JP3323679B2 - Print control device and print control method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention is, through the network
Execute print data generation processing to be printed by the printing device
And a print control method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a computer system, an interface between an operating system and an application is defined in order to provide a device independent environment for the application, and the interface between the operating system and the application is defined by the interface. I do. Also, an interface is defined between the operating system and a device driver that controls peripheral devices such as a printer, and the interface is configured to absorb differences in control due to the characteristics of each peripheral device in the device driver. .

By defining an interface in this way, a system having a device independent environment can be constructed, and the system having the device independent environment is connected via a network. There is a printing system that independently drives a plurality of printing devices that print print data from a plurality of computers. In this printing system, a printing device that outputs print data from a computer is selected, a printer driver corresponding to the selected printing device is selected, the selected printer driver is started using an application, and the selected printer driver is started. A method of performing drive control on a printing apparatus is used, and the selection of the printing apparatus and the selection of a printer driver corresponding to the selected printing apparatus are performed by independent user operations.

[0004]

However, in the method described above, the selection of the printing device and the selection of the printer driver corresponding to the selected printing device are performed by independent user operations. The user may mistakenly select another printer driver that is different from the printer driver corresponding to the selected printing device due to an erroneous operation of the user.
An incorrect control command is transferred to the selected printing device, and the selected printing device cannot be driven normally. Therefore, it is necessary for the user to perform the selection operation again carefully so that the user does not select another printer driver by mistake, which is inconvenient and reduces the execution efficiency of the printing process.

For example, when a printing device directly connected to a computer is selected as a destination of print data from the computer, the computer and the printing device are located close to each other. It is possible to quickly know the abnormal drive of the printing device due to the above, and it is possible to quickly take measures such as interruption processing, but after the interruption processing, it is necessary to select a printer driver again, which is not convenient and The execution efficiency of the printing process decreases.

On the other hand, when a printing apparatus connected to another computer on the network is selected, the distance between the printing apparatus and the computer that supplies the printing data to the printing apparatus is often long, so that the printer driver It is difficult to quickly know abnormal driving of the printing apparatus due to erroneous selection. Therefore, if a printer driver for a printing device that is far from the computer that supplies the print data is erroneously selected, countermeasures such as interruption processing cannot be performed promptly, and the number of wastefully output sheets increases. The execution efficiency of the printing process is further reduced, such as an increase in the occupation time of the apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a print control apparatus and a print control method capable of improving usability and preventing a decrease in execution efficiency of print processing due to erroneous selection of a printer driver. Is to do.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A print control device serving as a client computer for executing a process of generating print data to be printed by a printing device via a network, comprising: a receiving unit that receives a selection of a printing device to be printed by a user; flops required to obtain a printer driver device
And load information acquisition unit that acquires load information including the printer driver names and storage paths from an external device, the load information
According to the load information obtained by the obtaining means,
To determine the storage location of the printer driver for the selected printing device
Setting means, and a storage destination determined by the determining means ,
A printer driver acquiring unit for acquiring the printer driver via the network.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the print control apparatus according to the first aspect, the load information acquisition unit includes a plurality of load information acquisition units.
To collectively manage load information corresponding to different printing devices.
From the storage device on the network, the selected printing device
And acquiring load information corresponding to .

[0010] The third aspect of the present invention is the first or second aspect.
In the print control device described above, the printer driver acquisition unit acquires, via a network, a printer driver stored in the selected printing device, which is a storage destination determined by the determination unit. It is characterized by.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the printing control apparatus according to the first aspect, the case is determined by the determining means.
A destination, and the load information acquisition unit acquires the load information from a server computer that manages the selected printing device.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the printing control apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the information is acquired by the driver acquiring means.
Print data generated by a printer driver
Output means for performing the load,
Said server being a printer port determined by information
The print data is output to the print queue in the computer.
It is characterized by force .

The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claims 1 to 5
The print control apparatus according to any one of the indicia
The printing apparatus is directly connected to the network .

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control method for executing a process of generating print data to be printed by a printing apparatus via a network, the receiving step of receiving a selection of a printing apparatus to be printed by a user. If necessary to obtain a printer driver of the selected printing device
And load information acquisition step of acquiring load information including the printer driver names and storage paths from an external device, the load information
The selection is made based on the load information acquired in the information acquisition step.
The storage location of the printer driver for the selected printing device
And a printer driver obtaining step of obtaining the printer driver from the storage location determined by the determining step via the network.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control device as a client computer for executing a process of generating print data to be printed by a printing device via a network, and for printing a document on the printing device. When executing the process, a process required to acquire a printer driver for generating print data printable by the printing device is performed.
Load information including the printer driver name and storage path
Load information acquisition means for acquiring from the device, the load information
The printing device according to the load information acquired by the acquiring unit.
Determining means for determining the storage location of the printer driver of
External device that is the storage destination determined by the determination means
Et activates a printer driver acquisition unit that <br/> acquiring the printer driver through the network, after the acquisition of the printer driver according to the printer driver acquisition means, the obtained printer driver, printing by the printing device And a start-up execution unit that executes a process of generating print data that can be performed.

[0016]

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the print control device of the eighth aspect , the load information is obtained from the external device via the network.

The invention according to claim 10 is the invention according to claim 8 or
10. The print control device according to claim 9 , wherein the printer driver acquisition unit is a storage destination determined by the determination unit.
Acquiring a printer driver stored in the selected printing device via a network.

The invention according to claim 11 is the invention according to claim 8 or
9. The print controller according to claim 9 , wherein the printer driver
The obtaining means is a storage destination determined by the determining means.
And acquiring a printer driver stored in a server computer that manages the selected printing device via a network.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control method for executing a process of generating print data to be printed by a printing device via a network, wherein the printing control method executes a process for printing a document by the printing device. when, including the printer driver names and storage paths required to <br/> acquires printer driver for generating print data printable by the printing device
And load information acquisition step of acquiring a non-load information from the external device, loaded acquired by the load information acquisition step
The storage destination of the printer driver of the printing device
A determining step of determining, and a case determined by the determining step.
From an external device which is paid destination, via the network the flop
A printer driver obtaining step of obtaining a linter driver, and, after obtaining the printer driver in the printer driver obtaining step, starting up the obtained printer driver and executing a start-up process of generating print data printable by the printing apparatus. And a step.

[0021]

According to the printing control apparatus of the first aspect, load information including a printer driver name and a storage path necessary for obtaining a printer driver of a printing apparatus selected by a user is obtained from an external apparatus. , Depending on the obtained load information
Determine the storage location of the printer driver for the selected printing device
Then, the printer driver is acquired from the determined storage destination via the network.

According to the printing control method of the present invention, the printer driver of the printing apparatus selected by the user is acquired .
The load information including the printer driver name and the storage path necessary for the printing is obtained from the external device, and the storage destination of the printer driver of the printing device selected by the obtained load information is obtained.
The printer driver is obtained from the determined storage destination via the network.

In the print control apparatus according to the present invention, when executing processing for printing a document on a printing apparatus, it is necessary to obtain a printer driver for generating print data printable by the printing apparatus. Printer driver name and storage
The load information including the path is acquired from the external device.
Of the printer driver of the printing device
Determine the storage destination and determine whether the external device is the storage destination
Get the printer driver over the network,
After obtaining the printer driver, the printer driver starts the obtained printer driver and executes a process of generating print data printable by the printing apparatus.

In the print control method according to the twelfth aspect, it is necessary to obtain a printer driver for generating print data printable by the printing apparatus when executing processing for printing a document on the printing apparatus. Printer driver name and case
Load information including the delivery path is acquired from the external device, and
The printer driver of the printing device according to the loaded information
Determines the storage location of the device, and determines whether the external device is the determined storage location
Get the printer driver over the network,
After the printer driver is acquired, the acquired printer driver is activated, and a process of generating print data printable by the printing apparatus is executed.

[0025]

[0026]

[0027]

[0028]

[0029]

[0030]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network system using an embodiment of the print control apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a view showing a configuration of load information used in the print control apparatus of FIG. is there.

In a network system having a device-independent environment, as shown in FIG. 1, a client computer 101, a client computer 102, a server computer 103, and a server computer 10 are connected via a network 201.
4 are connected to each other and the client computer 10
1 is logically connected to the client computer 102 and the server computer 103.

The client computer 102 has a printer 301, the server computer 103 has two printers 302 and 303, and the server computer 1
04 is connected to two printers 304 and 305, respectively.

The client computer 101 has
A print control program for executing a print control process for the selected printer is installed so that the printer selected as the output destination can process the print data, and the print control program constitutes a print control device.

The print control program includes a client
A printer driver for executing a print control process for the selected printer is automatically determined so that the printer selected from the printers 301, 302, and 303 can process the print data from the computer 101 as an output destination. A program for executing a printer driver determination process to be executed, a program for executing a printer driver acquisition process for automatically acquiring the determined printer driver, and a print control process for the selected printer by activating the acquired printer driver And a program to execute.

In the printer driver determination processing, load information fetching processing for fetching load information from load information storage means for storing load information necessary for obtaining a printer driver corresponding to each of the printers 301, 302, 303, and fetching. A printer driver corresponding to the selected printer and its storage destination are automatically determined based on the obtained load information, and a printer driver fetch destination determination process for retaining information indicating the printer driver and its storage destination is performed.

The printer driver acquisition process is performed so as to fetch a printer driver corresponding to the printer selected based on the information indicating the printer driver and the storage destination held by the printer driver fetch destination determination means from the storage destination. .

The print control program is stored in the storage means of the client computer 101. Similarly,
The client computer 102 and the server computer 103 automatically determine the printer driver corresponding to the printer selected as the output destination of the print data and the storage destination based on the load information, and determine the printer driver from the storage destination. A print control program for automatically acquiring, activating the acquired printer driver, and executing print control processing is installed.

On the other hand, the printers 301, 302, 3
Load information storage means for storing load information necessary for obtaining a printer driver corresponding to each of the printer drivers 03 is installed in the client computer 102 and the server computer 103.

This load information includes, as shown in FIG.
Printer port information indicating the port name, the name of the client computer or server computer to which the printer is connected, the printer information indicating the name of the print queue, and the name of the client computer or server computer storing the printer driver ,
A printer driver storage path name in which the printer driver is stored and printer driver information indicating the printer driver name are included. In each of the printer information and the printer load information, an area for storing a client computer name or a server computer name is secured, which is different from a client computer or a server computer to which a printer is connected. If the client computer or server computer where the printer driver is stored is the same, it indicates that there may be a different case, and in any case, no problem clearly occurs.

Next, the client computer 101
The case where the print data from the server computer 103 is printed by the printer 303 connected to the server computer 103 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 3, and 4. FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a load information acquiring process by the print control device of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a print process by the print control device of FIG. In each figure, a client computer is simply described as a client, and a server computer is simply described as a server computer.

When printing a document created by the client computer 101, first, as shown in FIG. 3, a process for selecting a printer as a print data output destination and obtaining load information is performed.

Referring to FIG. 3, first, print queue information is requested from server computer 103, and a print queue for executing print processing for printers 301, 302, and 303 is obtained (step S).
1).

Next, the acquired print queue is displayed on the screen of the client computer 101, and the user is requested to select a print queue indicating a printer to be printed (step S2).

After the request for the selection of the print queue, the user waits for the selection of the print queue (step S3).
The printer desired by the user (in this embodiment, the printer 30
When a print queue indicating 3) is selected, load information corresponding to the print queue selected by the user is transferred from the server computer 103 via the path 401 (shown in FIG. 1) and acquired (step S4). Based on the acquired load information, a printer driver corresponding to the printer 303, a storage destination thereof, and a printer port as a print data output destination are automatically determined. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the load information corresponding to the printer 303 is stored in the storage unit of the server computer 103.

Next, the acquired load information is stored in the storage means of the client computer 101 (step S5), and the process ends.

When a process for printing a document created by the client computer 101 by the printer 303 is executed, a program for executing a printer driver acquisition process included in the print control program is started as shown in FIG. The load information of the printer 303 stored in the means is read (step S11).

Next, the printer driver described in the read load information is stored in the server
It is obtained from the storage means of the computer 103 via the path 401 (step S12).

After the acquisition, the printer driver is activated and executes a print control process for the printer 303 (step S13). In this print control process, the client 1
01 is converted into print data that can be printed in the print environment of the printer 303, and the print data is
2 (shown in FIG. 1), and transfers the print data to the server computer 103 indicated by the print queue described in the load information.
3 in the printer 303 print queue.
Thus, when the printer selected by the user is a printer connected to the server computer, the port output is hooked and the print data is output to a print queue on the network 102 instead of the actual port. Is set.

The print data stored in the print queue for the printer 303 in the server computer 103 is as follows:
When the order of printing comes, the printer 303
The printer 303 prints the transferred print data.

As described above, the print data from the client computer 101 is output to the printer 3
01, 302, and 303, the printer driver for executing the print control process for the printer selected so as to be able to perform the process and the storage destination thereof are automatically determined based on the load information. Since the printer driver acquisition processing for automatically acquiring the selected printer driver from its storage destination, the trouble of selecting the printer driver for the selected printer can be omitted, and the operation of selecting the printer driver due to the incorrect selection of the printer driver is performed again. No need. Therefore, usability can be improved.

In addition, due to erroneous selection of the printer driver,
It is possible to eliminate wasteful paper output, wasteful occupation time of the printing apparatus, and the like, to prevent a decrease in execution efficiency of the printing process, and to avoid wasteful waiting of another user.

In the present embodiment, the case where the print data from the client computer 101 is printed by the printer 303 connected to the server computer 103 has been described. It goes without saying that print control processing can be executed in the same manner when printing is performed by a printer connected to the computer.

In this embodiment, the load information is stored in the server computer 103. However, a storage device for collectively storing the load information corresponding to each printer is connected to the network 201, and the storage device is connected to the storage device. It can also be configured to read the corresponding load information.

Further, in this embodiment, the printer driver corresponding to the selected printer is stored in the computer to which the printer is connected, but it is also possible to store the printer driver in the selected printer. .

Further, in the present embodiment, an example has been described in which print data from a client computer is printed by a printer connected to a server computer. Similarly, it goes without saying that a printer driver corresponding to the printer can be automatically obtained.

[0057]

As described above, according to the printing control apparatus of the first aspect, the receiving means for receiving the selection of the printing apparatus to be printed by the user and the printer driver of the selected printing apparatus are obtained. Printer driver required for
Load information acquisition means for acquiring load information including an error name and a storage path from an external device; and a pre- setting device of the printing apparatus selected by the load information acquired by the load information acquisition means.
Deciding means for deciding the storage destination of the driver, and deciding means
From a storage location, which is determined by since and a printer driver acquisition means for acquiring the printer driver through the network, it is possible to improve usability, reduction in efficiency of executing print processing due to the erroneous selection of the printer driver Can be prevented beforehand.

According to the printing control method of the seventh aspect, a receiving step of receiving a selection of a printing apparatus to be printed by a user, and storing a printer driver name necessary for acquiring a printer driver of the selected printing apparatus. A load information obtaining step of obtaining load information including a path from an external device; and a storage destination of a printer driver of the printing apparatus selected by the load information obtained in the load information obtaining step.
A determination step of determining, from the storage destination determined by the determining step, from and a printer driver acquisition step of acquiring the printer driver through the network, it is possible to improve usability, due to the erroneous selection of the printer driver It is possible to prevent a decrease in the execution efficiency of the printing process.

According to the printing control apparatus of the present invention, when executing processing for printing a document on a printing apparatus, a printer driver for generating print data printable by the printing apparatus is obtained. Printer driver name required for
Row for acquiring load information including the storage path from an external device
Data information acquisition means and load information acquisition means.
Of the printer driver of the printing device
Deciding means for deciding a storage destination;
From the external device is that storage location, up through the network
Printer driver obtaining means for obtaining a printer driver; and starting executing means for starting the obtained printer driver after obtaining the printer driver by the printer driver obtaining means and executing processing for generating print data printable by the printing apparatus. Therefore, it is possible to improve usability and to prevent a decrease in execution efficiency of the printing process due to erroneous selection of the printer driver.

According to the printing control method of the twelfth aspect ,
When performing a process for printing a document on a printing device,
Printer driver name required to obtain a printer driver for generating print data that can be printed by the printing device
Of acquisition and the load information acquisition step of acquiring load information from the external device including a storage path, the load information acquisition step
The printer driver of the printing device according to the loaded information
And the decision process to determine the storage location of the
From an external device that is the storage destination
A printer driver obtaining step of obtaining a printer driver, a boot execution step of starting up the obtained printer driver after obtaining the printer driver in the printer driver obtaining step, and executing a process of generating print data printable by the printing apparatus. Therefore, it is possible to improve the usability and to prevent a decrease in the execution efficiency of the printing process due to the erroneous selection of the printer driver.

[0061]

[0062]

[0063]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a network system in which an embodiment of a print control apparatus according to the present invention is used.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of load information used in the print control device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a load information acquiring process performed by the print control apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process performed by the printing control device of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 101, 102 Client computer 103, 104 Server computer 201 Network 301, 302, 303, 304, 305 Printer

Claims (12)

(57) [Claims] 1. A print control device as a client computer for executing a process of generating print data to be printed by a printing device via a network, comprising: a receiving unit that receives a selection of a printing device to be printed by a user; Obtain a printer driver for the selected printing device
And load information acquisition means for acquiring from the external device load information including the printer driver names and storage paths required, the obtained loaded information by the load information acquisition unit
Storing the printer driver of the selected printing device
Determining means for determining previously a from the storage location determined by said determining means, the print control apparatus, characterized in that it comprises a printer driver acquisition means for acquiring the printer driver through the network. 2. The load information acquiring unit acquires load information corresponding to the selected printing device from a storage device on a network that collectively manages load information corresponding to a plurality of printing devices. The print control device according to claim 1, wherein: Wherein the printer driver acquisition unit, the
3. The print control device according to claim 1, wherein a printer driver stored in the selected printing device, which is a storage destination determined by the determination unit, is acquired via the network. 4. The load information acquisition means according to claim 1, wherein
2. The print control device according to claim 1, wherein the load information is acquired from a server computer that is a storage destination determined by a stage and manages the selected printing device. 5. The server computer further comprising an output unit for outputting print data generated by a printer driver acquired by the driver acquisition unit, wherein the output unit is a printer port determined by the load information. 5. The print control device according to claim 4, wherein the print data is output to a print queue in the printer. 6. The printing control device according to claim 1, wherein the printing device is directly connected to the network. 7. A print control method for executing a process of generating print data to be printed by a printing device via a network, comprising: a receiving step of receiving a selection of a printing device to be printed by a user; acquires printer driver of the printing device
A load information acquisition step of acquiring load information including a printer driver name and a storage path required for the external device from the external device, and the load information acquired by the load information acquisition step.
Storing the printer driver of the selected printing device
A print control method , comprising: a determining step of determining a destination ; and a printer driver obtaining step of obtaining the printer driver from the storage destination determined by the determining step via the network. 8. A print control device serving as a client computer for executing a process of generating print data to be printed by a printing device via a network, wherein the printing control device performs processing for printing a document on the printing device. ,
A printer driver required to acquire a printer driver for generating print data printable by the printing device.
The load information including the server name and storage path from the external device.
Load information acquiring means, and the load information acquired by the load information acquiring means.
Determine the storage location of the printer driver of the printing device.
Determining means and an external device which is a storage destination determined by the determining means.
Et activates a printer driver acquisition unit that <br/> acquiring the printer driver through the network, after the acquisition of the printer driver according to the printer driver acquisition means, the obtained printer driver, printing by the printing device A print execution device that executes a process of generating print data that can be used. 9. The load information is transmitted via a network.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the information is obtained from an external device.
Print control device. 10. The printer driver acquiring means according to claim 1 ,
The storage destination determined by the determination means
Printer driver stored in the printer
9. Acquired via a work.
Is the print control apparatus according to 9. 11. The printer driver acquiring means according to claim 1 ,
The storage destination determined by the
Stored on the server computer that manages the selected printing device
Download the installed printer driver via a network.
10. The printing system according to claim 8, wherein the printing system is obtained.
Control device. 12. A printing apparatus for printing via a network.
A print control method for executing a process of generating print data to be processed
A law, when executing the processing for printing a document in a printing device,
Generating print data printable by the printing apparatus.
The printer driver required to obtain the printer driver
The load information including the server name and storage path from the external device.
Load information obtaining step, and the load information obtained in the load information obtaining step.
Determine the storage location of the printer driver of the printing device.
The external device that is the storage destination determined by the determining step
Obtain the printer driver via the network
A printer driver acquisition step of the printer driver by the printer driver acquisition process
After acquiring the printer driver, start the acquired printer driver and
Executes print data generation processing that can be performed by the printing device.
A print execution method comprising:
Law.