JP2006018468A - Information processing device and installation control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate the installation work of a driver program, which is adapted to a peripheral device connected to a network, to an information processing device. <P>SOLUTION: In the installation of a driver for using a printer connected to the network to the information processing device, a printer determined to be adapted to the driver are extracted by using the presence and absence of a response to predetermined query information broadcasted to the network and an acquired MAC address. The extracted printer is presented in a printer list 701, for example, to a user, and the user selects the desired printer. If no IP address on the network is allocated to the selected printer, an IP address is set to the printer, and the driver is installed to the IP address of the selected printer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for installing a program for making a peripheral device available to an information processing device in an environment in which the information processing device and the peripheral device are connected via a network.

  In recent years, with the spread of peripheral devices such as information processing devices (hereinafter referred to as hosts), printing devices (hereinafter referred to as printers), scanners, facsimiles, and digital cameras, networks such as LANs have also become widespread. For this reason, usage forms in which peripheral devices are shared by a plurality of hosts on a network are increasing. In such a configuration, in order to make a peripheral device available from the host, it is necessary to install a program (referred to as a driver) dedicated to the peripheral device to the host.

  A printer that is an example of a peripheral device will be described. Normally, in order to perform printing with a printer, it is necessary to connect the host and the printer with some predetermined interface, and install software for printing control and print data generation called a printer driver on the host. This is because a printer control command and print data are transmitted to the printer through the interface connecting the host and the printer by the function of the printer driver.

  In such printer driver installation, if the host and printer are directly connected via a local port such as a parallel port or USB port, printing by that printer is possible by installing the printer driver for that local port. Can be in a state. However, when a printer is made available on the network as a network shared printer, it is necessary to specify the printer on the network when installing the printer driver.

  At this time, if a device such as a network interface card (hereinafter referred to as NIC) connected to the printer is in a factory shipment (initial) state, the NIC has a MAC address (Media Access Control) as a unique identification code for identifying the NIC. Only a hardware address such as (Address) is set. Therefore, when the NIC is in the initial state, it is necessary to first set unique identification information such as an IP address in the NIC in order to enable printing using the printer. Generally, setting of an IP address or the like is performed using a printer operation panel or a dedicated application for setting unique information such as an IP address from a host connected to a network. .

  As described above, unique identification information such as an IP address is set in the NIC. However, in order to enable printing by a network shared printer according to an instruction from the host, it is necessary to install a printer driver. That is, it is necessary to generate a dedicated network port on the host for the NIC (printer) in which the unique identification information is set, and to install a printer driver for the network port.

  Therefore, the procedure for making the network shared printer available is different from the procedure for installing the printer driver in the local port where the host and the printer are directly connected. That is, in order to make a network shared printer available from the host, (1) NIC (printer) is set with unique identification information such as an IP address, and (2) NIC is further set with unique identification information such as an IP address. Create a dedicated network port on the host for (printer), and (3) then install a printer driver necessary to print to that network port. There was a problem that it was necessary.

  Further, only a MAC address is defined in a factory shipment (initial state) NIC (printer) in which unique identification information such as an IP address on the network has not yet been set. It cannot be acquired. Therefore, when setting unique identification information such as an IP address in the NIC (printer) on the host connected to the network using the dedicated application, for example, the unique identification information is not set on the network (initial state). When there are a plurality of network devices, it is impossible to distinguish which is the printer (NIC) for which the driver is to be installed. For this reason, the subject that unique identification information, such as an IP address, may be set with respect to the wrong device on a network arises.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to simplify installation of a driver program corresponding to a peripheral device connected to a network to an information processing apparatus.

  For example, an object is to enable installation of a driver program for a network port as easily as installing a driver program for a local port such as a parallel port or a USB port.

  Another object of the present invention is to automatically set unique identification information for a network interface unit of a peripheral device when installing a driver program for the peripheral device.

  That is, it is an object of the present invention to make it possible to seamlessly execute necessary settings for the network interface unit as part of the flow of installing the driver program of the peripheral device, and to further improve the ease of installing the driver program.

In order to achieve the above object, an installation control method according to the present invention comprises:
An installation control method for installing a driver for using a peripheral device connected to a network into an information processing device,
An extraction step of broadcasting inquiry information to the network and extracting a peripheral device determined to correspond to the driver based on a response from a peripheral device connected to the network;
A selection step for allowing a user to select a desired peripheral device from the peripheral devices extracted in the extraction step;
If a unique address in the network is not assigned to the peripheral device selected in the selection step, a setting step for setting a unique address in the peripheral device;
An execution step of executing driver installation for the unique address of the peripheral device selected in the selection step.

In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is,
An information processing apparatus capable of installing a driver for using a peripheral device connected to a network,
An extraction means for broadcasting inquiry information to the network and extracting a peripheral device determined to correspond to the driver based on a response from a peripheral device connected to the network;
Selection means for allowing the user to select a desired peripheral device from the peripheral devices extracted by the extraction means;
If a unique address in the network is not assigned to the peripheral device selected by the selecting means, setting means for setting a unique address in the peripheral device;
And executing means for executing driver installation for the unique address of the peripheral device selected by the selecting means.

According to the present invention, installation of a driver program corresponding to a peripheral device connected to a network to an information processing apparatus is simplified.
Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to automatically set the unique identification information in the network interface unit of the peripheral device when installing the driver program of the peripheral device.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, a printer will be described as an example of a peripheral device that requires a driver program connected to a network. However, the application of the present invention is not limited to a printer, and a peripheral device in a form that can be used from a host by installing a driver in the host, such as a scanner, a copier, a facsimile machine, a multifunction machine, etc. The present invention can be applied to both.

[Printer configuration]
Before describing the network printer setting method and installation method according to the present embodiment, the configuration of a laser beam printer as a printer to which the present embodiment can be applied will be described with reference to FIG. Needless to say, the printer is not limited to a laser beam printer, and may be a printer of another printing method. Needless to say, the printer may be either a color printer or a monochrome printer.

  In FIG. 1, a laser beam printer main body 1500 inputs and stores print information (character code, etc.), form information, macro commands, etc. supplied from an externally connected host computer, and responds according to those information. A character pattern, a form pattern, and the like are created, and an image is formed on a recording paper or the like that is a recording medium. The operation panel 1501 is provided with switches for operation, LED indicators, and the like. The printer control unit 1000 controls each part in the printer 1500. Further, the printer control unit 1000 converts the character information into a video signal having a corresponding character pattern by analyzing the character information supplied from the host computer, and supplies the video signal to the laser driver 1502.

  A laser driver 1502 is a circuit for driving the semiconductor laser 1503, and switches on and off the laser light 1504 emitted from the semiconductor laser 1503 in accordance with a video signal input from the printer control unit 1000. The laser beam 1504 is scanned in the left-right direction by the rotary polygon mirror 1505, and after changing the direction by the reflecting mirror, reaches the electrostatic drum 1506. The surface of the electrostatic drum 1506 is uniformly charged in advance, and an electrostatic latent image (such as a character pattern) corresponding to a video signal is formed on the surface by irradiation with laser light.

  This latent image is developed by a developing unit 1507 disposed around the electrostatic drum 1506 and then transferred to a recording sheet. Cut sheet recording paper is used as this recording paper. The cut sheet recording paper is stored in a paper cassette 1508 mounted on the printer 1500, taken into the apparatus by a paper feed roller 1509 and a transport roller 1511, supplied to a position facing the electrostatic drum 1506, and developed image (toner Image) is transferred.

  The printer 1500 includes at least one card slot (not shown), and is configured to be able to connect an optional font card and a card (emulation card) having a different language system in addition to a built-in font. Further, it has a network interface and a communication interface, and is configured to be able to communicate with a host computer directly connected via a network or a cable.

  Although only one paper cassette is shown in FIG. 1, it is assumed that a plurality of paper cassettes for storing different papers are prepared and appropriately exchanged. Assume that the printer 1500 can identify the paper cassettes contained therein and identify the paper types in the individual paper cassettes.

[Internal configuration of printer and host]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the printer 1500 illustrated in FIG. 1 and a host computer 3000 (hereinafter referred to as a host) that can use the printer 1500. In FIG. 2, the printer 1500 and the host 3000 are communicably connected via a network (8, 18, 21).

  In the host 3000, the CPU 1 comprehensively controls each device connected to the system bus 4. The program ROM 32 included in the ROM 3 stores a control program of the CPU 1 and the like, and the data ROM 33 stores various data used when the CPU 1 executes processing. For example, the CPU 1 executes document processing in which graphics, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets, etc.) are mixed based on a document processing program stored in a program ROM 32 included in the ROM 3. The RAM 2 functions as a main memory and work area for the CPU 1.

  A keyboard controller (KBC) 5 controls input from a pointing device (not shown) such as a keyboard (KB) 9 or a mouse or tablet. A CRT controller (CRTC) 6 controls display on a CRT display (CRT) 10. The disk controller (DKC) 7 stores an operating system program, various applications, font data, user files, edit files, and the like. A hard disk (HD), a floppy (registered trademark) disk (FD), and a magneto-optical disk (MO) The access to the external memory 11 such as a rewritable recording device such as an IC card (semiconductor memory) and / or a read-only storage device such as a CD-ROM is controlled. The host 3000 can be connected to the network via the network interface 8. Then, by installing a printer driver in the host 3000, communication control processing with the printer 1500 connected via the network 21 can be executed.

  The CPU 1 executes, for example, an outline font rasterization process on the display information RAM set on the RAM 2 to enable WYSIWYG on the CRT 10. Further, the CPU 1 opens various windows registered based on commands instructed by a mouse cursor (not shown) on the CRT 10 and executes various data processing.

  On the other hand, in the printer 1500, the printer CPU (CPU) 12 executes various processes based on a control program stored in the program ROM 132 of the ROM 13 or a control program stored in the external memory 14. For example, overall access to various devices connected to the system bus 15 is controlled, or an image signal as output information is output to a printing unit (printer engine) 17 connected via the printing unit interface 16 ( Output a video signal to the laser driver 1502).

  A control program for the printer CPU 12 is stored in the program ROM 132 of the ROM 13, and font data used for generating the output information is stored in the font ROM 131. In the case of a printer without the external memory 14 such as HD, FD, MO, IC card, CD-ROM, etc., information used on the host is stored in the data ROM 133 of the ROM 13.

  The printer CPU 12 can communicate with the host 3000 via a NIC (network interface card) 18 as an input unit, and is configured to notify the host 3000 of information in the printer. The RAM 19 functions as a main memory and work area of the printer CPU 12, and is also used as an output information development area, an environment data storage area, and the like. The memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion board (not shown).

  The external memory 14 is configured by a hard disk (HD) in the present embodiment, and access control is performed by a disk controller (DKC) 20. The external memory 14 is connected as an option and stores font data, an emulation program, form data, and the like. The printer 1500 further includes a non-volatile RAM 22, and stores and holds printer mode setting information from the operation panel 1501, specific information regarding printer error information, and the like.

  The operation panel 1501 described with reference to FIG. 1 is also provided with switches for operation, an LED display, and the like. Further, the above-described external memories 11 and 14 are not limited to one, and at least one external memory is provided. In addition to the built-in font, an optional font card and a plurality of external memories storing programs for interpreting printer control languages having different language systems are connected. It may be configured to be able to.

[Overall configuration of printing system]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printing system in which the printer 1500 in FIG. 2 and the host 3000 are connected using a local area network (LAN) and the printer 1500 can be used by the host 3000.

  In FIG. 3, network printers 301 (302, 303) correspond to the printer 1500 shown in FIG. As described above, a network connection function (network interface circuit and control program) is added to each printer. That is, the network printer 301 (302, 303) is equipped with a NIC for accessing the network, and is connected to the LAN 300 (corresponding to the network 21) via this NIC. The host 304 corresponds to the host 3000 shown in FIG. 2 and is connected to the LAN 300. The host 304 can access the printers 301, 302, and 303 via the LAN 300.

  Although the configuration of the device according to the present embodiment has been described above, a specific implementation method will be described below with respect to a method for setting an IP address or the like to a network printer and a method for installing a driver program in the present embodiment.

<First Embodiment>
Details of the driver installation process (including IP address setting) according to the first embodiment in the printing system having the configuration described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 4A and 4B. When the host 304 is instructed to install a printer driver, the software for installing the printer driver is activated, and the processes shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B are started.

  First, in step S401, device search on the network is started, and response confirmation and information acquisition of each network device connected on the network are performed. In step S402, it is determined whether the printer exists on the network (whether the network printer exists) based on the response confirmation and the acquired information as a result of the device search in step S401. If there is no printer on the network as a result of this determination, there is no printer that is the target of the printer driver installed by the installation (hereinafter, such a printer is referred to as the corresponding printer). Interrupt.

  On the other hand, if a network printer exists, the process advances from step S402 to step S403, and it is determined whether or not all the printers searched in steps S403 to S409 are applicable printers. Register with.

  First, in step S403 and step S404, it is determined whether there is a possibility of the corresponding printer with reference to the MAC address which is the hardware address of the NIC in the network printer. In step S403, using the vendor ID defined in the upper bits of the MAC address, it is determined whether it is the vendor ID of the corresponding printer. In step S404, the network device is a NIC (printer) that uses the individual address part (device ID) defined in the low-order bits of the MAC address and to which the printer driver currently installed by the network device can be applied ( It is determined whether the corresponding NIC). In order to determine whether the NIC is the corresponding NIC from the MAC address, it is necessary to assign the MAC address according to a predetermined rule. This can be realized, for example, by assigning a specific range to the same type of NIC, or by giving a specific bit of a MAC address the meaning of specific model information.

  If the MAC address is the corresponding vendor ID and indicates the corresponding device ID, the process proceeds to step S405, and it is further determined whether the NIC has an IP address set. If the IP address has been set, the process proceeds to step S406, and further printer detailed information is acquired using the IP address. The detailed printer information can be acquired by referring to MIB (Management Information Base) information or the like of the printer device using SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), for example. In step S407, the printer detailed information acquired in step S406 is used to finally determine whether the printer driver to be installed is applicable (applicable printer).

  If it is determined in step S407 that the printer driver to be installed is an applicable printer, the process advances to step S408 to add the printer information to the printer list. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S405 that the IP address is not set, the process advances to step S409 to add the “unset” device to the printer list.

  When registration in the printer list is completed as described above, the process proceeds to step S410, and it is determined whether all network printers searched in step S401 have been checked. If there is an unchecked network printer, the process returns to step S403 to check the next network printer.

  If the MAC address does not have the corresponding vendor ID in step S403, or if the MAC address does not have the corresponding device ID in step S404, the result of referring to the detailed information in step S407 is not the corresponding printer. If it is determined that the network printer is not registered in the printer list, the process proceeds to step S410 to check the next printer. In this way, in the printer list, printers that have been set as IP printers whose IP addresses have been set and printers that have IP addresses that have not been set up and that may be printers are registered.

  If it is determined in step S410 that all the devices on the network searched in step S401 have been checked in steps S403 to S409, the process proceeds to step S411, and whether or not there is a corresponding model in the printer list. Make a decision. If the printer list is empty, there is no network printer to be installed, so the installation process is interrupted and the installer is terminated. If the installation process is interrupted in step S402 or step S411, the user may be notified that the installation process has been interrupted (incomplete).

  If it is determined in step S411 that the printer is registered in the printer list, the process advances to step S412 to present the printer list to the user and cause the user to select a network printer to be installed. FIG. 7 shows an example of a UI screen when a printer is selected in step S412.

  In FIG. 7, a printer list 701 is displayed in a window 700, and a desired printer can be selected by a cursor 702 operated by a pointing device. By selecting a desired printer with the cursor 702 and clicking the execute button 703, the selection operation is completed.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the NIC in the state where only the MAC address (hardware address) is set and the unique identification information such as the IP address is not set (factory shipment (initial) state) is a device in the printer list. “Unset” is displayed in the name column (step S409). This is because, at this time, only the MAC address is known, and for example, detailed information about the printer cannot be acquired based on MIB information defined for the NIC using SNMP. On the other hand, if an IP address has already been set, detailed information on the printer is acquired as described above (step S406), and the acquired device name and IP address are displayed.

  If a printer whose IP address is “unset” is selected from the list, the process proceeds from step S413 to step S414, and IP address registration setting processing is performed for the selected printer. If the IP address is set, the process proceeds to step S415, and further printer detailed information is acquired using the IP address. Note that the processing in step S415 is similar to that in step S406. In step S416, the printer detailed information acquired in step S415 is used to determine whether the printer driver to be installed is applicable.

  If it is determined in step S416 that the printer is applicable, that is, if the printer is a printer to which a printer driver is to be installed, the process proceeds to step S417, and network port generation processing is performed for the NIC. If a network port is generated, the process advances to step S418 to perform printer driver installation processing for that port. When the printer driver installation process is completed, the printer is ready to print.

  If it is determined in step S416 that the printer is not applicable, the process advances to step S419 to display that the printer is not a corresponding printer, and the printer is deleted from the printer list in step S420. Then, the process returns to step S412, and the updated printer list is presented to the user, and the printer is selected again.

  If a printer with an IP address set is selected from the printer list, it is confirmed in steps S406 and S407 that the selected printer is the corresponding printer, and the process proceeds directly from step S413 to step S417. A network port is generated, and the printer driver installation process is completed in step S418.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, device driver installation work for a peripheral device connected via a network is performed on a local port such as a parallel port or a USB port. It can be done almost as easily as installation.

  Further, when the NIC attached to the peripheral device is in a state where the unique identification information such as the IP address is not set (initial), the unique identification information such as the IP address is automatically set in the NIC. That is, in the course of the installation work, setting of the IP address and the like to the NIC is seamlessly realized.

  Further, according to the first embodiment, the estimated peripheral devices to which the driver to be installed among a plurality of peripheral devices on the network can be applied are listed and presented to the user. Let the user select a peripheral device. In creating this list, it is determined using the MAC address whether the driver is applicable. For this reason, even when there are a plurality of peripheral devices to which an unconfigured (initial) NIC is attached on the network, an appropriate device can be presented to the user as a device list from among the plurality of devices. it can.

  In the first embodiment, the response from the network device is confirmed at the time of network search in step S401, and it is confirmed whether the corresponding vendor is based on the vendor ID of the MAC address in the acquired information (step S403). However, in step S401, when it is possible to determine whether the device belongs to the corresponding vendor by performing network communication using a dedicated protocol that only the corresponding device can respond to, it is possible to omit the subsequent vendor ID confirmation using the MAC address. In this case, when the response is received in step S402, it is guaranteed that the vendor is the corresponding vendor, and therefore the process of step S403 is not necessary in the flowchart of FIG. 4A.

  In the first embodiment, the MAC address is acquired by broadcasting the inquiry information in step S401. In step S402, whether there is a response is determined based on whether there is a device that has returned the MAC address. The device search in step S401 is not limited to the acquisition of such a MAC address. For example, the response can be confirmed by device search using a search packet such as inquiry information or SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol). If information indicating the model name, printer attributes, manufacturer name, and model name is obtained as a result of such a search, the printers registered in the printer list are narrowed down using such information. Needless to say, it may be configured.

  In the first embodiment, after an IP address is set, printer detailed information is acquired using this IP address, and it is confirmed whether the printer is a corresponding printer. However, if it is possible to determine whether the peripheral device can be applied to the driver to be installed based on the vendor ID and device ID based on the MAC address, the confirmation based on the printer detailed information after obtaining the IP address can be omitted. In this case, since the printer ID is guaranteed to be the corresponding device when the device ID determines that the corresponding peripheral device is the target printer in step S404, the process of step S407 is not necessary in the flowchart of FIG. 4A. In this case, since the printer registered in the printer list is guaranteed to be a printer regardless of whether the IP address has been set or not, in steps S415, S416, S419, and S420 in the flowchart of FIG. Processing is also unnecessary.

  As described above, if the MAC address assignment rule is determined so that the correspondence between the driver and the peripheral device can be determined by the MAC address, the final confirmation as to whether or not the driver to be installed is compatible can be obtained after setting the IP address. Therefore, it is not necessary to use the detailed information, and the ease of driver installation is improved.

Second Embodiment
In the first embodiment, the printer IDs to be registered in the printer list are narrowed down with reference to the device ID obtained from the MAC address. Consider a case where a new printer is connected to a network and the printer driver is installed using the procedure of the first embodiment. At this time, if many printers of the same model as the new printer already exist on the network, all of them will be registered in the printer list, and the necessary printer will be specified from the printer list. It becomes annoying. In particular, if there are a plurality of printers that are the same model and have no IP address set, it is difficult to immediately find a desired printer from the printer list.

  Therefore, in the second embodiment, a printer newly connected to the network is registered in the printer list, thereby making it easier to specify the printer in the printer list. Details of the installation processing according to the second embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the flowchart of FIG. 5, steps S501 to S503 and S505 to S511 are the same as steps S401 to S403 and S405 to S411 of FIG. 4A. Further, the processing after the YES branch in step S511 is executed in the same way as in FIG. 4B. In the following, parts different from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

  If it is determined in step S503 that the vendor ID is applicable, the process proceeds to step S504. In step S504, a dedicated search packet is transmitted, an “initial flag” is received as a response, and it is determined whether the initial flag is “ON” or “OFF”. The “initial flag” is a function that the NIC has in advance, and is “ON” when it does not have an IP address or when a certain time has not yet elapsed after supplying power to the NIC. If the detailed information such as the status and the IP address has already been set, or if a certain time has passed after the power is supplied to the NIC, the status is “OFF”.

  The ON / OFF control of the “initial flag” by the printer (NIC) will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 6 is started when the power of the printer (NIC) is turned on, power is supplied to the NIC, and the NIC system is started.

  First, in step S601, it is determined whether detailed information such as an IP address is set in the NIC. If the IP address has already been set in step S601, the process proceeds to step S604, the “initial flag” is set to “OFF”, and the process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S601 that detailed information such as an IP address has not yet been set, the process proceeds to step S602, and the above-described “initial flag” is set to the “ON” state. Thereafter, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed by a function such as a timer provided in the NIC, and the initial flag is kept in the “ON” state until the predetermined time has elapsed (step S603). When the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds from step S603 to step S604, the above-mentioned “initial flag” is set to the “OFF” state, and this process is terminated.

Returning to FIG. 5, when the initial flag of the network printer is “ON” in step S504, the process proceeds to step S505, and it is further determined whether or not the NIC has an IP address set. The subsequent steps are the same as steps S405 to S411 in FIG. 4A. As a result of such processing, a printer list as shown in FIG. 7 is generated, but the printers registered in the printer list in the processing of the second embodiment are narrowed down by the initial flag.
(A) A printer whose IP address has not been set when the power is turned on within 30 minutes after the power is turned on.
(B) Within 30 minutes after the power is turned on and the IP address was not set when the power was turned on, but after that the IP address was set and the printer was determined to be the printer by the printer detailed information,
It turns out that.

  If the initial flag is “OFF” in step S504, the printer is not added to the printer list. By making such a determination, a printer with an IP address already set (there is a high possibility that such a printer has already been installed with a driver), and a printer that has been over 30 minutes since the power was turned on (such as this) New printers that are newly connected to the network but are likely to be excluded from the installation process) are excluded from the printer list. Therefore, it is possible to generate a printer list with effective narrowing down. The process of selecting and installing a printer using the printer list is the same as in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  In the second embodiment, it is determined whether or not the IP address has been set when the power is turned on, but the on / off state of the initial flag may be controlled only under the condition that the power is turned on within a predetermined time.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, in the generation of the device list, it is determined whether or not the device list can be registered in consideration of the time from the power-on of the device. For this reason, even when there are a plurality of devices on which an unconfigured (initial) NIC is mounted on the network, it is possible to present a more appropriate device from the plurality of devices to the user as a device list. it can.

<Third Embodiment>
In the first and second embodiments, the printers registered in the printer list are narrowed down using the device ID and the initial flag included in the MAC address. However, in the first and second embodiments, it is necessary to assign a MAC address to a predetermined rule or to provide a function for outputting an initial flag to the printer. In the third and fourth embodiments described below, in order to improve versatility, the narrowing-down process in creating the printer list is simplified by using only the vendor ID for the MAC address.

  Details of the processing according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. When the host 304 is instructed to install the printer driver, the software for installing the printer driver is activated, and the processing shown in FIG. 8 is started.

  In step S801, a screen for selecting whether the printer that the user wants to instruct to print is a printer connected to a port already registered on the host, such as a local port, or a printer connected to the network (LAN) is displayed. Then, select either one.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI screen displayed in step S801 when selecting a registered port or a network. In FIG. 10, reference numeral 1001 denotes an option when installing a printer connected to a port already registered on the host, such as a local port. Hereinafter, it is referred to as an “existing port” for convenience. Reference numeral 1002 is an option when installing a printer connected to a network (LAN), and is hereinafter referred to as “network search” for convenience.

  If “existing port” is selected in step S801, the process advances to step S814 to display an existing port list and allow the user to select an existing port. When a desired existing port is selected, the process advances to step S810 to start installing a printer driver for the selected existing port.

  On the other hand, if “network search” is selected in step S801, the process advances to step S802 to search for a printer to which the printer driver to be installed is applicable on the network to which the host is connected. Generate a printer list. The printer list creation processing in step S802 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When “network search” is selected in step S801 and the process proceeds to step S802, first, in steps S901 and S902, the same processes as in steps S401 and S402 described above are performed. That is, in step S901, a device search on the network is started, and response confirmation and information acquisition of each network device connected on the network are performed. In step S902, whether or not a printer exists on the network (whether or not a network printer exists) is determined based on the response confirmation and acquired information as a result of the search in step S901. If there is a network printer in step S902, the process proceeds to step S903, where the vendor ID defined in the upper bits of the MAC address (hardware address) of the NIC is used to determine whether it is the vendor ID of the printer. judge. This is because the possibility of specifying an incorrect printer is reduced by narrowing down the printers registered in the printer list as much as possible.

  If it is determined in step S903 that the vendor ID is that of the printer to be installed, the process advances to step S904 to determine whether the NIC has an IP address set. If the IP address has already been set, the process advances to step S905 to acquire printer detailed information using the IP address. The detailed printer information can be acquired by referring to the MIB information of the printer device using SNMP, for example. In step S906, it is determined from the printer detailed information acquired in step S905 whether the printer driver to be installed is applicable. If the printer driver to be installed is applicable, the printer is added to the printer list in step S907.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S904 that an IP address has not yet been set, the process advances to step S908 to add the “unset” device to the printer list.

  When registration in the printer list is completed as described above, the process advances to step S909 to determine whether all network printers searched in step S901 have been checked. If there is an unchecked network printer, the process returns to step S903 to check the next network printer.

  If the MAC address does not have the corresponding vendor ID in step S903, or if it is determined in step S906 that the printer is not the corresponding printer, the network printer is not registered in the printer list and the next printer is not registered. The process advances to step S909 to check the printer.

  If it is determined in step S909 that all the devices on the network searched in step S901 have been checked in steps S903 to S908, the process advances to step S910 to check whether there is a corresponding model in the printer list. Make a decision. If the printer list is empty, there is no network printer to be installed.

  In step S910, if there is a printer to which the printer driver to be installed can be applied in the printer list, the network search process shown in FIG. 9 ends.

  In step S910, if there is no printer to which the printer driver to be installed can be applied in the printer list, the process advances to step S911 to select whether to perform a manual search by IP address. When performing a manual search using the IP address, the process proceeds to step S912. In step S912, an IP address to be searched is input, a manual search is attempted using the IP address, and if the corresponding IP address exists, the process returns to step S903.

  Next, returning to the flowchart of FIG. 8, the continuation of the installation flow will be described. If the printer does not exist in the printer list in step S803, the process advances to step S813 to allow the user to select whether to interrupt the printer driver installation or start the installation work again from the beginning. When the installation process interruption is selected, the printer driver installation process is interrupted and the installation operation is terminated. If continuation of the installation process is instructed, the process returns to step S801.

  On the other hand, if the corresponding printer exists in the printer list in step S803, the process proceeds to step S804, and the user selects a network printer to be installed from the printer list. Note that when selecting the printer, the UI screen described with reference to FIG. 7 can be used.

  If a printer with an IP address “not set” is selected in step S804, the process advances from step S805 to step S806 to perform IP address registration setting processing. When the registration setting process for the IP address is completed, the process advances to step S807 to acquire printer detailed information for the set IP address. In step S808, it is confirmed from the printer detailed information (device name and the like) whether the NIC that was “unset” selected in step S804 is the printer that is actually to be installed.

  If it is determined in step S808 that the printer is the corresponding printer, or if a printer having an IP address already set in step S804 is selected, the process advances to step S809. In step S809, since this is the printer for which the printer driver to be printed is to be installed, network port generation processing is performed for the NIC. If a network port is generated in step S809, in step S810, printer driver installation processing is performed on the port in the same manner as in the case of “existing port”.

  If it is determined in step S807 that the printer detailed information is acquired and checked, and if it is determined that the printer is not the printer to be installed, the process proceeds to step S811. In this case, since an IP address has been set for a printer that is not the printer that the user wanted to use as a network printer, an initialization process is instructed to the NIC. The host returns to the factory default state by sending an initialization packet to the NIC, for example, using a dedicated protocol, or using SNMP. The initialization method at this time is not particularly limited to these methods. In step S811, after the NIC is initialized, the state becomes “not set” again. In step S812, the NIC is deleted from the printer list, and the process returns to step S803.

  When the printer driver installation process is completed in step S810, the installation is completed and the printer is ready for printing.

  In the third embodiment, a response is confirmed from the network device at the time of network search in step S901, and it is confirmed whether the corresponding vendor is based on the vendor ID of the MAC address in the acquired information (step S903). However, if it is possible to determine whether the device belongs to the corresponding vendor by performing network communication using a dedicated protocol that only the corresponding device can respond to, it is possible to omit subsequent vendor ID confirmation using the MAC address. In this case, when there is a response in step S902, it is guaranteed that the vendor is the corresponding vendor, and therefore the processing in step S903 is not necessary in the flowchart of FIG.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, when a plurality of unconfigured (initial) devices on the network are registered in the device list and the wrong device is selected from the device list, The NIC of the selected device is initialized and deleted from the device list. For this reason, setting unique identification information such as an IP address to the wrong device can be prevented.

  In addition, there is a problem of causing confusion when the user does not realize that an IP address or the like has been accidentally set to another network device. However, according to the third embodiment, such a problem is solved. The

<Fourth embodiment>
A fourth embodiment will be described. 11, steps S1101 to S1110, S1113, and S1114 are the same processes as steps S801 to S810, S813, and S814 of FIG.

  If it is determined in step S1107 that the printer detailed information is acquired and checked, and if it is determined that the printer is not the printer to be installed, the process advances to step S1111. In this case, since an IP address has been set for a printer that is not the printer that the user wished to use as a network printer, an "IP address has been set for another network device" on the screen of the host where the installation is being performed. A warning screen is displayed to notify you. An example of the warning screen is shown in FIG.

  In the example of FIG. 12, the message “Warning: The IP address was set by another network device. Please select the correct device and continue installation.” Is displayed. This makes it possible to recognize that this has occurred, and it is possible to select the correct device again and continue the installation. Note that the contents and method of the warning screen display at this time are not particularly limited to this.

  The method for notifying the user is not limited to this. In addition to displaying the warning screen as shown in FIG. 12, the user may set the wrong setting such as displaying a warning message on the printer list screen during installation. It goes without saying that any notification means may be used as long as it can be recognized. After displaying the warning screen in step S1111, the device is deleted from the printer list in step S1112, and the process returns to step S1103.

  In step S415, the procedure for deleting the non-corresponding device from the printer list and continuing the processing has been described. For example, in order to make the user recognize that the wrong setting has been made, it is displayed as it is in the printer list screen. Needless to say, you can leave it alone.

  As described above, when the printer driver installation process is completed in step S1110, the installation is completed and the printer is ready for printing.

  As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, when a plurality of unconfigured (initial) devices on the network are registered in the device list and the wrong device is selected from the device list, This is notified to the user. For this reason, setting unique identification information such as an IP address in the wrong device can be prevented, and user confusion at the time of installation can be prevented.

<Other embodiments>
Although the embodiments have been described in detail above, the present invention can take an embodiment as, for example, a system, an apparatus, a method, a program, or a storage medium, and specifically includes a plurality of devices. The present invention may be applied to a system that is configured, or may be applied to an apparatus that includes a single device.

  In the present invention, a software program (in the embodiment, a program corresponding to the flowchart shown in the figure) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment is directly or remotely supplied to the system or apparatus, and the computer of the system or apparatus Is also achieved by reading and executing the supplied program code.

  Accordingly, since the functions of the present invention are implemented by computer, the program code installed in the computer also implements the present invention. In other words, the present invention includes a computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention.

  In that case, as long as it has the function of a program, it may be in the form of object code, a program executed by an interpreter, script data supplied to the OS, or the like.

  As a recording medium for supplying the program, for example, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card ROM, DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD-R) and the like.

  As another program supply method, a client computer browser is used to connect to an Internet homepage, and the computer program of the present invention itself or a compressed file including an automatic installation function is downloaded from the homepage to a recording medium such as a hard disk. Can also be supplied. 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 that allows a plurality of users to download a program file for realizing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer is also included in 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.

  In addition to the functions of the above-described embodiments being realized by the computer executing the read program, the OS running on the computer based on an instruction of the program is a part of the actual processing. Alternatively, the functions of the above-described embodiment can be realized by performing all of them and performing the processing.

  Furthermore, after the program read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board or The CPU or the like provided in 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.

It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the laser printer as a printer applicable to the setting method and installation method of the network printer of this invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a host computer and a printer that can configure the network printer setting method and the installation method of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example on the network in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the installation process by 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the installation process by 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the installation process by 2nd Embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating control of an initial flag on a printing apparatus according to a second embodiment. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printer list of UI screen contents in the first and second embodiments. FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the installation process by 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the installation process in 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the content of UI screen in 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the installation process by 4th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the warning screen by 4th Embodiment.

Claims (15)

An installation control method for installing a driver for using a peripheral device connected to a network into an information processing device,
An extraction step of broadcasting inquiry information to the network and extracting a peripheral device determined to correspond to the driver based on a response from a peripheral device connected to the network;
A selection step for allowing a user to select a desired peripheral device from the peripheral devices extracted in the extraction step;
If a unique address in the network is not assigned to the peripheral device selected in the selection step, a setting step for setting a unique address in the peripheral device;
An installation control method comprising: an execution step of executing a driver installation for the unique address of the peripheral device selected in the selection step.   The installation control method according to claim 1, wherein the extracting step extracts a peripheral device that has responded to the inquiry information from peripheral devices connected to the network.   The extraction step acquires a fixed address fixedly assigned in advance to a network interface of a peripheral device connected to the network according to the inquiry information, and uses the fixed address to determine a peripheral addressed to correspond to the driver The installation control method according to claim 1, wherein an apparatus is extracted.   Of the peripheral devices extracted in the extraction step, more detailed information is acquired for the peripheral device for which a unique address in the network has already been set, and the driver is not supported based on the detailed information. The installation control method according to claim 1, wherein the determined peripheral device is excluded.   The detailed information of the selected peripheral device is acquired using the unique address set in the setting step, and the execution step is prohibited when it is determined that the driver is not compatible based on the detailed information The installation control method according to claim 1, further comprising a step.   The installation control method according to claim 1, wherein the extraction step determines whether the peripheral device corresponds to the driver by specifying a vendor and a device type based on the response.   2. The installation control method according to claim 1, wherein the extraction step excludes peripheral devices that have passed a predetermined time since the power was turned on from peripheral devices extracted based on the response. .   The installation control method according to claim 1, wherein the extracting step excludes peripheral devices that have already been set with unique addresses when power is turned on from peripheral devices extracted based on the response.   6. The installation control method according to claim 5, wherein the prohibiting step further invalidates the unique address set in the setting step when it is determined that the peripheral device does not support the driver.   6. The installation control method according to claim 5, wherein the prohibiting step further notifies that when it is determined that the peripheral device does not support the driver.   11. The installation control method according to claim 1, wherein the selection step displays a list of peripheral devices extracted in the extraction step. In the selection step, a list of peripheral devices extracted in the extraction step is displayed.
The installation control method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the prohibiting step deletes the peripheral device from the list when it is determined that the peripheral device does not support the driver. An information processing apparatus capable of installing a driver for using a peripheral device connected to a network,
An extraction means for broadcasting inquiry information to the network and extracting a peripheral device determined to correspond to the driver based on a response from a peripheral device connected to the network;
Selection means for allowing the user to select a desired peripheral device from the peripheral devices extracted by the extraction means;
If a unique address in the network is not assigned to the peripheral device selected by the selecting means, setting means for setting a unique address in the peripheral device;
An information processing apparatus comprising: execution means for executing driver installation for the unique address of the peripheral device selected by the selection means.   A control program for causing a computer to execute the installation control method according to claim 1.   A storage medium storing a control program for causing a computer to execute the installation control method according to claim 1.

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