KR20080052357A - Control method for printer driver and network printing system including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for controlling a printer driver and a network printing system employing the same are provided to eliminate the inconvenience of the manager having to again set print options in each client device in order to set the same print option environment as that of the printer driver of the server device to the printer driver of the client device, and thereby to increase usage convenience. A method for controlling a printer driver comprises the following several steps. It is determined at operation whether a client device is connected to a server device through a network in order to install or update a printer driver on the client device(S600). If the client device is connected to the server device through the network, print options registered in the registry of an OS are copied in operation(S601). After the print options are copied, it is determined at operation whether any data file linked to the print options has been stored in the hard disk of the server device(S602). If no data file linked to the print options has been stored, print options stored in the registry of the OS of the client device are updated with the copied print options in operation(S603). If a data file linked to the print options has been stored, the data file is copied in operation(S604). After the data file is copied, print options stored in the registry of the OS of the client device are updated with the copied print options in operation(S605). The copied data file is also stored in the hard disk of the client device at the storage location of the same path as the original path of the data file in the server device in operation(S606).

Description

CONTROL METHOD FOR PRINTER DRIVER AND NETWORK PRINTING SYSTEM INCLUDING THE SAME}

The present invention relates to a method of controlling a printer driver and a network printing system including the same, and more particularly, to set a printer driver for each networked client device in a server device to which an image forming apparatus (for example, a printer) is connected. The present invention relates to a control method of a printer driver, and a network printing system including the same.

In general, in order to perform printing using a printer, a computer and a printer must be connected by a cable, and a driver of the corresponding printer must be installed in the computer.

In the above case, one computer and one printer are interconnected. When the printer can be used by only one computer, the use efficiency is not good.

Therefore, in recent years, most companies have been configured to use a server device's printer in each client device by connecting a server device to which a printer is connected and a plurality of client devices connected to the network to an internal network.

Also, in order for each client device to use a printer, a printer driver must be installed. To this end, a printer driver usually prepares a storage medium such as a floppy disk or CD stored in an installation file form or downloads it through the Internet and installs it directly.

Recently, a shared printer driver is automatically downloaded and automatically installed on the server device by simply connecting the client device to a network share to the server device to which the printer is connected so that the trouble of manually installing the printer driver is eliminated.

However, since the server device provides only the printer driver to the client device in the related art, in order to make the printer driver print option environment of the server device and the client device the same, the administrator operates each client device to display the paper size on the print option setting screen of the printer driver. And there is a problem in that the ease of use because there is a hassle to reset the print options, such as type, tray addition, watermark, overlay, and so on. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a printer driver control method capable of providing a print option of a printer driver to each client device in a server device having a printer driver for driving an image forming apparatus, and a network printing system including the same. . In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide a printing option of a printer driver and a data file linked thereto to a client device in a server device in which a printer driver for driving an image forming apparatus is installed, and a method including the same. It is to provide a network printing system.

A control method of a printer driver of the present invention for achieving the above object is a control method of a printer driver for driving an image forming apparatus connected to a server device, the method comprising the steps of checking a print option set in the printer driver and connected to the server device And sending the print option to a client device.

In addition, the checking step includes checking the print option in the registry of the operating system of the server device.

The transmitting may include transmitting the print option when the server device and the client device are connected to a network.

The transmitting may include copying the print option at the server device, and transmitting the copied print option to the client device.

The transmitting may include generating the print option as an executable file that can be automatically installed, and transmitting the generated executable file to the client device.

In addition, the printing option includes at least one of overlay, watermark, duplex printing, layout format, paper size, container type, paper source, and resolution.

On the other hand, the control method of another printer driver of the present invention in the control method of the printer driver for driving the image forming apparatus connected to the server device, the step of checking the print option and the data file linked to the printer driver and connected to the server And sending the print option and data file to a client device.

The method may further include displaying a list requiring authority setting on the print option setting screen before setting the check step, and setting a use authority of the displayed list.

In addition, the setting step includes setting the use authority of the displayed list according to the authority of the administrator logged in to the device.

In addition, the list requiring the permission setting includes at least one of an overlay list and a watermark list.

Further, the confirming step includes confirming the print option and the data file linked thereto in the registry of the operating system of the server device.

The transmitting may include transmitting the print option and the data file when the server device and the client device are connected to a network.

In addition, the transmitting step includes the step of copying the print option and the data file at the server device, and the step of transmitting the copied print option and data file to the client device.

The transmitting may include generating the print option and the data file into an executable file that can be automatically installed, and transmitting the generated executable file to the client device.

In addition, the printing option includes at least one of overlay, watermark, duplex printing, layout format, paper size, container type, paper source, and resolution.

On the other hand, the network printing system of the present invention includes a server device with a printer driver installed therein and a client device connected to the server device, and includes printing the print option of the printer driver from the server device to the client device.

On the other hand, another network printing system of the present invention includes a server device with a printer driver installed therein and a client device connected to the server device, wherein the print option of the printer driver and the data file linked thereto are transmitted from the server device to the client device. It includes being.

According to the present invention, by providing a print option of a printer driver set to a server device to which an image forming apparatus is connected and a data file linked thereto to each client device, the administrator can make the print option environment of the printer driver of the server device and the client device the same. In order to make the setting, the inconvenience of having to reset the related setting in each client device can be eliminated, thus improving the convenience of use.

In addition, according to the present invention, the use of a specific list can be restricted by setting a use right to a selectable list of specific print option functions among print options, thereby extending the use function.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 is a schematic structural diagram of a network printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a network printing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes an image forming apparatus 100, a server device 200, and a plurality of client devices 300.

Hereinafter, for convenience of description, the image forming apparatus 100 is limited to the printer 100.

The printer 100 is connected to the server device 200 by a printer cable.

The server device 200 is provided with a printer driver for driving the printer 100, and when the network share connection of the client device 300, the printing of the printer driver set for the server device 200 by the command of the printer driver Send the option to the client device (300).

The client device 300 is network-connected to the server device 200, it is possible to use the printer 100 connected to the server device 200. In addition, the client device 300 is provided with the print option of the printer driver transmitted from the server device 200, so that the administrator does not set the print options of the printer driver installed in the server device 200 to the printer driver of the client device. Also, the printer option is automatically set to the same print option environment as that of the printer driver of the server device.

As shown in FIG. 2, the server device 200 includes a CPU 201, a RAM 202, a ROM 203, an input unit 204, a display unit 205, an interface unit 206, and a hard disk 206. And a system bus 208 for transferring data between the devices.

The CPU 201 collectively controls various devices connected to the system bus 208 in accordance with a program stored in the RAM 202. This RAM 202 functions as a main memory used by the CPU 1.

The ROM 203 stores various programs and data, and the ROM 3 includes various storage areas for storing each program or data. In particular, the ROM 3 includes a font area for storing various font data, a program area for storing a boot program or a BIOS, and a data area for storing various data.

The input unit 204 controls the input of a command or data through a keyboard or a mouse.

The display unit 205 displays a UI (User Interface) window on the CRT and the LCD to inform the administrator of the implementation state and result of the program.

The interface unit 206 controls the interface with the printer 100 or each client device 300.

The hard disk 207 is an external memory, and includes an operating system (hereinafter referred to as OS) 2071 as well as various application programs 2072 (for example, a document processing program for processing documents in which characters, pictures, tables, etc. are mixed). And a printer driver 2073 as a print processing program. The printer driver 2073 converts documents generated by various application programs 2072 into print data, and print option setting screens for setting print options of the printer driver 2073 by an administrator's command when performing a print operation. Displayed on the display unit 205 allows the administrator to perform desired print option settings via the input unit 204.

3 shows a memory map of the RAM 202 in a state in which an associated program, a print option, and the like are stored in the RAM 202 of the server device 200 after executing the application program 2702 and the printer driver 2073. will be.

As shown in FIG. 3, the RAM 202 includes a BIOS 2075, an OS 2071, an application 2071, which enable execution of an application program 2702 and a printer driver 2073, and The printer driver 2073 and related data 2074 are loaded. In particular, the print option of the printer driver 2073 is stored in the OS 2071 area. The print options include various print settings that specify the print method for the printer 100 from the application program 2702. Examples include layout settings such as paper orientation and duplex printing, paper types such as paper type and size, paper source, graphics settings such as resolution and toner saving, and additional function settings such as watermark and overlay. Includes print options. These print options are updated whenever the administrator changes the print options through the printer driver.

On the other hand, the printer driver 2073 displays the print option setting screen with reference to the print option information stored in the OS 2071 area in accordance with the administrator's command. Accordingly, the administrator can change the desired print option by changing the default value of the print option in the print option setting screen. When the administrator changes the print options through the printer driver 2073, the printer driver 2073 changes and updates the print options stored in the OS 2071 area accordingly. An area in which the print options are stored in the OS 2071 is commonly referred to as a registry. Hereinafter, the name will be described as a registry.

4 to 12 show examples of the print option setting screen for each print option menu of the printer driver 2073.

First, as shown in Figure 4, the print option setting screen is configured to select the function menu (400-430) at the top of the screen. The function menus 400-430 include a "layout" menu 400, a "paper" menu 410, a "graphics" menu 420, a "additional function" menu 430, and the like. Each function menu 400-430 displays an initial value for each corresponding setting box.

When the "Layout" menu 400 is selected, the "Paper Orientation" box 401, the "Layout Setting 402" box, " A setting box such as a "duplex printing" box 403 appears. Accordingly, the administrator can set print options such as desired paper orientation, layout setting, and duplex printing.

In addition, as shown in Figure 5, when selecting the "paper" menu 410 of the function menu (400-430), such as paper size A4 (201X297mm) and A5 (148X210mm), such as manual feed and automatic selection A " Paper Settings " box 411 for selecting a paper source such as a source and plain paper and thick paper is displayed. Accordingly, the administrator can set print options such as desired paper settings.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, when the "graphic" menu 420 of the function menu (400-430) is selected, a "resolution" box 421 for selecting 1200 dpi, 600 dpi, 300 dpi, and the like, and toner saving A " toner saving " box 422 that can be selected whether or not and a " image mode " box 423 that can be selected to selectively enhance the resolution of a text or image are shown. Accordingly, the administrator can set print options such as desired resolution, toner saving, and image mode.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 7, when the "additional function" menu 430 is selected from the function menu 400-430, a "watermark" box 431 for selecting a list of various watermarks utilized for security printing, etc. ), And an " overlay " box 432 for selecting a list of various overlays such as a logo or a printing form utilized for overlay printing. As shown in FIG. 8, the "watermark" box 431 has a watermark list such as "Confidential" and "Draft" Final as initial values, and a corresponding watermark character is displayed every time a corresponding list value is selected. It is displayed at 4312. Further, when the edit button 4321 is pressed in the “watermark” box 432 of FIG. 7, the watermark edit screen 4313 as shown in FIG. 9 appears. The administrator can edit and set the watermark list shown in the "watermark edit" box 4314 on the watermark edit screen 4313 via the "watermark message" box 4315. Meanwhile, when the edit button 4321 is pressed in the “overlay” box 432 of FIG. 7, the overlay edit screen 4322 shown in FIG. 10 is displayed. The overlay list created in the overlay list box 4323 of the overlay edit screen 4322 is displayed. In the overlay list, when the overlay creation button 4324 is pressed, the desired file name is input in the overlay creation screen 4328 as shown in FIG. 11 and printing is performed. FormOver "is stored in the folder and the corresponding list is added to the overlay list. In addition, FIG. 12 illustrates a screen that appears when the overlay overlay button 4325 is pressed in the overlay edit 4322 of FIG. 10. In this way, the administrator can perform print options such as watermarks and overlays.

On the other hand, the print options set by the administrator in FIGS. 4 to 12 are updated by replacing the print options previously stored in the registry of the OS 2071 so that the updated print options are reflected in the next print.

As described above, the server device 200 to which the printer 100 is connected and the client device 300 connected to the server device 200 are connected to the server device 200 in a networked server / client environment. In order to set the same print options for the printer driver of the client device 300, the administrator relies on memory for each setting box for each function menu in the print option setting screen displayed by the printer driver of the client device 300. Must be set When the number of installations of the client device 300 is small, it does not take much effort and time. However, when the client device 300 reaches several tens, the manual setting method by the administrator is inefficient.

Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, in order to automatically set the printer driver print option environment of the server device 200 and the client device 300 in the same way, the print option of the printer driver set for the server device 200 is set to the client device 300. To provide.

To this end, for example, a printer driver installed in the server device 200 is registered in the registry of the OS 2071 when the client device 300 is connected to the server device 200 by a network share for installation or update of the printer driver. Copy the print option and send it to the client device (30). More specifically, by copying the print options stored in the area of the OS 2071 of the server device and transmitting them to the client device 300, the print options stored in the area of the OS of the client device 300 are updated. In this way, the print option of the printer driver installed in the client device 300 can be automatically set in the same manner as that of the server device 200.

On the other hand, among the print option functions of the print option setting screen of the printer driver, a separate data file linked to the print option together with the print option may be stored in the hard disk 207. In this case, even if only the print option of the printer driver installed in the server device 200 is provided to the client device 300, the data file linked to the print option is not transmitted, so the client device 300 print option function for linking the data file. Does not work properly for.

Such print option functions include an " overlay " print function and a " watermark " print function in which a data file corresponding to a watermark list to be used exists separately and this data file is stored in a folder of the hard disk 207.

The overlay printing function is intended to be printed by the printer 100 by loading the overlay file corresponding to the corresponding overlay list selected by the administrator among the overlay files already created and stored in the application program 2207 for printing the overlay, or previously stored in the initial value. This function is to overlay print when printing the print data. The overlay file refers to a print form such as a specific image or a certain form such as a logo that is applied in the background when printing the print data.

Looking at the overlay printing function in more detail, in order to create an overlay file of a document such as a logo or print form that the administrator wants to print the overlay, first, on the "overlay" box 432 of the "additional function" menu 430 on the screen of FIG. "Edit" button 4321 is pressed to display overlay edit screen 4322 of FIG. In this screen, press the overlay creation button 4324 to display the overlay creation screen 4328 of FIG. 11, and then print by inputting a desired file name. The overlay file is stored separately in a folder named "FormOver" of the hard disk 207 of the server device 200. For this reason, when the server device 200 provides only the printing option to the client device 300, the list exists on the print option setting screen of the printer driver of the client device 300, but the data file to which the list is linked. The overlay file does not exist in the client device 300 because the file is not copied from the "FormOver" folder of the hard disk 207 of the server device 200 to the "FormOver" folder of the hard disk of the client device 300. Does not work normally.

Therefore, for the print option function, the print option and the data file linked to the print option must also be transmitted to the client device 300. By doing so, the print option updates the print option stored in the OS area of the client device 300, and the data file linked thereto is copied and stored in a folder named "FormOver" on the hard disk of the client device 300, so that overlay printing is performed. Can be performed normally.

In addition, a data file corresponding to a watermark list to be used exists separately and can be applied to the watermark printing function in which the data file is stored in a folder on the hard disk in the same manner as the overlay print option function.

As shown in FIG. 13, the printer driver installed in the server device 200 checks whether there is a request to display a print option setting screen from an administrator when a document to be printed is opened by the administrator (S500 and S501). To display the print option setting screen according to the administrator's request to display the print option setting screen (S502), and various print options for each function menu such as "layout", "paper", "graphic", and "additional functions" from the administrator. Receiving a step (S503), storing the print option input by the administrator in the registry of the OS (2071) of the server device (200) (S504), and the hard disk 207 is linked to the print option described above Determining whether there is a data file stored in (S505), and if there is a data file linked to the print option, and storing the data file in a specified path of the hard disk (207) (S506) By admin By storing a specified printing options and a data file linked thereto to the specified storage location to complete the printing options set for the printer driver.

In the following, the server device 200 of the present invention sets the printer driver to the client device 300 together with the print option of the printer driver set for the server device in the printer driver alone or the print option and the data file linked thereto. A process of automatically setting printing options in the client device 300 by transmitting to 300 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 14, first, it is determined whether the server device 200 and the client device 300 are connected to a network share for installation or update of a printer driver (S600).

When the server device 200 and the client device 300 are connected to a network share, the print option registered in the registry of the OS 2071 of the server device 200 is copied (S601).

After copying the print option, it is linked to the print option to determine whether there is a data file stored in the hard disk 207 of the server device 200 (S602).

If there is no data file referenced by the print option, the copied print option is updated to update the print option stored in the registry of the OS of the client device 300 (S603).

On the other hand, if there is a data file linked to the print option, the data file is copied (S604).

Then, using the copied print option to update the print option stored in the registry of the OS of the client device 300 (S605).

The data file thus copied is stored on the hard disk of the client device 300 in the same path as the storage path of the server device 200 which was originally stored (S606).

By doing so, the print option of the printer driver can be automatically set in the client device 300, as well as the data file linked to the print option can be executed, so that all the functions of the print option can be normally performed.

Meanwhile, in the above embodiment, the server device 200 copies the print option of the printer driver and the data file linked thereto, and transmits and stores the client device 300 in a storage location of the same path as the server device 200. Although it is described, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the printer driver checks the print options and the data file linked thereto to create an executable file that can be automatically installed, and then sends the executable file to the client device 300 so that the client file can be executed. It is also possible to set printing options automatically by being installed automatically in the machine.

On the other hand, when it is necessary to restrict the use of the list of each setting box for each function menu in the print option setting screen, the viewing authority for each list should be restricted. Such viewing authority is determined by the apparatus use authority of an administrator (such as a system administrator who can change all of the system or a power user who can change only some functions of the system) logged in to the client device 300. If you are a system administrator, you can enable viewing of all lists, and if you are a power user, you can enable viewing of only allowed lists.

If you set the usage rights in a way that restricts the viewing authority for the list of printing functions that require the authority setting when setting the printing option, even if the client device that this printing option is automatically set is the same, For optional functions, access to the list is restricted so that the use of that list can be restricted.

This viewing authority setting is more effective in restricting the use of certain overlay lists, especially in the overlay printing function.

Hereinafter, a process of restricting the display of the overlay list in the overlay print option function will be described.

As shown in Fig. 15, when the administrator opens a document to be printed on the application program 2702, it is determined whether there is a display request of the print option setting screen from the administrator (S700, S701).

If there is a request to display the print option setting screen of the administrator, the print option setting screen is displayed (S702).

After displaying the print option setting screen, an overlay editing command is input from an administrator (S703).

According to the overlay editing command of the administrator, the overlay editing screen (4322 of FIG. 10) capable of editing the overlay is displayed (S704).

After displaying the overlay edit screen 4322, the administrator receives a command for setting the authority to view the overlay list (S705). At this time, when the administrator selects the overlay list that he / she wants to set the permission to view in the “overlay list” box 4323 of FIG. 10 and presses the “permission setting” button 4327, as shown in FIG. 16, the selected overlay list is read. A permission setting screen 4330 for setting a permission is displayed. Accordingly, the administrator can view the selected overlay list on the authority setting screen 4330 by selecting whether to display only to the system administrator, only to the power users, or not to set the authority. Set permissions by setting.

After receiving the command for setting the authority to view the overlay list from the administrator, the access authority is set for each overlay list by reflecting the authority setting selected by the administrator for each overlay list. At this time, the printer driver updates the overlay printing function of the print option registered in the registry of the OS 2071, and also stores the authority information set for each overlay list.

In this way, since the print option information including the overlay list for which the viewing authority is set is automatically set at the time of automatically setting the print option of the client device 300, the administrator who logs in not only the server device 200 but also the client device 300 is automatically set. Depending on the authority, the use of overlay printing on the overlay list can be restricted in a way that restricts viewing of the overlay list. That is, the overlay list is not shown to the administrator who does not have permission to view the overlay list. In addition, since the right to view the overlay shows the overlay list to the administrator and the overlay file referred to by the overlay list is also copied to the client device 300, the overlay function for the overlay list can be normally used. .

1 is a schematic structural diagram of a network printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a general control block diagram of the server device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of the RAM illustrated in FIG. 2.

4 to 12 illustrate examples of a print option setting screen for each function menu of a printer driver according to an embodiment of the present invention.

13 is a control flowchart for explaining a process of setting a print option of a printer driver according to a command of an administrator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

14 is a control flowchart illustrating a process of automatically setting a print option of a driver set for a server device in a client device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a control flowchart illustrating a process of setting a use authority for an overlay list of an overlay printing function in a printer driver according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a screen for setting a viewing authority for the overlay list of FIG. 15.

* Description of the symbols for the main functions of the drawings *

100: printer 200: server device

201: CPU 202: RAM

203: ROM 204: input unit

205: display unit 206: interface unit

207: hard disk 208: system bus

2071: OS 2072: application

2073: printer driver 300: client device

Claims (17)

In the control method of the printer driver for driving the image forming apparatus connected to the server device, Checking a print option set in the printer driver; And And transmitting the print option to a client device connected to the server device. The method of claim 1, And the checking step includes checking the print option in a registry of an operating system of the server device. The method of claim 1, And the transmitting step includes transmitting the print option when the server device and the client device are connected to a network. The method of claim 3, The transmitting step includes the step of copying the print option from the server device, and transmitting the copied print option to the server device to the client device. The method of claim 3, The transmitting step includes the steps of generating the print option as an executable file that can be automatically installed, and transmitting the generated executable file to the client device. The method of claim 1, And the printing option includes at least one of overlay, watermark, duplex printing, layout type, paper size, container type, paper source, and resolution. In the control method of the printer driver for driving the image forming apparatus connected to the server device, Checking a print option of the printer driver and a data file linked thereto; And And transmitting the print option and the data file to a client device connected to the server. The method of claim 7, wherein And displaying a list requiring permission setting on a print option setting screen before the checking step, and setting a use permission of the displayed list. The method of claim 8, The setting step, the control method of the printer driver comprising setting the use authority of the displayed list according to the authority of the administrator logged into the device. The method of claim 8, The list in which the permission setting is required includes at least one of an overlay list and a watermark list. The method of claim 7, wherein And the checking step includes checking the print option and a data file linked thereto in a registry of an operating system of the server device. The method of claim 7, wherein And the transmitting step includes transmitting the print option and the data file when the server device and the client device are connected to a network. The method of claim 12, The transmitting step includes the step of copying the print option and data file at the server device, and transmitting the copied print option and data file to the client device. The method of claim 12, The transmitting step includes the steps of generating the print option and the data file as an executable file that can be automatically installed, and transmitting the generated executable file to the client device. The method of claim 7, wherein And the printing option includes at least one of overlay, watermark, duplex printing, layout type, paper size, container type, paper source, and resolution. A server device with a printer driver installed; And A client device connected to the server device; And a printing option of the printer driver is transmitted from the server device to the client device. A server device with a printer driver installed; And A client device connected to the server device; And a print option of the printer driver and a data file linked thereto are transmitted from the server device to the client device.

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