JP2006072526A - Information processing apparatus and setup program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate a user's setting work caused by software version upgrade and improve the convenience of installation work.
A setup program for installing software in an information processing apparatus connectable to a network, wherein the setup program is executed by a computer provided in the information processing apparatus and a function provided by the software in the information processing apparatus. Among the functions included in the software, a function determined to be executable by the determination process among the functions included in the software is determined after installation. A setting step (executed by the setting execution module (1) 807) for performing the setting process is executed.
[Selection] Figure 8

Description

  The present invention relates to a processing technique for installing software.

In a print processing system in which a printing device and an information processing apparatus such as a PC are connected to be communicable via a network, the configuration of the printing device is detected and the update of resources provided in the printing device is detected. Thus, the invention of appropriately updating the settings on the information processing apparatus side is disclosed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). According to this invention, it is possible to easily change the setting on the information processing apparatus side even when the environment of the printing device changes.
JP 2002-630007 A JP 2001-249879 A

  On the other hand, in a print processing system, for example, there is a case where only software (for example, a printer driver) installed on the information processing apparatus side is upgraded while maintaining the environment on the printing device side (here, version "Up" refers to installing the same kind of software in order to add a new function or expand a conventional function when the software is already installed in the information processing apparatus).

  In such a case, until now, the user has determined whether or not the software function added / extended along with the version upgrade can be used in the printing device. However, for users who are unfamiliar with version upgrades, such a determination is not easy, and even if it can be determined that it is necessary, what kind of settings should be specifically set to use the function? There was a problem that the convenience was not good for the user.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to facilitate a user's setting work caused by software upgrade and to improve the convenience of installation work.

In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is,
An information processing apparatus for executing a setup program for installing software,
The setup program includes a computer included in the information processing apparatus.
Determining means for determining whether or not the function of the software is executable in the information processing apparatus;
Of the functions provided in the software, the function is determined to be executable by the determination unit, and is a program for operating as a setting unit for performing setting processing after installation.

  The user's setting work caused by the software version upgrade is facilitated, and the convenience of the installation work is improved.

  Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the components described in the following embodiments are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the present invention only to those ranges.

  For example, the setup program of the present invention can be executed in a system having various hardware configurations. However, in each of the following embodiments, a print processing system in which an information processing apparatus and a network printer are connected via a network is used. The case of applying to the target will be described.

  Also, various software is installed in the print processing system to which the present invention is applied, and various functions can be provided to the user. However, each of the print processing systems described in the following embodiments has a print job control function, and here, a case where a print job control program for realizing the print job control function is upgraded is particularly described. I decided to. However, it is needless to say that the software to which the setup program of the present invention is applied is not limited to the print job control program, and may be other software such as a printer driver.

  Furthermore, in the application of the present invention, the functions added with the version upgrade of the print job control program are not particularly limited, but in the following embodiments, 1) Addition of supported models (first and second) Embodiment 2), 2) Addition of PDL load distribution function (third embodiment), and 3) Addition of device embedded server function (fourth embodiment) will be described.

[First Embodiment]
<Configuration example of print processing system>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a print processing system including an information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numerals 101, 102, 103, and 104 denote information processing apparatuses (network computers) that are connected to the network 106 and can communicate with each other, and are typically personal computers (PCs). Reference numeral 105 denotes a network printer as a printing device.

  Among these, reference numerals 102, 103, and 104 denote client computers (hereinafter referred to as clients), which are each connected to the network 106 by a network cable such as Ethernet (registered trademark) and can execute various programs such as application programs. A printer driver having a function of converting print data into a printer language is installed. Here, it is assumed that each client supports a plurality of printer drivers.

  On the other hand, reference numeral 101 denotes a server computer (hereinafter referred to as a server), which is connected to the network 106 by a network cable, and accumulates files used in the network and monitors the use state of the network 106. In the present embodiment, this server functions as a print server that manages the network printer 105 connected to the network 106. Specifically, the print server 101 receives print job information that does not include print data from the clients 102 to 104, manages the print order, and print jobs that include print data for the clients 102 to 104 that have reached the print order. For example, a function for notifying the client 102 to 104 of acquiring the status of the network printer 105 and various information of the print job.

  The network printer 105 is connected to the network 106 via a network interface, analyzes a print job transmitted from the clients 102 to 104, converts it into a dot image page by page, and prints it. Although only one network printer 105 is shown in the figure, it is assumed that a plurality of other network printers are connected. The functions of each network printer may be different.

  Reference numeral 106 denotes a network, which is connected to the clients 102 to 104, the print server 101, the network printer 105, and the like.

<Example of hardware configuration of network computer>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a network computer used as the clients 102 to 104 and the print server 101. In the present embodiment, the clients 102 to 104 and the print server 101 have the same or equivalent hardware configuration, but each may have a dedicated hardware configuration.

  In FIG. 2, a CPU 200 controls the entire apparatus. The CPU executes an application program, a printer driver, an OS (operating system), a print job control program, and the like stored in a hard disk (HD) 205, and a program in the RAM 202. Control to temporarily store information, files, etc. necessary for execution. Note that the OS is not limited to Windows (registered trademark), and other OS can be applied as long as it has a drawing command. The printer driver is used when the print job control program acquires various types of information via the OS. In this respect, the printer driver may be considered to be included in the print job control program.

  Reference numeral 201 denotes a ROM as storage means, which stores various data such as programs such as basic I / O programs, font data used in document processing, and template data. Reference numeral 202 denotes a RAM as temporary storage means, which functions as a main memory, work area, and the like of the CPU 200.

  Reference numeral 203 denotes a floppy (registered trademark) disk drive (FD drive) as a storage medium reading means, and a program or the like stored in the FD 204 as a storage medium can be loaded to the network computer through the FD drive 203.

  Reference numeral 205 denotes an external storage means, which is a hard disk (HD) that functions as a large-capacity memory, and stores application programs, a printer driver, an OS, a print job control program, and other related programs. Furthermore, a spooler as spool means is secured here. The spool means is a client spooler in the clients (102, 103, 104), and a server spooler in the print server 101. In the print server 101, a print job received from the clients (102, 103, 104) is stored, and a table for performing order control is also generated and stored in the HD 205.

  Reference numeral 206 denotes a keyboard as an input device. The user instructs the client (102, 103, 104), and the operator or administrator inputs a device control command command to the print server 101. It is. Reference numeral 207 denotes a display serving as a display device, which displays control command instructions input from the keyboard 206, network printer capabilities, and the like.

  Reference numeral 208 denotes a system bus that controls the flow of data in the network computer, which is the client (102, 103, 104) or the print server 101. Reference numeral 209 denotes an interface which is an input / output unit, and the clients (102, 103, 104) and the print server 101 exchange data with an external apparatus via the interface 209.

  The configuration of the network computer is one example, and is not limited to the configuration example of FIG. For example, the storage destination of data and programs can be changed to ROM, RAM, HD, etc. according to the characteristics.

<Configuration of memory map in RAM and FD>
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a memory map of the RAM 202 illustrated in FIG. 2. The print job control program loaded from the FD 204 is loaded into the RAM 202 and can be executed.

  In this embodiment, the print job control program and related data are directly loaded from the FD 204 to the RAM 202 and executed. However, in addition to this, every time the print job control program is operated, the print job control program is already executed. May be loaded into the RAM 202 from the HD 205 installed from the FD 204. In addition, software that realizes the same function as each of the above devices can be used as an alternative to a hardware device.

  A basic I / O program 301 is a program having an IPL (Initial Program Loading) function for starting the operation of the OS by reading the OS from the HD 205 into the RAM 202 when the computer is turned on. It is. 302 is an OS, 303 is a print job control program, and 304 is related data. The print job control program 303 and related data 304 are stored in an area secured on the RAM 202. Reference numeral 305 denotes a work area, which is an area for the CPU 200 to execute another program.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a memory map of the FD 204 illustrated in FIG. In FIG. 4, 401 is volume information indicating data information, 402 is directory information, 403 is a print job control program, and 404 is related data. The print job control program 403 is programmed based on the flowchart described in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, both the clients (102 to 104) and the server (101) have the same configuration.

<About the print job control program>
As described above, the print job control program for realizing the print job control function is installed in each of the clients 102 to 104 and the server 101 constituting the print processing system, and installed in each of the clients 102 to 104 and the server 101. The print processing control program thus operated operates in conjunction with the above-described print processing system to form a “print job control system” (hereinafter, “print processing system” is referred to as hardware in this specification). The “print job control system” is an expression taken from the aspect of functions realized by executing various programs on the hardware).

  The print job control program functions in the clients (102 to 104) to instruct change of the print destination of the print job or instruct change of the print order. On the other hand, the print server (101) functions to control the order of print jobs and to notify the end of printing of a print job, a print destination change request, and the like. The print job control program has a module (“job control print service”) installed on the client (102 to 104) and a module installed on the print server (101) (“job control server”) separately. Alternatively, a single print job control program may function as a client or as a print server depending on the environment in which it is executed. Alternatively, a module having a client function (job control print service) and a module functioning as a print server (job control server) are installed together on a single computer, and at the same time or in a time-division manner, pseudo parallel It may be configured to operate.

<Example of software configuration in print processing system>
First, the concept of a printer in a print processing system having the print job control function will be described. A combination of a printer driver and a printer output port will be described below as a “printer” in distinction from a network printer (physical printer) which is a device.

  Further, in the print processing system, a virtual printer having a function that cannot be achieved independently, in which the plurality of printers are virtually bundled into one, can be set as a “group printer”. That is, by issuing a print instruction to the group printer from the application program, it is possible to cause one of a plurality of network printers belonging to the group printer to perform printing. Here, each of the bundled network printers is referred to as a “member printer”. A group printer driver and a PDL driver correspond to the group printer and member printer.

  Next, a software configuration in the print processing system will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration in the print processing system. In particular, how a print job including a drawing command issued from a general application program 501 such as Microsoft Word (registered trademark) is displayed in the print processing system. It is the figure which showed what is processed.

  Normally, when a printing instruction is given, the application program 501 generates a series of drawing commands via the OS.

  The generated drawing command is delivered to a program designated by either the group printer driver 503 or the PDL driver 502.

  When a drawing command generated via the OS is passed to the group printer driver 503, the group printer driver 503 generates an intermediate format file (details will be described later), and the intermediate format file is converted into a spooler (Windows (registered)). Trademark) Spooler) 504. The spooler 504 takes a procedure of sending a print job to the port monitor selected and instructed by the user via the user interface and transmitting it to the network printer 105. In this embodiment, the user designates in advance a port monitor 521 (hereinafter abbreviated as job control port monitor) for the print job control system, instead of a conventional port monitor that transmits a print job to the network printer 105. To do.

  Print setting information such as paper size and stapling instructions set via the user interface (UI) of the group printer driver 503 is also transmitted to the job control port monitor 521.

  The job control port monitor 521 does not transmit the data of the intermediate format file to the network printer 105 but transfers it to the job control print service 522 which is a print job control system print service.

  On the other hand, when a drawing command generated via the OS is input to the PDL driver 502 (this case is also referred to as “direct printing”), a page description language is generated by the PDL driver 502, and the generated page description is generated. The language is transmitted to the corresponding network printer 105 via the job control port monitor 521 and the job control print service 522 corresponding to the PDL driver 502 set to perform print processing.

  A print manager 523, which is a print manager for the print job control system, provides a user interface for the user to check the state of the print job in the job control print service 522 and to operate the print job. This is a program to be provided. The print manager 523 exchanges information and instructions with the job control print service 522 via a software interface (API: Application Program Interface) of the job control print service 522. For example, the print manager 523 issues an event specifying a network printer to the job control print service 522, and the job control print service 622 monitors the status of the network printer 105 based on the issued event, and the result based on the monitoring Is sent to the print manager 523.

  A job control server 530 that is a server for the print job control system centrally controls (schedules) the timing at which the job control print service 522 on each client 102 to 104 transmits a print job to the network printer 105. A management console 533 (hereinafter abbreviated as “management console”) for the print job control system can monitor the entire print job control system by exchanging information and instructions with the job control server 530 via the API.

  In addition, the job control server 530 communicates with each network printer 105 using the device information control module 531 to obtain information regarding the print job issued to each network printer and the operation status of the network printer 105, Perform operations. The acquired information can be transferred to the job control print service 522 on the client 102-104 side.

<Operation example of print processing system>
Next, printing from the group printer driver 503 in the print processing system will be described.

  The group printer driver 503 converts a series of drawing commands generated by the application program 501 into intermediate format data independent of the type of network printer or OS. This intermediate format data is guided from the spooler 504 through the job control port monitor 521 (arrow a in FIG. 5) to the job control print service 522 as an intermediate format file (arrow b in FIG. 5).

  The job control print service 522 generates a drawing command based on the intermediate format file and passes it to the PDL driver according to the type of job control performed on the print job (arrow c in FIG. 5). Subsequently, the PDL driver 502 converts the drawing command into a PDL format file that the network printer 105 can interpret.

  FIG. 5 shows an example in which the job control print service 522 detects an error or the like on the network printer 105 side for this print job and performs “proxy printing”, and the solid line indicates the initial printing. A broken line indicates a print job generated for proxy printing (arrow c in FIG. 5).

  The PDL file generated by the PDL driver 502 passes through the spooler 504 and the job control port monitor 521 (arrow d in FIG. 5), and is again delivered to the job control print service 522 (arrow e in FIG. 5). The job control print service 522 transmits a print job of the PDL file to the network printer 105 in accordance with an instruction from the job control server 530 (arrow f in FIG. 5).

  The job control print service 522 logically divides one intermediate format file into a plurality of print jobs and transmits them to different network printers according to the instructions of the print instruction in the intermediate format file. Resend the print job to another network printer. The arrows c, d, e, and f shown in FIG. 5 indicate the print job path in such a case.

<Configuration example of intermediate format file>
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the constructed intermediate format file. The intermediate format file used in this embodiment includes a print instruction unit 6a (corresponding to the above-described print instruction document) and a document data unit 6b. The print instruction unit 6a is a part describing document information and a print instruction. The document data portion 6b is obtained by converting application document data into general-purpose data, and is intermediate format data that does not depend on or is not dependent on the type of printer language or OS.

  The intermediate format data is required to be data in a format that can be used as print resource data and can be edited again by a word processor application or the like. Among substantial standard formats, for example, XML format, WINDOWS (registration) (Trademark) system, EMF format provided by Adobe Systems Incorporated, PDF (Portable Document Format) format, SVG format, and the like.

  Although not shown, it is assumed that the intermediate format file includes DEVMODE settings corresponding to each member printer. The DEVMODE setting includes both common and extended setting items.

  More specifically, the print instruction unit 6a includes a header unit 601, a page information unit 602, a document attribute unit 603, a print format instruction unit 604, an output method designating unit 605, a member printer number 606, a member printer driver name 607, and the like. It is configured.

  The header part 601 is a part for storing information such as version identification and file information of this file. The page information portion 602 is a portion that stores information such as the number of pages of document data in the document data portion 6b and the size of each page.

  The print format instructing unit 604 includes a group printer driver UI, a print page range set via the individual UI of the member printer driver, the number of copies, document data imposition information (N-UP, bookbinding printing, etc.), This is a part for storing information relating to the output format, such as a staple instruction and a punch instruction. Note that the stapling and punching instructions may be specified in units of pages (subset stapling or the like). Note that the contents set via the individual UI of each member printer driver are reflected in the print instruction unit 604 and also stored in the DEVMODE corresponding to each member printer.

  The output method designating unit 605 is a part that stores information related to an output method such as proxy printing, normal printing (printing that does not substitute) as an output method. When proxy printing is set in the output method designation unit 605, printer information with priority information (first candidate, second candidate...) Is further included.

  The member printer number 606 is a part for storing the number of member printers associated with the group printer. The member printer driver name 607 is a part for storing the printer driver name of the member printer. This member printer driver name 607 has as many storage areas as the number of member printers 606 described above.

  In the job control print service 522 described above with reference to FIG. 5, when the intermediate format file is generated from the intermediate format data, the settings on the user interface of the group printer driver are stored in the print instruction unit 6a. Furthermore, the job control print service 522 also executes processing for recording the intermediate format data received from the group printer driver in the document data portion 6b of the intermediate format file.

<Print job flow>
Next, the flow of a print job in the print processing system will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. Here, the same functions as those in FIG. 5 are given the same reference numerals, and the functions will not be described in detail.

  In FIG. 7, a print job control system 700 shows the range of the print job control system that straddles the physical machines of the print server 101 and the clients 102 to 104 on which the control program operates. Output ports (Output Ports) 711A and 711B managed by the print server 101 are associated with proxy output ports (Proxy Output Ports) 712A and 712B of the job control print service 522 of the clients 102 to 104, respectively. All proxy output ports on each client (102 to 104) associated with one port are managed in a unified manner. In the present embodiment, the actual print job is held in proxy output ports 712A and 712B including the print queue of each client (102 to 104).

  The job control server 530 does not perform transmission processing of the print data itself, but only issues a print job transmission instruction to the job control print service 522. In response to the instruction, the job control print service 522 of the client (102 to 104) transmits the print data to the network printer 105.

  Next, processing when the print job control system 700 performs proxy printing will be described.

  When the application 501 issues a print instruction to the group printer corresponding to the group printer driver 503, the job control print service 522 receives the intermediate format data generated by the group printer driver 503 via the job control port monitor 521. The job control print service 522 constructs an intermediate format file from the intermediate format data (715 in FIG. 7), and issues a print instruction to the despooler 701 according to the instruction content of the print instruction unit 6a described above. Then, the print instruction is issued to another printer to which the PDL driver 502 is assigned via the despooler 701. As a result, each PDL driver 502 generates a print job having the PDL file as an entity. This print job is called a member job. That is, the member job refers to a job generated based on the intermediate format file via the group printer driver 503. A print job in which a plurality of member jobs are bundled may be referred to as a group job.

  At this time, the despooler 701 processes the document data in the document data section 6b and converts it into GDI in accordance with an instruction based on the interpretation of the print instruction section 6a of the job control print service 522, and instructs the PDL driver 502 to print. And issue a print job. For example, when an instruction corresponding to 2-UP is recorded in the print format designation unit 604, the member printer is instructed via DEVMODE to reduce and lay out two pages of document data on one sheet of paper. Further, when there is a stapling instruction in the print format designation unit 604, a stapling instruction is issued via DEVMODE. At the time of proxy printing, a print job is issued to the proxy member printer described in the print instruction unit 6a. When processing a reduced layout such as 2-UP, the despooler itself performs a reduced layout based on the contents of the print format designation unit 604, and instructs the member printers to 1-UP via DEVMODE. Also good.

  Further, when the despooler 701 issues a print job to the member printer, it is necessary to create a DEVMODE of the member printer as a print instruction corresponding to the PDL driver of the member printer. This DEVMODE is stored in the print instruction unit 6a or each member printer. The contents described in the corresponding stored DEVMODE are appropriately reflected in the DEVMODE of each member printer.

  The job control print service 522 on the client (102 to 104) side receives print data of each member job rendered by the PDL driver 502 via the job control port monitor 521, and receives the received print job on the job control server 530 side. The print job data is temporarily stored in its own proxy output port 712. Thereafter, after receiving a transmission instruction from the job control server 530, it is transmitted to the network printer 105.

  Here, the print job data temporarily held at the proxy output port 712 includes at least print data and management information of the print data. This management information includes (A) a print data storage location pointer, (B) a job ID, (C) a member job flag for identifying whether or not the job is a member job created from an intermediate format file, and (D) Printer name, (E) PDL driver name for identifying the type and version of the printer language corresponding to the printer language, (F) Port name (proxy output port identifier), (G) Identifying the network printer Print settings including IP address, (H) job issuance time, (I) user name, (J) PDL data file name, (K) host computer name, (L) duplex and stapling, etc. At least included. Information on each item of (A) to (L) may be included directly in (1) management information, or (2) for example, a printer name may be indirectly acquired as a parameter. In each step of each flowchart described below, when the following information is acquired, it is assumed that it is performed by any of the methods (1) and (2).

<Configuration of setup program>
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a module configuration of a setup program for installing the print job control program in the client (102, 103, 104) or the server 101 when upgrading the print job control program (that is, the setup program is information). Processing device (executed in the clients 102 to 104 or the server 101)). The overall installation control module 801 is a module that controls the entire installation process of the print job control program. The installation engine 802 and the function-specific setting plug-in management module 804 are appropriately called and processed as described later.

  The installation engine module 802 copies a file read from the installation data / information 803 (that is, software to be installed. In this embodiment, the print job control program) to a predetermined location in the target system (print processing system). And processing such as writing to the registry. The contents of these processes are specified in a file held by the installation data / information 803 (however, the user may instruct to override the default setting during the installation process).

  The function-specific setting plug-in management module 804 controls the entire setting process related to the new function. The function-specific setting control modules (1) 805, (2) 808, and (3) 811 supervise the setting process for each new function. This function-specific setting control module can be added by adding it from the plug-in module and the outside of the client for newly added / extended functions, and it is also flexible for new functions that were not previously assumed Can be added to. The environment analysis modules (1) 806, (2) 809, and (3) 812 check whether or not each new function can be set. The setting execution modules (1) 807, (2) 810, and (3) 813 perform specific settings specific to each new function. Here, the following merits can be obtained by configuring each module that performs the setting process for the new function in the setup program as a plug-in configuration for each function.

  -Since the user interface for setting new functions is not prepared independently for each function, but is managed by the function-specific setting plug-in management module 804, one main screen provided by the function-specific setting plug-in management module 804 Therefore, it is possible to provide a framework for launching a Wizard type user interface screen for each function, and as a result, a unified user interface can be realized.

  -By having the function-specific configuration plug-in management module 804 prepare the entire framework of the user interface as described above, each new function can be mainly responsible for processing the logic part of environment analysis and configuration execution. Program development efficiency is also improved.

  -Even if the function is expanded as the version of the software to be installed is repeated, it can be handled simply by adding a module for the expanded function.

<Flow of print job control program installation processing>
Next, the contents of the processing when the print job control program is installed in the print processing system using the setup program will be described step by step with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, in step S901, when the user or another process activates the overall installation control module 801, the installation process starts. Here, it is assumed that the function-specific setting control module described in FIG. 8 is already stored in the client computer as a plug-in.

  In step S902, the overall installation control module 801 activates the installation engine module 802 to install the upgraded print job control program, which is the installation data / information 803. This prepares the minimum environment necessary for the print job control program to operate. However, at this point, the settings of the print job control program are only inherited from the old version, and the newly added / extended functions remain in the default state at the time of installation. Therefore, the new function of the print job control program cannot be fully utilized.

  Therefore, after the following step S903, first, the determination as to whether or not the new function added or expanded in the print job control program installed in steps S901 and S902 can be reflected on the installed client will be described above. This is performed based on the processing of the plug-in management module 804. In addition, settings are made as necessary for functions added / extended in the version of the print job control program installed in steps S901 and S902.

  In step S903, the overall installation control module 801 activates the function-specific setting plug-in management module 804 in response to the newly installed print job control program. Further, when the function-specific setting plug-in module 804 is activated, the processing after step S904 is performed when the user is prompted to activate the function-specific setting plug-in module 804 and an input indicating that the function-specific setting plug-in module 804 is permitted according to the user's operation is performed. You may make it move to.

  In step S904, the function-specific setting plug-in management module 804 searches for a function-specific setting control module. Here, function-specific setting control modules 805, 808, and 811 for three types of new functions are found.

  In step S905, the function-specific setting control modules are activated one by one in order to perform the setting process necessary for using each new function. In step S906, the function-specific setting control module 805 (or 808, 811) calls the environment analysis module (1) 806 (or (2) 809, (3) 812) under its control and print processing. Let the system analyze the environment. In step S907, it is determined whether or not the new function can be used in the environment of the print processing system based on the result of the environment analysis.

  If it is determined in step S907 that application is possible, the process advances to step S908, and the function-specific setting control module 805 (or 808, 811) sets the setting execution module (1) 807 (or (2) 810, (3 ) 813) to perform setting processing specific to each function, and the process proceeds to step S909. On the other hand, if it is determined that it is not applicable, the process directly proceeds to step S909.

  In step S909, it is checked whether or not all the function-specific setting control modules have been activated. If there is still a remaining function, the process returns to step S905 to activate another function-specific setting control module and perform settings for the function. If there is no remainder, it ends.

  If YES is determined in step S1007, a display (message) for inquiring whether the new function is reflected in the client software environment is displayed to the user, and the reflection is allowed according to the user's operation. If an input to that effect is made, the processing after step S1008 may be performed. If an input indicating that the user does not allow is input, the process may be directly transferred to step S909.

  In addition, after the determination processing of S907 is performed for all new functions, whether or not the setting of the new function is reflected in the software environment of the user's client is selectively determined according to the user's instruction. Also good. That is, for the function or functions determined to be YES in step S907, a selection screen as to whether or not to perform the setting executed in step S908 is displayed on the display unit, and the user instructs the setting via the setting screen. For example, the setting may be performed. In step S907, if YES is determined for a plurality of functions, the user may be allowed to select whether to execute the setting in step S907 for each function.

<Processing by setup program>
In the following, the contents of the processing by the setup program in the case of upgrading the print job control program in the above-described print processing system in which the processing of the flowchart in FIG. 9 is more specific will be described in more detail.

  Here, a case where a supported model is added as a new function accompanying a version upgrade of the print job control program will be described.

  In general, the release times of the print job control program and the network printer are not synchronized with each other, or even if they are released synchronously, there is more or less time between the actual network printer installation and the upgrade of the print job control program. There is a gap.

  For this reason, if the registration as a network printer becomes possible later with the version upgrade of the print job control program, the user must perform the setting operation again.

  For example, before upgrading the print job control program, an MFP device (multifunctional printer: a device that can be used as both a copier and a network printer) is installed, and is first used as a copier in a stand-alone form. A typical case is a version upgrade to a print job control program that uses a device as a supported model.

  In such a case, if the setup program according to the present embodiment is used when installing the print job control program added as a supported model for the MFP device, the MFP device can be immediately used as a network printer. Thus, the user's management work is saved and the convenience is improved.

  Hereinafter, the case of installing a print job control program to which a supported model is added will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the function-specific setting control module 804 is activated, the environment analysis module (1) 805 checks whether a device of the model (network printer) exists on the network. Therefore, in step S1001, the model name of the new support model is first acquired. This information is used internally by the print job control program to be upgraded.

  In step S1002, a broadcast packet is transmitted to the network of the print processing system, and so-called “device search” is performed in which the presence / absence of a device is checked based on the response. By performing a device search, a model name, a device name, an IP address, and a MAC address are returned from a device existing on the network.

  In step S1003, it is checked whether a network printer of a new supported model exists in the devices found as a result of device search. If it does not exist, the processing of the function-specific setting control module 805 is terminated.

  On the other hand, if there is a network printer of a new supported model, the process advances to step S1004 to select one network printer instructed by the user from among a plurality of network printers of a new supported model found as a result of device search.

  In step S1005, the setting execution module (1) 807 creates a port and a printer for this network printer so that the selected network printer can directly print.

  In step S1006, it is determined whether there is a network printer that has not been selected in step S1004 among the network printers of the newly supported model searched in step S1003. The process returns to S1004. On the other hand, if all the newly supported network printers have been selected, the process ends.

  As is clear from the above description, according to the present embodiment, the plug-in of the setup program can be installed even when a new function (new supported model) is added due to the version upgrade of the print job control program. Analyzing the environment of the print processing system where the print job control program is installed and determining whether the new function can be applied (whether there is a network printer corresponding to the new supported model), then automatically port and printer Therefore, it is possible to reduce the user's work load when the print job control program is upgraded.

  As a technique similar to the present embodiment, a technique is already known in which when a device is connected to a computer with a USB cable or the like, a printer driver corresponding to the model of the device is automatically downloaded and installed. The present embodiment is different from the known technique in that it is performed in accordance with the addition of functions on the printer driver side.

  In addition, there is already known a technique for detecting that the equipment information of a device already used has changed and updating the settings on the printer driver side itself (for example, a new finisher unit is attached to the device and staple printing is performed). Technology that changes the “staple function” setting of the printer driver from off to on when it becomes possible. However, this technique also changes the setting within the range of functions already included, and does not update the setting with the addition of the function of the printer driver itself. Obviously it is different from the form.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, the processing when a supported model is added as a new function accompanying the upgrade of the print job control program has been described. Here, in the first embodiment, the setup program performs various settings in order to cope with a case where a drawing command generated via the OS is input to the PDL driver (that is, to cope with direct printing). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a case where the setup program performs various settings on the assumption that a drawing command generated via the OS is input to the group printer driver will be described with reference to FIG. explain.

  When the function-specific setting control module 805 is activated, in step S1101, the environment analysis module (1) 806 acquires the model name of the new supported model from the print job control program to be upgraded. In step S1102, information (printer name, model name, etc.) regarding the network printer registered in the OS is acquired.

  In step S1103, it is checked whether a network printer of a newly supported model exists among the network printers registered in the OS. If there is, the process proceeds to step S1104.

  In step S1104, it is checked whether a group printer is registered in the OS. If it is determined in step S1104 that a group printer is registered, the process advances to step S1105, and the setting execution module (1) 807 selects one of the group printers. In step S1106, a new supported model is selected. A printer is created for the network printer and added to the selected group printer (a dialog is displayed to determine whether or not to add).

  In step S1107, it is determined whether there is a group printer to which a printer corresponding to a network printer of a newly supported model has not been added. If there is a group printer, the process returns to step S1105, but is added to all group printers. If it is determined that the process has been completed (or if the user has instructed whether or not to add), the process ends.

  In this way, if a group printer already exists in the print processing system to be installed, a network printer of a new supported model is added as a member printer based on the user's instruction, and the print job It is possible to reduce the user's work load when the control program is upgraded.

[Third Embodiment]
In the first and second embodiments, the case where a new support model is added as a new function of the print job control program has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. In this embodiment, a case where a PDL load distribution function is added as a new function of the print job control program will be described.

<Description of PDL load balancing function>
First, the PDL load distribution function will be described. In FIG. 7, when a direct print job (direct print job) is input from the application 501 to the PDL driver 502, the print job is directly moved to a printer having the same type of PDL driver as the input PDL driver. Is possible. In the direct print job transfer, the print job control system 700 is realized by transferring the PDL file that is the substance of the print job between the proxy output ports 712A and 712B. This is because a PDL file generated by a PDL driver for one model is not guaranteed even if it is printed by a device of a different model.

  If the print job is a member job, the PDL driver 502B corresponding to the destination network printer converts the print data based on the intermediate format file 716 that is the source of the PDL file, although the PDL file is an entity. Since the member job can be regenerated, it is only necessary to consider whether or not the destination of the print job is the print queue of the member printer, and there is no restriction on the model (driver type).

  Further, there are two methods for moving member jobs. The first is a case where the destination and source printers are compatible with the same type of network printer, and the second is that the destination and source printers are compatible with different types of network printers. This is the case. In particular, the latter enables movement between printers associated with output ports 711A and 711B and proxy output ports 712A and 712B corresponding to different types of network printers. This corresponds to processing for regenerating PDL data and management information from the intermediate format file 716 shown in FIG. 5 via the PDL driver 502 assigned to the destination printer and registering it in the print queue. In the following description, regarding the movement of member jobs, if the same type of printer is the movement destination, any of the above methods may be used.

  However, it is assumed that the group printer having the group printer driver 503 cannot be moved to the print queue in any of the two types of print jobs using the PDL file as a substance. Also, it is assumed that the group job generated for the group printer cannot be moved to any other print queue.

  A function using a transfer function between printers of a direct print job having a PDL file as an entity is a “PDL load distribution printing function” described below.

  The PDL load distribution function is a function that uses the feature of a transfer function between printers of a direct print job having a PDL file as an entity in a print processing system.

  As described above, in the case of a direct print job, transfer processing can be performed by transferring management of the PDL file to a printer having the same type of PDL driver. So, when there is already a job to be printed before the print job for a printer that is about to print a print job, other printers with the same type of PDL driver that are idle can be used. In such a situation, the use efficiency of the two printers can be improved by moving the print job to the latter printer for output. What should be noted here is that, during this process, the PDL file created for the printer before the movement can be used as it is for the movement of the print job, and therefore the processing is fast.

  An example of the “PDL load distribution printing function” will be described with reference to FIG. A print job JB (1209) issued by the application program 1200 to the printer A (1201) is queued to the proxy output port 1204 in the printer A. At this time, the print job JA (1207) exists before the print job JB (1209). Therefore, the printer B (1202) and the printer C (1203) registered as backup printers of the printer A (1201) are idle and have a high priority in the proxy output port 1205 of the printer B (1202). The print job JB (1209) is moved as indicated by the arrow. The new print job JC (1210) thus created is transferred to the network printer B (1212) and printed.

  Thus, the application of the PDL load distribution printing function is limited when a plurality of printers having the same type of PDL driver can be used. However, this function is very effective in such a printing environment.

<When installing a print job control program to which a PDL load balancing function is added as a new function>
Processing of the setup program when a PDL load distribution function is newly added to the upgraded print job control program will be described. FIG. 13 shows main setting items in an old version print job control program that does not support the PDL load distribution function and a new version print job control program that is supported. As can be seen from FIG. 13, when a printer that performs direct printing has already been created in the old version print job control program, in order to use the PDL load distribution function after installing the new version print job control program, It is only necessary to newly set the “output method” and “backup printer”. FIG. 14 shows the processing.

  In step S1401, the environment analysis module (2) 809 first acquires printer information (printer name, printer driver name, etc.) registered in the OS. In step S1402, it is checked whether there are a plurality of printers using the same PDL driver. If it does not exist, the function-specific setting process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if there are a plurality of printers using the same PDL driver, in step S1403, the setting execution module (2) 810 selects one of the printers, and then in step S1404, the selected printer is backed up. Other printers using the same PDL driver are registered as printers. At the same time, set the output method to "Load distribution".

  Note that all the processes from step S1403 to S1404 may be performed automatically, but in this case, the backup printer configuration is not necessarily as desired by the user. Therefore, a dialog may be displayed so that the user can specify the printer selected by the setting execution module (2) 810 and the printer registered as the backup printer.

  As is clear from the above description, according to the present embodiment, even when the PDL load distribution function is added as a new function in the print job control program to be upgraded, the environment analysis module stores the printer information. Acquisition, analysis, and setting execution module sets predetermined setting items, so that the user's setting work when installing the print job control program is reduced.

[Fourth Embodiment]
In this embodiment, processing of an installation program when a device embedded server function is added as a new function of the print job control program will be described.

<Description of printing mode>
In general, a printer driver can be operated in different configurations in several printing modes. FIG. 15 schematically shows three configurations ((A) to (C))) having different printing modes.

  Configuration (A) shows how print jobs (1505 to 1508) issued by the clients (1501, 1502) are transferred and printed to the network printer 1509 in a chaotic manner without cooperating with each other. .

  According to the configuration (A), there is a waste of trying to execute a certain print job (for example, the print jobs 1505 and 1506) while transferring another print job (for example, the print jobs 1507 and 1508), or a part thereof. A phenomenon occurs in which the load is biased to the other network printers, and it is difficult to efficiently use a plurality of network printers. In addition, since each client 1501 and 1502 acquires information on the print job in the network printer and the status of the network printer itself by communicating with the network printer 1509, the load on the network printer becomes very high as the number of clients increases. There is a problem.

  On the other hand, in the configuration (B), there is a server 1519 for the print job control program. Each client 1510 and 1511 registers a print job in the server 1519 when it is issued. The server 1519 holds the print job information in the internal table 1520, determines the print job to be transferred to the network printer 1518 next based on the information, and determines the client (in FIG. 15, the issuer of the print job). 1510) to send a transmission instruction.

  Also, it plays a role of acquiring status information of the network printer 1518 and notifying each of the clients 1510 and 1511. According to this method, frequent information transmission between the network printer and the client, which has been a drawback of the configuration (A), is organized, and the load on the network printer can be kept low. Further, since the server 1519 can centrally control and grasp the information and output timing of the print job output from each client to the network printer 1518, it is possible to realize a function using the same.

  On the other hand, in the configuration (C), the server 1519 in the configuration (B) plays the role of a server (an application operating on the network interface card (hereinafter abbreviated as NIC)) operating in the network printer 1529. In addition, the print job control programs of the clients 1521 and 1522 are provided with a “device embedded server function” for supporting such a configuration. That is, when print jobs (1525 to 1528) to be printed by the network printer 1529 are issued by the clients 1521 and 1522, the clients 1521 and 1522 operate the print jobs (1525 to 1528) inside the network printer 1529. Register with your NIC. The following is the same as in the configuration (B). This method has an advantage that it is not necessary to prepare the server 1519 while inheriting the advantage of the configuration (B).

  FIG. 16 is a table showing main setting information of the print job control program in each configuration. Each configuration is common in that the IP address assigned to the NIC is set as the device address to which the print job is transmitted. In the case of configuration (A), the format of the port name is arbitrary within a predetermined range of character type, length, etc., but in the case of configuration (B), it takes the form of port name @ server IP address or host name. There is a need. Here, the “port name” is limited to the name of the port registered in the server indicated by the @ mark or lower. On the other hand, in the case of the configuration (C), when the configuration shown in FIG. 15 is adopted, the address or host name of the network printer that performs printing is designated below the @ mark, not the server. Furthermore, it is necessary to set the server mode only in the case of the configuration (C). When the configuration shown in FIG. 15 is adopted, “network printer 1529” is selected. If operation with a configuration similar to the configuration (B) is desired, “server 1519” may be selected.

<When a device embedded server function is added to the print job control program as a new function>
In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which a print job control program that newly supports the configuration (C) is installed where an old version of the print job control program was operating in the configuration (A). FIG. 17 shows the processing of the setup program at the time of installation in this case.

  First, in step S1701, the environment analysis module (3) 812 lists ports registered in the OS, and in step S1702, it is checked whether a port unique to the upgraded print job control program exists. If it does not exist, the function setting process ends.

  On the other hand, if there is a unique port in the installed print job control program, in step S1703, information regarding the network printer with which each of them is associated is acquired. Next, in step S1704, it is checked whether there is a network printer equipped with a new NIC that enables the configuration (C) among these network printers. If it does not exist, the function setting process ends.

  On the other hand, if it exists, the setting execution module (3) 813 selects one network printer equipped with the new NIC in step S1705, and the server module of the print job control program operates on the NIC in step S1706. Find out if it is. If it is determined in step S1707 that the server module is not operating, the process advances to step S1709. If it is determined that the port is operating, the setting of the port of the configuration (A) is changed as shown in the rightmost column of FIG. As a result, the network printer used in the configuration (A) before the upgrade can be automatically used in the configuration (C) after the upgrade.

  As is apparent from the above description, according to the present embodiment, even when the device embedded server function is added as a new function in the print job control program to be upgraded, the environment analysis module can perform network printer information. Since the setting execution module sets predetermined setting items, the user's setting work when installing the print job control program is reduced.

[Fifth Embodiment]
In each of the above embodiments, the addition of a supported model, the addition of a PDL load distribution function, and the addition of a device embedded server function have been described as new functions. However, the scope of the present invention is the new function illustrated in each of the above embodiments. It is not limited and does not require a specific combination or number. In each of the above embodiments, the print job control program upgraded as installed software has been described. However, the scope of application of the present invention is not limited thereto, and a new function can be used by setting. It should be understood more widely including the software that becomes. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the target on which the software is installed is not limited to the print processing system.

[Other Embodiments]
Note that the present invention can be applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, and a printer), and a device (for example, a copying machine and a facsimile device) including a single device. You may apply to.

  Another object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing software program codes for implementing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the storage medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, or the like is used. be able to.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) operating on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a print processing system. And FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a computer. It is a figure which shows an example of the memory map of RAM. It is a figure which shows an example of the memory map of FD. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration in a print processing system. It is the figure which showed an example of the structure of the constructed intermediate format file. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a flow of a print job in the print processing system. It is a figure which shows the module structure of the setup program for installing a print job control program in a client or a server. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a processing flow when a print job control program is installed in a print processing system using a setup program. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a processing flow when installing a print job control program to which a supported model is added. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a processing flow when installing a print job control program to which a supported model is added. It is a figure for demonstrating a PDL load distribution printing function. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of main setting items in an old version print job control program that does not support the PDL load distribution function and a new version print job control program that is supported. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a flow of processing for using a PDL load distribution function after installing a new version of a print job control program when a printer that performs direct printing has already been created in an old version of a print job control program. It is the figure which showed typically three structures ((A)-(C))) from which a printing mode differs. It is a figure which shows the main setting information of the print job control program in each structure. It is a figure which shows the flow of a process in the case of installing the print job control program which newly supported the structure (C) in the place where the print job control program of the old version was operating with the structure (A).

Claims (8)

An information processing apparatus for executing a setup program for installing software,
The setup program includes a computer included in the information processing apparatus.
Determining means for determining whether or not the function of the software is executable in the information processing apparatus;
An information processing apparatus that is a program for causing a function determined by the determination unit to be executable among the functions included in the software as a setting unit that performs a setting process after installation. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit performs the determination in response to a new installation of the software. 2. The display control unit according to claim 1, further comprising: a display control unit configured to display a selection screen capable of instructing whether or not to execute the setting by the setting unit for the function determined to be set by the determination unit. Or the information processing apparatus of 2. The setup program is
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plug-in that causes the computer to operate as the determination unit and the setting unit. In an information processing apparatus connectable to a network, a setup program executed when installing software, the computer included in the information processing apparatus,
A determination step of determining whether or not the function of the software is executable in the information processing apparatus;
A setup program for executing a setting process after installation for a function that is determined to be executable in the determination process among functions provided in the software. 6. The setup program according to claim 5, wherein the determination step performs the determination in response to the software being newly installed. The display control step of causing the display unit to display a selection screen capable of instructing whether to set the function determined to be set by the determination step according to the setting step is further executed. Item 7. The setup program according to item 5 or 6. The setup program is
The setup program according to claim 5, wherein the setup program is a plug-in that causes the computer to execute the determination step and the setting step.

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