation, NVRA including the additional registered host
It connects to the host registered in M107 in order of IP address, and determines whether the host is in a communicable (power ON) state by a network command, and whether the data of the main program 116 is stored in the host. Is confirmed (S65, S66). Here, when there is a host that satisfies both conditions (in this case, the host A11
1) Connect to the host A 111 by an FTP command, move to a predetermined directory of the host A 111 where the main program 116 of the printer controller 100 is stored, transfer the main program 116 by a Get command, and transfer the data to the RAM 105 Download to (S
67). After successful download, disconnect the communication with the host. After downloading the main program 116 onto the RAM 105, the program counter of the CPU 101 is moved to the start address of the RAM 105 where the main program 116 is written (Jump; see FIG. 5) (S68),
The main program on the printer controller 105 is executed, the main program 116 of the printer controller 100 is started up, and the printer is ready for printing (S69).

Next, an operation procedure for uploading the main program 116 will be described. This flow is started in a print data waiting state after the main system of the printer controller 100 is activated by the main program 116. First, an operation unit (not shown) additionally sets an IP address according to a menu on an operation panel (FIG. 6). (S63 is the same as in step S63). As a procedure, it is checked whether to add the IP address of the host to download (S72). User selected as a new host
When an operation to add and set an IP address is performed by an operation unit (not shown), an IP address is added and registered as a host X to download the newly set host (here, host B112) (S73). Registration is set once in NVRAM on the printer controller 100.
(Non-volatile memory) 107, which is then managed as a download target host X.

After the registration operation, a connection is made to the additionally registered host X, and whether or not the host is in a communicable (power-on) state by a network command, and whether the data of the main program 116 is not stored in the host. It is confirmed whether or not there is (S74). If the newly added host X does not satisfy both conditions, the main program 116 stored in the RAM 105 of the printer controller 100 is uploaded (copied) to a predetermined directory of the host X (S75). In this example, since the main program 116 is not installed in the newly added host B 112, the upload to the host B 112 is automatically executed. After uploading the main program 116, a print processing routine is executed (S76), and when the printer power is turned off (S77),
This operation procedure ends. Even when the printer power is turned off, the IP address of the host B 112 is registered in the NVRAM 107 on the printer controller 100 according to the above steps S73 to S75, and the main program 116 of the printer controller 100 is uploaded to the host B 112. When the printer power is turned on next time, even if the power of the host A 111 is turned off, the main program 116 of the printer controller 100 can be downloaded from the host B 112 in S65 to S67 in FIG.

As described above, by making it possible to additionally set the IP address of the host from which the main program is downloaded from the printer side, the program can be downloaded from any host designated by the user without specifying the host to download. Further, the main program 116 held in the RAM 105 of the printer controller 100 is uploaded (copied) to any additionally set host.
By allowing the user to download the main program 11
6, the main program 116 can be downloaded from a plurality of hosts specified by the user. Further, by automatically uploading the main program 116 to the host, the trouble of the uploading operation is omitted, and the operability when adding a download host is improved.

The following example according to the present invention will be described. In the above embodiment (the embodiment relating to FIGS. 5 to 7),
The host that downloads the main program 116 is additionally registered and can be downloaded from a plurality of hosts. When the host to be downloaded is additionally registered, the user performs setting operation on the newly registered host from the operation unit on the printer side to execute the main program 116. Since the upload was performed, the operation is troublesome, and when the version of the main program 116 is changed, the upload of the main program 116 is performed from the printer side.
The main program 116 of the host to be downloaded is not upgraded unless it is reinstalled.
There are problems such as a difference between 16 versions. The present embodiment solves this problem by causing the host to issue a command to upload the main program 116 and automatically uploading it to the host that has performed printing. In addition, the operability at the time of uploading the main program 116 is improved, and the version of the main program 116 is managed so that unnecessary upload is not performed.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the configuration and operation of a program stored in the program ROM and RAM on the printer controller in this embodiment. In this embodiment, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the boot program 11 is stored in the program ROM 103 as in the previous embodiment (see FIGS. 3 and 5).
4 and the download program 115, that is, the host 110
The main program 116 stores a program for downloading the main program held therein, and does not store the main program 116 here. For this reason, a small-capacity ROM 103 is sufficient. The main program 116 is the download program 11
5 and downloaded from the host 110 to the RAM 105
Is held. Further, the main program 116 stored in the RAM 105 is uploaded to the host that has issued the print request after the print processing in accordance with the upload command issued by the host, and stored in the host. The stored main program 116 is transferred to the RAM 105 when designated as a download host from the printer side, and is held there again.

The operation of downloading the main program 116 performed using the download program 115 in this embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the printer 1
The operation procedure from the power-on of 0 to the start of the main program 116 is the same as that of the embodiment shown in FIG. That is, the user adds and registers the IP address selected as the host to be newly downloaded (see S64), sequentially connects to the registered host including the additionally registered host, and can communicate with the network command (power supply). In the ON state, the host in which the data of the main program 116 is stored is checked, the main program 116 is downloaded from the suitable host onto the RAM 105 (see S67), the downloaded main program 116 is executed, and the printer controller 100 is executed. Then, the main program 116 is started up so that printing is possible (see S69).

Next, the function of automatically uploading the main program 116 to be added after the above procedure will be described in detail. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows. Here, the host A1
11 is illustrated. This flow is started in a print data waiting state after the main system of the printer controller 100 is activated by the main program 116, and first receives data from the host A 111 (S
92), it is determined whether the received data is print data or a program upload command (S93). If the received data is print data, print processing is performed as usual (S9).
4). Further, at the end of the received print data, the host A1
11, the version of the main program 116 of the printer controller 100 owned by the printer controller 100 is attached, and whether the attached version is the same as the version (latest version) of the main program 116 currently downloaded to the RAM 105 and running. Confirm (S9
5). If the version attached to the print data is not the latest version, or if the received data is not a print data but a program upload command in S93, the main program 116 downloaded to the RAM 105 and running The program is uploaded to A111 and the program version is updated (S96). When the printer power is turned off (S97),
This operation procedure ends.

As described above, when the host issues an upload command to the printer, or when the host prints to the printer, the version of the main program owned by the host is automatically compared with the latest running version. As a result, the main program can be uploaded to the host and updated to the latest version, and operability at the time of uploading the program can be improved. In the latter case, there is no difference between the versions of the main program 116 depending on the host that downloads the data, so that unnecessary uploading is not performed and the traffic of network communication can be reduced.

[0033]

(1) Effects corresponding to the first aspect of the invention Basic software for booting the printer controller in a non-volatile storage medium (ROM) on the printer controller (a program for initializing a device on the controller,
A program for performing network communication, a program for controlling RAM, etc.), and a storage unit other than the non-volatile storage unit for storing a main program for performing image processing. The capacity (ROM capacity) can be reduced,
Cost can be reduced. (2) Effects corresponding to the second aspect of the invention In addition to the effects of the above (1), after the power of the printing apparatus (printer) is turned on, the Boot program is started, and communication with the host apparatus via the network becomes possible. Then, the main program for automatically performing image processing of the printer is downloaded from a certain host device connected to the network to the RAM of the printer controller, so that the main program is not stored in the ROM (the firmware capacity is small).
It is possible to provide a concrete means for implementing the invention of claim 1 which enables printing from a host device by a printer controller. (3) Effects corresponding to the third aspect of the invention In addition to the effects of the above (2), a plurality of host devices hold a main program for performing image processing of a printer, and a host device to be downloaded is selected from among them. Accordingly, even when communication with a certain host device is impossible, a program can be downloaded from another host device, a main program can be started, and a printer can perform a printing operation.

(4) Advantages Corresponding to the Invention of Claim 4 In addition to the advantages (2) and (3), the IP address of the host device that downloads the main program of the printer controller can be additionally set from the printer. By doing so, the host device to be downloaded is not specified, and the program can be downloaded from any host device specified by the user. (5) Effects corresponding to the invention of claim 5 In addition to the effects (2) to (4), the user can download (copy) the main program of the printer controller by uploading (copying) it to an arbitrary host machine. A program can be downloaded from a plurality of host machines designated by a user without previously installing the main program on a host device to be used. (6) Effects corresponding to the invention of claim 6 In addition to the effect of the above (4), by setting the IP address of the host device and automatically uploading the main program of the printer controller to the set host device, It is possible to save the trouble of the uploading operation and improve the operability when adding a host device to be downloaded.

(7) Advantages Corresponding to the Claim 7 In addition to the advantage (5), the main program of the printer controller is uploaded to the host device in accordance with a control command issued from the host device. By doing so, the operability of uploading the main program is improved. (8) Advantages Corresponding to the Eighth Invention In addition to the advantages (5) and (6), the main program of the printer controller is automatically transmitted to the host in response to the reception of the print data transmitted by the host device. By regularly uploading, the main program on the host device is always updated to the latest version without the user being aware. (9) Effects corresponding to the ninth aspect of the invention In addition to the effect of the above (8), upload execution is performed by comparing the version information of the main program added to the print data transmitted by the host device with the latest version information. By providing the function of determining necessity, it is possible to reduce traffic of network communication without performing unnecessary upload. (10) An effect corresponding to the tenth aspect of the invention An image processing system (for example, a scanner, a copier, a facsimile, an electronic filing apparatus, or a plurality thereof) including the printing system according to any one of the first to ninth aspects. (1) to (9), the performance of the image processing system can be improved by realizing the effects (1) to (9). .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a configuration related to a printer controller of a printer constituting a printing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration of a printing system showing a host device connected to a printer via a network.

FIG. 3 shows a configuration and an operation example of a program stored in a program ROM and a RAM.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure from when the power of the printer is turned on to when a main system program starts up.

FIG. 5 shows a configuration and an operation example of a program stored in a program ROM and a RAM.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure until a main program including an additional setting of an IP address is started;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of additional setting of an IP address and uploading of a main program performed after the main program is started.

FIG. 8 shows a configuration and an operation example of a program stored in a program ROM and a RAM.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of uploading a main program performed after the main program is started.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 printer, 100 printer controller, 101 CPU, 102 A
SIC, 103: Program ROM, 104: Font ROM, 105: RAM, 106: Engine interface, 107: NVRAM,
108: FCI, 109: Printer engine, 11
0: Host, 111: Host A, 112
... Host B, 113 ... Host C, 114
... Boot program, 115 ... Download program,
116: Main program.

Claims (10)

[Claims] In a printing system in which a printing apparatus having a printer controller having a communication function is connected to a host device via a communication unit, the printer controller has a program for initializing the device in a non-volatile storage unit. A printing system comprising: a program for performing communication; a program for controlling a storage unit; and a storage unit other than the non-volatile storage unit for storing a main program for processing print data. 2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printer controller initializes a device when the power of the printing apparatus is turned on, activates a communication function, and executes the main program held by the host apparatus. A printing system wherein the data is transferred via communication means and downloaded to a RAM. 3. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the main program is held in a plurality of host devices, and a host device to be downloaded can be selected from the plurality of host devices. 4. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the printer controller has a function of additionally setting an IP address of a host device from which the main program can be downloaded. system. 5. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the printer controller comprises:
A printing system comprising a function for uploading the main program to a host device connected via communication means. 6. The printing system according to claim 4, wherein the printer controller uploads the main program to a corresponding host device in conjunction with a setting operation when the IP address of the host device is additionally set. Printing system having a function for printing. 7. The printing system according to claim 5, wherein the printer controller has a function of uploading the main program in response to an upload control command issued by a host device. Printing system. 8. The printing system according to claim 5, wherein the printer controller has a function for uploading the main program in conjunction with reception of print data transmitted by a host device. Characteristic printing system. 9. The printing system according to claim 8, wherein the printer controller compares the version information of the main program added to the print data transmitted by the host device with the latest version information to execute the upload. A printing system having a function of determining necessity. 10. An image processing system comprising the printing system according to claim 1. Description: