JP4313998B2 - HOST COMPUTER, ITS CONTROL METHOD, PROGRAM, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a host computer that controls the operation of a printer using a printer driver, a control method therefor, a program, and a storage medium .
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a method of installing a device driver on a computer connected to a peripheral device, for example, the user selects the name of the device driver to be installed by a wizard function (a guide function provided for easy installation), and accordingly The device driver corresponding to the device ID can be installed by installation method or plug and play (function to automatically install and set the device driver when a peripheral device or expansion card is connected to the computer). There is a way to install automatically.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional plug and play has a problem that it functions effectively only for peripheral devices having different device IDs. For example, when the peripheral device controller is upgraded for reasons such as failure handling or function enhancement, and this modification affects the device driver of the peripheral device, the device ID is the same. For this reason, there was a problem that required device drivers were not installed correctly.
[0004]
In addition, since the version information of the controller of the peripheral device is generally uninteresting for the user, it is often difficult for the user to correctly select a device driver corresponding to a certain version of the controller from the wizard. It was a serious loss of usability.
[0005]
Therefore, according to the present invention, even when a plurality of device drivers having different versions exist for a certain peripheral device, the device driver of the version to be installed is automatically selected correctly, and the device driver is installed. The purpose is to reduce the burden on the user.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, for example, a host computer of the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is, a host computer that includes a storage device and controls the operation of a printer using a printer driver that can be acquired from a remote device , the selecting means for selecting a printer to be used, and the printer selected by the selecting means Acquisition means for acquiring controller version information in the controller, the acquisition means acquires a first version as controller version information, and there are a plurality of versions of the printer driver corresponding to the printer selected by the selection means, and version of the printer driver corresponding to the second version is version information of a controller when the has been upgraded to the first version of the controller into the plurality of versions of the printer driver is included The second buffer The version of the printer driver corresponding to John while to be stored in the storage device, the first version of the so as to be set state that can be operated with a printer comprising a controller the acquisition unit printer driver acquires Control means for controlling, wherein the control means is further configured such that when the printer driver is in a setting state capable of operating a printer comprising the first version of the controller , the acquisition means is the controller version. when acquiring the second version as information, previous versions of the printer driver corresponding to the second version stored in Kiki憶device, it is possible to operate the printer with a controller of the second version It is controlled to be in the setting state
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a printer is used as a peripheral device of the computer to configure a printing system. The computer controls the operation of the printer by using a printer driver (printer control program) as a device driver incorporated in the storage device. Of course, a printer is an example of a peripheral device, and the present invention can be applied to a system using any peripheral device (scanner, optical disk device, etc.) controlled via a device driver.
[0008]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This printing system has a configuration in which a host computer 3000 and a printer 1500 as a peripheral device thereof are connected to be communicable with each other. As long as the function of the present invention is executed, a single device or a system composed of a plurality of devices is connected and processed via a network such as a LAN or WAN. It may be a system.
[0009]
The host computer 3000 executes document processing in which graphics, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets), etc. are mixed based on an application such as a document processing program stored in the external storage device (for example, hard disk drive) 11. A CPU 1 is provided, and the CPU 1 comprehensively controls each device connected to the system bus 4. The external storage device 11 stores an operating system program (hereinafter referred to as OS) that is a control program of the CPU 1, a printer driver that is a control program of the printer 1500, and the like, in addition to the application such as the document processing program described above. The RAM 2 functions as a main memory and work area for the CPU 1, and the ROM 3 stores a boot program and the like.
[0010]
A keyboard controller (KBC) 5 controls key input from a keyboard 9 or a pointing device (not shown). A CRT controller (CRTC) 6 controls display on a CRT display (CRT) 10. A disk controller (DKC) 7 controls access to the external storage device 11. A printer controller (PRTC) 8 is connected to the printer 1500 via a bidirectional interface (interface) 21 and executes communication control processing of the printer 1500.
[0011]
The CPU 1 executes, for example, an outline font rasterization process on the display information RAM set on the RAM 2 to enable WYSIWYG on the CRT 10. The CPU 1 opens various windows registered based on commands instructed by a mouse cursor (not shown) on the CRT 10 and executes various data processing. When executing printing, the user can open a window related to print settings and set the print processing method for the printer driver, including printer settings and print mode selection.
[0012]
The printer 1500 roughly includes a printing unit (printer engine) 17 having a mechanism for printing, and a controller 100 that controls the operation of the printing unit 17. Specifically, the controller 100 causes the CPU 12 to output an image signal as output information to a printing unit (printer engine) 17 connected to the system bus 15 based on a control program stored in the program ROM of the ROM 13. To do. Font data used for generating the output information is stored in the font ROM of the ROM 13, and information used on the host computer when the data ROM of the ROM 13 does not have the external memory 14. Is remembered.
[0013]
The CPU 12 can perform communication processing with the host computer 3000 via the input unit 18 and can notify the host computer 3000 of information in the printer. The RAM 19 functions as a main memory and a work area of the CPU 12, and is configured such that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown). The RAM 19 is used as an output information expansion area, environment data area, NVRAM, and the like. Access to the external memory 14 is controlled by a memory controller (MC) 20. The external memory 14 is connected as an option, and stores font data, an emulation program, form data, etc., and is used for spooling expanded print data. Reference numeral 22 denotes an operation unit on which operation switches, an LED display, and the like are arranged.
[0014]
The external memory 14 described above is not limited to one, and a plurality of external memories 14 are provided, and an option card to which a built-in font is added, a spool memory for expanded print data, and a program for interpreting a printer control language having a different language system are stored. A plurality of external storage devices may be connected. Further, an NVRAM (not shown) may be provided to store printer mode setting information from the operation unit 22.
[0015]
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration related to typical print processing in the host computer 3000. The application 201, the graphic engine 202, the printer driver 203, and the system spooler 204 exist as files stored in the external storage device 11, and when executed, are loaded into the RAM 2 and executed by the OS and modules that use the module. Program module. The application 201 and the printer driver 203 can be added to the external storage device 11 via a CD-ROM (not shown) or a network (not shown). The application 201 stored in the external storage device 11 is loaded into the RAM 2 and executed. When printing from the application 201 to the printer 1500, the application 201 is similarly loaded into the RAM 2 and executable. Output (drawing) is performed using the graphic engine 202.
[0016]
The graphic engine 202 similarly loads the printer driver 203 prepared for each printer from the external storage device 11 to the RAM 2 and sets the output of the application 201 in the printer driver 203. Then, the GDI (Graphic Device Interface) function received from the application 201 is converted into a DDI (Deice Driver Interface) function, and the DDI function is output to the printer driver 203. Based on the DDI function received from the graphic engine 202, the printer driver 203 converts it into a control command that can be recognized by the printer, for example, PDL (Page Description Language). The converted printer control command is output as print data to the printer 1500 via the interface 21 via the system spooler 204 loaded into the RAM 2 by the OS.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 3, the printing system of this embodiment further has a configuration in which print data from the application 201 is temporarily spooled with intermediate code data.
[0018]
FIG. 3 is an extension of the system shown in FIG. 2 and has a configuration in which a spool file 303 including an intermediate code is temporarily generated when a print command is sent from the graphic engine 202 to the printer driver 203. In the system shown in FIG. 2, the application 201 is released from the printing process when the printer driver 203 has converted all print commands from the graphic engine 202 into printer control commands. On the other hand, in the system shown in FIG. 3, the spooler 302 converts all print commands into intermediate code data and outputs the intermediate code data to the spool file 303. The latter usually requires less time. In the system shown in FIG. 3, the contents of the spool file 303 can be processed. As a result, it is possible to realize functions that the application does not have, such as enlargement / reduction or printing by reducing a plurality of pages into one page with respect to print data from the application.
[0019]
For these purposes, the system of FIG. 2 has been expanded to spool with intermediate code data as shown in FIG. In order to process the print data, settings are normally made from a window provided by the printer driver 203, and the printer driver 203 stores the setting contents on the RAM 2 or the external storage device 11.
[0020]
Details of FIG. 3 will be described below. As shown in the figure, in this expanded processing method, the dispatcher 301 receives a print command from the graphic engine 202. If the print command received by the dispatcher 301 from the graphic engine 202 is a print command issued from the application 201 to the graphic engine 202, the dispatcher 301 loads the spooler 302 stored in the external storage device 11 into the RAM 2, A print command is sent to the spooler 302 instead of the printer driver 203.
[0021]
The spooler 302 converts the received print command into an intermediate code and outputs it to the spool file 303. In addition, the spooler 302 acquires processing settings related to print data set in the printer driver 203 from the printer driver 203 and stores them in the spool file 303. The spool file 303 is generated as a file on the external storage device 11, but may be generated on the RAM 2. Furthermore, the spooler 302 loads the spool file manager 304 stored in the external storage device 11 into the RAM 2 and notifies the spool file manager 304 of the generation status of the spool file 303. Thereafter, the spool file manager 304 determines whether printing can be performed in accordance with the contents of the processing settings related to the print data stored in the spool file 303.
[0022]
When the spool file manager 304 determines that printing can be performed using the graphic engine 202, the despooler 305 stored in the external storage device 11 is loaded into the RAM 2 and described in the spool file 303 with respect to the despooler 305. The intermediate code is instructed to be printed.
[0023]
The despooler 305 processes the intermediate code included in the spool file 303 in accordance with the processing setting content included in the spool file 303, and outputs it again via the graphic engine 202.
[0024]
If the print command received by the dispatcher 301 from the graphic engine 202 is a print command issued from the despooler 305 to the graphic engine 202, the dispatcher 301 sends the print command to the printer driver 203 instead of the spooler 302.
[0025]
The printer driver 203 generates a printer control command and outputs it to the printer 1500 via the system spooler 204.
[0026]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating printer driver installation processing using the printer wizard according to the embodiment. In this specification, “installation” of a printer driver does not simply mean that the printer driver is stored in the external storage device 11 but is externally stored in a setting state in which the corresponding printer can be operated. This is to be incorporated into the device 11. The printer wizard is generally provided by the OS, but may be a unique wizard provided by each vendor.
[0027]
First, the printer wizard is launched, and a printer to be used is selected from here (step S401).
[0028]
Next, it is checked whether or not there are a plurality of versions in the printer driver corresponding to the selected printer (step S402). If not, the printer driver corresponding to the selected printer is set to the normal printer driver. Installation is performed by the method (step S405). On the other hand, if it is determined in step S402 that a plurality of versions exist in the printer driver corresponding to the selected printer, the version information of the printer controller is acquired via a network capable of bidirectional communication such as SNMP. (Step S403) Then, a printer driver corresponding to the acquired version information is installed (Step S404).
[0029]
Hereinafter, the process of step S402, S403, S404 is demonstrated concretely.
[0030]
The determination in step S402 corresponds to the printer model name (device ID), printer controller version information, and corresponding printer driver stored in the external storage device 11 and having the structure shown in FIG. This is done based on the driver table that is attached.
[0031]
According to FIG. 6, for example, the controller of the printer with the model name (device ID) of Ganon R210 has version 1. x, 2. x, 3. There are x versions. At this time, version 1. x and 2. x is a version upgrade that does not affect the printer driver because of an internal failure of the controller or a function upgrade. Assume that x is a version upgrade that affects the printer driver. Here, the version upgrade that affects the printer driver means that the printer driver needs to be corrected along with the version upgrade of the controller, such as a change in the print area. Therefore, version 1. x and version2. The printer driver to be used may be the same as x. x and version3. The printer driver to be used is different from x. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, there are two types of printer drivers corresponding to the printer of model Ganon R210.
[0032]
Under such an assumption, in step S403, the acquired version is 2. If x is determined, in step S404, the controller version 2. Install Ganon R210 PCL-1 (corresponding to version 1.x) corresponding to x. The acquired version is 3. If x is determined, the controller version 3. The Ganon R210 PCL-2 corresponding to x will be installed.
[0033]
Similarly, in the case of a printer controller with a model name of Ganon R330-400, version 1. x, 2. x, 3. Assume that there are three versions of x, and each version upgrade is an upgrade that affects the printer driver. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, there are three types of printer drivers corresponding to the printers of the model Ganon R330-400.
[0034]
Under such assumption, the version acquired in step S403 is 2. If x is determined, in step S404, the controller version 2. Install Ganon R330-400 PCL-2 for x. The acquired version number is 3. If x is determined, the controller version 3. The Ganon R330-400 PCL-3 corresponding to x will be installed.
[0035]
Next, an example of a printer having a model name of Ganon R605-605P will be described. This printer controller is version 1. x and 2. There are two types of x. It is assumed that this upgrade is an upgrade that does not affect the printer driver. In this case, as shown in FIG. 9, there is only one type of corresponding printer driver. Therefore, when the model Ganon R605-605P is selected in step S401, it is determined in step S402 that there is only one version of the corresponding printer driver. Is called.
[0036]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating printer driver installation processing by plug and play in the embodiment.
[0037]
First, when the host computer finds a new printer by plug-and-play hardware search, the host computer acquires the device ID of the printer (step S501). Then, referring to the driver table as described above, it is checked whether a plurality of versions exist in the printer driver corresponding to the acquired device ID (step S502). If it is determined that it does not exist, a printer driver corresponding to the acquired device ID is installed by a normal method (step S505).
[0038]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S502 that a plurality of versions exist, version information of the printer controller is acquired via a network capable of bidirectional communication such as SNMP (step S503). Then, referring to the driver table as shown in FIG. 6, the printer driver corresponding to the controller version is installed (step S504).
[0039]
Through the above processing, it is checked whether or not there are a plurality of printer drivers having different versions for the selected printer or the connected printer. If there are a plurality of printer drivers, the controller of the printer is checked. Since the version is acquired and the printer driver corresponding to the version of the controller is automatically selected, the burden on the user for installing the printer driver can be reduced.
[0041]
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing printer driver installation processing taking into account the upgrade of the controller.
[0042]
First, the printer wizard is launched, and a printer to be used is selected from here (step S1001).
[0043]
Next, it is checked whether or not there are a plurality of versions in the printer driver corresponding to the selected printer (step S1002). If not, the printer driver corresponding to the selected printer is set to the normal printer driver. Installation is performed by the method (step S1007). On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1002 that there are a plurality of versions in the printer driver corresponding to the selected printer, the version information of the printer controller is acquired via a network capable of bidirectional communication such as SNMP. (Step S1003).
[0044]
Next, with reference to the driver table as shown in FIG. 6, it is determined whether or not the printer driver corresponding to the acquired version information of the controller is the latest printer (step S1004). For example, referring to FIG. 6, although there are three versions of the printer controller of the model name Ganon R330-400, the printer driver corresponding to the version information of the controller acquired in step S1003 is the latest version 3. It is determined whether or not it corresponds to x (that is, Ganon R330-400 PCL-3).
[0045]
If it is determined that the printer driver corresponding to the acquired version information of the controller is the latest printer, only the latest printer driver is installed (step S1005). On the other hand, when it is determined that the printer driver corresponding to the acquired controller version information is not the latest for the printer, a printer driver corresponding to the acquired controller version is installed, and a printer for a newer controller version is installed. The driver is also installed internally (step S1006). “Internal installation” means, for example, that the controller is upgraded for function expansion, which has a great influence on the function of the driver. In order to realize this function, a new driver module (DLL) is installed. When it is necessary to create the data, it means holding in advance in consideration of the upgrade of the controller as described above.
[0046]
If the controller is upgraded after the processing of step S1006, the printer notifies the host computer of version information of the controller at an arbitrary timing. The timing of notifying the version information here may be when the user gives an instruction from the graphic user interface of the printer driver.
[0047]
As a result of the host computer obtaining the controller version information, if it is determined that a printer driver whose version is newer than the currently installed printer driver is held internally, for example, “the controller is upgraded”. Install the corresponding new printer driver and display the message “Yes or Cancel”.
[0048]
If Yes is selected, the old printer driver is deleted and a new printer driver is automatically installed.
[0049]
With the above processing, it is possible to automatically upgrade the printer driver corresponding to the upgrade of the controller, so that the user can be released from the printer driver update work accompanying the upgrade of the controller.
[0050]
(Other embodiments)
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention comprises a single device even when applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.). You may apply to an apparatus (for example, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, etc.).
[0051]
In the present invention, a software program (a program corresponding to the flowchart shown in any of FIGS. 4, 5, and 10) for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is directly or remotely supplied to a system or apparatus. And the case where the computer of the system or apparatus also achieves by reading and executing the supplied program.
[0052]
Accordingly, since the functions of the present invention are implemented by computer, the program code installed in the computer also implements the present invention. That is, the scope of the claims of the present invention includes the computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention.
[0053]
In that case, the program may be in any form, such as an object code, a program executed by an interpreter, or script data supplied to the OS as long as it has a program function.
[0054]
Examples of the storage medium for supplying the program include a flexible disk, an optical disk (CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD, etc.), a magneto-optical disk, a magnetic tape, and a memory card.
[0055]
In addition, the program supply method includes a mode in which the program of the present invention is acquired by file transfer via the Internet.
[0056]
Further, the program of the present invention is encrypted, stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM and distributed to users, and the user who clears predetermined conditions is allowed to acquire key information for decryption via the Internet, By using the key information, an encrypted program can be executed and installed in a computer.
[0057]
In addition to the functions of the above-described embodiments being realized by the computer executing the read program, the OS or the like running on the computer based on an instruction of the program may be a part of the actual processing or All the functions are performed, and the functions of the above-described embodiments can be realized by the processing.
[0058]
Furthermore, after the program read from the storage medium is written to a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board or The CPU or the like provided in the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are also realized by the processing.
[0059]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, even when a plurality of device drivers having different versions exist for a certain peripheral device, the device driver of the version to be installed is automatically selected correctly, and the device It is possible to reduce the burden on the user for the driver installation work.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration related to typical print processing of a host computer in the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration related to typical print processing of the host computer in the embodiment in more detail.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating printer driver installation processing using a printer wizard according to the embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating printer driver installation processing by plug and play in the embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a structure example of a driver table in the embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a correspondence relationship between a printer and a printer driver in the embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a correspondence relationship between a printer and a printer driver in the embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a correspondence relationship between a printer and a printer driver in the embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating printer driver installation processing taking into account controller upgrades according to the exemplary embodiment.

Claims (6)

A host computer comprising a storage device and controlling the operation of the printer using a printer driver obtainable from a remote device ;
A selection means for selecting a printer to be used;
Acquiring means for acquiring controller version information in the printer selected by the selecting means;
The acquisition unit acquires a first version as version information of a controller , and there are a plurality of versions of the printer driver corresponding to the printer selected by the selection unit, and the printer drivers of the plurality of versions If the version of the printer driver corresponding to the second version is version information of the controller when it is upgraded to the first version of the controller is included, the version corresponding to the second version the printer driver while to be stored in the storage device, and control means for controlling so that the first version set state controller Ru can operate the printer with a of the acquisition unit printer driver acquires Prepared,
It said control means further when the printer driver is a set ready to operate the printer with a controller of the first version, the acquisition means is the second version as the version information of the controller If acquired ,
The version of the printer driver corresponding to the second version of the previously stored Kiki憶device, and controlling so as to be set ready to operate the printer comprising a controller of the second version Host computer. The control means further includes
When the acquisition unit acquires the second version as the version information of the controller when the printer driver is in a setting state in which a printer including the controller of the first version can be operated ,
Remove the printer driver corresponding to the first version, previous versions of the printer driver corresponding to the second version stored in Kiki憶device, operating a printer comprising a controller of the second version The host computer according to claim 1, wherein the host computer is controlled to be in a setting state that can be set. The control means further includes
When the acquisition unit acquires the second version as the version information of the controller when the printer driver is in a setting state in which a printer including the controller of the first version can be operated,
A notification to the user that the printer controller has been upgraded is displayed together with a display for confirming whether or not to set the printer driver of the version corresponding to the second version. The printer driver of the version corresponding to the second version stored in the storage device is set to the setting state when it is confirmed that the version of the printer driver corresponding to the second version is set to the setting state based on Control
The host computer according to claim 1. A method for controlling a host computer, which includes a storage device and controls the operation of a printer using a printer driver that can be acquired from a remote device ,
A selection step to select the printer to use;
An acquisition step of acquiring version information of a controller in the printer selected in the selection step;
The first version is acquired as the controller version information in the acquisition step , and there are a plurality of versions of the printer driver corresponding to the printer selected in the selection step, and among the printer drivers of the plurality of versions If the version of the printer driver corresponding to the second version is version information of the controller when it is upgraded to the first version of the controller is included, the version corresponding to the second version the printer driver while to be stored in the storage device, and a control step of controlling so that the first version set state controller Ru can operate the printer with a of the printer driver has been acquired by the acquisition step Prepared,
Yet the control step, when the printer driver is a set ready to operate the printer with a controller of the first version, the second version as the version information of the controller by the obtaining step If acquired ,
The version of the printer driver corresponding to the second version of the previously stored Kiki憶device, and controlling so as to be set ready to operate the printer comprising a controller of the second version How to control the host computer. A program that is executed by a host computer that includes a storage device and controls the operation of the printer using a printer driver that can be acquired from a remote device ,
Selection means for selecting the printer to use,
Acquisition means for acquiring controller version information in the printer selected by the selection means;
The acquisition unit acquires a first version as version information of a controller , and there are a plurality of versions of the printer driver corresponding to the printer selected by the selection unit, and the printer drivers of the plurality of versions If the version of the printer driver corresponding to the second version is version information of the controller when it is upgraded to the first version of the controller is included, the version corresponding to the second version the printer driver while to be stored in the storage device, and controlled to be the first version set state controller Ru can operate the printer with a of the acquisition unit printer driver acquires, further, the the printer driver is the first bar When it possible to operate the printer including a controller ® emission is a set ready, when the acquisition unit has acquired the second version as the version information of the controller, before Kiki憶device storage wherein the second version of the printer driver corresponding to the version, the second version of the control means for controlling so as to be set state controller can operate the printer comprising that,
A program characterized by functioning as A computer-readable storage medium storing the program according to claim 5 .

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