JP2010009604A - Installing data generation device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an installing data generation technology which reduces a burden on a user when a predetermined device is used from a personal computer through a network. <P>SOLUTION: This installing data generation device is provided with: an information acquiring part 13 for acquiring setting information about a predetermined device, which is required when a driver program of the predetermined device is enabled in a target device for installation; and an installing data generating part 14 for generating a data group obtained by associating the driver program, an installing program which installs the driver program in the target device and is used when enabling the predetermined device in the target device, and the setting information acquired by the information acquiring part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an installation data generation apparatus for making it possible to use a predetermined device.

  In order to be able to use a predetermined apparatus such as a digital multifunction peripheral (Multi Function Peripheral, MFP) from a personal computer (client PC), the user needs to perform a setting operation for enabling the use. Conventionally, when performing this work, a user needs to prepare a driver or the like corresponding to the device in advance, and acquire setting values unique to the device in advance and then perform setting work such as driver installation. there were. Therefore, it takes time to prepare for the setting work, which places a heavy burden on the user. In addition, when the prepared driver is not adapted to the device or the acquired setting value unique to the device is incorrect, the user needs to understand the cause of the failure of the setting operation and start over. .

  In order to reduce the burden on the user in the setting work, in the MFP, client PC, and server connected via the network, the client PC acquires the information from the MFP via the network, and based on the information acquired from the MFP. A technique for acquiring and installing a driver suitable for the MFP from a server is disclosed (Patent Document 1).

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, initial setting for network connection between the client PC and the MFP is performed in advance so that the client PC can acquire information about the MFP from the MFP. There is a need to. Therefore, the burden on the user is still caused by the preparation for the initial setting and the burden due to the troublesome re-input operation when the information acquired for the initial setting is incorrect.

  Embodiments of the present invention provide an installation data generation technique capable of reducing the burden on a user that occurs when a predetermined apparatus can be used from a personal computer via a network. Objective.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an aspect of the present invention provides information acquisition for acquiring setting information related to a predetermined device that is required when a driver program for the predetermined device can be used in a target device to be installed. A driver program, an installation program used when installing the driver program on the target device and making the predetermined device available on the target device, and setting information acquired by the information acquisition unit The present invention relates to an installation data generation device including an installation data generation unit that generates an attached data group.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, a driver program and a driver program are obtained by acquiring setting information related to a predetermined device that is required when a driver program for the predetermined device can be used in a target device to be installed. To an installation data generation method for generating a data group in which an installation program used when a predetermined device is made available on the target device and the setting information to be acquired is associated with the target device .

  According to another aspect of the present invention, a driver program and a driver program are obtained by acquiring setting information related to a predetermined device that is required when a driver program for the predetermined device can be used in a target device to be installed. Is installed in the target device and causes the computer to execute a process of generating a data group in which the installation program used when the predetermined device is made available in the target device and the acquired setting information are associated with each other It relates to a data generation program for installation.

  As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the burden on the user that occurs when a predetermined device can be used from a personal computer via a network.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a print system in the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram of a setting information table in the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram relating to the MFP 102 in the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is an exemplary diagram of a print condition setting screen for a print job in the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of a screen when the attached application is activated in the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of a screen when the attached application is activated in the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram relating to the server 104 in the present embodiment. FIG. 8 is an exemplary diagram of a correspondence table regarding the relationship between the program stored in the server and the MFP 102 in this embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a flow of processing related to generation of an installation data group in the present embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a flow of installation and setting processing using the installation data group in this embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of a configuration of a print system including an MFP 102 that is an installation data group generation apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the print system according to the present embodiment includes one or more client PCs 101, one or more MFPs 102, a gateway device 103, and a server 104. Further, the client PC 101, the MFP 102, and the gateway device 103 are connected to each other via a network such as a LAN, a WAN, or a wireless LAN. The gateway device 103 and the server 104 are connected via the Internet.

  Here, each component of the client PC 101, the gateway device 103, and the server 104 has standard elements mounted on a general-purpose computer. For example, such standard elements include a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, a storage area such as a hard disk and an external storage device, a network interface, a display, a keyboard, and a mouse. Similarly, the MFP 102 also includes a CPU, a storage area such as a RAM, a ROM, and a hard disk, an operation unit such as a scanner, a printer, a display, a touch panel and buttons, a network interface for communicating with the outside through a network, and an external device. It has standard elements such as an external device interface for performing communication.

  The CPU (CPU 101a of the client PC 101, CPU 101a of the MFP 102, CPU 103a of the gateway device 103, and CPU 104a of the server 104) included in each component is a storage area (the storage area 101b of the client PC 101, the storage area 102b of the MFP 102, the gateway By executing the application program stored in the storage area 103b of the device 103 and the storage area 104b of the authentication server 104, a document can be created or modified.

  Hereinafter, each component of the print system will be described in detail. The client PC 101 creates and edits a document using an installed application program. Further, the client PC 101 generates print job data for the document using the mounted MFP driver 101d, and sends the print job data to the MFP 102 in order to execute output processing of the print job data.

  The MFP 102 has a monochrome or color copy function, a monochrome or color scanner function, a function for performing monochrome printing or color printing based on print job data acquired via a network, and the like. In addition, the MFP 102 has an automatic document conveyance function (ADF), a finisher function, a punching function, a stapling function, a sorting function, a file sharing function, and a communication function for performing FAX communication, Internet communication, and the like.

  Further, the MFP 102 corresponding to the installation data generation apparatus of the present embodiment has identification information for specifying the MFP 102 on the network, such as an IP address, a MAC address, and an identification name, in the storage area 102b, and the MFP 102 Setting information including information on processing functions provided is stored. Further, the MFP 102 includes an operation unit 102d including a display 102c, a graphical display equipped with a touch panel sensor, numeric buttons and dedicated buttons for inputting frequently used commands such as “start” and “cancel”, and status display LEDs. With. Therefore, the MFP 102 sets setting information stored in the storage area 102b based on an input operation from the user using the operation unit 102d, an MFP driver compatible with the MFP 102 acquired from a server, which will be described later, and the MFP on the client PC 101. An installation wizard program for installing the driver and setting the MFP 102 to be usable from the client PC (hereinafter referred to as a wizard program) is included so that the client PC 101 can use the MFP 102. Generate installation data group. Furthermore, the MFP 102 can output the generated installation data group to a storage medium such as an SD card or a USB flash memory.

  In the present embodiment, the installation data group is an application program (hereinafter referred to as an attached application) that is stored in the server 104 and can be installed on the client PC 101 to support document creation and MFP function operations. And the like). The setting information is used for installation and setting of attached applications in addition to the MFP driver.

  In this embodiment, the wizard program uses the application programming interface (API) in the operating system installed in the client PC 101 to set the setting information as information to be used by the MFP driver or the attached application. Set to. Thereby, since the setting information is automatically set in the client PC 101 as information used by the MFP driver or the like, the burden of the user's operation input can be further reduced, and the re-execution of the operation due to an erroneous input can be suppressed. be able to.

  Further, in this embodiment, when the MFP 102 cannot be connected to the server 104, the MFP 102 stores an MFP driver, a wizard program, and an attached application (hereinafter, these three programs stored in the storage area 102b in advance). A data group for installation is generated using a program set for installation). Each program constituting the installation program set stored in the storage area 102 b is updated in response to a notification from the server 104.

  The gateway device 103 can be connected to an internal network such as a LAN and an external network such as the Internet, and provides a gateway function that mutually converts a communication protocol in the internal network and a communication protocol in the external network. With the gateway function, the client PC 101 and the MFP 102 connected to the internal network can be connected to the server 104 via the Internet.

  The server 104 stores a plurality of types of installation program sets including installation program sets that conform to the format of the MFP 102. As described above, the MFP 102 acquires (downloads) an installation program set that matches the MFP 102 from the server 104, and generates an installation data group using the downloaded installation program set. In this embodiment, when any of the programs included in the installation program set stored in the storage area 104b is updated, the server 104 notifies the MFP 102 that the update has been performed.

  Next, the block configuration of the installation data group generation function provided in the MFP 102 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The MFP 102 includes a storage unit 11, a data generation control unit 12, an information acquisition unit 13, an installation data generation unit 14, a storage medium communication unit 15, and a program update unit 16.

  The storage unit 11 stores setting information acquired by an information acquisition unit 13 (to be described later) and an installation program set (MFP driver, wizard program, and attached application) compatible with the MFP 102.

  The data generation control unit 12 acquires information about the storage medium connected to the MFP 102 via the storage medium communication unit 15 based on the installation data group generation request from the user using the operation unit 102d of the MFP 102. Then, it is determined whether the installation data group can be written. In addition, the data generation control unit 12 controls the information acquisition unit 13 to acquire setting information and the installation data generation unit to generate an installation data group.

  The information acquisition unit 13 acquires setting information regarding the MFP 102 that is necessary when the MFP driver or the like of the MFP 102 can be used by the client PC 101 to be installed, and stores the setting information in the storage unit 11. An example of the setting information is shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the information acquisition unit 12 sets the settings shown in FIG. 2 based on information specific to the MFP 102 that can be specified and information about applications included in the MFP 102 that are stored in the storage area 102b of the MFP 102. An information table 70 is generated.

  The setting information acquisition process will be described more specifically. Based on the control of the data generation control unit 12, the information acquisition unit 13 can identify the MFP 102 such as the IP address, the MAC address, and the identification name of the MFP 102 in the storage area 102b on the network. The identification information unique to the MFP 102 is acquired by referring to one or a plurality of areas in which the above information is stored. Further, the information acquisition unit 13 refers to one or a plurality of areas in the storage area 102b in which information about applications related to functions that can be executed by the MFP 102 is stored. get.

  Next, based on the reference result, the information acquisition unit 13 identifies the MFP 102 identification name (71a) IP address (71b), MAC address (71c), presence / absence of the finisher function (72a), presence / absence of the automatic document conveyance function (72b). , Presence / absence of punching function (72c), presence / absence of stapling function (72d), presence / absence of sorting function (72e), presence / absence of file sharing function (72f), application (ON) or non-application (OFF) of user management settings ( 73) and the setting information table 70 registered for the security level (74) is generated and stored in the storage unit 11. Note that the storage unit 11 according to the present embodiment can also be a part of the storage area 102b.

  The setting information obtained in this way is used to install the MFP driver and attached application on the client PC 101 using the installation data group, and to make the MFP 102 usable on the client PC using these programs. It can be used for setting processing. Specifically, in the print job condition setting screen (FIG. 4), the check boxes for executing functions are solid lines that can be executed, and those that cannot be executed because the MFP 102 does not have the function. The MFP driver is set so that it is displayed with a broken line and cannot be checked.

  Note that the user management setting refers to a setting for restricting processing for the MFP 102 or the like connected to the network and a function therefor for each user who logs in to the network. When non-execution (OFF) of user management setting is registered in the setting information table 70, the wizard program does not perform installation for the application even if the application for user management is included in the attached application. .

  The security level refers to information for restricting the use of the function of the MFP 102 based on the setting content. For example, when the security level is set to 5 levels from 1 to 5 in ascending order, the security level 3 or higher is set so that the file sharing function cannot be used even when the MFP 102 has the file sharing function. Assuming that In this case, the wizard program performs setting so that the client PC 101 cannot use a predetermined function such as a file sharing function of the MFP 102 based on the security level in the setting information. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, in order to use the file sharing function displayed when the security level is 2 or less on the operation screen of the application in the setting at the time of installation of the attached application The button 741 is not displayed on the screen.

  Information about the specific content of the restriction based on the security level may be stored in the storage area of the MFP 102 or may be collectively managed by the server 104 or the like. Accordingly, information indicating specific restriction contents may be included in the installation data group, and when executing installation and setting processing using the installation data group, the MFP 102 or the server 104 sends the client PC 101. May be acquired.

  The installation data generation unit 14 acquires setting information from the storage unit 11 based on control by the data generation control unit 12, acquires an installation program set from the server 102, generates an installation data group, and stores the storage medium. It is sent to the communication unit 15. In addition, the server 104 cannot be connected and the installation program set may not be acquired. In such a case, the installation data generation unit 14 generates an installation data group using an installation program set stored in advance in the storage unit 11 and sends the installation data group to the storage medium communication unit 15.

  The storage medium communication unit 15 communicates with the storage medium connected to the MFP 102 based on the control by the data generation control unit 12, acquires the information, and sends it to the data generation control unit 12. The storage medium communication unit 15 writes the installation data group acquired from the installation data generation unit 14 to the connected storage medium.

  The program update unit 16 acquires a notification informing that the server 104 has been updated when at least one of the compatible MFP driver, wizard program, and attached application is updated in the server 104. The program update unit 16 downloads one or more updated programs from the server 104 based on the acquired notification. Then, the program update unit 16 updates these programs stored in the storage unit 11 by replacing the corresponding programs stored in the storage unit 11 in advance using the downloaded program.

  Here, FIG. 5 shows functional blocks in the server 104 related to downloading of the installation program set by the MFP 102. The server 104 includes a storage unit 21, a download support unit 22, and a program management unit 23.

  The storage unit 21 stores an installation program set. The storage unit 21 may store a plurality of types of programs constituting the installation program set. Further, in the present embodiment, the storage unit 21 stores a correspondence table 80 in which the correspondence relationship between each program and the MFP 102 is registered as shown in FIG.

  In response to a download request from the installation data generation unit 14 or the program update unit 16, the download support unit 22 stores at least one of the above-described programs suitable for the MFP 102 including these using the correspondence table 80. 21. Next, the download support unit 22 sends the extracted program to the installation data generation unit 14 or the program update unit 16 that sent the download request.

  The program management unit 23 checks the update of the program stored in the storage unit 21 and updates the contents of the correspondence table 80 when the update has been executed for any one of them. In addition, based on the correspondence table 80, the program management unit 23 sends a notification notifying that the program has been updated to the program update unit 16 of the MFP 102 that matches the updated program.

  The installation data group output to the storage medium can be used to install the print driver and attached application in the client PC 101 and to make the MFP 102 available to the client PC 101 using these programs. The client PC 101 can perform the installation and setting process using a wizard program.

  At this time, the client PC 101 connects to the MFP 102 via the network using any of the IP address, MAC address, or identification name included in the identification information in the setting information. Then, the client PC 101 determines whether the information regarding the processing function included in the setting information matches the function of the MFP 102 and its setting through communication with the MFP 102 via the network. In the determination result, when the information regarding the processing function matches the function of the MFP 102 and its setting, the client PC 101 executes the installation and setting process.

  Next, a processing flow in the installation data group generation processing will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, in Act 101, the data generation control unit 12 of the MFP 102 acquires an installation data group generation request from the user using the operation unit 102d of the MFP 102. Note that the MFP 102 may generate an installation data group on the assumption that an installation data group generation request has been made when sensing the connection of the storage medium.

  In Act 102, the data generation control unit 12 acquires information about the storage medium via the storage medium communication unit 15. Next, the data generation control unit 12 determines whether or not the installation data group can be written to the storage medium based on the acquired information about the storage medium (Act 103). When it is determined that writing cannot be performed, the data generation control unit 12 notifies the user that writing cannot be performed using the display 102c (Act 110).

  On the other hand, when it is determined that writing is possible, the data generation control unit 12 determines whether the connection with the server 104 via the network is valid (Act 104). When it is determined that the connection with the server 104 is valid, the data generation control unit 12 controls the installation data generation unit 14 to download the installation program set from the server 104 and generate an installation data group. To do. Based on the control, the installation data generation unit 14 downloads an installation program set from the server 104 (Act 105).

  When it is determined that the connection with the server 104 is invalid, the data generation control unit 12 installs the installation data group using the installation program set stored in advance in the storage unit 11 so as to generate the installation data group. The data generator 14 is controlled. Based on the control, the installation data generation unit 14 acquires an installation program set from the storage unit 11 (Act 106).

  Next, in Act 107, based on the control of the data generation control unit 12, the information acquisition unit 13 acquires each setting information such as an IP address, generates the setting information table 70 in FIG. . In this embodiment, after the installation data generation unit 14 acquires the installation program set, the information acquisition unit 13 acquires the setting information to configure the setting information table 70. However, these may be simultaneous, or after the setting information acquisition by the information acquisition unit 13, the installation program set may be acquired by the installation data generation unit 14. Further, the determination of the effectiveness of the network connection with the server 104 indicated as Act 104 may be performed after the setting information acquisition by the information acquisition unit 13.

  Returning to the description of the flow, in Act 108, the installation data generation unit 14 acquires the setting information table 70 generated by the information acquisition unit from the storage unit 11, and the setting information table 70 and the server 104 or the storage unit 11. An installation data group including each program acquired from the above is generated. Then, the installation data group is sent to the storage medium communication unit 15.

  In Act 109, the storage medium communication unit 15 transfers the acquired installation data group to the storage medium and executes writing. Further, the data generation control unit 12 is notified that the writing has been completed. The data generation control unit 12 notifies the user that the writing of the installation data group to the storage medium has been completed using the display 102c (Act 110).

  Next, a processing flow of installation and setting processing in the client PC using the installation data group will be described with reference to FIG.

  In Act 201, the CPU 101a of the client PC 101 reads the wizard program in the installation data group by the auto-run function of the operation system mounted on the client PC, and starts installation and setting processing. Here, in the present embodiment, the wizard program uses the API installed in the client PC 101 to execute installation and setting processing on the client PC 101. Therefore, the installation and setting process proceeds without any user input.

  In Act 202, the CPU 101a of the client PC 101 can communicate with the MFP 102 using the IP address, MAC address, or identification name registered in the setting information table 70 in the installation data group. Determine if there is. When the communication cannot be performed, the CPU 101a notifies the user that the communication with the MFP 103 cannot be performed due to a problem on the network, using the display 101c, and ends the installation and setting process (Act 207).

  On the other hand, when it is determined that communication with the MFP 102 is possible, the CPU 101a determines whether the information related to the processing function provided in the MFP 102 but registered in the setting information table 70 matches the function of the MFP 102 and its setting (Act 203). ). If it does not match the function of the MFP 102 and its setting, the CPU 101a notifies the user that there is a mismatch using the display 101c, and ends the process (Act 208).

  Note that there is no particular limitation on a method for determining whether the information regarding the processing function registered in the setting information table 70 matches the setting of the MFP 102. For example, the setting information table 70 is stored as a log in the storage unit 11 of the MFP 102, and by collating registered contents between the setting information table 70 in the installation data group and the setting information table 70 (log) in the storage unit 11, You may make it determine whether it corresponds. Further, the CPU 101a can determine whether or not they match by referring to the information about the application of the MFP 102 stored in the storage area 102b of the MFP 102.

  When it is confirmed in Act 203 that the setting information matches the setting of the MFP 102, the CPU 101a proceeds to Act 204 and uses the wizard program to install the MFP driver and the attached application on the client PC 101. At this time, depending on the contents of the setting information, some of the attached applications are not installed. For example, when the user management setting is not applied (OFF) in the setting information, the wizard program is configured so that the user management software is not installed.

  Next, the CPU 101a proceeds to Act 205, and uses the setting information table 70 to set the setting information in the client PC 101 as information used by the MFP driver and the attached application.

  Then, the CPU 101a proceeds to Act 206, uses the display 101c to notify the user that the installation and setting process has been successful, and ends the process.

  In the present embodiment, if the connection with the MFP 102 via the network cannot be confirmed, or if the information about the function in the setting information does not match the function of the MFP 102 and its setting, the installation and setting process To end. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and only the installation process may be executed. In this case, the CPU 101a notifies the user using the display 101c that the installation has been normally performed, but that the setting process has not been performed due to a problem on the network or inconsistency between the setting information and the setting.

  The wizard program may be configured such that the user can arbitrarily select an attached application to be installed.

(Other embodiments)
Although the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and other embodiments can be used.

  For example, in the embodiment described above, the installation data group generated by the MFP 102 includes each program of the installation program set in addition to the setting information. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other configurations can be used.

  To explain with a specific example, for one or all of the programs included in the installation program set, instead of the program itself, information for acquiring the program file by the client PC 101 to be installed is used. An installation data group may be configured. In other words, the installation data generation unit 14 installs the setting information acquired by the information acquisition unit 13, “MFP driver” or “information for acquiring the MFP driver”, and “installs the MFP driver in the client PC 101. In addition, a data group in which “a wizard program used when the MFP 102 can be used in the client PC 101” or “information for specifying the wizard program” is associated is generated.

  More specifically, for example, the installation data generation unit 14 generates an installation data group including at least one of a directory path, a program ID, and a request command for programs constituting the installation program set. You may make it do.

  When the information about the program is a directory path that is information about the storage destination of the program, in the installation and setting process, the CPU 101a of the client PC 101 downloads the program from the server 104 based on the directory path, Execute the setting process.

  When the information about the program is a program ID unique to the program, the CPU 101 a of the client PC 101 sends the program ID to the server 104. The server 104 searches the client PC 101 for a program that requests download based on the program ID. Then, the server 104 sends the identified program to the client PC 101.

  When the information about the program is a request command that is information requesting to download the program, the CPU 101a of the client PC 101 sends the request command to the server 104. Based on the request command, the server 104 acquires information (for example, a directory path or program ID) for specifying a program that the client PC 101 requests to download, and searches for the program based on the information for specifying. Then, the server 104 sends the identified program to the client PC 101.

  In this case, as in the present embodiment, the installation program set is stored in the server 104, which is one server, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the installation program set can be configured to be stored in one or a plurality of servers.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the information acquisition part 13 acquires setting information, and produces | generates the setting information table 70 based on this setting information. Then, the installation data generation unit 14 generates an installation data group including the setting information table 70. However, it is sufficient that the setting information is included in at least the installation data group, and the format is not limited to a table or the like.

  Further, in the present embodiment, setting information including identification information of the MFP 102 and information regarding processing functions is stored in the storage area 102b. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other modes can be adopted. For example, the setting information may be stored in the server 104. In this case, the information acquisition unit 12 acquires setting information from the server 104.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, when a plurality of types of attached applications that are compatible with the MFP 102 are stored in the server 104, all of these are downloaded and an installation data group is generated. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a part of the application may be downloaded, or the attached application may not be downloaded (in other words, the installation data group does not include the attached application). For example, after the user selects an attached application to be included in the installation data group, the selected attached application can be downloaded from the server 104. Further, after downloading all attached applications that are stored in the server 104 and that are suitable for the MFP 102, the user may be able to select an application to be included in the installation data group.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the MFP 102 is cited as an equivalent to the installation data generation apparatus, but other devices may be used as the installation data generation apparatus. For example, a client PC 101 other than the installation target may be used as an installation data generation device.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the generated installation data group is written in a storage medium connected to the MFP 102. As another mode, an installation data group generated in a storage area in another device connected to the MFP 102 can be transmitted. Therefore, the installation data group may be written in a storage medium connected to the other device. If the client PC 101 to be installed is connected to the other device via a network or the like, the storage area of the other device is accessed from the client PC 101 to be installed to obtain an installation data group. You may do it.

  Furthermore, the contents of the setting information can be arbitrarily changed according to the function of the target image forming apparatus. For example, in addition to the setting information as shown in FIG. 2, setting information regarding the presence or absence of a FAX function, a scanner function, or the like may be included.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the apparatus that can be used by the client PC 101 is an MFP having a function as an image forming apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other apparatuses can of course be used. It is.

  Furthermore, a program that causes a computer constituting the installation data generation apparatus to execute each operation described above can be provided as an installation data generation program. In the present embodiment, the case where the program for realizing the function for carrying out the invention is recorded in advance in a storage area provided in the apparatus is exemplified. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a similar program can be downloaded from the network. The program may be downloaded to the computer, or a similar program stored in a computer-readable recording medium may be installed in the apparatus. The recording medium may be in any form as long as it can store a program and can be read by a computer. Specifically, as a recording medium, for example, an internal storage device such as a ROM or a RAM, a portable storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk, a DVD disk, a magneto-optical disk, or an IC card, a computer Examples include a database holding a program, another computer, its database, and a transmission medium on a line. Further, the function obtained by installing or downloading in advance may be realized in cooperation with an OS (operating system) or the like inside the apparatus.

  Note that the program in the present embodiment includes a program in which an execution module is dynamically generated.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail according to particular embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

  As described above in detail, according to the present invention, there is provided a technique capable of reducing the burden on the user caused when a predetermined device can be used from a personal computer via a network. Can do.

JP 2006-260356 A

101: Client PC
102: MFP
103: Gateway device 104: Server 13: Information acquisition unit 14: Installation data generation unit

Claims (9)

An information acquisition unit that acquires setting information related to the predetermined device that is required when the driver program of the predetermined device is made available in the target device to be installed;
The driver program, an installation program used when installing the driver program in the target device and making the predetermined device available in the target device, and the setting information acquired by the information acquisition unit An installation data generation device comprising: an installation data generation unit that generates a data group in association with each other. In the installation data generation device according to claim 1,
The installation program uses the application programming interface in the operating system implemented in the target device, and the setting information acquired by the information acquisition unit is used as information used by the driver program. An installation data generation device set in the target device. In the installation data generation device according to claim 1 or 2,
The information acquisition unit is an installation data generation device that acquires at least identification information for identifying the predetermined device on the network as the setting information. In the installation data generation device according to claim 3,
The information acquisition unit acquires at least one of an IP address, a MAC address, and an identification name assigned to the predetermined device as identification information for specifying the predetermined device on the network. Data generator. The installation data generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The information acquisition unit is an installation data generation device that further acquires, as the setting information, information related to a processing function included in the predetermined device. In the installation data generation device according to claim 5,
The predetermined device is an image processing device,
The information acquisition unit includes, as information on processing functions of the predetermined device, presence / absence of a finisher function, presence / absence of an automatic document conveyance function, presence / absence of a punching function, presence / absence of a stapling function, presence / absence of a sorting function, and a file sharing function An installation data generation device that acquires at least one of the presence / absence. Obtaining setting information related to the predetermined device that is required when the driver program of the predetermined device can be used in the target device to be installed;
The driver program, the installation program used when installing the driver program in the target device and making the predetermined device available in the target device, and the acquired setting information are associated with each other A data generation method for installation that generates a group of data. Obtaining setting information related to the predetermined device that is required when the driver program of the predetermined device can be used in the target device to be installed;
The driver program, the installation program used when installing the driver program in the target device and making the predetermined device available in the target device, and the acquired setting information are associated with each other Installation data generation program for causing a computer to execute a process of generating a data group. An information acquisition unit that acquires setting information related to the predetermined device that is required when the driver program of the predetermined device is made available in the target device to be installed;
The setting information acquired by the information acquisition unit, the driver program or information for acquiring the driver program, and installing the driver program in the target device and using the predetermined device in the target device An installation program used when enabling or information for identifying the installation program;
An installation data generation device comprising: an installation data generation unit that generates a data group in which the data are associated with each other.

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