JP3332517B2 - PRINTING APPARATUS, PRINT CONTROL METHOD, AND INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus suitable for a system in which an information processing apparatus has a printing control program (printing drive), a printing control method thereof, and an information processing apparatus and method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 1 shows a connection form between a conventional information processing apparatus and a printing apparatus. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes an information processing device, and reference numeral 20 denotes a printing device, both of which are connected by a signal line 30. Reference numeral 11 denotes software called DTP on the information processing apparatus, which generates characters, graphics, and images to be output to the printing apparatus 20. Reference numeral 12 denotes a print control program (also referred to as a driver), which converts characters, graphics, and images created by the DTP software 11 into a format that can be interpreted by the printing apparatus in order to output it to the printing apparatus. In the conventional connection configuration between the information processing and the printing apparatus, as shown in FIG.
P software creates and edits characters, figures, images, and the like, and selects a print control program as printing device control means corresponding to the printing device using DTP software or other software on the information processing device.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, when the command for causing the printing apparatus to perform printing differs depending on the model of the printing apparatus, the user must always select an appropriate printing apparatus control program. . For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when printing can be performed on a plurality of printing apparatuses, the first printing control program is used when the first printing apparatus 1 is used, and the second printing control program is used when the second printing apparatus is used. The control program must be explicitly selected by the user of the information processing device. In addition, since the command format supported by the printing device is different, the user needs to know the corresponding printing device control means for all the connected printing devices because the user using the information processing device occurs. I do.

In order to solve this problem, a method has been proposed in which a printing device and a printing device control program corresponding to the printing device are put together in a database and placed in an information processing device, and the printing control program is selected by referring to the database at the time of printing. However, in this case, a new problem arises that the database must be rebuilt whenever the configuration of the connected printing apparatus changes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and recognizes even if there are a plurality of printing apparatuses which are to output information from an information processing apparatus, selects a suitable printing control program, and performs printing smoothly. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus capable of performing printing, a printing control method thereof, and an information processing apparatus and method.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is connected to a plurality of printing apparatuses, and the plurality of printing apparatuses store print-related information related to printing. An information processing apparatus that controls the plurality of printing apparatuses by using a plurality of printing control programs; a storage unit that stores a plurality of printing control programs; and a storage unit that stores the plurality of printing control programs before executing the printing processing. Requesting means for requesting the print-related information; and the print-related information including model information indicating a model of the print apparatus and setting information indicating a setting state of the print apparatus in response to the request. A determination unit configured to determine a printing device suitable for printing information to be printed based on the printing-related information obtained by transmitting the response, and a printing device determined by the determination unit. A print control program that is characterized in that comprises a selection means for selecting from among a plurality of print control program stored in the storage means.

[0007]

[0010] According to a second aspect of the present invention, the determination unit determines a printing device suitable for printing by sequentially determining whether or not the printing device is appropriate using the printing-related information transmitted as a response from the plurality of printing devices. It is characterized by. The invention of claim 3 is
The plurality of printing devices and the information processing device are connected via a communication network. The invention according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of printing apparatuses are connected to each other, the plurality of printing apparatuses have printing-related information related to printing, and the plurality of printing apparatuses are controlled by a plurality of types of print control programs. A storage unit for storing a plurality of types of print control programs, and a print control program corresponding to a printing device to be printed before execution of the printing process, the plurality of print control programs stored in the storage unit. Selecting means for selecting from among programs, and searching for a print control program corresponding to the printing apparatus in an external information processing apparatus when a printing control program corresponding to the printing apparatus to be printed is not stored in the storage means. Search request means for transmitting a request; and a corresponding print control program from an external information processing apparatus in response to the search request transmitted by the search request means. And characterized in that it comprises a and downloading means for downloading free. The invention according to claim 5, further comprising a message display unit for displaying a message indicating that there is no suitable print control program when receiving information from the external information processing apparatus that the corresponding print control program is not present. It is characterized by having.
The invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that the plurality of printing devices, the external information processing device, and the information processing device are connected via a communication network. According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, a plurality of printing apparatuses and an information processing apparatus are connected, the plurality of printing apparatuses have print-related information related to printing, and the information processing apparatus stores the plurality of printing apparatuses. In an information processing method controlled by a plurality of types of print control programs, a plurality of types of print control programs are stored in a storage unit in advance, and the print-related information is requested from the plurality of printing apparatuses before executing print processing. And, in response to the request, the printing related information including the model information indicating the model of the printing apparatus and the setting information indicating the setting state of the printing apparatus is transmitted from the printing apparatus as a response, and is acquired by the response transmission. Determining a printing device suitable for printing the information to be printed based on the printing-related information to be printed, and a mark corresponding to the printing device determined by the determining step. A control program, characterized in that comprising a selection step of selecting from among a plurality of print control program stored in the storage means. The invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that, in the determining step, a printing apparatus suitable for printing is determined by sequentially performing a propriety determination using print-related information transmitted as a response from the plurality of printing apparatuses. I do. The invention of claim 9 is characterized in that the plurality of printing devices and the information processing device are connected via a communication network. According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of printing devices and an information processing device are connected, the plurality of printing devices have print-related information related to printing, and the information processing device In an information processing method controlled by a plurality of types of print control programs, a plurality of types of print control programs are stored in a storage unit in advance, and a print control program corresponding to a printing apparatus to be printed is executed before executing print processing. A selecting step of selecting from a plurality of print control programs stored in the storage means, and an external information processing when a print control program corresponding to the printing apparatus to be printed is not stored in the storage means. A search requesting step of transmitting a search request for a print control program corresponding to the printing apparatus to the apparatus, and a search request transmitted by the search requesting step. Depending on, characterized in that comprises a downloading step of downloading the corresponding print control program from the external information processing apparatus. The invention according to claim 11, further comprising a message display step of displaying a message indicating that there is no suitable print control program when receiving information from the external information processing apparatus that the corresponding print control program is not provided. It is characterized by having.
The invention of claim 12 is characterized in that the plurality of printing devices, the external information processing device, and the information processing device are connected via a communication network.

[0009]

According to the first to twelfth aspects of the present invention, a printing apparatus suitable for printing and a corresponding print control program can be automatically selected without a user's selection based on printing-related information sent from the printing apparatus.

Further, according to the invention of claim 3, it is possible to automatically select a print control means suitable for the information to be printed without a user's selection.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

The present invention may be applied to a system constituted by a plurality of devices or may be applied to an apparatus constituted by a single device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

<Explanation of First Embodiment> FIG. 3 shows a basic configuration of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention. The information processing device may be a Japanese word processor, a personal computer, a workstation, or a computer system.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 41 denotes a CPU, that is, a central processing unit, which controls the entire apparatus and performs arithmetic processing. Reference numeral 42 denotes a ROM, that is, a read-only memory, which stores a system startup program, character pattern data, character code information, and the like. Reference numeral 43 denotes a RAM, that is, a random access memory, which is used as a data storage area with no usage restriction. The RAM 43 is an area where programs and data are loaded and executed for each of various processes.

Reference numeral 44 denotes a KBC, that is, a keyboard control unit, which receives input data from the keyboard 45, and
To 41. 46 is a CRTC, that is, a display control unit. Reference numeral 47 denotes a CRT, that is, a display device, which receives data from a CRT controller (CRTC) 46 and displays the data. Reference numeral 49 denotes an external storage device such as an FD, ie, a floppy disk device, or an HD, ie, a hard disk device, which stores and stores programs and data, and refers to the data or loads it into the RAM 43 as needed at the time of execution.

Reference numeral 48 denotes a DKC, that is, a disk control unit, which controls data transmission and the like. When the basic system (program) is being executed by the CPU 41, the CPU 41
Issues a required processing request, a system or a program indicating the processing request is loaded from the HD 49 onto the RAM 43 and activated by the CPU 41. The activated system or program causes the CPU 41 to store the data and information stored on the HD 49 as needed into the RAM 4.
Load on 3. 50 is a PRTC, that is, a printing device controller, and 51 is a printer device. Reference numeral 52 denotes a system bus, which should serve as a data path between the above-described components.

In FIG. 1, the function of the printing apparatus controller 50 is realized by the CPU 41 executing the printing control program. However, since a dedicated digital processor can be used, a unique circuit expression is performed. .

FIG. 4 shows a printing apparatus (apparatus) according to the present invention.
51 shows a basic configuration. 60 is a controller 70
FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of a host device that sends print data and the like. A controller 70 performs necessary data processing on print data from the host device 60 and outputs the data to a print function 80. A print mechanism 80 prints and outputs the print data from the controller 70 in a specified format and resolution. 100
Denotes a central processing unit (CPU), and the host device 60
Analyze the contents of the data received from.

In the controller 70, 71 receives data or the like from the host device 60,
An input / output unit 72 for sending data to the host device 60; an interpretation storage unit 72 for analyzing the data from the host device 60 input at the input unit 71 by the CPU 100 to separate control commands from print data; 73 a page for storing print data It is a buffer. Reference numeral 74 denotes a pattern information storage unit in which a print pattern (character pattern or the like) corresponding to the print data is stored. It is a deployment control unit. Reference numeral 76 denotes a frame memory, and 77 denotes an output control unit that outputs print pattern data from the page buffer 73 or image data of the page buffer to the print function 80. The print function 80 includes a control unit 81 within the print mechanism.

FIG. 5 shows control processing steps of the information processing apparatus (host apparatus) and the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. As illustrated, the processing steps include a print request detection step S10, a print request notification step S11 in the information processing apparatus,
Printer device type / state detection step S12, printing device control means selecting step S13, printability determination step S
14, user notification step S15, print execution step S
16 and a request detecting step S20 in the printing apparatus,
It consists of a printing device type / status notification step.

Next, the operation of the embodiment constructed as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5 and the description of FIG. FIG. 6 shows a state where a plurality of information processing apparatuses are connected to one information processing apparatus. It is assumed that it is mounted on the printing device controller 50.

When the user creates a text or the like to be printed on the information processing device (host) 60 and makes a print request from the keyboard 45, this request is transmitted to the CPU 41. The CPU 41 detects the occurrence of the print request in S10 of FIG. 5, and notifies the first print device (see FIG. 6) of the print request (S10 → S11).

In the first printing apparatus 51, a print request is temporarily stored in an interpretation storage section 72 (see FIG. 4) via an input / output section 71, and when the CPU 100 detects this print request in FIG. From the input / output unit 7 based on model information indicating the model of the printing apparatus itself and information indicating the setting state of the printing apparatus.
1 to the information processing device 60 side.

Thereafter, the first printing apparatus starts printing when an actual print execution instruction is issued.

The CPU 41 in the information processing device 60 sets the current information based on the information received from the first printing device 51.
It is determined whether the first printing device is suitable for the text or image to be printed. For this reason, as an example, a model name of a printing apparatus for a color image is set when a color image is handled, and a model name of a printing apparatus for a binary image is set when a monochrome image is handled. A suitable model is detected by determining whether or not they match.

When the CPU 41 determines that the first printing device matches the information to be printed, the CPU 41 determines whether the first printing device matches the information to be printed.
A printing device control program corresponding to the printing device is selected (S13), and whether the printing of the printing device is currently possible is determined, for example, that printing is in progress and today's information cannot be printed, and printing is executed as before. (S14 → S16). If the selected printing device cannot print, the fact is displayed on the CRT 47 to notify the user (S14 → S15).

The above example is an example in which the first printing device is suitable for information to be printed. However, if it is determined that the first printing device is not suitable, the CPU 41 sends a request to the second printing device. Send a print request and perform the same process as above,
The determination of the suitability of the printing device is performed.

As described above, the CPU 41 automatically selects a printing device suitable for print information from printing devices that have responded, so that the user does not need to instruct selection of a print control program.

<Second Embodiment> The first embodiment is an example in which a plurality of printing apparatuses are connected to one information processing apparatus (host apparatus). Resources for information processing devices and printing devices
An example in which a plurality of devices are connected to a network will be described.

FIG. 7 shows the system configuration of the second embodiment.
In FIG. 7, two information processing apparatuses 10 and two printing apparatuses 51 of different models are connected to a network 60.

The first information processing device 10 and the second information processing device 10 have communication means similar to the conventional one, for example, a communication interface and a communication program.

Note that the first and second information processing devices,
Since the main configuration of the second printing apparatus can use the one shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively, detailed description is omitted. In this example, it is possible to selectively download (transfer and mount) a program in a plurality of printing apparatus control programs from the first information processing apparatus 10 to the second information processing apparatus 10 via the network 60. It is possible.
For example, assume that the second information processing apparatus has only the third and fourth printing apparatus control programs. Second
When performing printing, the information processing apparatus 10 executes the procedure of FIG. 8 as described in the first embodiment. That is, the CPU of the second printing apparatus acquires print-related data from the third and fourth printing apparatuses (not shown) 51 via the network 60, and stores it in its own place to find a suitable printing apparatus control program. A search is made from the existing printing device control programs (S31).

If an optimum printing device control program is found, printing is executed using the printing device control program as in the first embodiment (S31 → S36).

On the other hand, if all of the printing device control programs owned by the device do not match the information to be printed, the second information processing device 10 sends the first information processing device 10 The information indicating the type and the search request for the printing apparatus control program are sent. First information processing device 10
On receiving the information, the internal CPU 41 searches the internal memory for a printing apparatus control program suitable for printing. If, for example, the first printing device control program is found as a search result, the printing device control program is downloaded to the second information processing device 10 (indicated by reference numeral A in FIG. 7).

When the second information processing apparatus 10 receives this (first) printing apparatus control program (S33 → S33).
S34), the CPU 41 advances the execution procedure to S36, and executes printing by using the received first printing apparatus control program.

On the other hand, if it is determined from the message transmitted from the first information processing apparatus 10 that the first information processing apparatus 10 could not find a suitable printing apparatus control program,
The CPU 41 displays a message on the CRT 47 that there is no printing device control program suitable for printing in the system (S34 → S35).

As described above, according to this embodiment,
Even if there are a plurality of printing apparatuses connected to the information processing apparatus, a print control program suitable for the information to be printed is automatically selected.
For this reason, the user does not need to select the print control program. In addition, since the printing device connected to the information processing device can be checked at the time of printing, for example, when the printing device is connected at the time of turning on the power and the connection of the printing device is disconnected halfway, the printing of the connection detected at the time of the initial setting is performed. There is a new effect that the device name can be corrected.

According to the first and seventh aspects of the present invention, a print control program suitable for a print target is automatically selected from the print control programs stored therein. For this reason, the user can automatically select a suitable printing device from among a plurality of printing devices respectively corresponding to the plurality of printing control programs stored in the information processing device. According to the second and eighth aspects of the present invention, it is determined whether printing apparatuses corresponding to a plurality of print control programs stored therein are appropriate or not. For this reason, it is possible to automatically select a print control program suitable for all the printing apparatuses corresponding to the plurality of print control programs stored therein without waiting for the appropriateness determination, thereby reducing the user's waiting time. Claim 3,
According to the ninth aspect, by connecting a plurality of printing apparatuses and information processing apparatuses via a communication network, the arrangement of the information processing apparatuses and the plurality of printing apparatuses is not restricted, and the printing apparatuses and the information processing apparatuses can be separated from each other. it can. Further, the present invention can be applied to an existing information processing system connected to a communication network. Claims 4 to 6, 1
According to the inventions described in 0 to 12, when the print control program corresponding to the printing apparatus to be printed is not stored in the printing apparatus, the print control program is downloaded from an external information processing apparatus. In particular, according to the fifth and eleventh aspects of the present invention, there is no print control program suitable for an external information processing apparatus, even if the print control program to be executed is not stored in the printing apparatus. In such a case, a message to that effect is displayed. For this reason, the user can recognize that the print control program cannot be automatically selected, and if necessary, determine whether to mount the print control program by another means or print on another printing apparatus. Becomes possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a conventional system configuration.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional processing procedure.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing processing contents of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Information processing apparatus 11 DTP software 12 Printing apparatus control program 20, 51 Printing apparatus 41 CPU

Claims (12)

(57) [Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus connected to a plurality of printing apparatuses, the plurality of printing apparatuses having print-related information related to printing, and controlling the plurality of printing apparatuses by a plurality of types of print control programs. A storage unit that stores a plurality of types of print control programs; a request unit that requests the plurality of printing devices for the print-related information before executing a printing process; The printing related information including the model information indicating the model of the printing apparatus and the setting information indicating the setting state of the printing apparatus is transmitted as a response, and the printing of the information to be printed is performed based on the printing related information obtained by transmitting the response. Discriminating means for discriminating a printing device suitable for the printer, and a printing control program corresponding to the printing device discriminated by the discriminating means, The information processing apparatus being characterized in that comprises a selection means for selecting from among the printing control program. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines the printing apparatus suitable for printing by sequentially determining whether the printing apparatus is appropriate using the printing-related information transmitted as a response from the plurality of printing apparatuses. Item 2. The information processing device according to item 1. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of printing apparatuses and the information processing apparatus are connected via a communication network. 4. An information processing apparatus connected to a plurality of printing apparatuses, the plurality of printing apparatuses having print-related information related to printing, and controlling the plurality of printing apparatuses by a plurality of types of print control programs. A storage unit for storing a plurality of types of print control programs; and a print control program corresponding to a printing apparatus to be printed before executing the print processing, storing the plurality of print control programs in the plurality of print control programs stored in the storage unit. Selecting means for selecting from among the above, and when a print control program corresponding to the printing apparatus to be printed is not stored in the storage means, a search request for a print control program corresponding to the printing apparatus is sent to the external information processing apparatus. Search request means to be transmitted, and in response to a search request transmitted by the search request means,
An information processing apparatus comprising: a download unit that downloads the corresponding print control program from an external information processing apparatus. 5. A message display means for displaying a message indicating that there is no suitable print control program when receiving information from the external information processing apparatus that the print control program does not have the corresponding print control program. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein: 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of printing apparatuses, the external information processing apparatus, and the information processing apparatus are connected via a communication network. 7. A plurality of printing apparatuses are connected to an information processing apparatus, wherein the plurality of printing apparatuses have printing-related information related to printing, and the information processing apparatus is configured to divide the plurality of printing apparatuses into a plurality of types. In the information processing method controlled by the print control program, wherein a plurality of types of print control programs are stored in a storage unit in advance, and requesting the plurality of printing apparatuses for the print-related information before executing a print process. In response to the request, print-related information including model information indicating a model of the printing apparatus and setting information indicating a setting state of the printing apparatus is transmitted as a response from the printing apparatus, and printing obtained by the response transmission is transmitted. A determining step of determining a printing apparatus suitable for printing the information to be printed based on the related information; and a printing corresponding to the printing apparatus determined by the determining step. An information processing method to control program, characterized in that comprising a selection step of selecting from among a plurality of print control program stored in the storage means. 8. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the determining step, the printing apparatus suitable for printing is determined by sequentially performing the appropriateness determination using the printing-related information transmitted as a response from the plurality of printing apparatuses. Item 8. The information processing method according to Item 7. 9. The information processing method according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of printing apparatuses and the information processing apparatus are connected via a communication network. 10. A plurality of printing apparatuses are connected to an information processing apparatus, wherein the plurality of printing apparatuses have print-related information related to printing, and the information processing apparatus is configured to divide the plurality of printing apparatuses into a plurality of types. In the information processing method controlled by the print control program, a plurality of types of print control programs are stored in a storage unit in advance, and a print control program corresponding to a printing apparatus to be printed is executed before executing a print process. A selection step of selecting from among a plurality of print control programs stored in a storage unit, and when a print control program corresponding to the printing device to be printed is not stored in the storage unit, the external information processing device A search request step for transmitting a search request for a print control program corresponding to the printing apparatus; and a search request transmitted by the search request step In response, the information processing method is characterized in that comprises a downloading step of downloading the corresponding print control program from the external information processing apparatus. 11. A message display step for displaying a message indicating that there is no suitable print control program when receiving information from the external information processing apparatus that the print control program does not have the corresponding print control program. The information processing method according to claim 10, wherein: 12. The information processing method according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of printing devices, the external information processing device, and the information processing device are connected via a communication network.