JP2005258897A - Peripheral equipment control program, program controller, and program control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform the object registration of peripheral equipment without requiring a user to prepare a driver file unique to the additional peripheral equipment to be required by OS in the case of performing a set-up work to register the peripheral equipment in the OS. <P>SOLUTION: When an information processor 2 is connected to a printer 3, a printer driver starting part 13 starts a printer driver A10. Then a driver file control part 17 checks whether the driver file corresponding to the printer 3 which is recognized by a printer recognizing part 11 is stored and held in a driver file storage part 14 or not. When the driver file is not stored and held, a driver file requesting part 16 transmits the request of the driver file to the printer 3. The printer 3 transfers the driver file to the information processor 2. The driver file control part 17 stores and holds the driver file in a driver file storage part 14. A printer driver starting means 18 starts the printer driver. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a peripheral device control program, a program control device, and a program control method, and more particularly to a peripheral device control program, a program control device, and a program control method for downloading a file related to a peripheral device control program stored in a peripheral device.

  Conventionally, various peripheral devices connected to an information processing apparatus such as a PC have been commercialized and are on the market. Here, when a peripheral device (for example, a printer) connected to the information processing apparatus is used, software called a printer driver that converts data output from application software into a printer control code that can be interpreted by the printer is incorporated in the information processing apparatus. There is a need.

  This printer driver is configured by a driver file group with a function for communicating with a printer and a function for converting a print instruction from an OS (Operating System) of the information processing apparatus into a printer control code, and the information processing apparatus uses the printer. In this case, the information processing apparatus receives all the relevant driver files and registers the printer object in the OS, so that the printer can be used.

  For example, it is possible to use a computer system communication method that allows a user to connect a computer and a peripheral device and use the peripheral device regardless of the context of the computer OS and the peripheral device at the time of release, and the communication method thereof. There are peripheral devices (for example, see Patent Document 1).

For example, there is a printing apparatus that automatically determines the model of a printer connected on the computer side and transfers the printer driver from the printer and registers it in the computer when there is no printer driver corresponding to the printer in the computer (for example, , See Patent Document 2).
JP 2001-20321 A JP-A-7-311663

  However, when registering a peripheral device, it is necessary to use a unique driver file suitable for the peripheral device. If the OS does not have a driver file in advance, the necessary driver file must be registered by the user. Must be prepared.

  Furthermore, since it is impossible for the OS to have driver files specific to peripheral devices to be shipped in the future, the driver files are usually prepared by the user.

  In that case, the storage medium (or server PC on the network) containing the driver file must be mounted on the PC, and all the related driver files must be copied from this to a storage medium such as a PC local hard disk. Don't be.

  In general, when a peripheral device is registered as an object in the OS, all related driver files must be registered in the same local PC before being registered in the OS.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, when performing a setup operation for registering a peripheral device in the OS, it is possible to register an object of the peripheral device without causing the user to prepare an additional peripheral device-specific driver file required by the OS. , And a peripheral device control program, a program control device, and a program control method capable of configuring an optimum printing environment using a driver specific to the peripheral device separately prepared at the time of printing without bothering the user The purpose is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is a peripheral device control program stored in an information processing apparatus connected to a peripheral device, wherein a file describing software unique to the peripheral device is stored in the peripheral device. A requesting process, a process for storing and holding a file sent from the peripheral device in response to the request, a process for starting the software based on the stored and held file, and an application stored in the information processing apparatus Processing to request the software to create job data based on the received data when receiving data to request processing from the peripheral device from the peripheral device, and job data created by the software based on the data to the peripheral device And a process of transmitting to the computer.

  The invention of claim 2 is the invention of claim 1, wherein when the information processing apparatus is connected to the peripheral device, the peripheral device requests a file describing software unique to the peripheral device. The processing is performed by a computer.

  Further, in the invention of claim 3, in the invention of claim 1, when data to be processed is requested from the application to the peripheral device, a file describing software unique to the peripheral device is stored in the peripheral device. The computer requests the requested processing to operate.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the computer is caused to operate a process for registering the peripheral device with the information processing apparatus.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in a peripheral device control program stored in an information processing apparatus connected to at least one peripheral device via a network, a file describing software unique to the peripheral device is stored for each peripheral device. For each of the peripheral devices based on the at least one file stored and held, and at least one file sent from the at least one peripheral device in response to the request. When the processing for starting the software and the data requested to be processed from the application stored in the information processing apparatus are received, the peripheral device instructed to create job data based on the received data Processing for requesting software specific to the device and software specific to the designated peripheral device. There wherein the operating and processing to be transmitted to the peripheral device indicated finger job data created on the basis of the data to the computer.

  Further, in the invention of claim 6, in the invention of claim 5, when a peripheral device that requests the file is instructed from the information processing apparatus, a file describing software unique to the instructed peripheral device is stored. The computer is caused to operate a process for requesting the designated peripheral device.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the processing according to claim 5, wherein when the information processing apparatus is connected to the network, the peripheral device requests a file describing software unique to the peripheral device. Is operated by a computer.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the file according to the invention according to claim 5, wherein software specific to the instructed peripheral device is described when data to be processed is received from the application to the instructed peripheral device. The computer is caused to operate a process for requesting the designated peripheral device.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the present invention, the computer causes the information processing apparatus to perform object registration processing of the at least one peripheral device.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a peripheral device communication means for communicating with a peripheral device connected to the information processing apparatus, and a request for a file describing software unique to the peripheral device via the peripheral device communication means. File request means for transmitting to the peripheral device, file control means for storing and holding the file received from the peripheral device by the request in the information processing apparatus, and file stored and held in the information processing apparatus by the file control means Based on the above, software activation means for causing the information processing apparatus to activate the software, software interface means for performing data transmission / reception with the software activated by the software activation means, and data transmission / reception between the applications stored in the information processing apparatus Application interface means for performing Data processing means for requesting the software to create job data based on the data requested to be processed by the peripheral device received from the application, and transmitting the job data created by the software based on the data to the peripheral device; It is characterized by comprising.

  The peripheral device communication means corresponds to the printer communication section 15 shown in FIG. 2, the file request means corresponds to the driver file request section 16 shown in FIG. 2, and the file control means corresponds to the driver file control means 17 shown in FIG. Correspondingly, the software activation means corresponds to the printer driver activation means 18 shown in FIG. 2, the software interface means corresponds to the printer driver B I / F 24 shown in FIG. 3, and the application interface means corresponds to the application I interface shown in FIG. Corresponding to / F23, the data processing means corresponds to the data processing unit 25 shown in FIG.

  The invention according to claim 11 is the invention according to claim 10, wherein when the information processing apparatus is connected to the peripheral device, the file request means requests a file describing software unique to the peripheral device. It transmits to this peripheral device.

  The invention according to claim 12 is the file according to the invention according to claim 10, wherein the file requesting unit describes software unique to the peripheral device when receiving data to be processed from the application to the peripheral device. The request is transmitted to the peripheral device.

  The invention of claim 13 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 10, object registration of the peripheral device is performed with respect to the information processing apparatus.

The invention of claim 14 provides a peripheral device communication means for communicating with at least one peripheral device connected to an information processing apparatus via a network, and a request for a file describing software unique to the peripheral device. File request means for transmitting to each peripheral device via the device communication means, and file control means for storing and holding in the information processing apparatus at least one file received from the at least one peripheral device according to the request , Based on at least one file stored and held in the information processing apparatus by the file control means, software activation means for causing the information processing apparatus to activate software for each peripheral device, and for each peripheral device activated by the software activation means Software interface for each peripheral device that exchanges data with software And over scan unit, and application interface means for performing data transmission and reception with the stored in the information processing apparatus application,
The software specific to the instructed peripheral device is requested to create job data based on the data requested to be processed by the instructed peripheral device received from the application, and the software specific to the instructed peripheral device is included in the data. And data processing means for transmitting the job data created based on the designated peripheral device.

  The peripheral device communication means corresponds to the printer communication section 15 shown in FIG. 10, the file request means corresponds to the driver file request section 16 shown in FIG. 10, and the file control means corresponds to the driver file control section 17 shown in FIG. Correspondingly, the software starting means corresponds to the printer driver starting means 18 shown in FIG. 10, and the software interface means for each peripheral device is the printer driver X I / F 361, printer driver Y I / F 362 and printer driver shown in FIG. Corresponding to the Z I / F 363, the application interface means corresponds to the application I / F 23 shown in FIG. 11, and the data processing means corresponds to the data processing unit 25 shown in FIG.

  The invention according to claim 15 is the invention according to claim 14, wherein the file request means is specific to the instructed peripheral device when the information processing apparatus instructs the peripheral device to request the file. A request for a file describing software is transmitted to the instructed peripheral device.

  The invention according to claim 16 is the invention according to claim 14, wherein when the information processing apparatus is connected to the network, the file requesting unit issues a request for a file describing software unique to the peripheral device. It transmits to a peripheral device.

  The invention according to claim 17 is the invention according to claim 14, wherein the file requesting unit is specific to the instructed peripheral device when receiving data for requesting processing from the application to the instructed peripheral device. A request for a file describing the software is transmitted to the designated peripheral device.

  The invention of claim 18 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 14, object registration of the at least one peripheral device is performed with respect to the information processing apparatus.

  According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, a file describing software unique to a peripheral device connected to the information processing apparatus is requested to the peripheral device, and the file sent from the peripheral device in response to the request is stored. Holding, starting the software based on the stored file, accepting data to be processed from the application stored in the information processing apparatus to the peripheral device, and creating job data based on the received data Requesting software, the job data created by the software based on the data is transmitted to the peripheral device.

  According to a twentieth aspect of the invention, when the information processing apparatus is connected to the peripheral device, the peripheral device requests a file describing software unique to the peripheral device. It is characterized by that.

  The invention according to claim 21 is the invention according to claim 19, wherein when a data requesting processing from the application to the peripheral device is received from the application, a file describing software unique to the peripheral device is stored in the peripheral device. Is required.

  The invention of claim 22 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 19, object registration of the peripheral device is performed with respect to the information processing apparatus.

  Further, the invention of claim 23 requests a file describing software unique to at least one peripheral device connected to the information processing apparatus via a network for each peripheral device, and in response to the request, the at least Stores and holds at least one file sent from one peripheral device, starts software for each of the peripheral devices based on the at least one file stored and held, and is instructed by an application stored in the information processing apparatus Receives the data to be processed by the peripheral device, requests the software specific to the instructed peripheral device to create job data based on the received data, and the software specific to the instructed peripheral device includes the data Transmitting the created job data to the instructed peripheral device .

  Further, in the invention of claim 24, in the invention of claim 23, when a peripheral device that requests the file is instructed from the information processing apparatus, a file describing software specific to the instructed peripheral device is stored. A request is made to the instructed peripheral device.

  The invention of claim 25 is the invention of claim 23, wherein when the information processing apparatus is connected to the network, the peripheral device requests a file describing software unique to the peripheral device. It is characterized by.

  Further, in the invention of claim 26, in the invention of claim 23, when data for requesting processing to the instructed peripheral device is received from the application, a file describing software specific to the instructed peripheral device Is requested to the instructed peripheral device.

  The invention according to claim 27 is the invention according to claim 23, wherein object registration of the at least one peripheral device is performed with respect to the information processing apparatus.

  According to the present invention, since the peripheral device control program related to the specific processing required for each peripheral device can be extracted from the peripheral device itself, it is possible to avoid the problem that the peripheral device cannot be used because there is no peripheral device control program. Furthermore, as long as the interface to the peripheral device control program of the future peripheral device is matched with the future peripheral device, it is sufficient to prepare one type of the peripheral device control program of the present invention. There is an effect.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  As an embodiment of the present invention, an information processing apparatus such as a PC (Personal Computer) is connected to a printer, and a peripheral device control program (hereinafter referred to as a printer driver) corresponding to the printer according to the present invention is installed in the information processing apparatus. The configuration will be described in detail as an example.

  A configuration in which an information processing apparatus in which a printer driver for a printer is installed is locally connected to a printer according to the present invention will be described in detail as a first embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a printing system 101 used in the first embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing apparatus 2 and the printer 3 are locally connected. For local connection, any communication method may be used, whether wired or wireless.

  Here, each device will be described in detail.

  The information processing apparatus 2 processes data using an application program (hereinafter referred to as an application).

  The printer 3 performs processing for forming print data received from the information processing apparatus 2 on a sheet.

  Here, the information processing apparatus 2 will be described in detail.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the information processing apparatus 2 includes a CPU 4, a ROM 5, a RAM 6, an HD 7, and an I / F 81.

  A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 4 performs sequence control of the main body of the information processing apparatus 2 based on an operating system (hereinafter referred to as OS) that is basic software.

  A ROM (Read Only Memory) 5 records a program executed when the information processing apparatus 2 is activated.

  A RAM (Random Access Memory) 6 is used as a buffer area for a work area necessary for program execution.

  An HD (Hard Disk) 7 stores an OS, application programs (hereinafter referred to as applications), printer drivers, and various data.

  An I / F (Interface) 81 transmits and receives various data to and from the printer 3.

  Although not particularly illustrated, the information processing apparatus 2 is, for example, a monitor display, a CD-ROM drive, a floppy (registered trademark) disk drive, a keyboard, a mouse, or the like that can visually display various information such as an application screen. The configuration of the input device or the like.

  Next, a configuration in which the printer driver A according to the present invention acquires a driver file from the printer 3 when the information processing apparatus 2 and the printer 3 are connected will be described in detail.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 2 and the printer 3 when the information processing apparatus 2 and the printer 3 are connected.

  Here, the functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 2 will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the information processing apparatus 2 has an OS 9 and a printer driver A10 installed therein.

  The OS 9 includes a printer recognition unit 11 that recognizes the connection with the printer 3, a printer registration unit 12 that registers the correspondence between the printer 3 and the driver file, and the printer driver A 10 when the printer recognition unit 11 recognizes the connection with the printer 3. And a driver file storage unit 14 for storing a driver file of the printer 3 acquired by the printer driver A10. The printer recognition unit 11 can be applied to a configuration that recognizes connection with a printer using a plug-and-play operation, and can also be applied to a configuration that recognizes connection with the printer 3 manually by a user.

  The printer driver A10 includes a printer communication unit 15, a driver file request unit 16, and a driver file control unit 17.

  Here, each component included in the printer driver A10 will be described in detail.

  The printer communication unit 15 performs processing for communicating with the printer 3 connected via the I / F 81 of the information processing apparatus 2.

  The driver file request unit 16 performs a process of requesting a driver file held by the printer 3 from the printer 3 via the printer communication unit 15 when the printer driver A10 is activated by the printer driver activation unit 13 of the OS 9.

  The driver file control unit 17 performs a process of storing and holding the driver file acquired from the printer 3 in the driver file storage unit 14. The driver file control unit 17 includes a printer driver activation unit 18 that is a function for activating a printer driver corresponding to the driver file stored and held in the driver file storage unit 14.

  Here, the functional configuration of the printer 3 will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 3 includes an I / F 82, a driver file storage unit 19, and a driver file control unit 20.

  The I / F 82 transmits and receives various data to and from the information processing apparatus 2.

  The driver file storage unit 19 stores and holds a driver file corresponding to the printer 3.

  In response to a printer driver request from the information processing device 2, the driver file storage unit 20 performs a process of providing the information processing device 2 with a driver file stored and held in the driver file storage unit 19.

  When the printer object is registered with the OS 9 for the printer 3, it can be registered with the OS 9 using only the printer driver A10.

  Next, functional operations performed by the OS 9 and the printer driver A10 of the information processing apparatus 2 and the printer 3 when the information processing apparatus 2 and the printer 3 are connected will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  When the information processing apparatus 2 and the printer 3 are connected via the I / F (81, 82), the printer recognition unit 11 of the information processing apparatus 2 recognizes the connection with the printer 3 and indicates that the printer 3 is connected. When the printer driver activation unit 13 receives the notification that the printer 3 is connected, the printer driver activation unit 13 receives the notification that the printer 3 is connected. Based on the correspondence between the printer 3 registered in the printer registration unit 12 and the driver file, the printer recognition unit 11 confirms the driver file corresponding to the printer 3 recognized by the printer 11.

  Here, for example, the printer driver activation unit 13 activates the printer driver A 10 that requests the driver file confirmed to the printer 3.

  When the printer driver A 10 is activated by the printer driver activation unit 13, the driver file control unit 17 checks whether the driver file corresponding to the printer 3 recognized by the printer recognition unit 11 is stored in the driver file storage unit 14. To do.

  If the driver file is stored in the driver file storage unit 14, the printer driver activation unit 18 activates the printer driver corresponding to the driver file.

  If the driver file is not stored and held in the driver file storage unit 14, the driver file control unit 17 notifies the driver file request unit 16 that the driver file is not stored and held, and the driver file request unit 16 When a notification that the driver file is not stored is received, the driver file request for the printer 3 is passed to the printer communication unit 15, and when the printer communication unit 15 receives the driver file request, the driver file request is received. The data is transmitted to the printer 3 via the I / F 81.

  When the driver file control unit 20 of the printer 3 receives the driver file request from the information processing apparatus 2 via the I / F 82, the driver file control unit 20 reads the driver file from the driver file storage unit 19 and the read driver file via the I / F 82. To the information processing apparatus 2.

  When the printer communication unit 15 of the printer driver A10 receives the driver file from the printer 3 via the I / F 81, it passes the received driver file to the driver file control unit 17, and when the driver file control unit 17 receives the driver file, The received driver file is stored and held in the driver file storage unit 14, and the printer driver activation unit 18 activates the printer driver corresponding to the driver file stored and held in the driver file storage unit 14.

  Next, when the information processing apparatus 2 requests the printer 3 to print, the printer driver A10 according to the present invention and a printer driver corresponding to the printer 3 activated by the printer driver A10 (hereinafter referred to as printer driver B). The configuration for performing the printing process will be described in detail.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating functional configurations of the information processing apparatus 2 and the printer 3 when the printer driver A10 and the printer driver B21 are activated.

  Here, the functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 2 will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the information processing apparatus 2 is installed with an OS 9, an application 22 for processing data, a printer driver A10, and a printer driver B21.

  The printer driver A10 includes an application I / F 23, a printer driver B I / F 24, a data processing unit 25, and a printer communication unit 15.

  Here, each component included in the printer driver A10 will be described in detail.

  The application I / F 23 transmits / receives various data to / from the application 22.

  The printer driver B I / F 24 transmits and receives various data to and from the printer driver B21.

  The data processing unit 25 processes the print instruction received from the application 22 and the job data received from the printer driver B21.

  The printer communication unit 15 performs processing for communicating with the printer 3 connected via the I / F 81 of the information processing apparatus 2.

  The printer driver B21 includes a printer driver A I / F 26 and a job data creation unit 27.

  Here, each component included in the printer driver B21 will be described in detail.

  The printer driver A I / F 26 transmits and receives various data to and from the printer driver A10.

  The job data creation unit 27 performs processing for creating job data based on a print instruction received from the printer driver A10. Note that the job data creation unit 27 has data conversion means 28 that is a function for generating print data by converting print contents into a printer control code interpretable by the printer 3.

  Here, the functional configuration of the printer 3 will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the printer 3 includes an I / F 82 and a printing unit 29.

  The I / F 82 transmits and receives various data to and from the information processing apparatus 2.

  The printing unit 29 performs a printing process for forming print data received from the information processing apparatus 2 on a sheet.

  Next, functional operations performed by the printer driver A10, the printer driver B21, and the printer 3 of the information processing apparatus 2 when the information processing apparatus 2 requests the printer 3 to print will be described in detail with reference to FIG. .

  When the data processing unit 25 of the printer driver A10 receives a print instruction from the application 22 via the application I / F 23, the received print instruction is output to the printer driver B21 via the printer driver B I / F 24.

  When the job data creation unit 27 of the printer driver B21 receives a print instruction from the printer driver A10 via the printer driver A I / F 26, the job data creation unit 27 creates job data based on the input print instruction, and the data conversion unit 28 Print data is generated by converting the print contents into a printer control code. Then, the job data creation unit 27 outputs the job data to the printer driver A 10 via the printer driver A I / F 26.

  When the data processing unit 25 of the printer driver A10 inputs job data from the printer driver B21 via the printer driver B I / F 24, the processing result included in the input job data is input to the application 22 via the application I / F 23. In addition, the print data included in the job data is transferred to the printer communication unit 15. When the printer communication unit 15 receives the print data, it transmits the received print data to the printer 3 via the I / F 81.

  When the print unit 82 of the printer 3 receives the print data from the information processing apparatus 2 via the I / F 82, the print unit 82 performs a print process for forming the received print data on a sheet.

  Next, the procedure of the driver file acquisition process performed by the OS 9 and the printer driver A10 of the information processing apparatus 2 and the printer 3 when the information processing apparatus 2 and the printer 3 are connected will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. . Note that a printer driver corresponding to the printer 3 connected to the information processing apparatus 2 is a printer driver B21.

  The OS recognizes the connection with the printer (step S401), and the OS activates the printer driver A (step S402).

  The printer driver A confirms whether or not the printer driver B has already been acquired (step S403).

  If it is confirmed that the printer driver A has not acquired the printer driver B (NO in step S403), the printer driver A requests the driver file of the printer driver B from the printer (step S404).

  The printer receives a driver file request for the printer driver B (step S405), and the printer transmits the driver file for the printer driver B to the printer driver A (step S406).

  The printer driver A receives the driver file for the printer driver B (step S407), and the printer driver A stores the driver file for the printer driver B (step S408).

  If it is confirmed in step S403 that the printer driver A has already acquired the printer driver B (YES in step S403), the process proceeds to step S409.

  The printer driver A activates the printer driver B (step S409).

  The OS, printer driver A, and printer driver B wait for a print instruction (step S410), and the procedure of the driver file acquisition process ends.

  Next, when the information processing apparatus 2 that has finished the procedure of the driver file acquisition process in the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 requests the printer 3 to print, the printer driver A10, the printer driver B21, and the printer 3 of the information processing apparatus 2 perform the processing. The procedure of the printing process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  The printer driver A receives the print instruction (step S501), and the printer driver A passes the print instruction to the printer driver B (step S502).

  The printer driver B receives the print instruction (step S503), the printer driver B creates job data based on the print instruction (step S504), and the printer driver B passes the job data to the printer driver A (step S505).

  The printer driver A receives the job data (step S506), the printer driver A notifies the processing result to the application (step S507), and the printer driver A transmits the print data to the printer (step S508).

  The printer receives the print data (step S509), the printer forms the print data on the paper (step S510), and the print processing procedure ends.

  Next, a configuration in which the printer driver A10 according to the present invention acquires a driver file from the printer 3 when the information processing apparatus 2 requests the printer 3 to print will be described in detail.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 2 and the printer 3 when the information processing apparatus 2 requests the printer 3 to perform printing.

  Here, the functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 2 will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the information processing apparatus 2 is installed with an OS 9, an application 22 for processing data, and a printer driver A10.

  The OS 9 includes a printer recognition unit 11 that recognizes the connection with the printer 3, a printer registration unit 12 that registers the correspondence between the printer 3 and the driver file, and the printer driver A 10 when the printer recognition unit 11 recognizes the connection with the printer 3. And a driver file storage unit 14 for storing a driver file of the printer 3 acquired by the printer driver A10. The printer recognition unit 11 can be applied to a configuration that recognizes connection with the printer 3 using a plug-and-play operation, and can also be applied to a configuration that manually recognizes connection with the printer 3 by a user. .

  The printer driver A 10 includes an application I / F 23 that transmits and receives various data to and from the application 22, a data processing unit 25 that processes a print instruction received from the application 22, and an I / F 81 of the information processing apparatus 2. A printer communication unit 15 that communicates with the printer 3 to be connected, a driver file request unit 16 that requests a driver file held by the printer 3 from the printer 3 via the printer communication unit 15, and a driver file obtained from the printer 3 A driver file control unit 17 stored and held in the storage unit 14 is provided. The driver file control unit 17 includes a printer driver activation unit 18 that is a function for activating a printer driver corresponding to the driver file stored and held in the driver file storage unit 14.

  Here, the functional configuration of the printer 3 will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the printer 3 includes an I / F 82 that transmits and receives various data to and from the information processing apparatus 2, a driver file storage unit 19 that stores and holds a driver file corresponding to the printer 3, In response to a printer driver request from the apparatus 2, the apparatus includes a driver file control unit 20 that provides a driver file stored in the driver file storage unit 19 to the information processing apparatus 2.

  Next, functional operations performed by the OS 9 and the printer driver A10 of the information processing apparatus 2 and the printer 3 when the information processing apparatus 2 requests the printer 3 to print will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  When the information processing apparatus 2 and the printer 3 are connected via the I / F (81, 82), the printer recognition unit 11 of the information processing apparatus 2 recognizes the connection with the printer 3 and indicates that the printer 3 is connected. When the printer driver activation unit 13 receives the notification that the printer 3 is connected, the printer driver activation unit 13 receives the notification that the printer 3 is connected. Based on the correspondence between the printer 3 registered in the printer registration unit 12 and the driver file, the printer recognition unit 11 confirms the driver file corresponding to the printer 3 recognized by the printer 11. Here, for example, the printer driver activation unit 13 activates the printer driver A 10 that requests the driver file confirmed to the printer 3.

  When the data processing unit 25 of the printer driver A10 receives a print instruction from the application 22 via the application I / F 23, the received print instruction is passed to the data processing unit 25. When the data processing unit 25 receives the print instruction, The received print instruction is transferred to the driver file control unit 17, and when the driver file control unit 17 receives the print instruction, the driver file corresponding to the print designated printer included in the received print instruction is stored and held in the driver file storage unit 14. Check if it is.

  If the driver file is stored in the driver file storage unit 14, the printer driver activation unit 18 activates the printer driver corresponding to the driver file.

  If the driver file is not stored and held in the driver file storage unit 14, the driver file control unit 17 notifies the driver file request unit 16 that the driver file is not stored and held, and the driver file request unit 16 When a notification that the driver file is not stored is received, the driver file request for the printer 3 is passed to the printer communication unit 15, and when the printer communication unit 15 receives the driver file request, the driver file request is received. The data is transmitted to the printer 3 via the I / F 81.

  When the driver file control unit 20 of the printer 3 receives the driver file request from the information processing apparatus 2 via the I / F 81, the driver file control unit 20 reads the driver file from the driver file storage unit 14 and the read driver file via the I / F 82. To the information processing device 2.

  When the printer communication unit 15 of the printer driver A10 receives the driver file from the printer 3 via the I / F 81, it passes the received driver file to the driver file control unit 17, and when the driver file control unit 17 receives the driver file, The received driver file is stored and held in the driver file storage unit 14, and the printer driver activation unit 18 activates the printer driver corresponding to the driver file stored and held in the driver file storage unit 14.

  The functional operation after the printer driver is activated is the same as the functional operation performed by the printer driver A10, the printer driver B21, and the printer 3 of the information processing apparatus 2 described with reference to FIG. Detailed description will be omitted.

  Next, the procedure of the printer driver activation process performed by the OS 9 of the information processing apparatus 2 when the information processing apparatus 2 and the printer 3 are connected will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  The OS recognizes the connection with the printer (step S701), and the OS activates the printer driver A (step S702).

  The OS and printer driver A wait for a print instruction (step S703), and the printer driver activation processing procedure ends.

  Next, when the information processing apparatus 2 that has completed the printer driver activation processing procedure in the flowchart shown in FIG. 7 requests the printer 3 to perform printing, the printer driver A10, the printer driver B21, and the printer 3 perform the printing processing procedure. This will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Note that a printer driver corresponding to the printer 3 connected to the information processing apparatus 2 is a printer driver B21.

  The printer driver A receives a print instruction (step S801), and the printer driver A confirms whether the printer driver B has already been acquired (step S802).

  If it is confirmed that the printer driver A has not acquired the printer driver B (NO in step S802), the printer driver A requests the driver file of the printer driver B from the printer (step S803).

  The printer receives a request for a driver file of the printer driver B (step S804), and the printer transmits the driver file of the printer driver B to the printer driver A (step S805).

  The printer driver A receives the driver file for the printer driver B (step S806), and the printer driver A stores the driver file for the printer driver B (step S807).

  If it is confirmed in step S802 that the printer driver A has already acquired the printer driver B (YES in step S802), the process advances to step S808.

  The printer driver A activates the printer driver B (step S808), and the printer driver A passes a print instruction to the printer driver B (step S809).

  The printer driver B receives the print instruction (step S810), the printer driver B creates job data based on the print instruction (step S811), and the printer driver B passes the job data to the printer driver A (step S812).

  The printer driver A receives the job data (step S813), the printer driver A notifies the application of the processing result (step S814), and the printer driver A transmits the print data to the printer (step S815).

  The printer receives the print data (step S816), the printer forms the print data on the paper (step S817), and the print processing procedure ends.

  For the handling of the printer driver B21 after the printing process, a configuration is adopted in which the driver file for the printer driver B21 after the printing process is stored and the request for the driver file for the printer driver B21 is not sent to the printer 3. Alternatively, a configuration may be applied in which the driver file of the printer driver B21 is deleted after the printing process, and the driver file of the printer driver B21 is requested every time the printer 3 is requested to print. A configuration in which the printer driver A10 and the printer driver B21 are combined to create one printer driver after file acquisition may be applied.

  The present invention is not limited to the configuration in which the printer driver A10 is installed in the information processing apparatus 2 as in the embodiment described above. The information processing apparatus 2 has the same function as the printer driver A10 described above. The present invention can also be applied to a configuration in which a peripheral device control device is built-in or connected.

  A configuration in which an information processing apparatus in which a peripheral device control program (hereinafter referred to as a printer driver) for a printer according to the present invention is installed and a printer according to the present invention are connected via a network is a second embodiment of the present invention. This will be described in detail.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of the printing system 102 used in the second embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the information processing apparatus 2 and a plurality of printers (printer X301, printer Y302, printer Z303) are connected via a network 31. The components of the printing system 102 used in the second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 9 are the same as those of the printing system 101 used in the first embodiment of the present invention described with reference to FIG. Since it is the same as each component apparatus, detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the information processing apparatus 2 includes a CPU 4, a ROM 5, a RAM 6, an HD 7, and an I / F 81 that transmits / receives various data to / from a plurality of printers (301, 302, 303) via a network 31. Composed.

  Note that the CPU 4, ROM 5, RAM 6, and HD 7 included in the information processing apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 9 are the information processing apparatus 2 of the printing system 101 used in the first embodiment of the present invention described with reference to FIG. Since it is the same as the CPU 4, ROM 5, RAM 6, and HD 7 provided, detailed description is omitted.

  Next, a configuration in which the printer driver A10 according to the present invention acquires a driver file from the printer (301, 302, 303) on the network 31 when the information processing apparatus 2 is connected to the network 31 will be described in detail.

  FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 2 and the printers (301, 302, 303) on the network 31 when the information processing apparatus 2 is connected to the network 31.

  Here, the functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 2 will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the information processing apparatus 2 has an OS 9 and a printer driver A10 installed therein.

  The OS 9 includes a printer registration unit 12, a printer driver activation unit 13, a driver file storage unit 14, a printer recognition unit 11 that recognizes printers (301, 302, and 303) on the network 31, and a printer 3 that corresponds to the requested printer driver. A printer selection instruction unit 32 for selecting and instructing is provided. The printer recognition unit 11 can be applied to a configuration that recognizes connection with the printer 3 using a plug-and-play operation, and can also be applied to a configuration that manually recognizes connection with the printer 3 by a user. .

  Note that the printer registration unit 12, the printer driver activation unit 13, and the driver file storage unit 14 that are functional configurations of the information processing apparatus 2 illustrated in FIG. 10 are the first embodiment of the present invention described with reference to FIG. The printer registration unit 12, printer driver activation unit 13, and driver file storage unit 14, which are functional configurations of the information processing apparatus 2 of the printing system 101 used in the embodiment, are not described in detail.

  The printer driver A10 includes a printer communication unit 15, a driver file request unit 16, and a driver file control unit 17.

  The printer communication unit 15, the driver file request unit 16, and the driver file control unit 17 which are functional configurations of the printer driver A10 shown in FIG. 10 are the same as those in the first embodiment of the present invention described with reference to FIG. Since it is the same as the printer communication unit 15, the driver file request unit 16, and the driver file control unit 17 that are functional configurations of the printer driver A10 of the printing system 101 used in the embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Here, the functional configuration of the printer 3 will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the printer (printer X, printer Y, printer Z) includes an I / F (331, 332, 333), a driver file storage unit (341, 342, 343), a driver file control unit (351, 352, 353).

  Note that the I / F (331, 332, 333), the driver file storage unit (341, 342, 343), and the driver file control unit (351, 352, 353), which are functional configurations of the printer 3 illustrated in FIG. The same as the I / F 82, the driver file storage unit 19, and the driver file control unit 20 which are functional configurations of the printer 3 of the printing system 101 used in the first embodiment of the present invention described with reference to FIG. Therefore, detailed description is omitted.

  Next, when the information processing apparatus 2 is connected to the network 31, the functional operations performed by the OS 9, the printer driver A10, and the printer (printer X301, printer Y302, printer Z303) of the information processing apparatus 2 will be described with reference to FIG. Will be described in detail.

  When the I / F 81 of the information processing apparatus 2 connects to the network 31, the printer recognition unit 11 of the information processing apparatus 2 recognizes the printers on the network 31 (in FIG. 10, printer X301, printer Y302, printer Z303), and the network When the printer driver activation unit 13 receives notification that the printer (301, 302, 303) is connected, the printer driver activation unit 13 notifies the printer driver activation unit 13 that the printer is registered in advance. Based on the correspondence with the driver file, a driver file corresponding to the printer recognized by the printer recognition unit 12 is confirmed.

  Here, for example, the printer driver activation unit 13 activates the printer driver A10 that requests the driver file confirmed to the printer.

  When the printer driver A10 is activated by the printer driver activation unit 13, the driver file request unit 16 of the printer driver A10 receives the instruction of the printer selected by the printer selection instruction unit 32 of the OS 9, and the received instruction is the driver file control unit. When the driver file control unit 17 receives the notification of the instruction, the driver file control unit 17 confirms whether or not the driver file corresponding to the printer selected by the printer selection instruction unit 32 is stored in the driver file storage unit 14.

  If the driver file is stored in the driver file storage unit 14, the printer driver activation unit 18 activates the printer driver corresponding to the driver file.

  If the driver file is not stored and held in the driver file storage unit 14, the driver file control unit 17 notifies the driver file request unit 16 that the driver file is not stored and held, and the driver file request unit 16 When receiving a notification that the driver file is not stored and held, it passes a request for the driver file to the printer to the printer communication unit 15, and when the printer communication unit 15 receives the request for the driver file, / F81 to the printer. Hereinafter, a case where a request for the driver file X is transmitted to the printer X301 will be described as an example.

  When the driver file control unit 351 of the printer X301 receives the request for the driver file X from the information processing apparatus 2 via the I / F 331, the driver file control unit 351 reads the driver file X from the driver file storage unit 341, and reads the read driver file X to the I / F. It transmits to the information processing apparatus 2 via F331.

  When the printer communication unit 15 of the information processing apparatus 2 receives the driver file X from the printer X301 via the I / F 81, the printer communication unit 15 passes the received driver file X to the driver file control unit 17, and the driver file control unit 17 Is received and stored in the driver file storage unit 14, and the printer driver activation unit 18 activates the printer driver X corresponding to the driver file X stored and held in the driver file storage unit 14.

  Next, when the information processing apparatus 2 requests the printer to print, the printer driver A10 according to the present invention and printer drivers corresponding to the printer activated by the printer driver A10 (printer driver X371, printer driver Y372, printer driver) The configuration in which Z373) performs the printing process will be described in detail.

  FIG. 11 shows functional configurations of the information processing apparatus 2 and the printer (printer X301, printer Y302, printer Z303) when the printer driver A10 and the printer driver (printer driver X371, printer driver Y372, printer driver Z373) are activated. FIG.

  Here, the functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 2 will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the information processing apparatus 2 is installed with an OS 9, an application 22, a printer driver A10, and printer drivers (printer driver X371, printer driver Y372, and printer driver Z373).

  The printer driver A 10 includes various types of data between the application I / F 23, the data processing unit 25, the printer communication unit 15, and the printer driver X 371, and the printer driver X I / F 361 and the printer driver Y 372. The printer driver Y I / F 362 that transmits and receives data and the printer driver Z I / F 373 that transmits and receives various data to and from the printer driver Z373 are provided.

  The application I / F 23, the data processing unit 25, and the printer communication unit 15, which are functional configurations of the printer driver A10 shown in FIG. 11, are the first embodiment of the present invention described with reference to FIG. The application I / F 23, the data processing unit 25, and the printer communication unit 15 which are functional configurations of the printer driver A10 of the printing system 101 used in FIG.

  The printer driver X371, printer driver Y372, and printer driver Z373 shown in FIG. 11 are functional configurations of the printer driver B21 of the printing system 101 used in the second embodiment of the present invention described with reference to FIG. The printer driver A I / F 26 and the job data creation unit 27 are the same as those shown in FIG.

  Here, the functional configuration of the printer (printer X301, printer Y302, printer Z303) will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the printer (printer X301, printer Y302, printer Z303) includes I / Fs (331, 332, 333) and printing units (361, 362, 363).

  The I / F (331, 332, 333) and the printing units (361, 362, 363) which are functional configurations of the printer X301, the printer Y302, and the printer Z303 shown in FIG. 11 will be described with reference to FIG. Since it is the same as the I / F 82 and the printing unit 29 that are functional configurations of the printer 3 of the printing system 101 used in the first embodiment of the present invention, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  When registering the printer object of the printer X301, the printer Y302, and the printer Z303 with respect to the OS 9, it is possible to register with the OS 9 using only the printer driver A10.

  Next, when the information processing apparatus 2 requests the printer to print, the printer driver A10 of the information processing apparatus 2, the printer driver corresponding to the printer, and the functional operations performed by the printer will be described in detail with reference to FIG. To do. The case where the printer driver X371 corresponding to the printer X301 performs a printing process in order to request printing to the printer X301 will be described as an example.

  When the data processing unit 25 of the printer driver A10 receives a print instruction from the application 22 (including an instruction to request printing to the printer X301) via the application I / F 23, the received print instruction is received from the printer driver X I / F 361. To the printer driver X371.

  When the printer driver X371 receives a print instruction from the printer driver A10, the printer driver X371 generates job data based on the input print instruction, and converts print contents into a printer control code to generate print data. Then, the printer driver X371 outputs job data to the printer driver A10.

  When the data processing unit 25 of the printer driver A 10 inputs job data from the printer driver X 371 via the printer driver X I / F 361, the processing result included in the input job data is sent to the application 22 via the application I / F 23. In addition, the print data included in the job data is transferred to the printer communication unit 15. When the printer communication unit 15 receives the print data, it transmits the received print data to the printer X 301 via the I / F 81.

  When the print unit 381 of the printer X301 receives print data from the information processing apparatus 2 via the I / F 331, the print unit 381 performs print processing for forming the received print data on a sheet.

  Next, when the information processing apparatus 2 is connected to the network 31, the OS 9 and the printer driver A10 of the information processing apparatus 2 and the driver file acquisition process performed by the printer will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. .

  The OS recognizes the connection with the network (step S1201), the OS recognizes the printer on the network (step S1202), and the OS activates the printer driver A (step S1203).

  The printer driver A receives an instruction from the selected printer (step S1204).

  The printer driver A checks whether or not a printer driver corresponding to the selected printer has already been acquired (step S1205).

  If it is confirmed that the printer driver A has not acquired a printer driver corresponding to the selected printer (NO in step S1205), the printer driver A requests a driver file from the selected printer (step S1206).

  The selected printer receives a driver file request (step S1207), and the selected printer transmits the driver file to the printer driver A (step S1208).

  The printer driver A receives the driver file corresponding to the selected printer (step S1209), and the printer driver A stores the driver file corresponding to the selected printer (step S1210).

  If it is determined in step S1205 that the printer driver A has already acquired a printer driver corresponding to the selected printer (YES in step S1205), the process advances to step S1211.

  The printer driver A activates a printer driver corresponding to the selected printer (step S1211).

  The printer driver corresponding to the OS, the printer driver A, and the selected printer waits for a print instruction (step S1212), and the driver file acquisition processing procedure ends.

  Next, when the information processing apparatus 2 that has completed the procedure of the driver file acquisition process in the flowchart shown in FIG. 12 requests the designated printer to print, the printer driver A10, the printer driver corresponding to the designated printer, and the printing process performed by the printer This procedure will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  The printer driver A receives the print instruction (step S1301), the printer driver A confirms the designated printer to be printed (step S1302), and the printer driver A passes the print instruction to the printer driver corresponding to the designated printer (step S1303).

  The printer driver corresponding to the designated printer receives the print instruction (step S1304), the printer driver corresponding to the designated printer creates job data based on the print instruction (step S1305), and the printer driver corresponding to the designated printer is the printer driver. The job data is passed to A (step S1306).

  The printer driver A receives the job data (step S1307), the printer driver A notifies the processing result to the application (step S1308), and the printer driver A transmits the print data to the designated printer (step S1309).

  The designated printer receives the print data (step S1310), the designated printer forms the print data on the paper (step S1311), and the print processing procedure is terminated.

  Note that, as in the embodiment described above, it is not necessary to limit the configuration to request a driver file for the selected printer. For example, all printers on the network 31 (printer X301, printer Y302, printer Z303). It can also be applied to a configuration in which a driver file request is issued to the user.

  Further, as in the embodiment described above, when the information processing apparatus 2 is connected to the network, the printer driver A10 according to the present invention need not be limited to the configuration in which the driver file is acquired from the printer on the network 31. When the information processing apparatus 2 requests a printer on the network 31 to perform printing, the present invention can also be applied to a configuration in which a driver file is acquired from a designated printer to be printed by the printer driver A10 according to the present invention.

  Regarding the handling of each printer driver after the printing process, a configuration may be applied in which each driver file is stored and held after the printing process, and the driver file request of each printer driver is not requested to each printer. Alternatively, after the printing process, the driver file of each printer driver may be deleted, and a configuration in which the driver file of each printer driver is requested every time printing is requested to each printer may be applied. A configuration in which the printer driver A10 and each printer driver are combined may be applied.

  The present invention is not limited to the configuration in which the printer driver A10 is installed in the information processing apparatus 2 as in the embodiment described above. The information processing apparatus 2 has the same function as the printer driver A10 described above. The present invention can also be applied to a configuration in which a peripheral device control device is built-in or connected.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an overall configuration of a printing system 101 used in a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 2 and the printer 3 when the information processing apparatus 2 and the printer 3 are connected. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating functional configurations of the information processing apparatus 2 and the printer 3 when the printer driver A10 and the printer driver B21 are activated. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of driver file acquisition processing performed by the OS 9 and the printer driver A10 of the information processing apparatus 2 and the printer 3 when the information processing apparatus 2 and the printer 3 are connected. When the information processing apparatus 2 that has completed the procedure of the driver file acquisition process in the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 requests the printer 3 to print, the printer driver A10, the printer driver B21, and the printer 3 of the information processing apparatus 2 It is a flowchart which shows a procedure. 2 is a block diagram illustrating functional configurations of the information processing apparatus 2 and the printer 3 when the information processing apparatus 2 requests the printer 3 to perform printing. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of printer driver activation processing performed by the OS 9 of the information processing apparatus 2 when the information processing apparatus 2 and the printer 3 are connected. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a printing process performed by the printer driver A10, the printer driver B21, and the printer 3 when the information processing apparatus 2 that has finished the procedure of the printer driver activation process in the flowchart illustrated in FIG. is there. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the whole structure of the printing system 102 used with the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 2 and the printers (301, 302, 303) on the network 31 when the information processing apparatus 2 is connected to the network 31. FIG. The block diagram which shows the functional structure of the information processing apparatus 2 and the printer (printer X301, printer Y302, printer Z303) when the printer driver A10 and printer driver (printer driver X371, printer driver Y372, printer driver Z373) start. It is. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of driver file acquisition processing performed by the OS 9 and the printer driver A10 of the information processing apparatus 2 and the printer when the information processing apparatus 2 is connected to the network 31. When the information processing apparatus 2 that has finished the procedure of the driver file acquisition process in the flowchart shown in FIG. 12 requests the designated printer to print, the printer driver A10, the printer driver corresponding to the designated printer, and the procedure of the printing process performed by the printer It is a flowchart to show.

Explanation of symbols

101, 102 Printing system 2 Information processing device 3 Printer 4 CPU
5 ROM
6 RAM
7 HD
81, 82, 331, 332, 333 I / F
9 OS
10 Printer driver A
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Printer recognition part 12 Printer registration part 13 Printer driver starting part 14 Driver file memory | storage part 15 Printer communication part 16 Driver file request | requirement part 17 Driver file control part 18 Printer driver starting means 19,341,342,343 Driver file memory | storage part 20, 351, 352, 353 Driver file control unit 21 Printer driver B
22 Application 23 Application I / F
24 I / F for printer driver B
25 Data processing unit 26 I / F for printer driver A
27 Job data creation unit 28 Data conversion means 29, 381, 382, 383 Printing unit 301 Printer X
302 Printer Y
303 Printer Z
31 Network 32 Printer Selection Instruction Unit 361 Printer Driver X I / F
362 I / F for printer driver Y
363 I / F for printer driver Z
371 Printer Driver X
372 Printer Driver Y
373 Printer Driver Z

Claims (27)

In the peripheral device control program stored in the information processing device connected to the peripheral device,
Processing for requesting a file describing software specific to the peripheral device to the peripheral device;
Processing to store and hold a file sent from the peripheral device in response to the request;
A process of starting the software based on the stored file;
A process of requesting the software to create job data based on the received data when receiving data to be processed from the application stored in the information processing apparatus to the peripheral device;
A program for causing a computer to operate a process of transmitting job data created by the software based on the data to the peripheral device. The computer according to claim 1, wherein when the information processing apparatus is connected to the peripheral device, the computer is caused to operate a process for requesting the peripheral device for a file describing software unique to the peripheral device. Peripheral device control program. The computer, when receiving data to be processed from the application to the peripheral device, causes the computer to execute a process of requesting the peripheral device for a file describing software specific to the peripheral device. The peripheral device control program according to 1. The peripheral device control program according to claim 1, wherein the computer operates a process of registering the peripheral device with the information processing apparatus. In a peripheral device control program stored in an information processing apparatus connected to at least one peripheral device via a network,
A process for requesting a file describing software unique to the peripheral device to each peripheral device;
Processing to store and hold at least one file sent from the at least one peripheral device in response to the request;
A process for starting software for each peripheral device based on the at least one file stored and held;
When data requested for processing is received from the application stored in the information processing apparatus to the designated peripheral device, the creation of job data based on the received data is requested to software specific to the designated peripheral device. Processing,
A program for causing a computer to operate a process of transmitting job data created by software specific to the designated peripheral device based on the data to the designated peripheral device. When a peripheral device that requests the file is instructed from the information processing apparatus,
6. The peripheral device control program according to claim 5, which causes a computer to operate a process of requesting a file describing software specific to the instructed peripheral device to the instructed peripheral device. 6. The peripheral device according to claim 5, wherein when the information processing apparatus is connected to the network, the computer is caused to operate a process for requesting the peripheral device for a file describing software unique to the peripheral device. Device control program. When receiving data to request processing from the application to the designated peripheral device, the computer requests the designated peripheral device to request a file describing software specific to the designated peripheral device. 6. The peripheral device control program according to claim 5, wherein the peripheral device control program is operated. 6. The peripheral device control program according to claim 5, which causes a computer to execute processing for registering an object of the at least one peripheral device with respect to the information processing apparatus. Peripheral device communication means for communicating with a peripheral device connected to the information processing device;
File request means for transmitting a request for a file describing software unique to the peripheral device to the peripheral device via the peripheral device communication means;
In response to the request, file control means for storing and holding the file received from the peripheral device in the information processing apparatus;
Software activation means for causing the information processing apparatus to activate the software based on the file stored in the information processing apparatus by the file control means;
Software interface means for sending and receiving data to and from the software activated by the software activation means;
Application interface means for transmitting and receiving data to and from an application stored in the information processing apparatus;
Data processing means for requesting the software to create job data based on data requested to be processed by the peripheral device received from the application, and transmitting the job data created by the software based on the data to the peripheral device; A program control apparatus comprising: The file request means includes
The program control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein when the information processing apparatus is connected to the peripheral device, a request for a file describing software unique to the peripheral device is transmitted to the peripheral device. The file request means includes
11. The program according to claim 10, wherein when a request for processing is sent from the application to the peripheral device, a file request describing software specific to the peripheral device is transmitted to the peripheral device. Control device. The program control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein object registration of the peripheral device is performed with respect to the information processing apparatus. Peripheral device communication means for communicating with at least one peripheral device connected to the information processing apparatus via a network;
A file request means for transmitting a request for a file describing software unique to the peripheral device to each peripheral device via the peripheral device communication means;
File control means for storing and holding in the information processing apparatus at least one file received from the at least one peripheral device in response to the request;
Based on at least one file stored and held in the information processing apparatus by the file control means, software activation means for causing the information processing apparatus to activate software for each peripheral device;
Software interface means for each peripheral device for sending and receiving data to and from the software for each peripheral device activated by the software activation means;
Application interface means for transmitting and receiving data to and from an application stored in the information processing apparatus;
The software specific to the instructed peripheral device is requested to create job data based on the data requested to be processed by the instructed peripheral device received from the application, and the software specific to the instructed peripheral device is included in the data. A program control apparatus comprising: data processing means for transmitting job data created based on the designated peripheral device. The file request means includes
When a peripheral device that requests the file is instructed from the information processing apparatus,
The program control apparatus according to claim 14, wherein a request for a file describing software specific to the designated peripheral device is transmitted to the designated peripheral device. The file request means includes
15. The program control apparatus according to claim 14, wherein when the information processing apparatus is connected to the network, a request for a file describing software unique to the peripheral device is transmitted to the peripheral device. The file request means includes
When receiving data to request processing from the application to the designated peripheral device, a request for a file describing software specific to the designated peripheral device is transmitted to the designated peripheral device. The program control apparatus according to claim 14, wherein The program control apparatus according to claim 14, wherein object registration of the at least one peripheral device is performed with respect to the information processing apparatus. Requesting the peripheral device a file describing software specific to the peripheral device connected to the information processing apparatus;
Storing and holding a file sent from the peripheral device in response to the request;
Based on the stored file, start the software,
Accept data to request processing to the peripheral device from the application stored in the information processing device,
Request the software to create job data based on the received data,
A program control method, comprising: transmitting job data created by the software based on the data to the peripheral device. The program control method according to claim 19, wherein when the information processing apparatus is connected to the peripheral device, the peripheral device requests a file describing software unique to the peripheral device. 20. The program control method according to claim 19, wherein when receiving data to be processed from the application to the peripheral device, the peripheral device is requested for a file describing software unique to the peripheral device. . The program control method according to claim 19, wherein object registration of the peripheral device is performed with respect to the information processing apparatus. Requesting each peripheral device a file describing software specific to at least one peripheral device connected to the information processing apparatus via the network;
Storing and holding at least one file sent from the at least one peripheral device in response to the request;
Based on the at least one file stored and held, the software for each peripheral device is started,
Accept data to request processing to the peripheral device instructed from the application stored in the information processing device,
Request the software specific to the instructed peripheral device to create job data based on the received data,
A program control method, comprising: transmitting job data created by software specific to the designated peripheral device based on the data to the designated peripheral device. When a peripheral device that requests the file is instructed from the information processing apparatus,
24. The program control method according to claim 23, wherein a file describing software specific to the instructed peripheral device is requested to the instructed peripheral device. 24. The program control method according to claim 23, wherein when the information processing apparatus is connected to the network, the peripheral device requests a file describing software unique to the peripheral device. When the data to be processed is received from the application to the instructed peripheral device, a file describing software specific to the instructed peripheral device is requested to the instructed peripheral device. The program control method according to claim 23. The program control method according to claim 23, wherein object registration of the at least one peripheral device is performed with respect to the information processing apparatus.

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