JP2009015408A - Installation server - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an installation server for enabling even a printer which does not correspond to a WSD Print Service to use the WSD Print Service. <P>SOLUTION: An administrator registers UUID and the IP address of a printer and device ID in the printer information management part of an installation server. A WSD Print functional part returns the UUID and the device ID in response to a request from a client terminal. When receiving print data to which the UIID has been attached from a client terminal, the installation server specifies the IP address of the corresponding printer by using the UIID as a key, and a print client functional part transfers the print data to the specified printer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an installation server that enables a WSD Print Service-incompatible printer to be used with WSD Print Service.

  With the spread of network environments, network printing systems that connect printers to a network and share them from a plurality of client terminals are widely used.

  In general, in order to use a network printing system, it is necessary to install a printer driver and set a print port at a client terminal, but these settings are complicated for the user. In recent years, various techniques have been proposed in order to solve such complicated settings and improve the convenience of a network printing system.

  As an example, WSD Print Service has been proposed. WSD Print Service is a Web Service related to printer driver installation and printing. WSD Print Service supports network plug-and-play, and by using this, you can automatically install a printer driver and set a print port without bothering the user.

  WSD Print Service uses PnP-X (Plug and Play eXtension) as network plug and play. PnP-X is an extension of plug-and-play, which has been realized with USB (Universal Serial Bus) etc., to devices connected to the network. If PnP-X is used, it is possible to recognize a device connected to the network and install a driver thereof as well as a device connected to the local bus (see Non-Patent Document 1).

“Windows Rally Technologies: An Overview”, May 23, 2006. (Overview.doc from http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/rally/overview.mspx)

  However, in order to use the WSD Print Service function, the printer needs to support that function. Therefore, a printer that does not support WSD Print Service still has a problem that the user himself has to select a printer driver and set a print port.

  Also, WSD Print Service has a problem that it cannot be used via a router that does not pass multicast. Therefore, there is a problem that the WSD Print Service cannot be used for a printer existing in another network.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an installation server that can use a WSD Print Service even if the printer does not support the WSD Print Service. Further, by using such an installation server, the WSD Print Service can be used for a printer existing in another network via a router.

  A first invention is an installation server capable of communicating with a client terminal and an image forming apparatus, and registers at least a record including identification information, position information and driver specifying information among information relating to the image forming apparatus in an information table Means, search means for searching the information table for a record including identification information that matches the identification information given to the print data received from the client terminal, and when receiving a device information acquisition request from the client terminal, Response means for returning at least identification information and driver identification information among information included in the record of the information table, print data receiving means for receiving print data to which identification information is given from the client terminal, and print client means And the print data receiving means An image having print data received, the search means searching for a record including identification information that matches the identification information given to the print data, and the print client means having position information included in the searched record The print data is transmitted to the forming apparatus.

  A second invention is the install server according to the first invention, wherein the record further includes print protocol information, the print data receiving means receives the print data, and the search means Is searched for a record including identification information that matches the identification information assigned to the print data, and the print client means searches the image forming apparatus having the position information included in the searched record. The print data is transmitted according to the print protocol information included in the record.

  A third invention is the install server described in the second invention, wherein the print protocol information is IPP (Internet Printing Protocol).

  By using the install server of the present invention, the WSD Print Service function can be used even with a printer that does not support WSD Print Service. WSD Print Service can also be used for printers that exist in another network via a router.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and illustrated examples, and many changes and modifications can be made.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a network printing system in the first embodiment. The network printing system 1 includes a LAN (Local Area Network) network A2, a LAN network B3, and a WAN (Wide Area Network) network 4. The LAN network A2 and the WAN network 4 are connected by a router 8a, and the LAN network B3 and the WAN network 4 are connected by a router 8b. The WAN network 4 is, for example, the Internet.

  A plurality of client terminals (6a, 6b), a plurality of printers (7a, 7b), an install server 5, and a router 8a are connected to the LAN network A2. A printer 7c and a router 8b are connected to the LAN network B3.

  The network printing system 1 may have a configuration in which three or more LAN networks exist. Further, the network printing system 1 may be configured such that the WAN network 4 does not exist. In addition, the types and the number of connected devices constituting the LAN network A2 and the LAN network B3 are arbitrary.

  Next, the hardware configuration of the install server will be described with reference to FIG. As an example, the installation server can be configured using a dedicated device. In this case, the installation server includes a CPU 20 that controls the whole, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 21 and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 22 that store programs and data, and a network interface (network I / F) for connection to a network. ) 23, an input unit 24 such as a switch, and a display unit 25 such as an LED or a liquid crystal screen. As another form, the install server can be configured using a general personal computer.

  FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the installation server in the first embodiment. The printer information management unit 31 holds a printer information table. Also, a record registered in the printer information table is searched. The printer information management unit 31 corresponds to a “registration unit” and a “search unit” described in the claims.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the printer information table. In the printer information table, UUID (Universally Unique Identifier) 40, output destination 41, device ID 42, protocol 43, and port 44 information are registered for each printer. For example, in FIG. 4, it is understood that three records are registered in the printer information table, and three printers are registered. In the first record, printers with UUID: AAAA, output destination: 192.168.10.10, device ID: wwww, protocol: LPR, and port: lp are registered.

  The UUID 40 is information used in the WSD Print Service, and is information that is uniquely associated with the printer. The UUID 40 corresponds to “identification information” described in the claims.

  The output destination 41 is information indicating the transfer destination of the print data received by the WSD Print function unit 32. As an example, the IP address of the printer is registered. Information other than the IP address, such as a printer name, can also be used. The information of the output destination 41 (printer IP address and the like) corresponds to “position information” described in the claims.

  The device ID 42 is information assigned to each printer model, and is used to select an appropriate printer driver during plug and play. The device ID 42 corresponds to “driver specifying information” described in the claims.

  The protocol 43 is information on a protocol used for transmitting print data to the printer, and includes LPR (Line Printer Daemon), RAW, IPP (Internet Printing Protocol), and the like. Information of the protocol 43 (LPR or the like) corresponds to “print protocol information” recited in the claims.

  The port 44 is information on a logical output destination port of print data, and includes lp, 9100, and the like.

  In addition to the UUID, output destination, device ID, protocol, and port, the items included in the record include, for example, the printer name, manufacturer name, version information, serial number, manufacturer web page, print function (print speed, The presence or absence of color printing, resolution, etc.) can optionally be included.

  Registration in the printer information table may be configured to be registered by a network administrator, or the installation server 5 may be configured to search the network and automatically register it. In the former method, the network administrator registers a Web page for registration in the printer information management unit, and the network administrator accesses the Web page from a Web browser on a management computer (not shown). There is a method to register by doing. As a method for the installation server 5 to search and automatically register the network, the printer information management unit 31 searches the network using a protocol such as SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) and acquires necessary information. There is a way to do it. Further, when the installation server is configured by a general personal computer, the network administrator may directly register by operating the keyboard or the like of the installation server.

  Returning to FIG. The WSD Print function unit 32 is capable of data communication using SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) based on XML (Extensible Markup Language), and requests based on specifications such as WS-Discovery and WS-Transfer from the function discovery of the client terminal. Respond to. For example, when the WSD Print function unit 32 receives a GetMetadata request from a client terminal, the WSD Print function unit 32 interprets the contents, obtains information necessary for Metadata from the printer information table, writes this in the Metadata, and returns it to the client terminal. To do. The metadata describes the configuration information of the device, but in this embodiment, the printer information registered in the printer information table of the install server is described. The WSD Print function unit 32 has a function of receiving print data transmitted in XML format from the client terminal. The WSD Print function unit 32 corresponds to “response means” and “print data receiving means” recited in the claims.

  The print client function unit 33 supports print protocols such as LPR, RAW (Port 9100), and IPP, and transmits print data to a printer on the network based on these protocols. The print client function unit 33 corresponds to “print client unit” recited in the claims.

  The network control unit 34 controls the network interface and transmits / receives data to / from the network.

  FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the client terminal according to the first embodiment. The client terminal 6 is a general personal computer, and is assumed to operate Windows Vista (registered trademark) as an operating system. Note that the present invention can also be applied to other operating systems compatible with WSD Print Service. As long as the embodiment can be realized, the client terminal can also be applied to devices other than personal computers (for example, portable information terminals such as PDAs and mobile phones).

  The function discovery 52 is capable of data communication using XML-based SOAP, and searches for devices connected to the network and acquires information based on specifications such as WS-Discovery and WS-Transfer. Also, it manages the information (device configuration information) acquired from the device. Upon receiving a driver installation instruction from the user, the plug-and-play function unit (PnP) Function section) 51.

  The print function unit 50 includes a print application 50a, a printer driver 50b, a WSD Print driver 50c, and a print port 50d. The print application 50a is a document processing application or a spreadsheet application, and instructs printing of data to be printed. The printer driver 50b converts the data to be printed into a format such as PDL (Page Description Language) that can be interpreted by the printer, and generates print data. The WSD Print driver 50c is a driver used in the WSD Print Service, and converts print data into an XML format. The print port 50d manages the output destination of the print data, describes the UUID in the print data converted into the XML format, and transmits it to the network.

  The plug and play function unit (PnP function unit) 51 installs a necessary driver based on information (device ID or the like) given from the function discovery 52. If the device type is a printer, a print port is created and set, and associated with the installed printer driver.

  Next, printer driver installation will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 5, and 6. FIG. FIG. 6 shows a driver installation operation in the first embodiment. First, the network administrator registers information (UUID, output destination, device ID, protocol, port) of the printer connected to the network in the printer information table of the install server 5 (100).

  When the network administrator wants to make only a specific printer among the plurality of printers existing in the network the target of the WSD Print Service, only the information of the printer to be targeted should be registered in the printer information table.

  When the installation server 5 searches the network and automatically acquires printer information, registration by the network administrator is not always necessary.

  The function discovery 52 of the client terminal 6 multicasts a Probe message on the network at a certain timing (for example, when the user instructs it, when the client terminal 6 is turned on, or at a specific polling interval) ( 101). The Probe message is a device search message defined in WS-Discovery and is described in XML.

  When receiving the Probe message, the WSD Print function unit 32 of the install server 5 interprets the contents and responds to the ProbeMatch message to the client terminal 6 (102). The ProbeMatch message includes the IP address of the installation server 5 and the UUID of the printer registered in the printer information table.

  When receiving the ProbeMatch message, the function discovery 52 of the client terminal 6 designates the IP address of the installation server 5 and the UUID of the printer, and transmits a GetMetadata message to the installation server 5 (103). The GetMetadata message is a message for acquiring configuration information of a discovered device (which corresponds to a printer registered in the printer information table in the present invention), and is defined in WS-Transfer.

  When receiving the GetMetadata message, the WSD Print function unit 32 of the install server 5 interprets the content and gives the UUID included therein to the printer information management unit 31. The printer information management unit 31 refers to the given UUID and searches for a record having a matching UUID from the printer information table. When a matching record is found, information included in the record is given to the WSD Print function unit 32. The WSD Print function unit 32 acquires information necessary as Metadata from the given information, writes it in Metadata, and returns it to the client terminal 6 (104). Metadata includes a device ID and a value indicating that the printer supports WSD Print Service, but in addition to this, the user interface (Network Explorer in the case of Windows Vista (registered trademark)) Information such as the printer name, manufacturer name, version information, serial number, manufacturer web page, printing function (printing speed, presence / absence of color printing, resolution, etc.) to be displayed above may be included. In this case, these pieces of information may be registered in advance in the printer information table record. Note that the output destination (printer IP address), protocol, and port information included in the record are not necessarily required at the client terminal, and therefore whether or not to be described in the metadata as configuration information is arbitrary.

  When the function discovery 52 of the client terminal 5 acquires the metadata, the function discovery 52 displays a list of information obtained from the metadata on the user interface. In the case of the present embodiment, the metadata information returned from the installation server is information on the printers registered in the printer information table. Therefore, a list of information on printers on the network is displayed on the user interface. In the case of Windows Vista (registered trademark), a list is displayed in the network explorer.

  When the user selects a printer to be installed from the printer list in the network explorer and instructs installation, the function discovery 52 detects information necessary for driver installation (device ID and WSD Print Service from the printer configuration information included in Metadata). Is obtained and provided to the plug-and-play function unit 51.

  The plug and play function unit 51 installs necessary drivers based on the given information. Here, since the device type is a printer compatible with WSD Print Service, a print port is created and a WSD Print driver is installed. Note that the IP address registered in the print port is the IP address of the install server 5.

  Next, the plug and play function unit 51 determines whether the client terminal has a printer driver corresponding to the device ID (whether there is a printer driver corresponding to the storage area (HDD or the like) of the client terminal). . If so, install the printer driver. If not, for example, an installation wizard is activated to inquire the user of the location of the printer driver. In this case, the user installs the printer driver from the CD-ROM or the like according to the instruction of the installation wizard. Through the above processing, a printer driver for a printer that does not support WSD Print Service is installed on the client terminal using the installation server.

  In the above description, the probe message is transmitted from the client terminal to detect the device. However, when the device is connected to the network, the device side may notify that fact. Hereinafter, the operation will be described.

  In the present embodiment, the search procedure starting from the operation on the device side is started from an operation such as turning on the power of the install server 5. When the installation server 5 is connected to the network due to power-on or the like, the installation server 5 transmits a Hello message to the client terminal 6 on the network. The Hello message is a message notifying that it has joined the network, and is defined in the WS-Discovery specification. The Hello message includes the IP address of the installation server 5 and the printer UUID registered in the printer information table.

  When the client terminal 6 receives the Hello message, it sends a GetMetadata message to the installation server 5 and acquires the metadata of the device (in this case, the printer registered in the printer information table). The subsequent operation is the same as the device search procedure starting from the operation of the client terminal described above, and the description thereof will be omitted.

  Next, operations when printing from the client terminal will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 5, and 7.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an operation of print processing according to the first embodiment. When the user designates a print port for WSD Print Service and gives a print instruction from the print application 50a (200), the printer driver 50b receives the print instruction, and prints data to be printed by a printer such as PDL. Convert to an interpretable format and generate print data. The print data is converted into XML format by the WSD Print driver 50c and given to the print port 50d. The print port 50d appends the UUID to the print data in the XML format and transmits it to the install server 5 (201).

  The WSD Print function unit 32 of the installation server 5 receives print data in XML format. Since the print data is given a UUID, the WSD Print function unit 32 gives the UUID to the printer information management unit 31. The printer information management unit 31 searches the printer information table for a record having a UUID that matches the given UUID. When a record having a matching UUID is found, the information (UUID, output destination, print protocol, port) is given to the print client function unit 33. The print client function unit 33 receives the print data from the WSD Print function unit 32, and sends the print data to the printer on the network according to the information (UUID, output destination, print protocol, port) given from the printer information management unit 31. Transmit (202). For example, if the given information is output destination: 192.168.10.10, print protocol: LPR, port: lp, the print client function unit sends LPR to the lp port of the printer having the IP address of 192.168.10.10. Send print data using the protocol. The printer receives the transmitted print data and prints it out. When the transmission of the print data ends (203), the WSD Print function unit 32 notifies the client terminal to that effect (204).

  Next, a case where the WSD Print Service is used for a printer existing in another LAN network via a router will be described.

  In this case, the network administrator sets the IP address, UUID, device ID, printing protocol, and port of a printer that exists in another network in the printer information table of the installation server. For example, in FIG. 4, the third record corresponds to this. In the record, UUID: CCCC, output destination: 201.xxx.xxx.xxx (global IP address), device ID: YYYY, protocol: IPP printer are registered. As the printer IP address, an IP address accessible via a router is registered. In addition, as a protocol, IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) that can transmit print data via a router is set.

  The network administrator can use the WSD Print Service for a printer that exists in another network via a router from the client terminal simply by performing the above settings on the installation server.

  In other words, for printer driver installation, information (device ID, etc.) necessary for driver installation in WSD Print Service is registered in advance in the installation server, so the client terminal directly accesses a printer that exists on another network. All the information necessary for installing the printer driver can be acquired simply by accessing the installation server.

  Also, when sending print data, the print data is once sent to the install server and sent from the install server to the printer on another network, so the client terminal can install it without knowing the printer's IP address. Print data can be transmitted via the server. In addition, since the installation server sends the print data received in XML format to the printer using another protocol (IPP, etc.), even if the printer itself does not support WSD Print Service, network printing such as IPP, etc. If the protocol is supported, print data from the client terminal can be received.

  According to this embodiment, even a printer that does not support the WSD Print Service can use the WSD Print Service, so that a network printing system that is highly convenient for the user can be constructed.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, even a printer that does not support WSD Print Service can use WSD Print Service. For example, when an office network is compatible with WSD Print Service, an installation server Can be used to build a WSD Print Service network by effectively using existing printers, rather than purchasing new WSD Print Service compatible printers.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, information necessary for the WSD Print Service is registered in the installation server, so that the printer driver installation and the print port setting in the WSD Print Service are all completed through communication with the installation server. be able to. The installation server also has a function as a print client. If IPP is used as the print protocol, the print data received by the WSD Print Service can be transferred to a printer on another network beyond the router. Can be sent.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of the network printing system 10 according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, the point that the printer 7d is directly connected to the installation server 11 is different from the first embodiment. The install server 11 has a function as a print server, and can transfer print data received from the network to the printer 7d connected to the install server 11. The connection interface between the install server 11 and the printer 7d is, for example, USB or IEEE1284, but other interfaces may be used.

  FIG. 9 is a hardware configuration diagram of an install server according to the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, since the installation server has a function as a print server, a printer interface (printer I / F) 26 for connecting to a printer is provided. As the printer interface 26, for example, USB or IEEE1284 can be used. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment. As another form, the install server can be configured using a general personal computer.

  FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram of the install server in the second embodiment. The print server function unit 35 receives print data from the WSD Print function unit 32 and transmits it to the printer 7d connected to the printer interface. The functional blocks other than those described above are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 11 is an example of a printer information table in the second embodiment. The difference from the first embodiment is that the output destination 41 includes the value “local port 1”. Here, the local port indicates the printer interface of the install server. As a result of searching the UUID, if the output destination is designated as the local port, the print client function unit transmits the print data to the printer connected to the printer interface instead of the network. Further, when a plurality of printers are connected to the installation server, they can be distinguished by the numbers of the local ports such as “local port 1” and “local port 2”.

  The functional blocks of the client terminal in the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  In the network printing system according to the second embodiment, a case where print data is transmitted from a client terminal to a printer connected to a printer interface of an installation server will be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 10, and 12. FIG. 12 shows the print processing operation of the network printing system in the second embodiment. The operation related to the installation of the printer driver is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  The user instructs printing from the printing application 50a (300). At this time, the user designates a print port associated with the printer 7d connected to the installation server 11 and issues a print instruction. Upon receiving such a print instruction, the printer driver 50b converts the print target data into a format that can be interpreted by a printer such as PDL, and generates print data. The print data is converted into the XML format by the WSD Print driver 50c and given to the print port 50d. The print port 50d adds the UUID to the print data in the XML format, and transmits it to the install server 11 (301).

  The WSD Print function unit 32 of the install server 11 receives print data in XML format. Since the print data is given a UUID, the WSD Print function unit 32 gives the UUID to the printer information management unit 31. The printer information management unit 31 searches the printer information table for a record having a UUID that matches the given UUID. When a record having a matching UUID is found, the information (UUID, output destination, print protocol, port) is given to the print client function unit 33. In this case, since the local port is designated as the output destination of the record, information indicating that the output destination is the printer interface is given to the print client function unit 33. The print client function unit 33 receives the print data from the WSD Print function unit 32 and transmits it to the printer connected to the printer interface according to the given information (302). The printer receives the print data and prints it out. When the transmission ends (303), the client terminal is notified of this (304).

(Other embodiments)
As described in the above embodiments, the print data from the client terminal passes through the installation server, so that the client terminal that performed printing can be managed and the access can be restricted using the installation server. When performing access restriction, the installation server has an access restriction list of client terminals, and the identification information (IP address, etc.) of the client terminals that are permitted (or not permitted) to be used is registered in the list. What is necessary is just to comprise so that an installation server may respond only to the request from a client terminal. Also, when managing the log of print data, for example, the installation server has a log function, who printed (client terminal identification information), what printed (print data name), when printed (print Each information such as the data reception date may be stored as a log.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the specific configuration is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope described in the claims.

  For example, in each of the above embodiments, a protocol defined by WS-Discovery is adopted as a device search means, but the device search protocol is not limited to the above. Besides WS-Discovery, for example, a protocol such as SSDP (Simple Service Discovery) defined by UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) can be used.

  In each of the above embodiments, the printer connected to the network is a printer that has a communication function with the network as a single unit. However, even if the printer does not have a function to communicate with the network, the printer is connected to the network via the print server. It may be a printer that can be connected. That is, the printer shown in each of the above embodiments may be configured by integrating a print server and a printer.

  The present invention is useful when building a network printing system that supports WSD Print Service using a printer that does not support WSD Print Service in a corporate office or the like.

1 is a configuration diagram of a network printing system in a first embodiment. FIG. It is a hardware block diagram of the installation server in 1st Embodiment. It is a functional block diagram of the installation server in 1st Embodiment. 3 is an example of a printer information table in the first embodiment. It is a functional block diagram of the client terminal in 1st and 2nd embodiment. It is a figure which shows the operation | movement of the driver installation in 1st and 2nd embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an operation of a printing process in the first embodiment. It is a block diagram of the network printing system in 2nd Embodiment. It is a hardware block diagram of the installation server in 2nd Embodiment. It is a functional block diagram of the installation server in 2nd Embodiment. It is an example of the printer information table in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the operation | movement of the printing process in 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Network printing system 2 LAN network A
3 LAN network B
4 WAN network 5 Installation server 6a, 6b Client terminal 7a, 7b, 7c Printer 8a, 8b Router 9a, 9b Network

Claims (3)

An installation server capable of communicating with a client terminal and an image forming apparatus,
A registration unit for registering a record including at least identification information, position information, and driver identification information among information on the image forming apparatus in an information table;
Search means for searching the information table for a record including identification information that matches the identification information given to the print data received from the client terminal;
When a device information acquisition request is received from the client terminal, response means for returning at least identification information and driver identification information among information included in the information table record;
Print data receiving means for receiving print data to which identification information is given from the client terminal;
Print client means,
The print data receiving means receives the print data, the search means searches for a record including identification information that matches the identification information given to the print data, and the print client means is included in the searched record. An installation server for transmitting the print data to an image forming apparatus having position information.   The record further includes print protocol information. The print data receiving unit receives the print data, and the search unit searches for a record including identification information that matches the identification information given to the print data. The print client means transmits the print data to the image forming apparatus having the position information included in the searched record according to the print protocol information included in the searched record. The installation server according to claim 1.   The installation server according to claim 2, wherein the print protocol information is IPP (Internet Printing Protocol).

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