JP2004078406A - Networked print system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem that it is required to select a printer in consideration of information to be printed and the capacity of the printer when a plurality of printers are connected to a network. <P>SOLUTION: A personal computer 2 having a virtual printer driver 21, a real printer driver 31 for driving the printer, a printer information table 41 in which printer information including the capacity of a printer P1, the location thereof on the network and the like is registered, and a driver information table 42 with which the capability of the entity printer driver 31, the location thereof on the network and the like are registered are connected to a network. The virtual printer driver 21 generates data for printing from information generated by the personal computer 2, refers to the registration description in the driver information table 42, and transmits the data to the real printer driver 31. The real printer driver 31, by referring to the registration description in the printer information table 41, converts the received data for printing into data for printing for the printer P1 and transmits the converted data to the printer P1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a network in which a printer and an information generation device such as a personal computer that generates information to be printed by the printer, that is, a personal computer that generates information such as documents and images by an application program, are connected to a computer network such as a LAN. Related to a printing system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When a plurality of printers are connected to a computer network such as a LAN, drivers for each of the plurality of printers are installed in order to cause these printers to print various information generated by an information generating device such as a personal computer. Thus, any one of the printers can be selected for printing. However, when a user gives a print instruction to an information generating apparatus such as a personal computer, the user must select and instruct which printer to use according to the information to be actually printed. Was. Specifically, depending on the presence / absence of paper on the printer side, paper size, resolution, the capability of the printer such as color / monochrome support, and the state at that time, etc., which printer is used or which printer is optimal. It is necessary for the user to determine whether or not there is.
[0003]
Further, when the address of the printer on the network is changed, or when the printer itself is changed to another model, or when a new printer is connected to the network, all the information generating devices connected to the network are used. However, there is a complicated problem that it is necessary to update a printer driver or install a new printer driver in all information generating apparatuses connected to a network.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, conventionally, when a plurality of printers are connected to a network, the size of paper that can be printed by each printer and the size and size of paper that can be printed by each printer are considered in consideration of the information to be printed by the printer and the capabilities of the printer. Since it is necessary for the user to select a printer in consideration of the presence / absence of paper and the like, it is not always possible to select an optimum printer, and it is complicated.
[0005]
Conventionally, when a new type of printer is connected to a network, or when a previously connected printer is changed, as described above, each information generation device such as a personal computer is used. It is necessary to install a driver for a new type of printer, and an extremely large amount of work is required depending on the number of printers and the number of information generating devices.
[0006]
Further, conventionally, when information created using a certain application program is printed by a printer, it is necessary to start the application program each time, read out the target information, and give a print instruction. It took time to start up and read information to be printed.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a virtual printer driver is installed in an information generation device such as a personal computer separately from a driver (substantial printer driver) that actually drives a printer connected to a network. By providing (installing) a network print system, it is possible to cause a printer to print various information generated by an information generation device without having to consider the model and performance of the printer each time. For the purpose of providing.
[0008]
The present invention also relates to a case where the address of a printer connected to a network is changed, a case where a new model of printer is connected to the network, or a case where a previously connected printer is changed. Another object of the present invention is to provide a network print system that does not require installing a new model printer driver in each information generating apparatus or updating the printer driver.
[0009]
Further, the present invention provides a network print system which eliminates the need for a troublesome work of starting up an application program and reading out target information each time information that has been printed in the past needs to be printed again. Aim.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A network print system according to a first invention is a network print system in which a printer and an information generation device that generates information to be printed by the printer are connected to a network, and a substantial printer driver for driving the printer; A printer information storage unit in which printer information including the capability of the printer and a location on the network are registered; and a driver information storage unit in which driver information including the capability of the actual printer driver and the location on the network are registered, further comprising a network. Connected, the information generating device includes: a unit that refers to the contents of the driver information storage unit; a unit that generates data for printing from the information to be printed according to the referenced driver information; and the referenced driver information. According to A virtual printer driver having means for transmitting the generated print data to the substantial printer driver, the virtual printer driver comprising: means for receiving print data from the virtual printer driver; Means for converting the data into print data for the printer, means for referring to the contents of the printer information storage means, and means for outputting the converted data to the printer for printing according to the referenced printer information It is characterized by the following.
[0011]
In the network print system according to the first aspect of the invention, a printer driver for driving the printer, printer information storage means in which printer information including the capability of the printer and its location on the network are registered, and a printer driver for the printer driver. Driver information storage means in which driver information including capabilities and locations on the network are registered is further connected to the network. The virtual printer driver generates print data from information to be printed generated by an information generating device such as a personal computer, and converts the generated print data into a real printer driver according to the driver information referred to from the driver information storage means. Send to The real printer driver receives the print data from the virtual printer driver, converts the received print data into print data for the corresponding printer, and stores the converted data in the printer information. According to the printer information referred to from the means, the data is output to a printer and printed.
[0012]
In the network printing system according to a second aspect, in the first aspect, a plurality of the printers are connected to a network, and a plurality of the substantial printer drivers corresponding to the plurality of printers are connected to the network. In the printer information storage means, printer information of each of the plurality of printers is registered, and in the driver information storage means, driver information of each of the substantial printer drivers corresponding to each of the plurality of printers is registered, The virtual printer driver further comprises means for selecting according to driver information referring to a real printer driver corresponding to the generated print data, and the virtual printer driver selected by the virtual printer driver from the plurality of real printer drivers. If the driver Converts the data for printing received from printer driver data for printing for the corresponding printer, wherein the converted data are so as to print and output to the printer.
[0013]
In the network print system according to the second aspect, a plurality of printers are connected to a network, and substantial printer drivers corresponding to the plurality of printers are respectively connected to the network. Is registered in the printer information storage means, and driver information of each of the substantial printer drivers corresponding to each of the plurality of printers is registered in the driver information storage means. The virtual printer driver generates print data from the information to be printed generated by the information generating device in accordance with the referred driver information, and selects an actual printer driver according to the generated print data. Then, the selected printer driver converts the received print data into print data for the corresponding printer, and outputs the converted data to the printer for printing.
[0014]
In a network print system according to a third aspect, in the first or second aspect, the virtual printer driver includes a data storage unit for storing the generated print data, and a print storage unit for storing the print data stored in the data storage unit. Means for receiving an instruction to print data for use from the information generating apparatus.
[0015]
In such a network print system according to the third aspect of the invention, the virtual printer driver receives an instruction to print the print data stored in its own data storage means from the information generation device, and causes the virtual printer driver to print.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings showing the embodiments. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a conceptual configuration example of a network print system according to the present invention.
[0017]
In FIG. 1, a LAN 1 is connected to one personal computer (PC) 2 as an information generating device for generating information to be printed by a printer, and three printers P1, P2, and P3. The computer 2 can cause any of the printers P1, P2, and P3 to perform printing.
[0018]
The personal computer 2 stores software programs such as a virtual printer driver 21, an agent module 22, an application program 23, and an operating system (OS) 24 in a storage device 20 such as a hard disk. When executed as a program, they function as a virtual printer driver, an agent module, an application program, and an operating system, respectively. A print data folder 210 is set as a part of the virtual printer driver 21 and stores print data generated by the virtual printer driver 21.
[0019]
Further, the LAN 1 is connected with a substantial printer driver storage device 3 and a table storage device 4. In both figures, the storage device in the form of a hard disk is directly connected to the LAN 1 in the figure. However, in practice, the storage device of some server device, the storage device 20 of the personal computer 2, and other personal computers 2 A storage device such as a hard disk of a computer is used. In short, both storage devices 3 and 4 need only be network-connected to the personal computer 2 and the printers P1, P2, and P3 via the LAN 1 and / or directly.
[0020]
In the illustrated example, the printer drivers (real printer drivers) 31, 32, and 33 for actually driving the three printers P1, P2, and P3 are installed in the printer driver storage device 3. These physical printer drivers 31, 32, and 33 transmit print data for the respective printers P1, P2, and P3 to the corresponding printers P1, P2, and P3 via the LAN 1, and also transmit the data to each of the printers. The corresponding printers P1, P2, P3 are driven. Needless to say, each of the printers P1, P2, and P3 may be provided with a storage device that stores the respective substantial printer drivers 31, 32, and 33.
[0021]
In the illustrated example, the table storage device 4 includes a printer information table 41 in which printer information on each of the three printers P1, P2, and P3 is registered, and actual printer drivers 31 and 32 of each of the three printers P1, P2, and P3. , 33 in the form of a data file.
[0022]
2 and 3 are schematic diagrams respectively exemplifying the contents of the printer information table 41 and the driver information table 42 stored in the table storage device 4. The tables 41 and 42 may be stored in different storage devices in terms of hardware.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 2, “printer name”, “location information”, “capability information”, “corresponding driver”, “state”, and “whether there is a waiting job” are registered in the printer information table 41. . The “printer name” is the printers 1, 2, and 3, which correspond to the printers P1, P2, and P3 shown in FIG. 1, respectively. In the “location information”, addresses of the printers P1, P2, and P3 on the network by the LAN1 are registered. In the “capability information”, specific capabilities of the respective printers P1, P2, and P3 are registered. In this example, the printer P1 (printer 1) can only perform B / W (monochrome) printing, the paper size is up to A4 size, the resolution is 600 dpi, and the printer P2 (printer 2) can perform color printing. It is registered that the maximum paper size is A3 size and the resolution is 1200 dpi, and that the printer P3 (printer 3) can perform color printing, the maximum paper size is A4 size, and the resolution is 600 dpi. . The "corresponding driver" is the name of the actual printer drivers 31, 32, and 33 for the printers P1, P2, and P3, and in this example, the drivers are A, B, and C, respectively. In the “state”, the state at that time such as standby, printing, or no paper is registered for each of the printers P1, P2, and P3. In the “waiting job”, the presence / absence (if any) of the waiting jobs is registered for each of the printers P1, P2, and P3.
[0024]
In the driver information table 42, as shown in FIG. 3, "driver name", "position information", "capability information", "state", and "whether there is a waiting job" are registered. The “driver name” is the name of each substantial printer driver, and corresponds to the name of the substantial printer driver registered in the “corresponding driver” column of the printer information table 41 described above. In the “capability information”, specific capabilities of each of the substantial printer drivers 31, 32, and 33 are registered. In this example, the entity printer driver 31 (driver A) can perform only B / W (monochrome) printing, has a maximum paper size of A4 size, has a resolution of 600 dpi, and has a PDL (page description language) system. The entity printer driver 32 (driver B) is capable of color printing, the maximum paper size is A3 size, the resolution is 1200 dpi, and the PDL system is used. The entity printer driver 33 (driver C) is capable of color printing. The paper size is A4 size at maximum, the resolution is 600 dpi, and the GDI (Graphics Device Interface) method is registered. In the “state”, the state at that time, such as standby or running, is registered for each of the real printer drivers 31, 32, and 33 (drivers A, B, and C). In the “waiting job”, the presence / absence (if any) of waiting jobs is registered for each of the real printer drivers 31, 32, and 33 (drivers A, B, and C).
[0025]
Next, regarding the operation of the network print system of the present invention having the above-described configuration, only one printer, for example, the printer P1 (printer 1) is connected to the network, and the personal computer 2 executes the application program 23. The case where some information to be printed by the printer is generated will be specifically described with reference to a timing chart shown in FIG.
[0026]
First, the application program 23 is executed in the personal computer 2 to generate some information to be printed by the printer. The information to be printed by the printer generated by the application program 23 corresponds to, for example, a document file or the like generated by word processing software. At this time, the information is composed of a character code and a control code for instructing a line feed or a page feed. ing. When such information is generated by the application program 23, a print request is issued to the virtual printer driver 21 (PR1), and a printer P1 to actually perform printing is selected (PR2). In response, the virtual printer driver 21 causes the agent module 22 to read out the capability, position information, and the like of the printer driver of the selected printer P1 from the driver information table 42 of the table storage device 4 and receive the notification. .
[0027]
Next, the virtual printer driver 21 declares the capability information of the printer driver of the printer P1 notified from the agent module 22 to the application program 23 (PR3). On the other hand, the application program 23 transmits information to be printed according to the capability of the printer driver of the printer P1 to the virtual printer driver 21 (PR4).
[0028]
At this time, based on the information to be printed transmitted from the application program 23 to the virtual printer driver 21 by the processing of PR4, the virtual printer driver 21 adds font data and various information as necessary to print data. Generate The print data generated by the virtual printer driver 21 can be uniquely identified in the print data folder 210 such as its name, creation date (time), update date (time), and the like. The information is stored in association with the information.
[0029]
Next, the virtual printer driver 21 selects an entity printer driver 31 corresponding to the printer P1 selected by the application program 23, and according to the location information included in the driver information previously notified from the agent module 22, the entity printer driver 31 is selected. The print data is transmitted to the printer driver 31 (PR5).
[0030]
Thereafter, upon receiving the print data, the substantial printer driver 31 converts the data into print data for a printer for causing the printer P1 to actually perform printing, that is, print data in a method unique to each printer ( PR6), and transmit the converted data to the selected printer P1 (PR7). As described above, the information to be printed generated by the application program 23 in the personal computer 2 is printed by the printer P1 (PR8).
[0031]
The print data stored in the print data folder 210 described above can be used as it is by an instruction from the personal computer 2 or by a search process by the agent module 22 without activating the application program 23 that created the print data. The data can be transmitted to the printer P1 and printed by the same procedure (PR5 to PR8).
[0032]
Next, a plurality of printers, for example, the printers P1, P2 and P3 shown in FIG. 1 are connected to the network, and the personal computer 2 executes the application program 23 to generate some information to be printed by the printer. The case where one of a plurality of printers is selected for printing will be specifically described with reference to a timing chart shown in FIG.
[0033]
When the application program 23 is executed in the personal computer 2 and some information to be printed by any printer is generated, a print request is issued to the virtual printer driver 21 (PR11). In response to this, the virtual printer driver 21 causes the agent module 22 to read the capabilities, position information, and the like of each of the real printer drivers 31, 32, and 33 from the driver information table 42 of the table storage device 4 and receive a notification. .
[0034]
Next, the virtual printer driver 21 declares the highest capability of the driver information of each of the real printer drivers 31, 32, and 33 notified from the agent module 22 to the application program 23 (PR12). On the other hand, the application program 23 transmits information to be printed by the printer to the virtual printer driver 21 if printing is possible with the capability declared by the virtual printer driver 21 or less (PR13).
[0035]
Here, the reason that the virtual printer driver 21 declares the highest capability of the driver information of each of the real printer drivers 31, 32, and 33 to the application program 23 is that the information generated by the application program 23 has a lower capability. This is because if printing can be performed by a printer, printing can be performed by any of the printers P1, P2, and P3 without any problem.
[0036]
At this time, the virtual printer driver 21 generates print data from the information to be printed transmitted from the application program 23 to the virtual printer driver 21 by the processing of the PR 13 in the same manner as described above. The print data generated by the virtual printer driver 21 can be uniquely identified in the print data folder 210 such as its name, creation date (time), update date (time), and the like. The information is stored in association with the information.
[0037]
Next, the virtual printer driver 21 is an actual printer driver associated in advance according to the application program 23, or an appropriate actual printer driver according to the information to be printed actually generated at that time by the application program 23. The driver is selected, and the print data generated by the virtual 1 printer driver 21 is transmitted to the physical printer driver in accordance with the position information included in the driver information previously notified from the agent module 22 (PR14). .
[0038]
In this example, the virtual printer driver 21 selects the printer P1 (printer 1), more specifically, the real printer driver 31 (driver A), and prints to the address "192.168.1.4" which is the position information. Send data for
[0039]
Upon receiving the print data, the actual printer driver 31 (driver A) converts the print data into print data of a method unique to the printer for actually causing the corresponding printer P1 (printer 1) to print (PR15). The position information of the printer P1 (printer 1) is read from the printer information table 41 stored in the table storage device 4, and the converted data is transmitted according to the position information (PR16).
As described above, the information to be printed by the printer generated by the application program 23 in the personal computer 2 is printed by the printer P1 (printer 1) (PR17).
[0041]
Note that the print data stored in the print data folder 210 described above can be obtained by a user giving an instruction from the personal computer 2 without activating the application program 23 that generated the information on which the data is based, or By the search processing by the agent module 22, the printer P1 (printer 1) can print as it is by the same procedure (PR14 to PR17) as described above.
[0042]
In the above embodiment, an example is shown in which only one personal computer as an information generating device is connected to the LAN. However, the information generating device is not limited to a personal computer, and may be a facsimile device or the like. Good, and the number is not limited to one.
[0043]
【The invention's effect】
As described in detail above, according to the network print system of the present invention, even when the position information (address) of the printer connected to the network and the position information (address) of the printer driver are changed, the printer information is stored. Means (printer information table) and driver information storage means (driver information table) only need to be updated. Therefore, even when many information generating devices such as personal computers are connected to a network, There is no need to change the virtual printer driver.
[0044]
Further, according to the network print system of the present invention, even when the model of the printer connected to the network is changed, the printer information storage means (printer information table) and the driver information storage means (driver information Since only the registered contents of the table need to be updated, it is not necessary to change each virtual printer driver even when many information generating devices such as personal computers are connected to a network.
[0045]
Further, according to the network printing system of the present invention, regardless of the number of printers connected to the network, in other words, even when the number of printers is very large, the printer information storage means (printer information Table) and the driver information storage means (driver information table) make it possible to manage those printers in a unified manner.
[0046]
Furthermore, since the virtual printer driver is provided with data storage means for storing print data generated from information generated by an information generation device such as a personal computer, an application that creates information corresponding to the data is provided. The data can be output from the data storage means to the printer and printed without the need to start the program, and therefore without extra time.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a conceptual configuration example of a network print system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the contents of a printer information table stored in a table storage device.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the contents of a driver information table stored in a table storage device;
FIG. 4 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the network print system of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the network print system of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 LAN
2 Personal computer
3 Entity printer driver storage device
4 Table storage device
21 Virtual Printer Driver
23 Application programs
31, 32, 33 entity printer driver
41 Printer information table
42 Driver Information Table
210 Print data folder
P1, P2, P3 Printer

Claims (3)

In a network print system in which a printer and an information generation device that generates information to be printed by the printer are connected to a network,
An actual printer driver for driving the printer, printer information storage means in which printer information including the capability of the printer and its location on the network are registered, and driver information containing the capability of the entity printer driver and its location on the network Is further connected to the network with the registered driver information storage means,
The information generating device includes: a unit that refers to the contents of the driver information storage unit; a unit that generates data for printing from the information to be printed according to the referenced driver information; and a print generated according to the referenced driver information. A virtual printer driver having means for transmitting data for use to the real printer driver,
The substantial printer driver receives a print data from the virtual printer driver, converts the received print data into print data for the printer, and refers to the contents of the printer information storage means. And a means for outputting the converted data to the printer according to the referenced printer information for printing. A plurality of the printers are connected to a network,
A plurality of the substantial printer drivers corresponding to each of the plurality of printers are network-connected,
Printer information of each of the plurality of printers is registered in the printer information storage unit,
In the driver information storage unit, driver information of each of the substantial printer drivers corresponding to each of the plurality of printers is registered,
The virtual printer driver further includes means for selecting according to driver information referring to a real printer driver corresponding to the generated print data,
An entity printer driver selected by the virtual printer driver among the plurality of entity printer drivers converts print data received from the virtual printer driver into print data for a corresponding printer, and 2. The network printing system according to claim 1, wherein data is output to said printer for printing. The virtual printer driver includes a data storage unit that stores the generated print data, and a unit that receives an instruction to print the print data stored in the data storage unit from the information generation device. The network print system according to claim 1, wherein:

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