JPH11212813A - Unit and method for device control - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To substantially improve or correct the firmware of peripheral equipment by the best method simpler than ROM replacement. SOLUTION: A printer driver (device driver) 5 on a host computer 1 monitors error occurrence to the printer (peripheral equipment) 3 and when the number of times or frequency of error occurrence exceeds a threshold value, the printer driver changes command contents regarding the error to be issued to the same printer 3 into contents for the evasion of the error and sends them to the printer 3. For example, when an error occurs frequently at the time of postal card feeding owing to a problem of the firmware for the post card feeding of the printer 3, a paper feed command is changed into a command using the firmware for envelope feeding instead of post card feeding and the command is sent even when a form kind as a print condition is a post card.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for controlling computer peripherals.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a general computer system in which peripheral devices such as a printer and a scanner are connected to a host computer, programs called device drivers and device monitors specific to each peripheral device are mounted on the host computer. By executing the program, the host computer can control and monitor the status of each peripheral device (hereinafter, this type of program is collectively referred to as a "device driver" in the present specification, and the A computer that performs this function or hardware that performs the same function is called a "device control device."

[0003] With the recent development of communication networks, it has become very easy to update software running on a host computer by transferring files through a communication line. Device drivers are no exception, so late-stage device drivers that improve or fix bugs in early-stage device drivers are distributed to users from servers on the peripheral device maker side, for example, via the Internet. .

[0004]

On the other hand, even in the case of the same software, the firmware in the ROM mounted on the peripheral device cannot be rewritten by the above simple method. Therefore, even if improved firmware is developed, it cannot be easily provided to the user. In particular, if there is a bug in the firmware, most of those bugs are not essential to the functioning of the printer (eg, minor glitches in special modes), but R
The user has to force the trouble of OM exchange.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to allow peripheral firmware to be substantially improved or modified in a sub-optimal manner that is simpler than ROM replacement.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A device control apparatus according to the present invention monitors the occurrence of an error in a device and, when the frequency or frequency of occurrence of the error exceeds a predetermined threshold, creates a control command for the same device thereafter. When you do
It has a function of changing the content of a predetermined control command related to the error. For example, if there is a bug in a certain firmware written in the ROM of a device and an error occurs due to the bug, the error or frequency of the error becomes equal to or greater than a threshold value, and the relevant device for the same device is The content of the command using the firmware is changed to a content that avoids the error (for example, another command that uses another firmware that can substitute for the firmware). Alternatively, for example, if a specific error frequently occurs after replacing the replacement part of the device with a new version, after the time when the number of times or frequency of the error reaches a threshold, the command content related to the error is: The contents are changed to avoid the error (for example, the parameters and data of the command are corrected). In this manner, the present invention can substantially eliminate bugs and defects in firmware by changing commands on the device controller without changing the ROM of the device.

The device control device preferably further has a function of inquiring the device about the version of the component of the device, and the version information of the device to be controlled has the number of errors or the frequency of the device whose frequency has reached the threshold value. It can be configured to change the command only when it is the same. Thus, for example, a command change is performed for a device having an old version of ROM having a bug, and a command change is not performed for a device having a new version of ROM having a fixed bug. Can be done automatically.

A device driver for operating a computer as the device control device of the present invention can be installed in the computer through various media such as a disk-type storage and a semiconductor memory. The most effective method is through a communication network. How to load it on the computer.

[0009]

FIG. 1 shows a basic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

A printer 3 is connected to the host computer 1. The host computer 1 has a printer driver 5, which can perform bidirectional communication with the printer 3. The printer 3 interprets a print command sent from a print engine 9 for actually printing an image on a sheet, a paper feed mechanism 11 for sending a sheet to the print engine 9, and a printer driver 7, and prints an image. And a controller 7 for driving the print engine 9 and the paper feed mechanism 11. The controller 9 is a microcomputer, and an RO in which firmware for operating the controller is written.
M13. The firmware in the ROM 13 includes many programs for various processes performed by the controller 7, for example, command interpretation, image rendering, halftoning, paper feed control, error processing, status management, and the like. , Three kinds of programs for paper feed control, that is, a normal paper feed program 1
5A, only the envelope feed program 15B and the postcard feed program 15C are shown as an example.

The printer driver 5 has a GUI unit 21 and a command generation unit 23. The GUI unit 21 provides a GUI to the user and determines print conditions such as color / monochrome, paper size, paper type, resolution, and print page according to the user's settings on the GUI. The command generation unit 23
A print command for causing the printer 3 to print the document data to be printed passed from the application through the OS under the printing conditions determined by the GUI unit 21 is passed to the OS to send the print command to the printer 3. .

When generating a print command, the command generating unit 23 inquires the printer 3 about the version (firmware version) of the ROM 13 and the versions of various components, and if the version is a predetermined one, a specific It has a function of changing the content of the print command to another content. This command change function can be used for the purpose of substantially improving the firmware in the printer ROM 13 or correcting a bug. For example, it is assumed that a bug is found in the postcard feeding program 15C in the ROM 13 of the specific version “01.00”, but it is found that the postcard feeding can be performed without any problem by using the envelope feeding program 15B instead. In this case, the new printer driver 5 is provided with the ROM 1 of version "01.00".
Even if the printing condition is the postcard type, the printer 3 having a command change function for creating a command requesting envelope feeding instead of postcard feeding is provided to the printer 3 having Bugs can be eliminated. Alternatively, it is assumed that when new special printing paper released after a certain period is used, it is found that the image quality is improved by slightly changing the ink dot gain according to the program in the ROM 13 of the existing version. In this case, the new printer driver 5 enables the new printing paper to be set in the GUI unit 21. When the printing condition paper type is the new paper, the existing printer 3 is A function of changing a parameter of a print command or image data can be provided so as to change the dot gain to a value suitable for the paper.
Alternatively, when a new version of the ink released after a certain period is used, the existing version of the ROM 13 is used.
Suppose that it is found that the image quality is improved by slightly changing the color conversion table in the table. In that case, the new printer driver 5 requires the existing printer 3 equipped with the new version of the ink cartridge to
A function of changing the parameters of the print command or the image data can be provided so as to obtain the same result as changing the color conversion table to one suitable for the paper.

FIG. 2 shows a processing flow of the printer driver 5 and the printer 3 (controller 7) when performing printing.

The printer driver 5 first inquires the printer 3 about the versions of the ROM 13 and other components (for example, the above-described ink cartridge) (step S1). When a version response is received from the printer 3 (S8), the printer driver 5 stores the version information (S2). Next, the printer driver 5
The printing conditions are determined according to the user's setting on the GUI (default setting if no setting is made) (s3). Thereafter, when a print execution command is input from the user, the printer driver 5 starts a command generation process. First, it is checked whether or not a predetermined cautionary version is included in the version information acquired from the printer 3. For example, in the example of the postcard feeding bug described above, the version “01.00” of the ROM 13 is the caution version. Further, in the above-described example of the new printing paper, all existing ROM versions at the time of release of the printing paper are all caution versions. In the above-described example of the new ink cartridge, the combination of each of the existing ROM versions at the time of release of the new cartridge and the version of the new cartridge is the cautionary version.

If there is no such cautionary version in the version information, the printer driver 5 creates a print command normally in accordance with the determined printing conditions as it is (S5) and sends it to the printer 3 (S7). . On the other hand, when the caution version is included in the version information, the content of the predetermined command is changed to the predetermined alternative content using the command change function corresponding to the caution version (S6). For example, in the above-described example, if the ROM 13 is version "01.00", the command for postcard feeding is changed to the command for envelope feeding, or the ROM version is the existing version at the time of release of the new printing paper. If there is, change the parameter or image data of the related command to change the dot gain,
Alternatively, if the ROM version is the existing version at the time of the release of the new ink cartridge and the cartridge version is the new version, the parameters or image data of the related command are changed so as to substantially change the color conversion table. Or Any number of methods can be used for this command change. For example, a command may be created using a normal print command creation algorithm and then changed, or the printing condition may be changed if the printing condition only needs to be changed as in the case of a postcard feeding bug. Then, a normal print command creation algorithm may be executed, or another change command creation algorithm independent of the normal print command creation algorithm may be executed. After creating the changed print command in this way, it sends it to the printer 3 (S7).

The printer 3 interprets the print command from the printer driver 5 and executes printing (S9). In the case of the changed print command, the printer 3 operates according to the changed print command. For example, even in the case of postcard printing, instead of the postcard feeding program 15C having a bug, the envelope feeding program 1
Since the printer 3 operates such as using 5B or slightly changing the dot gain for new paper, a desired print result can be obtained.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the printer driver 5 for the printer monitor function.

When a specific error frequently occurs on the printer 3 side due to, for example, a bug in the firmware, the printer driver 5 learns the fact and automatically changes the print command in a direction to eliminate the error. It is for. That is, the printer driver 5 has a printer monitor 27 and a command change table 25 in addition to the functions shown in FIG. In the command change table 25,
As illustrated in FIG. 4, the above-mentioned caution version and the corresponding command changes are described.
By referring to this command, the command generation unit 23 can perform the above-described command change function.
The printer monitor 17 is, for example, a resident-type program, and can monitor the status of the printer 3 at any time, and has an error monitoring function of the printer 3 as one of the functions. The printer monitor unit 17 counts the number of occurrences of each error content in association with the version information of the printer 3 every time an error occurred during printing by the printer 3 is detected by the error monitoring function, and the number of occurrences ( (Or occurrence frequency) exceeds a predetermined threshold, a table update function for adding (or rewriting) a command change to the command change table 25 to change the print command in a direction to eliminate the error. have.

FIG. 5 shows a state where printing is performed by the printer monitor 27 and the printer 3 (controller 7) (step S in FIG. 2).
The processing flow relating to the error monitoring of 9) is shown.

When an error occurs (S1), the printer 3
1), the contents of the error are notified to the printer driver 5 (S12), and a predetermined error process (for example, printing stop) is started (S13). Upon receiving the error notification from the printer 3, the printer monitor unit 27 of the printer driver 5 presents an error message corresponding to the error content to the user (S14), and also responds to the version information of the printer 3 and the error content. The counter of the number of errors performed is incremented by 1 (S15). Thereafter, the printer monitor unit 27 checks whether the number of errors or the frequency has exceeded a predetermined threshold (S16). If the number of errors or the frequency has exceeded the threshold, the printer monitor unit 27 resolves the error with version information corresponding to the error counter. The change content of the print command to be performed is registered in the command change table 25 (S1).
7). For example, if the number of postcard feeding errors is greater than or equal to the threshold value in the printer 3 with the ROM version “01.00”, as shown in FIG.
The version “01.00” and the content of the change to change the postcard feeding to the envelope feeding are registered in the change table 25. Since then
The envelope feed command is sent to the printer 3 of the ROM version "01.00" at the time of printing a postcard, so that the paper can be fed without any problem.

The present invention can be carried out in various forms other than the above embodiment. For example, the present invention is applicable not only to printers but also to various peripheral devices such as image scanners and disk drives.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of a printer driver 5 and a printer 3 (controller 7) when performing printing.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration for a printer monitor function of the printer driver 5.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a command change table.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing flow relating to error monitoring when printing is performed by the printer monitor unit 27 and the printer 3 (controller 7) (step S9 in FIG. 2).

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Host computer 3 Printer 5 Printer driver 7 Controller 13 ROM 15 Firmware 21 Command generation part 23 GIU part 25 Command change table 27 Printer monitor part

Claims (13)

[Claims] An apparatus monitoring means for monitoring the occurrence of an error in a device, wherein when the number of occurrences or the frequency of the error becomes equal to or more than a predetermined threshold value, when a control command for the same device is subsequently created, the device relates to the error. A device control device comprising: a command change unit that changes the content of a predetermined control command. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising version inquiry means for inquiring the device about a version of a component included in the device, and version information returned from the device in which the number of times or frequency of occurrence of the error is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. 2. The device control device according to claim 1, wherein the command change unit functions when the version information returned from the device to be controlled includes the caution version. 3. 3. The device control device according to claim 1, wherein the component includes a ROM in which firmware is written. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined control command is a command requesting execution of a first firmware among a plurality of firmware mounted on the device. 2. The device control device according to claim 1, wherein the command is changed to a command requesting execution of a second firmware having a substitute for the first firmware among the plurality of firmwares. 5. The command change unit changes parameters or data of the predetermined control command.
Device control means as described. 6. The predetermined control command is a command for requesting the device to operate under a predetermined first condition, and the command changing means changes the predetermined control command to the first condition. 2. The device control device according to claim 1, wherein a command requesting the device to operate under a second condition having an alternative to the device is changed. 7. An apparatus, comprising: a device; and a device control device for controlling the device, wherein the device control device monitors an occurrence of an error in the device; and a predetermined threshold value for the number or frequency of occurrence of the error. In the above, when a control command for the same device is created thereafter, a command change unit that changes the content of the predetermined control command related to the error. 8. The device, wherein the device control apparatus further includes a version inquiry unit for inquiring the device about a version of a component of the device, wherein the number of times of occurrence or the frequency of the error is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold. 8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the version information returned from the device is stored as a cautionary version, and the command change unit functions when the version information returned from the device to be controlled includes the cautionary version. 9. The system according to claim 7, wherein the device is a printer, and a host computer connected to the printer is provided, and the host computer functions as the device control device. system. 10. A device monitoring means for monitoring the occurrence of an error in a device, wherein when the number of times or frequency of occurrence of the error becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, when a control command for the same device is subsequently created, the device is associated with the error. A computer readable recording medium carrying a device driver program for causing a computer to function as a device control device having command change means for changing the content of a predetermined control command. 11. The device, wherein the device control device further includes a version inquiry unit for inquiring the device about a version of a component of the device, wherein the number of times or frequency of occurrence of the error is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold value. 11. The recording medium according to claim 10, wherein the version information returned from the server is stored as a cautionary version, and wherein the command change unit functions when the version information returned from the device to be controlled includes the cautionary version. 12. A device monitoring step of monitoring the occurrence of an error in a device; a step of creating a control command for the device; and a control command for the same device when the frequency or frequency of occurrence of the error exceeds a predetermined threshold. A device control method, comprising: a command changing step of changing the content of a predetermined control command related to the error when creating the command; and sending the created command to the device. 13. The apparatus further comprising a step of inquiring of the device about a version of a component of the device, wherein the version information returned from the device in which the number of times of occurrence or the frequency of the error is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold value is cautionary. 13. The device control method according to claim 12, wherein the command change process is stored as a version, and the command change process is performed when version information returned from a device to be controlled includes the cautionary version.