JP2003216354A - Print system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print system capable of automatically installing a printer driver in a server computer having a wireless adapter. <P>SOLUTION: In an LAN to which a cable communication server 10, radio communication servers 20 and 50, a printer device 30, and a management server 60 or the like are connected, the management server 60 retrieves the radio communication server 20 having a wireless adapter at the time of installing a printer driver corresponding to the printer device 30 in the cable communication server 10, and installs the printer driver in the radio communication server 20 having the retrieved wireless adapter. Thus, it is possible to automatically install the printer driver in the cable communication server 20 having the wireless adapter, and to reduce the labor of the install destination management of the printer driver for the system manager. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print system in which a printer driver is installed from a server computer to a terminal device by wireless communication when the terminal device instructs a printer device to print by wireless communication.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a plurality of PCs (Personal Computers)
A LAN (Local Area Network) is constructed by connecting a terminal device such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) and a printer device via a network, and data, tables, figures, etc. created in the terminal device are set in the printer device. A printing system that gives a print instruction is generally used. In recent years, the terminal device and the printer device are not necessarily connected by wire, each has a wireless adapter, and there is a wireless communication print system in which the terminal device instructs the printer device to perform printing by wireless communication. Are known. In this case, the terminal device needs to have the printer driver corresponding to the selected printer installed.

A method of installing a printer driver in this terminal device is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-1436.
As shown in No. 62, a method of "downloading a unique printer driver stored in the printer device to a host computer or a personal information terminal device through a general-purpose interface" is known. In addition, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
No. 001-43039, “a host computer inquires the printer device of the location of the printer driver, and downloads from the server device managing the printer driver according to the location information returned from the printer device in response to the inquiry. The method is known. Further, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-132353, “When a PC or PDA and a printer device are provided with infrared ports, respectively, and when printing from the PC or PDA to the printer device, the printer driver of the printer device uses an infrared port via the infrared port. There is a known method of transmitting to a PC or PDA by communication and installing.

[0004]

However, in the printing system, it is necessary to first install the printer driver in the server computer having the wireless adapter capable of wireless communication with the terminal device. However, this point has not been devised, and there is a problem in that the operator has to manually search for a server computer having a wireless adapter from a plurality of server devices, which is a burden on the operator.

Further, even if a printer driver is installed in a server having a wireless adapter installed in a place where wireless communication with the printer device is not possible, it is not practical and the storage capacity of the server computer is wasted. .

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and when a print instruction is issued from the terminal device to the printer device, a printer driver is provided from the server computer having the wireless adapter to the terminal device. An object of the present invention is to provide a print system that can automatically install a printer driver in a server computer having a wireless adapter in a print system installed by wireless communication.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is capable of wirelessly communicating with a plurality of server computers including at least a server computer having a wireless adapter capable of wirelessly communicating with the terminal device. One or a plurality of printing devices including a printing device having a wireless adapter and a management device that collectively manages the printing devices are connected via a network, and the terminal device prints by wireless communication with the printer device. A print system in which a printer driver is installed from the server computer having the wireless adapter to the terminal device by wireless communication when the instruction is given, and the management device is configured to print the printer driver to any one of the server computers. And installed , The management device retrieves one or more server computers having wireless adapter,
The printer driver is installed in the server computer having the searched wireless adapter.

According to this, when the printer driver is installed in any of the server computers, the server computer having the wireless adapter is searched, so that the printer driver can be automatically installed in the server having the wireless adapter.

Further, it is preferable that the management device searches for a server computer having a wireless adapter, which is installed within a range communicable with the printer device corresponding to the printer driver.

According to this, since the printer driver is installed in the server computer having the wireless adapter, which is installed in the range in which the printer device can communicate, the terminal which is also in the range in which the printer device can communicate. The printer driver can be surely installed in the apparatus from the server computer. Further, the printer driver is not installed in the server computer installed in a location where wireless communication with the printer device is not possible, and it is possible to prevent wasting of the storage capacity of the server computer.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] A print system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a print system according to this embodiment.

In FIG. 1, 10 is a normal server computer without a wireless adapter (hereinafter referred to as a wired communication server), and 20 and 50 are server computers capable of wireless communication with a wireless adapter (hereinafter referred to as a wireless communication server). , 30 is a printer device having a wireless adapter, 40 is a PC having a wireless adapter
(Personal Computer) and PDA (Personal Digital Ass
is a terminal device such as istant), and 60 is a server computer (hereinafter referred to as a management server) that manages them in a centralized manner. These wired communication server 10, wireless communication server 20,
The 50, the printer device 30, and the management server 60 are connected to each other via a network NW, and although not shown in the figure, a plurality of PCs and printer devices,
A general LAN (Loca) to which a fax, etc. is connected
l Area Network).

In this printing system, therefore, when the terminal device 40 having a wireless adapter accesses the printer device 30 having a wireless adapter to instruct printing by wireless communication, the printer device 30 is used.
The printer driver corresponding to must be installed in the terminal device 40.

However, when the printer capacity of the terminal device 40 is limited and the printer driver cannot be stored at all times, or when the printer device 30 is used for the first time, the printer driver is installed in the terminal device 40. It may not be installed. At this time,
Wireless communication server 20, 50 having wireless adapter
In order to install the printer driver to the terminal device 40 by wireless communication, the printer driver needs to be installed in advance in the wireless communication servers 20 and 50.

Therefore, in this print system, when the management server 60 installs the printer driver in the wired communication server 10 that does not have a wireless adapter or another wired communication server, it searches for a wireless communication server that has a wireless adapter. Then, the searched wireless communication server (in this embodiment, the wireless communication server 2
The printer driver is also installed for 0).

The wireless communication server 20, the printer device 30, and the management server 60 will be specifically described below.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of the wireless communication server 20.

The wireless communication server 20 includes a control unit 20.
1. Hard disk drive (hereinafter referred to as HDD) 2
02, a network interface circuit (hereinafter referred to as a network IF circuit) 203, and a wireless adapter 204.

The control unit 201 includes a wireless communication server 20.
A central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as a CPU) 201a, a ROM 201, which is a unit for integrally controlling each unit in the inside.
b, RAM 201c and the like.

The HDD 202 is a storage device that stores various programs together with an OS (operating system). In this embodiment, the MIB (Management I
nformation Base) database is stored. The MIB database is referred to by the management server 60,
It is a database of information about the wireless communication server 20. This MIB database contains information regarding whether or not the server has the wireless adapter 204.

The network IF circuit 203 is a circuit used by the control unit 201 when performing wired communication with other devices in the system via the network NW.

The wireless adapter 204 includes a wireless communication circuit and has a wireless adapter.
0 is used by the control unit 201 when performing wireless communication with the communication unit 0.

In response to the request from the management server 60, the control unit 201 sends the MIB stored in the HDD 202 from the network IF circuit 203 to the management server 60 via the network NW.

When the printer driver corresponding to the printer device 30 is transmitted from the management server 60 via the network NW, the control unit 201 receives the printer driver by the network IF circuit 203 and receives the printer driver. By storing the printer driver in the HDD 202, the printer driver is installed in the server 20.

Further, the control unit 201, in response to a request from the terminal device 40 or automatically, drives the HDD 2
The printer driver stored in 02 is transmitted from the wireless adapter 204 to the terminal device 40 by wireless communication.

Since the wireless communication server 50 has the same structure as the wireless communication server 20, the description thereof will be omitted.

The wired communication server 10 has the same configuration as the wireless communication server 20 except that it does not have the wireless adapter 204. When the printer driver is installed by the management server 60, the wired communication server 10 sends a signal indicating that the printer driver has been installed (hereinafter referred to as an installation completion signal) to the management server 60. .

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of the printer device 30.

The printer device 30 includes a control unit 310,
The control panel 320 and the printing mechanism 330 are provided.

The control panel 320 is an interface between the user and the printer device 30, various buttons for designating the operation contents of the printer device 30, a liquid crystal panel for displaying the operating state of the printer device 30, and the like. It is composed of a plurality of LEDs and the like.

The printing mechanism 330 is a mechanism for performing printing on paper, and is composed of a paper feeding device, a paper transport mechanism, a print engine, and the like.

The control unit 310 includes a network IF circuit 311, a CPU 312, a RAM 313, and an HDD 31.
4, memory control unit 315, ROM 316, IF circuit 31
7 and a wireless adapter 318.

The control panel 320 is connected to the IF circuit 317, and the printing mechanism 320 is
It is connected to the F circuit 317 and the memory control unit 315. The IF circuit 317 is a circuit for the CPU 312 to exchange information with the control panel 320 and the printing mechanism 330.

The ROM 316 is a memory that stores program codes and the like. CPU312 is ROM3
According to the program code stored in 16, the control unit 3
Each part in 10 is controlled.

The network IF circuit 311 is a circuit used by the memory control unit 315 when performing wired communication with other devices in the system via the network NW.

The wireless adapter 318 is used by the memory controller 315 when performing wireless communication with the terminal device 40 having a wireless adapter.

The RAM 313 is a storage device for temporarily storing print data received by the network IF circuit 311 and the wireless adapter 318, an intermediate code generated based on the print data, and the like.

The memory control unit 315 performs a process of transferring data from the network IF circuit 311 or the wireless adapter 318 to the RAM 313, a process of transferring print data from the RAM 313 to the printing mechanism 330, and the like in accordance with a command from the CPU 312. .

When the terminal device 40 instructs the memory controller 315 to print, that is, when the terminal device 40 sends print data by wireless communication, the memory controller 315 sends the print data to the wireless adapter 318. Then, the received print data is temporarily stored in the RAM 313. Then, when the memory control unit 315 transfers the print data from the RAM 313 to the print mechanism 330, the print mechanism 33 prints the print data on a sheet.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the management server 60.

The management server 60 includes a control unit 601 and H
It comprises a DD 602 and a network IF circuit 603.

The control unit 601 is a unit for integrally controlling each unit in the management server 60, and includes a CPU 601a,
The ROM 601b and the RAM 601c are included.

The HDD 602 is a storage device in which various programs are stored together with an OS (operating system), and a printer driver corresponding to each printer device is stored therein. The printer driver is a program for converting character or image data received from application software or OS into data that can be interpreted by the printer device 30, and transmitting the data while observing the state of the printer device 30. In this embodiment, the printer driver includes the terminal device 40 from the wireless communication server 20.
The printer driver setup utility for installing the printer driver is included.

The network IF circuit 603 is a circuit used by the control unit 601 when performing wired communication with other devices in the system via the network NW.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the operation of the management server 60.

First, in S2000, the control unit 6
Reference numeral 01 denotes a printer driver corresponding to the printer device (for example, the printer device 30) stored in the HDD 602 from the network IF circuit 603 to the network NW.
The printer driver is installed in the wired communication server 10 by transmitting the printer driver to the wired communication server (for example, the wired communication server 10) in the system via S.

In step S2001, the control unit 601 receives the installation completion signal from the wired communication server 10 and then searches the system for a wireless communication server (for example, the wireless communication server 20) having a wireless adapter.
Proceed to 002.

In S2002, the control unit 601 determines whether or not the wireless communication server 20 can be searched. If the wireless communication server 20 can be searched (YES in S2002), the process proceeds to S2003. On the other hand, if it cannot be searched (N in S2002)
O), the process is ended as it is.

In the search for the wireless communication server having this wireless adapter, the MIB is requested to each server, the MIB transmitted from each server via the network NW is received by the network IF circuit 603, and the MIB is received. M received by the network IF circuit 603
Based on the information on whether or not to have a wireless adapter in the IB.

In step S2003, the control unit 601 sets H
The printer driver corresponding to the printer device 30 stored in the DD 602 is transmitted from the network IF circuit 603 to the wireless communication server 20 via the network NW, whereby the printer driver is transmitted to the wireless communication server 20.
Install to and finish the process.

According to this, when the printer driver is installed in the wired communication server 10, the wireless communication server 20 having the wireless adapter is searched, so that the printer driver is automatically installed in the wireless communication server 20 having the wireless adapter. be able to. Therefore, the printer driver can be reliably installed in the terminal device 40 from the wireless communication server 20 in which the printer driver is installed by wireless communication, and thus the terminal device 40 can instruct the printer device 30 to print. Becomes

In this embodiment, the management server 60
The printer driver stored in the HDD 602 is installed in the wired communication server 10 or the wireless communication server 20, but the printer driver stored in another server or the printer device is installed in the wired communication server 10 or the wireless communication server. 20 may be installed.

Although the management device is a separate server from the other server as the management server 60, it may be provided in another server or in the printer device.

Although the wireless communication server is searched when the printer driver is installed in the wired communication server 10, the wireless communication server is searched when the printer driver is installed in another wireless communication server or the wired communication server. It may be done.

Although the printer driver corresponding to the printer device 30 is installed, the printer driver corresponding to another printer device may be installed. [Second Embodiment] Next, a print system according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the print system according to this embodiment, the management server 60, if the searched wireless communication server is installed within a range in which wireless communication with the printer device 30 is possible, the wireless communication server (for example, the wireless communication server). Two
Install the printer driver in 0).

That is, the wireless communication server (for example, the wireless communication server 50) installed in a location where wireless communication with the printer device 30 is impossible is wirelessly connected to the terminal device 40 existing within the range in which wireless communication with the printer device 30 is possible. Since communication may not be possible in some cases, even if a printer driver is installed in such a wireless communication server 50, it is not practical. Therefore, the searched wireless communication server is the printer device 30.
Whether or not wireless communication is possible and whether installation processing is performed or not are determined.

Since the configuration of each device of the print system according to this embodiment is the same as that shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the same reference numerals are given and the description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the management server 60 in the print system according to this embodiment.

First, in S3000, the management server 6
The control unit 601 of 0 sets the printer driver corresponding to the printer device (for example, the printer device 30) stored in the HDD 602 from the network IF circuit 603 to the wired communication server (for example, the wired communication server 10) in the system via the network NW. The printer driver is installed in the wired communication server 10 by sending
Proceed to 3001.

In S3001, the control unit 601 receives the installation completion signal from the wired communication server 10, then searches the system for a wireless communication server having a wireless adapter, and proceeds to S3002.

In S3002, the control unit 601 determines whether or not the wireless communication server can be searched. If the wireless communication server can be searched (YES in S3002), the process proceeds to S3003.
On the other hand, if the search cannot be made (N in S3002)
O), the process is ended as it is.

In step S3003, the control unit 601 determines whether the retrieved wireless communication server (for example, the wireless communication server 20) can wirelessly communicate with the printer device 30, and determines that wireless communication is possible. If (S300
If YES, the process proceeds to S3004. On the other hand, if it is determined that wireless communication is not possible (NO in S3003), the process ends. It should be noted that whether or not the searched wireless communication server is capable of wireless communication with the printer device 30 is determined based on the MIB transmitted from each server.

In step S3004, the control unit 601 sets H
By transmitting the printer driver corresponding to the printer device 30 stored in the DD 602 from the network IF circuit 603 to the wireless communication server 20 via the network NW, the printer driver is transmitted to the wireless communication server 2.
Install to 0 and end the process.

According to this, since the printer driver is installed in the wireless communication server installed within the range where the printer device 30 can communicate wirelessly, the terminal device which exists within the range where the printer device 30 can also communicate. 40
On the other hand, the printer driver can be surely installed from the wireless communication server.

Further, since the printer driver is not installed in the wireless communication server arranged in a location where wireless communication with the printer device 30 is not possible, it is possible to prevent the storage capacity of the wireless communication server from being wasted. it can. [Third Embodiment] Next, a print system according to still another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the print system according to this embodiment, the management server 60 installs the printer driver in the wireless communication server when the searched wireless server can wirelessly communicate with the terminal device of the external user.

That is, in a print system for performing printing by wireless communication, use by an external user can be considered. Therefore, it is determined whether the wireless communication server can be accessed by the terminal device of the external user, and the presence or absence of installation processing is determined. .

Since the configuration of each device of the print system according to this embodiment is the same as that shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the same reference numerals are given and the description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the management server 60 in the print system according to this embodiment.

First, in S4000, the management server 6
The control unit 601 of 0 sets the printer driver corresponding to the printer device (for example, the printer device 30) stored in the HDD 602 from the network IF circuit 603 to the wired communication server (for example, the wired communication server 10) in the system via the network NW. The printer driver is installed in the wired communication server 10 by sending
Proceed to 4001.

In S4001, the control unit 601 receives the installation completion signal from the wired communication server 10, searches for a wireless communication server having a wireless adapter in the system, and proceeds to S4002.

In S4002, the control unit 601 determines whether or not the wireless communication server can be searched. If the wireless communication server can be searched (YES in S4002), the process proceeds to S4003.
On the other hand, if no search is possible (N in S4002)
O), the process is ended as it is.

In step S4003, the control unit 601 determines whether the searched wireless communication server (for example, the wireless communication server 20) can wirelessly communicate with the terminal device of the external user, and the wireless communication can be performed. If determined (S4
(YES in 003), and proceeds to S4004. On the other hand, if it is determined that wireless communication is not possible (NO in S4003),
The process is terminated as it is. Note that whether or not the searched wireless communication server can wirelessly communicate with the terminal device of the external user is determined based on the MIB transmitted from each server.

In step S4004, the control unit 601 sets H
By transmitting the printer driver corresponding to the printer device 30 stored in the DD 602 from the network IF circuit 603 to the wireless communication server 20 via the network NW, the printer driver is transmitted to the wireless communication server 2.
Install to 0 and end the process.

According to this, since the printer driver is installed in the wireless communication server capable of wirelessly communicating with the terminal device of the external user, the printer driver is surely installed in the terminal device of the external user from the wireless communication server. Therefore, it becomes possible for the external user to use the printing system.

[0078]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the printer driver is installed in any of the server computers, the management device searches for the server computer having the wireless adapter. The driver can be installed automatically. Therefore, the printer driver can be surely installed in the terminal device by wireless communication from the server computer in which the printer driver is installed, and further, the terminal device can surely instruct the printer device to perform printing. It is possible to reduce the burden on the person of managing the installation destination of the printer driver.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the printer driver is installed in the server computer having the wireless adapter, which is installed within the communicable range with the printer device, the communicable range with the printer device is the same. The printer driver can be surely installed from the server computer to the terminal device existing inside. Further, the printer driver is not installed in the server computer installed in a location where wireless communication with the printer device is not possible, and it is possible to prevent wasting of the storage capacity of the server computer.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a print system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a wireless communication server of FIG.

3 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of the printing apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of the wired communication server of FIG.

5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the management server of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the management server in the print system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation of a management server in a print system according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Wired communication server 20, 50 ... Wireless communication server 30 ... Printer device 60 ... Management server

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Taisuke Akahori             2-3-3 Azuchi-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture               Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takahiro Tsutsumi             2-3-3 Azuchi-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture               Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tatsuya Eguchi             2-3-3 Azuchi-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture               Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Toshiya Shirasawa             2-3-3 Azuchi-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture               Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5B021 AA01 BB00 BB04 EE01

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of server computers including at least a server computer having a wireless adapter capable of wireless communication with a terminal device, and one or a plurality of printing devices including a printing device having a wireless adapter capable of wireless communication with the terminal device. , A management device that manages them in a centralized manner is connected via a network, and when the terminal device instructs the printer device to print by wireless communication, the server computer having the wireless adapter causes the terminal device to operate. Is a printing system in which a printer driver is installed by wireless communication, and the management device is configured to, when the printer driver is installed in any of the server computers,
A printing system, wherein one or a plurality of server computers having wireless adapters are searched, and the printer driver is installed in the searched server computers having wireless adapters. 2. The print system according to claim 1, wherein the management device searches for a server computer having a wireless adapter, which is installed within a range in which communication with the printer device corresponding to the printer driver is possible.