JP2007207023A - Changing over method of operation for each delivery destination of software - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To operate the identical install sets by conforming with the situation for each shipping delivery destination by making a client terminal device recognize correct delivery destination information without depending on setting by a user and information stored in a connected device without involving the information depending on the delivery destination in the install sets. <P>SOLUTION: A means recording delivery information information into a client terminal device is provided on a recording medium, with software stored thereon, such as a CD-ROM delivered by being supplied together with a product. The means records the delivery destination information in the client terminal device by the use of the means in installing the software from the CD-ROM. The installed software switches over a display and a specification corresponding to the delivery destination by referring to the recorded delivery destination information in execution of the software. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention makes it possible to realize different specifications for each destination without changing software.

  In software products, it is necessary to realize different displays and specifications for each destination due to the difference in language used and the circumstances of the sales area.

  For example, the server device and the client device are connected via a network such as the Internet, the WWW browser of the client device is started, the printer model name and language used are notified to the server device, and the printer information is provided. A service that presents a screen or a screen for selling consumables has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Such a service is affected by local circumstances, and it is necessary to change the web server to be connected for each region, or it is impossible to support in some regions, so the function must be deleted.

  In order to avoid creating multiple pieces of software for each destination of such software, a method for making it possible to respond to various destinations without changing the software by sending destination information outside the software Has been devised. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-41257 describes a method for referring to regional information in a computer and changing the initial settings of the printer driver in accordance with the regional information. According to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-288877, a method is described in which destination information is recorded in a detachable operation unit, the main body reads the destination information of the operation unit, and the display unit and the operation are switched.

There is also a method of recording destination information in a setting file included in the software installation set and switching the operation of the software based on this information. In this case, since the installation information is included in the installation set, it is possible to deal with a plurality of destinations by preparing an installation set in which the contents of the setting file are changed for each destination.
JP 2005-59303 A JP 2002-41257 A JP-A-8-28887

  However, the conventional methods have the following problems.

  In the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-41257, the user needs to set the correct area information, but there is a problem that the user may not set or may make an incorrect setting. Further, the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-288877 has a problem that information cannot be acquired unless the device body is connected.

  In addition, when a plurality of install sets are prepared, there is a problem that if the download service is performed on the Internet, it can be downloaded from a region other than the originally intended region, so that the operation is inappropriate for the user. Furthermore, depending on the type of OS, a system that introduces a certification test for software, issues a certification file for the software that passed the test, and includes this certification file in the software installation set is introduced. There is. In this case, if the files included in the installation set are changed due to the destination, it is necessary to obtain authentication for each installation set, which increases costs and man-hours.

  The present invention solves the above-described problems, and does not rely on user settings or information held by connected devices, and does not include information that depends on the destination in the installation set, so that correct destination information can be sent to the client. By making the terminal device recognize, the same program can be operated in accordance with the circumstances for shipping.

  In order to solve the above problems, a means for recording destination information in the client terminal device is provided on a recording medium containing software such as a CD-ROM shipped with the product, and the software is installed from the CD-ROM. At this time, destination information is recorded in the client terminal device by the means, and the installed software is configured to switch the display and specifications according to the destination with reference to the destination information recorded at the time of execution.

  As described above, it is possible to make the client terminal device recognize correct destination information without relying on user settings or information held by connected devices, and without including information depending on the destination in the installation set. As a result, the same installation set can be operated according to the circumstances for shipping.

  In addition, since exactly the same installation set can be used for all shipping destinations, it is not necessary to acquire a plurality of authentication files by the OS, thereby reducing costs and man-hours.

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

  In the present embodiment, an example will be described in which printers are sold in the same English-speaking countries of the United States and Australia, and a mechanism for purchasing ink via the Web is introduced in the United States, but not in Australia. In this case, the ink Web purchase guide is displayed in the United States, but it is necessary not to display the guide in Australia. Note that the function used to switch the presence / absence according to the language, country name, and destination used in this example also works in combinations other than the contents exemplified in this example, and even when three or more countries or languages are different Needless to say, it is applicable.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an information processing system in the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 111 denotes a client terminal device, which functions as a print control device that controls a printer described later. Reference numeral 101 denotes a transfer server device, and 121 denotes a service providing server device, which is an information processing device group included in a site that provides a service upon receiving an access request from the client terminal device 111. Reference numeral 104 denotes a network, such as the Internet or a local area network (LAN). Reference numeral 115 denotes a printer connected to the client terminal device 111. Specifically, the printer 115 is an image forming apparatus such as an inkjet recording type inkjet printer or an electrophotographic type laser beam printer.

  In the client terminal device 111, 112 is a WWW (World Wide Web) browser that operates on the client terminal device 111, and HTML (Hyper Text) is transmitted from the WWW server on the transfer server device 101 or the service providing server device 121 via the network 104. Various HTML files described in Markup Language) or the like are acquired, or an HTML file placed in the client terminal device 111 is read, and the description of the HTML file is interpreted to display the display device (CRT 201 described later). ) Has the function of displaying on top.

  A printer driver 114 is software for controlling the printer 115. The printer driver 114 receives a print command from arbitrary application software in the client terminal device 111 under the control of the operating system (OS), and controls the printer 115 to print. In the example shown in FIG. 1, a single printer 115 is connected to the client terminal device 111. However, the client terminal device 111 can be connected to a plurality of printers. It is assumed that there are a plurality of necessary printer drivers.

  A status monitor 113 is software that presents the status of the printer 115 to the user. The status monitor 113 is activated when the printer is in a state that should be presented to the user during printing, such as when the remaining amount of ink is insufficient or a paper jam occurs, and displays necessary information and operation buttons. A function to display the screen on the display device of the client terminal device 111. The status monitor 113 can be activated by the user at an arbitrary timing.

  A service start screen HTML 116 is generated by the status monitor 113. Then, the WWW browser 112 displays a service start screen on the display device based on the service start screen HTML 116. Reference numeral 117 denotes printer purchase store specifying data, which is data stored in a storage unit in the client terminal device 111 or an external storage device connected to the client terminal device 111. Specifically, when the user purchases the printer 115, data (such as a purchased company name, a store name, and a code) that can specify the purchase store is stored. 118 is a Web purchase flag stored in the registry, and the status monitor 113 acquires the value of this flag and displays an ink purchase button if it is TRUE, and if it is FALSE or if this flag is not registered in the registry Does not display the ink purchase button. As a general registry operation, the initial state of the Web purchase flag 118 is an unregistered state.

  In the transfer server apparatus 101 and the service providing server apparatus 121, reference numeral 102 denotes a WWW server 102, which has a function of receiving various requests via the network 104 and transmitting various responses to them. The transfer server apparatus 101 interprets the data (WEB support URL: Uniformed Resource Locater) notified from the client terminal apparatus 111 and provides a support service URL for providing a support service suitable for the state of the user's printer to the client terminal apparatus 111. Transfer to the WWW browser 112. The WEB support URL and the support service URL will be described in further detail.

  In the transfer server device 101, 103 is a service determination unit that interprets data (WEB support URL) notified by the operation of the screen displayed on the WWW browser 112 of the client terminal device 111, according to the status of the printer 115. A service start URL (support service URL) of the service providing server device 121 for providing the service is notified to the WWW browser 112 of the client terminal device 111 to be transferred. Reference numeral 105 denotes a support service transfer destination table, which is a table stored in a storage unit in the transfer server device 101 or an external storage device connected to the transfer server device 101.

  The table 105 is used when the service determination unit 103 interprets data notified from the client terminal device 111 and generates a URL (support service URL) to be transferred to the service providing server device 121 that provides the support service. . That is, the service providing server device 121 is a server device indicated by the support service URL transferred from the transfer server device 101, and provides services such as online sales of the ink tank of the printer 115 to the user.

  In the service providing server device 121, 122 is a support service screen generation unit that interprets the support service URL and generates a screen for providing services for users such as ink tank sales.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the client terminal device 111 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 201 denotes a display device (CRT). The display screen includes, for example, editing documents, graphics, images, and other editing information, icons, messages, menus, and other user interface information described later. Is displayed. Reference numeral 202 denotes a video RAM (VRAM) on which an image to be displayed on the display screen of the CRT 201 is drawn. The image generated by the VRAM 202 is transferred to the CRT 201 and displayed according to a predetermined rule.

  Reference numeral 203 denotes a bit move unit (BMU), for example, data transfer between memories (for example, VRAM 202 and other memories), and data transfer between the memory and each I / O device (for example, a network interface described later). To control. A keyboard 204 has various keys for inputting characters, documents, and the like. Reference numeral 205 denotes a pointing device (PD), which is used for designating icons, menus, and other objects displayed on the display screen of the CRT 201, for example.

  Reference numeral 206 denotes a CPU which controls each device connected to the CPU device based on a control program and control data stored in a ROM, hard disk or removable disk, which will be described later. A ROM 207 holds various control programs and control data. A RAM 208 has a work area for the CPU 206, a data save area for error processing, a control program load area, and the like.

  A hard disk drive (HDD) 209 controls access to the hard disk (HD). Reference numeral 210 denotes a CD-ROM drive which is a removable disk, and controls access to the CD-ROM. In this embodiment, the CD-ROM drive is taken as an example, but other optical disk drives such as DVD-ROM drives and Blu-ray disk drives, flexible disk drives, magneto-optical disks, memory cards, semiconductor disks, etc. There may be. Reference numeral 211 denotes a network interface (Net-I / F), which is an interface for communicating with the transfer server apparatus 101, the service providing server apparatus 121, the printer 115, other information processing apparatuses (not shown), devices, and the like. Communication with the printer 115 may be performed via a parallel interface, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) which is a wired interface, a wireless interface, or the like.

  A CPU bus 212 includes an address bus, a data bus, and a control bus. Here, the control program can be provided to the CPU 206 from the ROM 207, the hard disk, and the removable disk. It can also be performed from another information processing apparatus via the network 104.

  Note that the hardware configurations of the transfer server device 101 and the service providing server device 121 are the same as the hardware configuration of the client terminal device 111, and a description thereof will be omitted here.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the configuration of a file group included in a CD-ROM disk bundled with the printer. The auto-run program 1301 is a program that is automatically executed by the computer when a CD-ROM disc is inserted into the CD-ROM drive, and controls the entire installation process of other bundled software groups. Reference numerals 1303 to 1306 denote installers of the bundled software group, which are activated by the autorun program 1301 to perform installation processing of each software.

  The setting file group 1302 is a setting file group that is read by the autorun program 1301 and includes one or a plurality of files that provide information for determining the operation of the entire installation process. This file group also includes information that differs for each destination, and includes Web purchase settings that instruct the setting method for the Web purchase flag 118. In this example, if you want to display the Web ink purchase button in the United States, set the value of the Web purchase setting to TRUE for the CD-ROM for the United States, and do not want to display the Web ink purchase button in Australia. On the CD-ROM, set the value of Web purchase setting to FALSE. Also, as country information, the abbreviation of each country is set.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the bundled software group installation process by the autorun program 1301 in the client terminal device 111 according to this embodiment. First, in step 1401, when the auto-run program is executed by inserting the CD-ROM, in step 1402, whether to accept the license and display the two buttons “I agree” and “I do not agree” with the user. Ask about it. In step 1403, it is determined whether any of the license buttons has been pressed. If the “I don't agree” button is pressed, the autorun program is terminated in step 1408. If the “agree” button is pressed, the value of the web purchase setting is acquired from the setting file 1302 in step 1404 and if it is TRUE, the value is stored in the web purchase flag 118 in step 1405. In step 1406, the country information setting value is acquired from the setting file 1302, and the value is stored. Thereafter, in step 1407, a list of installable software is displayed and the user selects software to be installed. When the user presses the install execution button, the printer driver installer 1303, the card driver installer 1304, the application A installer 1305, and the application B installer. Of the 1306, the installer that the user has selected to install is sequentially activated to install each driver software and application software. When the installation of all software is completed, the autorun program is terminated in step 1408. In order to execute the autorun program, the program may be manually started by selecting the program from the CD-ROM.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a printer status monitor screen installed by the printer driver instructor 1303 displayed on the client terminal device 111. When the user executes printing on the client terminal device 111, print data is transmitted to the printer 115 by the printer driver installed from the CD-ROM. When the printer 115 is printing the transmission data, the status monitor 113 is activated when the printer 115 is in a state that should be presented to the user, such as when the remaining amount of ink is insufficient or a paper jam occurs. Then, a screen as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed. Further, the status monitor 113 can be activated when the user activates at an arbitrary timing or simultaneously with the execution of printing, and a screen as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed depending on the state of the printer.

  In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes a printer status monitor screen, which displays the status of the printer 115 connected to the client terminal device 111. Reference numeral 302 denotes a portion for displaying text or the like for explaining the state of the printer 115. Reference numeral 303 denotes a portion that displays the remaining amount of the ink tank of the printer 115.

  In the example shown in FIG. 3, the remaining amount of the ink tank is displayed for each of the six ink tanks of the printer 115. Here, in each ink tank remaining amount display portion 304, the remaining amount of ink is a sufficient amount (full), about half (half), low (low), or no remaining capacity (out). The display can be displayed as a bar-shaped indicator as shown. Further, when the capacity recommending that the ink tank needs to be replaced, that is, when the ink tank is small or absent, the icon is displayed in an easy-to-understand manner such as (!) (X).

  A part 306 displays the name of the store where the printer is purchased. Reference numeral 305 denotes a WEB support button. When a user wants to purchase an ink tank by looking at the ink tank remaining amount display portion 303, the user uses the pointing device 205 to use a web support button to use a support service such as ink purchase via the Internet. A WEB support process is started by clicking 305 and inputting an instruction. Then, the WWW browser 112 is activated, and a service start screen as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed by the WWW browser 112.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a service start screen displayed by the WWW browser 112. In FIG. 4, 401 is a service start screen displayed by the WWW browser 112, and is a screen displayed by the WWW browser 112 when the user clicks the WEB support button 305 on the printer status monitor screen 301. Reference numeral 402 denotes a WEB support service start button, which is a button for requesting a WEB support service from the client terminal device 111 using the Internet. Here, the user can see the service start screen 401 and accept the connection to the Internet and that the printer information is transmitted, and can click the button 402.

  Reference numeral 403 denotes an example of a WEB support URL. When the user clicks the WEB support service start button 402, the WEB support URL 403 is transmitted from the WWW browser 112 to the transfer server apparatus 101 via the network 104.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a support service screen displayed by the WWW browser 112. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 501 denotes a support service screen displayed by the WWW browser 112. In the support service screen, the service determination unit 103 of the transfer server apparatus 101 performs a service determination process based on the client country information notified from the client terminal apparatus 111 and the printer purchase store information 306, and as a result, the printer store This is a support service screen that obtains a URL indicating an online service and transmits the URL to the WWW browser 112 so as to be transferred to the support service URL, and as a result, the service providing server device 121 displays the WWW browser 112.

  As shown in FIG. 5, here, an explanation will be given by taking an online ink sales service screen as an example of the support service screen. The support service screen is displayed in a language designated as an argument of the support service URL. Further, the model designated as an argument is displayed as indicated by 502. Reference numeral 506 denotes an ink tank purchase information field, which corresponds to the number of ink tanks of the printer model according to the ink tank remaining amount information specified by the argument of the support service URL, the ink tank name 503, the ink tank remaining amount icon 504, and the ink tank. A purchase number input field 505 is displayed. Here, if the remaining amount of the ink tank is half, low, or out as described above, an ink tank remaining amount icon is displayed for each ink, and 1 is displayed in a state in which 1 is default input in each purchase quantity input column. .

  By using this support service, the user can easily purchase necessary ink tanks without checking the printer in accordance with the remaining amount of the individual ink tanks of his printer.

  Also, the printer store can guide the user to purchase printer consumables continuously at the printer purchase store.

  Here, processing of the client terminal device 111, the transfer server device 101, and the service providing server device 121 in the above-described support service providing system will be described. This process is a process executed by the CPU 206 in each apparatus by reading a program stored in the ROM 207 or the HDD 209 into the RAM 208 and managed by the operation system.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing of the client terminal device 111 in the present embodiment. Note that when the user purchases the printer 115, the printer purchase store specifying data 117 is set in the client terminal device 111. The setting method is not particularly defined in the present embodiment, but the printer purchase store data may be set in the printer purchase store specifying data 117 in the client terminal device 111 by using, for example, software distributed from the printer purchase store. . Alternatively, when the client terminal device 111 and the printer 115 main body are purchased from the dealer at the same time, the dealer can be set in the printer purchase shop specifying data 117 in the client terminal apparatus 111 from before the sale.

  First, in step S601, when a state to be presented to the user occurs in the printer 115, such as when the remaining amount of ink is insufficient or a paper jam occurs while the user is executing printing with arbitrary software, or printing is performed. Simultaneously with the start, the status monitor 113 is automatically activated from the printer driver 114. It is also possible for the user to start by hand. When the status monitor 113 is activated, the process proceeds to step 611 where the value of the Web purchase flag is checked. If it is not registered or FALSE, the Web purchase function is not performed and the process is terminated. If TRUE, the process advances to step S602 to communicate with the printer 115 main body and acquire the remaining capacity of each ink tank by the number of ink tanks. Here, the remaining capacity is classified into levels for each ink tank. For example, the remaining capacity is classified into four levels as shown in FIG. That is, “full” is set when the capacity is sufficient, “half” is set when the capacity is about half, “low” is set when the capacity is nearing replacement, and “out” is set when there is no remaining capacity.

  Next, in step S603, printer purchase store specifying data 117 is acquired. If the printer store specific data is not set, it is handled as “no setting”. In step S604, the status monitor screen 301 is displayed on the display device 201. Here, the ink tank information obtained in step S 602 is displayed on the ink tank information display unit 303. Further, the remaining amount is displayed as an icon in accordance with the ink tank remaining amount classification (recommended replacement level) shown in FIG. The printer purchase store information acquired in step S603 is displayed on the printer purchase store information display unit 306.

  Next, in step S605, the operation of the user is awaited. If the WEB support button 305 is clicked (pressed), the process proceeds to step S606, and if not pressed, the process continues to wait. In step S606, the URL of the transfer server apparatus 101 set in the system at the same time when the status monitor (software) 113 is set in the client terminal apparatus 111 is acquired. In this embodiment, “http://www.websup.com/websup” will be described as an example of the URL.

  Next, in step S607, the remaining capacity of each ink tank is acquired and the remaining capacity is classified for each ink tank in the same process as in step S602 described above. In step S608, the ink tank color name and remaining amount classification for each ink tank acquired in step S607, the printer purchase store information acquired in step S603, the language used by the printer driver, and the printer model with which the current status monitor is communicating. Are combined as arguments and added to the transfer server URL acquired in step S603 to generate a WEB support URL 403.

  Next, in step S609, a service start screen HTML 116 is generated by associating the WEB support URL 403 generated in step S608 with the WEB support service start button 402. In step S610, the WWW browser 112 is started as a process different from the status monitor 113, and the service start screen HTML 116 generated in step S609 is read and opened, and displayed on the display device 201 of the client terminal device 111.

  Through the above processing, the user can view the service start screen on the client terminal device 111. Since the WWW browser 112 is activated as a process different from the status monitor 113, the user can terminate the status monitor 113.

  Above, description about the process in the client terminal device 111 is complete | finished. Next, processing performed in the transfer server apparatus 101 will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing of the transfer server apparatus 101 in this embodiment. This process is executed by the service determination unit 103 of the transfer server device 101 that has received the WEB support URL 403 transmitted from the WWW browser 112 when the user clicks the WEB support service start button 402 on the client terminal device 111. Service transfer processing.

  First, in step S701, when the WWW server 102 of the transfer server apparatus 101 receives the above-described WEB support URL from the client terminal apparatus 111, the service determination unit 103 is activated. Next, in step S702, the argument portion of the WEB support URL 403 is analyzed. In this embodiment, driver display language information (“country = usa” in 403), printer model information (“model = F900” in 403), printer purchase store information (“retailer = 123” in 403) are used as arguments. ), Ink tank remaining amount information (“Y = half & M = out & C = ok & BK = ok & PM = low & PC = half” in 403) is obtained as an analysis result.

  In step S703, the “support service URL basic part” is acquired by referring to the “support service transfer destination table” 105 as shown in FIG. 9 based on the language information acquired in step S702 and the printer purchase store information. To do. Specifically, in the case of the WEB support URL 403 shown in FIG. 4, the support service transfer destination table 105 shown in FIG. 9 is searched by using the country information “usa” and the printer purchase store information “8756” as search keys, and the support service. As a URL basic portion, “http://www.eshop.com/eCommerce” (902 shown in FIG. 9) is obtained.

  Next, in step S704, a necessary part (for example, all arguments “country = usa & model = F900 & Y = half & M = out & C = ok & BK = ok & PM = low & PC = half & retailer = 8756”) is added to the basic part of the support service URL from the WEB support URL argument. Then, a support service URL is generated. For example, when all the arguments are added, a URL as shown in FIG. 10 is generated as the support service URL.

  If the printer purchase store information is not notified, that is, if the printer purchase store specifying data 117 is not set in the client terminal device 111, the consumables sales service URL prepared by the printer manufacturer is set to “support service transfer” in FIG. A support service URL is generated from the “destination table”. For example, the support service URL is generated using the support service URL basic portion (901 shown in FIG. 9) corresponding to the data in which the purchase store column is “-”.

  Next, in step S705, the support service URL shown in FIG. 10 generated in step S704 is transmitted as redirection to the WWW browser 112 of the client terminal device 111 via the WWW server 102.

  Thus, when the WWW browser 112 of the client terminal device 111 receives the support service URL, since it is a redirection, it is transmitted to the server pointed to by the URL, that is, the service providing server device 121.

  Above, the description about the process in the transfer server apparatus 101 is complete | finished. Next, processing performed in the service providing server device 121 will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing of the service providing server apparatus 121 in this embodiment. This process is a process executed by the support service screen generation unit 122 of the service providing server device 121.

  As described above, the support service URL generated by the transfer server apparatus 101 reaches the WWW server 102 of the service providing server apparatus 121 via the WWW browser 112 of the client terminal apparatus 111 as redirection. Then, the service providing server device 121 activates the support service screen generation unit 122 in order to provide the support service to the user.

  First, in step S801, the argument of the received support service URL is analyzed. For example, when the WEB support URL is the URL shown in FIG. 10, country information (“country = usa” in FIG. 10), printer model information (“model = F900” in FIG. 10), printer purchase store information ( In FIG. 10, “retailer = 8756”) and ink tank remaining amount information (“Y = half & M = out & C = ok & BK = ok & PM = low & PC = half” in FIG. 10) are obtained as analysis results. The ink tank information is analyzed for each ink tank, and the remaining amount classification of each ink tank is obtained.

  In step S802, the product model number of each ink tank is acquired from the printer model information. Specifically, it is acquired from a “model-ink tank correspondence table” as shown in FIG. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 10, the model is “F900”, and the ink tank model number corresponding to this model can be obtained. In step S803, the ink tanks with the remaining amount level for which the ink tank replacement is recommended are selected using the “ink tank remaining amount classification table”. In the present embodiment, the replacement recommendation is made when the above-described remaining amount level is 1 or 2. In the case of the ink tank remaining amount information shown in FIG. 10, yellow, magenta, photo magenta, and photo cyan are selected as replacement recommendations. And the remaining amount icon corresponding to each remaining amount level is set.

  Next, in step S804, the purchase designation number is set to 1 for the ink tank selected as the replacement recommendation in step S803 described above. In addition, the designated number of ink tanks not recommended for replacement is zero. In step S805, a support service screen HTML is generated and transmitted to the WWW browser 112 of the client terminal device 111, and the support service screen 501 shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the screen. Thereby, the ink remaining amount icon set in step S803 is set as indicated by the ink remaining amount icon 504 in the support service screen 501 in the present embodiment. This completes the support service screen generation process.

  According to the present embodiment, the Web purchase setting value in the setting file group is set to TRUE for the CD-ROM bundled with the printer for the US destination, and the setting file group for the CD-ROM bundled with the printer for the Australian destination. By setting the Web purchase setting value in FALSE to the user who installed the printer driver using the CD-ROM auto-run program, the Web ink purchase button is displayed in the US and the Web ink purchase button is not displayed in Australia. Control becomes possible.

  According to the present embodiment, since the installation set main body does not include any information on whether or not the Web purchase is made according to the destination, the same installation set for the printer driver can be used in both the United States and Australia. In addition, since the same installation set can be used for the printer driver, not only can cost reduction and reliability be improved by reducing the evaluation man-hours and management man-hours, but also the cost can be reduced because only one certification test by the OS manufacturer is required. Man-hours can be reduced.

  Further, since the operation of the autorun program can cope with various destinations by modifying the setting file, it is possible to record the destination information suitable for the product destination in the client terminal device without modifying the program.

  Also, the included CD-ROM has been different for each destination and has been shipped with the correct destination CD-ROM at the time of packaging, so it is not possible to deliver the correct destination CD-ROM to the user. It has been achieved than before. In addition, since the user must install the driver software using the included CD-ROM before using the peripheral device, the correct destination information can be reliably recorded in the client terminal device.

[Other Embodiments]
As another embodiment, a case where an installation set of the latest printer driver is disclosed on the Internet will be described. According to the present invention, when the printer driver is disclosed on the Internet, the same installation set can be used in both the United States and Australia. In addition, the installation set to be released on the Internet is the same as the installation set included on the included CD-ROM. can do.

  According to this embodiment, the Web purchase flag 118 of the client terminal device that has been installed once using the included CD-ROM is set to TRUE if the destination of the CD-ROM used for installation is for the United States, and for Australia If so, the initial state remains unregistered. If you update with the latest driver downloaded from the Internet in this state, the driver installer does not change the state of the Web purchase flag 118. The button is displayed, and the ink purchase button is not displayed on the client terminal device using the CD-ROM for Australia.

  Further, since the Web purchase flag 118 is not a registry written when the printer driver is installed, the state of the Web purchase flag 118 is not changed even if the printer driver is uninstalled. Therefore, as with the overwrite update, even if the printer driver is uninstalled and reinstalled, the display / non-display of the ink purchase button is not changed.

  Since the Web purchase flag 118 is written upon agreeing to the license for the auto-run program 1301, if other software is installed without installing the printer driver from the CD-ROM, It is controlled to display a Web ink purchase button according to the destination.

  Since the initial state of the Web purchase flag 118 of the client terminal device is unregistered, the printer driver using the printer driver installation set downloaded from the Internet to the client terminal device that has never used the CD-ROM. Is installed, the ink purchase button is not displayed regardless of the installation location. When the ink purchase button is displayed in Australia, which is a non-compliant area, the user is guided to a website that cannot actually be purchased, so the degree of confusion is higher than when the ink purchase button is not displayed in the United States. In this way, even for users who never use a CD-ROM, it is possible to turn on / off the function by setting the flag to TRUE if the problem is caused by incorrect operation. More appropriate display can be performed.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the information processing system in this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the client terminal device 111 in this embodiment. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printer status monitor screen displayed on a client terminal device 111. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the service start screen displayed by the WWW browser. It is a figure which shows an example of the support service screen displayed by the WWW browser. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the client terminal device 111 in this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the transfer server apparatus 101 in this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the service provision server apparatus 121 in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the support service transfer destination table in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of support service URL in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the model-ink tank corresponding | compatible table in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows a response | compatibility with the ink tank residual amount in this embodiment, a residual amount icon, and the replacement recommendation level. It is a figure which shows the structure of CD-ROM in this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the installation process in this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Transfer server apparatus 102 WWW server 103 Service judgment part 104 Network 105 Support service transfer destination table 111 Client terminal apparatus 112 WWW browser 113 Status monitor 114 Printer driver 115 Printer 116 Service start screen HTML
117 Printer purchase store specific data 201 CRT
202 Video RAM (VRAM)
203 BMU
204 Keyboard 205 Pointing device (PD)
206 CPU
207 ROM
208 RAM
209 Hard disk drive (HDD)
210 Flexible Disk Drive (FDD)
211 Network interface (Net-I / F)
212 CPU bus

Claims (7)

A first installation program group for installing each program;
A second installation program for sequentially executing the installation programs included in the first installation program group as necessary to install each program;
A configuration file group separated from the second installation program,
The second installation program operates the destination flag according to the contents of the above configuration file group,
A software switching method according to destination, wherein the software installed by the first installation program group reads the destination flag and switches processing for each destination. A first installation program group for installing each program;
A second installation program for sequentially executing the installation programs included in the first installation program group as necessary to install each program;
A configuration file group separated from the second installation program,
The second installation program operates the destination flag according to the contents of the above configuration file group,
A software operation switching method according to destination, wherein the software installed by the first installation program group reads the destination flag, passes the value of the read flag to the server, and switches the server processing. A first installation program group for installing each program;
A second installation program for sequentially executing the installation programs included in the first installation program group as necessary to install each program;
A configuration file group separated from the second installation program,
The second installation program operates the destination flag according to the contents of the above configuration file group,
A method for switching operation according to destination of software, wherein the driver software installed by the first installation program group reads the destination flag and switches processing for each destination. A first installation program group for installing each program;
A second installation program for sequentially executing the installation programs included in the first installation program group as necessary to install each program;
A configuration file group separated from the second installation program,
The second installation program operates the destination flag according to the contents of the above configuration file group,
A method for switching operation according to destination of software, wherein the driver software installed by the first installation program group reads the destination flag, passes the value of the read flag to the server, and switches processing of the server. .   A program product for performing the processing according to claim 1.   A data processing system comprising the program according to claim 5.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 5 is recorded.

Images