JP2015185121A - Printing system and control method thereof, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system of the present invention which is capable of preventing a connection error and a combination mistake between a print controller and an image forming apparatus, and taking an appropriate measure even in a case of, for example, a connection error.SOLUTION: A print controller 201 or an image forming apparatus 207 compares equipment configuration information acquired from an equipment configuration information management server 213 with the equipment configuration information of the own device, and compares, with respect to each equipment configuration information item contained in the equipment configuration information acquired from the equipment configuration information management server 213, the value of the item with the value of the same item contained in the equipment configuration information of the own device, when a collation object flag is effective, to determine whether or not the equipment configuration information item is conformable. Then, the contents of warning processing corresponding to the warning level of an equipment configuration information item determined to be unconformable is read from a warning processing table (Fig. 9) representing the contents of warning processing corresponding to warning levels, and the warning processing is executed.

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system, a control method therefor, and a program, and more particularly to a technique for preventing an erroneous connection between an image forming apparatus and a print control apparatus.

  An image forming apparatus called a multi function machine or MFP (Multi Function Printer) having a plurality of functions such as copying, printing, scanning, and facsimile transmission / reception is widely used in offices and the like. In addition, it has been widely practiced to construct a printing system in which various image processes related to print job processing, various setting processes for the image forming apparatus, and a print control apparatus that issues a print instruction are connected to the image forming apparatus. The print control apparatus is called DFE (Digital Front End) and has various functions in the same manner as the image forming apparatus.

  The purpose of connecting the DFE is to enhance functions provided by the MFP or to provide functions unique to the DFE. An example of functional enhancement is to improve the processing performance of a print job. If the DFE interprets the page description language (PDL) and generates bitmap data, and the MFP prints the generated bitmap data, it is more efficient and shorter than when the MFP alone performs everything. Jobs can be printed in time. As functions unique to DFE, there are a page editing and imposition function for a print job, a color setting changing function, and the like.

  The MFP or DFE is generally connected to a network and generally has a function of transmitting / receiving data to / from a computer on the network, for example, receiving print job data or transmitting scan data. When data is transmitted / received to / from the MFP or DFE, it is necessary to operate various applications such as a printer driver and printing apparatus management software on a computer on the network. This is also the case when the user uses the function of transmitting scan data on the MFP or DFE or the function of receiving job data from a server on the network.

  By the way, when the MFP is connected to the DFE, the operation mode of the MFP may be changed to DFE connection. As an example of the operation mode for DFE connection, there is a mode in which operation is performed so as to allow bitmap data corresponding to a print job to be received from the DFE. Further, there are a mode that operates to increase the processing priority of a print job from the DFE, and a mode that periodically notifies the DFE of the device status of the MFP. Such an operation mode change of the MFP is generally performed when the device is installed in the office.

  In many cases, combinations of DFE and MFP that operate normally are limited. For example, a certain DFE may be set to operate normally only in combination with some specific models of MFP, and conversely, an MFP may be set to operate normally only in combination with several specific models of DFE. is there. As an example of limiting the combination of the DFE and the MFP, there is a case where an encoding method of image data suitable for input is different between an MFP capable of color printing and an MFP capable of only monochrome printing. In other words, in order to ensure better print quality, a DFE equipped with the optimum hardware for realizing each encoding method is prepared as a separate model, and a DFE suitable for each color / monochrome MFP is always connected. This is a case where it is desired to limit the number. When the combination of the DFE and the MFP is limited as described above, it is necessary to take care to connect the DFE and the MFP in a combination that operates normally in the construction of the printing system.

  When installing a printing system, it is often necessary to connect various accessories such as finishers and paper feeders, input software licenses, and install applications. In these operations, it is required to select the optimal combination and optimal setting value according to the characteristics of the customer's work environment and the type of purchased option, and to carry out the operation.

  However, these installations are often done manually, especially when multiple printing systems are installed at the same time or when there are a wide variety of purchased equipment and options. . For example, a finisher that should be connected to a certain printing system may be connected to another printing system that has been installed at the same timing. Also, the DFE and the MFP may be connected in a combination that does not operate normally, or an incorrect software license may be input. The same applies to the case where the configuration of the printing system is to be changed later, not only at the time of installation. When such a human error occurs, even if the printing system is used as it is, it does not operate normally or a function that is originally intended to be used cannot be used.

  However, even if the finisher is not connected in the combination that the customer wants, the installer will always be aware of the human error that has occurred, such as starting up the printing system and printing the job. Not necessarily.

  Therefore, it is desirable to realize a mechanism that automatically detects a human error that may occur at the time of installation or configuration change of the printing system and presents an appropriate countermeasure.

  As a method for solving the above problem, a technique described in Patent Document 1 has been proposed. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-151867 compares an image forming apparatus in which the setting of the operation setting unit can be changed by comparing the storage unit that stores the setting with the stored setting when the image forming apparatus is started up. There is described a technique for providing a notification means for notifying that there is a setting. When this technology is used, the settings of the printing system at the time of normal operation in the past are stored, the settings are compared at the next startup of the printing system, and if there are different settings, it is notified. it can. This notification can prompt the user to reconfirm the setting if the setting is set so as not to operate normally due to a human error.

JP 2009-290834 A

  However, the conventional techniques described above have the following two problems.

  First, there is a problem that a setting different from the previous setting in a device does not necessarily match a human error. For example, regarding a mistake that has occurred when a printing system is newly installed, since there is no setting stored on the printing system side, a difference in setting cannot be detected by the conventional technology. On the other hand, although it is detected as a setting difference in the prior art, such as when a new finisher is purchased and the connection is correctly completed, it may not be a human error.

  Secondly, depending on the content of human error, there is a problem that notification alone may not be sufficient. For example, in the case where connection is made with a combination of DFE and MFP that do not operate normally, not only the difference in settings is notified, but the operation mode of the MFP described above is changed to a mode in which connection with the DFE is not performed in order to prevent failure. You may want to change it. As described above, it is assumed that a desirable coping method in the case where a human error is detected is not limited to the notification but various.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has the following objects.

  First, using a device configuration information management server that can communicate via a network with a printing system in which a DFE and an MFP are connected, it is possible to record, view, and edit device configuration information that represents the characteristics and capabilities of the DFE and MFP. Provide a means to

  Next, after the printing system is started, network communication with the device configuration information management server is performed, and it can be determined whether there is an item in the current device configuration information that does not match the device configuration information recorded on the server. Provide a means.

  Finally, it is possible to set a different coping method for each item of the device configuration information, and to provide means for enabling the printing system to execute a different coping method depending on each non-conforming item.

  In order to achieve the above object, in a printing system including a print control device connected to an image forming apparatus and a server, the server includes at least device-specific information of the image forming device and device-specific information of the print control device. A storage unit that stores device configuration information that represents the characteristics and capabilities of the image forming apparatus and the print control device, and a reception unit that receives an acquisition request for the device configuration information stored in the storage unit; Each item of the device configuration information stored in the storage means includes a collation target flag indicating whether or not the item is to be collated, and a warning level representing the degree of warning processing when collation fails. Each of the image forming apparatus and the print control apparatus can be set, and the device specific information and the print control of the image forming apparatus A first acquisition unit that specifies at least one of the device-specific information of the device and acquires the device configuration information of at least one of the image forming apparatus and the print control device from the server as first device configuration information; Included in the second device configuration information that acquires the device configuration information of at least one of the forming apparatus and the print control device as the second device configuration information, and the first device configuration information acquired by the first acquisition unit. When the verification target flag is valid for each device configuration information item, the value of the item and the value of the same item included in the second device configuration information acquired by the second acquisition unit And a determination unit that determines whether or not the device configuration information item is compatible with the first device configuration information and each device configuration that is determined not to be compatible by the determination unit. The contents of the warning process corresponding to the warning level of the information items read from the warning process table representing the contents of the warning processing corresponding to the warning level, characterized by comprising an execution means for executing the warning process.

  According to the present invention, the device configuration information registered in the device configuration information management server is set as correct information, and an abnormal value is detected by comparing with the current device configuration information. This can be accurately detected. In addition, for each item of the device configuration information, it is possible to set a necessary degree of warning processing, and it is possible to set what kind of warning processing is performed for each degree of warning processing. As a result, various warning processes can be realized according to the purpose.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a print control apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the apparatus structure information managed by the apparatus structure information management server. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of functions of a print control apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a device configuration information management server. (A) A diagram showing an example of device configuration information of an image forming apparatus, (b) a diagram showing an example of device configuration information of a print control device, and (c) an example of device configuration information of a print control device and an image forming device. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the management process of the apparatus configuration management information performed in an apparatus configuration information management server. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the management process of the apparatus configuration management information performed in an apparatus configuration information management server. It is a figure for demonstrating the format of the apparatus configuration information stored in the configuration information database of an apparatus configuration information management server. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a warning processing table managed by a print control apparatus or an image forming apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of device management processing executed by the print control apparatus or the image forming apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the warning level determination process in FIG.10 S1004. (A) It is a figure which shows an example of a warning screen when collation fails with the item with a low warning level, (b) It is a figure which shows an example of a warning screen when a warning level is high. (A) The figure which shows another example of the warning screen when collation fails with the item with a low warning level, (b) The figure which shows another example of the warning screen when a warning level is high.

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

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, a device configuration information management server 213 is connected to a LAN 214, and a device configuration information management server 213, a print control device 201, and a terminal device 211 can communicate with each other via a network.

  The LAN 214 may be physically or logically the same network as the LAN 212 to which the print control apparatus 201 and the terminal device 211 are connected, or may be a different network. For example, when the LAN 212 is an intranet in an office and the device configuration information management server 213 is to be installed thereon, the LAN 214 is the same network as the LAN 212. On the other hand, the device configuration information management server 213 may be installed on the Internet and configured to manage setting values of a plurality of print control apparatuses and image forming apparatuses at different locations. In this case, the LAN 212 and the LAN 214 are different networks, for example, the LAN 214 is the Internet and the LAN 212 is an intranet of each office.

  The terminal device 211 is a computer connected to the LAN 212, and a plurality of terminal devices 211 may exist on the LAN 212.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the print control apparatus 201 in FIG.

  In FIG. 2, the print control apparatus 201 includes each unit described below. That is, the connectors 202, 203, and 204 are connectors for connecting to the LANs 212, 205, and 206.

  The NIC unit 101 is a network interface card (NIC) unit serving as a first network interface that manages connection at a lower layer level with the LAN 212 illustrated in FIG.

  The RIP processing unit 102 is a RIP (Raster Image Processor) unit that converts print data described in a page description language (PDL) into a raster image such as a bitmap image.

  The NIC unit 104 is a NIC unit serving as a second network interface that manages low-level layer connection with the LAN 205 illustrated in FIG. 1 through the connector 203.

  The HDD unit 105 is a hard disk drive (HDD) for temporarily storing print data received by the NIC unit 101. Various setting value information managed by the print control apparatus 201 can be stored in the HDD unit 105.

  The print control apparatus 201 can read and use the set value information from the HDD unit 105 as needed, and can write changes in the set value information requested externally or through the operation unit 109 to the HDD unit 105. .

  The first memory unit 106 is a memory used by the RIP processing unit 102 for image development processing. The second memory unit 108 is a memory used by the CPU unit 107 as a data temporary storage area.

  The CPU unit 107 controls the entire print control apparatus. An operation unit 109 includes buttons, keys, a touch panel, and the like, and is an operation unit for operating the print control apparatus. The encoding unit 103 performs encoding into a data format that can be interpreted by the image forming apparatus 207.

  An image interface board (I board unit) 111 is an interface for connecting to the image forming apparatus 207. The display unit 110 displays various set value information managed by the print control apparatus 201.

  Next, an outline of an image forming apparatus that performs printing processing will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus 207 in FIG.

  In FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 207 includes an image forming apparatus main body 301 and an image input / output control unit 305.

  The image forming apparatus main body 301 includes an operation / display unit 302, a reader unit 303, and a printer unit 304. The operation / display unit 302 is an operation display unit for operating the image forming apparatus main body 301 and the image input / output control unit 305. The reader unit 303 reads a document image and outputs image data corresponding to the document image to the printer unit 304 and the image input / output control unit 305. The printer unit 304 records an image corresponding to the image data from the reader unit 303 and the image input / output control unit 305 on a recording sheet.

  The image input / output control unit 305 includes an interface unit 306, an image memory 307, a control unit 308, and a hard disk (HDD) 309. The HDD 309 stores various setting values of the image forming apparatus such as an address book, operation history, user settings, ID settings, and network settings. The interface unit 306 is an interface between the print control apparatus 201 and the terminal device 211 on the LAN 212 and the control unit 308. The interface unit 306 receives the encoded image data transferred from the print control apparatus 201 by the connector 208 or the connector 209, develops the received data into image data that can be recorded by the printer unit 304, and supplies the image data to the control unit 308. hand over.

  The control unit 308 includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like. The CPU of the control unit 308 loads the program stored in the ROM or other recording medium onto the RAM and executes it, and the data flow between the reader unit 303, the interface unit 306, the image memory 307, etc. Control.

  Instead of the HDD 309, another nonvolatile memory in which data is not erased even when the power is turned off may be provided, and the data may be stored in the nonvolatile memory.

  Next, print processing executed by the print control apparatus 201 and the image forming apparatus 207 when a print job is input from the terminal apparatus 211 to the image forming apparatus 207 will be described.

  First, a print job is transmitted from the terminal device 211 to the print control apparatus 201. A network data packet from the terminal apparatus 211 to the print control apparatus 201 propagates through the LAN 212 and is taken into the print control apparatus 201 via the connector 202.

  In the print control apparatus 201, the NIC unit 101 performs data reception processing. When print data is received, the received data is written to the HDD unit 105 as needed under the control of the CPU unit 107. This is queuing (spooling) generally performed for the purpose of improving the data transfer rate.

  Data stored in the HDD unit 105 is read from the RIP processing unit 102 according to an instruction from the CPU unit 107. On the other hand, print data that has not been queued is directly transferred to the RIP processing unit 102 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU unit 107.

  The print data thus sent to the RIP processing unit 102 is subjected to rasterization image processing by the RIP processing unit 102 and converted into a raster image. Subsequently, the encoding unit 103 performs encoding into a data format interpretable by the image forming apparatus 207 based on the format of the received print data and a preset data format interpretable by the image forming apparatus 207. Is called. Since this encoding process is performed as necessary, it may be skipped if encoding is not required, such as when the received print data format can be interpreted by the image forming apparatus 207 as it is. The encoded data needs to be in a format that the image forming apparatus 207 can interpret. For example, the format is a specific printing language format or a data format compressed by a specific method such as JBIG. It depends on the ability of the interpretation means.

  In this way, the data encoded as necessary is re-packetized by the NIC unit 104 to be transmitted to the image forming apparatus 207, transmitted from the connector 203, and transmitted to the image forming apparatus 207 via the LAN 205 and the connector 208.

  The image forming apparatus 207 that has received the data packet has a paper feeding device 210 and feeds paper from the paper feeding device 210 to perform printing processing in accordance with its own printing processing procedure.

  As another route for transmitting the encoded data, there is a route for transferring the encoded data to the image interface board unit 111 via the encoding unit, passing through the connector 204, and sending it to the image forming apparatus 207 using the dedicated transmission path 206. .

  Next, a basic operation of the device configuration information management method of the print control apparatus 201 and the image forming apparatus 207 by the device configuration information management server 213 will be described.

  The main purpose of providing the device configuration information management server 213 is to provide means for easily browsing the device configuration information held by the print control apparatus 201 and the image forming apparatus 207 and changing the device configuration information for these devices. is there. Here, examples of device configuration information of each device held by the print control apparatus 201 and the image forming apparatus 207 and their classification are shown in FIG.

  First, the device-specific information is information that differs from individual to individual, such as a serial number or a manufacturing number of the device.

  The static device information refers to information that does not change after shipment, such as information indicating the characteristics and capabilities of the device, such as the device model number, model name, destination information indicating the country / region of shipment destination, or language information. On the other hand, the dynamic device information refers to information that can dynamically change among information indicating the characteristics and capabilities of the device. For example, the version of firmware, the name and version of installed application software, information on the input software license, accessory information such as a finisher and a paper feeder, and the like are dynamic device information.

  Finally, the set value information is information that is set by a user who uses the device or a person in charge of installing the device at the time of use or device installation in order to control the operation of the device. Examples of setting value information include print settings such as paper size settings, network settings such as IP addresses, and an address book that manages FAX numbers and E-mail addresses.

  The device configuration information is stored in an HDD, a ROM, a RAM, or the like included in the print control apparatus 201 or the image forming apparatus 207. The operation unit 109, the display unit 110, or the image forming apparatus 207 of the print control apparatus 201 is operated. It can be viewed or changed on the display unit 302.

  However, when multiple devices are used in the same office, or when requesting acquisition of device configuration information for devices at remote locations, it may be inconvenient if the device can be viewed and changed only by the operation unit. is there. In preparation for such a case, the device configuration information management server 213 stores device configuration information of a plurality of print control apparatuses 201 and image forming apparatuses 207 on a database, and has a management function of those databases. The management function of the device configuration information database includes a device configuration information browsing function, an editing function, and a function for adding new device configuration information.

  Next, the device configuration information browsing function, editing function, and new device configuration information adding function in the device configuration information management server 213 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 6, and 7. Since the device configuration information management server 213 has the same configuration as a general server computer, the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of functions of the print control apparatus 201, the image forming apparatus 207, and the device configuration information management server 213.

  In FIG. 5, the processing functions of the CPU unit 107 of the print control apparatus 201 include a device information matching unit 505, a DFE screen output unit 506, and a DFE configuration management unit 507. The HDD unit 105 stores DFE configuration information 508.

  The processing functions of the control unit 308 of the image forming apparatus 207 include an MFP screen output unit 509 and an MFP configuration management unit 510. The HDD 309 can store MFP configuration information 511.

  The processing functions of the CPU (not shown) of the device configuration information management server 213 include a management request reception unit 501 and a database management unit 502. Similarly, the HDD included in the device configuration information management server 213 includes a configuration information database 503 and A warning processing database 504 is stored.

  Next, the processing realized by the processing function and the format and role of stored data will be described.

  FIG. 6A to FIG. 6C are diagrams showing formats of device configuration information stored in the configuration information database 503 provided in the device configuration information management server 213.

  The device configuration information corresponding to one device or one printing system is a set of a set of item names and values of the device configuration information. In the present embodiment, the device configuration information is represented by a device configuration information table in which the combinations of item names and their values in each table shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C are arranged.

  The device configuration information may be configured only by the device configuration information of the image forming apparatus 207 as illustrated in FIG. 6A, or may be configured only by the device configuration information of the print control apparatus 201 as illustrated in FIG. 6B. May be. Further, as shown in FIG. 6C, the device configuration information of the print control apparatus 201 and the image forming apparatus 207 constituting the printing system may be included.

  In the present embodiment, since the printing control apparatus 201 and the image forming apparatus 207 are connected to each other, a device configuration information table including both pieces of device configuration information is configured as shown in FIG. Assume that the information is stored in the information database 503.

  The device configuration information table needs to include information for uniquely associating which device device configuration information the table is. In this embodiment, the device configuration information table is associated with the device using the device serial number exemplified as the device unique information in FIG. Specifically, the MFP serial number, which is the serial number of the image forming apparatus 207, and the DFE serial, which is the serial number of the print control apparatus 201, are included in the tables shown in FIGS. 6 (a) to 6 (c). Number. The device configuration information management server 213 performs a search using these serial numbers as identifiers when extracting necessary device configuration information from the database.

  The device configuration information management server 213 can designate only one of the MFP serial number and the DFE serial number as an identifier, and can search a table including the corresponding serial number. It is also possible to specify both the MFP serial number and the DFE serial number as identifiers and search a table including both corresponding serial numbers.

  Next, the database management function provided by the device configuration information management server 213 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B.

  FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B are flowcharts showing the flow of device configuration management information management processing executed by the device configuration information management server 213. This process is performed by the CPU provided in the device configuration information management server 213 executing based on a program stored in the HDD or ROM provided in the device configuration information management server 213.

  First, in step S701, the management request receiving unit 501 waits for an external database management request. The database management request includes the following three requests.

  First, there is a device information browsing request for browsing the device configuration information of the corresponding device by designating the serial number of the device.

  Next, there is a device information change request for changing the device configuration information of the device by specifying the device serial number, the configuration information item to be changed, and its value. In addition to changing the data on the device configuration information management server 213, the device information change request can also specify whether or not to send a device configuration information change request to the corresponding device.

  Finally, a table addition request for specifying a device serial number and adding a new table to the database.

  The management request receiving unit 501 receives these database management requests when, for example, a device configuration information management application program operating on the terminal device 211 accesses the device configuration information management server 213 via the network. Hereinafter, a device that has transmitted a database management request to the device configuration information management server 213 is referred to as a request source.

  7A, in step S701, when the management request receiving unit 501 receives a database management request, the process proceeds to step S702.

  In step S702, the management request reception unit 501 notifies the database management unit 502 of the serial number of the device included in the database management request and issues a database search request. The database management unit 502 searches the configuration information database 503 using the notified serial number as an identifier, and notifies the management request reception unit 501 of the contents of the corresponding table if it exists, otherwise the search fails. .

  In step S703, the management request reception unit 501 determines the type of the received database management request. If the received database management request is a table addition request, the process proceeds to step S704.

  In step S704, if there is a corresponding table from the search result in step S702, it is not possible to add a table having the same identifier in duplicate. The process advances to step S707, and the management request reception unit 501 Notify requester of additional failures. On the other hand, if the corresponding table does not exist, the management request reception unit 501 issues a table addition request to the database management unit 502.

  In step S705, the database management unit 502 adds a new table associated with the serial number included in the table addition request to the configuration information database 503.

  In step S706, the management request receiving unit 501 notifies the request source of the successful addition of the table, and ends this process.

  On the other hand, if the received database management request is a device information browsing request in step S703, the process proceeds to step S708.

  In step S708, if the corresponding table exists as a result of the search in step S702, the process proceeds to step S709, where the management request receiving unit 501 notifies the request source of the contents of the corresponding table, and ends this process. . Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S710, the request source is notified that the corresponding record does not exist, and the process ends.

  On the other hand, if the received database management request is a device information change request in step 703, the process proceeds to step S711 in FIG. 7B.

  7B, in step S711, if the corresponding table does not exist as a result of the search in step S702, the process proceeds to step S710 in FIG. 7A, and the management request receiving unit 501 requests that the corresponding record does not exist. The original process is notified and the process is terminated. On the other hand, if the corresponding table exists, the process proceeds to step S712. In step S712, the management request reception unit 501 issues a table update request to the database management unit 502 by designating the serial number, configuration information item name, and value included in the device information change request. The database management unit 502 updates the corresponding table on the configuration information database 503 using the specified value.

  In step S713, the management request receiving unit 501 notifies the request source that the table has been successfully updated.

  In step S714, the management request receiving unit 501 determines whether the received device information change request includes a change in configuration information for the crisis. If it is determined that it does not include, this processing is terminated. On the other hand, if it is determined that the request is included, the process proceeds to step S715, and the management request receiving unit 501 designates the configuration information item name and its value to the corresponding device, and sends a configuration information update request to the LAN 212 and LAN 214. To send through.

  Next, in step S716, the management request receiving unit 501 waits for a reply from the corresponding device. If the configuration information change completion notification can be received from the corresponding device, the process advances to step S717, and the management request receiving unit 501 notifies the request source that the configuration information has been successfully changed, and the process ends. On the other hand, if the configuration information change completion notification cannot be received from the corresponding device, the process proceeds to step S718, and the management request receiving unit 501 notifies the request source that the configuration information change has failed, and this process is performed. finish. Examples of cases where the change of the configuration information fails in this way include a case where the corresponding device is not turned on or a state where network communication is not possible.

  As described above, the database management function of the device configuration information management server 213 allows the configuration information to be browsed and changed without using the operation unit 109 of the print control apparatus 201 and the operation / display unit 302 of the image forming apparatus 207. it can. Also, by adding a new table to the configuration information database 503 and appropriately updating the device configuration information on the table, the device configuration information suitable for the customer before installing the printing system at the actual customer Can also be constructed on the device configuration information management server 213.

  Next, a device management method performed by the print control apparatus 201 or the image forming apparatus 207 will be described. The device management method described here is software processing, based on programs stored in HDDs or ROMs included in the print control apparatus 201, the image forming apparatus 207, and the apparatus configuration information management server 213. This is done by executing.

  First, the format of the device configuration information stored in the configuration information database 503 provided in the device configuration information management server 213 is expanded to the format shown in FIG. The table shown in FIG. 8 is obtained by adding four extended attributes and two device configuration information items to the table shown in FIG. 6C, and adding a row number (R801) for convenience of explanation. .

  The first attribute to be expanded is a collation target flag shown in a column C801 on the table shown in FIG. This attribute takes a value of ON or OFF, and a device configuration information item having an ON value is a target of collation in the device management method executed by the print control apparatus 201 described in the present embodiment. It should be noted that the value of this flag may not be set for device configuration information items that cannot be subject to verification. For example, in this embodiment, the value of the verification target flag is not stored for the DFE serial number item in FIG. This is because it is assumed that a search in the configuration information database 503 is performed using the DFE serial number as an identifier.

  The second attribute to be extended is the warning level shown in column C802 on the table shown in FIG. This attribute indicates the degree of warning processing to be performed by the print control apparatus 201 when the device configuration information item verification fails. In the present embodiment, the warning level attribute takes an arbitrary integer value of 1 or more, and the greater the number, the greater the degree of warning.

  Both the verification target flag and the warning level can be edited, and each table may have a different value. In other words, the collation target flag of the connected accessory is turned on in a certain printing system, but can be turned off in another printing system, and the warning level of an item that has previously been set to a warning level can be changed to 2. It is. The reason for enabling such editing processing can be used when the degree of device management method differs depending on the customer or when it is desired to temporarily increase the degree of warning processing when the configuration of the printing system is changed. It is for doing so.

  The extended third and fourth attributes are the collation result (C803) and the device side information (C804) shown in FIG. These attributes are used to record the verification result of the device configuration information item in the device management method described in this embodiment, and what the values in the print control apparatus 201 and the image forming apparatus 207 were when the verification failed. Used.

  The expanded configuration information items are the latest warning level (R802) indicated by the line number 2001 and the collation completion time (R803) indicated by the line number 2002. The latest warning level has the same value range as the warning level described above, and stores the comparison result of the latest device configuration information. The collation completion time stores the time when the device configuration information is collated. Since these items themselves cannot be subject to collation, the collation target flag cannot be set.

  FIG. 9 shows a warning processing table including the contents of warning processing to be performed according to the result of collation of the device configuration information in the print control apparatus 201 or the image forming apparatus 207.

  In FIG. 9, the warning processing table is a table indicating whether or not to execute the contents of the warning processing described in each column for the warning level described in each row, and the warning processing described as ON is Indicates that processing is performed and processing that is not performed is not performed. For example, if the level (Lv) 0 row is a warning level 0 corresponding to no warning as a result of the configuration information verification, the device configuration information management server 213 has completed verification of the device configuration information. This indicates that only time (C901) needs to be executed. In the level 2 row, when the warning level is 2 and collation fails, an error content notification to the device configuration information management server 213 (C902) and an error content notification to the print control apparatus 201 or the image forming apparatus 207 (C903) It is also necessary to do this together. Similarly, the level 3 line indicates that if the verification fails for the configuration information item with the warning level 3, the MFP operation mode must be changed to the MFP single mode (C904). Yes.

  Such a warning processing table is stored in an HDD or a ROM provided in the print control apparatus 201 or the image forming apparatus 207. The contents of the warning processing table may not be editable by the user or the person in charge of installation, and may be editable on the device configuration information management server 213 as with the device configuration information. In the latter case, the warning processing table is stored in the warning processing database 504 shown in FIG. 5 together with an identifier such as a serial number in the same manner as the device configuration information, and viewing / editing the device configuration information described with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B. -It is configured so that it can be managed in exactly the same way as the additional procedure.

  Next, a device management method performed by the print control apparatus 201 or the image forming apparatus 207 using the device configuration information table shown in FIG. 8 and the warning processing table shown in FIG. 9 will be described with reference to FIGS. . The processing described here is based on a program stored in a ROM included in each of the print control apparatus 201 shown in FIG. 1 and the image formation apparatus 207 shown in FIG. 3, and the image forming apparatus including the CPU unit 107 of the print control apparatus or the CPU. This is executed by the control unit 308. In the present embodiment, description will be made assuming that the CPU unit 107 of the print control apparatus 201 executes. The series of processing shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 is started when the printing system including the printing control apparatus 201 and the image forming apparatus 207 is activated and network communication with the device configuration information management server 213 is possible.

  In FIG. 10, in step S <b> 1001, the device information matching unit 505 included in the print control apparatus 201 transmits a device configuration information browsing request to the management request receiving unit 501 of the device configuration information management server 213. The identifier specified in this browsing request is at least one of the DFE serial number of the print control apparatus 201 and the MFP serial number of the image forming apparatus 207. The management request reception unit 501 provided in the device configuration information management server 213 returns the device configuration information to the device information matching unit 505 according to the flowchart described with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B.

  In step S1002, the device information matching unit 505 requests the MFP configuration management unit 510 included in the image forming apparatus 207 for the device configuration information of the image forming apparatus 207. The MFP configuration management unit 510 reads the device configuration information of the image forming apparatus 207 from the MFP configuration information 511 provided in the image forming apparatus 207 and sends it back to the device information matching unit 505.

  In step S1003, the device information matching unit 505 requests the device configuration information of the print control apparatus 201 from the DFE configuration management unit 507 included in the print control apparatus 201. The DFE configuration management unit 507 reads out the device configuration information of the print control apparatus itself from the DFE configuration information 508 and returns it to the device information verification unit 505.

  In step S1004, the device configuration information on the device configuration information management server 213 acquired in step S1001 is compared with the device configuration information of the print control apparatus 201 and the image forming apparatus 207 acquired in steps S1002 and S1003. Collate. Then, the process proceeds to processing for determining the current warning level. Details of the processing in step S1004 are shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 11, in step S1005, the device information matching unit 505 sets the current warning level to 0. This is an initial value indicating that there is no device configuration information item for which collation has failed.

  Next, the loop indicated by L101 is entered. The processing in this loop is repeated for each device configuration information item on the device configuration information management server 213 acquired in step S1001.

  In step S1006, the device information collating unit 505 determines whether or not the collation target flag of the currently referred device configuration information item is ON. If it is determined to be OFF, there is no need for collation, and the process moves to the next device configuration information item. On the other hand, if it is determined to be ON, the process advances to step S1007 to determine whether or not the same item exists in the device configuration information of the print control apparatus 201 and the image forming apparatus 207 acquired in steps S1002 and S1003. To do. If it is determined that it exists, the process proceeds to step S1008. If it is determined that it does not exist, the process proceeds to step S1009.

  In step S1008, the device information matching unit 505 matches the device configuration information of the found print control apparatus 201 or image forming apparatus 207 with the device configuration information on the device configuration information management server 213 acquired in step S1001. Determine whether or not. In each device configuration information item, the criteria for determining whether or not the values are suitable may be different. For example, when a device-specific value such as a serial number is collated, the determination is made based on whether or not the value on the device configuration information management server 213 matches the value held by the print control apparatus 201 or the image forming apparatus 207. . Alternatively, there may be a case where the determination is made based on the inclusion relationship of the set as in the case where it is desired to check whether there is a software license that is not registered in the device configuration information management server 213 among the input software licenses. In the above case, the determination is made based on whether or not the set of license values that the print control apparatus 201 or the image forming apparatus 207 has is included in the set of license values that the device configuration information management server 213 has.

  In some cases, the installed firmware version is determined by the magnitude of the numerical value, such as when it is desired to check that the version of the firmware is the same or newer than the version registered on the device configuration information management server 213. In the above case, the determination is made based on whether the version value of the print control apparatus 201 or the image forming apparatus 207 is the same as or greater than the version value of the device configuration information management server 213. As described above, the determination process in step S1008 is performed using a criterion suitable for the purpose of collating each device configuration information item.

  If it is determined in step S1008 that the values are suitable, the process moves to the next device configuration information item. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1008 that the values do not match, it is considered that the verification has failed, and the process proceeds to step S1009.

  In step S1009, the device information collating unit 505 compares the warning level of the item that failed to be collated with the current warning level for which the initial value is set in step S1005. From this comparison result, if the warning level of the item that failed to be verified is greater than the current warning level, the process proceeds to step S1010, and the device information verification unit 505 sets the current warning level to the warning level of the item that failed to be verified. After overwriting and updating, move to the next device configuration information item. When these in-loop processes are performed for each device configuration information item on the device configuration information management server 213, the current warning level is the highest of the warning levels of the device configuration information items that failed to be verified. Match the one. In step S1011, the device information matching unit 505 outputs the current warning level and returns.

  Returning to FIG. 10, in step S <b> 1012, the device information matching unit 505 notifies the device configuration information management server 213 of the current warning level. This process is performed so that the device information matching unit 505 updates the latest warning level, which is the device configuration information exemplified in the row number 2001 on the table shown in FIG. 8, with the current warning level output in step S1011. This is realized by issuing a device information change request to the reception unit 501. The management request receiving unit 501 updates the database according to the flowchart described with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B.

  In step S1013, the device information collating unit 505 determines whether the current warning level is 0, that is, whether collation has succeeded in all items. If the warning level is 0, the process advances to step S1015 to execute an item corresponding to the warning level 0 on the warning processing table shown in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 9, when the warning level is 0, only the verification completion time notification to the device configuration information management server 213 is performed. That is, the device information matching unit 505 issues a device information change request to the management request receiving unit 501 so as to update the matching completion time indicated by the row number 2002 with the current time.

  On the other hand, if the warning level is not 0, the process proceeds to the loop of L102. The processing in this loop is an apparatus configuration information item that has failed to be collated, that is, an item that has been determined to have a non-matching value in step S1008 or an item that has been determined to have no item in step S1007. Repeated for

  In step S1014, the device information matching unit 505 refers to the warning level of the device configuration information item that has failed to be verified, and performs the warning process indicated to be performed at the corresponding level in the warning processing table illustrated in FIG. For example, when the item of the connection accessory of line number 6 on the table shown in FIG. 8 does not match, the warning level of this item is 2, so that it is supposed to be performed for level 2 in FIG. Perform one process. Among these, the verification completion time notification to the device configuration information management server 213 has already been described. The error content notification to the device configuration information management server is to update the attribute value of the collation result and the device side information shown in FIG. 8 for the device configuration information item that has failed collation. That is, the device information matching unit 505 makes the management request accepting unit 501 fail the matching of the attribute value of the matching result of the corresponding item, and the device having the attribute value of the device side information in the current print control apparatus 201 or the image forming apparatus 207. A device information change request is issued so that the configuration information is updated. The error content notification to the operation unit is to output a warning screen informing the operation unit included in the print control apparatus 201 or the image forming apparatus 207 that the verification of the device configuration information has failed. 12A and 12B show examples of warning screens used at this time according to the warning level.

  FIG. 12A is a diagram illustrating an example of a warning screen when collation fails for an item with a low warning level, and FIG. 12B is a diagram illustrating an example of a warning screen when the warning level is high. W1101 and W1104 are warning screens, respectively, and titles corresponding to warning levels are displayed in areas A1102 and A1105. In addition, the item names of the device configuration information that failed to be collated are displayed in the areas of A1103 and A1106. When such a warning screen is generated by the device information matching unit 505 and displayed on the display unit 110 of the print control apparatus 201, the warning screen is displayed on the operation / display unit 302 of the image forming apparatus 207. Are input to the MFP screen output unit 509, respectively. The DFE screen output unit 506 or the MFP screen output unit 509 displays the input warning screen on each display unit and notifies the user.

  In the foregoing, the warning process when the verification has failed for the item with the warning level 2 has been described.

  The example shown in FIG. 9 describes that the operation mode of the image forming apparatus 207 is changed to the MFP single mode when collation fails in the item of warning level 3. For example, a mode in which the print control apparatus and the image forming apparatus are connected in a combination in which normal operation is not guaranteed, and the operation mode of the image forming apparatus 207 is not performed in cooperation with the print control apparatus 201 in order to avoid abnormal operation. Such a process is necessary to change to In the present embodiment, an example will be described in which whether or not such warning processing is necessary is determined using the MFP model name on the device configuration information table.

  First, as shown in FIG. 8, the matching target flag is set to ON and the warning level is set to 3 for the MFP model name item. On the other hand, in the warning processing table shown in FIG. 9, the change in the operation mode of the MFP is included in the processing contents executed at the warning level 3.

  Finally, in step S1008 in FIG. 11, if the item value of the MFP model name acquired from the image forming apparatus 207 is a model model name for which normal operation is guaranteed when connected to the print control apparatus 201, it is applicable. The device information collating unit 505 is operated so as to determine that it is present. In this way, it is possible to detect whether or not the print control apparatus 201 and the image forming apparatus 207 are a combination in which normal operation is guaranteed.

  In this way, the MFP operation mode is changed as follows when it is determined that the print control apparatus 201 and the image forming apparatus 207 are not a combination for which normal operation is guaranteed.

  First, the device information matching unit 505 requests the MFP configuration management unit 510 to change the value of the MFP operation mode indicated by the line number 7 on the table shown in FIG. 8 to the MFP single mode.

  The MFP configuration management unit 510 rewrites the item value of the MFP operation mode on the MFP configuration information 511 to the MFP single mode, and restarts the image forming apparatus 207.

  Since the image forming apparatus 207 operates in the MFP single mode when the restart is completed, the image forming apparatus 207 does not perform a cooperative operation with the print control apparatus 201. Therefore, an unexpected abnormal operation can be avoided.

  Further, considering the case where the operation of the device at the customer site is changed, such as a change in the operation mode of the device, it is also effective to enhance the content of the warning screen. Examples of such warning screens are shown in FIGS. 13 (a) and 13 (b).

  In the case of a minor warning, similar to FIGS. 12A and 12B, the information is different from the registration information on the device configuration information management server 213 as shown in an area A1202 of FIG. Display. When collation fails for an item with a high warning level, as shown in area A1205 of FIG. 13B, it is displayed how the operation of the device is restricted due to collation failure. Further, as shown in areas A1203 and A1206, it is also possible to display how the registration information on the device configuration information management server 213 is different from the current device configuration information, which eliminates the verification failure for the user. It leads to presenting a method and is useful.

  As described above, when the warning process is completed for all device configuration information items that have failed to be collated, the loop L102 is exited, and the device information collation unit 505 terminates the series of device configuration information collation.

  The effect by the said embodiment is as follows.

  First, because the device configuration information registered in the device configuration information management server is correct information and an abnormal value is detected by comparing with the current device configuration information, a human error occurs during installation, etc. If the device configuration information is not initially desired, this can be accurately detected. In addition, for each item of the device configuration information, it is possible to set a warning level indicating the degree of required warning processing. Furthermore, a warning processing table is provided that indicates what warning processing is performed at each warning level. By using each of these, it is possible to individually set how much warning processing is required when matching fails for each item. Furthermore, it is possible to individually and plurally set what kind of warning processing is required at each warning level. Therefore, various warning processes can be realized according to the purpose.

  The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

201 Print Control Device 207 Image Forming Device 213 Device Configuration Information Management Server 214 LAN
502 Database management unit 503 Configuration information database 504 Warning processing database 505 Device information verification unit 510 MFP configuration management unit 511 MFP configuration information

Claims (8)

In a printing system including a print control device and a server connected to an image forming apparatus,
The server
Storage means for storing device configuration information representing characteristics and capabilities of the image forming device and the print control device associated with at least one of the device unique information of the image forming device and the device unique information of the print control device;
Receiving means for receiving an acquisition request for device configuration information stored in the storage means,
Each item of the device configuration information stored in the storage means includes a collation target flag indicating whether or not the item is to be collated, and a warning level representing the degree of warning processing when collation fails. It is characterized by being configurable,
The image forming apparatus or the print control apparatus includes:
At least one of the device unique information of the image forming apparatus and the device unique information of the print control apparatus is designated, and the server uses the device configuration information of at least one of the image forming apparatus and the print control apparatus as first device configuration information. First acquisition means for acquiring from:
Second acquisition means for acquiring device configuration information of at least one of the image forming apparatus and the print control device as second device configuration information;
When the verification target flag is valid for each device configuration information item included in the first device configuration information acquired by the first acquisition unit, the value of the item and the second acquisition unit A determination unit that compares the value of the same item included in the second device configuration information acquired by the step and determines whether the device configuration information item conforms to the first device configuration information;
The content of the warning process corresponding to the warning level of each device configuration information item determined not to be matched by the determination means is read from the warning processing table representing the content of the warning process corresponding to the warning level, and the warning process And a printing system.   The warning process includes at least one of an error content notification to the server, an error content notification to a display unit included in the image forming apparatus or the print control apparatus, and an operation mode change of the image forming apparatus. The printing system according to claim 1.   In the device configuration information, at least one of the serial number of the print control apparatus, the serial number of the image forming apparatus, the model name of the print control apparatus, and the model name of the image forming apparatus has the verification target flag set. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing system is enabled. A printing control apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus,
Storage means for storing a first serial number unique to the device of the print control apparatus and a first model name indicating the model number of the print control apparatus;
A first acquisition unit that acquires, from the image forming apparatus, a second serial number unique to the apparatus of the image forming apparatus and a second model name indicating a model number of the image forming apparatus;
A third serial number representing the serial number of the image forming apparatus associated with the first serial number from an external device, and a model number of the image forming apparatus to which the print control apparatus having the first model name is connected. A second acquisition means for acquiring a third model name;
Whether the second serial number acquired by the first acquisition means and the third serial number acquired by the second acquisition means are compatible, the second model name, and the third model name; A printing control apparatus comprising: a determination unit that determines whether or not the printer is compatible.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit configured to notify the external device of a warning when the determination unit determines that the second serial number and the third serial number do not match. 5. A printing control apparatus according to 4.   When the determination unit determines that the second model name and the third model name do not match, the operation mode of the image forming apparatus is changed to a mode in which the cooperative operation with the print control apparatus is not performed. The print control apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the print control apparatus is changed. In a printing system control method comprising a print control device and a server connected to an image forming apparatus,
The storage unit of the server is device configuration information representing characteristics and capabilities of the image forming apparatus and the print control apparatus, which are associated with at least one of the apparatus specific information of the image forming apparatus and the apparatus specific information of the print control apparatus. Thus, for each item of the device configuration information, a verification target flag indicating whether or not the item is to be verified, and a warning level indicating the degree of warning processing when the verification fails are set. A storage step for storing device configuration information;
An accepting step in which the accepting means of the server accepts an acquisition request for the device configuration information;
The first acquisition unit of the image forming apparatus or the print control apparatus designates at least one of the device specific information of the image forming apparatus and the device specific information of the print control apparatus, and the image forming apparatus and the print control apparatus A first acquisition step of acquiring at least one device configuration information from the server as first device configuration information;
A second acquisition step in which a second acquisition unit of the image forming apparatus or the print control apparatus acquires apparatus configuration information of at least one of the image forming apparatus and the print control apparatus as second apparatus configuration information;
The collation target flag is valid for each device configuration information item included in the first device configuration information acquired by the determination unit of the image forming apparatus or the print control apparatus in the first acquisition step. In some cases, the value of the item is compared with the value of the same item included in the second device configuration information acquired in the second acquisition step, and the device configuration information item is the first device. A determination step of determining whether or not the configuration information is satisfied;
The contents of the warning process corresponding to the warning level of each device configuration information item determined by the execution unit of the image forming apparatus or the print control apparatus as not conforming in the determination step corresponds to the warning level. A control method comprising: an execution step of reading from a warning processing table representing the content of warning processing and executing the warning processing.   A computer-readable program for causing a computer to execute the control method according to claim 7.

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