JP2006227990A - Method for updating print software and method for acquiring newest module - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing software updating method and a newest module acquiring method by which upgrading operation can be simplified by completing a driver upgrade only by user's one-click on a UI displayed by a printer driver. <P>SOLUTION: A function-depending module to be upgraded is divided from a core module for providing printer driver universal functions to achieve the updating of the printer driver. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing software (printer driver software) update method and latest module income method for issuing a printer control code for controlling a printer device to a printer device having a printing function.

  An application program that performs document processing and graphic processing that operates on an information processing apparatus normally designates a specific printer device for a graphic engine provided by an operating system (OS), and performs logical drawing on the printer device. To achieve the print function. At this time, it is a function of the printing software (printer driver software) that converts the logical drawing request received from the graphic engine of the OS into a control code that can be recognized by the printer device and transmits the control code to the printer device. In general, such printer driver software is provided to a user on a medium such as a CD-ROM or a floppy (registered trademark) disk or on a file server on the Internet.

  Conventionally, the printer driver software provided by the above means can be updated to the latest software by an OS printer driver update function or an installer program provided by a printer driver vendor. However, in the current printer driver software updating method, in order to update the printer driver software in which a specific part such as a printing function is updated, the entire printer driver software must be updated. Due to this limitation, in an environment where the old printer driver software to be updated has already been activated in the memory, there are limitations such as the software itself being unable to be overwritten and updated, requiring the OS itself to be restarted.

In addition, Patent Document 1 exists as a prior art.
JP 2003-330242 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the problems related to the current printer driver software update, and includes a core part that is universal as a whole software function such as a part that communicates printer driver software with the OS, and a special part. The above problem is solved by dividing into function-dependent modules that implement various functions.

  That is, the core module that provides universal functions is removed from the update target of the printer driver, and only the function-dependent module is updated when the printer driver is updated, whereby the entire software is updated. As a result, the internal version of the printer driver software is not updated, but only the internal function expansion portion is updated.

  In other words, it is possible to remove the restriction caused by updating the entire printer driver software. This solves the problem that the OS needs to be restarted after updating the entire printer driver. In addition, since the user can update the printer driver itself via the user interface provided by the printer driver main body, it is possible to reduce the installation load of the user.

  That is, the present invention provides a printing software update method and a latest module income method that can simplify an upgrade operation by completing a driver upgrade with a single click on a UI displayed by a printer driver. For the purpose.

  The printing software update method of the present invention is characterized in that the printer driver software operating on the information processing apparatus is composed of a Core module that provides a universal function and a plurality of function-dependent modules that provide a function-dependent part, The printer driver software has means for providing a user interface for allowing a user to perform print settings, and can update the function-dependent module on the user interface, and the function-dependent module update instruction from the user To send the current printer driver software identifier to the latest module management application that holds the latest version of the function-dependent module on an arbitrary network. At this time, from the latest module management application Return If the update is necessary, issue the latest module income request to the latest module management application and update the module Means for updating the function-dependent module to be held.

  The latest module management application has means for holding table data describing the identifier and latest version of each function-dependent module and the storage location of the function-dependent module body inside, and is supplied from any printer driver software on any network. In response to the latest version income request, there is means for notifying the printer driver software of the latest version of the function dependent module by returning the latest version of the current function dependent module from the given module identifier. Further, in response to the latest module income request from the printer driver software on an arbitrary network, means for identifying the latest module from the given function-dependent module identifier and transmitting the latest function-dependent module corresponding to the printer driver software. Have.

  That is, according to the present invention, the printing software that controls the printing process from the information processing apparatus includes a core part that provides a universal function of software and a plurality of function-dependent parts that provide printing-dependent functions. A feature of the present invention is that the print software updates a function-dependent portion by providing a user interface that allows a user to perform print settings. A module that implements the function-dependent portion on an arbitrary network It is necessary to update the function-dependent part by sending the identifier of the current printing software to the latest module management application that holds the latest version, and obtaining the version of the latest module that is associated with this identifier one-to-one. The latest module for the application when it needs to be updated. Issued income request, and updates itself module that holds the latest modules incomes.

  The present invention configures the software by dividing the printer driver software into a core portion that provides a universal function and a function dependency that realizes a specific function. As a result, only the function-dependent module is updated when updating the printer driver, so that it is possible not to update the entire software. That is, only the internal function extension portion is updated without updating the superficial printer driver software version.

  As a result, the partial overwrite update of the printer driver software is realized and the entire software is not updated, so that the problem such as the restart caused by updating the entire software is solved. At the same time, according to the present invention, the user can update the printer driver itself via the user interface provided by the printer driver main body, so that the load of updating the printer driver software of the user can be reduced.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows the system configuration of this embodiment.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, and reference numeral 102 denotes a printer device that performs a printing process according to a print instruction from the information processing apparatus 101. Reference numeral 103 denotes an information processing apparatus that operates as a file server on the network. These 101, 102, and 103 are connected via a network 104 such as the Internet or an intranet.

  FIG. 2 is an example of a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the information processing apparatuses 101 and 103.

  2 shows a video memory (VRAM) 201, a display unit (DISP) 202, a keyboard (KB) 203, a pointing device 204, a disk controller 205, a hard disk (HD) 206, a floppy (registered trademark) disk 207, a CPU 208, and a RAM 209. The ROM 210 and the connection unit 211 are configured as main elements, and these elements are connected via a system bus 212.

  A CPU 208 controls the entire information processing apparatus. The RAM 209 stores a program as a main memory of the CPU 208 and has a temporary storage area for various data used as a work data area when the CPU 208 executes control.

  The disk controller 205 performs access control with an external storage device such as a hard disk device 206 or a floppy (registered trademark) disk 207 as an external memory.

  A hard disk device 206 and a floppy (registered trademark) disk device 207 store data in a magnetic storage medium on the disk and read / write data. In addition to various data, a boot program for an information processing device downloaded to the RAM 209 and executed. An operating system (OS) that is a control program of the CPU 208, various application programs, a printer driver that controls the printer device according to the present invention, and the like are stored. Further, as these storage media, a magnetic tape, a CD-ROM, an IC memory card, a DVD and the like are also conceivable.

  The display unit 202 displays various graphics such as application data, a user interface (UI) of the printer driver software according to the present invention, a user message, and the like on the screen in the information processing apparatus. The display unit 202 is a CRT (cathode ray tube) or liquid crystal display. Etc. The video memory 201 stores data to be displayed on the display unit 202.

  Both the keyboard 203 and the pointing device 204 are operated by the user to input various data, settings for the printer driver, and the like.

  The connection unit 211 executes communication control processing with other information processing apparatuses and printer devices on the network via the network interface 104.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the printer device 102 connected to the information processing apparatus via 104. The main component is a connection unit 301, a printing unit (printer engine) 302, an operation unit 303, an external memory 304 such as a hard disk, a CPU 305, a RAM 306, and a ROM 307, and these components are connected to each other via a system bus 308. ing.

  A CPU 305 controls the entire printer device 102. The CPU 305 generates an image signal from the printer control code (print data) received by the connection unit 301 based on a control program stored in the ROM 307 or the external memory 304 and transmits the image signal to the printing unit 302. A RAM 306 is provided as a main memory of the CPU 305 with a temporary storage area for various data used as a work data area when the CPU 305 executes control.

  An external memory 304 such as a hard disk stores various data such as font data, an emulation program, and form data.

  A ROM 307 is a printer device internal memory, and stores various data and a printer device control program for controlling the printer device as in the external memory 304. A printing unit 302 is a printer device engine, which is controlled by the CPU 305 and receives an image signal output via the system bus 308 from a control program stored in the ROM 307 or the external memory 304, and performs actual printing.

  The operation unit 303 includes an input unit such as an operation panel and operation switches, and a display unit such as an LED and a liquid crystal panel. The operation unit 303 receives user operations and displays results. The user can instruct setting of the printer device 102 via the operation unit 303.

  A connection unit 301 is connected to the connection unit of the information processing apparatuses 101 and 102 via the network 104 and can receive a printer device control code (print data).

  Next, steps until the print processing mechanism in the present embodiment operates will be described.

  The information processing apparatuses 101 and 103 operate when the CPU executes a basic I / O program, an operating system (OS), an application, and printer driver software and the latest module management application according to the present invention.

  The basic I / O program is written in the ROM, and the operating system is written in the hard disk (or an external storage memory such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk). First, when the information processing apparatus 101 is turned on, an operating system stored in a hard disk or the like is read into the RAM and the OS is operated by an initial program loading (IPL) function in the basic I / O program. Next, when the user selects a command image or the like of the command menu displayed on the screen of the display unit with a keyboard and a pointing device and instructs execution of the application, the application stored in the external storage memory such as a hard disk is stored in the RAM. And the application operates. Next, when the application is started by the user and data printing is instructed by the application, printer driver software for controlling the printer device stored in the external storage memory such as a hard disk is read into the RAM, and this print processing system Works. In this embodiment, printer driver software and related data are stored in the hard disk. The printer driver software stored in the hard disk is loaded into the RAM through the disk controller unit and becomes operable. Also, print settings for the printer driver can be operated by the user via a user interface displayed on the display unit.

  FIG. 4 shows a memory map of the information processing apparatus 101 in a state where the printer driver software and application are loaded into the RAM (209) and can be executed. Here, the printer driver is loaded in 401, and the related data is loaded in 402.

  Reference numeral 403 denotes a general application that holds data to be actually printed.

  The configuration of the printer driver is shown in the block diagram of FIG. The present invention is characterized in that the printer driver software is divided into a core module 501 and an updatable function-dependent module 502. The Core module 501 manages control of predetermined functions such as an interface with the operating system, and always provides functions that are universal. A function-dependent module 502 is a module that implements special functions such as an N-side printing function (a function for allocating and printing a plurality of pages of print data on one page) of the printer driver. In this embodiment, a module that implements the N-side printing function is taken as an example of a function-dependent module, but it goes without saying that this may be another module having another function.

  Next, FIG. 6 shows a memory map in a state where the latest module management application according to the present invention is loaded into the RAM (209) in the information processing apparatus 103 and becomes executable. Here, the latest module management application is indicated by 601, and the related data is stored in 602. The latest module management application stores management table information 602 as shown in FIG. Here, a column 701 is an identifier of a function-dependent module constituting the printer driver, and a column 702 indicates the latest version of the function-dependent module held in the current server. In addition, the module of the version corresponding to the position on the file system indicated by the column 703 is stored.

  The printer driver 401 can display a user interface as shown in FIG. 8 through the display unit 202 to allow the user to make print settings. In this user interface example, reference numeral 801 denotes an area where the user instructs the N-side printing to the printer driver, reference numeral 802 denotes the current version of the N-side printing module, and reference numeral 803 denotes that the user updates the N-side printing module. Update button.

  In this embodiment, in each information processing apparatus, the operation step starts with the application and printer driver program that can be printed on the information processing apparatus 101 and the latest module management application running on the information processing apparatus 103. Is done. The user outputs print data from the applications 403 to 102 to the printer device 102 on the information processing apparatus 101. In addition, the printer driver 401 on the information processing apparatus 101 obtains the latest N-side printing module from the information processing apparatus 103 according to the user's module update instruction and reflects it in the user's printing operation.

  In this embodiment, if the version of the N-side printing module of the printer driver on the information processing apparatus 101 installed in the initial stage is 1.0, this version uses the 2-side printing (2 pages) as the N-side printing function. , And the updated version 2.0 provides a four-sided printing function (prints four pages of data on one page).

  The user interface output by the printer driver in the initial state is as shown in FIG. Next, it is assumed that the system administrator updates the module having the N-plane function of version 2.0 in the server 103, and the latest module management table of the server is updated as shown in FIG. Details of processing when the user displays the user interface of the printer driver shown in FIG. 8 and presses the update button 603 are shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  Hereinafter, the step is indicated as S.

  When the user presses the update button (S1001), the Core module 501 issues a version information income request for the N-side printing module to the latest module management application on the information processing apparatus 103 (S1002). At the same time, identifier information “ID_NUP_MODULE” is transmitted. The latest module management application that has received this information income request reads the latest version “2.0” corresponding to this identifier from the entry 901 of the management table data from 902, and stores “2.0” as an internal entry in the Core module. Transmit (S1003). The Core module that has received this entry determines that updating is necessary because the version information has been updated from 1.0 to 2.0 (S1004). Is issued to the latest module management application (S1005). The latest module management application that has received this income request refers to the table entry 901, and obtains the N-side printing module of version 2.0 from the storage location “¥¥ module ¥ Nup2.exe” described in 903, The data is transmitted to the Core module (S1006). Upon receiving the latest module, the Core module stores it in a temporary area on the file (S1007), and unloads the N-side printing module 1.0 from the memory (S1008). Next, the obtained N-side printing module is loaded onto the memory (S1009). Finally, the N-side printing module version 1.0 is deleted to end the printer driver update operation (S1010). The user interface of the printer driver to be displayed next to the user by the N-side printing module updated in this sequence is as shown in FIG. 1101 indicates that the user can perform “four-side printing” from this version, and 1102 indicates that the version of the N-side printing module has been changed to 2.0.

  The result of printing on the printer device 102 with the settings as shown in FIG. 11 is shown in FIG.

  “Page 1”, “Page 2”, “Page 3”, and “Page 4” in the figure indicate page drawing of the original application data, and indicate that printing of 4 pages is realized by 1 page.

[Other embodiments]
In this embodiment, as in the previous embodiment, the version of the N-side printing module of the printer driver on the information processing apparatus 101 installed in the initial stage is set to 1.0. It is assumed that only printing (printing two pages of data on one page) can be performed. At this time, the user interface output by the printer driver is the same as that shown in FIG. Next, it is assumed that the system administrator updates the module having the N-plane function of version 2.0 in the server 103, and the latest module management table of the server is updated as shown in FIG.

  Next, a user interface is displayed to make print settings for the user printer driver. Details of the processing at this time are shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  At the timing when the user opens the user interface of the printer driver, as an initial operation, the Core module 501 issues a version information income request for the N-side printing module module to the latest module management application operating on the information processing apparatus 103 (S1302). At the same time, identifier information “ID_NUP_MODULE” is transmitted. The latest module management program that has received this information income request reads the latest version “2.0” corresponding to this identifier from the entry 901 of the management table data from 902, and stores “2.0” as an internal entry in the Core module. Transmit (S1303). The Core module that has received this entry determines that updating is necessary because the version information has been updated from 1.0 to 2.0 (S1304). Is issued to the latest module management application (S1305). The latest module management application that has received this income request refers to the table entry 901, and obtains the N-side printing module of version 2.0 from the storage location “¥¥ module ¥ Nup2.exe” described in 903, The data is transmitted to the Core module (S1306). Upon receiving the latest module, the Core module stores it in a temporary area on the file (S1307), and unloads the N-side printing module 1.0 from the memory (S1308). Next, the obtained N-side printing module is loaded onto the memory (S1309). Finally, the N-side printing module 1.0 is deleted to end the printer driver update operation (S1310). The user interface of the printer driver displayed to the user by the N-side printing module updated in the above sequence is as shown in FIG. 1101 indicates that the user can perform “four-side printing” from this version, and 1102 indicates that the version of the N-side printing module has been changed to 2.0.

  The result of printing on the printer device 102 with the settings as shown in FIG. 11 is shown in FIG.

  “Page 1”, “Page 2”, “Page 3”, and “Page 4” in the figure indicate page drawing of the original application data, and indicate that printing of 4 pages is realized by 1 page.

It is a figure which shows the system environment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram of information processing apparatuses 101 and 103. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the printer device 102. FIG. 3 is a memory map on the information processing apparatus 101. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of printer driver software. 3 is a memory map on the information processing apparatus 103. It is a management table managed on the information processing apparatus 103. It is a figure which shows the user interface which printer driver software displays. It is a management table in which the N-side printing module is updated. 3 is a flowchart in the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the printer driver user interface after the N surface printing module is updated. It is a figure which shows 4 pages data printed by the updated N surface printing module. It is a flowchart in another Example.

Explanation of symbols

101 is an information processing apparatus on a network on which printer driver software operates.
102 A printer device on the network.
103 An information processing apparatus on the network on which the latest module management application operates.
401 is a load area of printer driver software.
501 A core module that provides universal functions.
502 A function-dependent module group that realizes a specific function.
601 is a load area of the latest module management application.
602 is a management table load area.
701 is a module identifier storage area.
702 is a module version information storage area.
703 is a storage area of the module storage location.

Claims (9)

  This printing software is characterized in that printing software that controls printing processing from an information processing apparatus is composed of a core part that provides a universal function of software and a plurality of function-dependent parts that provide printing-dependent functions. However, it is characterized in that the function dependent part is updated by providing a user interface that allows the user to perform print settings, and the latest version of the module that realizes the function dependent part on an arbitrary network is maintained. The current printing software identifier is sent to the latest module management application, and the necessity of updating the function-dependent part is determined by obtaining the latest module version associated with this identifier on a one-to-one basis. Issue the latest module income request for the application when Printing software update method and updates itself module that holds the latest module obtained was.   The printing software update method according to claim 1, wherein printing software that controls printing that operates on the information processing apparatus includes a core part that provides a universal function of the software and a plurality of functions that provide printing-dependent functions. A printing software update method comprising a dependency part.   2. The printing software updating method according to claim 1, wherein the printing software provides a user interface for allowing a user to set printing, and the function dependent module is updated on the user interface. .   2. The printing software updating method according to claim 1, wherein the printing software provides a user interface for allowing the user to perform printing settings, and the updating operation is performed when the user interface is activated. .   The printing software update method according to claim 1, wherein an identifier of the current printing software is transmitted to a latest module management application that holds a latest version of a function-dependent module on an arbitrary network, and at this time, From the latest module version returned from the latest module management application on the network, the necessity of updating the function dependent part is judged. If the update is necessary, the latest module income request is issued to the application and the income is obtained. A printing software update method, wherein the module held by the latest module is updated.   The latest module management application that operates on an arbitrary network maintains table data that describes the identifiers of the function-dependent modules that make up the printing software, the latest version, and the storage location of the module body. In response to the latest version information income request from the printing software, the latest version of the specified function-dependent module is returned to the printing software by returning the latest version of the specified function-dependent module from the identifier given by the printing software. In response to the function-dependent module income request from the printing software on the network, the latest module is identified from the given function-dependent module identifier and the latest function-dependent module corresponding to the printing software is transmitted. The latest module income how to.   7. The latest module income method according to claim 6, wherein the latest module management application operating on an arbitrary network describes the identifier of the model-dependent module constituting the printing software, the latest version, and the storage area of the module body. The latest modular income method characterized by managing data.   7. The latest module income method according to claim 6, wherein the latest version of the specified model-dependent module is returned from the identifier given by the printing software in response to the latest version information income request from the printing software on an arbitrary network. The latest module income method, which notifies the printing software of the latest version of the specified model dependent module.   7. The latest module income method according to claim 6, wherein the latest module is identified from the given function-dependent module identifier in response to the latest function-dependent module income request from the print software on an arbitrary network, and corresponds to the print software. Latest module income method, characterized in that the latest function dependent module is transmitted.

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