JP3517446B2 - Peripheral device control method setting method and peripheral device control device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a peripheral device control method setting method and a peripheral device control apparatus for setting a control system of a computer peripheral device such as an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a peripheral device control method such as a driver program for a peripheral device is such that a user newly installs a corresponding driver program when the peripheral device is changed or its configuration is changed. there were. For example, when the driver program or the like is built in the host computer, the corresponding driver program or the like is newly installed in the host computer.

[0003]

However, if the peripheral device and the host computer are, for example, one-to-one, it does not take much time, but a network environment in which a plurality of peripheral devices and a plurality of host computers constitute one system. If such a situation occurs, it is necessary to reinstall the driver programs of all host computers, which is very troublesome. Furthermore, in the above network environment, the control means on the host computer side does not always consist of a common instruction set,
Reinstalling becomes more complicated and time-consuming as the types increase. As described above, regardless of where the control means for executing the driver program is, it is difficult to change or newly install the driver program.

The present invention eliminates the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks and automatically changes or adds a peripheral device or a peripheral device configuration, and further changes or adds a peripheral device control method such as a driver program by adding a new peripheral device. (EN) Provided are a peripheral device control method setting method and a peripheral device control device which save the user's re-installation work by being settable. Further, regardless of the type of the peripheral device control means, it is possible to automatically set or change the control system of the peripheral device such as the driver program, so that the peripheral device control method setting method which saves the user the trouble of re-installation, and Provide a peripheral device control device.

[0005]

In order to solve this problem, a method of setting a driver program for a peripheral device according to the present invention is a system having a peripheral device and a computer for controlling the peripheral device. A setting method for setting a driver program to be controlled in the computer, wherein a driver program for controlling the peripheral device is stored in a storage unit on the peripheral device side, and whether or not the configuration of the peripheral device is changed is stored. recognized by the peripheral equipment, the
When the peripheral device recognizes a change in the configuration of the peripheral device, a request for a driver program from the computer
Without the peripheral device storing a driver program corresponding to the change in the configuration of the peripheral device on the side of the peripheral device.
Read from the column and read the read driver program
Transfer from the peripheral device to the computer, and the computer controls the peripheral device according to the driver program transferred from the peripheral device .

Here, when the computer has a plurality of computers which operate with different instruction sets, a plurality of driver programs composed of different instruction sets are stored in the storage means of the peripheral device side , and the peripheral device stores the plurality of driver programs. determining the type of connected computer, on the basis of the determination result, the circumferential
The peripheral device selects a driver program including an instruction set corresponding to the determined type from the storage unit on the peripheral device side and transfers the driver program from the peripheral device to the computer. Further, the peripheral device has a removable external device, and the driver program for the external device is
It is stored in the storage means of the external device. The recognition and transfer are performed when the computer accesses the peripheral device. Further, the recognition and transfer are performed in response to power-on of the peripheral device.

[0007]

[0008]

A peripheral device control device of the present invention is a peripheral device control device for controlling the peripheral device in a system having the peripheral device and a computer for controlling the peripheral device. Peripheral device side storing means for storing a driver program to control , recognizing means for recognizing whether or not the configuration of the peripheral device is changed on the peripheral device side, and the recognizing means recognizing the change of configuration of the peripheral device If you do, the driver program from the computer
A driver program corresponding to the change of the configuration of the peripheral device is installed on the peripheral device side without the request of the program.
Communication means for reading from the storage means and transmitting from the peripheral device to the computer.

Here, the storage means on the side of the peripheral device stores a plurality of driver programs composed of different instruction sets, and the peripheral device control device further comprises determination means for determining the type of the connected computer. The communication unit selects a driver program including an instruction set corresponding to the determined type from the storage unit on the peripheral device side based on the determination result and transmits the driver program from the peripheral device to the computer. To do. Further, the peripheral device has a removable external device,
The driver program for the external device is
It is stored in the storage means . Further, the recognition means has a comparison means for comparing the previous configuration of the peripheral device with the present configuration. Further, the communication unit transmits the driver program when the computer accesses the peripheral device. Also, the communication means transmits the driver program in response to power-on of the peripheral device.

A control method of a peripheral device control apparatus of the present invention is a control method of a peripheral device control apparatus for controlling the peripheral device in a system having the peripheral device and a computer for controlling the peripheral device. The peripheral device side
Storage means stores the driver program for controlling the peripheral device, in the peripheral device control device, based on a comparison of the previous configuration and the current configuration of the peripheral device, configuration of the peripheral device is changed recognizing whether or not a, the peripheral
When the peripheral device control device recognizes a change in the device configuration, the driver program from the computer is required.
Without request, the peripheral device control device may provide a driver program corresponding to a change in the configuration of the peripheral device to the peripheral device.
It is characterized in that it is read from the storage means on the side and transmitted from the peripheral device to the computer. Where the
Storing a plurality of driver programs of different instruction set in the storage unit of the peripheral device side, the circumferential
The peripheral device control device determines the type of computer connected, and based on the determination result, the peripheral device control device.
The driver program consisting of the instruction set corresponding to the determined type on the peripheral device side.
Storage device to select the computer from the peripheral device.
To send to the data. Further, the recognition and the transmission are performed when the computer accesses the peripheral device. Further, the recognition and the transmission are performed in response to the power-on of the peripheral device.

[0012]

[0013]

[0014]

[0015]

With this configuration, when the peripheral device or its configuration is changed / added , the peripheral device side changes / changes the configuration.
Recognizing the addition, and correspondingly, the driver program for controlling the peripheral device, the driver program from the computer
By automatically transferring from a peripheral device to a computer (for example, a host computer) without the requirement of (1), the user does not need to reset the driver program. Preferably, the peripheral instrumentation in correspondence with the instruction set of the detachable external device changes and computer to peripheral devices
Reconfigure the driver program in置側, or computer
It is possible to automatically transfer from a peripheral device to a computer without the request of these driver programs .

[0016]

【Example】

<Arrangement of Image Forming System According to this Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the image forming system is controlled by the driver program installed in the host computer, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a system controller for controlling the operation of the entire image forming apparatus. The operator operates the operation unit 6 while looking at the display unit 14 to control the system based on the input information. , Manage the entire system. The system controller 1 stores each program for a host that controls all the constituent elements to which the image forming apparatus can be connected, or a control program constructed corresponding to the current configuration. Reference numeral 2 denotes an image input device 8 for converting a document into image data, a document feeding device 9 for feeding a plurality of documents to the image input device 8, and an image input device 8.
The scanner controller 3 that controls the image processing unit 13 that edits the image data from the image data into the image output data has a large-capacity memory 4 and a plurality of types of recording paper cassettes. An image output controller 5 that controls the image output device 10 that outputs a visible image on a recording sheet is an external interface controller that controls data exchange with an external interface such as a LAN.

Here, a scanner unit 12 showing an image reading unit 11 and processing by an image processing unit 13;
Is also referred to as an image output unit, and 15 is also referred to as a panel unit. The image forming system is connected to a host computer on the network via the external interface controller described above. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the image forming apparatus of FIG.
The operation when this apparatus is driven as a printer will be described. Incidentally, when the image forming apparatus of FIG. 2 is used as a scanner or a copy, the description thereof will be complicated and will be omitted.

The external interface controller 5 described above receives printer output data from an external host computer via the network. The external interface controller 5 includes a printer output image generation device (not shown). When an image is generated here, the external interface controller 5 communicates with the system controller 1 and the image output controller 3 via the command bus in FIG. Transfer images using the image data bus.

The image data transferred here is transferred to the laser drive circuit 120 of FIG. At this time, the image data is converted into a laser modulation signal by the image output device 10, and the laser irradiates the photoconductor 110 in accordance with this signal. The latent image formed on the photoconductor is subjected to a normal electrophotographic process and then fed to the paper feed units 131 and 132.
It is transferred onto the output paper fed from the etc. The output sheet passes through the conveyance unit 130, the image is fixed by the fixing unit 141, and is discharged to the outside via the conveyance rollers 142, 154, and 161.

Further, some external devices can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus. In FIG. 2, a large-capacity sheet feeding device indicated by 150, a double-sided printing sheet conveying path including 156 and 158, and a collating device (sorter) indicated by 190. The large-capacity sheet feeding device 150 operates in the same manner as the sheet feeding units 131 and 132 described above. In order to feed the output paper to the double-sided printing paper conveyance path, first, after the leading edge of the paper has passed the conveyance roller 152, the output paper is fed downward by the first conveyance path switching member 162. After that, the second conveyance path switching member 157 reverses the front and back of the output paper in the reversal conveyance path, and then the member 157 again feeds the paper to the double-sided printing conveyance path.
When printing on the back side, the output paper is sent out from the double-sided printing conveyance path 156 so that the paper is conveyed from a normal paper feeding unit. Further, when the sorter 190 is used, the output sheets are sorted into the sorting bins after passing through the transport rollers 161.

<Setting of Control Method of Image Forming System of the Present Embodiment> (Comparative Example) FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a conventional procedure for driving the printer function described above from a host computer. The user on the host computer
The start of printing is instructed (300). It is judged whether the driver software of the target printer is installed in the computer (301), and if not, the user must install the target driver in the computer (302). Once the driver is installed,
Specify the print mode and send the print data to the printer. In the past, where the driver installation part in this flow depends on the user, if the model or configuration of the printer is changed, the user must re-install by himself, which is extremely It was troublesome.

(Embodiment 1) Next, the procedure in the case of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The power of the image forming apparatus is turned on (400). The image forming apparatus stores the apparatus configuration when the power was previously turned on, using a non-volatile storage unit. This is compared with the current device configuration (401). A signal for determining whether or not the detachable external device in the image forming apparatus described above is connected is input to the image forming apparatus, and the signal is used to determine the apparatus configuration. If the configuration is different from the previously stored contents, driver software having a new configuration is constructed (402). The newly configured driver software is transferred to the host computer corresponding to the network address registered in advance (403). After that, the routine shifts to a normal routine (404).

In the above flow, a part for constructing new driver software will be described in detail with reference to FIG. Here, the system controller 1 of FIG.
A CPU 500 including a ROM 501 and a RAM 502 controls the system controller 1 of FIG. The control program is stored in the ROM 501, and a driver program for controlling the printer is included in a part thereof. This program has the table for controlling the external attachment / detachment device described above (memory map 5
03, which corresponds to TABLE0,1), and the ROM 501 is set in a state where no external device is connected (TABLE0,1).
Is null). Further, the ROM 501 also stores a drive program of an external detachable device to be connected in advance (corresponding to OPTION1,2 DRIVE PROGRAM).

When it becomes necessary for the CPU 500 to construct a new driver program in the above flow (40
2) The driver program stored in the ROM 501 is expanded on the RAM 503. At this time, if OPTION2 is connected as an external device, the OPTI on ROM501
The drive program for ON2 is simultaneously expanded on the RAM 503, and TABLE1 in the driver program is OPTION2 DRIV.
Change to E PROGRAM. As a result, the driver program transferred to the host computer is OPTION2
Can drive external devices.

(Embodiment 2) Further, the program code stored in the ROM 501 has several instruction sets prepared in order to correspond to different types of host computers. The new driver program described above is also created for each instruction set. Before transferring the driver program over the network, CP of the host computer
Inquire about U type.

A flow corresponding to 403 in FIG. 4 in this case is shown in FIG. First, the instruction type of the host is inquired (601). In response to the response from the host, a program corresponding to the type is selected from the plurality of driver programs loaded on the RAM 502 (60
2). Transfer the selected program (603, 60
4).

As described above, when the configuration of the peripheral device changes, the driver program reflecting the new configuration can be automatically transferred to the host computer connected by the network. At this time, if the ROM 501 for storing the driver program is a rewritable storage means, it is obvious that the driver program supply means having a higher degree of freedom can be provided.

(Embodiment 3) A third embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment, an example of changing the timing of transferring a new driver to the host computer on the network will be described. In the flow of FIG. 4, "transfer the new driver to the host on the network (403)" is deleted, and when there is a print request from each host computer, the driver configuration is confirmed before transfer. .

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the processing procedure of the host computer when a print request is made in the third embodiment. First, when a print request is issued, the host computer compares the printer driver built in the peripheral device with the printer driver in the host computer (70
1) If they are different, the printer driver in the peripheral device is transferred to update the printer driver in the host computer (702). Hereinafter, 703 to 706 are the same as those in FIG.

According to this method, it is not necessary to register the host computer to which the driver is to be transferred in the peripheral device, and the driver is transferred as necessary, so that it is possible to prevent unnecessary data from flowing on the network. There are advantages. To confirm the driver configuration, a method of comparing the constructed dates of the driver program installed in the host computer and the driver program of the peripheral device side, a method of comparing checksums, a method of comparing versions, and the like can be considered.

<Embodiment 4> As a fourth embodiment, FIG. 8 shows a case where a driver program of an external removable device is stored in the external removable device itself in a part for constructing new driver software. CPU 805 for controlling the external attachment / detachment device
Is connected to the CPU 800 of the main body by communication means.
ROM 8 for storing control programs for external attachment / detachment device
In 06, the drive program for the external attachment / detachment device described above is stored. When the driver program for the external attachment / detachment device is needed in the process of constructing the new driver program described above, the RO is used by using the communication means.
The program is transferred from M806 to the RAM 802. Other operations are the same as the driver program construction method described above.

In this embodiment, since the driver program of the external attachment / detachment device is stored in the device itself, there is a great advantage that the method is effective even for the external attachment / detachment device developed after the main body. The present invention may be applied to a system including a plurality of devices or an apparatus including one device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0034]

According to the present invention, it is possible to change the peripheral device or the configuration of the peripheral device, and to change / add a driver program by adding a new peripheral device from a computer.
Since the peripheral device can automatically set the computer without the request of the driver program, the user can save the trouble of re-installation.

Furthermore, regardless of the type of computer,
Since the driver program can be automatically changed / added without requesting the driver program from the computer, it is possible to save the user the trouble of re-installing. In other words, rebuild the driver program on the peripheral device side for each configuration of the peripheral device is changed as in the present invention, con
If a mechanism for transferring to the computer without requesting the driver program from the computer is provided, the work of the user on the computer side can be significantly reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system according to a present exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a peripheral device of this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure when a conventional host computer issues a print request.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of driver reconfiguration according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram illustrating driver reconstruction according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for selecting a driver according to the model of the host computer in the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for transferring a driver when a print request is issued in the third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram when a driver program is provided on the external attachment / detachment device side in the fourth embodiment.

Front page continuation (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 13/10-13/14 G06F 3/09-3/12

Claims (15)

(57) [Claims] 1. A system comprising a peripheral device and a computer for controlling the peripheral device, comprising: a setting method for setting a driver program for controlling the peripheral device in the computer, wherein the peripheral device stores the peripheral device in a storage means. When a driver program for controlling a device is stored, the peripheral device recognizes whether or not the configuration of the peripheral device has been changed, and when the peripheral device recognizes a change in the configuration of the peripheral device , the computer Of the driver program from
Without request, the peripheral device stores a driver program corresponding to the change in the configuration of the peripheral device on the peripheral device side.
A peripheral device , which is read from the means , transfers the read driver program from the peripheral device to the computer, and the computer controls the peripheral device according to the driver program transferred from the peripheral device. How to set up the driver program. 2. When the computer has a plurality of computers that operate with different instruction sets, a plurality of driver programs including different instruction sets are stored in the storage unit on the peripheral device side and are connected by the peripheral device. The peripheral device , and based on the determination result, the peripheral device selects a driver program including an instruction set corresponding to the determined type from the storage unit on the peripheral device side, and the peripheral device. The method of setting a driver program for a peripheral device according to claim 1, wherein the setting is transferred from the computer to the computer. 3. The peripheral device according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral device has a removable external device, and a driver program for the external device is stored in a storage unit of the external device. How to set the device driver program. 4. The method for setting a driver program for a peripheral device according to claim 1, wherein the recognition and the transfer are performed when the computer accesses the peripheral device. Wherein said recognition and transfer setup method of claim 1 or 2 peripheral driver program, wherein it is performed in response to power-on of the peripheral device. 6. A system having a peripheral device and a computer controlling the peripheral device, wherein the peripheral device control device controls the peripheral device, and stores a driver program for controlling the peripheral device.
Storage means on the peripheral device side, recognition means for recognizing on the peripheral device side whether or not the configuration of the peripheral device is changed, and when the recognition means recognizes the change of the configuration of the peripheral device. , The driver program from the computer
Without request, a driver program corresponding to a change in the configuration of the peripheral device is stored on the peripheral device side on the peripheral device side.
And a communication unit that reads the data from the peripheral device and transmits the data from the peripheral device to the computer. 7. The storage device on the side of the peripheral device stores a plurality of driver programs composed of different instruction sets, and the peripheral device control device further comprises determination means for determining the type of the connected computer, The communication means selects a driver program including an instruction set corresponding to the determined type from the storage means on the peripheral device side based on the determination result, and transmits the driver program from the peripheral device to the computer. The peripheral device control device according to claim 6. 8. The peripheral device according to claim 6, wherein the peripheral device has a removable external device, and a driver program for the external device is stored in a storage unit of the external device. Equipment control device. 9. The peripheral device control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the recognition unit includes a comparison unit that compares the previous configuration of the peripheral device with the current configuration of the peripheral device. 10. The peripheral device control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the communication unit transmits the driver program when the computer accesses the peripheral device. 11. The peripheral device control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the communication unit transmits the driver program in response to power-on of the peripheral device. 12. A system having a peripheral device and a computer for controlling the peripheral device, comprising: a method of controlling a peripheral device control device for controlling the peripheral device , wherein the peripheral means stores the peripheral device. stores the driver program for controlling the apparatus, with the peripheral device control device, based on a comparison of the previous configuration and the current configuration of the peripheral device, it recognizes whether configuration of the peripheral device has been changed However, when the peripheral device control device recognizes a change in the configuration of the peripheral device, the driver program from the computer is detected.
The peripheral control unit can
The driver program corresponding to the change of the device configuration
Are read from the peripheral device side storage means, whether the peripheral device
To the computer, the method for controlling the peripheral device control device. 13. stores a plurality of driver programs of different instruction set in the storage unit of the peripheral device determines the type of connected computers by the peripheral device control apparatus, on the basis of the determination result, the The peripheral device control device stores a driver program including an instruction set corresponding to the determined type in the storage device on the peripheral device side.
Select from the control method according to claim 12 peripheral control device, wherein that <br/> sent to the computer from the peripheral device. 14. The control method of the peripheral device control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the recognition and the transmission are performed when the computer accesses the peripheral device. 15. The recognition and the transmission are performed in response to power-on of the peripheral device.
4. A method for controlling a peripheral device control device according to item 3.