US20040105113A1 - Printer configuration data setting method and server using the printer configuration data - Google Patents
Printer configuration data setting method and server using the printer configuration dataDownload PDFInfo
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- US20040105113A1 US20040105113A1US10/638,233US63823303AUS2004105113A1US 20040105113 A1US20040105113 A1US 20040105113A1US 63823303 AUS63823303 AUS 63823303AUS 2004105113 A1US2004105113 A1US 2004105113A1
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- configuration data
- printer
- server
- printer driver
- client
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
- G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
- G06F3/1202—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect
- G06F3/1203—Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management
- G06F3/1205—Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
- G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
- G06F3/1223—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to use a particular technique
- G06F3/1237—Print job management
- G06F3/1253—Configuration of print job parameters, e.g. using UI at the client
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
- G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
- G06F3/1278—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to adopt a particular infrastructure
- G06F3/1285—Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
- G06F3/1288—Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server in client-server-printer device configuration
Definitions
- the present inventionrelates to technology for reflecting configuration data of a printer on a printer driver in a server used for server-based environment (for example, “Metaframe” environment) in which applications run only in the server.
- server-based environmentfor example, “Metaframe” environment
- FIG. 1shows an example of the Metaframe environment.
- An application programrun on an Metaframe server 1 , and a client 2 only displays execution results of the application program.
- a printer driveris installed in the Metaframe server 1 beforehand, and a logical printer of the printer 3 is auto-created when the client 2 that uses the printer 3 logs to the Metaframe server 1 .
- print datais generated in the Metaframe server 1 , and the print data is redirected to the printer 3 via the client 2 , so that the printer 3 prints the print data.
- the printer auto-creation in the Metaframe environmentalthough the application is running only in the server, the user can print from the application running on the Metaframe server 1 to her local printers, just like she can print from local applications.
- “Inside Citrix Metaframe XP” of Addison-Wesleyrefers to the printer auto-creation process in more detail.
- US2002/0018234A1discloses a conventional technology of a Metaframe print system.
- the US2002/0010234A1discloses a universal printer driver that can be used in tho Metaframe environment.
- option setting in the logical printerremains default setting. For example, even if the printer has a double-sided tray, the setting of the auto-created logical printer remains no double-sided tray. In addition, settings for paper size and paper type of tray remain default.
- An object of the present inventionis to provide technology to reflect configuration data of a printer on a printer driver on the server in an environment in which application programs run only on the server instead of on clients.
- the above objectis achieved by a method for setting configuration data of a printer for a printer driver in a server or an image printing system that includes a client, the printer and the server including the printer driver for the printer, the method including the step of:
- a configuration data obtaining part in the serverreads the stored configuration data according to a request from the printer driver, and sends the configuration data to the printer driver.
- the configuration datais stored in the server and the configuration data obtaining part provides the configuration data to the printer driver, the configuration data can be reflected on the printer driver. Therefore, the user can print something by performing option setting such as tray setting and the like even in, for example, a Metaframe environment in which the server cannot obtain the configuration data from the printer.
- FIG. 1shows an example of a Metaframe environment
- FIG. 2shows a normal configuration including the client 2 and the printer 3 ,
- FIG. 3is a figure for explaining bidirectional communication according to a conventional technology
- FIG. 4shows a software module configuration in the Metaframe server 1 (enclosed by a solid line square) according to an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 5Ais a figure for explaining how to obtain configuration data by the client 2 ;
- FIG. 5Bis a figure for explaining how to obtain configuration data by the printer driver
- FIG. 6shows an example of a window displayed on a client display by the configuration data obtaining tool
- FIG. 7shows a flowchart of a procedure for reflecting configuration data on the printer driver in the server
- FIG. 8Ashows the configuration of the conventional network communication module 6 ;
- FIG. 8Bshows the configuration of the pseudo network communication module 7 of an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 9is a figure for explaining the relationship between the pseudo network communication module and the configuration data obtaining method of the present invention.
- FIG. 10is a figure for explaining a case in which a plurality of printer drivers is used for a printer.
- the client 2 and the printer 3performs bidirectional communication so that option data such as the double-sided tray of the printer 3 can be obtained by the client 2 .
- the bidirectional communicationis performed, for example, in a configuration shown in FIG. 3.
- a network communication module 6obtains information specified by a bidirectional communication module 5 from the printer 3 via a network by using a protocol such as SNMP, in which the bidirectional communication module 5 is a part of the printer driver 4 .
- the client 2obtains configuration data (option setting data) of the printer 3 by using a configuration data obtaining tool, in which the configuration data can not be obtained from the Metaframe server by the bidirectional communication.
- the configuration datais stored in the Metaframe server 1 (hereinafter, the configuration data will be also called as pseudo-bidirectional communication data).
- the Metaframe server 1accesses the stored data so that the printer driver in the Metaframe server 1 obtains the configuration data, and the configuration data can be reflected on the option setting of the auto-created logical printer.
- FIG. 4shows a software module configuration in the Metaframe server 1 (enclosed by a solid line square). For comparison, a conventional configuration is shown enclosed by a dotted line square.
- the network communication module 6is not used, but, a pseudo network communication module 7 is used. Accordingly, the printer driver 4 obtains configuration data, via the pseudo network communication module 7 , from the pseudo bidirectional communication data 8 that is stored beforehand.
- FIG. 5Ais a figure for explaining how to obtain configuration data by the client 2 .
- the client 2 in which the configuration data obtaining tool runsobtains the configuration data.
- the client 2displays a window shown in FIG. 6 so that the user of the client 2 selects a printer driver installed in the client 2 .
- a printer from which configuration data is to be obtainedis specified.
- the clientobtains data from the specified printer and stores the obtained data.
- the mechanism for obtaining the configuration data by using the configuration data obtaining toolis the same as the mechanism in which configuration data is obtained by a printer driver (bidirectional communication module) and the network communication module as shown in FIG. 3.
- the configuration data obtaining toolcan be also installed in a server instead of in a PC as long as a printer driver for the target printer is installed in the server or the PC.
- the configuration data 8 and the pseudo network communication module 7are installed in the Metaframe server 1 by copying the configuration data 8 and the pseudo network communication module 7 in a predetermined folder in the Metaframe server 1 .
- the pseudo network communication module 7may be installed beforehand.
- the printer driveroutputs an option data obtaining request to the bidirectional communication module 5 in step 1 .
- the option data obtaining requestincludes an instruction indicating which items of configuration data to obtain such as tray information and the like.
- the bidirectional communication module 5checks whether the pseudo network communication module 7 exists in step 2 .
- the servernotifies the bidirectional communication module 5 that the process fails in step 4 , and the process ends. If the pseudo network communication module 7 exists (Yes in step 3 ), the pseudo network communication module 7 is called and the pseudo network communication module 7 obtains configuration data corresponding to the option data obtaining request from the configuration data file 8 in step 5 . After that, the read data is output to the bidirectional communication module 5 in step 6 . The obtained configuration data is reflected on setting of the printer driver in step 7 .
- FIG. 8Ashows the configuration of the conventional network communication module 6 .
- FIG. 8Bshows the configuration of the pseudo network communication module 7 of the present embodiment.
- the conventional network communication module 6includes API (application program interface) 61 , a converting part 62 , a MIB obtaining/analyzing part 63 , and a protocol implemented part 64 .
- the API 61is for interfacing between the application program for specifying information to be obtained and the network communication module 6 .
- the APIis a set of functions, for example, each of which corresponds to a piece of MIB data.
- the function itselfmay be called as an API.
- the converting part 62converts between information specified by the application via API and MIB data.
- the MIR obtaining/analyzing part 63obtains and analyzes MIB data on the printer. According to this configuration, the network communication module 6 can obtains configuration data (option data) that is MIB data by using bidirectional communication.
- the pseudo network communication module 7includes API 71 that is the same as that of the conventional network communication module 6 .
- the pseudo network communication module 7includes a file search/data obtaining part 72 and a file accessing part 73 .
- the file search/data obtaining part 72determines which piece of configuration data to obtain in the configuration data file according to information specified by the API 71 and searches the file and obtains the piece of configuration data.
- the file accessing part 73performs processing for actually accessing the file.
- the API 71 and the API 61are the same.
- the pseudo network communication module 7 and the network communication module 6appear to be the same. Therefore, a printer driver same as a conventional printer driver can be used in the Metaframe server according to the present invention.
- the pseudo network communication modulecan be stored in a recording medium such as an IC card, CD-ROM and the like, so that tho pseudo network communication module can be installed in the server from the recording medium.
- the pseudo network communication modulecan be also installed in the server via a network.
- the configuration datais obtained by the client 2 by using a software configuration similar to that for performing conventional bidirectional communication. That is, as shown in client side configuration in FIG. 9, the configuration data obtaining tool obtains configuration data by using SNMP via APIs in the network communication module 6 . Since the configuration date is obtained by using the conventional APIs, the configuration data can be obtained API by API. Thus, data file in which configuration data includes API by API is stored in the Metaframe server as the configuration data file.
- the configuration obtaining toolcalls all APIs in step 11 , and obtains configuration data (parameters) corresponding to the APIs and stores the configuration data as the configuration data file in step 12 , in which each piece of the configuration data is associated with a corresponding API.
- the pseudo network communication module 7 in the servercan use APIs same as the APIs that are conventionally used in a printer driver in the client.
- the pseudo network communication module 7can read, from the configuration data file, pieces of configuration data requested by the bidirectional communication module in the printer driver in the Metaframe server, and can return the pieces of configuration data to the bidirectional communication module in step 13 .
- the pseudo network communication module 7can read the pieces of configuration data without changing the configuration data.
- each printer driverneeds different configuration data. That is, the printer driver 1 obtains data A and the printer driver 2 obtains data B.
- the configuration data obtaining toolcalls all APIs (including APIs corresponding to A and B) in step 21 , and stores pieces of configuration data (including A and B) corresponding to the APIs obtained from the printer's MIS data in step 22 , in which each piece of the stored configuration data is associated with a corresponding API.
- the pseudo network communication module 7can read pieces of configuration data corresponding to APIs that are requested by the bidirectional communication modules by using the APIs, and can return pieces of configuration data to each bidirectional communication module in step 23 . Accordingly, the pseudo communication module 7 can provide configuration data to a plurality of printer drivers.
- the configuration datais stored in the server and the configuration data obtaining part provides the configuration data to the printer driver, the configuration data can be reflected on the printer driver. Therefore, the user can perform option setting such as tray setting, double-sided unit setting and the like for the auto-created logical printer in the Metaframe environment in which application programs run only on the server.
- the application program interface between the configuration data obtaining part and the printer driver in the serveris the same as the application program interface between a network communication module and a client printer driver same as the printer driver in the server, in which the network communication module is used for obtaining configuration data or the printer for the client printer driver in a client terminal.
- a conventional printer drivercan be used in the Metaframe server and the configuration data can be reflected.
- the configuration data obtaining part in the serverincludes:
- a part for accessing the configuration data and reads the determined piece of configuration dataBy configuring the configuration data obtaining part in this way, configuration data obtaining part can be realized by a simple configuration compared with the conventional network communication module.
- the configuration data to be stored in the serveris obtained from the printer by bidirectional communication with the printer.
- the configuration data obtaining partcan use the stored configuration data without any change.
- the configuration data obtaining partcorresponds to the pseudo network communication module.
- the configuration datais obtained by a computer that includes a software tool that causes the computer to display a window for selecting at least one printer driver included in the computer and to obtain configuration data from a printer corresponding to the selected printer driver.
- the clientinstead of the server, may store the configuration data, and the configuration data obtaining part in the server may obtain the configuration data from the client.
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Abstract
Description
- 1. Field of the Invention[0001]
- The present invention relates to technology for reflecting configuration data of a printer on a printer driver in a server used for server-based environment (for example, “Metaframe” environment) in which applications run only in the server.[0002]
- 2. Description of the Related Art[0003]
- To solve problems of a conventional client/server system, there is a system in which application programs run only in a server instead of in clients. A system introducing the Metaframe server is an example of such a system.[0004]
- FIG. 1 shows an example of the Metaframe environment. An application program run on an[0005]
Metaframe server 1, and aclient 2 only displays execution results of the application program. - To use a[0006]
printer 3 in the Metaframe environment, for example, a printer driver is installed in the Metaframeserver 1 beforehand, and a logical printer of theprinter 3 is auto-created when theclient 2 that uses theprinter 3 logs to the Metaframeserver 1. When printing is performed from theclient 2, print data is generated in theMetaframe server 1, and the print data is redirected to theprinter 3 via theclient 2, so that theprinter 3 prints the print data. According to the printer auto-creation in the Metaframe environment, although the application is running only in the server, the user can print from the application running on the Metaframeserver 1 to her local printers, just like she can print from local applications. For example, “Inside Citrix Metaframe XP” of Addison-Wesley refers to the printer auto-creation process in more detail. - In addition, US2002/0018234A1 discloses a conventional technology of a Metaframe print system. The US2002/0010234A1 discloses a universal printer driver that can be used in tho Metaframe environment.[0007]
- In the printer system of the Metaframe environment, there is a problem in that, although printer options are set in the client side printer driver, the option setting is not reflected on the printer driver in the Metaframe server side in the printer auto-creation process.[0008]
- That is, option setting in the logical printer remains default setting. For example, even if the printer has a double-sided tray, the setting of the auto-created logical printer remains no double-sided tray. In addition, settings for paper size and paper type of tray remain default.[0009]
- An object of the present invention is to provide technology to reflect configuration data of a printer on a printer driver on the server in an environment in which application programs run only on the server instead of on clients.[0010]
- The above object is achieved by a method for setting configuration data of a printer for a printer driver in a server or an image printing system that includes a client, the printer and the server including the printer driver for the printer, the method including the step of:[0011]
- storing the configuration data obtained from the printer into the server;[0012]
- wherein a configuration data obtaining part in the server reads the stored configuration data according to a request from the printer driver, and sends the configuration data to the printer driver.[0013]
- According to the present invention, since the configuration data is stored in the server and the configuration data obtaining part provides the configuration data to the printer driver, the configuration data can be reflected on the printer driver. Therefore, the user can print something by performing option setting such as tray setting and the like even in, for example, a Metaframe environment in which the server cannot obtain the configuration data from the printer.[0014]
- Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:[0015]
- FIG. 1 shows an example of a Metaframe environment;[0016]
- FIG. 2 shows a normal configuration including the[0017]
client 2 and theprinter 3, - FIG. 3 is a figure for explaining bidirectional communication according to a conventional technology;[0018]
- FIG. 4 shows a software module configuration in the Metaframe server[0019]1 (enclosed by a solid line square) according to an embodiment of the present invention;
- FIG. 5A is a figure for explaining how to obtain configuration data by the[0020]
client 2; - FIG. 5B is a figure for explaining how to obtain configuration data by the printer driver;[0021]
- FIG. 6 shows an example of a window displayed on a client display by the configuration data obtaining tool;[0022]
- FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of a procedure for reflecting configuration data on the printer driver in the server;[0023]
- FIG. 8A shows the configuration of the conventional[0024]
network communication module 6; - FIG. 8B shows the configuration of the pseudo[0025]
network communication module 7 of an embodiment of the present invention; - FIG. 9 is a figure for explaining the relationship between the pseudo network communication module and the configuration data obtaining method of the present invention;[0026]
- FIG. 10 is a figure for explaining a case in which a plurality of printer drivers is used for a printer.[0027]
- As described in the related art, there is a problem in that option setting in the printer driver in the client side is not inherited to the printer driver in the Metaframe server. The reason of the problem will be described in the following.[0028]
- In a normal configuration including the[0029]
client 2 and theprinter 3 shown in FIG. 2, theclient 2 and theprinter 3 performs bidirectional communication so that option data such as the double-sided tray of theprinter 3 can be obtained by theclient 2. The bidirectional communication is performed, for example, in a configuration shown in FIG. 3. In this configuration, anetwork communication module 6 obtains information specified by abidirectional communication module 5 from theprinter 3 via a network by using a protocol such as SNMP, in which thebidirectional communication module 5 is a part of theprinter driver 4. - However, the above-mentioned bidirectional communication is not available between the[0030]
Metaframe server 1 and theprinter 3 in the Metaframe environment. Therefore, the option data can not be obtained by the printer driver in the Metaframe server. Thus, the above-mentioned problem arises. - In the following, embodiments of the present invention will be described.[0031]
- (Outline of System Configuration)[0032]
- In the present embodiment, in an network environment shown in FIG. 1, the[0033]
client 2 obtains configuration data (option setting data) of theprinter 3 by using a configuration data obtaining tool, in which the configuration data can not be obtained from the Metaframe server by the bidirectional communication. The configuration data is stored in the Metaframe server1 (hereinafter, the configuration data will be also called as pseudo-bidirectional communication data). - The Metaframe[0034]
server 1 accesses the stored data so that the printer driver in theMetaframe server 1 obtains the configuration data, and the configuration data can be reflected on the option setting of the auto-created logical printer. - FIG. 4 shows a software module configuration in the Metaframe server[0035]1 (enclosed by a solid line square). For comparison, a conventional configuration is shown enclosed by a dotted line square.
- As shown in FIG. 4, the[0036]
network communication module 6 is not used, but, a pseudonetwork communication module 7 is used. Accordingly, theprinter driver 4 obtains configuration data, via the pseudonetwork communication module 7, from the pseudobidirectional communication data 8 that is stored beforehand. - (Flow of Processing)[0037]
- Next, processing in the present embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS.[0038]5-7.
- FIG. 5A is a figure for explaining how to obtain configuration data by the[0039]
client 2. As shown in the figure, theclient 2 in which the configuration data obtaining tool runs obtains the configuration data. - At this time, for example, the[0040]
client 2 displays a window shown in FIG. 6 so that the user of theclient 2 selects a printer driver installed in theclient 2. As a result, a printer from which configuration data is to be obtained is specified. Then, the client obtains data from the specified printer and stores the obtained data. The mechanism for obtaining the configuration data by using the configuration data obtaining tool is the same as the mechanism in which configuration data is obtained by a printer driver (bidirectional communication module) and the network communication module as shown in FIG. 3. - The configuration data obtaining tool can be also installed in a server instead of in a PC as long as a printer driver for the target printer is installed in the server or the PC.[0041]
- Next, as shown in FIG. 5B, the[0042]
configuration data 8 and the pseudonetwork communication module 7 are installed in theMetaframe server 1 by copying theconfiguration data 8 and the pseudonetwork communication module 7 in a predetermined folder in theMetaframe server 1. The pseudonetwork communication module 7 may be installed beforehand. - It is also possible to store the[0043]
configuration data 8 in theclient 2 so that theMetaframe server 1 obtains the data via a network. However, since it is desirable to decrease data amount transmitted over the network in the Metaframe environment, tho configuration data is stored in theserver 1 according to the present embodiment. - Next, procedure for reflecting configuration data on the printer driver in the server will be described with reference to FIG. 7. The following processing can be performed when the logical printer is auto-created, or when the user of the client opens a property screen of the printer driver after the logical printer is created.[0044]
- In FIG. 7, first, the printer driver outputs an option data obtaining request to the[0045]
bidirectional communication module 5 instep 1. The option data obtaining request includes an instruction indicating which items of configuration data to obtain such as tray information and the like. Next, thebidirectional communication module 5 checks whether the pseudonetwork communication module 7 exists instep 2. - If the pseudo[0046]
network communication module 7 does not exist (NO in step3), the server notifies thebidirectional communication module 5 that the process fails instep 4, and the process ends. If the pseudonetwork communication module 7 exists (Yes in step3), the pseudonetwork communication module 7 is called and the pseudonetwork communication module 7 obtains configuration data corresponding to the option data obtaining request from the configuration data file8 instep 5. After that, the read data is output to thebidirectional communication module 5 instep 6. The obtained configuration data is reflected on setting of the printer driver instep 7. - (Details of the Pseudo Network Communication Module)[0047]
- Next, the configuration of the pseudo network communication module will be described in detail, in which the pseudo network communication module is compared with the normal network communication module.[0048]
- FIG. 8A shows the configuration of the conventional[0049]
network communication module 6. FIG. 8B shows the configuration of the pseudonetwork communication module 7 of the present embodiment. - As shown in FIG. 8A, the conventional[0050]
network communication module 6 includes API (application program interface)61, a convertingpart 62, a MIB obtaining/analyzingpart 63, and a protocol implementedpart 64. TheAPI 61 is for interfacing between the application program for specifying information to be obtained and thenetwork communication module 6. The API is a set of functions, for example, each of which corresponds to a piece of MIB data. The function itself may be called as an API. The convertingpart 62 converts between information specified by the application via API and MIB data. The MIR obtaining/analyzingpart 63 obtains and analyzes MIB data on the printer. According to this configuration, thenetwork communication module 6 can obtains configuration data (option data) that is MIB data by using bidirectional communication. - As shown in FIG. 8B, the pseudo[0051]
network communication module 7 includes API71 that is the same as that of the conventionalnetwork communication module 6. In addition, the pseudonetwork communication module 7 includes a file search/data obtaining part 72 and afile accessing part 73. The file search/data obtaining part 72 determines which piece of configuration data to obtain in the configuration data file according to information specified by the API71 and searches the file and obtains the piece of configuration data. Thefile accessing part 73 performs processing for actually accessing the file. - In the configuration shown in FIG. 8B, the API[0052]71 and the
API 61 are the same. Thus, from the viewpoint of the bidirectional communication module, the pseudonetwork communication module 7 and thenetwork communication module 6 appear to be the same. Therefore, a printer driver same as a conventional printer driver can be used in the Metaframe server according to the present invention. - The pseudo network communication module can be stored in a recording medium such as an IC card, CD-ROM and the like, so that tho pseudo network communication module can be installed in the server from the recording medium. The pseudo network communication module can be also installed in the server via a network. ([0053]
- Relationship Between the Pseudo Network Communication Module and the Configuration Data Obtaining Method)[0054]
- Next, the relationship between the pseudo network communication module and the configuration data obtaining method will be described with reference to FIG. 9.[0055]
- As mentioned before, the configuration data is obtained by the[0056]
client 2 by using a software configuration similar to that for performing conventional bidirectional communication. That is, as shown in client side configuration in FIG. 9, the configuration data obtaining tool obtains configuration data by using SNMP via APIs in thenetwork communication module 6. Since the configuration date is obtained by using the conventional APIs, the configuration data can be obtained API by API. Thus, data file in which configuration data includes API by API is stored in the Metaframe server as the configuration data file. - For obtaining the configuration data in the client, the configuration obtaining tool calls all APIs in[0057]
step 11, and obtains configuration data (parameters) corresponding to the APIs and stores the configuration data as the configuration data file in step12, in which each piece of the configuration data is associated with a corresponding API. - By storing the configuration data in such a format, the pseudo[0058]
network communication module 7 in the server can use APIs same as the APIs that are conventionally used in a printer driver in the client. Thus, the pseudonetwork communication module 7 can read, from the configuration data file, pieces of configuration data requested by the bidirectional communication module in the printer driver in the Metaframe server, and can return the pieces of configuration data to the bidirectional communication module instep 13. The pseudonetwork communication module 7 can read the pieces of configuration data without changing the configuration data. - (Embodiment in which a Plurality of Printer Drivers are used for a Printer)[0059]
- It is possible to use a plurality of printer drivers for a printer in this embodiment. This embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 10.[0060]
- In this embodiment, there is a case in which each printer driver needs different configuration data. That is, the[0061]
printer driver 1 obtains data A and theprinter driver 2 obtains data B. - In such a case, the configuration data obtaining tool calls all APIs (including APIs corresponding to A and B) in step[0062]21, and stores pieces of configuration data (including A and B) corresponding to the APIs obtained from the printer's MIS data in step22, in which each piece of the stored configuration data is associated with a corresponding API. By storing the configuration data in such a form, the pseudo
network communication module 7 can read pieces of configuration data corresponding to APIs that are requested by the bidirectional communication modules by using the APIs, and can return pieces of configuration data to each bidirectional communication module in step23. Accordingly, thepseudo communication module 7 can provide configuration data to a plurality of printer drivers. - According to the present invention, since the configuration data is stored in the server and the configuration data obtaining part provides the configuration data to the printer driver, the configuration data can be reflected on the printer driver. Therefore, the user can perform option setting such as tray setting, double-sided unit setting and the like for the auto-created logical printer in the Metaframe environment in which application programs run only on the server.[0063]
- In the server of the present invention, the application program interface between the configuration data obtaining part and the printer driver in the server is the same as the application program interface between a network communication module and a client printer driver same as the printer driver in the server, in which the network communication module is used for obtaining configuration data or the printer for the client printer driver in a client terminal.[0064]
- Therefore, a conventional printer driver can be used in the Metaframe server and the configuration data can be reflected.[0065]
- The configuration data obtaining part in the server includes:[0066]
- the application program interface;[0067]
- a part for determining which piece of configuration data to obtain among the stored configuration data on the basis of information from the application program interface; and[0068]
- a part for accessing the configuration data and reads the determined piece of configuration data. By configuring the configuration data obtaining part in this way, configuration data obtaining part can be realized by a simple configuration compared with the conventional network communication module.[0069]
- In the server, the configuration data to be stored in the server is obtained from the printer by bidirectional communication with the printer.[0070]
- Thus, by using API that is the same as API of the network communication module for the configuration data obtaining part, the configuration data obtaining part can use the stored configuration data without any change. The configuration data obtaining part corresponds to the pseudo network communication module.[0071]
- In addition, the configuration data is obtained by a computer that includes a software tool that causes the computer to display a window for selecting at least one printer driver included in the computer and to obtain configuration data from a printer corresponding to the selected printer driver.[0072]
- In addition, the client, instead of the server, may store the configuration data, and the configuration data obtaining part in the server may obtain the configuration data from the client.[0073]
- The present invention is not limited to the specifically disclosed embodiments, and variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.[0074]
Claims (18)
1. A method for setting configuration data of a printer for a printer driver in a server of an image printing system that includes a client, the printer and the server including the printer driver for the printer, the method comprising the step of:
storing the configuration data obtained from the printer into the server;
wherein a configuration data obtaining part in the server reads the stored configuration data according to a request from the printer driver, and sends the configuration data to the printer driver.
2. The method as claimed inclaim 1 , wherein an application program interface between the configuration data obtaining part and the printer driver in the server is the same as an application program interface between a network communication module and a client printer driver same as the printer driver in the server, in which the network communication module is used for obtaining configuration data of the printer for the client printer driver in a client terminal.
3. The method as claimed inclaim 2 , the configuration data obtaining part comprising:
the application program interface;
a part for determining which piece of configuration data to obtain among the stored configuration data on the basis of information from the application program interface; and
a part for accessing the configuration data and reads the determined piece of configuration data.
4. The method as claimed inclaim 1 , wherein the configuration data to be stored in the server is obtained from the printer by using a network communication module that performs bidirectional communication with the printer.
5. The method as claimed inclaim 4 , wherein the configuration data is obtained by a computer that includes a software tool that causes the computer to display a window for selecting at least one printer driver included in the computer and to obtain configuration data from a printer corresponding to the selected printer driver.
6. The method as claimed inclaim 1 , wherein the client, instead of the server, stores the configuration data, and the configuration data obtaining part in the server obtains the configuration data from the client.
7. The method as claimed inclaim 1 , wherein the server is used for realizing server-based computing in which application processing is handled by the server and not by the client.
8. A server to be used in an image printing system that includes a client, a printer and the server including a printer driver for the printer, the server comprising:
a part for storing configuration data obtained from the printer; and
an configuration data obtaining part, wherein the configuration data obtaining part reads the stored configuration data according to a request from the printer driver, and sends the configuration data to the printer driver.
9. The server as claimed inclaim 8 , wherein an application program interface between the configuration data obtaining part and the printer driver in the server is the same as an application program interface between a network communication module and a client printer driver same as the printer driver in the server, in which the network communication module is used for obtaining configuration data of the printer for the client printer driver in a client terminal.
10. The server as claimed inclaim 9 , the configuration data obtaining part comprising:
the application program interface;
a part for determining which piece of configuration data to obtain among the stored configuration data on the basis of information from the application program interface; and
a part for accessing the configuration data and reads the determined piece of configuration data.
11. The server as claimed inclaim 8 , wherein the configuration data to be stored in the server is obtained from the printer by using a network communication module that performs bidirectional communication with the printer.
12. The server as claimed inclaim 11 , wherein the configuration data is obtained by a computer that includes a software tool that causes the computer to display a window for selecting at least one printer driver included in the computer and to obtain configuration date from a printer corresponding to the selected printer driver.
13. A program to run on a server to be used in an image printing system that includes a client, a printer and the server including a printer driver for the printer, the program comprising:
configuration data obtaining program code means for reading configuration data of the printer according to a request from the printer driver, and sends the configuration data to the printer driver, wherein the configuration data is obtained from the printer and is stored in the server.
14. The program as claimed inclaim 13 , wherein an application program interface between the configuration data obtaining program code means and the printer driver in the server is the same as an application program interface between a network communication module and a client printer driver same as the printer driver in the server, in which the network communication module is used for obtaining configuration data of the printer for the client printer driver in a client terminal.
15. The program as claimed inclaim 14 , the configuration data obtaining program code means comprising:
program code means for realizing the application program interface;
program code means for determining which piece of configuration data to obtain among the stored configuration data on the basis of information from the application program interface; and
program code means for accessing the configuration data and reads the determined piece of configuration data.
16. A computer readable medium storing a program to run on a server to be used in an image printing system that includes a client, a printer and the server including a printer driver for the printer, the program comprising:
configuration data obtaining program code means for reading configuration data of the printer according to a request from the printer driver, and sends the configuration data to the printer driver, wherein the configuration data is obtained from the printer and is stored in the server.
17. The computer readable medium as claimed inclaim 16 , wherein an application program interface between the configuration data obtaining program code means and the printer driver in the server is the same as an application program interface between a network communication module and a client printer driver same as the printer driver in the server, in which the network communication module is used for obtaining configuration data of the printer for the client printer driver in a client terminal.
18. The computer readable medium as claimed inclaim 17 , the configuration data obtaining program code means comprising:
program code means for realizing the application program interface;
program code means for determining which piece of configuration data to obtain among the stored configuration data on the basis of information from the application program interface; and
program code means for accessing the configuration data and reads the determined piece of configuration data.
Priority Applications (1)
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| US11/971,685US7978351B2 (en) | 2002-08-09 | 2008-01-09 | Printer configuration data setting method and server using the printer configuration data |
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| JP2002233528AJP4313995B2 (en) | 2002-08-09 | 2002-08-09 | Printer device information setting method, server, and program |
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| EP (1) | EP1394672B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP4313995B2 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE60336289D1 (en) |
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Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US7978351B2 (en) | 2011-07-12 |
| DE60336289D1 (en) | 2011-04-21 |
| US20080180734A1 (en) | 2008-07-31 |
| JP2004078281A (en) | 2004-03-11 |
| EP1394672A3 (en) | 2007-08-29 |
| EP1394672B1 (en) | 2011-03-09 |
| JP4313995B2 (en) | 2009-08-12 |
| EP1394672A2 (en) | 2004-03-03 |
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| STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation | Free format text:ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |