JP5754123B2 - Information processing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a configuration technology of a device driver such as a printer driver in an information processing apparatus.

  When a new printer is purchased, there are many requests to continue using the printer driver already installed in an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer.

  In order to meet such a demand, for example, a printer driver called a universal printer driver that corresponds to a plurality of printer models and switches to a driver having an optimum specification for each printer model is already known.

  This type of printer driver consists of one core module and one or more plug-ins. If the printer driver does not support the function of a later released printer, a new plug-in is added to use that function. (Refer to patent document 1 etc.).

  By the way, although the printer driver is developed so as to be able to cope with various environments as much as possible, it is difficult to consider all the environments, and there are also programming bugs. Therefore, when a printer driver or plug-in is added, the user needs to verify whether the desired function operates as expected.

  As described above, when a new universal printer driver is purchased and a printer driver already installed in a personal computer does not support the new printer function, a plug-in is used to use the function. As a function will be added.

  In this case, the user needs to verify the combination of the core module and the plug-in, and because of the dependency on the core module, depending on the user, the contents related to the plug-in other than the newly added plug-in must also be verified. There is a problem that the verification man-hours become large.

  In addition, although the conventional problem was demonstrated about the printer driver, there exists the same problem about the device driver in general including a scanner driver etc.

  The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the number of verification steps by allowing the user to verify only the additionally installed function.

In order to solve the above problems, according to the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus connected to one or more printers to be controlled, which has one or more functions supported by the printer , including paper size setting, color / A model-dependent file holding unit that holds one or more model-dependent files indicating functions that require setting by a user interface including any of monochrome printing settings, duplex printing settings, and staple settings, and is divided into the functional units and corresponds to the functions One or more function core modules for each function that execute detailed command control processing that uses basic processing of the printer and detailed items to be displayed on the user interface, and an initial setting screen are displayed, corresponding to the functions upon selection instruction setting items, among the one or more functional core module, to respond to instructions received from the user By functional core was module a request for a process to perform setting processing in the functional I line, said functional core sequence control of the print commands for setting output performed by the module at the time of printing instructions outputted to the printer , the basic core module for controlling the processing of control and basic processing of the printer of the user interface, to connect to the printer, to determine whether they retain model dependent file that describes the corresponding function of the printer, If not, model-dependent file acquisition means for acquiring the model-dependent file and the function core corresponding to each of the functions indicated in the model-dependent file by analyzing the model-dependent file corresponding to the printer Determining means for determining whether a module is present in the information processing apparatus; and the determining means Therefore comprising a core module obtaining means for obtaining a functional core module is determined not to exist, a core module installation means for associating the functional core module acquired by the core module obtaining means to the basic core module.

  In the information processing apparatus of the present invention, since the additionally installed core module is divided for each function, the user only needs to verify the additionally installed function, and the number of verification steps can be reduced.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the system concerning one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of information processing apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing when a printer is connected. It is a figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of a model dependence file and a core module. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing example when using a printer. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print setting screen. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for setting a paper size. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a print command.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described.

<Configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Note that the case where the present invention is applied to a printer driver that controls a printer as an image forming apparatus will be described as an example.

  In FIG. 1, an information processing apparatus 1 such as a personal computer is connected to a printer 2 via a network 3 or directly. The network 3 is connected to a download server 4 that holds printer driver components (model-dependent files, core modules) and enables downloading from the information processing apparatus 1.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the information processing apparatus 1.

  In FIG. 2, the information processing apparatus 1 is provided with an OS (Operating System) / application 11 and a printer driver 12.

  The printer driver 12 includes a basic core module 121, a function realization determination module 122, a print command core module 123, a paper size core module 124, a color / monochrome printing core module 125, a duplex printing core module 126, and a staple core module 127. Files 128 and 129 are provided.

  In principle, one basic core module 121, one function implementation determination module 122, and one print command core module 123 are provided. However, the core modules 124 to 127 and the model-dependent files 128 and 129 include the initial installation state of the printer driver 12. It differs depending on the model of the printer 2 used thereafter.

  The basic core module 121 is a module in charge of basic control, and includes a UI unit that controls UI (User Interface) and a drawing unit that controls drawing. Note that neither the UI unit nor the drawing unit is involved in the detailed items displayed on the UI and the details of the detailed commands related to drawing, and these are handled by the core modules 124 to 127 provided in the function unit.

  The function realization determination module 122 determines whether the function can be realized by the current core modules 124 to 127 when newly connecting to the printer 2, and if necessary, downloads the core module from the printer 2 or the download server 4 (including installation). ) Function.

  The print command core module 123 has a function of transmitting to the printer 2 a print command that can be processed by the printer 2.

  The paper size core module 124 has a function of controlling a UI for setting the paper size and generating a print command related to the paper size.

  The color / monochrome printing core module 125 has a function of controlling a UI for color / monochrome printing settings and generating a print command related to color / monochrome printing.

  The duplex printing core module 126 has a function of controlling a UI for duplex printing setting and generating a print command related to duplex printing.

  The staple core module 127 has a function of controlling a staple setting UI and generating a print command related to staples.

  Here, the model-dependent files 128 and 129 correspond to the functions of the models A and B, respectively, and the contents corresponding to the functions of the models and the functions of the models are listed. .

<Operation>
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of processing when a printer is connected.

  In FIG. 3, when the information processing apparatus 1 starts processing such as adding a new printer (step S101), the function realization determination module 122 of the printer driver 12 acquires model information through communication with the printer 2, and depends on the corresponding model. It is determined whether the file is held on the information processing apparatus 1 side (step S102). For example, the model-dependent file includes model information in the file name, and a determination can be made by searching whether there is a model-dependent file with the corresponding file name on the information processing apparatus 1 side. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when the information processing apparatus 1 holds a model-dependent file 128 corresponding to the model A and a model-dependent file 129 corresponding to the model B, the printer 2 of the model C is targeted. If it is determined that the model-dependent file corresponding to the model C is not held.

  Next, returning to FIG. 3, if it is determined that the model-dependent file of the printer 2 is held on the information processing apparatus 1 side (Yes in step S102), the process ends (step S108).

  If it is determined that the model-dependent file of the printer 2 is not held on the information processing apparatus 1 side (No in step S102), the function implementation determining module 122 receives the corresponding model-dependent file from the printer 2 or the download server 4. Download (step S103). In the example shown in FIG. 4, the model-dependent file 21 is downloaded from the printer 2 or the model-dependent file having the same contents is downloaded from the download server 4.

  Next, returning to FIG. 3, the function implementation determination module 122 analyzes the downloaded model-dependent file, and determines whether the function supported by the printer 2 can be implemented by the core module currently held on the information processing apparatus 1 side. Judgment is made (step S104). In the example shown in FIG. 4, “paper size”, “color”, “double-sided”, “staple”, “punch”, and “background pattern” are described as functions in the model-dependent file (21) downloaded from the printer 2 or the download server 4. On the information processing apparatus 1 side, a paper size core module 124 corresponding to “paper size”, a color / monochrome printing core module 125 corresponding to “color”, a duplex printing core module 126 corresponding to “duplex”, “ The staple core module 127 corresponding to “staple” is held, but the core module corresponding to “punch” and “background pattern” is not held, so it is determined that the function cannot be realized.

  Next, returning to FIG. 3, if it is determined that the function supported by the printer 2 can be realized (Yes in step S104), the process is terminated (step S108).

  If it is determined that the function supported by the printer 2 cannot be realized (No in step S104), the function realization determination module 122 displays the function described in the downloaded model-dependent file to the user via a dialog box or the like. To determine whether it is necessary (step S105).

  Next, the function realization determination module 122 determines whether the function described in the model-dependent file is necessary from the user selection result (step S106).

  If it is determined that all functions are not necessary (No in step S106), the process is terminated (step S108).

  If it is determined that at least one function is necessary (Yes in step S106), the function realization determination module 122 downloads the core module corresponding to the function selected by the user from the printer 2 (including installation). Or download (including installation) the core module having the same contents from the download server 4 (step S107), and the process is terminated (step S108). In the case of the example shown in FIG. 4, when the user selects “punch” and “background pattern” that cannot be realized by the current core modules 124 to 127 on the information processing apparatus 1 side, the corresponding punch core module from the printer 2. 26 and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing core module 27 are downloaded, or the core module having the same contents is downloaded from the download server 4.

  Since the additionally installed core module is divided for each function, the user only has to verify whether the expected operation can be performed only for the downloaded core module.

  Next, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of processing when the printer is used.

  In FIG. 5, when the user starts the process by instructing printer settings from the print dialog (step S201), the basic core module 121 accepts an instruction to open the print setting UI from the user (step S202), and displays the print setting UI. It is displayed (step S203). FIG. 6 shows an example of a print setting screen. Buttons for each function such as “paper size setting”, “color / monochrome setting”, “double-sided setting”, “staple setting”, “punch setting”, and “background pattern setting”, and “OK” are shown. “Cancel” and other setting confirmation and cancel buttons are provided.

  Next, returning to FIG. 5, when the basic core module 121 receives an instruction to open the paper size setting UI from the user (step S <b> 204), the basic core module 121 starts the corresponding paper size core module 124, and the paper size core module 124 sets the paper size setting. The UI is displayed (step S205). In the example shown in FIG. 6, an instruction to open the paper size setting UI is accepted when the “paper size setting” button is pressed by the user, and a paper size setting screen as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed.

  Next, returning to FIG. 5, upon receiving a print instruction from the user (step S206), the basic core module 121 requests print command information from each core module (step S207), and receives the print command received from each core module. The output order is controlled and output to the printer 2 (step S208), and the process is terminated (step S209). FIG. 8 shows an example of a print command, specifically showing a print command portion related to print settings described in PJL (Printer Job Language), and then printing described in PCL (Printer Control Language). The command continues.

<Summary>
As described above, according to the present embodiment, there are the following advantages.
(1) Since the additionally installed core module is divided for each function, the user only has to verify the additionally installed function, and the number of verification steps can be reduced.
(2) By causing the user to select a necessary function, it is not necessary to download a core module corresponding to an unnecessary function, and the function to be verified can be minimized.

  The present invention has been described above by the preferred embodiments of the present invention. While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, various modifications and changes may be made to the embodiments without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims. Obviously you can. In other words, the present invention should not be construed as being limited by the details of the specific examples and the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information processing apparatus 11 OS / application 12 Printer driver 121 Basic core module 122 Function realization judgment module 123 Print command core module 124 Paper size core module 125 Color / monochrome printing core module 126 Duplex printing core module 127 Staple core module 128 Model dependent file 129 Model dependent file 2 Printer 21 Model dependent file 22 Paper size core module 23 Color / monochrome printing core module 24 Double-sided printing core module 25 Staple core module 26 Punch core module 27 Background pattern printing core module 3 Network 4 Download server

JP 2006-260356 A

Claims (9)

An information processing apparatus connected to one or more controlled printers ,
Holds one or more model-dependent files indicating one or more functions supported by the printer and that require a user interface setting including any of paper size setting, color / monochrome printing setting, duplex printing setting, and staple setting. Model-dependent file holding means,
One or more functional core modules for each of the functions for executing detailed command control processing using detailed items displayed on a user interface corresponding to the functions and displayed on a user interface and detailed processing of the printer ;
To display the initial setting screen, when a selection instruction of setting items corresponding to the functions, of the one or more functional core module, requesting a function I line of processing functional core module corresponding to the instruction received from the user Control of the user interface and the basic processing of the printer by controlling the order of the print commands for the setting contents output by the functional core module at the time of printing instruction and outputting to the printer . A basic core module that performs control processing;
When connected to the printer, the model dependent file acquiring means when it is determined whether holding a model dependent file that describes the corresponding function of the printer, not held to obtain the model dependent file,
A determination unit that analyzes a model-dependent file corresponding to the printer and determines whether or not the function core module corresponding to each of the functions indicated in the model-dependent file exists in the information processing apparatus;
Core module acquisition means for acquiring a functional core module determined not to exist by the determination means;
An information processing apparatus comprising: a core module installing unit that associates the functional core module acquired by the core module acquiring unit with the basic core module. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
The information processing apparatus, wherein the model-dependent file acquisition unit acquires the model-dependent file from the printer . The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
The information processing apparatus, wherein the model-dependent file acquisition unit acquires the model-dependent file from an external server. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The information processing apparatus, wherein the core module acquisition unit acquires the functional core module from the printer . The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The information processing apparatus, wherein the core module acquisition unit acquires the functional core module from an external server. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The core module acquisition unit displays a function corresponding to the functional core module determined not to exist by the determination unit to the user, selects whether it is necessary, and corresponds to the function selected as necessary. An information processing apparatus that acquires only a core module. An information processing apparatus connected to one or more printers to be controlled, which is one or more functions supported by the printer and includes any of paper size setting, color / monochrome printing setting, duplex printing setting, and staple setting Model-dependent file holding means for holding one or more model-dependent files indicating functions that require setting by the user interface, detailed items displayed on the user interface corresponding to the functions divided into the functional units, and basic processing of the printer One or more functional core modules for each of the functions that execute the control processing of the detailed command to be used and an initial setting screen are displayed, and at the time of the selection instruction of the setting item corresponding to the function, the one or more functional core modules among the functional line a request for processing to the functional core module corresponding to the instruction received from the user To perform the setting process, by the function sequence control of the print commands for setting output performed by the core module at the time of printing instructions outputted to the printer, control of the basic processing of the control and the printer of the user interface A control method for an information processing apparatus including a basic core module that performs processing,
When connected to the printer, the model dependent file acquisition step when it is determined whether holding a model dependent file that describes the corresponding function of the printer, not held to obtain the model dependent file,
Analyzing a model-dependent file corresponding to the printer , and determining whether the function core module corresponding to each function indicated in the model-dependent file exists in the information processing apparatus;
A core module acquisition step of acquiring a functional core module determined not to exist by the determination step;
A function management control method comprising: a core module installation step of associating the functional core module acquired in the core module acquisition step with the basic core module. An information processing apparatus connected to one or more printers to be controlled, which is one or more functions supported by the printer and includes any of paper size setting, color / monochrome printing setting, duplex printing setting, and staple setting Model-dependent file holding means for holding one or more model-dependent files indicating functions that require setting by the user interface, detailed items displayed on the user interface corresponding to the functions divided into the functional units, and basic processing of the printer One or more functional core modules for each of the functions that execute the control processing of the detailed command to be used and an initial setting screen are displayed, and at the time of the selection instruction of the setting item corresponding to the function, the one or more functional core modules among the functional line a request for processing to the functional core module corresponding to the instruction received from the user To perform the setting process, by the function sequence control of the print commands for setting output performed by the core module at the time of printing instructions outputted to the printer, control of the basic processing of the control and the printer of the user interface A control program for an information processing device comprising a basic core module for processing,
A computer constituting the information processing apparatus;
When connected to the printer, the corresponding holding a model dependent file that describes the function determines whether the held if not model dependent file acquiring means for acquiring the model dependent file of the printer,
A determination unit that analyzes a model-dependent file corresponding to the printer and determines whether the function core module corresponding to each of the functions indicated in the model-dependent file exists in the information processing apparatus;
Core module acquisition means for acquiring a functional core module determined not to exist by the determination means;
A function management control program for causing a function core module acquired by the core module acquiring means to function as a core module installing means for associating with the basic core module.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the function management control program according to claim 8 is recorded.

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