JP4164935B2 - Network interface and printer device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a network system for processing various data by connecting a PC (Personal Computer), a printer, or the like via a network. More particularly, the present invention relates to a network interface capable of transmitting and receiving data necessary for other printer apparatuses and PCs by a printer apparatus connected to a network, and a printer apparatus and a network system using the network interface.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a plurality of printer devices are connected to a network, and image data handled by a terminal device such as a PC is printed using any one of the printer devices.
[0003]
Image data handled by such a PC can be obtained via the Internet, for example, and the image quality of such image data is often high-resolution and high-quality.
[0004]
In order to print such high-quality image data, it is necessary to perform processing for converting the image data into print data in accordance with the required image quality.
[0005]
On the other hand, various types of printer devices are often connected to the network, and all the printer devices connected to the network are rarely capable of processing high-quality image data. Also, not all image data is necessarily data that needs to be printed with high image quality.
[0006]
For this reason, when a plurality of printer devices are connected to a network for use, printer devices having different capabilities are often connected.
[0007]
Under these circumstances, recently, an optimal printer device is efficiently selected from a plurality of printer devices connected to the network based on the quality of image data to be printed and the availability of each printer device. Network systems that can perform printing have been developed.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, according to the network system described above, when using a printer device connected to the network with a PC or the like, the driver information of all these printer devices must be held by the PC, and the printer device on the network must be maintained. When there is an addition, deletion, version upgrade, etc., the driver information of the printer device must be managed by registering / changing the information on every PC, and there is a problem that it takes time and cost.
[0009]
Therefore, in view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to provide a network interface that allows a user to perform print processing at low cost without being aware of driver information of a printer device connected to a network, and a printer device using the network interface And providing a network system.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problem, a network interface according to an aspect of the present invention is a network interface provided between a network to which a server or a client is connected and a printer apparatus, and performs data communication with the network. A communication unit that performs printer information acquisition, a printer information acquisition unit that acquires printer information from the printer device, a printer driver acquisition unit that acquires and holds a printer driver from the network based on the printer information, and the communication unit And a printer driver sending means for sending the printer driver held by the printer driver obtaining means to the client when a connection request is received from the client.
[0011]
Here, when connected to the printer device, the printer device can be detachably mounted. The printer driver acquisition means acquires and holds a printer driver from another network interface mounted on another printer device connected to the network based on the printer information, or the printer driver The acquisition unit can acquire and hold a printer driver from the server connected to the network based on the printer information.
[0012]
In order to solve the above problems, a printer apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a storage unit for storing printer information in a printer apparatus mounted with a network interface and connected to the network. It is a network interface described in any one of 1 to 4.
[0013]
In order to solve the above-described problem, a network system according to an aspect of the present invention includes a printer apparatus, a server, a client, and a network connecting the printer apparatus, the server, and the client. The apparatus is a printer apparatus according to claim 5.
[0014]
Since the network interface of the printer device connected to the network is provided with a communication function for information related to the printer driver, the user can print at low cost without being aware of the driver information of the printer device connected to the network. . According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network interface, a communication unit that performs data communication via a network, a printer information acquisition unit that acquires printer information from a printer, and the network based on the printer information. Printer driver acquisition means for acquiring a printer driver from another device connected to the printer. Still further, when there is a connection request from the client in the communication means, the printer driver sending means for sending the printer driver obtained by the printer driver obtaining means to the client is provided. To do. In any of the above aspects, the other device is a server connected to the network. Further, in any of the above, the network interface is formed in a card shape. A printer apparatus according to another aspect is provided with a network interface, connected to the network via the network interface, and provided with storage means for storing printer information. An interface is used. In a network system according to still another aspect, a printer apparatus, a server, and a client are connected via a network, and the printer apparatus uses the above-described printer apparatus. Features.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a network interface of the present invention, a printer apparatus using the network interface, and a network system will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0016]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of a network system 10 according to the present invention. The network system 10 includes a plurality of printer apparatuses (hereinafter also simply referred to as “printers”) 11a to 11c, a server 20, a client 30 such as a PC (Personal Computer), a plurality of printers 11a to 11c, a server 20, and A network 12 for connecting a client 30 such as a PC and a network interface network card 13a to 13c (in FIG. 1, the network card is connected to and mounted on the printers 11a to 11c and connecting the printers 11a to 11c to the network 12). 13a only).
[0017]
In FIG. 1, the network card 13a is shown outside the printer 11a for the sake of explanation. However, when the printer 11a is connected to the network 12, the network card 13a is inserted into a predetermined slot of the printer 11a. Will be implemented. In addition, network cards 13b and 13c are mounted on the printers 11b and 11c, respectively. In FIG. 1, the printers 11 a to 11 c are shown as printers connected to the network 12. However, one or more printers on which a network card is mounted may be connected to the network 12. A plurality of servers 20 and clients 30 can be connected to the network 12 shown in FIG.
[0018]
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer in which a network card is mounted. In FIG. 2, the printer 11 a includes a storage unit 45 that stores printer information, a printer driver, and the like. A network card 13 a mounted on the printer 11 a is connected to the network 12 and is connected to other printers 11 b and 11 c and a server 20. A communication unit 44 that communicates data with the client 30 and the like, a printer information acquisition unit 41 that acquires printer information from the storage unit 45, and a printer driver acquisition unit 42 that acquires printer drivers from other devices on the network 12. And a printer driver sending unit 43 that sends out the printer driver stored in the storage unit 45.
[0019]
Also, the printers 11b and 11c and the network cards 13b and 13c have the same components as the printer 11a and the network card 13a. Note that descriptions of the configurations of the printers 11b and 11c and the network cards 13b and 13c are omitted.
[0020]
Hereinafter, data processing in the network system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described. Here, it is assumed that the network 12 can be connected to the Internet.
[0021]
3 and 4 are flowcharts showing the operation of the printer 11a. 3 and 4, first, when the network card 13a is newly installed in the printer 11a or once removed (step 301), the printer information acquisition unit 41 reads the printer 11a from the storage unit 45 of the main body of the printer 11a. Information is read out, and printer driver information is acquired from the printer information (step 302).
[0022]
Here, the printer information may be information that can identify the printer driver necessary for the printing process in the printer 11a, for example, the model name or driver information of the printer 11a.
[0023]
The printer driver acquisition unit 42 inquires of the network cards 13b and 13c of the other printers 11b and 11c connected to the network 12 about the presence of the printer driver via the communication unit 44 (step 303).
[0024]
In response to this inquiry, the printers 11 b and 11 c having the corresponding printer driver transmit a response signal to the printer 11 a via the network 12.
[0025]
When this response signal is received by the communication unit 44 of the network card 13a (step 304), the printer driver acquisition unit 42 acquires a printer driver from the printers 11b and 11c that have transmitted the response signal (step 305), and stores them. Store in the unit 45 (step 307).
[0026]
When the communication unit 44 of the network card 13a does not receive a response signal (step 304), the printer driver acquisition unit 42 acquires a printer driver from the server 20 (step 306) and stores it in the storage unit 45. (Step 307). Here, it is assumed that the address of the server 20 is stored in the storage unit 45 and the like, and the server 20 can be provided with the latest printer driver corresponding to all printers.
[0027]
On the other hand, the network card 13a is already mounted in the printer 11a (step 301), and a signal from another device connected to the network 12 is received by the communication unit 25a, and the signal is connected and printed from the client 30. In the case of a request (step 311), the printer information acquisition unit 41 acquires the printer driver information of the client 30 from the client 30 (step 312).
[0028]
The printer information acquisition unit 41 verifies the acquired printer driver information and determines whether the printer driver included in the client 30 is a compatible printer driver (step 313). If the printer driver is applicable, it is determined from the version information of the printer driver whether the printer driver is the latest printer driver (step 314).
[0029]
When there is no applicable printer driver or when it is not the latest printer driver, the printer driver sending unit 43 sends an appropriate printer driver stored in the storage unit 45 to the client 30 and installs the printer driver in the client. (Step 315).
[0030]
In step 315, the printer information acquisition unit 41 transmits printer driver information related to the latest printer driver to the client 30, and the client 30 installs an appropriate printer driver from the server 20 based on the printer driver information. May be.
[0031]
In this way, an appropriate printer driver is installed in the client 30 and printing processing becomes possible.
[0032]
When the received signal is an inquiry about printer driver information from the other printers 11b and 11c (step 321), the printer information acquisition unit 41 reads out the printer driver information from the storage unit 45, and receives the inquiry destination printer 11b, 11c (step 324).
[0033]
If the received signal is a printer driver transmission request from another printer 11b, 11c (step 322), the printer driver sending unit 43 reads the printer driver from the storage unit 45 and requests the requested printers 11b, 11c. (Step 323).
[0034]
As described above, in the network interface of the present invention, the printer device and the network system using the network interface, it is not necessary for the network card to have a printer driver for each printer device, thereby preventing an increase in storage capacity due to unnecessary data. be able to.
[0035]
In addition, it is possible to cope with all types of printer apparatuses using the network card having the same function, and it is not necessary to change the printer apparatus in order to achieve these functions, so that the cost can be reduced.
[0036]
Furthermore, on the client side, an appropriate printer driver is applied simply by making a connection to the printer and making a print request, so that the user can perform print processing without being aware of the driver information of the printer device connected to the network. it can.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the network interface of the present invention, the printer device using the network interface, and the network system, the network interface of the printer device connected to the network is provided with a communication function for information related to the printer driver. Printing processing can be performed at low cost without being aware of driver information of printer devices connected to the network.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a network system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a network card and a printer device which are network interfaces of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing in the network system according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing in the network system according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Network system 11a, 11b, 11c Printer apparatus 12 Network 13a Network card 20 Server 30 Client 41 Printer information acquisition part 42 Printer driver acquisition part 43 Printer driver transmission part 44 Communication part 45 Storage part

Claims (3)

A network interface for connecting a printer device to a network to which a server or a client is connected, detachable from the printer device,
Printer information acquisition means for acquiring printer information from the printer device each time the printer device is mounted;
Each time it is attached to the printer device, and a printer driver acquisition means for acquiring printer driver before SL network based on the acquired printer information,
Printer driver sending means for sending the acquired printer driver to the client that has made the connection request when a connection request is made from the client via the network;
A network interface comprising: Other printer devices are connected to the network,
2. The printer driver acquisition unit according to claim 1, wherein the printer driver acquisition unit acquires a printer driver from another network interface attached to the other printer device connected to the network based on the acquired printer information. The listed network interface.   A printer apparatus comprising the network interface according to claim 1.

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