JP2003131856A - Information management device, image formation device, information providing method, recording medium storing program therein, and information providing program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a device information providing function to obtain information from a plurality of controllers to obtain information specific to a printer. SOLUTION: Data sent to a browser in a host computer is classified into model-dependent data and model-independent data, and the model-dependent data is further classified according to controllers that manage the information. The model-dependent data is stored in each controller, while model-independent data is stored in the network controller.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information management apparatus and an image forming apparatus suitable for disposing WEB contents (contents of information) in a distributed manner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of the Internet, printing devices have become common in networks. Normally, in high-priced printers such as high-speed printers and color printers, network interfaces tend to be built in, but in low-priced monochrome printers, the network interface is not included in the main unit. Generally, the network card module is supplied separately.

In this case, the printing apparatus main body and the network card module are in an intelligent form each having a CPU, and each communicates between the connection interfaces to provide a desired service. On the contrary, this makes it possible for the printing apparatus main body to expel a heavy-load network service to the network card module, and it is possible to relatively reduce the CPU and peripheral performance of the printing apparatus main body. Has brought about cost savings.

The conventional network interface of the printing apparatus only needs to be able to send and receive print data as represented by the lpr function. However, recently, the need to manage information about printing devices has increased,
Various means and functions are provided as network interface functions as additional technologies.

The simplest example is a port for transmitting print data, which is information management data (job control language = Job L).
This is a form that enables transfer of an ungage). Since the job control language is used by sharing the port for sending print data, the service port does not need to be increased and the job control language is relatively easy to implement. However, when a large amount of print data is transmitted, the port is occupied, which causes a problem that the exchange of information management data is stopped. Further, in the case of a one-way type connection such as the lpr protocol in the network, there is a drawback that information cannot be obtained in the first place.

The next method is SNMP (Simple
e Network Management Prot
ocol) / MIB (Management Info)
There is a method that uses the rotation base). In this method, a dedicated port for data transmission / reception is prepared and SNMP, which is a standard, is used. However, in this method, S
A dedicated client program for receiving data using NMP and providing a UI (User Interface) for displaying information about the device is required.

Further, in this method, since SNMP is a protocol for exchanging simple information in the first place, only a simple database of numbers and character strings can be provided. As a result, the client program must own the information that constitutes the UI, such as bitmap image data that indicates the configuration of the device. Further, there is a problem that the client program must hold a lot of information and data in order to support many models.

[0008] As the latest method, a network card module uses HTTP (Hyper Text Tr).
An HTML (Hyper Text) related to device information is provided by providing the transfer protocol service.
WEB content such as Markup Language) data and bitmap image data is provided, while the client computer used by the user,
A general WEB browser uses the above WEB contents as G
UI (Graphical User Interface)
c)) and by making the displayed information operable, the same effect can be obtained even if the client program is not provided.

In the conventional method, the client program had to manage information (message character string, bitmap image data) peculiar to a wide variety of devices, but each device only needs to have its own model information. With this method, the product can be provided in a short period of time.

[0010]

In such a method, in order to further reduce the product cost and the development cost, it is necessary to further standardize the network module. Therefore, WEB contents that depend on the model are stored in the main body of the device, and WEB that does not depend on the model
The B content is stored in the network card module, so that the network card module can be
It is not necessary to have B content. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the cost of the storage capacity of the network card module.

However, multifunctionalization (multifunctionalization) has progressed in equipment, and for example, a printing apparatus (multifunction machine: Multi) in which a plurality of control sections are combined, such as a printer section, a fax section, and a scanner section.
Function Printer) was developed.

In such a printing apparatus, since a plurality of control units control respective functions and the respective control units exist independently, information unique to the printing apparatus is controlled individually for each function. It may be managed by the department.
Therefore, in the above-described function of providing device information using HTTP, it is desirable to acquire information from a plurality of control units in order to acquire information unique to the printing apparatus.

[0013]

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and a printing system capable of providing more detailed web contents by acquiring information from a plurality of control units. , A network module, a printing device, a content providing method, and a storage medium.

Further, according to the present invention, in the case of providing information on the apparatus main body composed of a plurality of control units, the data indicating the information on the apparatus main body requested by the external device depends on the apparatus main body. If the requested data depends on the main body of the device, it is determined which of the plurality of control units depends on the main body of the device.If the requested data depends on the main body of the device, it is determined. If the requested data does not depend on the device body, the requested data is obtained from the communication control unit connected to the device body, and the acquired data is externally stored. It is provided to the device.

Further, when the requested data depends on the main body of the apparatus, the data request is transmitted to the determined control unit to acquire the data.

Further, it is characterized in that whether or not the requested data depends on the apparatus main body is determined based on the identification information for identifying the requested data. In particular,
The identification information is a URL indicating data.

Further, the communication control section is caused to hold identification information for identifying data depending on the apparatus main body, and whether or not the requested data depends on the apparatus main body based on the held identification information. It is characterized by determining whether or not.

Further, the communication control section is caused to hold identification information for identifying data that does not depend on the apparatus main body, and whether the requested data depends on the apparatus main body based on the held identification information. It is characterized by determining whether or not.

Further, the data indicating the information relating to the apparatus main body is data described in HTML or image data.

Further, the information on the apparatus main body is information on the paper feeding apparatus mounted on the apparatus main body, information on the sheet discharging apparatus mounted on the apparatus main body, information on the optional apparatus mounted on the apparatus main body, and the apparatus main body. It is characterized in that it is information relating to paper feed or paper discharge.

Further, the data indicating the information about the apparatus main body is displayed and processed by the browser of the external apparatus.

Further, the apparatus main body is a printing apparatus which performs a printing process based on print data transmitted from a host computer.

[0023]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the arrangement of a printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The printing system according to the first embodiment includes a host computer 100, a printing device 101 including a network card unit 110, a printing unit 120, and a facsimile unit 130, a network connecting the host computer 100 and the printing device 101, and the like. And a predetermined communication medium 102.

Further, the network card unit 110 of the printing apparatus 101 includes a network I / F unit 111, an lpd server unit 112, and a WWW (World Wide Weed).
b) Server unit 113, printer I / F unit 114, model-independent content unit 115, facsimile I / F unit 116
Equipped with.

The printing unit 120 of the printing apparatus 101 includes a reception buffer 121, a model-dependent content unit 122, a PDL translator 123, an intermediate buffer 124, and a drawing unit 12.
5, printer engine 126, network card I /
The F section 127 is provided. The facsimile unit 130 includes a facsimile control unit 131, a model-dependent content unit 132, and a network card I / F unit 133.

To explain the above configuration in detail, in the network card section 110 of the printing apparatus 101, the network I
The / F unit 111 communicates with the communication medium 102,
The data received via the communication medium 102 is passed to the next stage (other unit) according to the service. The lpd server unit 112
The print data transmitted from the host computer 100 is received.

The WWW server section 113 sends and receives data indicating the status of the printing apparatus 101 requested by the host computer 100 using HTTP. The printing device I / F unit 114 instructs the printing unit 120 to send and receive print data and model-dependent content (model-dependent data). The facsimile I / F unit 116 instructs the facsimile unit 130 to send and receive fax data and model-dependent content (model-dependent data).

The model-independent content part 115 is a WWW.
Model-independent H provided by the server unit 113
It stores TML data and bitmap image data.

In the printing section 120 of the printing apparatus 101,
The network card I / F unit 127 is a printing device I / F.
It communicates with the unit 114 and passes the data based on the communication to the next stage according to the service. The reception buffer 121 is a RAM
Alternatively, it is composed of an HDD device, receives print data, and passes it to the PDL translator 123. The model-dependent content section 122 stores HTML data and bitmap image data depending on the model. The PDL translator 123 takes out the print data stored in the reception buffer 121 and outputs the PDL (Page Description).
print data described in (page language), and converts the print data into intermediate data for drawing the print data.

The intermediate buffer 124 temporarily stores the intermediate data for drawing which is converted by the PDL translator 123 and passes it to the drawing unit 125. The drawing unit 125 takes out the intermediate data for drawing from the intermediate buffer 124, converts it into raster data (bitmap data), and passes it to the printer engine 126. Printer engine 12
6 prints on a sheet based on the raster data generated by the drawing unit 125 by a known electrophotographic technique or ink jet technique, and discharges the sheet after the printing is completed. Here, the printer engine unit 126 uses a known printing technique, and for example, an electrophotographic system or an inkjet system is generally used.

In the facsimile unit 130 of the printing apparatus 101, the network card I / F unit 133 communicates with the facsimile I / F unit 116 and passes the data based on the communication to the next stage according to the service. The facsimile controller 131 receives facsimile data and performs processing. The model-dependent content section 132 is a model-dependent H
It stores TML data and bitmap image data.

Now, the WEB contents will be described. FIG. 13 shows the WWW server unit 113 of the printing apparatus 101.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example in which the HTML data and the bitmap image data provided by are processed by the WWW browser software of the host computer 100 and displayed on the display by the GUI. In FIG. 13, the screen structure is divided into two frames. That is, the mode switching frame 1301 and the mode display frame 1351.

The mode switching frame 1301 has buttons for urging a shift to each mode in order to display the screen by dividing the screen into WWW services having many functions. Here, the device management 1302,
There are buttons for job management 1303, device management 1304, and support link 1305, respectively, showing the transition to each mode.

A mode display frame 1351 shows a device management status frame, and from the top, a device bitmap icon 1352 and a device name 1
353, 1354 indicating the status display, sheet feeding device (manual feed tray, upper cassette, lower cassette, paper deck,
1355 indicating the information of the envelope feeder) and 135 indicating the state of the paper discharge device (paper discharge tray, bin 1, bin 2, bin 3)
6, a bitmap image 1357 showing the configuration of the device, a button 1358 showing the start of the utility, and a button 1359 showing the start of the device control.

The reason why the printing apparatus 101 is provided with the WWW server section 113 is that the status monitoring of the printing apparatus 101, the initial value setting, and the control of the print job can be browsed and operated by the WWW browser of the host computer 100. This is because Here, the WWW server unit 113
Is the WEB content (HTML data or bitmap image data) requested by the host computer 100.
It is operating as a database that provides.

As a result, the user of the host computer 100 does not need to install the dedicated program for managing the printing apparatus 101 on the computer 100. In addition, the user is the host computer 10
Even if the value is other than 0, the status of the printing apparatus 101 can be viewed and the printing apparatus 101 can be operated using a device including a WWW browser, for example, an information portable terminal or a notebook computer.

FIG. 2 shows a basic HTML (HyperT
It is a figure which shows an example of ext Markup Language) data. This notation has been simplified for the sake of explanation, and more complicated documents are actually described. In FIG. 2, <! DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC ”-// IETF // D
The line of TD HTML2.0 // EN ”> is SGML (Standard Gene
ralized Markup Language) is a document type declaration in a document and indicates that the document is described in HTML.

HT in the area enclosed by <HTML> to </ HTML>
The ML document is described. The area enclosed by <HEAD> to </ HEAD> indicates the header area of the HTML document,
"WEB Console Interfac surrounded by <TITLE></TITLE>
The character string "e" represents the subject of the HTML document. The area between <BODY> and </ BODY> is HTML
It shows the interior of the document, in which three images are captured.

The first image in the HTML document is <IMG
SRC = ”/ mfp / device.png”>. Figure 3 gives an overview of this image. "/Mfp/device.png" is UR
Since it is not represented by L (Uniform Resource Locator), it can be seen that the data is internal data of the printing apparatus 101. Furthermore,
“/Mfp/device.png” indicates data showing the appearance of the printing apparatus 101, and it can be seen that this is “model-dependent content” depending on the model of the printing apparatus 101. If the printing device is different from the normal printing device, that is, if the printing device is, for example, a color model, or if the printing device has a small number of stages in the paper cassette, "/ mf
"p / device.png" represents different images.

The second image is <IMC SRC = ”/ dev / p
aper.png ”>. Similarly, since this is not a URL notation, it can be seen that this is internal data of the printing apparatus 101.
Furthermore, “/dev/paper.png” indicates the remaining amount of paper set in the printing device, and it can be seen that this is “model-dependent content” that is model-dependent.

The third image is <IMC SRC = ”/ nic / er
ror.png ”>. Similarly, since this is not a URL notation, it can be seen that this is internal data of the printing apparatus 101.
Furthermore, "/nic/error.png" shows an abstract image that encourages cassette paper feeding (feeding paper to the cassette), and this is model-independent "model-independent content". Recognize.

As described above, the WEB contents are broadly divided into WEB contents that are model-dependent (model-dependent contents) and WEB contents that are model-independent (model-independent contents), and further depend on the model. Web contents are distinguished by each control unit that manages the information.

Generally, in the network card unit 110 of the printing apparatus 101, a model-dependent WEB content is a model-dependent content unit 122 in the printing unit 120 and a model-dependent content unit 133 in the facsimile unit 130.
The model-independent WEB content is acquired from the model-independent content section 115 in the network card section 110. That is, the model-dependent WEB content and the model-independent WEB content are separately stored, and the content of the WEB content stored in the model-dependent content sections 122 and 133 is separately stored according to the model. For example, device.png in Fig. 3 is stored as image data showing an overview according to the model, and in Fig. 4
error.png is stored as image data indicating error information that has occurred in the printing device.

Next, how to separately acquire the model-dependent WEB contents, the model-independent WEB contents, and the model-independent WEB contents for each controller will be described. In the first embodiment, a path structure is used to distinguish these differences. Further, in the first embodiment, in the case of the WEB contents starting with / dev /, the WEB that is model-dependent on the printing unit
In the case of WEB content acquired as content from the model-dependent content section 122 and starting with / mfp /, it is acquired from the model-dependent content section 132 as model-dependent WEB content for the facsimile section and starts with / nic /
In the case of EB content, it is acquired from the model-independent content section 115 as model-independent WEB content.

Next, how to separately obtain the model-dependent WEB contents, the model-independent WEB contents, and the model-independent WEB contents for each controller (printing unit 120 or facsimile unit 130). I will describe. In the first embodiment, a path structure is used to distinguish these differences.

In the first embodiment, in the case of the WEB content identified by the URL starting with “/ dev /”, it is acquired from the model-dependent content section 122 as the WEB content which is model-dependent on the printing section 120. In the case of the WEB content identified by the URL starting with “/ mfp /”, it is acquired from the model-dependent content section 132 as the WEB content that is model-dependent on the facsimile section. In the case of WEB contents identified by URL starting with "/ nic /",
It is acquired from the model-independent content section 115 as model-independent WEB content.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the operation of the WWW server section 113 of the printing apparatus 101 according to the first embodiment. The WWW server unit 113 is the printing apparatus 101.
The service will be started when the power is turned on and the service will continue until the power is cut off. When the service is started, in step S501, the WWW server unit 113 causes the host computer 1
Wait for GET operation from 00. The GET operation is an operation for requesting WEB content in HTTP, and loops at the beginning until the GET operation comes.

When a GET operation is received from the host computer 100, in step S502, the WWW server section 113 checks the WEB content requested by the GET operation, and determines whether the WEB content is the URL notation. . For example, the specified WEB content name is "http: //printer.domain/dev/devic
"e.html", "http: ///" is the scheme,
Since "printer.domain" is a domain name, remove both and extract only "/dev/device.html".

Further, in step S504, WWW
The server unit 113 checks whether or not the extracted WEB content name starts with "/ dev /". As described above, the WEB content (model-dependent WEB content) name starting with “/ dev /” is a rule to be acquired from the printing unit 120. Therefore, when the WEB content name starts with “/ dev /”, the WWW server unit 113 causes the printing unit 1 to perform the printing in step S505.
A request to acquire the WEB content is issued to 20. Then, in step S506, the printing unit 120
When a reply is received from the printing unit 120, the WE requested by the host computer 100 is sent in the HTTP reply format in step S507.
B content is provided.

The WWW server unit 113 executes the above step S
If it is determined in 504 that the WEB content does not start with “/ dev /” (model-independent WEB content), it is checked whether the WEB content name starts with “/ mfp /”. As mentioned above, "/ mfp
The WEB content (machine-dependent WEB content) name starting with "/" is a rule to be acquired from the facsimile unit 130. Therefore, the WEB content name is "/ mfp
If it starts with "/", the WWW server unit 113 issues a request to acquire the WEB content to the facsimile unit 130 in step S509. Then, in step S510, the facsimile unit 130
When a reply is received from the facsimile unit 130, the requested WEB content is provided to the host computer 100 by the HTTP reply format in step S511.

The WWW server section 113 executes the above step S.
If it is determined in 508 that the WEB content does not start with “/ mfp /” (model-independent WEB content), the WEB content is the network card unit 1
It is determined that the WEB content is owned by 10. Therefore, in step S512, the WEB content is acquired from the model-independent content section 115, and the HTT is acquired.
By the P reply format, the host computer 100
The requested WEB contents are provided to the.

That is, in the first embodiment, the WWW server section 113 sends the HTTP from the host computer 100.
When performing the URL and path inspection of the WEB content specified by, it is determined whether or not the specified WEB content matches a specific path, and based on the determination result,
The specified WEB contents are model-dependent WEB
It is determined whether the content is a model-independent WEB content.

The WWW server section 113 displays "/ dev
When the WEB content starting with “/” is acquired from the model-dependent content section 122 in the printing section 120, the printing apparatus I / F section 114 and the network card I / F section 127.
A remote function call is executed to execute reading of WEB contents via. This remote function call requests the file transfer from the network card unit 110 to the printing unit 120.

FIG. 8 shows a WE by a remote function call.
It is a figure which shows the packet format of the request packet which instruct | indicates reading of B content. In FIG. 8, 801 is W
Remote indicating that the reading of EB contents is requested
This is the Procedure Call ID. Here, the value is 10
It is 0. Reference numeral 802 indicates a request. Here, 0 indicating a request is stored. Reference numeral 803 indicates the data size of the packet. Reference numeral 804 indicates the path of the requested WEB content. As described above, the request for the WEB content is transmitted in the bucket format. When the bucket is correctly interpreted by the network card I / F unit 127 of the printing unit 120, the printing unit 120 sends a reply packet.

FIG. 9 shows a WEB by a remote function call.
It is a figure which shows the packet format of the reply packet which transmits WEB content corresponding to the request packet which instruct | indicates content read. In FIG. 9, 901 is WE
Remote Procedure C indicating a request to read B content
This is an all ID. Here, the numerical value is 100. Reference numeral 902 indicates that it is a reply. Here, the number "1" indicating that it is a reply is stored. Reference numeral 903 indicates a reply state indicating whether the reading was successful. Here, 1 indicating that the reading was successful is stored. Reference numeral 904 indicates the data size of the packet. And WE
Binary data of B content is attached to 905 and transmitted. The WWW server unit 113 analyzes the response packet, extracts the WEB content from the response packet, and uses the HTTP protocol to execute the host computer 100.
Send to F

Even when the WWW server unit 113 acquires WEB contents starting with “/ mfp /” from the model-dependent contents unit 132 in the facsimile unit 130, the facsimile I / F unit 116 and the network card I / F unit 1
A remote function call for reading the WEB contents is executed via 33. This remote function call requests file transfer from the network card unit 110 to the facsimile unit 130.

The operation between the modules will be described over time. 6 and 7 are transition diagrams showing how WEB contents requested by the host computer 100 are acquired between the respective modules. The vertical axis represents time, and the host computer 100 and the printing apparatus 1
The transition of requests and replies between the network card unit 110 of 01 and the printing unit 120 is shown.

FIG. 6 shows the operation when the host computer 100 requests "model-independent WEB contents". The WEB content is the network card section 11
Since it exists in 0, the WEB content is extracted from the model-independent content section 115 and transmitted to the host computer 100 without generating a request to the printing section 120.

FIG. 7 shows the operation when the host computer 100 requests the "model-dependent WEB contents" owned by the printing section. The WEB content is the printing section 12
Since it exists in 0, a request is made to the printing unit 120,
The WEB content is taken out from the model-dependent content section 122 and transmitted to the host computer 100. Even when the "model-dependent WEB content" owned by the facsimile unit is requested, the printing unit is replaced with the facsimile unit and the same transition is performed.

Note that the host computer 100 is the same as that shown in FIG.
6 or 7 is executed each time the HTML data shown in is acquired and analyzed and each WEB content described in the HTML data is requested. In the HTML data shown in FIG. 2, <IMG SRC = ”/ mfp / device.p
ng ”>, <IMC SRC =” / dev / paper.png ”>, <IMC SRC
= ”/ Nic / error.png”> respectively corresponds to the WEB contents.

As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, WEB contents are model-dependent WEB.
Content, model-independent WEB content, and model-dependent WEB content are classified into model-dependent WEB content unique to each controller that manages the information, and model-dependent WEB content is printed by the printing unit 12.
0 and the facsimile section 130 respectively, and the WEB contents independent of the model are provided in the network card section 11
By arranging in a distributed manner such as arranging in 0, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) For all models / models to which the network card unit 110 may be connected, the network card unit 110 sets the model-independent content unit 1
Since there is no need to have WEB contents in 15, the storage capacity cost of the network card unit 110 can be reduced.

(2) For the same reason as described above, the network card unit 110 has the printing unit 12 which will be developed in the future.
0 and the facsimile unit 130 can be handled without replacing the ROM of the network card unit 110.

(3) Printing unit 120 and facsimile unit 1
From the perspective of 30, the status of the requested printing device is
When the WWW server unit 113 that transmits and receives using TTP and the model-independent content unit 115 that stores the model-independent WEB content are driven out to the network card unit 110, it is unnecessary if network compatibility is not required in the first place. It is possible to prevent a significant increase in cost.

<Second Embodiment> In the first embodiment, whether the character string obtained by removing the path part from the URL of the WEB content includes "/ dev /" or "/ mfp /" WEB content is model-dependent WE based on
It was determined whether the content was B content or machine-independent WEB content.

However, with this method, the WEB contents are model-dependent WEB contents or model-independent WEB contents.
It is possible to analogize whether the content is the content by the GUI of the host computer 100. Since the location of the WEB content is internal information, it may not be preferable to be able to infer it from the URL.

Therefore, in the second embodiment of the present invention,
As a measure to prevent the WEB contents from being inferred from the URL, as in the first embodiment, the WE
It is not whether the character string obtained by removing the path part from the URL of B content includes "/ dev /" or "/ mfp /",
A character string list that is recognized as machine-dependent WEB content is prepared in advance, and the WE to be compared with the character string list is prepared.
Compare with B content.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a printing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The printing system according to the second embodiment includes a host computer 1000, a network card unit 1010, and a printing unit 1.
020, a printer 10 including a facsimile unit 1030
01, the host computer 1000, and the printing apparatus 10
01 is connected to the communication medium 1002.

Further, the network card unit 1010 of the printing apparatus 1001 has the network I / F units 1011 and l.
pd server unit 1012, WWW server unit 1013, printing device I / F unit 1014, facsimile I / F unit 101
6, model-independent content section 1015, dependency list 10
17, the printing unit 1020 of the printing apparatus 1001 includes a reception buffer 1021, a model-dependent content unit 1022,
PDL translator 1023, intermediate buffer 102
4, a drawing unit 1025, a printer engine 1026, and a network card I / F unit 1027. The facsimile unit 1030 includes a facsimile control unit 1031, a model-dependent content unit 1032, and a network card I / F unit 1.
It is equipped with 033.

FIG. 10 shows a modification of FIG. FIG. 10 shows a configuration in which the dependency list 1017 is added to the network card unit of the printing apparatus in the configuration of FIG.

The dependency list 1017 provided in the network card unit 1010 of the printing apparatus 1001 is a database having a list of character strings. Dependency list 1017
However, for example, if the user has a list of character strings as shown in FIG. 11, and if the WEB content name is the same as any of these character strings, the WEB content is sent to the printing unit 1020 or the facsimile unit 1030. Request and
If the WEB content name is other than that, the network card unit 1010 will provide it.

Further, as shown in (a) of FIG. 11, which of the printing unit 1020 and the facsimile unit 1030 is to be requested is printed when the head of the list is "/ dev /". If it is "/ mfp /", the facsimile unit 1030 is inquired. Further, as shown in FIG. 11B, in order to make an inquiry,
There is also a method of making a judgment by shifting the layers and expressing them as "/ dev /" and "/ mfp /".

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing the operation of the WWW server section 1013 of the printing apparatus 1001 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 differs from FIG. 5 of the first embodiment in the comparison condition of step S1204. In step S1204, it is checked whether the specified path is included in the dependency list 1017.

As a result, the W
The EB content can be set as a model-dependent WEB content or a model-independent WEB content. That is, when changing the URL of the WEB content, it is only necessary to change the dependency list. Incidentally, step S1201 to step S1203, step S in FIG.
Steps 1205 to S1213 are the same as steps S501 to S503 and steps S504 to S512 in FIG. 5 described above, and a description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, a character string list recognized as a model-dependent WEB content is prepared, and the WEB content name to be compared with the character string list is prepared. By comparing
It is possible to determine whether the content is model-dependent WEB content or model-independent WEB content regardless of the RL or path.

Further, it is possible to set whether a certain WEB content is a model-dependent WEB content or a model-independent WEB content simply by changing the character string list.

In the second embodiment, the network card unit 1010 of the printing apparatus 1001 has the dependency list 1017. However, the printing device 10
01 network card unit 1010 is model dependent WE
Instead of having a dependency list which is a character string list of content names of WEB contents recognized as B contents, an independent list which is a character string list of content names of WEB contents recognized as machine-independent WEB contents is provided. You may In this case, only Yes / No in the comparison condition of step S1204 of FIG. 12 is replaced, and the processes other than step S1204 are the same, and the same effect as that of the second embodiment can be obtained.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of a laser beam printer applicable to the printing apparatus 101. This laser beam printer can input character pattern data and the like and print it on recording paper. Reference numeral 8012 denotes a laser beam printer main body, which forms an image on a recording paper, which is a recording medium, based on the supplied character pattern and the like. 8
Reference numeral 000 is an operation panel on which a switch for operation and an LED display are arranged, and reference numeral 8001 is a printer control unit for controlling the entire laser beam printer 8012 and analyzing character pattern information and the like. The printer control unit 8001 mainly converts character pattern information into a video signal and outputs it to the laser driver 8002. A laser driver 8002 is a circuit for driving the semiconductor laser 8003, and turns on a laser beam 8004 emitted from the semiconductor laser 8003 according to an input video signal.
Switch off.

The laser beam 8004 is swung in the left-right direction by the rotary polygon mirror 8005 to scan the electrostatic drum 8006.
As a result, an electrostatic latent image having a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 8006. This latent image is an electrostatic drum 8006
After being developed by the surrounding developing unit 8007, it is transferred to the recording paper. A cut sheet is used for this recording paper,
The cut sheet recording paper is composed of a plurality of paper cassettes 8 corresponding to a plurality of kinds of papers mounted on the laser beam printer 8012.
The sheet is housed in the printer 008, is taken into the apparatus by the paper feed roller 8009 and the transport rollers 8010 and 8011, and is supplied to the electrostatic drum 8006.

FIG. 15 shows an ink jet recording apparatus IJR.
It is sectional drawing of A. In the figure, a drive motor 9011
Driving force transmission gears 9010, 900
The carriage HC that engages with the spiral groove 9003 of the lead screw 9004 that rotates via 8 has a pin (not shown) and is reciprocated in the directions of arrows a and b. The carriage HC has an ink jet cartridge IJC.
Is installed.

Reference numeral 9001 denotes a paper pressing plate which presses the paper against the platen 9000 in the moving direction of the carriage. Photocouplers 9006 and 9007 are home position detection means for confirming the presence of the lever 9005 of the carriage in this area and switching the rotation direction of the motor 9011. Reference numeral 9013 denotes a member that supports a cap member 9019 that caps the front surface of the recording head.
9012 is a suction means for sucking the inside of the cap, and performs suction recovery of the recording head through the opening 9020 in the cap.

9014 is a cleaning blade,
Reference numeral 16 denotes a member that allows this blade to move in the front-rear direction, and these members are supported by the main body support plate 9015.
Needless to say, a well-known cleaning blade can be applied to this example instead of this form. Also, 90
Reference numeral 18 denotes a lever for starting suction for suction recovery, which moves in accordance with movement of a cam 9017 that engages with a carriage, and the driving force from a drive motor is movement-controlled by a known transmission means such as clutch switching. .

The capping, cleaning, and suction recovery are configured so that the desired processing can be performed at the corresponding positions by the action of the lead screw 9004 when the carriage comes to the area on the home position side. As long as the desired operation is performed at the timing, any of the above can be applied to this example.

The present invention is not limited to the apparatus of the above-described embodiment, and may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a program code supply method. Storage medium 1000 storing program code of software for realizing the functions of the embodiment
3 is supplied to the system or apparatus 10001, and the computer (or CPU or M) of the system or apparatus is supplied.
It is needless to say that it is completed by the PU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

Specifically, the program code based on the flowcharts of FIGS. 5 and 12 is stored in the ROM or RAM of the network card unit 110, and the CPU of the network card unit performs control according to these program codes. The control method described above can be realized.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the function of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code or the program code itself constitutes the present invention. become.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, C
A D-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card, a ROM, a DVD-RAM, a DVD-ROM can be used. Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the computer is operating on the computer based on the instruction of the program code.
It goes without saying that the case where S or the like performs a part or all of the actual processing and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is also included.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the next program code. Needless to say, this also includes the case where the CPU or the like provided in the expansion board or the expansion unit performs the expansion function to perform a part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the function of the above-described embodiment. Yes.

[0091]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The data provided to the browser of the host computer is classified into model-dependent data, model-independent data, and model-dependent data for each controller that manages that information, and the model-dependent data is distributed to each controller. By arranging the data and arranging the data independent of the model in the network control unit, the data can be appropriately distributed and arranged.

For all models / models to which the network controller may be connected, the network controller does not need to have model-independent data, and the storage capacity cost of the network controller can be reduced. Is possible.

Further, the network control unit can cope with a controller which will be developed in the future, such as a printer controller or a facsimile controller, without replacing the storage unit of the network control unit.

Further, from the standpoint of the controller, it is possible to prevent an unnecessary increase in cost by eliminating the means for transmitting and receiving the requested data to the network control unit, if the network need not be supported in the first place. it can.

Further, by providing a list indicating whether the data is model-dependent data or model-independent data, the data can be converted into model-dependent data or model-independent data regardless of URL or path. It is possible to set various data. Therefore, when changing the URL of the data, only the list needs to be changed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printing system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of basic HTML data.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an overview of an image.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an overview of an image showing error information occurring in a printing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a WW of the printing apparatus 101 according to the first embodiment.
7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the W server unit 113.

FIG. 6 shows that the host computer 100 is a “model-independent W
It is a figure which shows the operation | movement at the time of requesting "EB content."

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an operation when the host computer 100 requests “model-dependent WEB contents” owned by the printing unit.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a packet format of a request packet for instructing reading of WEB contents.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a packet format of a reply packet for transmitting WEB contents.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printing system according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a dependency list.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the WWW server unit 1013 of the printing apparatus 1001 according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example in which HTML data and bitmap image data are processed and displayed by the WWW browser software of the host computer 100.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a laser beam printer.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of an inkjet recording device IJRA.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a program code supply method.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 host computer 101 printing device 102 communication medium 110 network card unit 120 printing unit 130 facsimile unit 111 network I / F unit 112 lpd server unit 113 WWW (World Wide Web) server unit 114 printing device I / F unit 115 model-independent content Part 116 Facsimile I / F part 121 Reception buffer 122 Model-dependent content part 123 PDL translator 124 Intermediate buffer 125 Drawing part 126 Printer engine 127 Network card I / F part 131 Facsimile control part 132 Model-dependent content part 133 Network card I / F part

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2C061 AP01 AP03 AQ05 AQ06 HJ08                       HP06                 5B021 AA01 AA19 BB04 CC07 EE02                       NN00                 5B089 GA16 HB05 JA35 JB02 JB15                       KA13 KB02 KB07

Claims (50)

[Claims] 1. An information management device for providing data indicating information about a device body, which comprises a plurality of control units, to an external device in response to a request, wherein the requested data depends on the device body. And a control unit determining unit that determines which of a plurality of control units the requested data depends on, if the requested data depends on the device body, the requested data Is dependent on the device body, the requested data is acquired from the control unit determined by the control unit determination means, and if the requested data does not depend on the device body, from the storage unit in the information management device. An information management device, comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires requested data. 2. The acquisition unit transmits a request for data to the control unit determined by the control unit determination unit and acquires the data when the requested data depends on the apparatus main body. The information management device according to claim 1. 3. The determining means determines whether or not the requested data depends on the apparatus main body, based on identification information for identifying the requested data. Alternatively, the information management device described in 2. 4. The information management device according to claim 3, wherein the identification information is a URL indicating data. 5. A holding unit for holding identification information for identifying data dependent on the main body of the apparatus, wherein the determination unit determines that the requested data is based on the identification information held by the holding unit. The method according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether or not it depends on the main body.
Alternatively, the information management device described in 2. 6. The apparatus has a holding unit that holds identification information for identifying data that does not depend on the main body of the apparatus, and the determination unit determines that the requested data is based on the identification information held by the holding unit. The method according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether or not it depends on the main body.
Alternatively, the information management device described in 2. 7. The apparatus has a providing unit that provides data indicating information on the apparatus body using HTTP, and the data indicating information on the apparatus body is data described in HTML or image data. The information management device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: 8. The information about the apparatus main body is information about a paper feeding device attached to the apparatus main body, information about a paper discharge device attached to the apparatus main body, information about an optional device attached to the apparatus main body, and the apparatus main body. 8. The information management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information management apparatus is information regarding paper feed or paper discharge of the sheet. 9. The data indicating information about the apparatus main body is
9. The information management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display processing is performed by a browser of the external device. 10. The information management device according to claim 1, wherein the information management device is a network board connectable to a printing device. 11. An image forming apparatus comprising a plurality of control sections and a communication control section for controlling communication with a network, wherein data indicating information about the apparatus main body is requested,
The providing means for providing to the external device, the determining means for determining whether or not the requested data depends on the device body, and the requesting data depending on the device body. In the case where the control unit determining unit that determines which one of them depends and the requested data depends on the apparatus main body, the requested data is acquired from the control unit determined by the control unit determining unit, and the request is made. An image forming apparatus comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires the requested data from the communication control unit when the received data does not depend on the apparatus main body. 12. The acquisition unit acquires the data by transmitting a data request to the control unit determined by the control unit determination unit when the requested data depends on the apparatus main body. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11. 13. The determination means determines whether or not the requested data depends on the apparatus main body based on identification information for identifying the requested data. Alternatively, the image forming apparatus according to item 12. 14. The identification information is a URL indicating data.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein: 15. The storage device further comprises holding means for holding identification information for identifying data depending on the main body of the device, wherein the determination means is configured to transmit the requested data to the device based on the identification information held by the holding means. The method according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether or not it depends on the main body.
The image forming apparatus according to 1 or 12. 16. The apparatus has a holding unit that holds identification information for identifying data that does not depend on the main body of the apparatus, and the determination unit determines that the requested data is based on the identification information held by the holding unit. The method according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether or not it depends on the main body.
The image forming apparatus according to 1 or 12. 17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the data indicating the information about the apparatus main body is data described in HTML or image data. 18. Information relating to the apparatus main body, information relating to a paper feeding apparatus attached to the apparatus main body, information relating to a paper discharge apparatus attached to the apparatus main body, information relating to an optional apparatus attached to the apparatus main body, apparatus main body 2. Information relating to paper feeding or paper ejection of
The image forming apparatus according to any one of 1 to 17. 19. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the data indicating the information about the apparatus main body is displayed and processed by the browser of the external apparatus. 20. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the image forming apparatus is a printing apparatus which performs a printing process based on print data transmitted from a host computer. 21. An information providing method for providing information about an apparatus main body comprising a plurality of control units, wherein data indicating information about the apparatus main body requested by an external device depends on the apparatus main body. If the requested data depends on the main body of the device, it is judged which of the plurality of control units depends on the main body of the device, and if the requested data depends on the main body of the device, it is judged. If the requested data is obtained from the control unit and the requested data does not depend on the device body, the requested data is obtained from the communication control unit connected to the device body and the obtained data is externally A method for providing information, which is provided to a device. 22. The information providing method according to claim 21, wherein when the requested data depends on the apparatus main body, the data request is transmitted to the determined control unit to acquire the data. . 23. The method according to claim 21, wherein it is determined whether the requested data depends on the apparatus main body based on the identification information for identifying the requested data.
Alternatively, the information providing method described in 22. 24. The identification information is a URL indicating data
The information providing method according to claim 23, wherein: 25. The communication control unit is caused to hold identification information for identifying data dependent on the apparatus main body, and whether the requested data depends on the apparatus main body based on the held identification information. 23. The information providing method according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that it is determined. 26. The communication control unit holds identification information for identifying data that does not depend on the device body, and whether the requested data depends on the device body based on the held identification information. 23. The information providing method according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that it is determined. 27. The information providing method according to claim 21, wherein the data indicating the information about the apparatus main body is data described in HTML or image data. 28. Information relating to the apparatus main body, information relating to a paper feeding apparatus attached to the apparatus main body, information relating to a paper discharge apparatus attached to the apparatus main body, information relating to an optional apparatus attached to the apparatus main body, apparatus main body 3. Information relating to paper feeding or paper ejection of
The method for providing information according to any one of 1 to 27. 29. The information providing method according to claim 21, wherein the data indicating the information about the device body is displayed and processed by the browser of the external device. 30. The apparatus main body is a printing apparatus that performs a printing process based on print data transmitted from a host computer.
The information provision method described in any of the above. 31. A computer-readable recording medium in which a program for providing information about an apparatus main body including a plurality of control units is stored, the program being requested by an external device, If the data indicating the information about the device body depends on the device body, the determining step, and if the requested data depends on the device body, depending on which of the plurality of control units And a control unit determining step for determining whether the requested data depends on the apparatus main body, the requested data is obtained from the control unit determined by the control unit determining step, and the requested data is acquired. In the case of not depending on the above, the acquisition step of acquiring the requested data from the information management device, and the data acquired by the acquisition step. The data recording medium, characterized in that to execute a providing step of providing the external device to the computer. 32. In the acquisition step, when the requested data depends on the apparatus main body, a data request is transmitted to the control unit determined by the control unit determination step,
The recording medium according to claim 31, wherein the recording medium acquires data. 33. The determining step determines whether or not the requested data depends on the apparatus main body based on identification information for identifying the requested data. Alternatively, the recording medium according to 32. 34. The identification information is a URL indicating data
The recording medium according to claim 33, wherein: 35. The program causes a computer to execute a holding step of holding identification information for identifying data dependent on the apparatus main body, and the determining step, based on the identification information held by the holding step, 33. The recording medium according to claim 31 or 32, wherein it is determined whether the requested data depends on the apparatus main body. 36. The program causes a computer to execute a holding step of holding identification information for identifying data that does not depend on the apparatus main body, and the determining step, based on the identification information held by the holding step, 33. The recording medium according to claim 31 or 32, wherein it is determined whether the requested data depends on the apparatus main body. 37. The recording medium according to claim 31, wherein the data indicating the information about the apparatus main body is data described in HTML or image data. 38. Information relating to the apparatus main body, information relating to a paper feeding apparatus attached to the apparatus main body, information relating to a paper discharge apparatus attached to the apparatus main body, information relating to an optional apparatus attached to the apparatus main body, apparatus main body 4. The information relating to paper feeding or paper ejection according to claim 3,
38. The recording medium according to any one of 1 to 37. 39. The recording medium according to claim 31, wherein the data indicating the information about the apparatus main body is displayed and processed by the browser of the external apparatus. 40. The recording medium according to claim 31, wherein the apparatus main body is a printing apparatus that performs a printing process based on print data transmitted from a host computer. 41. A program for providing information about a device body, comprising a plurality of control units, wherein data indicating information about the device body requested by an external device depends on the device body. A determination step of determining whether or not there is a control section, a control section determination step of determining which of a plurality of control sections the requested data depends on, and the requested data When dependent on the main body, the requested data is obtained from the control unit determined by the control unit determination step, and when the requested data does not depend on the device main body, the requested data is obtained from within the information management device. And causing the computer to execute an providing step of providing the external device with the data obtained by the obtaining step. Program to butterflies. 42. In the acquisition step, when the requested data depends on the apparatus main body, the request for data is transmitted to the control unit determined by the control unit determination step,
The program according to claim 41, which acquires data. 43. The determining step determines whether or not the requested data depends on the apparatus main body based on identification information for identifying the requested data. Alternatively, the program according to 42. 44. The identification information is a URL indicating data
44. The program according to claim 43, wherein 45. The program causes a computer to execute a holding step of holding identification information for identifying data depending on the apparatus main body, and the determining step, based on the identification information held by the holding step, The program according to claim 41 or 42, wherein it is determined whether or not the requested data depends on the apparatus main body. 46. The program causes a computer to execute a holding step of holding identification information for identifying data that does not depend on the main body of the apparatus, and the determining step, based on the identification information held by the holding step, The program according to claim 41 or 42, wherein it is determined whether or not the requested data depends on the apparatus main body. 47. The program according to any one of claims 41 to 46, wherein the data indicating the information regarding the apparatus body is data described in HTML or image data. 48. Information regarding the apparatus main body, information regarding a paper feeding apparatus attached to the apparatus main body, information regarding a paper discharge apparatus attached to the apparatus main body, information regarding an optional apparatus attached to the apparatus main body, apparatus main body 5. Information relating to paper feeding or paper ejection of
The program according to any one of 1 to 47. 49. The program according to any one of claims 41 to 48, wherein the data indicating the information about the apparatus body is displayed and processed by the browser of the external apparatus. 50. The program according to claim 41, wherein the apparatus main body is a printing apparatus that performs a printing process based on print data transmitted from a host computer.