JP2021043547A - Information processing device and control method for information processing device, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an information processing device and a control method for the information processing device, and a program that reduce effort of a user in downloading and installing a driver specific to a printer vendor even in an environment where an OS-standard printer driver is installed.SOLUTION: An information processing device includes: display means for displaying a print setting screen for allowing a user to perform print setting to be included in a print job generated by a first printer driver; and means for installing a second printer driver that is different from the first printer driver, based on an operation of the user on an object on the print setting screen.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing device, a control method of the information processing device, and a program.

A printer driver is a module that is installed on a client computer and performs print settings for the corresponding printer and rendering processing in response to print requests. The conventional printer driver was a driver peculiar to the printer vendor developed by the printer vendor.

The vendor-specific driver developed by the printer vendor is downloaded from the server that distributes the driver by the function of Plug and Play (PnP) provided by the OS, and installed on the client computer (Patent Document 1).

On the other hand, there is an OS standard driver developed by an OS vendor as a printer driver. The OS standard driver developed by the OS vendor is a driver that can be used regardless of the vendor of the printer used. When the OS standard driver is used, it is possible to generate print data used for printing and transmit the print data without downloading or installing the printer driver for each printer used by the user.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-25460

While the OS standard driver can be used regardless of the printer used, when making print settings, only setting items that are common to all printers can be set. Therefore, even if the function can be used in the printer used for printing, there are some setting items that cannot be set on the print setting screen provided by the OS standard driver. In order to use the above setting items, it is necessary to download the driver specific to the printer vendor.

However, depending on the printer settings and usage environment, the OS standard driver may be installed instead of the vendor-specific printer driver when the printer is connected to the network. In such a case, the user must download the printer driver on the printer vendor's homepage or the like and install the driver on the client computer in order to use the printer vendor-specific driver. Therefore, it takes a lot of time and effort for the user to download and install the vendor-specific printer driver.

In view of the above problems, an object of the present application is to reduce the user's trouble in downloading and installing the driver peculiar to the printer vendor even in the environment where the OS standard printer driver is installed.

The information processing apparatus described in the present application includes a display means for displaying a print setting screen for causing the user to perform print settings to be included in a print job generated by the first printer driver, and a user's operation on an object on the print setting screen. Based on the above, it is characterized by having a means for installing a second printer driver different from the first printer driver.

According to the information processing apparatus described in the present application, even in an environment in which an OS standard printer driver is installed, it is possible to reduce the user's trouble in downloading and installing the driver peculiar to the printer vendor.

It is a block diagram of a typical printing system as one Embodiment of this invention, and the figure which shows the structure of the client computer 100. It is a figure which shows an example of the structure of the printer 200 in this Example. It is a figure which shows an example of the structure of the distribution server 400 in this Example. In this embodiment, it is a figure which shows an example of the system block of the print extension application in a client computer. In this embodiment, it is a figure which shows an example of the control information which a client computer 100 transmits to a printer. In this embodiment, it is a figure which shows an example of the apparatus identification information which a printer 200 transmits to a client computer 100. In this embodiment, it is a figure which shows an example of the sequence which shows the process executed by a client computer 100 and a printer 200. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the client computer 100 and a process executed by the printer 200 in the first embodiment. 2 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the client computer 100 and a process executed by the printer 200 in the second embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the client computer 100 in the third embodiment.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Example 1>
FIG. 1A shows a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing system according to the present invention. This system includes a client computer 100, a printer 200, and a distribution server 400 that stores a printer driver. The printer 200 can receive and print print data in a page description language (PDL) format. The client computer 100, the printer 200, and the distribution server 400 are connected and can communicate with each other via the network 300 represented by the local area network (LAN) and the Internet 500. The printer 200 may be a single-function printer (SFP) having only a printing function, or a multifunction printer (MFP) having a printing function, a scanning function, and a copying function.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a client computer 100 to which an embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

The CPU 101 controls the entire device according to a program stored in the ROM 1021 or RAM 1022 operating as the main storage device 102 and the auxiliary storage device 105. The RAM 1022 is also used as a work area when the CPU 101 performs various processes. The auxiliary storage device 105 stores an application (hereinafter referred to as an application) 1051, a driver 1052 for a printer, an operating system (OS) 1053, and the like. The application 1051 and the driver 1052 are installed in the auxiliary storage device 105 via a CD-ROM (not shown), a USB memory, or a network 300. The print extension application in this embodiment is one of the applications 1051 and is stored in the auxiliary storage device 105.

The print extension application in this embodiment is installed on the client computer 100 by a standard function (Plug and Play, etc.) included in the OS. The client computer stores the print extension application and the OS standard driver pre-installed on the client computer in association with each other.

An input device such as a pointing device 109 represented by a keyboard 108 or a mouse / touch panel is a device for a user to give various instructions to a computer through an input I / F 103. The output I / F 104 is an interface for outputting data to the outside, and outputs data to an output device such as a monitor 110. The client computer 100 is connected to the printer 200 through a network 300 connected through the communication I / F 106. Further, 107 is a common data system bus, which is used for exchanging data between the hardware modules constituting the client computer 100.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the printer 200. The printer 200 has a reading function for reading an image on a sheet and a printing function for printing an image on the sheet. In addition, the printer 200 has a file transmission function for transmitting an image to an external communication device.

In this embodiment, the printer 200 will be described as an example of the printing apparatus, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a printing device such as an SFP (Single Function Peripheral) that does not have a reading function may be used.

The control unit 201 including the CPU (Central Processing Unit) 211 controls the operation of the entire printer 200. The CPU 211 reads a control program stored in the ROM (Read Only Memory) 212 or the storage 214, and performs various controls such as print control and read control. The ROM 212 stores a control program that can be executed by the CPU 211. The RAM (Random Access Memory) 213 is the main storage memory of the CPU 211, and is used as a work area or a temporary storage area for developing various control programs. The storage 214 stores print data, image data, various programs, and various setting information. In the present embodiment, an auxiliary storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) is assumed as the storage 214, but a non-volatile memory such as an SSD (Solid State Drive) may be used instead of the HDD.

In the printer 200 of this embodiment, one CPU 211 executes each process using one memory (RAM 213), but other modes may be used. For example, a plurality of CPUs, RAMs, ROMs, and storages may be made to cooperate to execute each process shown in a flowchart described later. Further, a hardware circuit such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) may be used to execute a part of the processing.

The operation unit interface (I / F) 216 connects the operation unit 221 and the control unit 201. The operation unit 221 is provided with a liquid crystal display unit having a touch panel function, various hard keys, and the like, and functions as a display unit for displaying information and a reception unit for receiving user's instructions.

The reading unit I / F 217 connects the reading unit 222 and the control unit 201. The scanning unit 222 scans the document and generates a scanned image. It is assumed that the generated scanned image is stored in the storage 214 or the RAM 213. The scanned image generated by the scanning unit 222 is transmitted to a communication device or used for printing an image on a sheet.

The image processing unit 215 has a function of a RIP (Raster Image Processor) that develops print data received via a network and generates a print image. In addition, the image processing unit 215 performs image resolution conversion and correction processing. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the image processing unit 215 is realized by a hardware circuit (ASIC, FPGA, etc.), but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the printer 200 may include a processor for image processing applications, and the processor for the image processing applications may execute image processing programs to realize image processing and print data expansion processing. In this case, it is assumed that the processor for image processing and the CPU 211 cooperate to realize the flowchart described later. Further, the CPU 211 may execute a program for performing image processing, and may be configured to perform image processing and print data expansion processing. Further, the image processing may be performed by any combination of these.

The printing unit I / F 218 connects the printing unit 223 and the control unit 201. The printed image generated by analyzing the print data by the image processing unit 215 is transferred from the control unit 201 to the printing unit 223 via the printing unit I / F 218. The printing unit 223 receives the control command and the printed image via the control unit 201, and prints the image on the sheet supplied from the paper feed cassette (not shown) based on the image. The printing method of the printing unit 223 may be an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method. Further, other printing methods such as a thermal transfer method can also be applied. The sheet processing unit I / F 219 connects the control unit 201 and the sheet processing unit 224. The sheet processing unit 224 receives a control command from the CPU 211, and performs post-processing on the sheet printed by the printing unit 223 according to the control command. For example, post-processing such as aligning a plurality of sheets, punching holes in the sheets, and binding a plurality of sheets is executed. Further, the post-processing function and the post-processing capability of the sheet processing unit 224 are notified in advance to the control unit 201 via the sheet processing unit I / F 219 (for example, when the printer 200 is started), and the storage 214 or the RAM 213 is notified. Stored in.

Further, the control unit 201 is connected to the network 300 via the communication unit I / F 220. The communication unit I / F 220 transmits images and information to the communication device on the network 300, and receives print data and information from the communication device on the network 300.

The control information detection unit 225 detects the control information received from the network 300 via the communication unit I / F 220. The control information is information for the client computer 100 connected to the network 300 to acquire the device identification information of the printer 200. When the control information detection unit 225 detects the control information, the control information detection unit 225 transmits the device identification information 4001 and 4002 stored in the device identification information storage unit 226 to the client computer 100. The device identification information 4001 and 4002 will be described later with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the software configuration of the distribution server. The distribution server provides the vendor-specific driver to the client computer 100 via the network 300 in response to a request from the client computer 100.

The distribution server 400 includes a driver management unit 401 for responding to the client computer 100. The driver management unit 401 controls the distribution server 400 and provides the client computer 100 with the printer driver 402 stored in the external memory 402. The external memory 402 of the distribution server 400 stores a printer driver that operates on the client computer 100.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the system configuration of the print extension application 10511 (hereinafter, print extension application 10511). The print extension application 10511 is an application stored in the application 1051 of the auxiliary storage device 105 of the client computer 100. By using the print extension application 10511, the user can set print settings even for items that cannot be set by the OS standard driver.

The print extension application 10511 is associated with the printer. The print extension application 10511 has a function of displaying a preview screen when a print instruction is given on the print setting screen provided by the OS standard driver, or displaying a screen for making additional print settings. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the image data used for printing is converted into PDL by the OS standard print processing unit (not shown) and then called by the startup application. Further, the XPS spool file before the print extension application 10511 is converted into PDL data can be processed, and the print extension application may be called before the PDL conversion.

The print extension application 10511 is composed of a print start application unit 111, an extended print setting unit 112, a print extension application communication unit 114, a print job generation unit 115, and a tile application unit 116.

The print start application unit 111 is an application called at the time of printing. The print activation application unit 111 operates in cooperation with the extended print setting unit 112, the job combining unit 113, the print extended application communication unit 114, the print job generation unit 115, and the tile application unit 116.

The extended print setting unit 112 has a function of displaying a setting screen on which print settings that cannot be set by the OS standard driver can be set. The print settings that cannot be set by the OS standard driver are, for example, print settings related to post-processing such as poster printing and bookbinding.

The print extension application communication unit 114 has a function for each module of the print extension application 10511 to communicate with the printer 200. The print job generation unit 115 has a function of reflecting the PDL conversion process and the extended print settings in the job. The tile application unit 116 is an application that is started from an application list such as an OS start menu separately from the print process. The tile application unit 116 provides the information processing device with a link function to a management screen of the printer 200 and a website for displaying support information of the printer 200.

The print extension application 10511 is one of the applications 1051 stored in the auxiliary storage device 105. The print extension application is associated with driver 1052 and launches with driver 1052.

FIG. 4B is a UI displayed on the monitor 110 of the client computer 100 in order to install the driver of the printer associated with the print extension application 10511. The screen is displayed by the tile application unit 116 of the print extension application 10511. When the user selects the "Upgrade" object 5001, the tile application unit 116 starts the installation process of the printer driver associated with the print extension application 10511. The installation process will be described later with reference to FIG. Here, it is assumed that the vendor-specific printer driver is downloaded and installed from the screen displayed by the tile application unit 116. An "Upgrade" object 5001 is provided on the print setting screen where the user sets the print job such as the number of copies and the paper size, and the extended print setting unit 112 where the vendor-specific print settings are set, which is a screen provided by the OS standard driver. It may be arranged. By doing so, the vendor-specific driver can be downloaded and installed without the user intentionally launching the print extension application 10511. When the user selects the “Upgrade” object 5011, the processes described in FIGS. 7 and 8 are executed.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of control information output by the client computer 100 to the printer 200.

The control information detection unit 225 of the printer 200 receives the control information output by the printer 200, performs processing according to the control information, and returns a notification to the client computer 100. In this embodiment, the client computer 100 transmits control information using the WSD (Web Service for Device) shown in FIG. 5 to the printer 200. The control information is not limited to the above as long as it is the control information for notifying the device of the connection from the OS 1053 or the driver 1052 in the client computer 100.

FIG. 5A is a diagram showing an example of XML-format control information transmitted from the client computer 100 to the image forming apparatus by PnP of the Windows OS. In FIG. 5A, the tag <pri: Name> in 601 is information for specifying the source, and usually "Device" is set as the information. The client computer 100 transmits the information shown in FIG. 5A to the printer 200 based on the reception of predetermined information indicating that the printer 200 has joined the network 300.

On the other hand, FIG. 5B is a diagram showing an example of control information transmitted to the printer 200 at the timing when the object 5001 is selected by the user operation by the print extension application 10511 in the present embodiment. In FIG. 5B, information (“Device_app”) for identifying the print extension application 10511 is set in the tag <pri: Name> in 602.

By changing the device name in the control information as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the printer 200 can determine whether the control information is transmitted by the OS or the print extension application 10511. To do.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing identification information transmitted by the printer 200 to the client computer 100 triggered by the printer 200 receiving the control information shown in FIG. The printer 200 stores a plurality of device identification information, and changes which device identification information is transmitted to the client computer 100 according to the source information included in the received control information.

FIG. 6A is device identification information to be transmitted when the printer 200 receives the control information shown in FIG. 5A. The device identification information 4001 has a vendor name 4001a, a model information 4001b of the printer 200, a device type 4001c, and a device identification information 4001d. The device specific information 4001d is a UUID (Universal Universal Individual), which is identification information for the OS in the client computer 100 to identify the printer 200. When the OS standard driver of the client computer 100 transmits the control information, the printer 200 transmits the device identification information shown in FIG. 6A. The client computer 100 receives the device identification information shown in FIG. 6A and generates an HWID. Then, the client computer 100 selects an OS standard driver as a driver to be installed on the client computer 100 from the received device identification information and the generated HWID, and executes the installation process.

On the other hand, FIG. 6B is device identification information to be transmitted to the client computer 100 when the printer 200 receives the control information shown in FIG. 5B. FIG. 6B is different from FIG. 6A in the device identification information 4002d. When the control information output by the print extension application 10511 is acquired, the printer 200 transmits the device identification information shown in FIG. 6B to the client computer 100. The client computer 100 generates an HWID using the device identification information shown in FIG. 6 (b). The HWID generated here is the same ID as the HWID generated using the device identification information shown in FIG. 6A. The client computer 100 identifies a printer driver that can make vendor-specific settings using the device identification information 4002 and the generated HWID. Then, the client computer 100 downloads and installs the specified printer driver from the distribution server 400. When the specified printer driver is stored in the client computer 100, the client computer 100 performs an installation process of the stored printer driver. Then, the client computer 100 invalidates the already installed OS standard driver, and enables the newly installed driver that can be set by the vendor. By doing so, when the print setting is made by using the printer driver for printing with the printer 200, the user can use the vendor-specific printer driver instead of the OS standard driver.

In this embodiment, a process related to driver replacement in the client computer 100 will be described with reference to a sequence diagram and a flowchart.

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing a flow until the user operates the client computer 100 to complete the replacement of the driver. Here, it is assumed that the OS standard printer driver and the print extension application 10511 are installed on the client computer 100.

The user selects the object 5001 to be displayed by the print extension application 10511 linked to the OS standard driver (6001).

The print extension application 10511 transmits control information to the printer 200, which is the output destination of the print job, via the network 300 (6002). Here, the control information transmitted to the printer 200 is the control information shown in FIG. 5 (b). The control information transmitted to the printer 200 in 6002 is a request for transmission of device identification information of the printer 200.

The printer 200 receives the control information and switches the device identification information 4001 to be transmitted to the client computer 100 to the device identification information 4002 (6003). In 6003, the printer 200 selects the device identification information to be transmitted to the client computer 100 based on the information indicating the transmission source included in the received control information. Here, since the control information shown in FIG. 5B is received, the printer 200 selects the device identification information shown in FIG. 6B.

The printer 200 uses a unicast connection notification (Hello) to return the selected device identification information to the OS 1053 (6004).

OS1053 generates HWID based on the received device identification information. Then, the OS 1053 specifies the driver to be installed based on the UUID included in the device identification information and the generated HWID. Then, the OS 1053 transmits the download request of the specified driver to the distribution server 400 (6005). Upon receiving the request, the distribution server 400 transmits a vendor-specific driver corresponding to the request to the client computer 100 (6006).

Next, the OS 1053 creates a printer queue based on the UUID included in the device identification information 4002 acquired from the printer 200, and installs the received driver (6007). OS1053 installs the vendor-specific driver received from the distribution server 400 and associates it with the generated printer queue.

6008 is a process in which the object is started at the timing when the object is selected in 6001, and the print extension application 10511 determines whether or not the installation of the vendor-specific driver is completed. The print extension application 10511 determines whether or not the installation of the driver transmitted from the distribution server 400 is completed at regular intervals after 6001. When the installation of the driver transmitted from the distribution server 400 is completed, the print extension application 10511 instructs to disable the OS standard driver (6009). The OS 1053 deletes the printer queue associated with the OS standard driver based on the instruction of the print extension application 10511.

As described above, the user who uses the client computer 100 can use the vendor-specific driver instead of the OS standard driver.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an outline of the operation of the automatic replacement system of FIG. This flowchart is started when the user starts the print extension application 10511.

In the description of FIG. 8, it is assumed that the target vendor-specific driver is stored in the distribution server 400 in advance. Further, it is assumed that the printer 200 has an ability to interpret the control information transmitted from the application and process it appropriately. The processes described in S101 to S104 and S109 to S113 are realized by the CPU 101 of the client computer 100 executing a program stored in the main storage device 102. S105 to S108 are realized by the CPU 211 of the printer 200 executing the process described in the ROM 212 or the storage 214.

The print extension application 10511 executes the activation process according to the user instructing the start of the print extension application 10511 (S101). The CPU 101 causes the monitor 110 to display the screen shown in FIG. 4B.

The print extension application 10511 accepts a user operation for selecting the object 5001 shown in FIG. 4 (b) (S102).

The print extension application 10511 determines whether or not the object 5001 is selected (S103). If the object 5001 is not selected, the print extension application 10511 returns the process to S102. On the other hand, when the object 5001 is selected, the print extension application 10511 transmits the control information shown in FIG. 5 (b) to the printer 200 via the network 300 (S104). In S104, the print extension application 10511 transmits the control information including the information indicating that the control information is the control information transmitted by the print extension application to the printer 200.

S105 to S107 are processes executed by the printer 200. The printer 200 starts the process shown in FIG. 8 after the power is turned on and started. Even after the processing described in FIG. 8 is completed, the processing described in FIG. 8 is repeatedly executed while the printer 200 is running.

The CPU 211 receives control information from the client computer 100 (S105). When the control information is not received, the CPU 211 repeats the process described in S105. When the control information is received, the CPU 211 advances the process to S106.

The CPU 211 analyzes the received control information and selects the device identification information to be transmitted to the client computer 100 based on the source device specified in the control information (S106).

The CPU 211 selects the device identification information to be transmitted to the client computer 100 from the device identification information 4001 and 4002 shown in FIG. 6 based on the device information of the received control information. When the device information included in the control information is "Device", that is, when the control information transmitted by the client computer 100 is FIG. 5A, the CPU 211 selects the device identification information 4001. The case where the received control information is shown in FIG. 5A is a case where the printer 200 has joined the network 300 and a packet indicating that the printer 200 has joined the network is transmitted to the network 300. At this time, the client computer 100 receives the packet and transmits the control information shown in FIG. 5A to the printer 200. At this time, the printer 200 selects the device identification information shown in FIG. 6A.

On the other hand, when the device information included in the control information is "Device_app", the CPU 211 selects the device identification information 4002.

The CPU 211 transmits the selected device identification information to the client computer 100 (S107). By selecting the device identification information according to the control information received in S106, the device identification information having a different UUID is transmitted to the client computer 100.

The printer 200 can simultaneously receive the control information shown in FIG. 5 (a) transmitted by the OS 1053 and the control information shown in FIG. 5 (b) transmitted by the print extension application 10511 from a plurality of client computers. The printer 200 can transmit the device identification information corresponding to the control information to the transmission source of each control information based on the information indicating the transmission source included in each control information.

Since the subsequent processing is executed by the client computer 100, the process returns to the description of the flow on the client computer 100 side.

The OS 1053 receives the device identification information transmitted by the printer 200 (S108). Here, the device identification information shown in FIG. 6B is received. Then, the OS 1053 generates an HWID from the information included in the received device identification information.

The OS 1053 identifies what the vendor-specific printer driver corresponding to the printer 200 is from the HWID generated from the information included in the received device identification information and the UUID included in the device identification information. Then, the OS 1053 determines whether or not the specified driver is stored in the client computer 100 (S109).

If the specified driver is stored in the client computer, the OS 1053 proceeds to S111. If the specified driver is not stored in the client computer, the OS 1053 downloads the specified driver from the distribution server 400 (S110). The OS 1053 installs the specified driver in the driver 1052 in the auxiliary storage device 105 (S111). Finally, the print extension application 10511 deletes the OS standard driver queue installed in the driver 1052 in the client computer 100, and invalidates the OS standard driver (S112). In S112, not only the OS standard driver may be invalidated, but also the OS standard driver may be uninstalled.

In FIG. 8, the process was started by starting the print extension application 10511. The OS 1053 may start the OS standard driver and the print extension application 10511 to execute the process shown in FIG. In this case, the object 5001 is displayed on the screen for setting the print job provided by the OS standard printer driver.

As a result, when the user sets the print setting of the image data to be printed by the printer 200, the vendor-specific printer driver can be used instead of the OS standard driver. Further, even when the OS standard printer driver is installed on the client computer 100 when the printer 200 is connected to the network, the vendor-specific printer driver can be preferentially used. Therefore, it becomes possible to set setting items that cannot be set by the OS standard printer driver.

<Example 2>
In the first embodiment, a case where a plurality of UUIDs are assigned to one image forming apparatus has been described as an example. Due to hardware specifications, memory capacity, etc., it is not possible to assign a plurality of UUIDs to one image forming apparatus, and only one UUID may be mounted. In the second embodiment, it is assumed that the printer 200 has only the UUID associated with the vendor-specific driver.

Further, when a printer queue is generated, a printer queue is generated based on the UUID of the printer in order to distinguish individual printers. Therefore, when there is only one UUID, even if there is a connection notification by PnP, the OS determines that the driver has already been installed and cannot install a new driver.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation when the OS standard driver and the vendor-specific driver are exchanged in the second embodiment of the present invention. This flowchart is started when the user starts the print extension application 10511. In FIG. 9, the processing block described as application processing is realized by executing the program stored in the main storage device 102 or the auxiliary storage device 105 by the CPU 101 of the client computer 100. On the other hand, the block described as device processing is realized by the CPU 211 of the printer 200 executing the processing described in the ROM 212 or the storage 214. In FIG. 9, the same reference numerals are added to the parts showing the same processing as in FIG. 8, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The print extension application 10511 disables the OS standard driver for confirming that the object 5001 is selected (S201). Then, the print extension application 10511 transmits the control information to the image forming apparatus. Here, it is assumed that the control information shown in FIG. 5A is transmitted.

The CPU 211 of the printer 200 receives control information from the print extension application 10511 (S203). After that, the CPU 211 transmits the device identification information corresponding to the control information to the OS 1053 (S204). In the second embodiment, since the printer 200 holds one UUID, the process of selecting the device identification information to be transmitted is not performed.

The above processing is the same as in Example 1. By the above procedure, even if the printer 200 can hold only one UUID, the vendor-specific driver can be installed.

<Example 3>
In the first and second embodiments, the case where the client computer can access the distribution server 400 is described as an example. In the third embodiment, a process of installing a vendor-specific driver when the system cannot be connected to the Internet 500 in the system configuration of FIG. 1 will be described. In the third embodiment, the print extension application 10511 includes an installer that installs a vendor-specific driver on the client computer. As a result, the vendor-specific driver can be installed on the client computer 100 even if the client computer 100 cannot communicate with the distribution server 400.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing performed by the client computer 100 in the third embodiment. The program for executing the process described in this flowchart is stored in the main storage device 102 or the auxiliary storage device 105, and the process is realized by the CPU 101 executing the program. The same reference numerals are added to the same processing as in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

OS1053 determines that the distribution server 400 cannot be accessed through the Internet 500 (S304). In S304, the OS 1053 determines whether or not the distribution server 400 can be accessed via the Internet 500. When the distribution server 400 can be accessed, it is assumed that the processes after S109 of the first embodiment are executed. On the other hand, when the distribution server 400 cannot be accessed, the OS 1053 starts the driver installer held by the print extension application 10511 (S305).

The OS 1053 installs the vendor-specific driver in the driver storage area with the driver 1052 according to the steps of the installer (S306). As a result, the vendor-specific driver installation process is executed. After that, the print extension application 10511 confirms that the vendor-specific driver has been installed, and deletes the OS standard driver queue (S112).

As described above, even when the client computer 100 cannot communicate with the distribution server 400, the vendor-specific driver can be installed from the print extension application 10511.

<Other Embodiments>
Although the actual form of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment. That is, the embodiment can be modified as long as the essence of the present invention is not impaired.

The present invention is also realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment is supplied to the system or device via a network or various storage media, and the computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or device reads the program code. This is the process to be executed. In this case, the computer program and the storage medium that stores the computer program constitute the present invention.

Claims (14)

A display means for displaying a print setting screen for allowing the user to make print settings to be included in the print job generated by the first printer driver, and
An information processing apparatus comprising: means for installing a second printer driver different from the first printer driver based on a user's operation on an object on the print setting screen. A transmission means for transmitting a transmission request for identification information of the printer to the printer which is the output destination of the print job of the first printer driver based on the user's operation on the object on the print setting screen.
A receiving means for receiving the identification information transmitted by the printer to the information processing apparatus in response to a transmission request of the transmitting means, and a receiving means for receiving the identification information.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for downloading and installing the second printer driver corresponding to the received identification information from a server. The information processing device according to claim 2, wherein the information processing device has a specific means for specifying the second printer driver to be downloaded based on the identification information received by the receiving means. The information processing according to claim 3, wherein the transmitting means transmits a download request of the second printer driver specified by the specific means to an information processing device that distributes the second printer driver. apparatus. When the second printer driver specified by the specific means is stored in the storage means of the information processing apparatus, the process of downloading the second printer driver from the server is not performed and the second printer driver is stored in the storage means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the second printer driver is installed. The transmission means transmits a transmission request for other identification information to the printer based on the predetermined information received from the printing device.
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the receiving means installs the first printer driver based on the other identification information transmitted by the printer. The information processing device according to claim 6, wherein the predetermined information is information to be output to a device connected to the network based on the fact that the printer is connected to the network. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising means for uninstalling the first printer driver based on the installation of the second printer driver. The second printer driver causes the display means to display another print setting screen for causing the user to perform print settings included in the print job generated by the second printer driver.
The other print setting screen is characterized in that it displays setting items that are not displayed on the print setting screen for allowing the user to perform print settings included in the print job generated by the first printer driver. The information processing apparatus according to any one of 1 to 8. The first identification information and the second identification information are stored, and the first identification information is transmitted to the information processing device based on the transmission request of the first identification information received from the information processing device, and the printing device is used. An information processing device capable of communicating with a printing device that transmits the second identification information based on a transmission request for the second identification information received from.
The first identification information transmission request is transmitted to the printing device based on the fact that the printing device to which the information processing device can transmit a print job participates in the network to which the information processing device is connected. 1 transmission means and
A first receiving means for receiving the first identification information transmitted by the printing apparatus based on a transmission request for the first identification information transmitted by the first transmitting means.
A first installation means for installing a first printer driver specified based on the first identification information received by the first receiving means, and
Based on the fact that a predetermined object is selected by the user on the print setting screen for causing the user to perform the print setting included in the print job transmitted to the printing device by the first printer driver, the printing device causes the printing device to perform the first printing setting. A second transmission means for transmitting a transmission request for the identification information of 2 and
A second receiving means for receiving the second identification information transmitted by the printing apparatus based on a transmission request for the second identification information transmitted by the second transmitting means.
An information processing device comprising a second installation means for installing a second printer driver specified based on the second identification information received by the second receiving means. When the second printer driver is not stored in the information processing apparatus, the second installation means downloads the second printer driver from a server that distributes the second printer driver, and downloads the second printer driver. The information processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a second printer driver is installed in the information processing apparatus. The second installation means according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the second installation means deletes the printer queue corresponding to the first printer driver and generates a printer queue corresponding to the second printer driver. Information processing device. Any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the print setting screen provided by the second printer driver can set setting items not displayed on the print setting screen provided by the first printer driver. The information processing device according to item 1. A display process that displays a print setting screen for the user to make print settings to be included in the print job generated by the first printer driver.
Information characterized by having an installation step of installing a second printer driver different from the first printer driver based on a user's operation on an object on the print setting screen displayed in the display step. How to control the processing device.

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