JP4467855B2 - Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a program, and a storage medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, an information processing apparatus having a driver program is known for controlling peripheral devices such as a printer, a digital camera, and a scanner.
[0003]
In such an information processing apparatus, various settings relating to peripheral devices can be performed using a driver program.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional information processing apparatus, when the driver program is switched, only partial settings are taken over unconditionally. For this reason, it is necessary to always reset a setting that is not inherited.
[0005]
For example, when a printer that outputs an image is switched from an information processing apparatus such as a computer, only the so-called Public area setting is inherited among the print settings for the printer driver, and other settings are returned to the default settings. In other words, conventionally, when the print destination is set for a certain printer and then the output destination is changed to a different printer, the print settings such as the layout other than the specific settings are not carried over and need to be set again. It was inconvenient.
[0006]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a program, and a storage medium that are easy to use for a user. .
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an apparatus according to the present invention provides:
A driver program for a peripheral device that uses a private area that is an area for storing setting values unique to a predetermined driver program and a public area that is an area for storing setting values common to different driver programs. A receiving means for receiving a switching instruction, a first delivery means for reading setting information set by the switching source program from the public area when the switching instruction is received by the receiving means, and delivering the setting information to the switching destination driver program; Determining means for determining whether the driver program and the switching destination driver program are of the same type; and when the determining means determines that the switching source driver program and the switching destination driver program are of the same type, the setting information stored in the private area Take over to the switching destination driver program Specifying means for specifying setting information that can be set, and second transfer means for transferring the setting information specified by the specifying means from the setting information stored in the private area to the switching destination driver program. Features.
[0008]
The driver program includes identification information indicating the type of the driver separately from the information indicating the type of the peripheral device,
The determination means determines whether or not the identification information included in the switching source driver program is the same as the identification information of the switching destination driver program.
[0009]
The receiving means receives a peripheral device switching instruction as a driver program switching instruction.
[0010]
The peripheral device is a printer, the driver program is a printer driver program, and the setting information is print setting information.
[0011]
In order to achieve the above object, the method according to the present invention comprises:
A driver program for a peripheral device that uses a private area that is an area for storing setting values unique to a predetermined driver program and a public area that is an area for storing setting values common to different driver programs. A receiving step for accepting a switching instruction, a first delivery step for reading setting information set by the switching source program from the public area when the switching instruction is accepted in the accepting step, and delivering the setting information to the switching destination driver program; A determination step for determining whether the driver program and the switching destination driver program are the same type, and the setting information stored in the private area when the switching source driver program and the switching destination driver program are determined to be the same type in the determination step. Take over to the switching destination driver program A specifying step for specifying setting information that can be set, and a second transfer step for transferring the setting information specified in the specifying step from the setting information stored in the private area to the switching destination driver program. Features.
[0012]
The driver program includes identification information indicating the type of the driver separately from the information indicating the type of the peripheral device,
In the determination step, it is determined whether or not the identification information included in the switching source driver program is the same as the identification information of the switching destination driver program.
[0013]
In the receiving step, a peripheral device switching instruction is received as a driver program switching instruction.
[0014]
The peripheral device is a printer, the driver program is a printer driver program, and the setting information is print setting information.
[0015]
In order to achieve the above object, a program according to the present invention provides:
A driver program for a peripheral device that uses a private area that is an area for storing setting values unique to a predetermined driver program and a public area that is an area for storing setting values common to different driver programs. A receiving step for accepting a switching instruction, a first delivery step for reading setting information set by the switching source program from the public area when the switching instruction is accepted in the accepting step, and delivering the setting information to the switching destination driver program; A determination step for determining whether the driver program and the switching destination driver program are the same type, and the setting information stored in the private area when the switching source driver program and the switching destination driver program are determined to be the same type in the determination step. Transfer to the switching destination driver program The computer executes a specifying step for specifying setting information that can be set and a second transferring step for transferring the setting information specified in the specifying step from the setting information stored in the private area to the switching destination driver program. It is characterized by making it.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the relative arrangement of components, the display screen, and the like described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to those unless otherwise specified.
[0018]
(One embodiment)
A computer as an embodiment of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer control system including a computer according to the present embodiment. Unless otherwise specified, if the functions of the present invention are executed, a single device or a system composed of a plurality of devices can be connected via a network such as a LAN or WAN. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a system in which processing is performed.
[0019]
In the figure, reference numeral 3000 denotes a host computer that performs document processing in which graphics, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets), etc. are mixed based on a document processing program stored in the ROM 3 program ROM or the external memory 11. The CPU 1 includes a CPU 1 to be executed, and the CPU 1 comprehensively controls each device connected to the system bus 4.
[0020]
The ROM 3 program ROM or external memory 11 stores an operating system program (hereinafter referred to as OS) which is a control program of the CPU 1, and the ROM 3 font ROM or external memory 11 stores the above-mentioned document processing. Font data to be used is stored, and various data to be used when the document processing is performed is stored in the data ROM of the ROM 3 or the external memory 11.
[0021]
Reference numeral 2 denotes a RAM which functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 1. A keyboard controller (KBC) 5 controls key input from a keyboard 9 or a pointing device (not shown). Reference numeral 6 denotes a CRT controller (CRTC) which controls display on a CRT display (CRT) 10. A disk controller (DKC) 7 is a hard disk (HD), floppy disk (FD), etc. for storing a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edit files, a printer control command generation program (hereinafter referred to as a printer driver), etc. The access to the external memory 11 is controlled.
[0022]
A printer controller (PRTC) 8 is connected to the printer 1500 via a predetermined bidirectional interface 21 and executes communication control processing with the printer 1500. The CPU 1 executes, for example, an outline font rasterization process on the display information RAM set on the RAM 2 to enable WYSIWYG on the CRT 10.
[0023]
The CPU 1 opens various windows registered based on commands instructed by a mouse cursor (not shown) on the CRT 10 and executes various data processing. When executing printing, the user opens a window relating to print settings, and can set the print processing method for the printer driver including printer settings and print mode selection.
[0024]
In the printer 1500, reference numeral 12 denotes a printer CPU, which is a printing unit (printer engine) 17 connected to the system bus 15 based on a control program stored in the program ROM of the ROM 13 or a control program stored in the external memory 14. An image signal is output as output information.
[0025]
Further, the control program of the CPU 12 and the like are stored in the program ROM of the ROM 13. The font ROM of the ROM 13 stores font data used when generating the output information, and the ROM 13 data ROM is used on the host computer in the case of a printer without the external memory 14 such as a hard disk. Information to be stored is stored.
[0026]
The CPU 12 can communicate with the host computer via the input unit 18 and is configured to notify the host computer 3000 of information in the printer. Reference numeral 19 denotes a RAM that functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 12, and is configured so that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown). The RAM 19 is used as an output information expansion area, environment data storage area, NVRAM, and the like. Access to the above-described external memory 14 such as a hard disk (HD) or IC card is controlled by a memory controller (MC) 20.
[0027]
The external memory 14 is connected as an option and stores font data, an emulation program, form data, and the like. Reference numeral 18 denotes an operation panel described above, on which switches for operation, LED indicators, and the like are arranged. Further, the number of external memories is not limited to one, and at least one external memory is provided so that an optional font card and a plurality of external memories storing programs for interpreting printer control languages with different language systems can be connected in addition to built-in fonts. It may be configured. Furthermore, an NVRAM (not shown) may be provided to store printer mode setting information from the operation panel 1501.
[0028]
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a typical print data generation method in the host computer.
[0029]
The application 201, the graphic engine 202, the printer driver 203, and the system spooler 204 are program modules that exist as files stored in the external memory 11, and are loaded into the RAM 2 and executed by the OS and modules using the modules. The application 201 and the printer driver 203 can be added to the HD of the external disk 11 via the FD of the external memory 11, a CD-ROM (not shown), or a network (not shown).
[0030]
The application 201 stored in the external memory 11 is loaded into the RAM 2 and executed. When printing is performed from the application 201 to the printer 1500, the graphic that is similarly loaded into the RAM 2 and executable. Output (drawing) is performed using the engine 202. The graphic engine 202 loads the printer driver 203 prepared for each printing apparatus from the external memory 11 to the RAM 2, and converts the output of the application 210 into a printer control command using the printer driver 203. The converted printer control command is output to the printer 1500 via the interface 21 via the system spooler 204 loaded into the RAM 2 by the OS.
[0031]
FIG. 3 shows an example of a user interface for selecting an arbitrary printer from a plurality of printers registered in the system and a user interface for setting the selected printer. In this example, the print dialog 301 is a user interface provided by the operating system. Printers registered in the operating system are listed in the part surrounded by an ellipse in the figure, and the user can select any printer. . In addition, when a property button is pressed, a printer driver corresponding to the selected printer is called, and a user interface 302 for performing printer print settings is opened by the printer driver.
[0032]
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a relationship between an application and a printer driver for each printer. The application calls various functions (API) provided by the operating system to perform processing, and the operating system performs processing by calling functions (DDI) provided by the printer driver of the selected printer for processing related to printing. Printing to a printer selected from the application is possible.
[0033]
FIG. 5 illustrates a configuration of a memory block (hereinafter referred to as DevMode) that holds print settings of the printer that are exchanged between the printer driver, the operating system, and the application in FIG.
[0034]
DevMode has a configuration in which a Public area, which is a memory block defined by the operating system, and a Private area, which is a memory block uniquely defined by each printer driver, are continuous. The Public area is defined by the operating system, and the application, operating system, and printer driver can be set for the area. The Private area is an area defined by each printer driver, and only the printer driver can be set in the area. Also, the size of the Private area differs depending on the printer driver, and the Public area has a member called ExtraSize, which holds the size of the Private area so that the entire DevMode size can be determined. The operating system queries the printer driver for the DevMode area size, the application or the operating system reserves a memory of that size, and the printer driver initializes and sets it. When printing is performed, the printer driver performs printing according to the setting of the area.
[0035]
Some printer drivers support the printers of a plurality of models with the same program module. In this case, the definition of the Private area is the same even if the models are different.
[0036]
In the present embodiment, PrinterName that holds the registration name of the printer in the system and ExtraSize that holds the size of the Private area are defined in the Public area. In the Private area, DrvFamName that holds the key for identifying the printer driver, DeviceName that holds the model name of the printer, and Nup printing that prints by assigning multiple logical pages to one physical page as layout settings Nup that holds the setting of the stamp and a stamp that holds the setting of the stamp are defined. In DrvFamName, the same key is set in the printer driver of the same type, that is, the same program module, even if the printer model is different.
[0037]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing when the operating system calls the printer driver so that the print settings of the original printer are reflected (merged) in the printer settings after switching when the printer is switched. Is.
[0038]
This process is performed by the operating system passing the DevMode area for the switching source printer driver and the DevMode area for the switched printer driver to the switched printer driver. The printer driver after switching receives the DevMode memory area that contains the settings of the switching source printer driver and its own DevMode memory area, and the settings in DevMode of the switching source printer driver are changed to its own DevMode memory area. To reflect.
[0039]
Here, the merging process of DevMode in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
[0040]
First, the original DevMode setting is reflected in the Public area (S602). Next, it is determined whether the ExtraSize of the Public area is the same (S603). If ExtraSize is the same, it is determined whether DrvFamName is the same (S604). If ExtraSize or DrvFamName are not the same, the original printer driver is a different program module, and the Private area setting is unknown. Therefore, the Private area is set as a default setting, and the Private area is not merged (S611). If ExtraSize and DrvFamName are the same, it is determined that the original printer driver is the same program module, the private area is merged (S610), and the process ends.
[0041]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the private area merging process in S610.
[0042]
The private area merging process will be described with reference to FIG. First, it is determined whether the original DevMode Nup setting can be set (S710). If the setting is possible, the Nup setting is reflected (S720). Otherwise, the Nup setting is set to the default setting. (S721). Next, it is determined whether the original DevMode stamp setting can be reflected (S730). If the setting is possible, the stamp setting is reflected (S740). Otherwise, the default setting is set (S741). . Similarly, each setting is reflected while determining whether the original DevMode setting of the area held in the Private area can be set (S750).
[0043]
With the above processing, even when the printer is switched at the time of printing, if the printer driver of the printer before and after switching is the same module, the settings that can be reflected even if the model is different before and after switching Everything is taken over.
[0044]
(Other embodiments)
In the above-described embodiment, the printer driver has been specifically described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to an information processing apparatus having any driver used for controlling peripheral devices.
[0045]
Note that the information processing apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to a computer, and is a concept that includes all apparatuses capable of managing drivers, and includes a digital camera, a printer, and the like. The information processing method according to the present invention may be applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, and a printer).
[0046]
Another object of the present invention is to read a program code stored in a recording medium by a computer (or CPU or MPU) of a system or apparatus from a recording medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments. It is also achieved by executing.
[0047]
In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the recording medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
[0048]
As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.
[0049]
Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) operating on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. A case where part or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is also included.
[0050]
Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board is based on the instruction of the program code. The CPU included in the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.
[0051]
When the present invention is applied to the above storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the flowcharts described above (shown in FIGS. 6 and / or 7).
[0052]
【The invention's effect】
When the driver program is switched, it is possible to reduce a load for specifying whether the setting information of the driver program is the setting information of the public area that can be inherited to the switching destination or the setting information of the private area that cannot be inherited .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a system including a computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a typical print data generation method in a computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface for performing printer selection and print setting in a computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between an application and a printer driver for each printer in a computer as an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a Devmode structure for storing print settings in a computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of DevMode merge processing in a computer according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of DevMode private area merging processing in a computer according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 CPU
2 RAM
3 ROM
4 System bus 12 CPU
13 ROM
19 RAM
3000 Host computer 1500 Printer

Claims (9)

A driver program for a peripheral device that uses a private area that is an area for storing setting values unique to a predetermined driver program and a public area that is an area for storing setting values common to different driver programs. Receiving means for receiving a switching instruction;
First accepting means for reading the setting information set by the switching source program from the public area and delivering it to the switching destination driver program when the accepting means accepts the switching instruction;
Determining means for determining whether the switching source driver program and the switching destination driver program are of the same type;
A specifying unit that specifies setting information that can be transferred to the switching destination driver program from the setting information stored in the private area when the determination unit determines that the switching source driver program and the switching destination driver program are the same type; ,
Second delivery means for delivering the setting information specified by the specifying means from the setting information stored in the private area to the switching destination driver program;
An information processing apparatus comprising: The driver program includes identification information representing the type of the driver separately from the information representing the type of the peripheral device,
The information according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines whether the identification information included in the switching source driver program is the same as the identification information of the switching destination driver program. Processing equipment.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the accepting unit accepts a peripheral device switching instruction as a driver program switching instruction.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral device is a printer, the driver program is a printer driver program, and the setting information is print setting information. A driver program for a peripheral device that uses a private area that is an area for storing setting values unique to a predetermined driver program and a public area that is an area for storing setting values common to different driver programs. A reception process for receiving a switching instruction;
A first delivery step of reading setting information set by the switching source program from the public area and delivering it to the switching destination driver program when a switching instruction is accepted in the accepting step;
A determination step of determining whether the switching source driver program and the switching destination driver program are the same type;
A specifying step for specifying setting information that can be transferred to the switching destination driver program from the setting information stored in the private area when the switching source driver program and the switching destination driver program are determined to be the same type in the determination step; ,
A second delivery step of delivering the setting information specified by the specifying means from the setting information stored in the private area to the switching destination driver program;
An information processing method characterized by comprising: The driver program includes identification information representing the type of the driver separately from the information representing the type of the peripheral device,
6. The information according to claim 5, wherein in the determination step, it is determined whether or not the identification information included in the switching source driver program is the same as the identification information of the switching destination driver program. Processing method.   7. The information processing method according to claim 5, wherein in the receiving step, a peripheral device switching instruction is received as a driver program switching instruction.   8. The information processing method according to claim 5, wherein the peripheral device is a printer, the driver program is a printer driver program, and the setting information is print setting information. On the computer,
A driver program for a peripheral device that uses a private area that is an area for storing setting values unique to a predetermined driver program and a public area that is an area for storing setting values common to different driver programs. A reception process for receiving a switching instruction;
A first delivery step of reading setting information set by the switching source program from the public area and delivering it to the switching destination driver program when a switching instruction is accepted in the accepting step;
A determination step of determining whether the switching source driver program and the switching destination driver program are the same type;
A specifying step for specifying setting information that can be transferred to the switching destination driver program from the setting information stored in the private area when the switching source driver program and the switching destination driver program are determined to be the same type in the determination step; ,
A second delivery step of delivering the setting information specified by the specifying means from the setting information stored in the private area to the switching destination driver program;
A program characterized by having executed.

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