JP2010205019A - Program, information processing apparatus, and image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To use a function of a new image processing apparatus without reinstalling a new driver each time a model of an image processing apparatus to be used is increased. <P>SOLUTION: An image processing apparatus holds the loaded function information of the driver of an image processing apparatus 2 in a general-purpose driver loaded function information storage part 20, obtains loaded function information 41 from the image processing apparatus 2 by a bi-directional communication functioning part 14 and an input/output I/F part 15 under the control of an image processing apparatus general-purpose driver part 13, detects the executable function information by comparing loaded function information 41 obtained by an executable function detection part 23 with the stored general-purpose driver loaded function information storage part 20, and constructs the user interface of the driver including the function information detected by a user I/F construction part 25. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a program comprising a procedure for causing a computer to execute, an information processing apparatus including the computer, and an image processing apparatus including a facsimile apparatus, a printer, a copier, and a multifunction peripheral.

  Conventionally, when installing a driver (for example, a printer driver) of an image processing apparatus, model-dependent modules of a plurality of types of models are held in advance, and when installation is started, model information is acquired from the image processing apparatus, and the model information is included in the model information. There has been an information processing apparatus (see, for example, Patent Document 1) in which a corresponding model-dependent module is loaded into a driver module.

However, the conventional information processing apparatus has a problem that when a new type of image processing apparatus is used, the driver that holds the model-dependent module of the image processing apparatus must be reinstalled.
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and makes it possible to use functions of a new image processing apparatus without re-installing a new driver each time the number of image processing apparatuses to be used increases. With the goal.

In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention achieves the above-described object by using a computer to store a mounted function information for storing mounted function information of a driver of the image processing apparatus, an acquisition procedure for acquiring the mounted function information from the image processing apparatus, and the acquisition. A detection procedure for detecting executable function information by comparing the mounting function information of the image processing apparatus acquired by the procedure and the mounting function information of the driver held by the mounting function information holding procedure; and the detection procedure There is provided a program for executing a construction procedure for constructing a user interface of the driver including the function information detected by.
The detection procedure may be a procedure for detecting function information that is supported and executable by both the image processing apparatus and the driver.
Furthermore, the detection procedure may be a procedure for detecting function information that is supported by only one of the image processing apparatus and the driver and that can be executed only by the support.

  In addition, a mounting function information holding procedure for holding the mounting function information of the driver of the image processing apparatus in the computer, a processing cost information holding procedure for holding processing cost information for each mounting function of the driver of the image processing apparatus, and the image The acquisition procedure for acquiring the installed function information and the processing cost information of the installed function from the processing device, the installed function information of the image processing device acquired by the acquiring procedure, and the driver held by the installed function information holding procedure. The above-described image processing device obtained by the above-described acquisition procedure for function information that is supported by only one of the image processing device and the driver and that can be executed only by the support. Processing cost information of installed functions and processing costs held by the above processing cost information holding procedure A detection procedure for detecting function information with a lower processing cost when executed by the image processing device and when executed by the driver, and the function information including the function information detected by the detection procedure. A program for executing a construction procedure for constructing a user interface of the driver is also provided.

Furthermore, the above-described program may include an execution procedure for executing detection by the detection procedure at the time of plug and play.
Further, the program as described above may include a setting procedure for setting function information of a lower processing cost detected by the detection procedure as an initial setting value of the driver.
Furthermore, an information processing apparatus provided with each means realized by each procedure of the program as described above, and mounting function information of the image processing apparatus are held, and the held mounting function information is stored in the information processing apparatus as described above. There is also provided an image processing apparatus provided with a transmission means for transmitting to the network.

The program according to the present invention allows a computer to realize a function for allowing a new image processing apparatus function to be used without re-installing a new driver each time the number of image processing apparatus models to be used increases. Can do.
Further, the information processing apparatus according to the present invention can use the functions of a new image processing apparatus without re-installing a new driver each time the number of image processing apparatuses to be used increases.
Furthermore, the image processing apparatus of the present invention can easily introduce the information processing apparatus and the program according to the present invention.

It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the information processing apparatus and image processing apparatus of an Example of this invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating processing performed by an image processing device general-purpose driver unit during plug and play in the information processing device illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows an example of the general purpose driver mounting function information of the image processing apparatus general purpose driver part shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the mounting function information and mounting function information cost information of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG.

It is a figure which shows an example of the detection result in the image processing apparatus general purpose driver part shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the other example of the general purpose driver mounting function information of the image processing apparatus general purpose driver part shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the other example of the mounting function information and mounting function information cost information of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the other example of the detection result in the image processing apparatus general purpose driver part shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
〔Example〕
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing functional configurations of an information processing apparatus and an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The information processing apparatus 1 and the image processing apparatus 2 of this embodiment can communicate with each other via a network 3 including the Internet and a local area network, and send a print request in the information processing apparatus 1 to the image processing apparatus 2 for execution. A print network that can do this is built.
The information processing apparatus 1 is a computer including a server, and is realized by a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The control unit 10 that controls the entire information processing apparatus 1, an input device (not shown), and a display Equipment.

  The control unit 10 is a function realized by the CPU executing a program stored in the ROM using the RAM as a work area, and an OS unit 11 that executes overall control processing of the information processing apparatus 1, and an OS unit The application unit 12 stores various application programs including document creation, spreadsheet, diagram creation, and image processing executed by the computer 11, and printing that is executed when each application program is executed and an image that executes the control processing according to the present invention. A bidirectional communication function unit 14 that performs control related to bidirectional data communication via the network 3 between the processing device general-purpose driver unit 13 and the image processing device 2 by the OS unit 11, and control by the bidirectional communication function unit 14 Functional units with an input / output interface (I / F) unit 15 for exchanging data with the image processing apparatus 2 It is provided.

The image processing apparatus general-purpose driver unit 13 is a functional unit realized by a printer driver program executed by the OS unit 11, and includes a general-purpose driver-installed function information storage unit 20, a general-purpose driver-installed function processing cost information storage unit 21, and a general-purpose driver. Functional units 22, an executable function detection unit 23, a minimum (minimum) processing cost detection unit 24, and a user I / F construction unit 25 are included.
The general-purpose driver on-board function information storage unit 20 corresponds to on-board information holding means realized by executing the on-board function information holding procedure according to the present invention, and the general-purpose driver on-board function processing cost information storage unit 21 is a process according to the present invention. This corresponds to processing cost information holding means realized by executing the cost information holding procedure.

The general-purpose-driver-equipped function module unit 22 is a module group that performs processing of each function that can be executed by the general-purpose driver unit 13 of the image processing apparatus, and the executable function detection unit 23 is performed by executing the detection procedure according to the present invention. The minimum processing cost detection unit 24 corresponds to the detection means realized, and the minimum processing cost detection unit 24 also corresponds to the detection means realized by the execution of the detection procedure according to the present invention. The user I / F construction unit 25 corresponds to the construction procedure according to the present invention. It corresponds to the construction means realized by executing.
Furthermore, the image processing device general-purpose driver unit 13, the bidirectional communication function unit 14, and the input / output I / F unit 15 correspond to an acquisition unit realized by executing the acquisition procedure according to the present invention.
In addition, about this information processing apparatus 1, description of the other function part which is not an important part in description of this Example is abbreviate | omitted.

On the other hand, the image processing apparatus 2 is an image forming apparatus including a multi-function machine having a plurality of types of functions including printer, copier, copy / print / facsimile functions, and includes a CPU 30, a ROM 31, a RAM 32, and an operation display unit 33. , A storage unit 34, an input / output interface (I / F) unit 35, and an image processing engine unit 36.
The CPU 30 manages the entire control including the print function of the image processing apparatus 2 by executing the main body control program 40 stored in the ROM 31 using the RAM 32 as a work area. The ROM 31 stores on-board function information 41 indicating information mounted on the image processing apparatus 2 and on-board function processing cost information 42 indicating the processing cost of using each function. In response to a request from the information processing apparatus 1, the mounted function information 41 or the mounted function processing cost information 42 can be transmitted to the information processing apparatus 1. The ROM 31 corresponds to means for holding the mounted function information 41 of the image processing apparatus 2.

The operation display unit 33 is an operation panel that displays operation information input to the image processing apparatus 2 and various work screens and processing information.
The storage unit 34 is a storage device including a hard disk device that stores various types of data including print data received from the information processing apparatus 1.
The input / output I / F unit 35 exchanges data with the information processing apparatus 1 by the control process of the CPU 30.
The image processing engine unit 36 performs printing of print data received from the information processing apparatus 1 and copy processing on the image processing apparatus 2.
The CPU 30 and the input / output I / F unit 35 function as a transmission unit that transmits the mounted function information 41 held in the ROM 31 to the information processing apparatus 1.

Next, processing related to the driver in the information processing apparatus of this embodiment will be described.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing performed by the general-purpose driver unit 13 of the image processing apparatus during plug and play in the information processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
First, the general-purpose driver unit 13 includes, for example, the plug-and-play timing when the main body power of the image processing device 2 is turned on. The function information of the driver that realizes the image processing apparatus general-purpose driver unit 13 is held. In addition, the general-purpose driver mounting function processing cost information storage unit 21 stores processing cost information for each driver mounting function that implements the image processing device general-purpose driver unit 13 of the information processing apparatus 1.
For example, when the information processing apparatus 1 is connected to the network 3, the information processing apparatus 1 is executed at the time of plug and play. In step (indicated by “S” in the figure) 1, the image processing apparatus general-purpose driver unit The bi-directional communication between the bi-directional communication function section and the input / output I / F section requests the image processing apparatus to transmit the mounting function information and the mounting function processing cost information, and the image processing apparatus mounts the mounting function information and the mounting function processing cost information. Receive and get.

  In step 2, the general-purpose driver unit of the image processing apparatus needs to compare processing costs for each function installed in the image processing apparatus based on the installed function information acquired from the image processing apparatus and the installed function processing cost information. If it is determined whether it is a function that does not require processing cost comparison, in step 3, the mounted function information acquired from the image processing apparatus and the general-purpose driver mounted function information held in the general-purpose driver mounted function information storage unit The information is compared, and it is determined whether or not the function is supported by both the image processing apparatus and the image processing apparatus general-purpose driver unit of the information processing apparatus. If it is determined that the function is supported by both, the function information supported by both the image processing apparatus and the general-purpose driver unit of the image processing apparatus is determined in step 4. And detected by functions registered in the user interface (UI) to be displayed on the display unit by the image processing apparatus generic driver unit, the process proceeds to step 5.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 2 that the processing cost needs to be compared, it is determined in step 7 whether both the image processing apparatus and the image processing apparatus general-purpose driver unit require processing. If it is determined that the function is necessary, in step 8, the function information having the smallest (smallest) processing cost in both the image processing apparatus and the general-purpose driver unit of the image processing apparatus is detected, and the function information is functioned in the user interface. Register and go to step 5.
If it is determined in step 7 that the function is not necessary for both, in step 9, the function information with the lower processing cost in the image processing apparatus and the image processing apparatus general-purpose driver unit is detected, and the function information is obtained. Register the function in the user interface and proceed to Step 5.

In step 5, it is determined whether or not all the function information has been compared. If all the comparisons have not been completed, the process returns to step 2 and the above processing is repeated, and if all the comparisons have been completed, Based on the function information registered in the user interface, the image processing apparatus general-purpose driver unit constructs a user interface to be displayed on the display unit, and the process is terminated.
The constructed user interface is displayed on a display unit (not shown) of the information processing apparatus 1.
As described above, the function-dependent information is not set as the comparison target, but the function (for example, the corresponding paper size) for which the processing cost is not compared is compared with the image processing apparatus general-purpose driver unit 13 and the image. It is checked whether or not the function is supported by both of the processing devices 2, and if the function is supported by both, the function is registered in the UI information.

In addition, regarding functions that require processing cost comparison, it is determined whether or not the image processing apparatus general-purpose driver unit 13 and the image processing apparatus 2 require processing, and the image processing apparatus general-purpose driver unit 13 and the image processing apparatus In the case of functions that require processing in both apparatuses 2, the processing costs are totaled in each case, and the method with the lowest processing cost is adopted.
In addition, as a function that can be processed by either one, the processing costs of the functions that need to be processed in both the image processing apparatus general-purpose driver unit 13 and the image processing apparatus 2 are compared, and the one with the lower processing cost is adopted.
Then, the adopted function information is registered in the UI information.
Thus, when all the function information is checked, the UI is constructed or reconstructed based on the registered UI information.

In this way, the device-dependent information is not set as the comparison target, but the function information is set as the comparison target, so that the image processing device general-purpose driver unit 13 does not need to hold the model-dependent information of the image processing device 2. Can be generalized.
The calculation of the processing cost on the information processing apparatus 1 side may be simple weighting or a calculation formula using a function.
In the above-described processing, when the page description language (PDL) is automatically selected, the PDL method with the lowest processing cost is adopted.
Also, a raster image processing (RIP) method is adopted that has the lowest processing cost.
Furthermore, when there are a plurality of options, the option with the lowest processing cost is set as the initial setting value of the image processing apparatus general-purpose driver unit 13.

Next, an example of the detection result in the information processing apparatus 1 will be described.
FIGS. 3 to 5 show examples of general-purpose driver mounting function information of the image processing apparatus general-purpose driver unit, examples of mounting function information and mounting function information cost information of the image processing apparatus, and detection results in the image processing apparatus general-purpose driver unit. The image processing apparatus 2 is a multifunction device capable of printing up to a paper size A4 installed overseas, and an example in which the processing load due to the CPU performance on the information processing apparatus 1 side is set to α = 30. Indicates.
FIGS. 6 to 8 show another example of general-purpose driver mounting function information of the image processing apparatus general-purpose driver unit, another example of mounting function information and mounting function information cost information of the image processing apparatus, and image processing apparatus, respectively. It is a figure which shows the other example of the detection result in a general purpose driver part, and the image processing apparatus 2 is a multifunction device which can print to paper size A3 installed in the country, and the processing load by the CPU performance of the information processing apparatus 1 side An example when α = 30 is shown.

In the case of the general-purpose driver installed function information of FIG. 3 and the installed function information of FIG. 4, the PDL is detected by RPCS (image transfer), RPCS (command transfer), PS (command transfer), PCL ( (Command transfer) is displayed on the UI, and RPCS (image transfer) for image transfer by performing RIP processing on the information processing apparatus 1 side has the lowest processing cost (for example, 130), and PDL is automatically selected. For PDL, RPCS image transfer is set as an initial setting value.
The paper sizes A4, A5, B5, B6, Com10, and Monarch are compatible with both the image processing device general-purpose driver unit 13 and the image processing device 2, so that they can be selected on the UI. To do.

Furthermore, since the tray 1, tray 2, and automatic selection can be handled by both the image processing apparatus general-purpose driver unit 13 and the image processing apparatus 2, they are displayed on the UI so that they can be selected.
As for the double-sided function, single-sided, short-side top binding, long-side side binding, short-side side binding, and long-side top binding can be supported by both the image processing device general-purpose driver unit 13 and the image processing device 2, and the UI Displays them selectable. Further, since the processing cost is lower when the 180-degree rotation is processed by the image processing apparatus general-purpose driver unit 13, the 180-degree rotation processing by the image processing apparatus general-purpose driver unit 13 is set as an initial setting value.
Furthermore, reverse order printing can be applied to both the image processing apparatus general-purpose driver unit 13 and the image processing apparatus 2, but the processing cost is lower when processing is performed on the image processing apparatus 2, so that the UI includes the image processing apparatus 2 side. Set the process.
In addition, since the 2in1, 4in1,..., No aggregation printing can be supported by both the image processing apparatus general-purpose driver unit 13 and the image processing apparatus 2, they are displayed on the UI so that they can be selected.

In the case of the general-purpose driver installed function information of FIG. 6 and the installed function information of FIG. 7, for the PDL, RPCS (command transfer) and PS (command transfer) are displayed on the UI based on the detection result of FIG. RPCS (command transfer) that performs RIP processing and command transfer on the processing device 1 side has the lowest processing cost (for example, 180), and PDL is automatically selected. Therefore, for PDL, RPCS command transfer is an initial setting value. And
Also, the paper sizes A3, A4, A5, B4, B5, B6, postcards, and reciprocating postcards are compatible with both the image processing device general-purpose driver unit 13 and the image processing device 2, so that the UI includes Display them as selectable.

Furthermore, since the tray 1, manual feed, and automatic selection can be handled by both the image processing apparatus general-purpose driver unit 13 and the image processing apparatus 2, they are displayed on the UI in a selectable manner.
As for the double-sided function, single-sided, short-side top binding, long-side side binding, short-side side binding, and long-side top binding can be supported by both the image processing device general-purpose driver unit 13 and the image processing device 2, and the UI Displays them selectable. Further, since the processing cost is lower when the 180 degree rotation is processed on the image processing apparatus 2 side, the 180 degree rotation process performed by the image processing apparatus 2 is set as an initial setting value.
Furthermore, reverse order printing can be applied to both the image processing apparatus general-purpose driver unit 13 and the image processing apparatus 2, but processing on the information processing apparatus 1 side requires less processing cost. Set the process.
In addition, since the 2in1, 4in1,..., No aggregation printing can be supported by both the image processing apparatus general-purpose driver unit 13 and the image processing apparatus 2, they are displayed on the UI so that they can be selected.

In this way, by exchanging the mounting function information of the printer driver and the mounting function information of the main body of the image processing apparatus 2 by bidirectional communication, the functions that can be handled by the interaction between the two, both of which are mounted (For example, double-sided function), a function that can be handled by one side, a function that is mounted on one side, or a function that can be handled by only one side, and when both are supported, It is possible to provide the user of the information processing apparatus 1 with the optimum and fastest function by the image processing apparatus 2 by detecting processing (for example, 180 degree rotation function) and deciding whether or not to perform both. it can.
In addition, the user interface of the image processing apparatus 2 can be optimized at the plug and play timing when the main body power of the image processing apparatus 2 is turned on (can follow the option addition).

Further, since the printer driver on the information processing apparatus 1 side does not hold the model-dependent information, the printer driver can be generalized, and there is no necessity of re-installation every time the model of the image processing apparatus 2 increases. Cost can be reduced.
In the above embodiment, the case where the on-board function information 41 and the on-board function processing cost information 42 are stored in the ROM 31 has been described. However, if a nonvolatile memory is used for the RAM 32, it may be stored in the RAM 32. You may make it memorize | store in the memory | storage part 34. FIG.

  The program and information processing apparatus according to the present invention can be applied to personal computers such as desktop personal computers and notebook personal computers. The image processing apparatus according to the present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus including a facsimile machine, a printer, a copying machine, and a multifunction machine.

1: Information processing device 2: Image processing device 3: Network 10: Control unit 11: OS unit 12: Application unit 13: General-purpose driver unit for image processing device 14: Bidirectional communication function unit 15, 35: Input / output I / F unit 20: General-purpose driver mounted function information storage unit 21: General-purpose driver mounted function processing cost information storage unit 22: General-purpose driver mounted function module unit 23: Executable function detection unit 24: Minimum processing cost detection unit 25: User I / F construction unit 30: CPU 31: ROM 32: RAM 33: Operation display unit 34: Storage unit 36: Image processing engine unit

JP 2002-175258 A

Claims (9)

  Installation function information holding procedure for holding the installation function information of the driver of the image processing device in the computer, acquisition procedure for acquiring the installation function information from the image processing device, and the installation function of the image processing device acquired by the acquisition procedure A detection procedure for detecting function information that can be executed by comparing information and the mounted function information of the driver held by the mounting function information holding procedure, and a function of the driver including the function information detected by the detection procedure. A program for executing a construction procedure for constructing a user interface.   The program according to claim 1, wherein the detection procedure is a procedure for detecting function information that is supported and executable by both the image processing apparatus and the driver.   The program according to claim 1, wherein the detection procedure is function information that is supported by either the image processing apparatus or the driver, and is a procedure for detecting function information that can be executed only by the support.   Installation function information holding procedure for holding the installed function information of the driver of the image processing device in the computer, processing cost information holding procedure for holding the processing cost information for each installed function of the driver of the image processing device, and the image processing device Acquisition function for acquiring the installed function information and the processing cost information of the installed function from the above, the installed function information of the image processing apparatus acquired by the acquiring procedure, and the installed function of the driver held by the installed function information holding procedure The function information that is supported by one of the image processing device and the driver, and that can be executed only by the support, is mounted on the image processing device acquired by the acquisition procedure. The processing cost information of the function and the processing cost information held by the processing cost information holding procedure The detection procedure for detecting the functional information with the lower processing cost between the case where the comparison is executed by the image processing apparatus and the case where the execution is performed by the driver, and the user of the driver including the functional information detected by the detection procedure A program for executing a construction procedure for constructing an interface.   The program as described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 4 including the execution procedure which performs the detection by the said detection procedure at the time of a plug & play.   6. The program according to claim 4, further comprising a setting procedure for setting function information of a lower processing cost detected by the detection procedure as an initial setting value of the driver. On-board function information holding means for holding on-board function information of the driver of the image processing apparatus;
Obtaining means for obtaining the installed function information from the image processing apparatus;
Detecting means for detecting executable function information by comparing the mounted function information of the image processing apparatus acquired by the acquiring means with the mounted function information of the driver held in the holding means;
An information processing apparatus comprising: construction means for constructing a user interface of the driver including function information detected by the detection means. On-board function information holding means for holding on-board function information of the driver of the image processing apparatus;
Processing cost information holding means for holding processing cost information for each mounted function of the driver of the image processing apparatus;
Acquisition means for acquiring the installed function information and the processing cost information of the installed function from the image processing device;
The mounted function information of the image processing apparatus acquired by the acquiring means is compared with the mounted function information of the driver held in the mounted function information holding means, and supported by either the image processing apparatus or the driver. The processing cost information of the installed function of the image processing apparatus acquired by the acquisition unit and the processing cost held in the processing cost information holding unit with respect to the function information that can be executed only by the support. Detecting means for comparing information and detecting functional information with a lower processing cost when executed by the image processing apparatus and when executed by the driver;
An information processing apparatus comprising: construction means for constructing a user interface of the driver including function information detected by the detection means.   9. An image processing apparatus comprising: transmission means for holding mounting function information of the image processing apparatus and transmitting the held mounting function information to the information processing apparatus according to claim 7.

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