JP3494277B2 - Device control apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for controlling computer peripherals.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a general computer system in which a peripheral device such as a printer or a scanner is connected to a host computer, a program called device driver or device monitor peculiar to each peripheral device is installed in the host computer, and these programs are installed. By executing the above, the host computer can control each peripheral device and monitor its state (hereinafter, this type of program is generically referred to as “device driver” and executed). A computer or hardware that exhibits equivalent functions is called a "device control device").

By the way, with the recent development of communication networks, revision of software operating on a host computer has become very easy by file transfer via a communication line. Device drivers are no exception, so late-stage device drivers that improve the initial version of the device driver or fix bugs are distributed to users from the server of the peripheral device manufacturer, for example, via the Internet. .

[0004]

On the other hand, even with the same software, the firmware in the ROM mounted on the peripheral device cannot be rewritten by the simple method as described above. Therefore, even if the improved firmware is developed, it cannot be easily provided to the user. In particular, if there is a bug in the firmware, most of those bugs are not essential to the function of the printer (for example, a minor bug in a special mode), but it is necessary to fix it in order to fix it.
The user must be forced to take the trouble of OM exchange.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to allow peripheral firmware to be substantially improved or modified in a suboptimal manner which is simpler than ROM replacement.

[0006]

The device control apparatus of the present invention monitors the occurrence of an error in a device, and when the number of occurrences or the frequency of the error exceeds a predetermined threshold value, subsequently creates a control command for the same device. When you do
It has a function of changing the content of a predetermined control command related to the error. For example, if there is a bug in a certain firmware written in the ROM of a device, and if an error occurs due to the bug, after the time when the number of errors or the frequency becomes equal to or greater than the threshold, the same device for the same device will be affected. The command content that uses the firmware is changed to content that avoids the error (for example, another command that uses another firmware that is alternative to the firmware). Or, for example, if a specific error occurs frequently after replacing the replacement part of the device with a new version, after the time when the error frequency or frequency reaches a threshold value, the command content related to the error is The contents are changed so as to avoid the error (for example, the command parameters and data are corrected). In this way, the present invention can substantially eliminate firmware bugs and problems by changing the command on the device control device side without changing the ROM of the device.

Preferably, the device control apparatus further has a function of inquiring the device about the version of the part of the device, and the version information of the device to be controlled has the error frequency or frequency of the device reaching a threshold value. It can be configured to make a command change only when it is the same. As a result, for example, the command is changed for a device having a buggy old version of ROM, and the command is not changed for a device having a new version of ROM whose bug is resolved. It can be done automatically.

The device driver for operating the computer as the device control apparatus of the present invention can be installed in the computer through various media such as a disk type storage and a semiconductor memory. The most effective method is through a communication network. It is a method of loading on a computer.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows the basic structure of an embodiment of the present invention.

A printer 3 is connected to the host computer 1. The host computer 1 has a printer driver 5, and this printer driver 5 can perform bidirectional communication with the printer 3. The printer 3 interprets the print command sent from the print engine 9 for actually printing the image on the paper, the paper feed mechanism 11 for sending the paper to the print engine 9, and the print driver 9 and the print image. And a controller 7 that drives the print engine 9 and the paper feed mechanism 11. The controller 9 is a microcomputer, and an RO in which firmware for operating the microcomputer is written.
It has M13. The firmware in the ROM 13 includes many programs for various processes performed by the controller 7, for example, command interpretation, image rendering, halftoning, paper feed control, error handling, status management, etc. , Three types of programs for paper feed control, that is, normal paper feed program 1
Only 5A, envelope feeding program 15B and postcard feeding program 15C are shown by way of example.

The printer driver 5 has a GUI section 21 and a command generation section 23. The GUI unit 21 provides a GUI to the user and determines printing conditions such as color / monochrome, paper size, paper type, resolution, and print page according to the user's setting on the GUI. The command generator 23
A print command for causing the printer 3 to print the document data to be printed passed from the application through the OS under the printing condition determined by the GUI unit 21 is passed to the OS so that the print command is sent to the printer 3. .

When the print command is generated, the command generation unit 23 inquires of the printer 3 about the version (firmware version) of the ROM 13 and the version of various parts. If the version is a predetermined one, a specific command is issued. It has a function of changing the content of the print command to another content. This command changing function can be used for the purpose of substantially improving the firmware in the printer ROM 13 or correcting a bug. For example, assume that a bug is found in the postcard feeding program 15C in the ROM 13 of the specific version "01.00", but it is found that the postcard feeding can be performed without problems by using the envelope feeding program 15B instead. In this case, the ROM1 of the version "01.00" is added to the new printer driver 5 thereafter.
Even if the paper type of the printing condition is a postcard, the printer 3 having 3 has a command changing function that creates a command requesting envelope feeding instead of postcard feeding. Can fix bugs. Alternatively, when a new special printing paper released after a certain period is used, it is understood that the image quality is improved by slightly changing the ink dot gain according to the program in the ROM 13 of the existing version. In that case, the new printer driver 5 allows the GUI unit 21 to set the new printing paper, and when the paper type of the printing condition is the new paper, the new printing paper is added to the existing version of the printer 3. It is possible to provide a function of changing the parameters of the print command or the image data so as to change the dot gain to one suitable for the paper.
Or, if a new version of ink released after a certain period is used, the existing version of ROM 13
Suppose that it is found that the image quality is improved by slightly changing the color conversion table. In that case, with the new printer driver 5, for the existing version of the printer 3 equipped with the new version of the ink cartridge,
A function for changing the parameters of the print command or the image data can be provided so that the same result as when the color conversion table is changed to one suitable for the paper is obtained.

FIG. 2 shows a processing flow of the printer driver 5 and the printer 3 (controller 7) when printing is performed.

The printer driver 5 first inquires of the printer 3 about the versions of the ROM 13 and other parts (for example, the ink cartridge described above) (step S1). When a version response is received from the printer 3 (S8), the printer driver 5 stores the version information (S2). Next, the printer driver 5
The printing condition is determined according to the setting on the GUI of the user (default setting if there is no particular setting) (s3). After that, when a print execution command is input from the user, the printer driver 5 starts command generation processing. First, it is checked whether or not a predetermined caution version is included in the version information acquired from the printer 3. For example, in the example of the postcard feeding bug described above, the version “01.00” of the ROM 13 is the caution version. Further, in the above-mentioned example of the new printing paper, all the existing ROM versions at the time of release of the printing paper are caution versions. Further, in the example of the new ink cartridge described above, the combination of each of all the existing ROM versions at the time of the release of the new cartridge and the version of the new cartridge is the caution version.

If such a caution version is not included in the version information, the printer driver 5 normally creates a print command according to the determined printing conditions (S5) and sends it to the printer 3 (S7). . On the other hand, if the caution information is included in the version information, the command changing function corresponding to the caution version is used to change the content of the predetermined command to the predetermined alternative content (S6). For example, in the above-mentioned example, when the version of the ROM 13 is “01.00”, the postcard feeding command is changed to the envelope feeding command, or the ROM version is the existing version at the time of release of the new printing paper. If so, change the parameter of the related command or image data to change the dot gain,
Alternatively, if the ROM version is the existing version at the time of the release of the new ink cartridge and the version of the cartridge is the new version, the parameter of the related command or the image data is changed so as to substantially change the color conversion table. Or Various methods can be adopted as the method of changing the command. For example, you may create a command with a normal print command creation algorithm and then change it, or if you just need to replace the print conditions as in the case of a postcard feeding bug, replace the print conditions. Then, the normal print command creation algorithm may be executed, or another change command creation algorithm independent of the normal print command creation algorithm may be executed. In this way, after the changed print command is created, it is sent to the printer 3 (S7).

The printer 3 interprets the print command from the printer driver 5 and executes printing (S9). In the case of the changed print command, the printer 3 operates in accordance with the changed print command. Therefore, for example, even in the case of postcard printing, instead of the postcard feeding program 15C having a bug, the envelope feeding program 1
5B is used, the dot gain is slightly changed for a new paper, and the printer 3 operates so that a desired print result can be obtained.

FIG. 3 shows a configuration for the printer monitor function of the printer driver 5.

With this function, when a specific error frequently occurs on the printer 3 side due to, for example, a bug in the firmware, the printer driver 5 learns the fact and automatically changes the print command in the direction of eliminating the error. It is for. That is, the printer driver 5 has a printer monitor unit 27 and a command change table 25 in addition to the functions shown in FIG. In the command change table 25,
As illustrated in FIG. 4, the above-mentioned caution version and the contents of change of the corresponding command are described.
By referring to this, the command generating unit 23 can exhibit the above-mentioned command changing function.
The printer monitor unit 17 is, for example, a resident program, which can monitor the status of the printer 3 at any time, and has an error monitoring function of the printer 3 as one of its functions. Then, the printer monitor unit 17 counts the number of occurrences of each error content in correspondence with the version information of the printer 3 every time an error that occurs during printing of the printer 3 is detected by the error monitoring function, and the number of occurrences ( (Or frequency of occurrence) exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the table update function adds (or rewrites) command change contents to the command change table 25 so as to change the print command in the direction of eliminating the error. have.

FIG. 5 shows the print execution of the printer monitor 27 and the printer 3 (controller 7) (step S in FIG. 2).
9 shows the processing flow related to error monitoring in 9).

The printer 3 receives an error (S1
1) The error contents are notified to the printer driver 5 (S12), and a predetermined error process (for example, printing stop) is started (S13). Upon receiving the error notification from the printer 3, the printer monitor unit 27 of the printer driver 5 presents an error message corresponding to the error content to the user (S14), and responds to the version information of the printer 3 and the error content. The counter of the number of errors is incremented by 1 (S15). After that, the printer monitor unit 27 checks whether the number of errors or the frequency is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold value (S16), and if the number of errors is more than the threshold value, the version information corresponding to the error number counter and the error are resolved. The change contents of the print command for performing the registration are registered in the command change table 25 (S1
7). For example, if the number of postcard feeding errors in the printer 3 with the ROM version “01.00” exceeds the threshold, the ROM as the caution version is displayed as shown in FIG.
The version “01.00” and the change content for changing the postcard paper feed to the envelope paper feed are registered in the change table 25. After that,
Since the envelope sheet feeding command is sent to the printer 3 of the ROM version “01.00” during postcard printing, the sheet can be fed without any problem.

The present invention can be implemented in various forms other than the above embodiment. For example, the present invention can be applied not only to printers but also to various peripheral devices such as image scanners and disk drives.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of a printer driver 5 and a printer 3 (controller 7) when performing printing.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration for a printer monitor function of a printer driver 5.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a command change table.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing flow relating to error monitoring when printing is executed by the printer monitor unit 27 and the printer 3 (controller 7) (step S9 in FIG. 2).

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Host computer 3 printers 5 Printer driver 7 controller 13 ROM 15 Firmware 21 Command generator 23 GIU Department 25 Command change table 27 Printer monitor

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Claims (10)

(57) [Claims] 1. Monitoring the occurrence of an error in a device
The device monitor means and the number or frequency of the errors
When the threshold value is exceeded, the control command for the same device will be used.
Predetermined control related to the above error when creating a command
A device that has a command changing unit that changes the content of the command and a version inquiry unit that inquires the device about the version of the component of the device, and the number of times or frequency of the error is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value. version information responded stored as noted version, the command change means function to Lud vice control device when the version information is responded from the device to be controlled contains the care version. Wherein said component is the device control device according to claim 1, further comprising a firmware is written ROM. 3. The predetermined control command is a command for requesting execution of a first firmware of a plurality of firmwares installed in the device, and the command changing unit changes the predetermined control command. 2. The device control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the command is changed to a command requesting execution of second firmware that is alternative to the first firmware of the plurality of firmware. 4. The command changing means changes parameters or data of the predetermined control command.
Device control means described. 5. The predetermined control command is a command requesting the device to operate under a predetermined first condition, and the command changing unit changes the predetermined control command to the first condition. 2. The device control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the device control apparatus changes to a command that requests the device to operate under a second condition that is substitutable. 6. The device is a printer, and the device is a printer.
The constant control command is a print command.
Command changing means changes the printing conditions of the print command.
The device control means according to claim 1, further comprising: 7. A device and a device control for controlling this device.
And a control device, the device control apparatus, device monitoring means for monitoring occurrence of an error in the equipment
And the number of occurrences or the frequency of the error becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value.
And then create a control command for the same device.
At this time, the content of the predetermined control command related to the error is
It has command changing means for changing and version inquiring means for inquiring the device about the versions of the parts of the device, and the number of times or frequency of occurrence of the error is returned from the device which is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold value. version information is stored as noted version, the command change means Resid stem to function if the version information answered from the equipment to be controlled contains the care version. Wherein said device is a printer, comprising a connected host computer to the printer system of claim 7, wherein the host computer functions as the device controller. 9. Monitoring occurrence of an error in a device
The device monitor means and the number or frequency of the errors
When the threshold value is exceeded, the control command for the same device will be used.
Predetermined control related to the above error when creating a command
A device that has a command changing unit that changes the content of the command and a version inquiry unit that inquires the device about the version of the component of the device, and the number or frequency of occurrence of the error is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value. The version information replied from is stored as a caution version, and the command changing unit is a device controller that functions when the version information replied from the device to be controlled includes the caution version.
Device driver program for operating the
A computer-readable recording medium carried . 10. A device monitoring process for monitoring the occurrence of an error in a device, a process for creating a control command for the device, and a version of a part of the device for the device.
A process of inquiring and a command changing process of changing the content of a predetermined control command related to the error when creating a control command for the same device when the number or frequency of occurrence of the error exceeds a predetermined threshold value. possess a step of sending the command to the device, the number of occurrences or frequency of the errors becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value
The version information returned from the device
The command change process is saved from the device to be controlled.
The version information returned includes the caution version
Device control method that is performed when there is .