JPH09218843A - Output controller, output controlling method and storage medium including process callable by computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve efficiency by judging whether stored control information is transmitted or not based on the device information transmitted from an external device in compliance with a request. SOLUTION: When the power source of a printer is turned on and the power source is reset or the instruction from an operation panel is received, a request packet is transmitted to a broadcast by a CPU 303 through an IF 301 to transmit host side driver information as to whether the drivers of all connected hosts are possessed. Host information is received from all the hosts via a network through the IF 301 and the information is stored in a RAM 305. This host information and the printer side driver information in a driver storage memory 302 are collated and whether the host information is the adaptive type of a driver program or not is investigated. When the host information is the adaptive type, the driver program stored in the driver storage memory 302 by a prescribed format is transmitted to a host computer through the IF 301. Thus, a printing environment can be easily constructed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to simplification of print environment setting in a network environment in which print data is received from an external device and is printed by a plurality of host computers.
In particular, the present invention relates to an output control device for uploading a printer driver from a printer to a host computer, an output control method, and a storage medium including steps callable by the computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when printing from a host computer to a printer, a driver which is a program for outputting data interpretable by the printer and a utility which is a program for setting a printing environment are installed by a floppy disk or the like. Had to do. Further, the printer driver stored in advance in the printer can be uploaded by issuing an instruction including which driver the printer uploads from the host side.

[0003]

However, when there are a plurality of host computers connected to the printer due to the spread of the network, drivers and utilities are installed for each host computer, or the drivers are stored in the printer. If it is present, it is necessary to issue an upload instruction every time the power is turned on or whenever the driver is needed, which is a very inefficient problem. Also, when another host computer needs the printer driver of one host computer, each host computer needs to issue an upload instruction each time the power is turned on or the driver is needed. There was a problem that it was very inefficient.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, the print control apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration.

The request means for requesting the external device to send the device information, the storing means for storing the control information, and the control stored in the storing means based on the device information sent based on the requesting means. And a determination means for determining whether or not to transmit the information.

Based on the requesting step of requesting the external apparatus to send the apparatus information, the storing step of storing the control information, and the requesting method, it is determined whether or not the control information stored by the storing method is transmitted. And a determination step to perform.

Based on the requesting step of requesting the external apparatus to send the apparatus information, the storing step of storing the control information, and the requesting method, it is determined whether or not to transmit the control information stored by the storing method. And a determination step to perform.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The configuration of the laser beam printer to which this embodiment is applied will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of a laser beam printer (hereinafter referred to as LBP) of this embodiment.
Is configured so that it is possible to perform registration of character patterns and affiliated forms (form data) from a data source (not shown). In the figure, reference numeral 101 denotes an LBP main body for inputting and storing character information (character code) supplied from an external device (not shown), form information or a macro command. In addition, a corresponding character pattern, form pattern, or the like is created according to the information, and an image is formed on a recording sheet that is a recording medium. The operation panel 102 is provided with switches for operation and an LED display and an LCD display for displaying the status of the printer 101. The printer control unit 103 controls the entire LBP 101 and analyzes character information supplied from an external device. The printer 101 control unit 103 mainly converts into a video signal of a character pattern corresponding to character information and outputs it to the laser driver 106. The laser driver 106 is a circuit for driving the semiconductor laser 107, and switches on / off the laser light 105 emitted from the semiconductor laser 107 in accordance with the input video signal. The laser beam 105 is oscillated in the left-right direction by the rotary polygon mirror 104 to scan and expose the electrostatic drum 108. As a result, an electrostatic latent image of a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 108. This latent image is developed by a developing unit 109 arranged around the electrostatic drum 108, and then transferred to be recorded. A cut sheet is used as the recording sheet, and the cut sheet recording sheet is stored in a sheet cassette 112 mounted on the LBP 101, and the sheet feeding roller 111 and the conveying roller 1 are used.
It is taken into the apparatus by 10 and supplied to the electrostatic drum 108. The transferred recording paper is ejected out of the apparatus by the paper ejection roller 115. The present embodiment is also applied to a bubble jet printer (hereinafter BJ), and its configuration will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, a drive motor 501
Driving force transmission gears 5011, 50
An ink jet cartridge IJC is mounted on the carriage HC that engages with the spiral groove 5004 of the lead screw 5005 that rotates via 09. 50
A paper pressing plate 02 presses the paper against the platen 5000 in the carriage movement direction. 5007,
Reference numeral 5008 denotes a photo coupler, which is a lever 500 for the carriage.
6 functions as a home position detecting means for confirming the existence of 6 in this area and switching the rotation direction of the motor 5013. Reference numeral 5016 is a member for instructing a cap member 5022 for capping the entire surface of the recording head, and 5015 is a suction means for sucking the inside of the cap, and the cap opening 50 is formed.
The suction recovery of the recording head is performed via 023. 5017
Is a cleaning blade, which can be moved in the front-rear direction by a member 5019. Reference numeral 5018 denotes a main body instruction plate, which is 5 above.
017, 5019 are supported. Reference numeral 5012 is a lever for starting suction for suction recovery, which moves in accordance with the movement of the cam 5020 that engages with the carriage, and the driving force from the driving motor is controlled by known transmission means such as clutch switching. To be done. The capping, cleaning, and suction recovery are configured so that the desired processing can be performed at their corresponding positions by the action of the lead screw 5005 when the carriage comes to the home position side area.
It may be configured to perform a desired operation at a known timing. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. The printing system according to this embodiment includes host computers 201 and 202 connected to a network for setting print data and various printing conditions, and a printing apparatus 203 that stores a main printing program of the present invention. As a configuration,
For example, the LBP 101 of FIG. 1 or the BJ of FIG. 13 is used. Generally, in order to send print data to the printer 203 and perform printing, it is necessary to convert the internal format data of the host computer into a data format that the printer 203 can interpret and send it to the printer 203. A program for performing data conversion on the host computer 201 is called a driver, and the host computer 20 can be used in advance.
Must exist above 1. A dedicated program for managing various printing conditions of the printer 203 from the host computer is called a utility. Here, management items of various printing conditions will be described below.

Version information of basic software on the host side Information that identifies the type of basic software called an OS that operates the hardware on the host side. For example, "Wind"
ows3.1 ”or“ MS_DOS Ver6.
Information is obtained as a character string such as 2 "(registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation, USA).

Total amount of mounted memory on the host side The memory (RAM) capacity of the host computer 201 or 202.

File name of printer driver Information for specifying the printer driver, and returns the location and file name of the file with a full path. For example, "C: \ WIN95 \ SYSTEM \ LIPS3M
S. The information is obtained as a character string such as "DRV".

Version information of printer driver Even if the drivers are for the same printer, there are various versions, and the movements and sending command sequences are slightly different. Therefore, the version information is used to identify the printer driver. It will be mandatory. For example, "ESC / P
age Ver. 3.16 ”or“ LIPS4 V
Information is obtained as a character string such as "er3.20".

Paper orientation [vertical, horizontal] Designates the printing direction relative to the paper orientation. Select whether to print on the paper in portrait layout (portrait) or landscape layout (landscape).

Vertical: Vertical layout Horizontal: Horizontal layout

Paper size [A4, B5, A5, postcard] Select the paper size of the document to be printed.

Resolution [1200DPI, 600DP
I, 300 DPI] Specifies the print resolution.

Paper feeding method [automatic, upper cassette, lower cassette, tray] The paper feeding method is set.

Automatic: Instructs the printer to automatically select the paper size set in "paper size".

Upper cassette: Instructs the printer to select the paper in the upper cassette.

Lower cassette: Instructs the printer to select the paper in the lower cassette when the optional lower cassette is installed.

Tray paper size [A4, B5, A5,
Postcard]

Guarantee memory [panel priority, automatic, not] The memory of the printer 203 is used for various purposes such as a drawing memory used for processing print data and a registration memory used for overlay printing. Used. In particular, if the drawing memory is small, the drawing memory may be insufficient depending on the size and contents of the printing paper. In this item, how much the drawing memory of the printer 203 is allocated is set.

Panel priority: The settings made on the operation panel 102 of the printer 203 are used.

Automatic: A drawing memory is automatically secured according to the memory capacity of the printer. (At this time, try to secure as much drawing memory as possible.)

No: The drawing memory is secured to the minimum necessary so that the registration memory can be used more.

Image host expansion [Yes / No] When multi-valued data is sent to a monochrome binary printer, this item is “enabled” if the binarization processing is to be performed on the host side.
Set to. If this item is set to "No", multi-valued data will be sent to the printer as it is. In this case, the PDL of the printer is used for binarization processing.

Color correction [Yes or No] Specifies the type of processing for performing color matching processing.

Smoothing processing [Panel priority, no, do] It is set whether or not to use the smoothing processing function for smoothing the jaggedness of the outlines of figures and characters.

Number of copies to be printed [0 to 99] Specifies the number of copies to be printed.

TrueType font Select a processing method for printing a TrueType font on the host side from the following three methods.

Output in printer font: Prints by replacing all TrueType fonts displayed on the monitor with printer fonts. The printer driver to be replaced is automatically selected by the printer driver.

Use of replacement table ......... Prints the specified one of the TrueType fonts displayed on the monitor according to a preset font replacement table.

High-speed graphic output ... True
Select when using the function to print Type fonts at high speed. Only the characters to be used are expanded on the host side and registered in the printer. For the characters to be used twice or more, use the characters that have been registered in advance without re-expanding on the host side.
Printing is performed at high speed.

Overlay [Registration, Printing] The overlay function is a function in which items to be printed on all pages are registered in advance as forms, and then the items are printed on top of each other. This saves the trouble of transmitting the same document each time printing is performed.

When "Register" is selected in the overlay setting item, the print data is not sent to the printer, and the form file has the name set in the file name item and is displayed on the host side as an overlay page. It is registered on the hard disk. When "print" is selected, the normal print result is sent to the printer by superimposing it on the form file set in the item of file name.

Similarly, the utility needs to install the above-mentioned printer driver in the host computer 201 in advance.

In the present invention, the printers 203 can be used by the above-mentioned drivers and utilities by using floppy disks or the like for the number of host computers without performing the installation work. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a part of the printing apparatus 203 shown in FIG. 2 that is necessary to execute the functions of the present invention. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes an interface which is connected to a network or the like and inputs print data, a print condition setting command, and outputs the driver and utility to a host computer. 3
Reference numeral 02 denotes a driver storage memory for storing the driver and utility, and information on the driver and the type of utility, which is a function in the ROM. 3
03 is a microprocessor type central processing unit (CP
U), and is configured in the form of a sequential circuit having, for example, a clock pulse generating circuit, a delay circuit, a gate circuit, and other logic circuits. 304 is a read-only memory (RO
M), and when the CPU supplies the control signal to each unit,
For example, it stores micro-instruction groups necessary for sequentially informing the CPU of control procedures as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, and various information necessary for data conversion processing. 30
5 is a readable / writable random access memory (RAM)
In addition to having an area for storing the operation state of each device, it also has a work area necessary for executing each process. 306 is a CPU and interface, and RAM 30
5 and the ROM 304 are electrically connected to each other and are bus lines used for transferring memory addresses and data. FIG. 4 shows a packet format when the printing apparatus sends a host information request to the host computer in the present invention. The packet indicates that this packet is a program packet, and a packet identification 401, which is a command for instructing the host computer 201 which host information is required, and a plurality of printers 203 on the network or the like. It is composed of a printer identification 402 for identifying which printer 203 the printer 203 is connected to, and printer information 403 which is information such as the model of the printer 203. FIG. 5 is a packet format of host information that the host computer 201 sends back in response to a request from the printer 203. The packet is a host address 41 for identifying which host computer is on the network.
1 and a host type 412 that identifies the model of the host
And an OS type 413 that identifies what operating system is used in the host computer, and a number of installed drivers 414 that indicates how many printer drivers are installed in the host computer. , Driver information 415, which is information such as the model and version of the corresponding printer 203. FIG. 6 shows a packet format when the printing apparatus sends the driver and the utility to the host computer 201 in the present invention. The packet is composed of a packet header 421 that indicates that this packet is a program packet, a program header 422 that indicates information about the execution format program that follows, and an actual execution program 423. The program header and the executable program are always used in pairs, and one or more pairs can be included in the packet. FIG. 7 shows a detailed format of the packet header of the packet shown in FIG. The packet header includes a packet identification 501 indicating that this packet is a program packet, an applicable model identification 502 indicating the type of host computer or operating system on which the program that follows can operate, and the number of programs that follow. The number of programs 503 shown and the packet length 504 showing the total data length
It consists of. FIG. 8 shows a detailed format of the program header in the packet of FIG. The program header includes a program type 601 indicating the type of the following program such as a driver, a version identification indicating the version of the following program,
It consists of an object length that indicates the length of the program.
FIG. 9 illustrates a driver storage memory 211 that stores drivers and information about the drivers in the host computer 201 and a driver storage memory 302 that stores drivers and information about the drivers in the printing apparatus 203 in FIG. The data and the structure of the program are shown. Each driver is written in the horizontal direction, and information about the driver is written in the vertical direction. Explaining from the side of the host computer 201, first, some drivers 710 are stored like 1, 2, 3, ... As shown in FIG. 9, and information 701 to 704 is stored for each of these drivers. Is stored. Here, the host model 701 indicates the type of the host computer 201, and the OS 702 indicates the type of operating system. These two are called host information. Compatible printer 203
The model 703 indicates the model of the printer 203 that can be controlled by the driver. Version 704 refers to the version of the driver. These four are called host side driver information. In the printing apparatus 203, some drivers 720 are stored as 1, 2, 3, ... As shown in FIG. 9, and information of 705 to 708 is stored for each of the drivers. The compatible host model 705 refers to the host model compatible with the driver, and the compatible OS 706 refers to the operating system compatible with the driver. These two are called host information of the printer driver. Printer model 707
Refers to the type of printer 203, version 70
Reference numeral 8 indicates a driver version. These four are called printer side driver information. These are stored for each driver. The information from 701 to 708 is stored also in the case of the utility, not the driver.

Next, the operation of the printer 203 when the power is turned on, when the printer 203 is reset, or when an instruction is received from the panel 102 will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. Further, in this case, even if the driver is replaced with the utility, the same idea can be considered. First, when the printer 203 is turned on or reset, or when an instruction is issued from the operation panel 102, in step S801, the IF 301 is provided with the driver information of all the hosts connected to the IF 301. In the format shown in FIG. 4, the request packet to be sent is sent by the CPU 303 to the IF3.
Broadcast through 01. In this broadcast transmission, there is an address that points to all host computers among the host addresses that identify each host. For example, 1 to 254 in this address point to each host and 255 Are all hosts, and they instruct to send packets to this address of 255. By instructing this, the packet will be sent to all connected hosts. Next, in step S802, the host information, which is a reply to the host information request transmitted in step S801, is received from all connected hosts through the IF 301 via the network, and RAM is stored as data for each address.
Store in 305. This host information is information of the host model 701, OS 702, and corresponding printer model 703 and version 704 corresponding to each driver shown in FIG. 7, and in FIG. 5, the host type 412, OS type 413,
The number of installed drivers 414 and driver information 415. If the number of installed drivers is 0, the driver information 415 is not sent. These pieces of information are stored together with the host address 411. Next, in step 803, it is confirmed whether the host computer 201 has a driver. This is confirmed by the number of installed drivers 414 sent from the host computer 201. If the host 201 has a driver here, step S80.
4, the host side driver information and the printer side driver information received in step S802 are checked to see if the host has the driver stored in the printer 203. That is, the CPU 303 causes the RA
The host-side driver information stored in M305 and the printer-side driver information in the driver storage memory 302 are compared to determine whether they are the same. If they do not match, the process proceeds to S805, and it is confirmed whether the comparison has been completed for all the drivers in the printer 203. If not completed, the process advances to step S806 to instruct to move to the next driver. This is the printer 20 as shown in FIG.
Several drivers are stored in 3, and the drivers 1, 2, 3, and
Then, when the comparison of the driver 2 is completed, an instruction is given to compare the driver 3. When the instruction is completed, the process returns to S804. If the drivers match, S80
Move to 7. If the host computer 201 does not have the driver in S803, the process proceeds to step S807, where the host information stored in the RAM 305 is compared with the printer-side host information stored in the driver storage memory 302, respectively. Check if the model is compatible with the driver program. For host model 701, compatible host model 705, OS 70
2 is determined by whether or not it corresponds to the corresponding OS 706. The condition is that both the host model 701 and the corresponding host model 705 and the OS 702 and the corresponding OS match. If not applicable model, S8
Move to 09. If it is an applicable model, step S80
8, the driver program stored in the driver storage memory 302 in the format shown in FIG.
/ F301 to the host computer 201. Next, in step S809, check whether all the steps have been performed for the connected host computer,
If not completed, the process returns to the next host computer. As described above, the print data corresponding to the printer 203 is sent to the host computer without the need to install the floppy disk.
Alternatively, it becomes possible to set printing conditions.

Although the driver program stored in advance in the printing apparatus has been described here as an example, the driver storage memory 302 may be stored in a writable non-volatile memory or a fixed disk instead of the ROM. If the driver is downloaded from the host computer 201 to the printing device, the driver program is uploaded to another connected host computer 201 as in the present embodiment. You can

(Other Embodiments) Here, the driver storage memory 302 is connected so as to be stored in a writable non-volatile memory such as a flash memory or a hard disk instead of a ROM. An example of storing the data from the host computer 201 in the driver storage memory 302 and loading it to another host computer will be described. This operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 11 particularly for the driver. First, when the printer is powered on, when it is reset, or when the operation panel 102 is used.
Is instructed by the printer 20 in step S901.
The CPU 303 sends a request command to the CPU 3 to send the driver held by the host computer 201.
Blows to host computer 201 through / F301.
Send the broadcast. This request command is issued by the printer 203.
If the driver is not stored in the printer 203, the driver is sent back, and even if the driver is stored in the printer 203, the host computer 201 owns a driver having a higher priority than the driver stored in the printer 203. If so, the driver is requested to be sent back. The priorities here include, for example, that the driver versions are in the top order. The version of this driver is stored in 704 on the host side and 708 on the printer side in FIG. 9, and this data is compared. The process proceeds to step S902, the driver and driver type information sent back from the host computer 201 in response to the request command is received through the I / F 301, and if there is driver and driver information stored before reception, the information is erased and overwritten. Then, it is stored in the driver storage memory 302. For example, if the host has a version driver higher than the second driver of the printer 203, the driver and the driver information are overwritten and stored in the printer side 2. In step S903, it is confirmed whether the processing has been completed for all host computers. If not completed, the process returns to S902 to continue the process. If it is completed, the process proceeds to S801 in FIG. 10 and is performed as in the above embodiment. By doing so, the driver can be received from the host and sent to another host. Although the driver has been described here, the utility is similarly operated. As a result, it becomes possible to easily deal with the upgrade of the driver or the utility.

Further, the two embodiments described above are ROM
It can be implemented by a program stored in or by supplying the program from a storage medium such as a floppy disk. The memory map of this storage medium will be described with reference to FIG. Printer basic software 91
1 receives the instruction from the host 201, and the printer 20
It stores the programs required to output from 3rd.
The basic network software 912 stores programs necessary for delivering data and programs in the network. Network extension basic software 9
Reference numeral 13 stores the program shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 of the present invention, and is composed of 921 to 924. The driver information request unit 921 uses the printer 2
The command (FIG. 10S801, or FIG. 11S901) for requesting host information from the host computer 03 is stored. The driver information receiving unit 922 stores a command (FIG. 10S802 or FIG. 11S902) for receiving the returned driver information. The driver information analysis unit 923 determines whether the host 201 has a driver,
The driver of the host 201 and the printer 203 are the same, or the driver compatible with the host 201 is the printer 201.
Command to determine whether or not
04, S807) is stored. Driver information 91
Reference numeral 4 denotes driver information stored in the printer, that is, 705 to 70 for 1, 2, 3, ... In FIG.
Equivalent to 8. This is stored for each driver. The driver 915 uses the driver information 914.
The driver corresponding to is stored.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, when there are a plurality of host computers for printing on a certain printer, it is not necessary to perform installation work on all host computers using a medium such as a floppy disk. Also, the driver requests the host information from the printer side to the host side only by turning on the power to the printer without giving an instruction from the host, and which driver is stored in the printer according to the information sent according to the request. Alternatively, by sending or controlling the utility software, the driver can be automatically uploaded, and thus the printing environment can be easily constructed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a laser beam printer of this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the printer system according to the present exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a print control apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a detailed format of a host information request packet of this embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a detailed format of a host information packet sent from the host of this embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a format of a transmission packet of the driver and utility program of this embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a detailed format of a packet header in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a detailed format of a program header in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a driver storage memory of a host and a printer.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation in this embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an operation when storing a driver when a memory storing the driver is a non-volatile memory in this embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a memory map of a memory that stores a program instructing an operation in this embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the bubble jet printer of this embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 201 host computer 203 printer 301 interface 302 driver storage memory 304 ROM 305 RAM 701 host model 702 OS 703 compatible printer model 704 host driver version 705 host driver 706 compatible OS 707 printer model 708 printer driver Version 710 Host side driver 720 Printer side driver

Claims (51)

[Claims] 1. A request unit for requesting an external device to send device information, a storage unit for storing control information, and a storage unit for storing the device information based on the device information sent by the request unit. An output control device comprising: a determination unit that determines whether or not to transmit the control information. 2. The output control device comprises storage information requesting means for requesting that the control information stored in the storage means be sent from the external device, and the storage means is based on the storage information requesting means. The output control device according to claim 1, wherein the control information to be sent is stored. 3. The output control device according to claim 2, wherein the storage information requesting unit requests transmission of the control information under a specific condition. 4. The output control device according to claim 3, wherein the storage unit is a flash memory. 5. The output control device according to claim 3, wherein the storage means is a hard disk. 6. The control information is prioritized, and the specific condition is such that the control information stored in the external device has a higher priority than the control information stored in the storage means. Alternatively, the control information is not stored in the storage means.
The output control device described in 4 or 5. 7. The output control device according to claim 6, wherein the priority order is a new order of driver versions. 8. The output control device is included in a printer.
An output control device according to item 1. 9. The external device is a host computer, and the external device is a host computer.
An output control device according to item 1. 10. The output control according to claim 1, wherein the control information is control software that can be interpreted and executed by the external device. apparatus. 11. The requesting means performs the broadcast transmission to perform the request.
The output control device according to 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. 12. The requesting means makes a request when the power is turned on.
The output control device according to 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. 13. The requesting means requests when an instruction from a panel is sent.
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, the output control device. 14. The determination means determines based on the type of the external device and the type of control software in the external device to not transmit the control information. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,
The output control device according to 10, 11, 12, and 13. 15. The determination means determines that the control information stored in the storage means should not be transmitted when the control information is stored in the external device. , 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,
The output control device according to 13, 14. 16. The output control device comprises a transmission means for transmitting control information to the external device when the determination means determines to transmit the transmission information. , 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 1
The output control device according to 2, 13, 14, and 15. 17. The device information is a host type, an operating system type, a driver compatible model, and a driver version.
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 1
The output control device according to 3, 14, 15, and 16. 18. A request process for requesting an external device to send device information, a storing process for storing control information, and whether to transmit the control information stored by the storing method based on the request method. And a determination step for determining. 19. A storage information requesting step for requesting to send the control information to be stored by the storing step,
The storage step stores the control information sent based on the storage information request step.
8. The output control method according to item 8. 20. The output control method according to claim 19, wherein the storage information requesting step requests transmission of the control information under a specific condition. 21. The output control method according to claim 20, wherein the storing step is performed by using a flash memory. 22. The output control method according to claim 20, wherein the storing step is performed by using a hard disk. 23. The control information is prioritized, and the specific condition is such that the control information stored in the external device has a higher priority than the control information stored by the storing step. 23. The output control method according to claim 20, wherein the control information is not stored in the storing step. 24. The output control method according to claim 23, wherein the priority order is a new order of driver versions. 25. The output control step is controlled by a printer that controls printing.
The output control device according to 8, 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24. 26. The external device is a host computer, wherein the external device is a host computer.
The output control method according to 2, 23, 24, 25. 27. The control information is control software which can be interpreted and executed by the external device, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25,
26. The output control method according to 26. 28. The requesting step is performed by broadcast transmission.
The output control method according to 1, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27. 29. The request process is requested when the power is turned on.
The output control method according to 2, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28. 30. The request process according to claim 18, wherein the request is made when an instruction from the panel is sent.
0, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28
Output control method. 31. The determining step determines according to the type of the external device and the type of control software in the external device not to transmit the control information. , 22, 23, 2
4, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30. 32. The determining step comprises determining not to transmit when the control information stored by the storage method is stored in the external device. , 23, 24, 25, 2
6, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 output control method. 33. The output control step includes a transmission step of transmitting control information to the external device when the determination step determines that the output is to be transmitted. , 23, 24, 25, 2
The output control method according to 6, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32. 34. The device information is a host type, an operating system type, a driver compatible model, and a driver version.
8, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 2
The output control method according to 7, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33. 35. A request process for requesting an external device to send device information, a storing process for storing control information, and a storing process by the storing process based on the device information sent based on the requesting process. A storage medium storing a computer-readable program, including a determination step of determining whether to transmit the control information. 36. The storage medium comprises a storage information requesting step of requesting to send the control information stored in the storage step from the external device, and the storage step comprises:
The storage medium according to claim 35, wherein the control information transmitted based on the storage information requesting step is stored. 37. The storage medium according to claim 36, wherein the storage information requesting step requests transmission of the control information under a specific condition. 38. The storage medium according to claim 37, wherein the storing step stores in a flash memory. 39. The storage medium according to claim 37, wherein the storing step stores in a hard disk. 40. The control information is provided with a priority order, and the specific condition is such that the control information stored in the external device has a higher priority order than the control information stored by the storing step. 40. The storage medium according to claim 37, 38 or 39, wherein control information is not stored in the storing step. 41. The storage medium according to claim 40, wherein the priority order is the newest version of the driver version. 42. The external device is a host computer, 35, 37, 38, 39,
The storage medium according to 40 or 41. 43. The control information is control software that can be interpreted and executed by the external device, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 4.
The storage medium according to 1, 42. 44. The requesting step is performed by broadcast transmission.
The storage medium according to 8, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43. 45. The requesting step makes a request when the power is turned on.
The storage medium according to 9, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44. 46. The request process according to claim 35, wherein a request is made when an instruction from the panel is sent.
7, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44. 47. The determining step determines according to the type of the external device and the type of control software in the external device not to transmit the control information. , 39, 40, 4
The storage medium according to 1, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46. 48. The determining step determines that the control information stored in the storing step is not transmitted when the control information is stored in the external device. , 40, 41, 42, 4
The storage medium according to 3, 44, 45, 46, 47. 49. The storage medium comprises a transmission step of transmitting control information to the external device when the determination means determines to transmit the storage medium. 40, 41, 42, 43, 4
4, 45, 46, 47, 48. 50. The device information includes a host type, an operating system type, a driver compatible model, and a driver version.
5, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 4
The storage medium according to 4, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49. 51. The storage medium is removable from a printer that controls printing.
7, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 4
5, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50 storage medium.