Information processing apparatus and method with asynchronous reception of an output job and updatable resource data Number:7,154,617 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) owispatent

Title: Information processing apparatus and method with asynchronous reception of an output job and updatable resource data

Abstract: This invention relates to a printing apparatus or information processing apparatus, which is connected to a peripheral device management apparatus and holds updatable resource data. The printing apparatus or information processing apparatus asynchronously receives an output job and resource data used upon processing the output job from the peripheral device management apparatus connected to it. Upon receiving the resource data, reception of a new output job after the reception of the resource data is stopped. When it is determined that the process of a print job, which has already been received and queued, is complete, the held resource data is updated by the resource data received by a reception unit.

Patent Number: 7,154,617 Issued on 12/26/2006 to Ikeno

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Inventors:	Ikeno; Hideo (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee:	Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Tokyo, JP)
Appl. No.:	10/190,533
Filed:	July 9, 2002

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Foreign Application Priority Data

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Jul 16, 2001 [JP]			2001-215935

Current U.S. Class:	358/1.13 ; 358/1.14
Current International Class:	G06F 3/12 (20060101)
Field of Search:	358/1.13,1.14

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References Cited [Referenced By]

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U.S. Patent Documents

	5432899		July 1995		Iwatani et al.
	5542050		July 1996		Onozawa
	5592593		January 1997		Speed
	5819015		October 1998		Martin et al.
	6202092		March 2001		Takimoto
	6246485		June 2001		Brown et al.
	6606163		August 2003		Suzuki et al.
	2001/0022670		September 2001		Nagata

Foreign Patent Documents

	10-091371		Apr., 1998		JP
	2000-25860		Jan., 2000		JP

Primary Examiner: Zimmerman; Mark
Assistant Examiner: Rohwer; Jacob P.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper & Scinto

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Claims

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What is claimed is:

1. A printing apparatus which can receive an output job and resource data to be used upon processing the output job from a peripheral device management apparatus, and that holds updatable resource data, comprising: a detecting unit that detects reception of resource data by a reception unit; a reception control unit that stops reception of a new output job in response to the detecting unit detecting reception of the resource data; and an update unit that updates resource data held by the printing apparatus with the received resource data, when it is determined that a process of a print job which has already been received and queued is complete, wherein data of the print job, which has already been received and queued, is converted using the held resource data, and wherein said update unit determines processing of the print job which has already been received and queued is complete when conversion of the data of the queued print job has been finished.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said update unit determines, upon receiving the resource data, completion of the process of the print job if a printout process of the print job which has already been received and queued is complete.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said update unit determines, upon receiving the resource data, completion of the process of the print job by deleting the print job which has already been received and queued.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the resource data contains font data, and the print job is converted into image data using the held resource data.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the print job includes a print job which requires authentication of an authorized person upon outputting the print job, and authentication information required to permit output of the image data is stored together with the image data for the print job which requires authentication.

6. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising an issuing unit that issues, upon receiving the resource data, a message indicating that the resource data is to be updated to an address designated by each print job, which has already been received and queued, and wherein said update unit deletes the print job a predetermined time period after the message is issued.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print job includes a print job which requires authentication of an authorized person upon outputting the print job, and said update unit stores authentication information required to permit output of the image data together with the image data for the print job which requires authentication.

8. An information processing apparatus connected to a printing apparatus, which can receive an output job and resource data to be used upon processing the output job from a peripheral device management apparatus, and that holds updatable resource data, comprising: a detecting unit that detects reception of resource data by a reception unit; a reception control unit that stops reception of a new output job in response to the detecting unit detecting reception of the resource data by the reception unit; and an update unit that updates resource data held by the printing apparatus with the received resource data, when it is determined that a process of a print job which has already been received and queued is complete, wherein data of the print job, which has already been received and queued, is converted using the held resource data, and wherein said update unit determines processing of the print job which has already been received and queued is complete when conversion of the data of the queued print job has been finished.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said update unit determines, upon receiving the resource data, completion of the process of the print job if a pnntout process of the print job which has already been received and queued is complete.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said update unit determines, upon receiving the resource data, completion of the process of the print job by deleting the print job which has already been received and queued.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the resource data contains font data, and the print job is converted into image data using the held resource data.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the print job includes a print job which requires authentication of an authorized person upon outputting the print job, and authentication information required to permit output of the image data is stored together with the image data for the print job which requires authentication.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising an issuing unit that issues, upon receiving the resource data, a message indicating that the resource data is to be updated to an address designated by each print job, which has already been received and queued, and wherein said update unit deletes the print job a predetermined time period after the message is issued.

14. An information processing apparatus connected to a printing apparatus, which can receive resource data and a processing request, which is processed using the resource data, from a peripheral device management apparatus, and that holds updatable resource data, comprising: a detecting that detects reception of resource data by a reception unit; a reception control unit that stops reception of a new processing request in response to the detecting unit detecting reception of the resource data; and an update unit that updates resource data held by the information processing apparatus with the received resource data, when it is determined that a process of a processing request which has already been received and queued is complete, wherein data of the print job, which has already been received and queued, is converted using the held resource data, and wherein said update unit determines processing of the print job which has already been received and queued is complete when conversion of the data of the queued print job has been finished.

15. A method of controlling a printing apparatus, which can receive an output job and resource data to be used upon processing the output job from a peripheral device management apparatus, and that holds updatable resource data, comprising: a detecting step of detecting reception of resource data by a reception unit; a reception control step of stopping reception of a new output job in response to the detecting step detecting reception of the resource data; and an update step of updating resource data held by the printing apparatus with the received resource data, when it is determined that a process of a print job which has already been received and queued is complete, wherein data of the print job, which has already been received and queued, is converted using the held resource data, and wherein said update step determines processing of the print job which has already been received and queued is complete when conversion of the data of the queued print job has been finished.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the update step includes the step of determining, upon receiving the resource data, completion of the process of the print job if a printout process of the print job which has already been received and queued is complete.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the update step includes the step of determining, upon receiving the resource data, completion of the process of the print job by deleting the print job which has already been received and queued.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the resource data contains font data, and the print job is converted into image data using the held resource data.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the print job includes a print job which requires authentication of an authorized person upon outputting the print job, and authentication information required to permit output of the image data is stored together with the image data for the print job which requires authentication.

20. The method according to claim 17, further comprising an issuing step of issuing, upon receiving the resource data, a message indicating that the resource data is to be updated to an address designated by each print job, which has already been received and queued, and wherein the update step includes the step of deleting the print job a predetermined time period after the message is issued.

21. A method of controlling a peripheral device, which can receive resource data and a processing request, which is processed using the resource data, and that holds updatable resource data, comprising: a detecting step of detecting reception of resource data by a reception unit; and an update step of stopping reception of a new output job in response to the detecting step detecting reception of the resource data, and updating resource data held by the peripheral device with the received resource data, when it is determined that a process of a print job which has already been received and queued is complete, wherein data of the print job, which has already been received and queued, is converted using the held resource data, and wherein said update step determines processing of the print job which has already been received and queued is complete when conversion of the data of the queued print job has been finished.

22. A computer readable recording medium on which a program for controlling a printing apparatus is encoded, wherein the printing apparatus can receive an output job and resource data used upon processing the output job from a peripheral device management apparatus, and that holds updatable resource data, said computer program comprising the steps of: a detecting step of detecting reception of resource data by a reception unit; and an update step of stopping reception of a new output job in response to the detecting step detecting reception of the resource data, and updating resource data held by the printing apparatus with the received resource data, when it is determined that a process of a print job which has already been received and queued is complete, wherein data of the print job, which has already been received and queued, is converted using the held resource data, and wherein said update step determines processing of the print job which has already been received and queued is complete when conversion of the data of the queued print job has been finished.

23. The recording medium according to claim 22, wherein said update step determines, upon receiving the resource data, completion of the process of the print job if a printout process of the print job which has already been received and queued is complete.

24. The recording medium according to claim 22, wherein said update step determines, upon receiving the resource data, completion of the process of the print job by deleting the print job which has already been received and queued.

25. The recording medium according to claim 22, wherein the resource data contains font data, and the print job is converted into image data using the held resource data.

26. The recording medium according to claim 25, wherein the print job includes a print job which requires authentication of an authorized person upon outputting the print job, and authentication information required to permit output of the image data is stored together with the image data for the print job which requires authentication.

27. The recording medium according to claim 24, further comprising an issuing step of issuing, upon receiving the resource data, a message indicating that the resource data is to be updated to an address designated by each print job, which has already been received and queued, and wherein said update step deletes the print job a predetermined time period after the message is issued.

28. A computer readable recording medium on which a program for controlling a peripheral device is encoded, wherein the peripheral device can receive resource data and a processing request, which is processed using the resource data, and that holds updatable resource data, said program comprising the steps of: a detecting step of detecting reception of resource data by a reception unit; and an update step of stopping reception of a new output job in response to the detecting step detecting reception of the resource data and updating resource data held by the peripheral device with the received resource data, when it is determined that a process of a print job which has already been received and queued is complete, wherein data of the print job, which has already been received and queued, is converted using the held resource data, and wherein said update unit determines processing of the print job which has already been received and queued is complete when conversion of the data of the queued print job has been finished.

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Description

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FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and printing apparatus, and their control method, in a system that provides an environment in which an information processing apparatus such as a computer or the like is connected to a printer, hybrid function copying machine, or the like, and these apparatuses can asynchronously exchange data via multi-channels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a conventional system that downloads resources such as font data and the like to an output device, such downloading is to be managed by a system administrator. The downloading method includes a first method in which connections to the output device to which resources are to be downloaded other than that from the administrator are physically shut off, and the administrator downloads the resources while occupying the output device, and a second method in which the administrator downloads resources, while print data from other users are accepted, so as to parallelly execute the output and download processes.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-25860 has proposed a third method. In this method, upon downloading resources to be used by print data, the print process of which is underway by a given output device, in a multi-channel environment in which the output device can be simultaneously connected to a plurality of information processing apparatuses, the print process of that output device is temporarily paused to preferentially download resources, and restarts upon completion of downloading.

However, it is impossible to practically implement the first method in which the administrator physically occupies the output device in a large-scale network environment connected to a LAN or the Internet.

In the second method in which the print and download processes are parallelly executed, since the resources used to generate a print image are changed simultaneously with generation of the print image, an unexpected output such as garbled characters or the like is formed, and it becomes impossible to recover the output device due to destruction of data.

In the third method that preferentially executes downloading, upon outputting a given output job, the resources of the output device and only that output job are accommodated. For this reason, in an environment in which the resource download process and the output process are not synchronously done, the resource download process may unexpectedly influence other output jobs which do not use those resources. For example, in an environment in which a printer is connected to a network, many uses use it as an output device, and the administrator downloads the resources, the output results of many users are unexpectedly influenced by the download process of the resources, which are used by a specific print job.

As described above, in any of the conventional methods, it is difficult to implement downloading of resources to an output device, which is connected to a network and is shared by apparatuses on the network, and use of the output apparatus without causing any unexpected results.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in consideration of the prior arts, and has as its object to provide a peripheral device management apparatus and method, and a printing apparatus and its control method, which can prevent conflict between the resource download process and the output process, and can download resources without unexpectedly influencing output results.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises the following arrangement.

A printing apparatus which can asynchronously receive an output job and resource data used upon processing the output job from a peripheral device management apparatus, and holds updatable resource data, comprises reception control means arranged to stop, when resource data is received by a reception unit, reception of a new output job after the reception of the resource data; and an update unit arranged to update the held resource data by the received resource data, when it is determined that a process of a print job which has already been received and queued is complete.

Preferably, the update unit determines, upon receiving the resource data, completion of the process of the print job if a printout process of the print job which has already been received and queued is complete.

More preferably, the update unit determines, upon receiving the resource data, completion of the process of the print job by deleting the print job which has already been received and queued.

More preferably, the apparatus further comprises a conversion unit arranged to convert, upon receiving the resource data, data of the print job, which has already been received and queued, using the held resource data, and to store the converted data in a save area, and wherein the update unit determines completion of the process of the print job after the conversion unit has converted the data of the queued print job.

More preferably, the resource data contains font data, and the conversion unit converts the print job into image data using the held resource data.

More preferably, the print job includes a print job which requires authentication of an authorized person upon outputting the print job, and the conversion unit stores authentication information required to permit output of the image data together with the image data for the print job which requires authentication.

More preferably, the apparatus further comprises issuing means arranged to issue, upon receiving the resource data, a message indicating that the resource data is to be updated to an address designated by each print job, which has already been received and queued, and wherein the update unit deletes the print job a predetermined time period after the message is issued.

More preferably, the print job includes a print job which requires authentication of an authorized person upon outputting the print job, and the update unit stores authentication information required to permit output of the image data together with the image data for the print job which requires authentication.

Or more specifically, an information processing apparatus connected to a printing apparatus, which can asynchronously receive an output job and resource data used upon processing the output job from a peripheral device management apparatus, and holds updatable resource data, comprising reception control means arranged to stop, when resource data is received, reception of a new output job after the reception of the resource data; and an update unit arranged to update the resource data held by the printing apparatus by the received resource data, when it is determined that a process of a print job which has already been received and queued is complete.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the arrangement of devices according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing principal hardware modules of the respective devices in the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows the software configuration of a server;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a peripheral device management program;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the software configuration of an administrator PC;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the software configuration of a client PC;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a downloader;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the operation of the downloader;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a peripheral device information acquisition module;

FIG. 10A is a flow chart showing a peripheral device information acquisition process by an interrupt;

FIG. 10B is a flow chart showing a normal process;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a main module of a management program;

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing the process of the management program;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the configuration of modules used to form a GUI;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing the configuration of modules which run on a client;

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the flow of data upon downloading font data;

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the flow of data when the client PC acquires a color calibration table;

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the flow of data when address book data is acquired from a hybrid function copying machine;

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the flow of data when address book data on the client PC is downloaded to the hybrid function copying machine;

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing the flow of data when the contents of a storage device of a printer or the hybrid function copying machine are backed up;

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing the flow of data when the backed-up contents of the storage device of the printer or hybrid function copying machine are restored;

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing the flow of data when the client PC acquires software from a server;

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing the flow of data when the client PC acquires a driver from the server;

FIG. 23 shows the data structure used when the server outputs data to the client;

FIG. 24 shows header information in the data structure upon outputting a font file to the client PC;

FIG. 25 shows header information in the data structure upon outputting an overlay form to the client PC;

FIG. 26 shows header information in the data structure upon outputting a color calibration table to the client PC;

FIG. 27 shows header information in the data structure when information used by a printer driver is output to the client PC upon overlaying a scan image;

FIG. 28 shows header information in the data structure upon outputting software to the client PC;

FIG. 29 shows header information in the data structure upon outputting a driver to the client PC;

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing the arrangement of devices according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 31 shows a storage medium that stores a program which implements the present invention;

FIGS. 32A to 32C show program modules of the present invention;

FIG. 33 is a view showing the process for loading a storage medium that stores a program of the present invention to a server, administrator personal computer, or user personal computer;

FIG. 34 is a sequence chart time-serially showing processes of respective ports in the processes of the first and second embodiments;

FIG. 35 is a flow chart showing the process at a resource port of the first embodiment;

FIG. 36 is a flow chart showing the process at a resource port of the second embodiment;

FIG. 37 is a view for explaining a data packet that implements multi-channels in the first and second embodiments;

FIG. 38 is a sequence chart time-serially showing processes of respective ports in the processes of the third and fourth embodiments;

FIG. 39 is a flow chart showing the process of the third embodiment;

FIG. 40 is a flow chart showing the process of the fourth embodiment; and

FIG. 41 shows the structure of print data (print job).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[First Embodiment]

<System Arrangement>

FIG. 1 best illustrates a characteristic feature of the present invention, and the arrangement of a print system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below using FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, Ethernet is normally used as a network 1. In addition to Ethernet, LocalTalk or the like may be used. Note that "network" in this embodiment indicates a physical cable, an electrical signal that flows on the cable, and one or a plurality of protocols which implement information exchange as a combination of electrical signals, and normally indicates their generic description. A server computer 2 has functions of a file server, Web server, and the like, and comprises the core of this system. An administrator personal computer (to be abbreviated as a PC hereinafter) 3 is used to issue instructions to the server and peripheral devices. Client PCs 4 and 5 are connected to the network, and are used by normal users. Note that even the administrator PC may be used as a client PC. Printers 6 and 7 are connected to the network 1, receive print commands from the client PCs 4 and 5, and execute print processes according to the commands. Hybrid function copying machines 8 and 9 comprise an image scanner function, printer function, and facsimile function, and can be used as a copying machine, printer, scanner, and facsimile by combining one or a plurality of functions.

The operation of this system will be explained below using FIG. 1. The server 2 periodically communicates with the printers 6 and 7 and hybrid function copying machines 8 and 9 to monitor their states and software setups. The administrator PC 3 changes setups, software, and resources used by software in the devices. The results of instructions issued by the administrator PC 3 are collected as information in the server 2, and the client PCs 4 and 5 receive that information from the server 2. The server 2 comprises a communication means using the http protocol, and the administrator PC 3, and client PCs 4 and 5 can acquire information from the server 2 using Web browsers or can issue instructions to the server 2. Upon receiving an instruction from the administrator PC 3 or the client PC 4 or 5, the server 2 returns information to the administrator PC 3 or the client PC 4 or 5 using information stored in it. Depending on the contents of information, the server 2 acquires information from the printers 6 and 7 and hybrid function copying machines 8 and 9, and returns that information to the administrator PC 3 or the client PC 4 or 5, or executes a process such as a setup process for the printers 6 and 7 and hybrid function copying machines 8 and 9. The administrator PC 3 comprises a downloader, and downloads software or resources used by software to the printers 6 and 7 and hybrid function copying machines 8 and 9. The software includes print control firmware, network control firmware, and the like of a device. In the hybrid function copying machines 8 and 9, the software to be downloaded includes scanner control firmware, facsimile control firmware, copying machine firmware, panel operation firmware, image management software, address management software, and the like in addition to the aforementioned firmware programs. The resources used by software include fonts, external characters, overlay forms, calibration tables, address information and facsimile numbers used by address management software, and the like.

The client PCs 4 and 5 hold software (drivers and the like) required to access and use the printers 6 and 7 and hybrid function copying machines 8 and 9, and resources (client PC resources) used by the software. The software held by these PCs includes a printer driver required to use a printer, a scanner driver required to use a scanner, a facsimile driver required to use a facsimile, copying machine utility software required to control the copying machine, a network driver required to use the network, a Web browser, application software, and the like. The resources used by the software include client PC fonts corresponding to printer fonts, address information used by the facsimile driver, print data required upon color calibration, an overlay image used in preview, and the like.

In addition to the aforementioned functions, the setup contents, software, and resources used by software of the printer 6 can be reflected in the printer 7, and hybrid function copying machines 8 and 9. Likewise, the setup contents, software, and resources used by software of the hybrid function copying machine 8 can be reflected in the hybrid function copying machine 9 and the printers 6 and 7. If functions are different between models, only functions common to these models are reflected. Information such as resources or the like that can be converted is reflected after conversion. Also, information on the client PC 4 that pertains to these models can be reflected in the client PC 5. Such processes are implemented by exchanging information via the server 2.

The setup contents of the printers 6 and 7 and hybrid function copying machines 8 and 9 are often changed not only by instructions from the administrator PC 3 but also by setups from a panel and the client PCs. As for information that must be accurately passed to each client PC, when a display instruction or the like is received from the client PC, an inquiry is issued to the printers 6 and 7 and hybrid function copying machines 8 and 9, and information at the time of the inquiry is returned to the client PC. As for information that does not strictly require accuracy, information held in the server is used.

FIG. 2 shows principal hardware modules of the respective devices in the system shown in FIG. 1. The functions of the hardware modules of the respective devices will be explained below using FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 2, a network line 201 is a physical line which forms a network among the respective devices, and normally uses a twisted pair cable, coaxial cable, optical fiber, or the like. Hardware modules which form the server 2 include a network board 202, CPU board 203, Video interface 204, I/O interface 205, and SCSI interface 206, and a CRT 207, keyboard 208, mouse 209, and hard disk drive 210 which latter four are connected to these boards and interfaces. The hard disk drive 210 comprises a parallel circuit of a plurality of hard disk units, and assures high-speed and highly reliable data transfer. Hardware modules which form each of the administrator PC 3 and client PCs 4 and 5 include a network board 202, CPU board 203, Video interface 204, I/O interface 205, and IDE interface 211, and a CRT 207, keyboard 208, mouse 209, and hard disk drive 210 which latter four are connected to these boards and interfaces. These PCs and server have different hard disk configurations. Hardware modules of each of the printers 6 and 7 include a network board 212 compatible to a peripheral device, a network board 212, and a printer controller 213. Hardware modules of each of the hybrid function copying machines 8 and 9 include a network board 212 compatible to a peripheral device, a hybrid function copying machine controller 215, a print engine 214, a control panel controller 216, a control panel 217, a scanner controller 218, a scanner unit 219, a modem 220, a hard disk IF 221, and a hard disk 222.

FIG. 3 shows the software configuration of the server 2. Referring to FIG. 3, an OS (operating system) 301 manages various resources of the server 2. A library 302 includes a software module group that provides various functions to an application. A Web server 303 has a function of providing data and the like possessed by the server 2 to Web clients in accordance with the hypertext transport protocol (http), and passing data received from a Web client to a backend program (CGI program) that runs on the server 2 to make it process the data. An application 304 includes a peripheral device management program 305. A hardware control program 306 includes a network board control program 307 and hard disk control program 308.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the peripheral device management program 305 of the server 2. The peripheral device management program 305 is implemented as one of applications on the server 2. A main module 401 of the management program controls the entire management program. A CGI program 402 for GUI (CGI 402) passes screen data expressed in the html format to the Web server 303. The Web server 303 outputs data of the CGI 402 to the administrator PC 3 or the client PC 4 or 5 in the http format, and sends an instruction from the administrator PC 3 or the client PC 4 or 5 to the management program 401. A device communication program 403 makes communications between peripheral devices and the server using the network program 307 to acquire information or the like from devices, to set up devices, to download software or resources used by software, and so forth. The device communication program 403 includes a peripheral device information acquisition module 4031. An IPC 404 is a program used to make inter-process communications, and makes communications with another PC (especially, the administrator PC 3) using the network program 307. A file management program 405 implements a file server function exploiting the HD control program 308.

FIG. 5 shows the software configuration of the administrator PC 3. Referring to FIG. 5, an OS 501 executes general processes of the administrator PC. A main program of a downloader 502 downloads software and resources used by software to peripheral devices. A GUI program 503 implements a user interface function such as display, transmission of a user's instruction to the downloader, and the like. An IPC program 504 communicates with the IPC 404 of the server. A file management program 505 is normally implemented as a part of the OS 501, and manages files as the contents of the hard disk or a CD-ROM upon downloading the files to peripheral devices via the downloader 502. A network program 506 is normally implemented as a part of the OS 501, and makes network communications upon downloading files as the contents of the hard disk or CD-ROM to peripheral devices via the downloader 502.

FIG. 6 shows the software configuration of the client PCs 4 and 5. Referring to FIG. 6, an OS 601 executes general processes of the client PC. A Web browser 602 receives data expressed in the html format from the Web server 303 of the server 2, displays the received data on a screen, and sends a user's instruction to the server 2 via the http protocol. A client module 603 executes a process for some of data which are received by the Web browser 602 but cannot be processed by it. Note that the data that cannot be processed by the Web browser 602 include software such as a printer driver and the like for the client PC, and resources such as client PC fonts and the like, and they must be installed in the client PC by predetermined methods. A network program 604 is normally implemented as a part of the OS 601, and communicates with the Web server 303 using the http protocol.

FIG. 7 shows the configuration of the downloader 502 of the administrator PC 3. Referring to FIG. 7, a main module 701 calls respective modules, processes parameters, and so forth. A file management module 702 opens and reads a file to be downloaded using the file management program 505. A device search module 703 searches for a peripheral device to which a file can be downloaded, and acquires a protocol that allows communications, device address, and the like. A file conversion module 704 makes conversion if printer resources have a format different from that of client PC resources in the resources used by software. The file conversion module 704 includes a printer file conversion module 705 and client PC file conversion module 706. The resources have different formats, e.g., when the printer uses fonts expressed by ternary curves, and the client PC uses fonts expressed by quadratic curves, and when the printer and client PC use different expression formats of overlay images. A download module 707 downloads data using the network program 506. A communication module 708 communicates with the server 2 and sends the client PC resources and the like to the server. An IPC module 709 is used to make inter-process communications, and implements the communications using the IPC program 504.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the operation of the downloader 502 in FIG. 7. The operation of the downloader will be explained below using FIG. 8. A font download process will be exemplified, and the same applies to other kinds of software and other resources used by software. Assume that the downloader 502 and server 2 always communicate with each other, and can acquire file names, device names, and the like, but must additionally establish connection to read out a file upon acquiring a file managed in the file server.

In step S801, a file to be downloaded is designated. The user of the downloader 502 designates the file by inputting a file name. It is checked in step S802 if the designated file is that on the server 2. If YES in step S802, the flow advances to step S802; otherwise, the flow advances to step S807.

In step S803, network connection with the server 2 is established. In step S804, the file is read out. In step S805, ServerFlag indicating that the designated file has been read out from the server 2 is set ON. In step S806, the network connection is disconnected.

In step S807, the file is opened. In step S808, the file is read. In step S809, ServerFlag is set OFF. In step S810, the file is closed. That is, the file to be downloaded has been loaded by the downloader at the time of step S806 or S810.

In step S811, a printer is selected. The printer is selected by the operator, and selection itself may be done simultaneously with file designation. It is checked in step S812 if the printer selected in step S811 can receive a downloaded file. Whether or not the printer can receive a downloaded file is determined based on the printer model and attached storage device (RAM, flash memory, hard disk, or the like). That is, if the designated printer is a model that can receive a downloaded file and a storage device that can store a downloaded file is present in that model, it is determined that the printer can receive a downloaded file.

If it is determined in step S812 that the printer can receive a downloaded file, the flow advances to step S813; otherwise, the flow advances to step S820. In step S813, a font file is converted into a format that can be downloaded to the printer. If the font file already has a downloadable format, step S813 is skipped.

In step S814, the font file converted into the downloadable format is transferred to the printer. It is checked in step S815 if ServerFlag is ON. If ServerFlag is ON, it is determined that a client file corresponding to the downloaded font file is already present in the server, and the processing ends. If ServerFlag is not ON (i.e., OFF), the flow advances to step S816. In step S816, the font file is converted into a format that the client PC can access. If the font file already has a format that the client PC can access, step S816 is skipped.

In step S817, network connection with the server 2 is established. In step S818, the font file for the client PC, which is converted in step S816, is written in the server 2. In step S819, connection is disconnected to execute a network close process, thus ending the processing.

In step S820, a message indicating that a file cannot be downloaded to the printer is displayed, and the processing ends.

With the aforementioned process, the font file for the client PC, which corresponds to the font file downloaded to the printer, is always present in the server 2. Conversion of the font file includes that of the font file format itself, and appending of header information and the like. For example, when a font file in the TrueType.RTM. format is to be downloaded to a printer which mounts a TrueType rasterizer, since it must be downloaded after header information for the printer and the like are appended to that file, the file conversion process appends header information for the printer and the like. When this font file is used on the MacOS, information called FOND resource is appended as additional information.

FIG. 9 shows the configuration of the peripheral device information acquisition module 4031 of the server 2. Referring to FIG. 9, a main processing module 901 of the peripheral device information acquisition module executes overall control, processes for communications and management, a process upon generation of an interrupt, transfer of download data to peripheral devices, and the like. An IPC module 902 exchanges information via inter-process communications with other modules. A timer module 903 generates interrupts at predetermined time intervals, and the main processing module 901 operates to acquire peripheral device information at the interrupt timings. A cache management processing module 904 temporarily stores peripheral device information acquired by a timer interrupt, and outputs the information in the cache to another module via the IPC 902 in response to a data output instruction from the IPC module 902. A TCP/IP module 905 exchanges data with a peripheral device, which can acquire information and can receive downloaded data, in accordance with TCP/IP. An AppleTalk module 906 exchanges data with a peripheral device, which can acquire information and can receive downloaded data, in accordance with AppleTalk. An IPX/SPX module 907 exchanges data with a peripheral device, which can acquire information and can receive downloaded data, in accordance with IPX/SPX. Other protocols may be used.

FIG. 10A is a flow chart showing the peripheral device information acquisition processing sequence in response to an interrupt generated by the timer 903 in the peripheral device information acquisition module 4031. Upon generation of an interrupt, this process is executed.

In step S1011, information is acquired from all peripheral devices from which information is to be acquired. The information to be acquired includes information (e.g., the version of software or its resources, file size, date, font name in case of fonts, and the like) used to confirm if software and the resources used by the software have been changed. In step S1012, the acquired information is written in the cache 904.

FIG. 10B is a flow chart showing a normal process, i.e., the processing sequence upon receiving a data output instruction from the user, in the peripheral device information acquisition module 4031. In the normal process, an information acquisition or download process is executed in accordance with a user's instruction received by a module which has a user interface.

In step S1021, an instruction from a user IF module is received via the IPC 902. The contents of the received instruction include the processing contents, data (file) in case of a download instruction, peripheral device address, and the like. It is checked in step S1022 if the received instruction is a download instruction. If YES in step S1022, the flow advances to step S1023; otherwise, the flow advances to step S1024. In step S1023, the received data is downloaded to the designated peripheral device, thus ending the processing.

If it is determined that the received instruction is not a download instruction, it is determined that the received instruction is an information request. In this case, the type of requested information is specified in step S1024. The type of information includes, e.g., a font name, form size, software version, and the like. It is checked in step S1025 if the requested information is present in the cache 904. If YES in step S1025, the flow advances to step S1026; otherwise, the flow advances to step S1027. In step S1026, data is output from the cache 904 via the IPC 902.

If the requested information is not present in the cache 904, data is acquired from the peripheral device in step S1027. In step S1028, the acquired data is output via the IPC 902, thus ending the processing.

FIG. 11 shows the configuration of the main module of the peripheral device management program 305 of the server 2. Referring to FIG. 11, a main processing module 1101 executes overall operation management, assignment of processes, and the like. A GUI communication module 1102 exchanges information with a GUI (e.g., it outputs information to be displayed, and receives processing instructions and data from the GUI). A network processing module 1103 inputs/outputs files and information via the network. A file server module 1104 reads out, writes, and manages files. An IPC module 1105 exchanges data and information with the IPC 902 via inter-process communications.

The peripheral device management program 305 can access the peripheral devices, GUI, network, and file server, and controls the overall operation.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing the process of the peripheral device management program 305 in FIG. 11. The operation of this program will be explained below using FIG. 12.

In step S1201, an instruction is received. It is checked in step S1202 if the received instruction is a download instruction. If YES in step S1202, the flow advances to step S1203; otherwise, the flow advances to step S1205. If it is determined that the received instruction is a download instruction, the peripheral device management program 305 fetches a file to be downloaded from the file server, and outputs it to the downloader 502.

In step S1203, a file on the file server is opened. In step S1204, the file is output to the downloader 502 via the network module 1103, and the flow returns to step S1201 to execute the next process.

It is checked in step S1205 if the received instruction is an information display instruction. If YES in step S1205, the flow advances to step S1206; otherwise, the flow advances to step S1208. If it is determined that the received instruction is an information display instruction, information in a peripheral device is output in accordance with an instruction received from the GUI communication module 1102.

In step S1206, information exchange is made between the IPC modules 902 and 1105 to acquire peripheral device information. In step S1207, information to be displayed is output to a GUI module via the GUI communication module 1102, and the flow returns to step S1201 to execute the next process.

It is checked in step S1208 if the received instruction is a file save instruction in the server. If YES in step S1208, the flow advances to step S1209; otherwise, the flow advances to step S1210.

A file is saved in the server in accordance with an instruction from the downloader 502, and is sent via the network. In step S1209, a file is saved in the file server, and the flow returns to step S1201 to execute the next process.

In step S1210, a file is output via a graphical user interface (GUI). In this process, the resources for the client PC or the like are output, and a file or the like is output to the client PC using the http protocol with which the GUI communicates with the client PC. After that, the flow returns to step S1201 to execute the next process.

With a series of processes described above, information and data in this system are exchanged.

FIG. 13 shows the GUI module 503 of the administrator PC. Referring to FIG. 13, a management program communication module 1301 communicates with the management program 505 to receive an instruction, file, and information from the management program, passes them to an html output module 1302, and also passes an instruction and file received from an instruction input module 1303 to the management program. The html output module 1302 generates a GUI screen file based on the html format on the basis the information and instruction received from the management program, and passes it to a Web server communication module 1304. The instruction input module 1303 receives an instruction from the Web server 303, or an archived or encoded file. The received instruction is output as a command to the management program 505. The received file is archived, files are extracted from the archive, or if it is encoded, the file is decoded, and the extracted or decoded file is output to the management program 505. The Web server communication module 1304 outputs html information to the Web server 303, and passes an instruction from the Web server 303 to the instruction input module 1303.

FIG. 14 shows the configuration of the client module 603. This module is installed on the client PC, and processes a file received by the Web browser. An input module 1401 receives data from the Web browser 602. The received data normally archives management information and a file entity. A discrimination module 1402 extracts the management information and file entity from the received archived file, and discriminates the type of file based on the management information. The management information includes the type of file, file name, file size, and the like. If the type of file is a font, the discrimination module 1402 calls a font registration module 1403. If the type of file is an overlay form, the discrimination module 1402 calls an overlay form registration module 1404. If the type of file is an address book, the discrimination module 1402 calls an address book registration module 1405. If the type of file is a color calibration table, the discrimination module 1402 calls a color calibration table registration module 1406.

The font registration module 1403 registers the received font file in the client PC. The overlay form registration module 1404 registers the received file in an overlay form processing application. If no overlay form processing application is installed, this process is skipped. The address book registration module 1405 converts the received address book into a format compatible to a registration destination such as e-mail management software, a FAX driver, or the like, and registers the converted file. The color calibration table registration module 1406 registers the received file in a printer driver that executes an image process.

<Variations of Resource Exchange>

FIG. 15 shows the flow of data upon downloading font data from the administrator PC 3 to the printers 6 and 7. Referring to FIG. 15, the administrator downloads font data, which is loaded from a CD into the administrator PC 3, to the printer 6 (1). Then, the administrator registers that font data in the server 2 (2). Each of the client PCs 4 and 5 loads a font file for the client PC from the server 2 using the Web browser 602, and registers the loaded file in the system via the client module 603 (3). When the font data is to be downloaded to another printer, the administrator PC 3 loads font data registered in the server 2, and downloads it to the printer 7 (4). The same applies to a case wherein an overlay form is registered from the PC 3 to the printers 6 and 7.

FIG. 16 shows the flow of data when the client PC acquires a color calibration table possessed by a printer or copying machine. In the printers 6 and 7 and the hybrid function copying machines 8 and 9, a color calibration table is generated or updated in correspondence with various changes in environment in the devices or at a given timing. When a printer driver on the client PC 4 uses the printer 7, it requests to acquire a color calibration table generated in the printer 7 as needed, and receives that table (1).

When a printer driver on the client PC 5 uses the hybrid function copying machine 9, it requests to acquire a color calibration table generated in the hybrid function copying machine 9 as needed, and receives that table (2).

On the other hand, arrow (3) indicates the flow of data upon downloading a color calibration table from the administrator PC 3 to the printer 6. That is, when a color calibration table is generated in the administrator PC 3 using colorimetry software or the like, that table is downloaded from the administrator PC 3 (3). In the printer 6, the downloaded data is held. The printer 6 also looks up the color calibration table, which is generated using colorimetry software or the like, and is downloaded, upon generating or updating a color calibration table.

When a printer driver on the client PC 4 uses the printer 6, it requests to acquire a color calibration table generated in the printer 6 using the above method, and receives that table (4).

FIG. 17 shows the flow of data upon acquiring address book data from the hybrid function copying machine 8. Address book data in the hybrid function copying machine 8 is output to the server 2 (1). Each of the client PCs 4 and 5 receives data from the server 2 (2), and the client module 603 adds or overwrites the received data to or on the address book data in the client PCs 4 and 5.

FIG. 18 shows the flow of data upon downloading address book data on the client PC 4 to the hybrid function copying machines 8 and 9. Address book data sent to the server 2 using the Web browser 602 is directly written in the hybrid function copying machine 8 (1). Arrow (2) indicates the flow of data upon copying the address book of the hybrid function copying machine 8 to the copying machine 9. Data in the hybrid function copying machine 8 is temporarily sent to the server 2, and is then directly written in the hybrid function copying machine 9 (2).

FIG. 19 shows the flow of data upon backing up the contents of the storage device in the printer or hybrid function copying machine. This process is normally launched in response to an instruction from the Web browser 602, but it may be launched in response to an instruction from a control panel of the hybrid function copying machine. Also, this process may be automatically and periodically executed by the management program 401 which runs on the server 2. When the printer or hybrid function copying machine has a function of informing the server 2 of a change in resource, the management program 401 may automatically execute a backup process in response to that information. FIG. 19 shows an example in which the storage contents are backed up from the copying machine 8. Upon backup, the contents of the storage device of the hybrid function copying machine 8 are output to the sever 2, and are stored in the file server in the server 2 (1).

FIG. 20 shows the flow of data upon restoring the backed-up contents of the storage device of the printer or hybrid function copying machine. This process is normally launched in response to an instruction from the Web browser 602, but it may be launched in response to an instruction from a control panel of the hybrid function copying machine. Also, this process may be automatically executed by the management program 401 which runs on the server 2. Data backed up in the file server of the server 2 is output to the storage device of the printer or hybrid function copying machine (in FIG. 20, the hybrid function copying machine 8) as a backup source (1).

FIG. 21 shows the flow of data when the client PC 4 or 5 acquires software from the server 2. The PC 4 acquires data from the server 2 (1), and the client module 603 of the PC 4 decodes data to install it.

FIG. 22 shows the flow of data when the client PC 4 or 5 acquires a peripheral device driver such as a printer driver, facsimile driver, scanner driver, or the like from the server 2. The client PC 4 acquires data (driver program) from the server 2. The server 2 refers to a target peripheral device to obtain correspondence with that peripheral device upon outputting data requested from the client PC 4. In FIG. 22, the copying machine 8 is referred to. The server 2 outputs the information obtained by referring to the peripheral device, i.e., the network address, model name, functions, and the like to the client PC 4 or 5 together with the driver program (2), and the client module 603 installs the driver based on the information received from the server 2.

<Transmission Data Format>

FIG. 23 shows the data structure upon outputting data from the server 2 to the client PC 4 or 5. As can be seen from FIG. 23, the number N of files held in an archive is inserted at the head of the data structure. Then, addresses for N files follow, and a header and file entity are held at each address position. The header contains a header length, file type, and entity size, and additional information is appended after the entity size if it is available. At an address as the sum of the start address of the header and the header length, a file entity is present.

FIG. 24 shows the header information in FIG. 23 when the server 2 outputs a font file to the client PCs 4 and 5. As can be seen from FIG. 24, the version, file name, and font format are appended as additional information.

FIG. 25 shows the header information in FIG. 23 when the server 2 outputs an overlay form to the client PCs 4 and 5. As can be seen from FIG. 25, the type of PDL, paper size, resolution, and form number are appended as additional information.

FIG. 26 shows the header information in FIG. 23 when the server 2 outputs an address book to the client PCs 4 and 5. As can be see