JP2005149087A - Printer server, method for executing program, storage medium with computer-readable program stored, and the program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To freely execute an application flexibly adaptable to changes in the functions and specifications of a printer device, without expanding the storage capacity of a printer server. <P>SOLUTION: A CPU 1 analyzes start request information, including the name of a requested application, by a shared control module in accordance with a request from a client device, and at the deciding that the start request information is an application program which depends on the machine kind, acquires an application program depending on the machine sort which is requested from an inherent control module managed by a printer controller 1600 and executes an application program, extended by integrating the acquired application program into the shared control module. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer server, a program execution method, and a storage medium storing a computer-readable program that can be mounted on a network interface card device that can communicate with a client device on a network while being connected to a printing device in a communicable manner. And programs.

  In recent years, with the widespread use of the Internet, a form in which a printing apparatus is used in a network has become common. Generally, high-priced machines such as high-speed machines and color machines tend to have a built-in network interface. However, in the case of low-priced monochrome machines, the network interface is not included in the main unit and is separately provided as a network card device. The supplied form is common.

  In this case, the printing device main unit and the network card device are intelligent forms each having a CPU, and the normal network card device side has a print server function for performing overall control of various print services via the network. The device and the network card device communicate with each other via a connection interface to implement a desired service.

  On the contrary, it is possible to drive out a heavy network service to the network card device, and it is possible to lower the CPU and peripheral performance of the printing device main body relatively, thereby reducing the cost of the printing device main body.

  The conventional network interface only needs to be able to transmit print data as represented by LPR (RFC1179), for example, but recently, there is a growing need for information management for printing apparatuses, and various means are provided as additional technologies.

  The simplest example is a form in which information management data (job control language = Job Language) is added to a port for transmitting print data. The job control language is a form that shares the port to send the print data, so it is not necessary to increase the service port and it is relatively easy to implement. However, if a large amount of data is sent during reception of the print data, the port is set. Because of this, there is a problem that the exchange of information management data stops, and in the case of a one-way connection such as the LPR protocol in a network, there is a disadvantage that information cannot be acquired in the first place.

  As a next method, there is a method using SNMP / MIB (RFC1157).

  In this method, a dedicated port for data transmission / reception is used, and SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) which is a standard is used.

  However, this method requires the original development of a dedicated client program that receives SNMP and provides a UI, and since this method is a simple protocol for exchanging information in the first place, simple numbers, character strings, etc. Can only provide a good database.

  As a result, there is a problem that the information that configures the UI, such as a bitmap image indicating the configuration of the device, must be owned by the client program, and the client program must correspond to the model accordingly.

  Furthermore, recently, a system using the HTTP protocol (RFC 1945, RFC 2616) is becoming mainstream. According to this method, an HTTP service is provided in the network card device to provide WEB contents such as HTML data related to device information and bitmap images, and the client uses the general WEB browser to deliver the WEB contents. If it is displayed on the GUI and can be operated, the same effect can be obtained without providing a client program.

  In the conventional method, the client program had to manage information (message character strings, bitmap images) unique to a wide variety of devices. It is the most suitable way to provide.

  However, any of the above-described means is means for providing a static function incorporated in the network card device in advance, and the function itself is added later, or the control method by the incorporated function is changed. Dynamic services could not be added easily.

  Therefore, recently, a platform technology that enables an application program module created using the Java (trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc.) language to operate on a Java (registered trademark) virtual machine mounted on an embedded device. Has been proposed.

  By using this technology, it has become possible to add new functions to the device later in a built-in device such as a conventional printing apparatus.

  The Java (registered trademark) virtual machine described above is provided with an application program interface (API) for providing various functions necessary for controlling an embedded device, including a network communication function, and the Java (registered trademark). ) Application program modules written in a language call these APIs to control embedded devices and process requests from host computers connected via a network.

The above-mentioned RFC document is disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1 (available from the following page of Internet Engineering Task Force).
http://www.ietf.org/rfc.html

  The API provided on the Java (registered trademark) virtual machine includes functions necessary for network communication, and is usually mounted on a network card device in order to share a basic module for processing a network communication protocol. It is a function.

  However, in the case of an intelligent type network card device that has a CPU separately from the printing device main body, a design that can be connected to a plurality of models of printing devices is usually required in order to reduce development costs by sharing and production costs by mass production effects. It is done.

  Therefore, the network card device has resource data such as messages corresponding to each model, bitmap image of the printing device necessary for the graphical user interface, and information specific to each model, etc. in order to be able to connect to multiple model models All of these must be held, and the cost increases due to the ROM capacity required to store these pieces of information.

  Furthermore, depending on the type of application program module running on the Java (registered trademark) virtual machine, it may or may not function only on a specific model. Therefore, these model-dependent application programs themselves are stored in the network card device. In addition to the increase in the ROM capacity, there is a problem in terms of efficient use of the storage area.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and a first object of the present invention is to provide versatility related to control of a client device and a printer device without expanding the storage capacity of the printer server. By simply storing high-level applications, it is possible to freely execute applications that are flexibly adapted to changes in functions and specifications on the printer device side, as well as to change the specifications of connected printer devices and newly developed printing devices. To provide a printer server, a program execution method, a storage medium storing a computer-readable program, and a program capable of constructing an environment capable of freely executing an application to be controlled without hindrance.

  A second object is to acquire and process resource data for printer-specific resources from the printer device side, so that the latest printer can be provided only by having a memory capacity for storing applications shared by a plurality of printer devices. Printer server and program execution method capable of providing printer server function excellent in convenience and versatility capable of executing application program related to printer apparatus extended from apparatus at low cost, and storage medium storing computer-readable program And to provide a program.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer server that can be mounted on a network interface card device capable of communicating with a client device on a network in a state in which the printer is communicably connected to the printing device, and a plurality of printable print jobs. A sharing control module shared to control the device, a program storage means for storing an application program for controlling communication with the client device, and activation request information including the requested application name in accordance with a request from the client device. A judging means (control program stored in the FlashROM 3 shown in FIG. 1) for analyzing whether it is a model-dependent application program analyzed by the shared control module, and a model-dependent application program by the judging means Judgment In this case, an application acquisition unit (control program stored in the FlashROM 3 shown in FIG. 1) that acquires a model-dependent application program requested from the unique control module managed by the printing apparatus, and a model acquired by the application acquisition unit. An execution control means (a control program stored in the FlashROM 3 shown in FIG. 1) that executes an application program that is extended by incorporating a dependent application program into the shared control module is provided.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer server that can be mounted on a network interface card device capable of communicating with a client device on a network while being connected to the printing device in a communicable manner, and controls each printing device. And a module storage unit for storing an application program for performing communication control with the client device, and analyzing a startup request information including the requested application name in accordance with a request from the client device. When the judgment means judges whether or not it is a program (control program stored in the FlashROM 3 shown in FIG. 1), and the judgment means judges that it is a model-dependent application program, the control managed by each printing apparatus Request from module It is characterized in that it comprises an application acquisition unit for acquiring (control program stored in the FlashROM3 shown in FIG. 1) of the model-dependent application programs are.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer server that can be mounted on a network interface card device capable of communicating with a client device on a network while being connected to the printing device in a communicable manner, and controls each printing device. Control module and program storage means for storing an application program for controlling communication with the client device, memory for performing predetermined data processing, and application execution means for executing the application program on the memory (FlashROM 3 shown in FIG. 1) And a model-dependent determination unit (FlashROM shown in FIG. 1) that analyzes the requested processing instruction and determines the type-dependent type of the instruction according to the application program executed by the application execution unit. And a command conversion means (control program stored in the FlashROM 3 shown in FIG. 1) for converting the requested processing instruction into the instruction format of the control module according to the determination result by the model-dependent determination means. An instruction transfer means (a control program stored in the FlashROM 3 shown in FIG. 1) for transferring the instruction converted by the instruction conversion means to the control module, and a processing result of the instruction transferred by the instruction transfer means. Command result acquisition means (a control program stored in the FlashROM 3 shown in FIG. 1) that is acquired from the control module and stored in the memory is provided.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer server that can be mounted on a network interface card device capable of communicating with a client device on a network while being connected to the printing device in a communicable manner, and controls each printing device. Control module and program storage means (storage unit 9 shown in FIG. 1) for storing an application program for controlling communication with the client device, a memory for performing predetermined data processing, and an application program being executed on the memory A resource for identifying the resource data acquisition command from the command type by analyzing the requested processing command in accordance with the application execution unit (the control program stored in the FlashROM 3 shown in FIG. 1) and the application program executed by the application execution unit. Resources requested by the resource acquisition command when the processing command is identified as a resource acquisition command by the acquisition command identification unit (control program stored in the FlashROM 3 shown in FIG. 1) and the resource acquisition command identification unit According to the determination result of the model dependency determining means (control program stored in the FlashROM 3 shown in FIG. 1) for determining the model dependency of the data and the model dependency determining means, the requested processing instruction is converted into the instruction format of the control module. Instruction transfer means for converting and transferring to the control module (control program stored in the FlashROM 3 shown in FIG. 1), and resources for obtaining processing results of instructions transferred by the instruction transfer means as resource data from the control module Data acquisition means (described in the FlashROM 3 shown in FIG. 1) Characterized in that it comprises a control program) and to be.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the resource data includes bitmap image data and text message data indicating a state of the printing apparatus.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a CPU independent of the CPU of the printing apparatus.

  A seventh invention according to the present invention is mountable on a network interface card device capable of communicating with a plurality of printing devices and a client device on a network, and for controlling the plurality of printing devices, the control module and the client device A program execution method in a printer server comprising a program storage means for storing an application program for performing communication control, wherein activation request information including the requested application name is analyzed by the shared control module in accordance with a request from the client device When the determination step determines whether the application program is model-dependent (step S404 in FIG. 4) and the determination step determines that the application program is model-dependent, the printing apparatus manages the application program. An application acquisition step (steps S405 to S407 in FIG. 4) for acquiring a model-dependent application program requested from the control module and a model-dependent application program acquired by the application acquisition step are incorporated in the shared control module. And an execution control step (step S4010 in FIG. 4) for executing the application program to be extended.

  An eighth invention according to the present invention can be implemented in a network interface card device capable of communicating with a plurality of printing devices and a client device on a network, and controls a plurality of printing devices and a control module and the client device. A program execution method in a printer server comprising a program storage means for storing an application program for performing communication control, wherein in accordance with a request from the client device, analysis of activation request information including the requested application name When it is determined that the application program is a model-dependent application program (step S404 in FIG. 4) for determining whether or not it is an application program, and when the determination step determines that the application program is a model-dependent application program, Characterized in that it comprises that the model-dependent application acquisition step of acquiring an application program (step S407 in FIG. 4).

  A ninth invention according to the present invention can be mounted on a network interface card device capable of communicating with a plurality of printing devices and a client device on a network, and controls a plurality of printing devices with the control module and the client device. A program execution method in a printer server comprising program storage means for storing an application program for performing communication control, wherein an application execution step for executing the application program on a memory, and a request according to the application program executed by the application execution step The requested processing is analyzed according to the model-dependent determination step (step S602 in FIG. 6) for analyzing the processed processing instruction and determining the model-dependent type of the command, and the determination result of the model-dependent determination step. An instruction conversion step (step S603 in FIG. 6) for converting an instruction into an instruction format of the control module; an instruction transfer step (step S606 in FIG. 6) for transferring the instruction converted by the instruction conversion step to the control module; And an instruction result acquisition step (steps S607 and S609 in FIG. 6) for acquiring the processing result of the instruction transferred in the instruction transfer step from the control module and storing it in the memory.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control module which can be mounted on a network interface card device capable of communicating with a plurality of printing devices and a client device on a network, and controls the plurality of printing devices, and the client device. A program execution method in a printer server comprising a program storage means for storing an application program for performing communication control, the application execution step for executing the application program on the memory, and the application program executed by the application execution step, A resource acquisition instruction identification step (step S902 shown in FIG. 9) for analyzing the requested processing instruction and identifying a resource data acquisition instruction from the instruction type, and the resource acquisition instruction identification step When the processing instruction is identified as a resource acquisition instruction, the model dependence determination step (step S903 shown in FIG. 9) for determining the model dependence of the resource data requested by the resource acquisition instruction, An instruction transfer step (steps S904 and S905 shown in FIG. 9) for converting the requested processing instruction into the instruction format of the control module and transferring it to the control module according to the determination result of the model dependence determination step, and the instruction transfer step And a resource data acquisition step (step S907 shown in FIG. 9) for acquiring, as resource data, the processing result of the instruction transferred by the control module.

  An eleventh aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the resource data includes bitmap image data and text message data indicating a state of a printing apparatus.

  According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, a program for executing the program execution method of any of the seventh to eleventh aspects is recorded on a computer-readable storage medium.

  A thirteenth aspect of the invention is a program for executing the program execution method of any of the seventh to eleventh aspects.

  According to the present invention, without expanding the storage capacity of the printer server, it is possible to flexibly change functions and specifications on the printer device side by simply storing a versatile application related to the control of the client device and the printer device. It is possible to freely execute an adapted application, and to build an environment that can freely execute an application for controlling a specification change of a connected printer device or a newly developed printing device without any trouble.

  In addition, printer-specific resources can be processed by acquiring resource data from the printer device side. Therefore, a printer that has been expanded from the latest printer device is provided with only a memory capacity for storing applications shared by a plurality of printer devices. There are advantages such as providing a printer server function excellent in convenience and versatility for executing application programs related to the apparatus at low cost.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a printing system to which the printer server according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1000 denotes a printer, which is composed of a device that controls a different control system including a network printer server 1500 and a printer controller 1600.

  In the network print server 1500, reference numeral 1 denotes a network print server CPU (CPU), which is a local area network via a network controller (LANC) 5 connected to the system bus 4 based on a control program stored in a rewritable FlashROM 3. Using a predetermined network communication protocol with a plurality of external devices (not shown) such as a host computer connected to (LAN) 2000, it supervises various data transmission / reception requests such as print data and printer control commands sent from the external device. The printer controller 1600 connected via the extended interface controller (EXPC) 7 is controlled appropriately.

  The Flash ROM 3 also stores a control program for the CPU 1 as shown in the flowcharts of FIGS.

  The RAM 2 is used as a temporary storage area such as the main memory and work area of the CPU 1. The LED 6 is used as a display unit that indicates the operation state of the network print server. For example, the electrical connection state (LINK) between the network controller (LANC) 5 and the local area network (LAN) 2000 and the network communication mode (10Base or 100Base). , Full-duplex, half-duplex) and the like can be indicated by LED blinking patterns and colors.

  Further, the expansion interface 17 that connects the network print server 1500 and the printer controller 1600 is configured by a connector (not shown), and only the network print server 1500 is attached and detached, and the network print server 1500 is attached to another printer 1000 having the same configuration. It is also possible to configure.

  In the printer controller 1600, reference numeral 8 denotes a printer controller CPU (CPU), which is a control program stored in the ROM 9, a control program stored in the external memory 10 connected via the disk controller (DKC) 15, and a later-described diagram. 11 collectively controls access to various devices connected to the system bus 11 based on resource data (resource information) including the printer image information shown in FIG. 11, and is connected via an expansion interface controller (EXPC) 13. The raster controller 12 generates output image information based on print data received from the network print server 1500 and outputs an image signal to the print engine 16.

  Reference numeral 14 denotes a RAM that functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like of the CPU 8, and is configured such that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown).

  Reference numeral 18 denotes an operation panel (operation unit), which is provided with buttons for performing operations such as setting the operation mode of the printer 1000 and canceling print data, and a display unit such as a liquid crystal panel and LEDs indicating the operation state of the printer 1000. ing.

  The print engine 16 shown in the figure uses a known printing technique, and examples of suitable implementation systems include an electrophotographic system (laser beam system), an inkjet system, and a sublimation (thermal transfer) system.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration in a control program stored in each storage device of the network print server 1500 and the printer controller 1600 which are control devices in the printer 1000 in the printing system suitable for the embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

  Each control program is analyzed and processed by the CPU of each control device.

  An operating system 1501 controls the basic data input / output control of the network print server 1500. Further, the operating system 1501 includes a file system 1505 that performs input / output control with the ROM 9 serving as a program / data storage unit, an expansion interface driver 1506 that performs communication control via the printer controller 1600 and the expansion interface 17, and a local area network. A network interface driver 1507 for communicating with an external device such as a host computer (not shown) via a (LAN) 2000 communication medium is included.

  A program application program interface (API) 1502 is provided in the operating system 1501 for application programs such as a user application 1503 operating on the network print server 1500, a printer 1000, and a management application 1504 for registering and managing user applications. Provide various functions.

  The function provided by the application program interface 1502 includes a data transfer API 1502-1 that provides a print data transmission / reception function, a bitmap image (for displaying a paper feed specification of the printer shown in FIG. 11 described later as an image). Resource control API 1502-2 for performing input / output control of resource data such as bitmap images and display messages, printer control API 1502-3 for controlling restart of the printer 1000, initialization of setting values, setting, and the like, printing Job control API 1502-4 for controlling job cancellation, reprint instruction, etc., print server control API 1502-5 for restarting network print server 1500, initializing and setting values, and starting, registering, and deleting application programs Is provided.

  In the printer controller 1600, reference numeral 1601 denotes an operating system that supervises various processing controls of the printer controller 1600. The operating system 1601 includes a print engine control unit 1603 that performs communication control with the print engine and model dependent resources such as bitmap images and error messages that are referred to from the network print server 1500 and a model dependent that operates on the network print server. A file system 1604 for controlling input / output with a model-dependent resource / program storage unit 10 that stores application programs and the like is included.

  Reference numeral 1602 denotes an extended interface control unit that controls communication with the network print server 1500 via the extended interface 17. Further, the extended interface control unit inputs / outputs various data stored in the data transfer logical interface 1602-1 for controlling the input / output of print data for each control type and the external memory 10 as a model-dependent resource / program storage unit. A resource control logical interface 1602-2 for controlling the printer, a printer control logical interface 1602-3 for controlling the restart of the printer 1000, initialization of setting values, setting, and the like, a job for controlling a print job cancellation, a reprint instruction, and the like A control logical interface 1602-4 is provided, and the command requested from the network print server 1500 is transferred to the operating system 1501 via each logical interface, and the processing result is returned to the network print server 1500.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a description example of an application program that runs on the network print server 1500 shown in FIG. 2, and shows a description example in Java (registered trademark) language as a preferred example of the present invention.

  In FIG. 3, a line 301 is an example of calling the data transfer API described in FIG. 2, and “printer.outdata (“ Test ”)” is the data transfer API and here, text data “Test” is printed. This is a command for printing from the print engine via the printer controller as data, and the processing result is stored as a numerical type in “result”.

  A line indicated by 302 converts the processing result instructed in the line 301 into a standard output destination, for example, an LCD display part of the operation panel 17 of the printer 1000 or a browser display part of the host computer from which the application is called. This is a description example of a command to be displayed.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a first data processing procedure in the printing apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to a startup processing procedure of an application program operating on the network print server 1500. Note that S401 to S4011 indicate each processing step, and is a processing flow when an application activation request is received from the external device (client device) such as a host computer connected to the local area network LAN 2000 to the printer 1000. Correspond.

  The control procedure corresponding to each step is stored in the Flash ROM 3 of the network print server 1500.

  In step S401, when an application activation request command is received from an external device such as a host computer (not shown) via the LAN 2000, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) including application storage location information is received from the application activation request command received in step S402. get.

  In step S403, storage location information in the printer 1000 is extracted from the URL. For example, when the URL of the designated application is “http://192.168.0.215/abc/xyz.java (registered trademark)”, “http: //” is a scheme, and “192. Since “168.0.215” indicates the network address of the printer apparatus itself, the information extracted as the storage destination information is “/abc/xyx.java (registered trademark)”.

  Next, in step S404, it is determined whether the character string of the storage location information starts with “/ dev /”. If it is determined that it starts with “/ dev /”, it is determined that the storage destination of the application requested to start is the printer controller 1600, and the process proceeds to step S405. The printer controller 1600 is described with reference to FIG. An application program acquisition request is issued using the program application interface 1502 (API) as described above.

  In step S406, the response result from the printer controller 1600 is determined. If it is determined that the requested application program has been acquired, the process proceeds to step S407, where the application program is loaded into the RAM 2 of the network print server 1500, and then step S4010. Go to, start the application program, and end this process.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S406 that the application program requested from the printer controller 1600 could not be acquired, the process proceeds to step S4011, where an error is notified to the host computer that is the transmission source of the application activation request command. This process ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S404 that the character string of the storage location information does not begin with “/ dev /”, the process proceeds to step S408, and the corresponding application program exists in the storage unit in the network print server 1500. If it is determined that the corresponding application program exists, the process proceeds to step S409, the application program is loaded into the RAM 2 of the network print server 1500, and then the process proceeds to step S4010 to start the application program, This process ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S408 that the requested application does not exist, the process proceeds to step S4011, where an error is notified to the host computer that is the transmission source of the application activation request command, and then this process ends. .

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a second data processing procedure in the printing apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to a startup processing procedure of an application program operating on the network print server 1500. Note that steps S501 to S509 indicate each processing step, and correspond to a processing flow when an application designated in advance as an automatic activation application in a predetermined storage area of the network print server 1500 when the printer 1000 is activated.

  The control procedure corresponding to each step is stored in the Flash ROM 3 of the network print server 1500.

  When the printer 1000 is restarted due to power-on and reset, in step S501, it is determined whether there is storage information of an application to be automatically started in a predetermined recording area of the network print server 1500, and storage information of the application to be automatically started is determined. In step S502, the application storage location information is acquired. In step S503, it is determined whether the character string of the application storage location information starts with “/ dev /”.

  If it is determined that the application starts with “/ dev /”, it is determined that the storage destination of the application requested to start is the printer controller 1600, and the process proceeds to step S504. An application program acquisition request is issued using the API as described in (1).

  In step S505, the response result from the printer controller 1600 is determined. If it is determined that the requested application program has been acquired, the process proceeds to step S506, and the application program is loaded into the RAM 2 of the network print server 1500. Then, the process proceeds to step S509, the application program is started, and this process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S505 that the application program requested from the printer controller 1600 could not be acquired, the processing is immediately terminated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S503 that the character string of the storage location information does not start with “/ dev /”, the process proceeds to step S507, and the corresponding application program exists in the storage unit in the network print server 1500. If it is determined that the corresponding application program exists, the process proceeds to step S508, the application program is loaded into the RAM 2 of the network print server 1500, and then the process proceeds to step S509 to start the application program and perform this processing. Exit.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S507 that the requested application does not exist, the process is immediately terminated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S501 that there is no storage information for an application to be automatically started, this processing is immediately terminated in the same manner.

[Third Embodiment]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a third data processing procedure in the printing apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to the processing procedure of instructions described in an application program operating on the network print server 1500. Note that steps S601 to S610 indicate each processing step, and correspond to a processing flow when an application designated in advance as an automatic activation application in a predetermined storage area of the network print server 1500 when the printer 1000 is activated. The control procedure corresponding to each step is stored in the Flash ROM 3 of the network print server 1500.

  7 is a diagram showing an example of an instruction format of an instruction code converted by the printer controller 1600 shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 8 is an example of a response format of a processing result returned from the printer controller 1600 shown in FIG. FIG.

  When the application program is activated according to FIG. 4 or FIG. 5, in step S601, one instruction included in the application program is extracted and analyzed. In step S602, it is determined whether the instruction type is an instruction depending on the printer controller 1600. If it is determined that the instruction type is dependent, the process proceeds to step S603, and for example, an instruction of the printer controller 1600 as shown in FIG. The instruction code is converted according to the format, and the converted instruction code is transmitted to the printer controller 1600 via the extension interface 17 in step S604.

  In step S605, it is determined whether or not there is a response from the printer controller 1600 with respect to the instruction code transmitted from the network print server 1500. If it is determined that there is a response, the process proceeds to step S606 and the printer controller 1600 returns a reply. The processed result is received. Then, since the processing result returned from the printer controller 1600 is returned in a format as shown in FIG. 8, for example, it is converted into the format of the processing result of the original program instruction in step S607, and in step S609. Then, the processing result of the program command is stored in a predetermined memory space of the network print server 1500 (eg, secured on the RAM 2).

  Next, in step S610, the presence / absence of a subsequent program instruction is confirmed. If the next instruction exists, the process returns to step S601 again, and the subsequent processing is repeated. If it is determined that the next instruction does not exist, This process ends.

  On the other hand, if the response of the instruction code transmitted from the printer controller 1600 is not received within a predetermined period in step S605, the program processing is immediately terminated.

[Fourth Embodiment]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a fourth data processing procedure in the printing apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to the processing procedure of instructions described in the application program operating on the network print server 1500. Note that S901 to S910 indicate steps, and correspond to a processing flow in the case of processing an instruction for analyzing an application program and acquiring resource data such as a bitmap image.

  The control procedure corresponding to each step is stored in the Flash ROM 3 of the network print server 1500.

  When the application program is started in accordance with FIG. 4 or FIG. 5, in step S901, one instruction included in the application program is extracted and analyzed.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of resource data returned from the printer controller 1600 shown in FIG. 1, and is an example of text message data indicating the state of the printing apparatus.

  In FIG. 10, for example, a status code indicating the status of the printer (generally, a unique value corresponding to each printer status is defined in advance, and is preset in the printer controller 1600 by a predetermined notification setting means (not shown). Thus, a value indicating the state is returned when a state change occurs or as a return result of a state inquiry command (not shown) from the network print server 1500.

  In this figure, for example, a text message corresponding to the status code 40500 issued by the printer controller 1600 is acquired using this resource data acquisition request function. The file name is a character string indicating the language to be acquired in the status code and the file name extension.

  In this embodiment, “40500.jp” is used as a file name in which the status code 40500 and jp indicating Japanese are connected by dots. This file 40500.jp is generated or stored in advance in the RAM 2 or the Flash ROM 3 in response to the occurrence of the status.

  Similarly, for English, the naming convention is 40500.eng. By instructing these file names, the printer controller 1600 returns a text message indicating the status of the printer corresponding to the status code in a desired language.

  If it is determined in step S902 that the instruction is a resource data acquisition instruction, and if it is determined that the instruction is a resource data acquisition instruction, in step S903, the type of resource data requested by the resource data acquisition instruction is determined. Is determined to be model-dependent data, and if it is determined to be model-dependent resource data, the process proceeds to step S904.

  In step S904, the printer controller 1600 is converted into an instruction code for acquiring the model-dependent resource data in accordance with an instruction format for the printer controller 1600 as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an instruction code for acquiring model-dependent resource data for the printer controller 1600 shown in FIG.

  In the first area “call function number” shown in FIG. 11, a unique number is defined in advance for each control function provided by the printer controller 1600, and a number corresponding to the resource data acquisition request function is set in this area. As a result, the printer controller 1600 performs desired resource data acquisition processing.

  The second area “argument data size” is an area indicating the data size of argument data, which will be described later, when an argument is given to the calling function. The argument data to the calling function is set in the third area “argument data”. In the case of the resource data acquisition request function, character string data indicating the file name of the resource data is set in this area.

  In step S905, the resource data acquisition request command converted in step S904 is transmitted to the printer controller 1600. In step S906, the processing result of the command is determined, and the printer controller 1600 processes the resource data acquisition command normally. If it is determined that a response has been made (when it is determined that there is a response), in step S907, resource data returned as response data from the printer controller 1600 is received, and the process proceeds to step S909.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of resource data returned from the printer controller 1600 illustrated in FIG. 2. The resource data is an example of bitmap image data indicating an overview of the printing apparatus, for example.

  In FIG. 12, for example, when the file name is “Device1.gif”, bitmap image data with only one sheet cassette is returned from the printer controller 1600.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S902 that the command is not a resource data acquisition command, or if it is determined in step S903 that the command is not a model-dependent resource data acquisition command, the process proceeds to step S908 and the network print server 1500 performs the command processing. The process proceeds to step S909.

  Then, the processing result of the program instruction processed in step S909 is stored in the storage area of the network print server 1500. In step S910, it is determined whether there is a subsequent program instruction, and it is determined that the subsequent program instruction exists. In that case, the process returns to step S901 again, and the process flow described above is repeated. If it is determined that there is no subsequent program instruction, the process is immediately terminated.

[Other Embodiments]
In the first and second embodiments, the case where the storage destination is specified by whether or not “/ dev /” exists in the character string extracted from the URL has been described as the storage location determination unit of the application program. In the example, the URL itself results in the storage location information being written as a character string, so it is not suitable for concealing the storage location as internal information.

  Therefore, as a countermeasure, there is a method in which a table capable of identifying the storage destination for each name of the application program is held in the network print server 1500 in advance, and the storage destination is specified based on the table information. According to this method, it is not necessary to include a character string indicating the storage destination in the URL, and the storage destination information can be concealed.

  According to the above embodiment, the storage location of the application program can be distributed and managed on the network print server 1500 side and the printer controller 1600 side depending on whether the application program is dependent on the model or not. Therefore, it is not necessary to hold unnecessary data (in this example, data depending on the model) on the network card side, and the storage capacity on the network card device side can be reduced.

  Also, from another point of view, it is possible to prevent mistakes such as a user accidentally starting an application program that only operates on other models by not holding the model-dependent application on the network card device side. Can also be expected.

  Further, when executing the application program, according to the instruction type in the program, the instruction processing can be distributed to the network card device side and the printing apparatus main body side, respectively, so that the efficiency of the instruction processing can be improved, The network card device does not need to store unique information including the model dependence of the printer device related to command processing, so it is possible to reduce the program capacity of the network card device itself, and a new printer device body will be added in the future. However, it is not necessary to modify the network card device side, which can contribute to improvement of diversion.

  The configuration of a data processing program that can be read by the printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the memory map shown in FIG.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs readable by the printing apparatus according to the present invention.

  Although not particularly illustrated, information for managing a program group stored in the storage medium, for example, version information, creator, etc. is also stored, and information depending on the OS on the program reading side, for example, a program is identified and displayed. Icons may also be stored.

  Further, data depending on various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, a program for installing various programs in the computer, and a program for decompressing when the program to be installed is compressed may be stored.

  The functions shown in FIG. 4 to FIG. 6 and FIG. 9 in this embodiment may be performed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. In this case, the present invention is applied even when an information group including a program is supplied to the output device from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or an FD, or from an external storage medium via a network. Is.

  As described above, a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the storage medium in the storage medium. It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by reading and executing the programmed program code.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  Therefore, as long as it has the function of the program, the form of the program such as an object code, a program executed by an interpreter, or script data supplied to the OS is not limited.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program, for example, a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, DVD, etc. Can be used.

  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 another program supply method, a browser of a client computer is used to connect to a homepage on the Internet, and the computer program itself of the present invention or a compressed file including an automatic installation function is stored on a recording medium such as a hard disk from the homepage. It can also be supplied by downloading. It can also be realized by dividing the program code constituting the program of the present invention into a plurality of files and downloading each file from a different homepage. That is, a WWW server, an ftp server, and the like that allow a plurality of users to download a program file for realizing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer are also included in the claims of the present invention.

  In addition, the program of the present invention is encrypted, stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, distributed to users, and key information for decryption is downloaded from a homepage via the Internet to users who have cleared predetermined conditions. It is also possible to execute the encrypted program by using the key information and install the program on a computer.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) or the like running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the case where the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications (including organic combinations of the embodiments) are possible based on the spirit of the present invention, and these are excluded from the scope of the present invention. is not.

  Although various examples and embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will not limit the spirit and scope of the present invention to the specific description in the present specification.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a printing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration in a control program stored in each storage device of a network print server and a printer controller which are control devices in the printer in the printing system suitable for the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a description of the application program which operate | moves with the network print server shown in FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a first data processing procedure in the printing apparatus according to the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the 2nd data processing procedure in the printing apparatus which concerns on this invention. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a third data processing procedure in the printing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an instruction code format converted by a printer controller illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a response format of a processing result returned from the printer controller illustrated in FIG. 2. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the 4th data processing procedure in the printing apparatus which concerns on this invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating another example of resource data returned from the printer controller illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an instruction code for acquiring model-dependent resource data for the printer controller illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a bitmap image showing an overview of a printing apparatus showing an example of resource data returned from the printer controller shown in FIG. 2. It is a figure explaining the memory map of the storage medium which stores the various data processing program which can be read with the printing apparatus which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1,8 CPU
2,14 RAM
3 FlashROM
5 LANC
9 ROM
1500 Network print server 1600 Printer controller

Claims (13)

A printer server that can be mounted on a network interface card device capable of communicating with a client device on a network while being connected to a printing device in a communicable manner,
A shared control module that is shared to control a plurality of connectable printing apparatuses, and a program storage unit that stores an application program that controls communication with the client apparatus;
In accordance with a request from the client device, determination means for determining whether or not it is a model-dependent application program by analyzing the activation request information including the requested application name by the shared control module;
An application obtaining unit that obtains a model-dependent application program requested from the unique control module managed by the printing apparatus when the determining unit determines that the application program is a model-dependent application program;
Execution control means for executing an application program that is extended by incorporating a model-dependent application program acquired by the application acquisition means into the shared control module;
A printer server comprising: A printer server that can be mounted on a network interface card device capable of communicating with a client device on a network while being connected to a printing device in a communicable manner,
A control module for controlling each printing apparatus and a program storage means for storing an application program for controlling communication with the client apparatus;
In accordance with a request from the client device, a determination unit that analyzes the activation request information including the requested application name and determines whether the application program is model-dependent,
An application acquisition unit that acquires a model-dependent application program requested from a control module managed by each of the printing devices when the determination unit determines that the application program is a model-dependent application program;
A printer server comprising: A printer server that can be mounted on a network interface card device capable of communicating with a client device on a network while being connected to a printing device in a communicable manner,
A control module for controlling each printing apparatus and a program storage means for storing an application program for controlling communication with the client apparatus;
A memory for performing predetermined data processing;
Application execution means for executing an application program on the memory;
According to the application program executed by the application execution means, the requested processing instruction is analyzed, and the machine dependence determination means for judging the machine dependence type of the instruction;
Instruction conversion means for converting the requested processing instruction into the instruction format of the control module according to the determination result by the model-dependent determination means;
Instruction transfer means for transferring an instruction converted by the instruction conversion means to the control module;
Instruction result acquisition means for acquiring the processing result of the instruction transferred by the instruction transfer means from the control module and storing it in the memory;
A printer server comprising: A printer server that can be mounted on a network interface card device capable of communicating with a client device on a network while being connected to a printing device in a communicable manner,
A control module for controlling each printing apparatus and a program storage means for storing an application program for controlling communication with the client apparatus;
A memory for performing predetermined data processing;
Application execution means for executing an application program on the memory;
According to the application program executed by the application execution means, the requested processing instruction is analyzed, and the resource acquisition instruction identifying means for identifying the resource data acquisition instruction from the instruction type;
When the processing instruction is identified as a resource acquisition instruction by the resource acquisition instruction identification unit, a model dependence determination unit that determines the model dependence of the resource data requested by the resource acquisition instruction;
In accordance with the determination result of the model-dependent determination unit, a command transfer unit that converts the requested processing command into the command format of the control module and transfers the command to the control module;
Resource data acquisition means for acquiring processing results of instructions transferred by the instruction transfer means as resource data from the control module;
A printer server comprising:   5. The printer server according to claim 4, wherein the resource data includes bitmap image data and text message data indicating a status of the printing apparatus.   The printer server according to claim 1, further comprising a CPU independent of the CPU of the printing apparatus. A program that can be mounted on a network interface card device capable of communicating with a plurality of printing devices and a client device on a network, and stores a control module and an application program for performing communication control with the client device in order to control the plurality of printing devices A program execution method in a printer server comprising storage means,
In accordance with a request from the client device, a determination step of determining whether or not it is a model-dependent application program by analyzing the activation request information including the requested application name by the shared control module;
An application acquisition step of acquiring a model-dependent application program requested from the unique control module managed by the printing device when it is determined that the application program is model-dependent by the determination step;
An execution control step of executing an application program that is expanded by incorporating a model-dependent application program acquired by the application acquisition step into the shared control module;
A program execution method for a printer server, comprising: A program that can be mounted on a network interface card device capable of communicating with a plurality of printing devices and a client device on a network, and stores a control module and an application program for performing communication control with the client device in order to control the plurality of printing devices A program execution method in a printer server comprising storage means,
In accordance with a request from the client device, a determination step of determining whether or not it is a model-dependent application program by analyzing start request information including the requested application name;
An application obtaining step for obtaining a model-dependent application program requested from a control module managed by the printing apparatus when it is determined that the application program is model-dependent by the determining step;
A program execution method comprising: A program that can be mounted on a network interface card device capable of communicating with a plurality of printing devices and a client device on a network, and stores a control module and an application program for performing communication control with the client device in order to control the plurality of printing devices A program execution method in a printer server comprising storage means,
An application execution step for executing the application program on the memory;
According to the application program executed by the application execution step, the requested processing instruction is analyzed, and the machine dependence determination step for determining the machine dependence type of the instruction;
In accordance with the determination result by the model-dependent determination step, an instruction conversion step for converting the requested processing instruction into an instruction format of the control module;
An instruction transfer step of transferring the instruction converted by the instruction conversion step to the control module;
An instruction result acquisition step of acquiring a processing result of the instruction transferred by the instruction transfer step from the control module and storing the result in the memory;
A program execution method comprising: A program that can be mounted on a network interface card device capable of communicating with a plurality of printing devices and a client device on a network, and stores a control module and an application program for performing communication control with the client device in order to control the plurality of printing devices A program execution method in a printer server comprising storage means,
An application execution step of executing an application program on the memory;
According to the application program executed by the application execution step, a requested processing instruction is analyzed, and a resource acquisition instruction identifying step for identifying a resource data acquisition instruction from the instruction type;
When the processing instruction is identified as the resource acquisition instruction by the resource acquisition instruction identification step, a model dependence determination step of determining the model dependence of the resource data requested by the resource acquisition instruction;
According to the determination result of the model-dependent determination step, a command transfer step of converting the requested processing command into the command format of the control module and transferring it to the control module;
A resource data acquisition step of acquiring, as resource data, a processing result of the instruction transferred by the instruction transfer step;
A program execution method comprising:   11. The program execution method according to claim 10, wherein the resource data includes bitmap image data and text message data indicating a state of the printing apparatus.   A computer-readable storage medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the program execution method according to claim 7.   The program which implement | achieves the program execution method in any one of Claims 7-11.

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