JP2003186643A - Printing system, network module, data providing method, program and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system, which is capable of eliminating the need for making a network module retain data, with respect to models of all printers having the possibility of being connected to the network module, and reducing capacities and cost necessary for data retention in the network module. <P>SOLUTION: A printing part 120 and a facsimile part 130 retain model dependant WEB contents corresponding to each part, and a network card part 110 retain model non-dependant WEB contents, respectively. When the model dependant WEB contents are required from a host computer 100, the network card part 110 acquires the required model dependant WEB contents via the facsimile part 130 from the printing part 120 or facsimile part 130, and acquires the model non-dependant WEB contents retained by the network card part 110 when the model non-dependant WEB contents are required. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing system for providing a printing service to an external device on a network in which a printing device having a plurality of control means for executing different functions and a network module cooperate with each other.
The present invention relates to a network module, a data providing method, a program and a storage medium used therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of the Internet, printing devices are being used 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, and network card module Is generally supplied separately as.

In this case, the printing apparatus main body and the network card module are intelligent forms each having a CPU, and each module realizes a desired service by communicating between the connection interfaces. On the contrary, this makes it possible for the network card module to receive a heavy load network service, and the C of the printing apparatus main body is relatively involved.
It is possible to lower the PU and peripheral performance.
As a result, the cost of the printing apparatus main body can be reduced.

Conventionally, the network interface is
For example, although it is configured to be able to transmit only print data as represented by lpr, recently, there is an increasing need for information management for a printing apparatus, and various means are provided as additional technologies.

The simplest example is that information management data (job control language = job languag) is sent to a port that sends print data.
e) is added. Since the job control language shares the port for sending print data, there is no need to increase the service port, and the implementation is relatively easy.
However, if a large amount of data is transmitted during the reception of print data, the port is occupied, which causes a problem that the exchange of information management data is interrupted. 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 acquired in the first place.

The next method is SNMP (simple net).
work management protocol / MIB (management inf
There is a method using ormation base). This uses a dedicated port for data transmission and reception, and is a standard SNM.
This is the method using P. However, with this method, the SNMP
It is necessary to independently develop a dedicated client program that receives a UI and provides a UI (user interface).
Since SNMP is a protocol for exchanging simple information in the first place, it can only provide a simple database of numbers and character strings. As a result, there is a problem in that the client program must own the information that constitutes the UI such as a bitmap image showing the configuration of the device, and the client program must be compatible with the model accordingly.

The latest method is to use HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol) in the network card module.
col) service to provide HTML (hyp
ertext markup language) WEB contents such as data and bitmap images are provided, and the client displays the WEB contents on a GUI (graphical user interface) by using a general WWW browser, and enables operation. It is possible to obtain the same effect without providing the client program. That is,
In the conventional method, the client program needs to manage information (message character string, bitmap image) unique to a wide variety of devices, but in the above method, the device only needs to have its own model information. This is the most suitable way to provide a product in a short period of time. In this way, in order to further reduce product costs, development costs, and standardize network modules,
By distributing the WEB contents that depend on the model to the printing device main unit and the WEB contents that do not depend on the model to the network card module, the WEB contents can be distributed for all the printer models that may be connected to the network card module. It is not necessary to store it as model-dependent content, and it is possible to reduce the capacity cost of the network card module.

[0008]

However, the above-mentioned method has the following problems. Multi-function printers have been developed, and printers that combine multiple functions such as printer function, facsimile function, and scanner function (multifunction machine: multi function p
eripheral) has been developed a lot. In such a printing apparatus, a plurality of control units for controlling each function are independently provided, and each control unit may manage information unique to the printing apparatus.
Therefore, in the HTTP service described above, it is necessary to acquire information from a plurality of control units and provide the content in order to acquire information unique to the printing apparatus main body. A method in which the network module acquires information from each control means and provides contents is also conceivable, but an interface for information acquisition is required for the number of control means, and the processing corresponding to the number of each control means is required. Is required for the network module.

An object of the present invention is to reduce the capacity and cost required for holding data in the network module, because the network module does not need to hold data related to all the models of printing apparatuses that may be connected to the network module. It is to provide a print system, a network module, a data providing method, a program, and a storage medium that can be performed.

[0010]

The invention according to claim 1 is
A printing system in which a printing apparatus having a plurality of control means for executing different functions and a network module cooperate with each other to provide a printing service to an external apparatus on the network, wherein the plurality of controls of the printing apparatus are provided. The means holds model-dependent data indicating model-dependent contents, the network module holds model-independent data indicating model-independent contents, and the network module requests model-dependent data from the external device. In such a case, the network module acquires the requested model-dependent data from the corresponding control unit via the specific control unit of the printing device, and provides the acquired model-dependent data to the external device. However, if the network module requests model-independent data from the external device, , The network module,
The model-independent data held by the network module is provided to the external device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printing system according to the first aspect, the network module is
When model-dependent data is requested from the external device, the specific control unit of the printing apparatus is requested to acquire the requested model-dependent data, and the specific control unit that receives the request is Characterized in that the control means that holds the requested model-dependent data requests the acquisition of the requested model-dependent data, and the control means that receives the request returns the held model-dependent data to the specific control means. And

According to a third aspect of the invention, in the printing system according to the first aspect, the network module is
Data acquisition means for determining whether the data requested from the external device is model-dependent data or model-independent data, and acquiring corresponding data according to the determination result;
Service providing means for providing the data acquired by the data acquiring means to the external device.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the printing system according to the third aspect, the service providing means comprises means for transmitting and receiving information for referring to and setting device information according to a predetermined communication protocol. The data acquired by the acquisition unit is converted into data in a format conforming to the predetermined communication protocol and transmitted to the external device.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the printing system according to the fourth aspect, the device information is information about optional devices such as a paper feeding device and a paper discharging device mounted on the printing device, and the optional device. It is characterized in that it is information including information on paper feeding and paper ejection.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the printing system according to the third aspect, the data acquisition unit makes the request based on the designation information and the path check of the data transmitted from the external device according to the predetermined communication protocol. It is characterized by determining whether the generated data is model-dependent data or model-independent data.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the printing system according to the sixth aspect, the data acquisition unit determines whether the data designated by the designation information is data that matches a specific path. It is characterized in that it is determined whether the designated data is model-dependent data or model-independent data.

According to an eighth aspect of the invention, in the printing system according to the seventh aspect, the network module is
If the data acquisition unit has a list of model-dependent data paths, and the data designated by the designation information is data that matches the list path, then the designated data is model-dependent data. It is characterized by determining.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the printing system according to the seventh aspect, the network module is
If the data acquisition means has a list of paths of model-independent data, and the data designated by the designation information does not match the path of the list, the designated data is model-dependent data. It is characterized in that

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the printing system according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, the printing device and the network module are configured as independent intelligent forms, and the network is used. A feature of the module is that plural types of printers can be connected.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, an external device on a network holds model-dependent data indicating contents depending on a model and cooperates with a printing device having a plurality of control means for executing different functions. A network module for providing a print service to a printer, holding means for holding model-independent data indicating model-independent content, data acquisition means for acquiring data requested from the external device, Service providing means for providing the data acquired by the data acquiring means to the external device, wherein the data acquiring means controls the specific control means of the printing device when model-dependent data is requested from the external device. Via the corresponding control means, and the acquired model-dependent data is acquired by the external device. To provide, when said machine-independent data from the external device is requested, and providing a machine-independent data held in said holding means to said external device.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the network module according to the eleventh aspect, when the data acquisition unit requests model-dependent data from the external device, the data acquisition unit instructs the specific control unit of the printing apparatus. Requesting the acquisition of the requested model-dependent data, and the specific control means that has received the request requests the control means that holds the requested model-dependent data to acquire the requested model-dependent data. The request is made, and the control means which has received the request returns the model-dependent data held therein to the specific control means.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the network module according to the eleventh aspect, the data acquisition means determines whether the data requested by the external device is model-dependent data or model-independent data. Then, the corresponding data is acquired according to the result of the determination.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the network module of the eleventh aspect, the service providing means comprises means for transmitting and receiving information for referring to and setting device information according to a predetermined communication protocol. The data acquired by the acquisition unit is converted into data in a format conforming to the predetermined communication protocol and transmitted to the external device.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the network module according to the fourteenth aspect, the device information is
It is characterized in that the information includes information about optional devices such as a paper feeding device and a paper discharging device mounted on the printing device and information about feeding and discharging of the optional devices.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the network module according to the thirteenth aspect, the data acquisition means makes the request based on path designation information and path information of data transmitted from the external device according to the predetermined communication protocol. It is characterized by determining whether the generated data is model-dependent data or model-independent data.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the network module according to the sixteenth aspect, the data acquisition means determines whether or not the data designated by the designation information is data that matches a specific path. It is characterized in that it is determined whether the designated data is model-dependent data or model-independent data.

The invention according to claim 18 is, in the network module according to claim 17, provided with a list of paths of model-dependent data, and the data acquisition means sets the data designated by the designation information to a path of the list. If the data match, the designated data is determined to be model-dependent data.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the network module according to the seventeenth aspect, the list of paths of model-independent data is provided, and the data acquisition means is such that the data designated by the designation information is the path of the list. If the data does not match the above, it is determined that the designated data is model dependent data.

According to a twentieth aspect of the invention, in the network module according to any one of the tenth to nineteenth aspects, the printer is configured as an intelligent form independent of the printing device, and a plurality of types of printing devices are provided. Is connectable.

According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, there is shown a printer which holds model-dependent data indicating model-dependent contents and has a plurality of control means for executing different functions, and a model-independent content. A data providing method used in a printing system for providing a print service to an external device on a network in cooperation with a network module holding model-independent data, the process comprising acquiring data requested by the external device. And a step of providing the acquired data to the external device, and when model-dependent data is requested from the external device, the network module causes the network device to execute the control via a specific control unit of the printing device. Acquire the requested model-dependent data from the corresponding control means, and provide the acquired model-dependent data to the external device. , When said machine-independent data from the external device is requested by the network module, and providing a machine-independent data to which the network module held in the external device.

According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, in the data providing method according to the twenty-first aspect, when model-dependent data is requested from the external device, the network module instructs a specific control means of the printing device. The specific control unit that requests the acquisition of the requested model-dependent data requests the control unit that holds the requested model-dependent data to acquire the requested model-dependent data. However, the control means that has received the request returns the model-dependent data held therein to the specific control means.

According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, in the data providing method according to the twenty-first aspect, the network module determines whether the data requested by the external device is model-dependent data or model-independent data. And acquiring corresponding data according to the determination result.

The invention according to a twenty-fourth aspect is the data providing method according to any one of the twenty-first to twenty-third aspects, wherein the acquired data is converted into data in a format according to a predetermined communication protocol, and the external data is transmitted. It is transmitted to the device.

The invention according to claim 25 is the data providing method according to claim 23, further comprising a step of receiving designation information of data transmitted from the external device according to the predetermined communication protocol, and the received data. It is characterized in that whether the requested data is model-dependent data or model-independent data is determined based on the designation information and path check.

The invention according to claim 26 is the data providing method according to claim 25, wherein the data designated by the designation information is designated according to whether or not the data matches a particular path. It is characterized by determining whether the data is model-dependent data or model-independent data.

The invention according to claim 27 is the data providing method according to claim 26, wherein the network module has a list of paths of model-dependent data, and the data designated by the designation information is the path of the list. It is characterized in that the designated data is discriminated as model-dependent data if the data conforms to.

According to a twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention, in the data providing method according to the twenty-sixth aspect, the network module has a list of paths of model-independent data, and the data acquisition means is designated by the designation information. If the specified data is data that does not match the path of the list, it is determined that the specified data is model-dependent data.

According to a twenty-ninth aspect of the invention, an external device on the network holds model-dependent data indicating the model-dependent contents and cooperates with a printing device having a plurality of control means for executing different functions. A program for configuring a network module having a holding means for holding model-independent data indicating model-independent contents, and acquiring the data requested from the external device. The data acquisition module includes a data acquisition module and a service providing module that provides the data acquired by the data acquisition module to the external device. The data acquisition module is configured to print the printing device when model-dependent data is requested from the external device. The device that supports the requested model-dependent data through the specific control means of The model-independent data acquired from the means, providing the acquired model-dependent data to the external device, and if the external device requests the model-independent data, the model-independent data held in the holding means of the network module is It is characterized in that it is provided to an external device.

The invention described in Item 30 is characterized in that the program described in Item 29 is stored.

[0040]

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

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system comprises a host computer 100 and a printing device 101, and the host computer 100 and the printing device 101.
Is an Ethernet (registered trademark) (Xerox, DEC,
They are connected via a predetermined communication medium 102 such as a bus-structured LAN jointly developed by three Intel companies.

The printing apparatus 101 comprises a network card section 110, a printing section 120 and a facsimile section 130. The network card unit 110 includes a network I / F unit 111, an Lpd server unit 112, a WWW (wo
rld wide web) server unit 113, printer I / F unit 11
4, model-independent content section 115, facsimile I /
It has an F portion 116. The printing unit 120 uses the reception buffer 1
21, model-dependent content section 122, PDL translator 123, intermediate buffer 124, drawing section 125, printer engine 126, network card I / F section 12
7 and a facsimile I / F 128. The facsimile unit 130 includes a facsimile control unit 131, a model-dependent content unit 132, a network card I / F unit 1
33, and a printer I / F unit 134.

The above configuration will be described in detail. In the network card section 110 of the printing apparatus 101, the network I
The / F unit 111 communicates with the partner device via the communication medium 102, and passes the data received via the communication medium 102 to the next stage according to the service. The Lpd server unit 112 is
The print data transmitted from the host computer 100 is received. The WWW server unit 113 indicates the status of the printing apparatus 101 requested by the host computer 100 by HT.
Send and receive using TP. Printing device I / F unit 114
Instructs the printing unit 120 to receive print data. The facsimile I / F unit 116 is the facsimile unit 1
Instructing 30 to receive fax data and model-dependent content. The model-independent content section 115 stores HTML content and bitmap content that are model-independent.

In the printing unit 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 obtained by the communication to the next stage according to the service. The reception buffer 121 is
It is composed of a RAM or an HDD (hard disk device), receives print data, and passes it to the PDL translator 123. The model-dependent content section 122 stores HTML content and bitmap content depending on the model (for example, printing function). The PDL translator 123 takes out the print data stored in the reception buffer 121, and PDL (page description language:
Page description language) is analyzed and converted into intermediate data for drawing.

The intermediate buffer 124 temporarily stores the intermediate data obtained by the PDL translator 123, and then passes the intermediate data to the drawing unit 125. The drawing unit 125 converts the intermediate data passed from the intermediate buffer 124 into raster data and passes it to the printer engine 126. The printer engine 126 prints the raster data obtained from the drawing unit 125 on a sheet by, for example, a well-known electrophotographic system or an inkjet system, and discharges it.

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 the facsimile data and processes it. The model-dependent content section 132 stores HTML content and bitmap content depending on the model (for example, facsimile function).

Here, the above-mentioned contents are data indicating various contents (information) provided by the apparatus, and these data are provided in a data format such as image data, text data, graphic data, moving image data. To be done.

Next, the WWW server section 1 of the printing apparatus 101
The content provided by 13 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5. FIG. 2 shows the W of the printing apparatus 101 of FIG.
The host computer 10 receives the HTML description content and the bitmap content provided by the WW server unit 113.
The figure which shows the example which is displayed on the display with the GUI of the WWW browser of No. 0, and FIG.
FIG. 4 shows an example of TML notation, FIG. 4 shows an example of model-dependent WEB contents used in the printing system of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 shows an example of model-independent WEB contents used in the printing system of FIG. It is a figure.

When the WWW server section 113 of the printing apparatus 101 provides the HTML description content and the bitmap content to the host computer 100, the content is the G of the WWW browser of the host computer 100.
It is displayed on the display by the UI. For example, a UI screen as shown in FIG. 2 is displayed on the display of the host computer.

In the screen example shown in FIG. 2, the screen configuration is the mode switching frame 1301 and the mode display frame 13.
It is composed of two frames 51 and 51. The mode switching frame 1301 is used to display a screen divided into modes for a WWW service having many functions.
Buttons for urging the transition to each mode are arranged, and here, device management 1302 and job management 13
03, device management 1304, support link 1305
Buttons are arranged, and it is possible to shift to each mode in response to pressing of each button.

The mode display frame 1351 represents information according to the mode selected by each of the above buttons, and here, a status frame of the device management 1304 is shown. Frame 13 of this device management 1304
Reference numeral 51 indicates a device bitmap icon 1352, a device name 1353, a status display 1354, paper feed information 1355 indicating the status of a paper feed device (manual feed tray, upper cassette, lower cassette, paper deck, envelope feeder), and paper ejection. Paper ejection information 1356 showing the state of the apparatus (paper ejection tray, bin 1, bin 2, bin 3), a bitmap image 1357 showing the configuration of the device, a button 1358 for activating the utility, and device control activation are performed. Button 1 for
359 is included.

WWW server section 113 of printing apparatus 101
As described above, the host computer 10 monitors the status of the printing apparatus 101, sets initial values, and controls print jobs.
0 provides a service for allowing browsing and operation by a WWW browser included in 0, and also operates as a database that provides WEB contents requested from the host computer 100.

An HTML (hype for the WWW server unit 113 to provide contents to the host computer 100).
rtext markup language) is written as shown in FIG. 3, for example. Note that the notation in this example is simplified for the sake of explanation, and actually a more complicated document is described.

In this HTML, <! DOCTYPE HTML
PUBLIC ”-// IETF // DTD HTML2.0 // EN”> line is SGM
This is a document type declaration in an L (standard generalized markup language) document, and indicates that the document is HTML. Then, an HTML document is described in the area surrounded by <HTML> to </ HTML>. The area enclosed by <HEAD> to </ HEAD> indicates the header area of the HTML document, and <TITLE
“WEB Console Int” in the area surrounded by> to </ TITLE>
The character string "erface" represents the subject of the document.

The area surrounded by <BODY> to </ BODY> is HT
It shows the inside of an ML document, in which two images are captured. The first image is <IMG SRC
= ”/ Mfp / device.png”>, and this image is
As shown in FIG. 3, the external appearance of the printing apparatus 101 is shown. Here, /mfp/device.png is the URL (uniform resou
rce locator) notation, it can be seen that the data is internal data of the printing apparatus 101. In addition, /mfp/device.png
Indicates the appearance of the printing apparatus 101, and is therefore “model-dependent WEB content” that depends on the model of the printing apparatus 101. Further, in the case of a printing device different from the printing device 101, for example, a printing device of a color model or a printing device having a different appearance with a small number of stages of paper cassettes, /mfp/device.png is shown in FIG. It will represent a different image than the one shown.

The second image is <IMC SRC = ”/ nic / er
ror.png ”>, which is also not a URL notation, it can be seen that this is internal data of the printing apparatus 101.
Further, /nic/error.png shows an abstract image for prompting cassette feeding as shown in FIG. 5, for example, which is "model-independent WEB contents" that is model-independent.

As described above, the WEB contents include the model-dependent WEB contents that depend on the model and the model-independent WEB contents that do not depend on the model. Further, the model-dependent WEB contents include the printing unit 1 that manages the information.
20 and the facsimile unit 130 are distinguished according to the model (function) of each unit.

That is, the model-dependent WEB content is stored in the model-dependent content section 122 of the printing section 120 and the model-dependent content section 132 of the facsimile section 130, and the model-independent WEB content is the model-independent content section 115 of the network card section 110. Stored in. For example, the image of device.png in Figure 4 is model-dependent W
It is stored in the model-dependent content section 122 of the printing section 120 as EB content, and the image of error.png in FIG. 5 is stored in the model-independent content section 115 of the network card section 110 as model-independent WEB content.

Next, how to obtain the model-dependent WEB contents and the model-independent WEB contents by classifying them will be described.

In this embodiment, a path structure is used to distinguish these differences. Further, in the present embodiment, in the case of WEB contents starting with / mfp /, the W
W that acquires EB content as model-dependent WEB content from the model-dependent content section 132 and starts with / nic /
In the case of EB content, the WEB content is acquired from the model-independent content section 115 as model-independent WEB content.

Next, the WWW server section 1 of the printing apparatus 101
The operation of No. 13 will be described with reference to FIG. Figure 6
Is the WW of the printing apparatus 101 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the W server unit 113.

The WWW server section 113 is used for 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. In the WWW server unit 113, as shown in FIG. 6, when the service is started, first in step S501, a Get operation from the host computer 100 is waited for. Here, the Get operation is the WEB in HTTP.
An operation that requests content.

When a Get operation is received from the host computer 100, in step S502, the WEB content requested by the Get operation is checked and the WE
It is determined whether the B content is in the URL notation. Here, when the WEB contents are in the URL notation,
When the WEB content is not in the URL notation, the process proceeds to step S503, skips step S503, and proceeds to step S504.

In step S503, the directory portion is extracted from the URL notation as the designated path. For example, the specified WEB content name is http: //printer.domai
For n / mfp / device.html, http: // is the scheme,
Since printer.domain is a domain name, remove both and extract only /mfp/device.html. Then, the process proceeds to step S504.

In step S504, it is determined whether or not the WEB content name starts with / mfp /, and this W
When the EB content name starts with / mfp /, it is determined that the requested WEB content is a model-dependent WEB content, and in step S505, a request for acquiring the WEB content is issued to the facsimile unit 130. Then, in step S506, a reply (including the WEB content) from the facsimile unit 130 is waited, and when the reply is received from the facsimile unit 130, in step S507, the WE obtained by the HTTP reply format is obtained for the host computer 100.
Pass B content.

In step S504, if it is determined that the requested WEB content is not the WEB content starting with / mfp /, that is, the model-independent WEB content, the model-independent WEB content is held by the network card unit 110. Therefore, in step S508, the WEB content is acquired from the model-independent content section 115, and the acquired WEB content is passed to the host computer 100 in the HTTP reply format.

Next, the operation when the facsimile section 130 receives a WEB content acquisition request will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation when the facsimile unit 130 of the printing apparatus 101 of FIG. 1 receives a WEB content acquisition request.

The facsimile unit 130 is the WEB server unit 1
11 request for acquisition of WEB content transmitted from FIG.
Step S505), the facsimile unit 1
As shown in FIG. 7, first, in step S1401, the printing unit 120 prints via the printing device I / F unit 134.
The WEB content request is issued to the facsimile I / F unit 128. Then, in step 1402, the printing unit 1
Waiting for a response from the printer 20 (including the model-dependent content acquired from the model-dependent content section 122 according to the above request), and when a response is received from the printing section 120, step S14
03, the model-dependent content acquired from the model-dependent content section 122 is transferred to the network card section 1
Pass to 10.

That is, according to the present embodiment, when the WWW server unit 113 performs the path inspection based on the URL of the WEB content designated by HTTP from the host computer 100, whether the designated WEB content matches a particular path or not. Depending on whether or not the designated WEB content is a model-dependent WEB content or a model-independent WEB content, the model-dependent W content is determined.
Facsimile unit 130 that received the request for EB content
Issues a WEB content request to the printing section 120 which owns the WEB content, and passes the WEB content returned from the printing section 120 in response to the request to the WWW server section 113. The WWW server unit 113 sends the WEB contents delivered from the facsimile unit 130 to the host computer 100 by the HTTP protocol.

When the WEB content starting with / mfp / is acquired from the model-dependent content section 132 in the facsimile section 130, the WWW server section 113 passes through the facsimile I / F section 116 and the network card I / F section 127. Make a remote function call to read WEB content. This remote function call is a method in which the network card unit 110 requests the facsimile unit 130 for file transfer.

This remote function call will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a request packet format for instructing to read WEB contents by a remote function call, and FIG. 9 shows a reply packet format for transmitting WEB contents in response to a request packet for instructing to read WEB contents by a remote function call. It is a figure.

In the remote function call, as shown in FIG. 8, Remo indicating a request for reading the WEB contents.
te Procedure Call ID number 100, number 0 indicating request (Request / Answer Fla
g), packet data size (Data Size), requested WEB content path (Request Web Contents pat)
h) is sent in packet form. This request packet is sent to the network card I / F unit 127 of the printing unit 120.
When correctly interpreted in, the WEB content is transmitted by a reply packet in response to the request packet.

As shown in FIG. 9, the response packet for transmitting the WEB contents corresponding to the request packet is W
Remote Procedure indicating a request to read EB content
The call ID is 100, the number is 1 to indicate a response (Request / Answer Flag), and the response state is 1 to indicate that the reading was successful (Answer Statu
s), packet data size (Data Size), and attached WEB content binary data (Request Web Co
ntents Data) is included. The WWW server unit 113 analyzes the response packet, extracts the WEB content,
It is transmitted to the host computer 100 by the HTTP protocol.

Next, regarding the exchange of information between the host computer 100, the network card section 110, and the facsimile section 130 when acquiring the WEB contents requested by the host computer 100, FIG.
The description will be made with reference to FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the information transition in the case of acquiring the model-independent WEB contents in the printing system of FIG. 1, and FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the information transition in the case of acquiring the model-dependent WEB contents in the printing system of FIG. Is. Here, the vertical axis of each figure represents time.

When the "model-independent WEB content" is requested from the host computer 100, the WEB content is the network card section 11 as shown in FIG.
0, the network card unit 110 takes out the WEB contents from the model-independent contents unit 115 and sends them to the host computer 100 without generating a request to the facsimile unit 130.

From the host computer 100 to the printing unit 12
When the “model-dependent WEB content” held in 0 is requested, as shown in FIG. 11, the WEB content exists in the printing section 120, so the network card section 110 makes a request to the facsimile section 130. Further, the facsimile unit 130 makes a request to the printing unit 120. Upon receiving this request, the printing unit 120 takes out the WEB content from the model-dependent content unit 122 and passes it to the facsimile unit 130, and the facsimile unit 120
The WEB content delivered from the printing unit 120 is delivered to the network card unit 110. In this way, the network card unit 110 acquires the model-dependent content held by the printing unit 120 via the facsimile unit 130,
It is transmitted to the host computer 100.

When the "model-dependent WEB content" held in the facsimile section 130 is requested, the facsimile section 130 takes out the WEB content from the model-dependent content section 132 without making a request to the printing section 120, It is passed to the network card unit 110. The network card unit 110 is the facsimile unit 1
The model-dependent content passed from 30 is transmitted to the host computer 100.

As described above, according to this embodiment, WE
The B content is classified into a model-dependent WEB content and a model-independent WEB content, the model-independent WEB content is held in the network card unit 110, and the model-dependent WEB content is classified and held in the printing unit 120 and the facsimile unit 130, respectively. However, when acquiring the model-dependent WEB content, by issuing the acquisition request to the facsimile unit 130, the facsimile unit 130
Alternatively, the model-dependent WEB content held in the printing unit 120 is acquired. As a result, it is not necessary to hold the WEB contents for all the printer models that may be connected to the network card unit 110 in the network card unit 110, and the storage capacity for holding contents in the network card unit 110 and It is possible to reduce costs.

Further, the network card unit 110 is developed in the future and may be connected to a printing device (printing unit 1
20) (including the facsimile unit 130 or the facsimile unit 130), the network card unit 110 can cope with the unique information without replacing the ROM.

Further, from the viewpoint of the network card unit 110, since there is one I / F (corresponding to the facsimile unit 130 in this embodiment) requesting the model-dependent WEB contents, there are a plurality of control units. MFP (multifunction device)
It becomes easy to deal with.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the configuration of the dependency list in the printing system of FIG. 12, and FIG. 14 is the WWW of the printing apparatus 1001 of FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the server unit 1013.

In the first embodiment, whether the WEB content is a model-dependent WEB content is determined based on whether or not the character string of the path part extracted from the URL of the WEB content includes "/ mfp /". Whether or not the content is machine-independent WEB content is determined.
Whether the content is a model-dependent WEB content or a model-independent WEB content is determined by the G of the host computer 100.
It is possible to make an analogy with the UI. Therefore, WE
Since the B contents are internal information, whether the WEB contents are model-dependent WEB contents or model-independent WEB
It may not be preferable to infer from the URL whether the content is content.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, in order not to infer from the URL whether the WEB content is the model-dependent WEB content or the model-independent WEB content, it is recognized in advance as the model-dependent WEB content. A method of comparing the character string list with the URL of the WEB content to be compared is used.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 12, this printing system comprises a host computer 1000 and a printing device 1001, and the host computer 1000 and the printing device 1001 are communication media such as Ethernet (registered trademark). Connected via 1002. The printing apparatus 1001 includes a network card unit 1010, a printing unit 1020, and a facsimile unit 1030.

The network card section 1010 of the printing apparatus 1001 includes a network I / F section 1011, an Lpd server section 1012, a WWW server section 1013, and a printing apparatus I.
/ F section 1014, facsimile I / F section 1016, model-independent content section 1015, and dependency list 101
Have 7. The printing unit 1020 has a reception buffer 102.
1, model-dependent content section 1022, PDL translator 1023, intermediate buffer 1024, drawing section 102
5, printer engine 1026, network card I
/ F unit 1027 and facsimile I / F unit 1028
Have. The facsimile unit 1030 includes a facsimile control unit 1031, a model-dependent content unit 1032, a network card I / F unit 1033, and a printing apparatus I / F unit 10.
34.

The configuration of this embodiment is different from that of the first embodiment in that a dependency list 1017 is provided in the network card unit 1010 of the printing apparatus 1001 and is otherwise the same. Therefore, the description of the same parts is omitted here.

The dependency list 1017 provided in the network card unit 1010 of the printing apparatus 1001 is shown in FIG.
As shown in 1, a database having a list of character strings for recognizing as machine-dependent WEB content, and whether the WEB content requested from the host computer 1000 is machine-dependent WEB content or machine-independent content Used for discrimination. That is, WW
When the WEB content is requested from the host computer 1000, the W server unit 1013 compares the URL of this WEB content with the character string of the dependency list 1017, and the requested WEB content is model-dependent WEB according to the comparison result. It is determined whether the content is content-dependent or machine-independent. Here the requested WEB
If the URL of the content includes the character string of the dependency list 1017, this WEB content is model-dependent WEB.
If the URL of the requested WEB content does not include the character string in the dependency list 1017, the WEB content is model independent WE.
It is determined that the content is B content.

Next, the operation of the WWW server section 1013 of the printing apparatus 1001 will be described with reference to FIG.

The operation of this embodiment is different from that of the first embodiment (the flowchart shown in FIG. 6) only in the comparison condition of step S1204.
Steps S1201 to S1203 and S1205 to S1208 in FIG. 4 are the same as steps S501 to S503 and S505 to S508 in FIG. 6, and description thereof will be omitted here.

Specifically, in step S1204 of this embodiment, it is determined whether the specified path is included in the dependency list 1017. This makes it possible to set the WEB content as a model-dependent WEB content or a model-independent WEB content regardless of the URL or the path.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the character string list for recognizing the model-dependent WEB contents is prepared in advance, and the WEB to be compared with the character string list is prepared.
Since the URL of the content is compared, it is possible to set the WEB content as a model-dependent WEB content or a model-independent WEB content regardless of the URL or path. Is the WEB content a model-dependent WEB content? It cannot be inferred from the URL whether the content is machine-independent WEB content.

In this embodiment, the model-dependent WEB
A dependence list 1017, which is a character string list for content recognition, is provided. Instead of this, a model-independent W
An independent list, which is a character string list for EB content recognition, may be provided. In this case, step S in FIG.
Only Yes / No in the comparison condition of 1204 is replaced, and the other processing is performed in the same manner, and the same effect is obtained.

A storage medium recording a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments (including the flowcharts shown in the drawings) is supplied to a system or apparatus, and the computer of the system or apparatus (or It goes without saying that the present invention can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium by the CPU or MPU).

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, C
A D-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card, a ROM, etc. can be used.

Further, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by executing the program code read by the computer, but also the OS (operating system) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code. It goes without saying that this also includes the case where the above) performs a part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

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 program code, It goes without saying that a case where a CPU or the like included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs some or all of the actual processing and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is also included.

[0099]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When a plurality of control means of the printing apparatus hold model-dependent data corresponding to each, the network module holds model-independent data, and the network module requests model-dependent data from an external device, the network module The model-dependent data requested via the specific control means of the printing device is acquired from the corresponding control means, the acquired model-dependent data is provided to the external device, and the network module requests the model-independent data from the external device. In this case, since the network module provides the model-independent data held by the network module to the external device, the network module retains the data related to the models of all printing devices that may be connected to the network module. No need to network It is possible to reduce the volume and cost required for data retention in joules.

Further, regarding the correspondence to the unique information of the printing apparatus which will be developed in the future as the printing apparatus to which the network module is connected, the network module has its RO
It is possible to deal with this without exchanging M.

Also, from the viewpoint of the printing apparatus, when the network module is not required, the means for transmitting / receiving the requested status of the printing apparatus and the means for storing the model-independent data are driven to the network module.
It is possible to suppress the cost increase of the printing device.

Further, from the viewpoint of the network module, since there is only one I / F (specific control means) requesting model-dependent data, MF having a plurality of control means exists.
It becomes easy to deal with P (multifunction machine).

Data that matches the list corresponding to the model-dependent data is determined as the model-dependent data, or content that does not match the list corresponding to the model-independent data is determined as the model-dependent data. Data can be set as model-dependent data or model-independent data regardless of the path.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a WWW server unit 113 of the printing apparatus 101 of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example in which the HTML description content and the bitmap content provided by are displayed on the display by the GUI of the WWW browser of the host computer 100.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of HTML notation used in the printing system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a model-dependent WE used in the printing system of FIG.
It is a figure which shows an example of B content.

5 is a model-independent W used in the printing system of FIG.
It is a figure which shows an example of EB contents.

FIG. 6 is a printing apparatus 101 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the WWW server unit 113 of FIG.

7 is a facsimile unit 130 of the printing apparatus 101 of FIG.
5 is a flowchart showing an operation when the web content acquisition request is received.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a request packet format for instructing to read WEB contents by a remote function call.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a reply packet format for transmitting WEB contents in response to a request packet instructing to read WEB contents by a remote function call.

10 is a model-independent W in the printing system of FIG.
It is a figure which shows the information transition at the time of acquiring EB content.

11 is a model-dependent WE in the printing system of FIG.
It is a figure which shows the information transition at the time of acquiring B content.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

13 is a diagram showing the structure of a dependency list in the printing system of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an operation of the WWW server unit 1013 of the printing apparatus 1001 of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

100, 1000 Host computer (external device) 101, 1001 Printing device 102, 1002 Communication medium 110, 1010 Network card part (network module) 120, 1020 Printing part (control means) 130, 1030 Facsimile part (control means) 113, 1013 WWW server section (service providing means, content acquisition means) 115, 1015 model-independent content section 122, 1022 model-dependent content section 132, 1032 model-dependent content section 1017 dependency list (list)

Claims (30)

[Claims] 1. A printing system in which a printing device having a plurality of control means for executing different functions and a network module cooperate with each other to provide a printing service to an external device on the network. The plurality of control means holds model-dependent data indicating model-dependent content, the network module holds model-independent data indicating model-independent content, and the network module is configured to operate from the external device. When the model-dependent data is requested, the network module acquires the requested model-dependent data from the corresponding control unit via the specific control unit of the printing apparatus, and acquires the acquired model-dependent data. The network module is provided to the external device, and the network module receives the model-independent data from the external device. If requested, said network module to a printing system, characterized in that to provide a machine-independent data to which the network module held in the external device. 2. The network module, when model-dependent data is requested from the external device, requests the specific control means of the printing device to acquire the requested model-dependent data, and requests the request. The specific control means that has received the request requests the control means that holds the requested model-dependent data to obtain the requested model-dependent data, and the control means that has received the request sends the model-dependent data that it holds. The method of returning to the specific control means.
The printing system described. 3. The network module determines whether the data requested by the external device is model-dependent data or model-independent data, and acquires corresponding data according to the determination result. 2. The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising: a unit and a service providing unit that provides the data acquired by the data acquiring unit to the external device. 4. The service providing means comprises means for transmitting and receiving information for referring to and setting device information according to a predetermined communication protocol, and the data acquired by the acquisition means is transferred to the predetermined communication protocol. 4. The printing system according to claim 3, wherein the data is converted into data of a format conforming to the above and is transmitted to the external device. 5. The device information is information including information about optional devices such as a paper feeding device and a paper discharging device mounted on the printing device and information about feeding and discharging of the optional devices. The printing system according to claim 4, wherein the printing system is a printing system. 6. The data acquisition means is whether the requested data is model-dependent data or model-independent data based on the designation information of the data transmitted from the external device according to the predetermined communication protocol and the path check. The printing system according to claim 3, wherein it is determined whether or not there is. 7. The data acquisition means determines whether the designated data is model dependent data or not depending on whether the data designated by the designation information is data that matches a specific path. 7. The printing system according to claim 6, wherein it is determined whether the data is dependent data. 8. The network module has a list of model-dependent data paths, and the data acquisition means specifies that the data specified by the specification information is data that matches the paths in the list. The printing system according to claim 7, wherein the generated data is determined to be model-dependent data. 9. The network module has a list of paths of model-independent data, and the data acquisition unit determines that the data specified by the specification information is data that does not match the paths of the list. The printing system according to claim 7, wherein the specified data is determined to be model-dependent data. 10. The printing device and the network module are independently configured as intelligent forms, and a plurality of types of printing devices can be connected to the network module. 9. The printing system according to any one of 9. 11. A printing service is provided to an external device on a network in cooperation with a printing device having a plurality of control means for holding model-dependent data indicating contents depending on the model and executing different functions. A network module for storing the model-independent data indicating a model-independent content, a data acquisition unit for acquiring the data requested by the external device, and a data acquisition unit acquired by the data acquisition unit. And a service providing means for providing the external device with the data, the data acquiring means, when model-dependent data is requested from the external device, the request is made via a specific control means of the printing device. Model-dependent data obtained from the corresponding control means, and the obtained model-dependent data is provided to the external device. If the model-independent data is requested from the device, the network module and providing a machine-independent data held in said holding means to said external device. 12. The data acquisition unit, when model-dependent data is requested from the external device, requests the specific control unit of the printing apparatus to acquire the requested model-dependent data, The specific control means that has received the request requests the control means that holds the requested model-dependent data to acquire the requested model-dependent data, and the control means that has received the request depends on the model The data is returned to the specific control means.
1. The network module according to 1. 13. The data acquisition means determines whether the data requested by the external device is model-dependent data or model-independent data, and acquires the corresponding data according to the determination result. The network module according to claim 11, wherein: 14. The service providing means comprises means for transmitting and receiving information for referring to and setting device information in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol, and the data acquired by the acquisition means is transferred to the predetermined communication protocol. 12. The network module according to claim 11, wherein the network module is converted into data in a format conforming to and transmitted to the external device. 15. The device information includes information about optional devices such as a paper feeding device and a paper discharging device mounted on the printing device, and information about feeding and discharging of the optional devices. 15. The method according to claim 14,
The listed network module. 16. The data acquisition means is either model-dependent data or model-independent data, the requested data being based on designation information of data transmitted from the external device according to the predetermined communication protocol and path inspection. 14. The network module according to claim 13, wherein it is determined whether there is any. 17. The data acquisition means determines whether the designated data is model dependent data or not depending on whether the data designated by the designation information is data that matches a specific path. The network module according to claim 16, wherein it is determined whether the data is dependent data. 18. A model-dependent data path list is provided, and if the data specified by the specification information is data that matches the list path, the specified data is model-dependent. 18. The network module according to claim 17, wherein the network module is determined to be data. 19. A model independent data path list is provided, and if the data specified by the specification information is data that does not match the list path, the specified data is a model. 18. The network module according to claim 17, wherein the network module determines that the data is dependent data. 20. The printer is configured as an intelligent form independent of the printing device, and a plurality of types of printing devices can be connected.
20. The network module according to any one of 0 to 19. 21. A printer which holds model-dependent data indicating model-dependent contents and has a plurality of control means for executing different functions, and a model-independent data indicating model-independent contents. A data providing method used in a printing system for providing a print service to an external device on a network in cooperation with a network module, the process comprising: acquiring data requested by the external device; Providing data to the external device, and when the external device requests model-dependent data, the network module causes the requested model-dependent data via a specific control unit of the printing device. Is obtained from the corresponding control means, and the obtained model-dependent data is provided to the external device. If the machine-independent data is requested,
A data providing method, wherein the network module provides model-independent data held by the network module to the external device. 22. When model-dependent data is requested from the external device, the network module requests the specific control means of the printing device to acquire the requested model-dependent data, and requests the request. The specific control means that has received the request requests the control means that holds the requested model-dependent data to obtain the requested model-dependent data, and the control means that has received the request sends the model-dependent data that it holds. 3. Returning to said specific control means.
1. The data providing method described in 1. 23. With the network module,
22. A step of determining whether the data requested by the external device is model-dependent data or model-independent data, and corresponding data is acquired according to the determination result. How to provide the described data. 24. The acquired data is converted into data of a format according to a predetermined communication protocol and transmitted to the external device.
3. The data providing method described in any one of 3. 25. A step of receiving designation information of data transmitted from the external device according to the predetermined communication protocol, wherein the requested data is model-dependent on the basis of the designation information of the received data and a path check. 24. The data providing method according to claim 23, wherein it is determined whether the data is data or model-independent data. 26. Depending on whether or not the data designated by the designation information is data that matches a specific path,
26. The data providing method according to claim 25, wherein it is determined whether the designated data is model-dependent data or model-independent data. 27. The network module has a list of paths of model-dependent data, and if the data specified by the specification information is data that matches the path of the list, the specified data is model-dependent. 27. The data providing method according to claim 26, characterized in that it is determined to be data. 28. The network module has a list of paths of model-independent data, and the data acquisition means, if the data specified by the specification information is data that does not match the path of the list. 27. The data providing method according to claim 26, wherein the designated data is determined to be model-dependent data. 29. A print service is provided to an external device on a network in cooperation with a printing device having a plurality of control means for holding model-dependent data indicating contents depending on the model and executing different functions. Along with
A program for configuring a network module having a holding unit for holding model-independent data indicating model-independent content, the data acquisition module acquiring data requested by the external device, and the data acquisition module A service providing module that provides the data acquired by the external device to the external device, wherein the data acquisition module, when model-dependent data is requested from the external device, transmits the data via a specific control unit of the printing device. The requested model-dependent data is acquired from the corresponding control means, the acquired model-dependent data is provided to the external device, and when the model-independent data is requested from the external device, the holding means of the network module Model-independent data stored in the external device is provided to the external device. Program to be. 30. A storage medium storing the program according to claim 29.