JP2004086808A - Information processor, information processing method, and information processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that a technique of periodically updating control software for printers cannot deal with defects of driver software utilized at the side of personal computers. <P>SOLUTION: The processor comprises a software module managing portion 22 which manages a plurality of versions of software modules 21-1 to 21-n, a defect information managing portion 23 which manages a defect generated when the software modules 21-1 to 21-n are suitably combined with each other as defect information consisted of a version of a software module in which a defect is generated and other conditions, and an extracted-defect avoidance information extracting portion 24 which, based on the defect information managed by the defect information managing portion 23, extracts the combination of the version of the software module whose defect is to be avoided with the other conditions as defect avoidance information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information processing system, and more particularly to an information processing apparatus and an information processing method that operate a plurality of software modules, and a software module that transfers and converts data with the information processing apparatus. The present invention relates to an information processing system including an information relay device that performs data transmission and reception with the information relay device, and an information input / output device equipped with a software module that controls the device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent information processing systems, a plurality of software modules and a plurality of devices having the software modules cooperate to execute one task in many cases. Furthermore, software modules have become remarkably enormous and complicated with the increase in the number of functions. Under these circumstances, it is virtually impossible to create completely defect-free software. In fact, for many application software and driver software for input / output devices, an update program called a patch or an updater for updating a found defect to a corrected version is distributed.
[0003]
In addition, malfunctions may occur with a combination of specific application software and specific printer driver software.When operating multiple applications and information input / output devices, a large variety of It takes an enormous amount of time to construct a system with a combination that does not cause a problem.
[0004]
On the other hand, conventionally, according to the update request cycle received from the server and the supply time for correcting the update request cycle, the updated printer software is acquired by the printing unit, and the printer software stored in the printing unit is acquired. A technique has been proposed in which control software for a printer is periodically updated by updating the printer software with the acquired printer software (see JP-A-2001-222481).
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above-described conventional technology, the control software in which the defect is corrected can always be used, so that the defect caused by the control software can be avoided.However, when the driver software operated on the personal computer side has a defect, There is a problem that can not be dealt with. Further, in the case of a malfunction that occurs in combination with a specific version of an application, it is not possible to return to an older version and avoid the malfunction.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, according to the present invention, in an information processing apparatus that operates a plurality of software modules, a plurality of versions of a software module having an arbitrary function are managed, and the plurality of software modules are arbitrarily set. Faults that occur when combined are managed as fault information that includes at least the version of the software module where the fault occurs.
[0007]
In this way, by managing defects that occur in a single piece of software or a combination of multiple pieces of software, together with conditions such as the version and settings of the software, for example, the managed defect information is displayed on the screen. By doing so, a system is constructed using software modules that do not cause a failure based on the failure information by the user. Alternatively, a combination of a software module version that avoids a defect and other conditions based on the defect information is extracted as defect avoidance information, and by using the defect avoidance information, a system using a software module that does not cause a defect can be used. Automatically built.
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0009]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a general hardware configuration of a general-purpose information processing device such as a personal computer or a workstation. As is clear from FIG. 1, the information processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes a CPU 11, a RAM 12, a ROM 13, a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 14, a display card 15, a public network I / F (interface) 16, a network I / F. It has an F17 and an input I / F 18, which are interconnected via an address bus / data bus 19.
[0010]
In the information processing apparatus 10 having the above configuration, the CPU 11 performs various arithmetic and logical operations. The operation of extracting the defect avoidance information from the defect information is provided in the form of a program code executed by the CPU 11. The RAM 12 is a readable and writable electronic storage device, and is used to hold calculation results and the like when the CPU 11 executes processing. Normally, when the power of the apparatus is turned off, the contents stored in the RAM 12 are lost. The ROM 13 is a nonvolatile storage device. The ROM 13 stores program codes executed by the CPU 11, constants, and the like.
[0011]
The HDD 14 is a storage device having a larger capacity than the RAM 12, and records information in the form of a magnetic pattern on a disk coated with a magnetic material. The HDD 14 stores a large program code and the like. The CPU 11 reads out necessary program codes and information from the HDD 14 as needed, and develops and uses them on the RAM 12. It is preferable to record defect information and software module management information on the HDD 14. The display card 15 is a device that drives a display device that displays characters and images, and is controlled via a software module called a display driver.
[0012]
The public line network I / F 16 is called from a software module such as a facsimile driver and used to transmit a facsimile image to a specific destination. The network I / F 17 is used for communication with another information processing device via the network 20 and transmission / reception of data with an information relay device such as a print server. The input I / F 18 is connected to a device such as a keyboard and a mouse that receives an operation from a user.
[0013]
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the software (functional) configuration of the information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention in a block form. The function of each block in FIG. 2 is realized by the hardware configuration shown in FIG.
[0014]
The information processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment operates a plurality (n) of software modules 21-1 to 21-n, and includes a software module management unit 22, a failure information management unit 23, and failure avoidance information. It has a configuration including each functional unit of an extracting unit 24, a software module selecting unit 25, and a software module updating unit 26.
[0015]
The software module management unit 22 has a function of managing a plurality of versions of the software modules 21-1 to 21-n having arbitrary functions. The defect information management unit 23 manages a defect that occurs when the software modules 21-1 to 21-n are appropriately combined as defect information configured by the version of the software module in which the defect occurs and other conditions. Have a function.
[0016]
The defect avoidance information extracting unit 24 has a function of extracting, as defect avoidance information, a combination of a version of a software module that avoids a defect and other conditions based on the defect information managed by the defect information management unit 23. The software module selection unit 25 has a function of selecting an arbitrary version for each of the software modules 21-1 to 21-n. The software module updating unit 26 has a function of updating each of the software modules 21-1 to 21-n to an arbitrary version.
[0017]
According to the information processing apparatus 10 and the processing method thereof according to the present embodiment having the above-described software configuration, a failure that occurs in a single piece of software or a combination of a plurality of pieces of software can be performed under conditions such as the version of the software and setting contents. For example, by displaying the managed defect information on a screen, a user can construct a system using a software module that does not cause a defect based on the defect information.
[0018]
In addition, it has a function to extract the combination of the software module version and other conditions that avoid the defect based on the defect information as the defect avoidance information, so that alternative software modules used to avoid the defect and the same software can be used. It is possible to automatically obtain defect avoidance information such as an alternative version. Then, based on the defect avoidance information, a function of selecting an arbitrary version of each software module or a function of updating each of the software modules 21-1 to 21-n to an arbitrary version is combined, thereby causing a defect. A system using software modules that do not need to be automatically configured.
[0019]
As a result, it is possible to construct a system capable of avoiding a failure without reading a document relating to the failure, thereby greatly reducing the number of work steps for dealing with the failure which tends to be enormous. In the functional block diagram of FIG. 2, the software module selecting unit 25 and the software module updating unit 26 do not necessarily have to have both functions at the same time. It is possible to achieve the purpose.
[0020]
The case where the information processing apparatus 10 is used alone has been described above as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, an information processing device that operates a software module, an information input / output device such as a printer, a digital printing machine, a scanner, and a digital still camera, and mediation of data between the information processing device and the information input / output device. The present invention can be similarly applied to an information processing system constructed by an information relay device such as a print server or a scan server.
[0021]
Specifically, in the information processing system having the above configuration, it is possible to apply the information processing device 10 according to the above-described embodiment to an information relay device disposed between the information processing device and the information input / output device. it can.
[0022]
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing the software (functional) configuration of the information relay apparatus according to this application example in the form of blocks. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0023]
The information relay device according to this application example basically has the same functional units as the information processing device 10 according to the above-described embodiment, that is, a software module management unit 22, a failure information management unit 23, a failure avoidance information extraction unit 24, It has a software module selecting unit 25 and a software module updating unit 26. Also, as software modules 21-1 to 21-n, data from the information processing device is converted to be transmitted to the information input / output device, and data from the information input / output device is further transmitted to the information processing device. Includes driver software to convert.
[0024]
Here, when a plurality of communication means are provided between the present information relay device and the information input / output device, information on the communication means used by the above-described defect information is also included. Thus, the information relay apparatus can select a communication unit to be used from a plurality of communication units by referring to the information on the communication unit included in the failure information.
[0025]
The information relay device further includes a device attribute management unit 27, a transmission destination determination unit 28, a communication unit determination unit 29, a software management unit 30, and a software remote update unit 31 in addition to the above-described function units. . The device attribute management unit 27 has a function of managing information on a version of control software for a plurality of information input / output devices, supported communication means, and data formats when a plurality of information input / output devices exist. .
[0026]
The transmission destination determining unit 28 uses the management information of the device attribute management unit 27 and, based on the failure avoidance information extracted by the failure avoidance information extraction unit 24, an information input / output that does not cause a failure from among a plurality of information input / output devices. It has a function to select a device as a data transmission destination. Using the management information of the device attribute management unit 27, the communication unit determination unit 29 selects a communication unit that does not cause a failure from a plurality of communication units based on the failure avoidance information extracted by the failure avoidance information extraction unit 24. Have a function. The software management unit 30 has a function of managing the control software of the information input / output device for each version. Further, the software remote update unit 31 has a function of updating the control software of the information input / output device.
[0027]
According to the information processing system having the above-described software configuration, a function and an effect similar to those of the information processing apparatus 10 according to the above-described embodiment, that is, a system capable of avoiding a failure without reading a document relating to the failure can be constructed. The number of man-hours for dealing with troubles that tend to be enormous can be greatly reduced.
[0028]
In addition, a communication protocol that does not cause a problem among a plurality of communication means, a device that does not cause a problem among information input / output devices (for example, a printer) of the same type, a printer, an image scanner, or the like is used. By updating the software (also called firmware) that controls the information input / output device by remote control and applying control software that does not cause any problems, it automatically avoids the problems and automatically Since the peripheral devices can be operated, the burden on the system administrator can be greatly reduced.
[0029]
Next, a specific example in which the information processing apparatus 10 according to the above-described embodiment is applied to an information relay apparatus in an information processing system, for example, a print server will be described.
[0030]
FIG. 4 is a system diagram showing a configuration example of a server system constructed by applying the information processing apparatus 10 to a print server. Here, as an example, a description will be given of a case where a document created by an arbitrary application on a PC (personal computer) 41 is printed by a printer (1 to N) 43 via a print server 42.
[0031]
When the user instructs the application "Wordz99" on the PC 41 to perform printing, a print job including the application name, version number, and document data is transmitted to the print server (step {circle around (1)}). Upon receiving the print job, the print server 42 recognizes the name of the application that created the document of the print job, the version number, and other print option settings (step {circle around (2)}), and determines the print destination specified in the print job. The printer 43 is specified (step (3)).
[0032]
If the printer can be specified, the printer driver installed at that time can be specified, and based on them, the defect information stored in advance is checked to determine whether or not the combination causes the defect (step {circle around (4)}). . The defect information at this time is, for example, a defect information management table shown in FIG. FIG. 6 shows a notation example of XML (extensible Markup Language) of the defect information.
[0033]
In the print job specification, if it is found that a defect occurs, the defect is avoided, another combination that does not cause another defect is found, and extracted as defect avoidance information (step {circle around (5)}). As this trouble avoidance information, for example, information shown in FIG. 7 (description in XML) can be considered. In step (6), a printer driver applicable to the destination printer is specified based on the extracted defect avoidance information, and replaced with the printer driver at that time.
[0034]
At this time, if the printer driver management information is as shown in the printer driver management table shown in FIG. 8, the old printer driver is deleted (Un-installed) and replaced by installing a printer driver that can avoid the problem. Can be performed. Finally, in step (7), the print data is transmitted to the printer, and the execution of the print job is completed while avoiding a problem.
[0035]
Next, a processing flow of a program for processing a print job mounted on the print server 22 of FIG. 4 will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG.
[0036]
First, when a print job is received (step S10), information such as an application name and a version number that created a document to be printed is extracted (step S11). Next, information for designating the printer of the printing destination is extracted from the print job received in step S10, and the printer of the printing destination is specified (step S12). The defect information is checked based on the information obtained in steps S11 and S12 (step S13), and it is determined whether the defect information matches the defect information (step S14).
[0037]
If the information does not match the failure information, the communication means (parallel port, network protocol, etc.) with the printing destination printer, and the PDL (Page Description Language; page description language) to be converted as print data are defaulted (default) or printed. It is set to the one specified by the job (step S15). On the other hand, if it matches the defect information, defect avoidance information is extracted (step S16). For this, a method of searching for a version number that does not match any of the defect information or a method of avoiding the defect information if it is embedded in the defect information may be used.
[0038]
Next, it is determined whether or not the defect avoidance information has been extracted, that is, whether or not the defect can be avoided (step S17). If the defect can not be avoided, the print job is regarded as an error (step S30). On the other hand, if a defect can be avoided, if there are a plurality of defect avoidance methods, the most appropriate defect avoidance method is selected from the viewpoint of execution time and other factors (step S18).
[0039]
Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the driver software needs to be updated by the trouble avoidance method selected in step S18 (step S19). If the driver software needs to be updated, the current driver software is deleted (step S20), and then the driver software specified by the failure avoidance method is installed (step S21).
[0040]
If it is not necessary to update the driver software, it is determined whether it is necessary to update the firmware for controlling the printer at the printing destination (step S22). If it is necessary to update the firmware, the firmware of the printer is updated by remote control (step S23). If not necessary, if there is a specific communication means and PDL that does not cause a failure, the failure avoidance method selected in step S18 is set (step S24).
[0041]
After the communication means and the used PDL are set to the default in step S15, or after the communication means and the used PDL are set by the failure avoiding method in step S24, the communication means with the printing destination printer is selected based on the settings. (Step S25), and then select a PDL to be transmitted to the printing destination printer (step S26). Then, the print data is transmitted to the print destination printer to execute the print job (step S27), and a series of processing ends.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to cope with a problem caused by driver software operated on the personal computer side, and to construct a system capable of avoiding the problem without reading a document related to the problem. The number of man-hours for dealing with troubles that tend to be enormous can be greatly reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a general hardware configuration of a general-purpose information processing device.
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a software configuration of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention in a block form.
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a software configuration of an information relay apparatus to which the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied in a block form;
FIG. 4 is a system diagram showing a configuration example of a server system constructed by applying an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention to a print server.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a defect information management table as defect information.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of description of defect information in XML.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a printer driver management table.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of description of defect avoidance information in XML.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow of a program for processing a print job installed in the print server.
[Explanation of symbols]
11 CPU, 12 RAM, 13 ROM, 14 HDD, 15 display card, 16 public line network I / F, 17 network I / F, 18 input I / F, 21-1 to 21- n: Software module, 22: Software module management unit, 23: Failure information management unit, 24: Failure avoidance information extraction unit, 25: Software module selection unit, 26: Software module update unit, 27: Device attribute management Unit, 28: destination determination unit, 29: communication unit determination unit, 30: software management unit, 31: software remote update unit, 41: PC (personal computer), 42: print server, 43: printer

Claims (10)

An information processing apparatus that operates a plurality of software modules,
Software module management means for managing a plurality of versions of a software module having an arbitrary function;
An information processing apparatus comprising: a defect information management unit that manages a defect that occurs when the plurality of software modules are arbitrarily combined as defect information including at least a version of the software module in which the defect occurs. . The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
An information processing apparatus comprising: defect avoidance information extracting means for extracting, as defect avoidance information, at least a combination of versions of a software module that avoids a defect based on the defect information. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:
An information processing apparatus comprising software module selection means for selecting an arbitrary version of each software module based on the failure avoidance information. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:
An information processing apparatus comprising software module updating means for updating each software module to an arbitrary version based on the defect avoidance information. In an information processing device that operates a plurality of software modules,
A plurality of versions of a software module having an arbitrary function are managed, and a failure that occurs when the plurality of software modules are arbitrarily combined is defined as failure information including at least a version of the software module in which the failure occurs. Manage and
An information processing method characterized by extracting at least a combination of versions of a software module that avoids a defect based on the defect information as defect avoidance information. 6. The information according to claim 5, wherein an arbitrary version of each software module is selected based on the defect avoidance information, or each software module is updated to an arbitrary version based on the defect avoidance information. Processing method. An information processing device that operates the software module;
An information input / output device equipped with a software module for controlling the device,
An information processing system comprising an information relay device that mediates data between the information processing device and the information relay device, and performs data transfer and conversion by a software module,
The information relay device is configured by the information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, and is converted as a software module so that data from the information processing device can be transmitted to the information input / output device. An information processing system, further comprising driver software for converting data from the information input / output device so that the data can be transmitted to the information processing device. When having a plurality of communication means between the information relay device and the information input and output device, also includes information on the communication means used by the defect information,
The information processing system according to claim 7, wherein the information relay device selects a communication unit to be used from the plurality of communication units based on the defect information. When there are a plurality of the information input / output devices,
The information relay device has a device attribute management unit that manages information on a version of control software for the plurality of information input / output devices, a supported communication unit and information on a data format,
Using the management information of the device attribute management unit, based on the failure avoidance information, select an information input / output device that does not cause a failure as a data transmission destination, and select a communication unit that does not cause a failure. The information processing system according to claim 7, wherein: The information relay device has control software management means for managing the control software of the information input / output device for each version, and software remote update means for updating the control software of the information input / output device. The information processing system according to claim 7, wherein:

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