JP2006088471A - Print system and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print system in which the set information of a printer is set automatically for each set item with reference to the set information of a plurality of printers connected with a network, and to provide its control system. <P>SOLUTION: In the print system where a plurality of printers, each set with a plurality of set items and different set information, are connected through a network, each printer comprises a means for storing a printer being referred in correspondence with each set item, a means for acquiring the set value of a set item from the printer being referred thus stored, and a means for setting the set item of its own printer with the set value thus acquired. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system and a control method thereof, and more particularly to a printing system that automatically sets setting information of a printing apparatus with reference to setting information of a plurality of printing apparatuses connected to a network for each setting item, and a control method thereof. .

  In recent years, information devices such as personal computers, printers, copiers, and facsimiles are connected through a network such as a LAN (= Local Area Network) in the company, and information is processed efficiently. The number and types of information devices that are required tend to increase.

  For example, as for a printing apparatus connected to a network, a printing system configured to connect a plurality of printing apparatuses to a network and efficiently print information according to applications and purposes is also provided.

  In addition, various server devices are connected to the network, and this server device detects the operating state of many information devices connected to the network and information devices that are newly connected or disconnected. By managing, many information devices connected to the network are operated efficiently.

  When a new information device is connected to or disconnected from the network, it is necessary to set up various server devices that manage these information devices and networks. As the type and number increase, it increases.

  Therefore, it is desired to propose a method and apparatus that can automatically set the setting work of information devices and various servers connected to the network.

  For example, Patent Document 1 proposes an image forming apparatus that acquires and automatically updates the latest firmware and driver stored in a server connected via a network. Also, in Patent Document 2, the processing status of a plurality of print servers connected via a network is detected, and when a failure occurs in a print server, the setting information of other print servers is copied to create a print environment. Proposed printers and host devices have been proposed.

Further, Patent Document 3 requests setting information including the MAC address of its own printer from a server connected via a network, and obtains setting information corresponding to the MAC address from the server to set the printer. A network device and a setting method for automatically setting information have been proposed.
JP 2000-330917 A JP 2000-089922 A JP 2004-078392 A

  By the way, the proposals shown in the above Patent Documents 1 to 3 need to be set one by one when setting the printing apparatus.

  In addition, the apparatus to which the setting information is referred must hold all the setting values required by the printing apparatus for each printing apparatus from which the setting information is requested, and the number of requesting sources increases. As a result, the area for storing the setting information also increases.

  Further, when the reference destination apparatus is disconnected from the network, it is necessary to update the reference destination information held by the request source to the latest information for each request source printing apparatus.

  In addition, when updating the setting information, since the setting information is collectively acquired from the reference destination device and automatically updated, it is possible to acquire the setting information from the desired device for each setting item and automatically update for each setting item. Have difficulty.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide a printing system that automatically sets setting information of a printing apparatus by referring to setting information of a plurality of printing apparatuses connected to a network for each setting item, and a control method thereof.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is a printing system in which a plurality of setting items and a plurality of printing devices set with different setting values are connected via a network. Reference destination information storage means for storing a reference printing apparatus corresponding to each setting item, and setting value acquisition for acquiring the setting value of the setting item from the reference destination printing apparatus stored in the reference destination information storage means And setting value setting means for setting the setting value acquired by the setting value acquisition means in the setting item of the self-printing apparatus.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the reference destination information storage means uses a priority ordering means to assign a plurality of reference destination printing apparatuses corresponding to the setting items of the setting information. Is set and stored, and the setting value acquisition unit acquires the setting value from a reference destination printing apparatus based on the priority set by the priority ordering unit.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the invention, the setting value acquisition unit acquires a priority order of the reference destination printing device in addition to the setting value acquired from the reference destination printing device. A destination priority information acquisition unit, wherein the priority ranking unit reflects the priority of the reference destination printing device acquired by the reference destination priority information acquisition unit, and prioritizes each reference destination printing device. Is set.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the third aspect, the prioritizing means sets the self-printing device at the lowest priority of the reference-destination printing device.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, the setting value acquisition means sets the setting values in order from the reference destination printing apparatus set in the priority ordering means and having a higher priority. When there is no response from the reference destination, the setting value is sequentially requested and acquired from the reference destination printing apparatus having a lower priority.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the printing system in which a plurality of setting devices and a plurality of printing devices having different setting values are set via a network, each printing device sets the setting information. A reference destination information storage unit that stores a reference destination printing device that acquires firmware of an operation program to perform, a firmware acquisition unit that acquires the firmware from a reference destination printing device stored in the reference destination information storage unit, and And firmware application means for applying the firmware acquired by the firmware acquisition means to the self-printing apparatus.

  The invention of claim 7 further comprises priority ranking means for prioritizing a plurality of reference destination printing apparatuses that acquire the firmware according to the invention of claim 6, and priority is given to the priority ranking means. An order is set, the reference destination information storage means stores the priority order set by the prioritization means, and the firmware acquisition means prints the reference destination based on the priority order set by the prioritization means. The firmware is acquired from a device.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to claim 7, further comprising reference destination priority information acquisition means for acquiring a priority order of the reference destination printing apparatus, wherein the priority ordering means is the reference destination. The priority order of each reference destination printing apparatus is set by reflecting the priority order of the reference destination printing apparatus acquired by the priority order information acquisition unit.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any of the seventh to eighth aspects, the prioritizing means sets the self-printing device at the lowest priority of the reference destination printing device. And

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the seventh to ninth aspects, the firmware acquisition unit loads the firmware in order from a reference destination printing apparatus having a higher priority set by the prioritization unit. When the request is made and there is no response from the reference destination, the firmware is sequentially requested from the reference destination printing apparatus having a lower priority order.

  The invention of claim 11 is a method for controlling a printing system in which a plurality of setting items related to a printing operation and a plurality of printing apparatuses in which setting information is set differently are connected via a network. Each printing device stores the reference destination printing device in the reference destination information storage unit corresponding to each setting item, and sets the setting value of the setting item from the reference destination printing device stored in the reference destination information storage unit The setting value is acquired by the value acquisition unit, and the setting value acquired by the setting value acquisition unit is set in the setting item of the printing apparatus by the setting value setting unit.

  According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the eleventh aspect, a plurality of reference destination printing devices are further prioritized and set by the prioritizing means corresponding to each setting item of the setting information, The reference destination information storage means stores the priority order set by the prioritization means, and the setting value acquisition means receives the set value from the reference destination printing device based on the priority order set by the priority ordering means. It is characterized by acquiring.

  The invention of claim 13 is the invention of claim 12, wherein the setting value acquisition means sets the priority of the reference destination printing device in addition to the setting value acquired from the reference destination printing device. Further obtained by the order information obtaining means, and the prioritizing means sets the priority order of each reference destination printing device reflecting the priority order of the reference destination printing device obtained by the reference destination priority order information obtaining means. It is characterized by doing.

  According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the thirteenth aspect, the prioritizing means sets the self-printing device at the lowest priority of the reference destination printing device.

  According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the setting value acquisition unit requests the setting value in order from the reference destination printing apparatus set in the priority ordering unit and has a high priority, and there is no response from the reference destination. Is characterized in that a setting value is requested and obtained from a reference destination printing apparatus having a lower priority in order.

  According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control method for a printing system in which a plurality of setting devices and a plurality of printing devices each having setting information having different setting values are connected via a network. The reference destination printing device that acquires the firmware of the operation program for setting information is stored in the reference destination information storage unit, and the firmware is acquired from the reference destination printing device stored in the reference destination information storage unit by the firmware acquisition unit The firmware obtained by the firmware obtaining unit is applied to the self-printing apparatus by the firmware applying unit.

  According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the sixteenth aspect, a plurality of reference destination printing apparatuses for obtaining the firmware are further prioritized and set by a priority ordering unit, and the reference destination information storage unit is , Storing the priority set by the prioritizing means, wherein the firmware acquiring means acquires the firmware from a reference destination printing apparatus based on the priority set by the prioritizing means. .

  The invention according to claim 18 is the invention according to claim 17, wherein the reference destination priority information acquisition unit further acquires the priority order of the reference destination printing apparatus, and the priority ordering unit is further configured to acquire the reference destination priority order. The priority order of each reference destination printing apparatus is set by reflecting the priority order of the reference destination printing apparatus acquired by the information acquisition means.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the seventeenth to eighteenth aspects, the prioritizing means sets the self-printing device at the lowest priority of the reference-destination printing device. And

  According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the seventeenth to nineteenth aspects, the firmware acquisition unit loads the firmware in order from a reference destination printing device having a higher priority set by the prioritization unit. When the request is made and there is no response from the reference destination, the firmware is sequentially requested from the reference destination printing apparatus having a lower priority order.

  According to the printing system and the control method of the present invention, each printing device of a plurality of printing devices connected to the network stores the setting value of the setting information of the printing device for each item in the reference destination information storage unit. If you want to change the setting information because it is automatically set from the reference printing device, even if there are multiple printing devices, you can simply change the setting information for one printing device, It can be changed by reflecting the setting information of the printing apparatus.

  In addition, since the setting values of the reference destination printing device prioritized for each setting item are sequentially referenced and set, even if there are no models with the same setting item group on the same network, the same setting is made. It can be set by referring to the setting value of the model having the item.

  Even when the reference destination printing device is disconnected from the network, it is automatically and reliably set by acquiring setting values from the reference destinations with lower priority among the reference destination information held. Since setting values of information can be set, there is no need to worry about which printing device the printing device whose network location is to be changed is to be referred to, and the printing device whose network location has been changed. It is not necessary to change the reference destination information of the printing apparatus that has been referred to as the reference destination.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a printing system and a control method thereof according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of a network system 100 to which a printing apparatus 3 constituting a printing system according to the present invention is connected.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a network system 100 includes a printing apparatus 3 according to the present invention and a plurality of printing apparatuses 1, a printing apparatus 2, a printing apparatus 4, a printing apparatus 5, and the like having the same functions as the printing apparatus 3. (Hereinafter, a case where a plurality of printing apparatuses 1,... Is referred to as “printing apparatus n”) is connected via a local area network (LAN) 50.

  A plurality of personal computers and server devices (not shown) are connected to the LAN 50, and the personal computers and server devices can instruct the printing device n to print information and print it out. .

  The server device also manages the printing device n and personal computer connected to the LAN 50.

  The printing apparatus n performs a printing process based on setting information stored in the printing apparatus n for a job sent from a personal computer, a server apparatus, or the like.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of the printing apparatus 3 according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the printing apparatus 3 includes an input / output interface 31, a control unit 32, a control panel 33, a RAM 34, a boot ROM 35, a setting information storage unit 36, and a print processing unit 38. .

  The control unit 32 is a so-called CPU (Central Processing Unit), and performs overall control of the entire printing apparatus 3 and executes software stored in the boot ROM 35 or loads software from the ROM 35 to the RAM 34 and executes it. The execution result is stored in the setting information storage unit 36 or transmitted to the print processing unit to be printed out, or communicated with other devices connected to the LAN 50 through the input / output interface 31.

  The input / output interface 31 performs input / output control of various data and control signals to / from external devices such as a printing device n, a server device, and a personal computer connected to the printing device 3 connected to the LAN 50.

  The control panel 33 includes operation buttons for performing various setting operations of the printing apparatus 3 by the user, a screen for displaying an operation state and the like of the printing apparatus 3, and displays the operation state and the like of the printing apparatus 3.

  The setting information storage unit 36 is used for various types of control of the printing apparatus 3, for example, printing setting information such as printing quality setting and paper setting of the printing apparatus 3, setting information on available authority of the printing apparatus 3, printing apparatus 3, information such as the IP address and failure notification destination (for example, e-mail address), setting values set corresponding to various setting items of the setting information of the printing apparatus 3, and reference destinations referred to when setting the setting values A master printing device reference table in which information of the printing device n is tabulated is stored.

  Items included in the setting information can be arbitrarily set, and the control unit 32 performs various controls according to the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 36.

  The print processing unit 38 controls a print engine (not shown) of the printing apparatus 3 to perform print processing based on the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 36 for information transmitted from a personal computer, a server device, or the like.

  FIG. 3 shows a basic control method in which the printing apparatus 3 configured as described above acquires the setting values of the setting information of the printing apparatus 3 from other printing apparatuses n connected to the LAN 50 for each setting item and automatically sets them. This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the printing device 3 connected to the LAN 50 is activated (step S300), the control unit 32 of the printing device 3 acquires the setting value of the setting information of the printing device 3 from the reference printing device n for each setting item, and automatically Set.

  Specifically, the control unit 32 refers to a master printing apparatus reference table (details will be described later) stored in the setting information storage unit 36, and prints for acquiring setting values for each setting item of the setting information. A setting value corresponding to the setting item is requested from the apparatus (step S301), and the printing apparatus (master printing apparatus) that has received the setting value request from the printing apparatus 3 is set corresponding to the setting item. The setting value of the master printer is returned to the printer 3.

  It should be noted that the other master printing device for which the printing device 3 requests the setting value of the setting information can be set for each setting item and can be any printing device that is connected to the LAN 50 and has the setting item for requesting the setting value. .

  The printing apparatus 3 sets the setting value returned from each master printing apparatus for each setting item of the setting information as the setting value of each setting item of the printing apparatus 3 (YES in step S302, step S303), and similar control When setting values are set for all the setting items of the printing apparatus 3 by the method (YES in step S304), the setting information automatic setting process of the printing apparatus 3 is ended (step S305).

  Also in the printing apparatus n, the setting value of each setting information is mastered for each setting item based on the master printing apparatus reference table stored in each printing apparatus in the same manner as the control operation in which the printing apparatus 3 automatically sets the setting information. Obtained from the printer and automatically set.

  An operation for automatically setting the setting information of the printing apparatus by such a control method will be described in detail with a specific embodiment.

  In the network system 100 described above, when the setting items of the setting information of the printing device 1, the printing device 2, and the printing device 3 are different from the setting values thereof, the printing device 3 has the setting values of the setting information of the printing device 3. A specific operation when the image data is acquired from the printing apparatus 1 or the printing apparatus 2 and is automatically set will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating master printing device reference tables 10, 20, and 30 stored in the setting information storage units 16, 26, and 36 of the printing device 1, the printing device 2, and the printing device 3 connected to the LAN 50, respectively. It is.

  In the master printing device reference tables 10, 20, and 30, the setting values set in the setting information of the printing devices 1, 2, and 3 and the information of the reference printing device from which the setting values are acquired are set for each setting item. Is managed.

  In the master printing apparatus reference table 10 of the printing apparatus 1, the setting values corresponding to the setting items A, B, C,... Of the setting information of the printing apparatus 1 are “a”, “b”, “c”. ,..., And is referred to when the printing apparatus 1 sets the setting values of the setting items A, B, C,... Is set to “printing device 1”, “printing device 2”, “printing device 3”,... Corresponding to the setting items A, B, C,.

  In the master printing device reference table 20 of the printing device 2, the setting values corresponding to the setting items A, B,... Of the setting information of the printing device 2 are “a ′”, “b ′”,. .., the reference destination master printing device corresponding to each setting item is set as “printing device 2”, “printing device 2”,... Corresponding to each setting item A, B,. Yes.

  In the master printing device reference table 30 of the printing device 3, the master printing device of the reference destination for each setting item of the setting information of the printing device 3 corresponds to each setting item A, B, C, D,. “Printer 1”, “Printer 2”, “Printer 1”, “Printer 3”,... Are set, and the setting value of the setting item D is set as “d”.

  Note that the setting values of the setting items A, B, C,... In the master printing apparatus reference table 30 are blank for convenience of explanation, but the setting values may already be set.

  When the printing apparatus 3 is activated in the LAN 50 to which the printing apparatus 1, the printing apparatus 2, and the printing apparatus 3 in which the master printing apparatus reference tables 10, 20, and 30 are stored as described above, the control unit 32 of the printing apparatus 3 is activated. Is referred to corresponding to each setting item A, B, C, D,... Of the setting information of the printing apparatus 3 with reference to the master printing apparatus reference table 30 stored in the setting information storage unit 36. The setting value is sequentially requested from the apparatus for each setting item.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5A, the control unit 32 sets the reference destination printing apparatus (master printing apparatus) set for each setting item based on the master printing apparatus reference table 30 of the printing apparatus 3. Request the set value.

  The control unit 32 sends request signals for the setting values of the setting items A, B, C, D,... Of the setting information set in the master printer reference table 30 to “reference printing” in the master printer reference table 30. Based on the setting value corresponding to each setting item transmitted to the reference printing device destination set in the “device (master)” field via the input / output interface 31 and the LAN 50 and returned from each master printing device. Sets the setting information of the printing apparatus 3 and updates the information of the master printing apparatus reference table 30 stored in the setting information storage unit 36.

  For example, the printing apparatus 3 requests the setting value of the setting item A from the printing apparatus 1, and the printing apparatus 1 that has received the request for the setting value performs master printing of the printing apparatus 1 as illustrated in FIG. With reference to the apparatus reference table 10, the setting value “a” corresponding to the setting item A of the setting information set in the printing apparatus 1 is returned to the printing apparatus 3.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5D, the printing apparatus 3 sets the setting value “a” corresponding to the setting item A returned from the printing apparatus 1 in the setting item A of the printing apparatus 3.

  Similarly, for the setting items B to D of the printing apparatus 3, the setting value of the setting item B of the printing apparatus 3 is the value of the setting item B with respect to “printing apparatus 2” as shown in FIG. The printing apparatus 2 that requests the setting value and receives the request for the setting value of the setting item B refers to the master printing apparatus reference table 20 of the printing apparatus 2 as shown in FIG. The setting value “b ′” corresponding to the set item B is returned to the printing apparatus 3, and the printing apparatus 3 returns the setting value “b ′” returned from the printing apparatus 2 as shown in FIG. Is set in the setting item B of the printing apparatus 3.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, the setting value of the setting item C of the printing apparatus 3 requests the setting value of the setting item C from the “printing apparatus 1” and receives the request for the setting value of the setting item C. The printing apparatus 1 prints the setting value “c” corresponding to the setting item C set in the printing apparatus 1 with reference to the master printing apparatus reference table 10 of the printing apparatus 1 as shown in FIG. In response to the apparatus 3, the printing apparatus 3 sets the setting value “c” returned from the printing apparatus 1 in the setting item C of the printing apparatus 3 as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, the setting value of the setting item D of the printing apparatus 3 is set to the self-printing apparatus 3 because the master printing apparatus to be referred to is “printing apparatus 3”, that is, the self-printing apparatus. Reset the setting value “d” of setting item D.

  As described above, the setting values of all the setting items of the printing apparatus 3 are acquired from the reference master printing apparatus set in the master printing apparatus reference table 30, and the setting values of the setting information of the printing apparatus 3 are automatically set.

  In the above description, the setting value of the setting information of the printing apparatus 3 has been described on the assumption that the setting value is acquired from the reference master printing apparatus for each setting item and automatically set, but the same applies to the printing apparatus 1 and the printing apparatus 2. In addition, when the printing apparatus 1 or the printing apparatus 2 is activated, each of the printing apparatuses 1 and 2 determines the setting value of the setting information based on the master printing apparatus reference tables 10 and 20 of each printing apparatus as each reference destination master printing apparatus And set the setting value automatically.

  In this way, even when a printing device of a model having the same setting item group setting information is not connected to the LAN 50, the setting value is acquired from the reference master printing device for each setting item, so that the own printing device It is possible to reliably set the setting value of the setting information.

  In the network system 100 described above, when the printing apparatus 1, the printing apparatus 2, the printing apparatus 3, and the printing apparatus 4 are already connected to the LAN 50 and the printing apparatus 5 is newly installed, the printing apparatus 5 is installed in the printing apparatus 5. A specific operation for automatically setting the setting information of the printing apparatus 5 based on the master printing apparatus reference table 50 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 9 shows a master printing device reference table 11 stored in each setting information storage unit 16, 26, 36, 46, 56 of the printing device 1, the printing device 2, the printing device 3, the printing device 4, and the printing device 5. It is a figure which shows 21,39,41,51.

  In the master printing apparatus reference table 11 of the printing apparatus 1, setting values corresponding to the setting items A, B,... Are set with values such as “a”, “b”,. When 1 sets the setting values of the setting items A, B,..., A plurality of reference destination printing devices (master printing devices) referred to in order to obtain the setting values are prioritized. Is set.

  The master printing device referred to by the setting item A and the setting item B of the printing device 1 is set with “printing device 1” or the like as the first priority.

  In the master printing device reference table 21 of the printing device 2, the setting values corresponding to the setting items A, B,... Are “a ′”, “b ′”,. .., B,... Are referred to in the first priority order, and “printing device 2” is set.

  In the master printing device reference table 39 of the printing device 3, setting values corresponding to the setting items A, B,... Correspond to “a”, “b ′”,. The setting item A is referred to as the setting item A, the first priority is “printing device 1”, the second priority is “printing device 3”, and the setting item B has the first priority “ “Printer 2” and the second highest priority are set as “Printer 3” and the like.

  In the master printing device reference table 41 of the printing device 4, the setting values corresponding to the setting items A, B, C,... Are “a ′”, “b”, “c”,. The master printing apparatus referred to corresponding to each setting item has the setting item A, the first priority is “printing apparatus 2”, the second priority is “printing apparatus 4”, and the setting item B is priority. The first ranking is “printing device 1”, the second priority ranking is “printing device 4”, and the setting item C is set with the first priority ranking “printing device 4”.

  In the master printing device reference table 51 of the printing device 5, the master printing device referred to corresponding to each setting item A, B, C,. “Printer 3”, the second highest priority is “Printer 5”, and the setting item B is “Printer 4”, the first highest priority is “Printer 5,” and the setting item C is “Secondary”. The first priority is set as “printing apparatus 4”, the second priority is set as “printing apparatus 5”, and the like.

  In the master printing apparatus reference table 51, the setting values corresponding to the setting items A, B, C,... Are blank for convenience of explanation, but the setting values may already be set.

  Thus, the printing apparatus 1, printing apparatus 2, printing apparatus 3, and printing apparatus 4 in which the master printing apparatus reference tables 11, 21, 39, and 41 are stored are already connected to the LAN 50, and a new master printing apparatus reference table 51 is obtained. Is connected and activated, a control unit (not shown) of the printing device 5 refers to the master printing device reference table 51 stored in the setting information storage unit 56, and sets each setting item A, A setting value is requested to a master printing device with a high priority that is referred to corresponding to B, C,..., And if there is no response, a setting value for the master printing device with the next highest priority Until the set value is acquired or the master printer having the lowest priority is requested for the set value.

  Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 10A, the printing apparatus 5 performs master printing on the setting value of the setting item A of the setting information based on the master printing apparatus reference table 51 stored in the setting information storage unit 56. The priority set in the “reference printing device (master)” column of the device reference table 51 is requested to the “printing device 3” having the first priority.

  The printing apparatus 3 that has received the request for the setting value of the setting item A is set to the setting item A of the printing apparatus 3 with reference to the master printing apparatus reference table 39 of the printing apparatus 3 as shown in FIG. The setting value “a”, the reference master printing device that obtains the setting value when the printing device 3 sets the setting value of the setting item A, and the priority order information thereof are returned to the printing device 5.

  As shown in FIG. 10C, the printing apparatus 5 sets the setting value of the setting item A of the printing apparatus 5 based on the setting value corresponding to the setting item A returned from the printing apparatus 3 and the priority order information of the master printing apparatus. "A", the priority order of the reference master printing apparatus from which the printing apparatus 5 obtains the setting value of the setting item A is reflected, and the priority order of the master printing apparatus referred to by the printing apparatus 3 is reflected in the second and lower priority order. The priority order setting is performed so that the priority order of the self-printing apparatus 5 is the lowest.

  Specifically, the priority of the master printing apparatus referred to by the printing apparatus 5 is “printing apparatus 3”, and the priority of the master printing apparatus referred to by the printing apparatus 3 returned from the printing apparatus 3 is ranked second or lower. Reflecting the ranking, “Printing device 1” is the second highest priority, and “Printing device 3” is the second highest priority of the master printing device referred to by the printing device 3. Since “3” is already set at the first priority, the “printing device 5” of the self-printing device set at the lowest priority is set.

  A similar control operation is performed for the setting items B to D of the printing apparatus 5.

  As shown in FIG. 11A, the setting value of the setting item B of the printing apparatus 5 and the priority order of the master printing apparatus to be referred to are set as “ The printer 4 that has requested the printer 4 and received the request for the setting value of the setting item B refers to the master printer reference table 41 of the printer 4 as shown in FIG. The setting value “b” of the setting item B and the printing apparatus 4 return to the printing apparatus 5 the master printing apparatus that refers to the setting value of the setting item B and its priority information.

  Based on the setting value “b” returned from the printing device 4 and the priority order information, the printing device 5 refers to the setting value of the setting item B as “b” as shown in FIG. “Printing device 4” is the first priority of the master printing device to perform, “Printing device 1” is the first priority of the master printing device to which the printing device 4 refers to the second ranking, and the printing device is the third ranking. 4 is “printing device 4” which is the second highest priority order of the master printing device referred to, but “printing device 4” has already been set at the first priority order, so the third place is the lowest. “Printing device 5” of the self-printing device to be set is set.

  As shown in FIG. 12A, the setting value of the setting item C of the printing apparatus 5 and the priority order of the master printing apparatus to be referred to are set to “# 1” in the priority order that is referenced corresponding to the setting item C. The printer 4 that has requested the printer 4 and received the request for the setting value of the setting item C refers to the master printer reference table 41 of the printer 4 as shown in FIG. The setting value “c” of the setting item C and the printing apparatus 4 return to the printing apparatus 5 the master printing apparatus that refers to the setting value of the setting item C and its priority information.

  Based on the setting value “c” returned from the printing device 4 and the priority information, the printing device 5 refers to the setting value of the setting item C as “c”, as shown in FIG. “Printing device 4” is the first priority of the master printing device to be assigned, and “Printing device 4” is the first priority of the master printing device referred to by the printing device 4 is the second highest priority. "" Has already been set at the first priority, so "Printing device 5" of the own printing device set at the lowest is set at the second.

  The automatic setting of the printing device setting information based on the master printing device reference table as described above and the prioritization of the master printing device to be referred to for each setting item of the master printing device reference table are the printing devices 1, 2, 3 4 is performed in the same manner.

  In this way, each of the printing apparatuses 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 connected to the LAN 50 acquires the setting value of the setting information of the own printing apparatus from the reference master printing apparatus for each setting item. In addition, the master printing device reference table of the self-printing device is updated to reflect the priority of the master printing device referred to by the reference master printing device, so if you want to change the setting information, there are multiple printing devices. Even if only the setting information of one printing apparatus is changed, the change contents can be reflected in the setting information of other printing apparatuses.

  In the network system 100 described above, in an environment where the printing device 1, the printing device 2, the printing device 3, the printing device 4, and the printing device 5 are already connected to the LAN 50, the printing device 3 is disconnected from the LAN 50, and the printing device 5 A specific operation for automatically setting the setting information of the printing apparatus 5 with reference to the master printing apparatus reference table 52 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 13 shows a master printing device reference table 12 stored in the setting information storage units 16, 26, 36, 46, 56 of the printing device 1, the printing device 2, the printing device 3, the printing device 4, and the printing device 5. It is a figure which shows 22,330,42,52.

  In the master printing device reference table 12 of the printing device 1, setting values corresponding to the setting items A, B,... Are set with values such as “a”, “b”,. 1 is referred to when setting the setting values of the setting items A, B,..., And a priority order for referring to a reference printing apparatus (master printing apparatus) from which the setting value is acquired is set in advance. ing.

  The master printing device referred to by the setting item A of the printing device 1 has the first priority ranking “printing device 1”, the master printing device referenced by the setting item B has the first priority ranking “printing device 1”, etc. Is set in

  In the master printing device reference table 22 of the printing device 2, the setting values corresponding to the setting items A, B,... Are “a ′”, “b ′”,. .., B,... Are referred to in the first priority order, and “printing device 2” is set.

  In the master printing device reference table 330 of the printing device 3, the setting values corresponding to the setting items A, B,... Are referred to as “a”, “b ′”,. The master printing device to which the first priority order is “printing device 1”, the second priority order is “printing device 3”, and the master printing device referred to by setting item B has the first priority ranking “printing device”. 2 ”and the second priority are set in“ printing apparatus 3 ”and the like.

  In the master printing device reference table 42 of the printing device 4, the setting values corresponding to the setting items A, B, C,... Are “a ′”, “b”, “c”,. The master printer referred to by the setting item A is “printing device 2” as the first priority, “printing device 4” as the second highest priority, and the master printing device referred to as the setting item B is priority 1 The master printer that is referred to in the setting item C is set to “printing device 4”, the first priority is set to “printing device 4”, and the second priority is set to “printing device 4”.

  In the master printing device reference table 52 of the printing device 5, the master printing device referred to corresponding to each setting item A, B, C,. “Printer 3”, the second highest priority is “Printer 1”, the third highest priority is “Printer 5”, the first priority of the setting item B is “Printer 4”, the second highest priority Is “Printer 1”, the third priority is “Printer 5”, the first priority of the setting item C is “Printer 4”, the second highest priority is “Printer 5”, etc. Yes.

  In the master printing apparatus reference table 52, the setting values corresponding to the setting items A, B, C,... Are blank for convenience of explanation, but the setting values may already be set.

  In an environment where the printing device 1, the printing device 2, the printing device 3, the printing device 4, and the printing device 5 in which the master printing device reference tables 12, 22, 330, 42, and 52 are stored in this way are already connected to the LAN 50, respectively. When the printing device 3 is disconnected from the LAN 50 and the printing device 5 is activated, a control unit (not shown) of the printing device 5 refers to the master printing device reference table 52 stored in the setting information storage unit 56 and sets each setting item. A request is made to the master printer having a high priority that is referred to corresponding to A, B, C,..., And if there is no response, the master printer having the next highest priority is requested. A set value is requested, and the same control is requested until the set value is acquired, or the set value is requested up to the master printer having the lowest priority.

  Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 14A, the printing apparatus 5 performs master printing on the setting value of the setting item A of the setting information based on the master printing apparatus reference table 52 stored in the setting information storage unit 56. The priority set in the “reference printing device (master)” column of the device reference table 52 is requested to the “printing device 3” having the first priority.

  However, since the printing apparatus 3 is already disconnected from the LAN 50 as shown in FIG. 14C, the setting value from the printing apparatus 3 and the priority information of the master printing apparatus are not returned.

  In FIG. 14, the master printing device reference table 32 (FIG. 14C) of the printing device 3 is indicated by a broken line in order to indicate that the printing device 3 is disconnected from the LAN 50.

  If there is no response from the printing apparatus 3 within a predetermined time, the printing apparatus 5 sets the setting item A with respect to “printing apparatus 1” having the second highest priority order of the master printing apparatus referred to corresponding to the setting item A. Request the set value.

  The printing apparatus 1 that has received a request for the setting value of the setting item A from the printing apparatus 5 refers to the master printing apparatus reference table 12 of the printing apparatus 1 as shown in FIG. The printing apparatus 1 returns the setting value “a” corresponding to A, the master printing apparatus that refers to the setting value of the setting item A, and priority information thereof to the printing apparatus 5.

  As illustrated in FIG. 14D, the printing apparatus 5 sets the setting value “a” returned from the printing apparatus 1 in the setting item A of the printing apparatus 5, and the printing apparatus 5 corresponds to the setting item A. Delete the first priority printing device 3 that has not responded to the priority order of the master printing device to be referred to, and raise the first priority “printing device 1” to the first priority. The priority order information of the master printing apparatus referred to by the printing apparatus 1 corresponding to the setting item A is reflected below the second priority order.

  Specifically, the second priority of the master printing apparatus referred to by the printing apparatus 5 is “printing apparatus 1” which is the first priority of the master printing apparatus referred to by the printing apparatus 1 corresponding to the setting item A. However, since “printing apparatus 1” has already been set at the first priority, the “printing apparatus 5” of the own printing apparatus set at the lowest position is set at the second priority.

  As shown in FIG. 15A, the setting value of the setting item B of the printing apparatus 5 is the priority set in the “reference printing apparatus (master)” column corresponding to the setting item B of the master printing apparatus reference table 52. Is requested to the first “printing device 4”, and the printing device 4 that has received the request for the setting value of the setting item B refers to the master printing device of the printing device 4 as shown in FIG. Referring to Table 42, the setting value “b” of setting item B, the printing apparatus 4 returns a master printing apparatus that refers to the setting value of setting item B, and priority information thereof to printing apparatus 5.

  As shown in FIG. 15C, the printing apparatus 5 sets the setting value “b” returned from the printing apparatus 4 in the setting item B of the printing apparatus 5, and the master printing apparatus referred to by the printing apparatus 5. “Printing device 4” is the first priority, “Printing device 1” is the first priority of the master printing device referred to by the printing device 4 and the third is the master referred to by the printing device 4. “Printing device 4” is the second highest priority of the printing device, but “Printing device 4” has already been set at the first priority, so the self-printing is set at the third lowest. Set “Printer 5” of the device.

  As shown in FIG. 16A, the setting value of the setting item C of the printing apparatus 5 is the priority set in the “reference printing apparatus (master)” column corresponding to the setting item C of the master printing apparatus reference table 52. The printer 4 that requested the “printing device 4” of the first place and received the request for the setting value of the setting item C refers to the master printing device of the printing device 4 as shown in FIG. Referring to Table 42, the setting value “c” of setting item C, the master printer that refers to the setting value of setting item C, and its priority information are returned to printing device 5 by printing device 4.

  As illustrated in FIG. 16C, the printing apparatus 5 sets the setting value “c” returned from the printing apparatus 4 in the setting item C of the printing apparatus 5, and the master printing apparatus referred to by the printing apparatus 5. “Printing device 4” is the first priority, and “Printing device 4” is the first priority of the master printing device referred to by the printing device 4, but “Printing device 4” is the priority. Since it has already been set at the first rank, “printing apparatus 5” of the own printing apparatus set at the lowest position is set at the second rank.

  The automatic setting of the printing device setting information based on the master printing device reference table as described above and the prioritization of the master printing device to be referred to for each setting item of the master printing device reference table are the printing devices 1, 2, 3 4 is performed in the same manner.

  In this way, even when there is no reference destination printing device that acquires the setting value of the setting information, the plurality of reference destinations prioritized for each setting item are sequentially referred to until the setting value is acquired. Therefore, even if the reference printing apparatus is disconnected from the network, the setting value of the setting information can be set reliably.

  In the first to third embodiments described above, each master printing device reference table is stored in each printing device, and the control unit of each printing device automatically sets the setting information based on each master printing device reference table. However, the configuration may be such that firmware such as an operation program for setting the setting information is stored in each printing apparatus n, the firmware is acquired from the reference printing apparatus, and is applied to the printing apparatus.

  In this case as well, as in the first to third embodiments, information on the reference destination printing apparatus is stored, and prioritization of the reference destination printing apparatus is reflected on the priority order of the reference destination printing apparatus, and the self-printing is performed. The apparatus is set as the lowest priority, and the firmware acquired from the reference destination is activated to automatically set the setting information of the self-printing apparatus.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a network system 100 to which a printing apparatus 3 constituting a printing system according to the present invention is connected. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printing apparatus 3 according to the present invention. A flowchart showing a method for automatically setting the setting information by the printing apparatus 3 FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a master printing apparatus reference table stored in each setting information storage unit of the printing apparatuses 1, 2, and 3 according to the first embodiment. The figure which shows the operation | movement which the printer 3 acquires the setting value of the setting item A of setting information from the printer 1, and sets it automatically. The figure which shows the operation | movement in which the printing apparatus 3 acquires the setting value of the setting item B of setting information from the printing apparatus 2, and sets it automatically. The figure which shows the operation | movement which the printing apparatus 3 acquires the setting value of the setting item C of setting information from the printing apparatus 1, and sets it automatically. The figure which shows the operation | movement which the printing apparatus 3 resets the setting value of the setting item D of setting information to the setting value set to the self-printing apparatus 3 FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a master printing apparatus reference table stored in each setting information storage unit of the printing apparatuses 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 according to the second embodiment. The figure which shows the operation | movement which the printer 5 sets automatically the setting value of the setting item A of setting information, and the priority of the master printer to refer based on the information acquired from the printer 3 The figure which shows the operation | movement which the printer 5 sets automatically the setting value of the setting item B of setting information, and the priority order of the master printer to refer based on the information acquired from the printer 4 The figure which shows the operation | movement which the printer 5 sets automatically the setting value of the setting item C of setting information, and the priority order of the master printer to refer based on the information acquired from the printer 4 FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a master printer reference table stored in each setting information storage unit of the printers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 according to the third embodiment. The figure which shows the operation | movement which the printer 5 sets automatically the setting value of the setting item A of setting information, and the priority order of the master printer to refer based on the information acquired from the printers 3 and 1 The figure which shows the operation | movement which the printer 5 sets automatically the setting value of the setting item B of setting information, and the priority order of the master printer to refer based on the information acquired from the printer 4 The figure which shows the operation | movement which the printer 5 sets automatically the setting value of the setting item C of setting information, and the priority order of the master printer to refer based on the information acquired from the printer 4

Explanation of symbols

100 Network system 2, 3, 4, 5 Printing device 10, 11, 12 Master printing device reference table (printing device 1)
20, 21, 22 Master printing device reference table (printing device 2)
30, 39, 330 Master printing device reference table (printing device 3)
40, 41, 42 Master printing device reference table (printing device 4)
50, 51, 52 Master printing device reference table (printing device 5)
16 Setting information storage unit (printing apparatus 1)
26 Setting Information Storage Unit (Printer 2)
36 Setting Information Storage Unit (Printer 3)
46 Setting Information Storage Unit (Printer 4)
56 Setting Information Storage Unit (Printer 5)
31 I / O interface 32 Control unit 33 Control panel 34 RAM
35 ROM
36 Setting Information Storage Unit 38 Print Processing Unit 50 LAN

Claims (20)

In a printing system in which a plurality of setting devices and a plurality of printing devices in which setting information is set differently are connected via a network,
Each printing device
Reference destination information storage means for storing a reference destination printing apparatus corresponding to each setting item;
Setting value acquisition means for acquiring the setting value of the setting item from the reference destination printing device stored in the reference destination information storage means;
And a setting value setting unit that sets the setting value acquired by the setting value acquisition unit in the setting item of the self-printing apparatus. A prioritizing means for prioritizing a plurality of reference destination printing devices corresponding to each setting item of the setting information;
Set priorities with the prioritizing means,
The reference destination information storage means includes
Storing the priority set by the prioritizing means;
The set value acquisition means includes:
The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the setting value is acquired from a reference-destination printing apparatus based on the priority set by the prioritizing unit. Reference destination priority order information acquisition means for acquiring the priority order of the reference destination printing device further comprises:
The prioritizing means includes:
The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the priority order of each reference destination printing apparatus is set by reflecting the priority order of the reference destination printing apparatus acquired by the reference destination priority order information acquisition unit. The prioritizing means includes:
The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the printing apparatus is set at the lowest priority of the reference printing apparatus. The set value acquisition means includes:
The setting value is requested in order from the reference destination printing apparatus set in the priority setting unit in the order of high priority, and when there is no response from the reference destination, the setting value is sequentially set to the reference destination printing apparatus in the low priority order. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the printing system is requested and acquired. In a printing system in which a plurality of setting devices and a plurality of printing apparatuses in which setting information having different setting values are set are connected via a network,
Each printing device
Reference destination information storage means for storing a reference destination printing device for obtaining firmware of an operation program for setting the setting information;
Firmware acquisition means for acquiring the firmware from a reference destination printing apparatus stored in the reference destination information storage means;
And a firmware application unit that applies the firmware acquired by the firmware acquisition unit to the self-printing apparatus. Prioritizing means for prioritizing a plurality of reference destination printing devices that acquire the firmware,
Set priorities with the prioritizing means,
The reference destination information storage means includes
Storing the priority set by the prioritizing means;
The firmware acquisition means includes
The printing system according to claim 6, wherein the firmware is acquired from a reference-destination printing apparatus based on the priority set by the prioritizing unit. Reference destination priority order information acquisition means for acquiring the priority order of the reference destination printing device further comprises:
The prioritizing means includes:
The printing system according to claim 7, wherein the priority order of each reference destination printing apparatus is set by reflecting the priority order of the reference destination printing apparatus acquired by the reference destination priority order information acquisition unit. The prioritizing means includes:
The printing system according to claim 7, wherein the printing apparatus is set at the lowest priority of the reference printing apparatus. The firmware acquisition means includes
The firmware is requested in order from the reference destination printing device with the higher priority set by the prioritizing means, and when there is no response from the reference destination, the firmware is sequentially applied to the reference destination printing device with the lower priority. The printing system according to claim 7, wherein the printing system is requested and acquired. A control method for a printing system in which a plurality of printing devices in which a plurality of setting items and setting information having different setting values are set are connected via a network,
Each printing device
The reference destination printing device is stored in the reference destination information storage means corresponding to each setting item,
The setting value acquisition unit acquires the setting value of the setting item from the reference destination printing device stored in the reference destination information storage unit,
A control method for a printing apparatus system, wherein the setting value acquired by the setting value acquisition means is set in the setting item of the self-printing apparatus by the setting value setting means. Corresponding to each setting item of the setting information, a plurality of reference destination printing devices are further prioritized and set by the prioritizing means,
The reference destination information storage means includes
Storing the priority set by the prioritizing means;
The set value acquisition means includes:
The printing system control method according to claim 11, wherein the setting value is acquired from a reference-destination printing apparatus based on the priority set by the prioritizing unit. The set value acquisition means includes:
In addition to the setting value acquired from the reference destination printing device, the priority order of the reference destination printing device is further acquired by a reference destination priority information acquisition unit,
The prioritizing means includes:
13. The printing system control method according to claim 12, wherein the priority order of each reference destination printing apparatus is set by reflecting the priority order of the reference destination printing apparatus acquired by the reference destination priority order information acquisition unit. . The prioritizing means includes:
The printing system control method according to claim 7, wherein the self-printing apparatus is set at the lowest priority of the reference-destination printing apparatus. The set value acquisition means includes:
The setting value is requested in order from the reference destination printing apparatus set in the priority setting unit in the order of high priority, and when there is no response from the reference destination, the setting value is sequentially set to the reference destination printing apparatus in the low priority order. The printing system control method according to claim 12, wherein the printing system is requested and acquired. In a control method of a printing system in which a plurality of setting devices and a plurality of printing apparatuses in which setting information is set differently are connected via a network,
Each printing device
A reference destination printing device that acquires firmware of an operation program that sets the setting information is stored in a reference destination information storage unit,
The firmware acquisition unit acquires the firmware from the reference destination printing device stored in the reference destination information storage unit,
A method for controlling a printing system, comprising: applying firmware acquired by the firmware acquisition unit to a self-printing apparatus using firmware application unit. A plurality of reference printing devices for obtaining the firmware are further prioritized and set by the prioritizing means,
The reference destination information storage means includes
Storing the priority set by the prioritizing means;
The firmware acquisition means includes
The control method of the control method of the printing system according to claim 16, wherein the firmware is acquired from a reference destination printing apparatus based on the priority set by the prioritizing means. Further acquiring the priority order of the reference destination printing device by reference destination priority order information acquisition means,
The prioritizing means includes:
18. The printing system control method according to claim 17, wherein the priority order of each reference destination printing apparatus is set by reflecting the priority order of the reference destination printing apparatus acquired by the reference destination priority order information acquisition means. . The prioritizing means includes:
The printing system control method according to claim 17, wherein the self-printing apparatus is set at the lowest priority of the reference-destination printing apparatus. The firmware acquisition means includes
The firmware is requested in order from the reference destination printing device with the higher priority set by the prioritizing means, and when there is no response from the reference destination, the firmware is sequentially applied to the reference destination printing device with the lower priority. The printing system control method according to claim 17, wherein the printing system control method is obtained upon request.

Images