JPH09251355A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer capable of carrying out the version-up of a printer program without any operation of a user. SOLUTION: A controller board 1 periodically accesses a network server 11 every three days for instance based on a program stored in a program ROM 4 beforehand and retrieves whether or not the printer driver program and the system program of this printer of the version newer than the version stored in an HDD(hard disk drive) 5 are up-loaded. In the case that the new version is present, it is down-loaded from the network server 11 to the HDD 5 and then, the abstract is stored in the HDD 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer operated by a program such as a system program and a driver program, and more particularly to version upgrade of a printer program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a driver for operating a printer is created by a unique program for each printer, and when there are 10 types of printers in a network environment, 10 types are provided for each computer connected to the network. You have to install the driver. Similarly, when the driver is upgraded, the driver must be installed in each computer using a floppy disk.

As a conventional method, a method in which a driver is stored in a network server and a user operates the network server to install the driver in a printer via a network is considered. Further, as another conventional method, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-112424 discloses a method in which a user operates a host computer to download a program to a printer.

[0004]

However, in the method in which the user operates the network server or the host computer to install the program on the printer via the network, the user operates the network server or the host computer every time the version is upgraded. There is a problem that the operation is troublesome because it must be done.
Further, if the number of printers is only one, the trouble is not a problem, but if the number of printers is large, enormous labor is required.

In view of the above conventional problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a printer capable of upgrading a printer program without any user operation.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises storage means for storing a program,
The server on the network is periodically inquired whether there is a newer version than the program of the system program or driver program stored in the storage means, and if there is a new version, the program of that version is downloaded, and It has a means to store in a storage means.

According to the present invention, a storage means for storing a program and an inquiry for a driver program from a host computer on a network, and a driver program responded from the host computer is stored in the storage means. And a means for uploading the driver program stored in the storage means to the host computer when it is old.

According to the present invention, a storage means for storing a program and an inquiry for a driver program from a host computer on a network, and a driver program responded from the host computer is stored in the storage means. When it is new, the program is downloaded and stored in the storage means.

Further, the program downloaded to the storage means can be replaced by an instruction from a host computer.

The abstract of the downloaded and uploaded program can be printed out.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a network provided with a printer according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printer of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a process of downloading from a server to the printer. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the process of uploading from the printer to the client computer, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the process of downloading from the client computer to the printer.

A server computer 11, a client computer 12 and a printer 13 are connected to the network shown in FIG. The printer 13 has a controller board 1 and an operation panel 8, and the controller board 1
As shown in detail in FIG. 2, it has a CPU 2, a RAM 3, a program ROM 4, an HDD (hard disk drive) 5 as a mass storage device, a host I / F 6 and an engine I / F 7.

The CPU 2 stores programs stored in the program ROM 4 in advance, mode processing from the operation panel 8,
The entire printer 13 is controlled by commands from the host computers 11 and 12. The RAM 3 is used as a work memory, an input buffer, a page buffer, a memory for download, and the HDD 5 is used to store a driver system program and the like. The host I / F 6 bidirectionally communicates with the host computers 11 and 12, and the engine I / F 7 is used to control a printer engine (not shown).

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIG. The controller board 1 performs the processing shown in FIG.
Based on a program stored in advance in the M4, the program is periodically executed, for example, every three days (step S1), first, the network server 11 is accessed, and the printer version newer than the version stored in the HDD 5 is stored.
It is searched whether or not the driver program or the printer system program has been uploaded (steps S2 to S4). If there is a new version, it is downloaded from the network server 11 to the HDD 5 (steps S4 → S5), and then the abstract is stored in the HDD 5 (step S6).

The process shown in FIG. 4 starts when a print request is received from the client computer 12, for example.
First, the client computer 12 is inquired about the current driver version (step S11). Then, if there is a version older than the version stored in the HDD 5 among the current driver versions returned from the client computer 12, that version is uploaded to the client computer 12 (steps S12 to S14), and then, HDD abstract
5 (step S15).

The process shown in FIG. 5 also starts when a print request is received from the client computer 12 (step S21), and first, the client computer 12 is inquired about the current driver version (step S2).
2). Then, if the current driver version returned from the client computer 12 is newer than the version stored in the HDD 5, the version is downloaded from the client computer 12 to the HDD 5 (steps S23 to S2).
5) Then, the abstract is stored in the HDD 5 (step S26).

When the abstract is stored in the HDD 5 upon uploading or downloading as described above,
The address of the destination computer, the date and time at that time, etc. are recorded as an abstract, and output by the printer engine when there is a command or an output request from the operation panel 8.

Therefore, according to the above-described embodiment, the printer 13 can automatically upgrade the program without the user performing any operation. In addition to the above operation, the
If the program downloaded to the printer 13 can be replaced by operating 2, the program on the printer 13 side can be always updated to the latest version.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, the server on the network is periodically inquired whether or not there is a new version of the system program or the driver program, and when there is a new version. Since the program of that version is downloaded, the printer program can be upgraded without any user operation.

Further, the host computer on the network is inquired whether or not there is a new version of the system program or driver program, and the new version is uploaded from the printer to the host computer or downloaded from the host computer to the printer. Therefore, the program of the entire system can be upgraded without the user performing any operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a network including a printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the printer of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of downloading from a server to a printer.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of uploading from a printer to a client computer.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of downloading from a client computer to a printer.

[Explanation of Codes] 2 CPU 5 HDD 11 Client computer 12 Server computer 13 Printer

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A storage unit for storing a program, and a server on a network, which periodically inquires of a system program or a driver program stored in the storage unit whether or not there is a newer version of the program. A printer having a new version, which downloads the program of the version and stores the program in the storage means. 2. Storage means for storing a program, and an inquiry about a driver program from a host computer on a network, wherein the driver program returned from the host computer is older than the driver program stored in the storage means. A printer having means for uploading the driver program stored in the storage means to a host computer. 3. Storage means for storing a program, and a driver program inquired from a host computer on a network, and when the driver program responded from the host computer is newer than the driver program stored in the storage means. A printer having means for downloading the program and storing the program in the storage means. 4. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the program downloaded to said storage means can be replaced by an instruction from a host computer. 5. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the abstract of the downloaded and uploaded program can be printed out.