JP5952753B2 - Printer driver introduction support system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for introducing a printer driver to an information processing terminal, and more particularly, to a printer driver introduction support system that supports the introduction of a printer driver that each user uniquely corresponds to a network printer into a client terminal. It is related to effective technology when applied.

  In offices where many employees work, multiple printers and multi-function machines that can be shared and used via a network (hereinafter, these may be collectively referred to as “printers”) are installed. There is a case. At this time, printers of different manufacturers may be installed at the respective installation locations. In addition, printers with different models, models, model numbers, and the like may be installed even by the same manufacturer.

  When a user who is enrolled in a floor or area near the installation location of each printer can use a nearby printer in an information processing terminal such as a PC (Personal Computer) that he or she uses, the user individually becomes the target printer. It was necessary to perform setup processing such as installing such a driver. Alternatively, it is necessary for an administrator or the like to install a driver by operating the information processing terminal directly or remotely.

  In these cases, there are cases where the user does not necessarily correctly grasp the printer to be used, its model, model, etc., and does not understand which driver should be installed and how. In addition, it is very complicated for an administrator or the like to perform printer setup processing individually for each user information processing terminal, and it is even more difficult when the office is large and the number of users is large. It becomes.

  As a technique for simplifying and improving the efficiency of such printer driver introduction processing, for example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2006-163869 (Patent Document 1) discloses means for searching for a client whose server is connected to a network. Means for searching for a printer whose server is connected to the network, means for displaying a list of responding clients and printers on the output device of the server, means for selecting a printer from the printer list by the server administrator, A technique relating to an apparatus including means for dropping a selected printer onto a client in the client list and means for installing a driver selected by the server in the printer list on the client is described. As a result, the system administrator can easily install a plurality of printer drivers in a plurality of clients by a drag and drop operation in a short time.

  In JP 2010-128668 A (Patent Document 2), a control unit on a PC searches for a network-connected printer, and corresponds to device information (device name, mounting option name, device name) of the searched printer. Main body appearance image and option appearance image corresponding to the mounting option name that affects the appearance of the printer among the mounting option names) are acquired from each printer, and the acquired main body appearance image and optional appearance image are acquired. The external view of the printer is configured, and each external view is displayed as a list on the display unit. The operation unit accepts a user operation for selecting the external view corresponding to the printer to be installed, and the control unit applies the selected printer to the selected printer. A technique for acquiring a corresponding printer driver and installing it in a storage unit in an executable state is described. Thus, even when the user does not understand the name of the printer that the user wants to use and the functions that can be used, the printer that the user wants to use can be easily selected and the printer driver can be installed.

  Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-194640 (Patent Document 3) discloses a print queue installer that provides a client terminal with a printer driver that is recognized as a shared printer device on a print server and operates as an installer on the terminal. The printer driver includes a plurality of print queues that communicate with the printer, and the mapping driver describing mapping between one or more client terminals and the printer, and is installed and activated in the client terminal of the provision destination, and the provision destination A technique for introducing an appropriate image processing apparatus to a client terminal by a simple operation by including an installer main body that executes processing for installing a print queue of an additional printer associated with the client terminal is described.

JP 2006-163869 A JP 2010-128668 A JP 2012-194640 A

  In the techniques described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 3 described above, the administrator needs to perform various settings and processes in units of client terminals, and the load on the administrator increases as the number of users increases. Also grows. In addition, the techniques described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 increase processing time and load in that processing for searching for a network printer or the like is required.

  When the number of users is large, it is efficient to have each user himself / herself perform the printer driver installation work autonomously. However, in the technique described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 2, the user needs to install the printer driver. Although it is possible to select a driver based on the appearance, there are cases where the models of the same manufacturer are almost the same, but the models are different, and detailed identification may be difficult from the appearance.

  In addition, when the user himself / herself autonomously introduces the driver, for example, in the Windows (registered trademark) environment, in order to execute the driver installer (execution program, EXE file) distributed independently by the manufacturer. If the administrator authority is required and only the user authority is given to each user, the installer cannot be executed. In this case, it becomes necessary for an administrator or the like to work directly or remotely with administrator authority.

  On the other hand, in a Windows (registered trademark) environment, it is possible to directly install a printer driver without having administrator authority by using a system setting file (INF file) for installing driver software. . However, there are cases where multiple types of models, models, model numbers, etc. that can be installed are set together in the INF file, and the procedures such as which one the user selects and how to set are maintained in a manual etc. Load is required.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a printer driver introduction support system for generating a script file for installing and setting a corresponding printer driver using an INF file and providing the user with a printer used by a user via a network in an office or the like. Is to provide.

  The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

  Of the inventions disclosed in this application, the outline of typical ones will be briefly described as follows.

  A printer driver introduction support system according to a representative embodiment of the present invention is a printer driver introduction system that supports introduction of a driver for using a printer connected to a network to an information processing terminal connected to the network. A support system having the following characteristics.

  That is, a series of drivers for one or more printers, a setting file for introducing the driver into the information processing terminal, and a driver for introducing the driver into the information processing terminal using the setting file For a script in which processing is described, a template in which a part specific to the printer to be used is parameterized, a printer information recording unit holding management information about one or more printers, and an instruction from the information processing terminal A printer information management unit that acquires the management information corresponding to the printer that has been selected from the printer information recording unit, and a parameterized portion of the template based on the content of the management information acquired by the printer information management unit By replacing the driver corresponding to the printer With an introduction script generating section that generates a script file for introduction into the information processing terminal.

  Among the inventions disclosed in the present application, effects obtained by typical ones will be briefly described as follows.

  That is, according to a typical embodiment of the present invention, a script file for installing and setting a corresponding printer driver by using an INF file is generated for a printer used by a user via a network in an office or the like. Can be provided.

It is the figure which showed the outline | summary about the structural example of the printer driver introduction assistance system which is one embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the outline | summary about the data structure of the printer information TB in one embodiment of this invention, and the example of concrete data. It is the figure which showed the outline | summary about the example of the flow of a process until the driver corresponding to the printer to utilize in one embodiment of this invention is introduced.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that components having the same function are denoted by the same reference symbols throughout the drawings for describing the embodiment, and the repetitive description thereof will be omitted.

  A printer driver introduction support system according to an embodiment of the present invention centrally manages printer drivers for a plurality of printers in an office or the like, and provides corresponding printer drivers to client terminals using the printer by using an INF file. This is a system that automatically generates and provides a script file such as a batch file describing a series of processes for introduction and setting. The parameter information for each printer necessary for generating the script file is obtained by referring to management information such as installation information held in advance for each printer and automatically set.

  As a result, each user can easily install and set up the necessary printer driver by executing the generated script file on the client terminal without having the administrator authority for the execution program such as the installer. Is possible.

<System configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a configuration example of a printer driver introduction support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printer driver introduction support system 10 includes a server device, a virtual server in a cloud computing environment, or a computer system such as a PC, and is connected to a network 30 such as an in-house LAN (Local Area Network) in the office.

  In the office, for example, each floor 20 (for example, floor a (20a) to floor c (20c) in the figure) and each printer 21 (for example, printer a (21a) to printer c (21c) in the figure). ) Are connected to the network 30. Further, a client terminal 22 (for example, client terminal a (22a) to client terminal c (22c) in the figure), which is an information processing terminal such as a PC used by a user on each floor 20, is connected to the network 30. Has been placed. In principle, a user who is enrolled in each floor 20 uses the printer 21 arranged on the floor 20 in which he / she is enrolled via the network 30 to perform printout or the like.

  The printer driver introduction support system 10 includes, for example, a printer information management unit 11 implemented by a software program that operates on middleware such as an OS (Operating System), a DBMS (DataBase Management System), and a Web server program (not shown), and an introduction script generation. Each unit includes a unit 12 and a user interface unit 13. The printer information table (TB) 14 is implemented by a database, a file table, or the like.

  Also, the driver 15 file provided from the manufacturer for each printer 21 and the setting file 16 (INF file) for installing the driver 15 are held in a centralized manner. These files may be stored in, for example, a NAS (Network Attached Storage) (not shown) connected to the network 30. The printer driver introduction support system 10 further includes a template 17 that serves as a script file template for installing the driver 15.

  The printer information management unit 11 has a function of holding management information about each printer 21 installed in the office in the printer information TB 14 and managing registration and change of the contents. The contents of the printer information TB14 will be described later. For example, the installation information about each printer 21 managed by the office manager or the like is registered in advance in the printer information TB14 by the system administrator by means of import or manual input. The system administrator additionally registers information related to the driver 15 and the setting file 16 corresponding thereto.

  Based on an instruction from the user via the client terminal 22, the introduction script generation unit 12 uses the corresponding setting file 16 for the driver 15 corresponding to the printer 21 used by the client terminal 22 and the client terminal 22. It has a function of generating a script file for introduction into the system. For example, for the printer 21 designated by the user, management information such as corresponding installation information and driver information is acquired from the printer information TB14, and the acquired value is set as a parameter in the template 17 for the script file. Generate. For example, the template 17 is created in advance as a script that describes a series of processes for introducing the driver 15 using the setting file 16 and that is obtained by parameterizing variable portions that are different for each printer 21 to be introduced.

  The user interface unit 13 has a function of providing a user interface such as an operation screen to the client terminal 22 and the like via a Web browser (not shown) by a Web server program (not shown), for example. For example, a screen on which each user gives an instruction to generate a script file for introducing the driver 15 or an operation to download the generated script file is displayed on the client terminal 22. In addition, a screen for importing or registering management information for each printer 21 by the system administrator is displayed on an information processing terminal (not shown) used by the system administrator.

<Data structure>
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of the data configuration of the printer information TB14 and specific data examples. The printer information TB14 is a table that holds management information including installation information and driver information for each printer 21 installed in the office. For example, the printer information TB14 includes a manufacturer, a model, a management number, an IP address, a building name, a floor, Each item includes a setting file, a setting model, and a driver path.

  Each item of the manufacturer and model holds information on the manufacturer of the target printer 21 and information such as the model name, model name, and model number. The management number item holds information such as numbers and IDs assigned to uniquely identify and manage each printer 21 installed on the office floor. The IP address item holds information on an IP address assigned when the target printer 21 is installed on the office floor. Each item of the building name and the floor includes information for identifying the office building where the target printer 21 is installed, and the floor 20 and area where the target printer 21 is actually installed in the office building. Holds information that identifies the location.

  Each of the above items corresponds to installation information about each printer 21 that is generally managed by an office manager or the like, and may be managed by another system such as an asset management system. In this case, data may be registered by means such as importing the corresponding data from these systems. In order to create a script file by replacing the parameterized portion in the template 17, it is necessary to set at least model and IP address information among these pieces of installation information.

  The setting file item holds information on the file name of the setting file 16 provided by the manufacturer in order to install the driver 15 corresponding to the target printer 21. The setting model item specifies the model to be selected as the one corresponding to the target printer 21 among the setting information for a plurality of models, models, model numbers, and the like registered together in the setting file 16. Keep information. The driver path item holds path information for specifying a location where the driver 15 and the setting file 16 corresponding to the target printer 21 are held. As described above, these files may be stored in a NAS or the like connected to the network 30.

  The above-described data configuration (items) is merely an example, and other table configurations and data configurations may be used as long as similar data can be held and managed.

<Process flow>
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outline of an example of a processing flow until the user installs the driver 15 corresponding to the printer 21 used in the client terminal 22 by the user. First, at the initial stage, the template 17 is created for the script file for introducing the driver 15 by the setting file 16 by the system administrator or the like on the printer driver introduction support system 10 (S01). If the template 17 has already been created, this process is not necessary. Also, for each printer 21 installed in the office, the driver 15 and the setting file 16 provided by the manufacturer are arranged at predetermined locations (S02).

  Also, the system administrator or the like obtains installation information about each printer 21 from another system such as an asset management system, and displays an operation screen displayed on the information processing terminal used by the user interface unit 13. By using the printer information management unit 11, the installation information is registered in the printer information TB14 (S03). Further, driver information for specifying the corresponding driver 15 and setting file 16 is additionally registered for each registered printer 21 (S04).

  Each process from step S02 to S04 may be performed when the number of printers 21 installed in the office is newly increased or when the installation location of the printer 21 is changed, and is particularly performed when there is no change in the installation information. There is no need. Even when the printer 21 is newly installed, for example, if the printer 21 is the same model as the existing one, the corresponding driver 15 and setting file 16 are already arranged, so in step S02 It is possible to reduce the man-hours required for management, such as eliminating the need for work.

  Thereafter, when the user sets up the printer 21 to be used in the office, the client terminal 22 accesses the printer driver introduction support system 10 through a web browser or the like (not shown), and the printer 21 registered in the printer information TB14. A request to acquire list information is made (S11). In the printer driver introduction support system 10, the printer information management unit 11 extracts a list of printers 21 from the printer information TB14, and the user interface unit 13 outputs the screen to the client terminal 22 (S12).

  When the printer information management unit 11 extracts the list of printers 21 from the printer information TB14, for example, the IP address of the target client terminal 22 is acquired based on a request message from the client terminal 22, and the target is determined based on the acquired IP address. It is also possible to narrow down and extract the printers 21 to be used by calculating a certain location of the client terminal 22. Information on the floor 20 on which the user is present may be obtained from the user, and the printers 21 to be used may be narrowed down based on the information.

  The client terminal 22 accepts selection of the printer 21 to be used by the user from the output printer 21 list (S13). In the printer driver introduction support system 10, the printer information management unit 11 acquires management information (installation information and driver information) from the printer information TB 14 for the selected printer 21 (S14). Further, the introduction script generation unit 12 generates a script file by replacing the parameter portion of the template 17 based on the management information (S15).

  As described above, the script file is generated every time a request is received from the user, so that, for example, when there is a change in installation information such as movement of the installation floor of the printer 21 or change of the IP address, system management is performed. The operator only has to change the installation information of the printer information TB14. For example, the process such as regeneration required when the script file is generated in advance is not required, and the maintenance is simplified and easy. It becomes.

  Thereafter, the client terminal 22 downloads the generated script file via the user interface unit 13 (S16) and executes it (S17). During execution of the script file, the driver 15 and the setting file 16 are referred to, but these are held on the printer driver introduction support system 10 (or on a file server such as NAS on the network 30). Then, a reference request is made to refer to the files (S18, S19). These files may be downloaded together with the download of the script file in step S16. However, by downloading only the script file as described above, unnecessary traffic on the network 30 is reduced. It becomes possible to suppress.

  In the client terminal 22, the driver 15 corresponding to the model of the target printer 21 is introduced using the setting file 16 according to the contents of the script file (S20), and the target printer 21 using the installed driver 15 is introduced. Is set to be usable (S21). Here, for example, setting of the IP address of the target printer 21 is included. Through the above processing, the client terminal 22 appropriately installs the driver 15 for the printer 21 to be used and sets the printer 21 to be usable.

  As described above, according to the printer driver introduction support system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the driver 15 and the setting file 16 are managed in a unified manner for a plurality of printers 21 in an office or the like, and the printer 21 is controlled. A script file for automatically installing and setting the corresponding driver 15 by the setting file 16 is automatically generated and provided to the client terminal 22 to be used. Also, parameter information about each printer 21 required when generating a script file from the template 17 is acquired by referring to management information stored in advance in the printer information TB14 and automatically set. To do.

  As a result, each user can easily install and set the necessary driver 15 by executing the generated script file on the client terminal 22 without having administrator authority for an execution program such as an installer. It becomes possible.

  As mentioned above, the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say. For example, the above-described embodiment has been described in detail for easy understanding of the present invention, and is not necessarily limited to the one having all the configurations described. In addition, it is possible to add, delete, and replace other configurations for a part of the configuration of the above-described embodiment.

  The present invention can be used in a printer driver introduction support system that supports the introduction of a printer driver that uniquely supports each network printer to a client terminal.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Printer driver introduction support system, 11 ... Printer information management part, 12 ... Introduction script production | generation part, 13 ... User interface part, 14 ... Printer information table (TB), 15 ... Driver, 16 ... Setting file, 17 ... Template,
20 (20a-c) ... floor (floors a-c), 21 (21a-c) ... printers (printers a-c), 22 (22a-c) ... client terminals (client terminals a-c),
30 ... Network.

Claims (5)

A printer driver introduction support system that supports introduction of a driver for using a printer connected to a network to an information processing terminal connected to the network ,
And the configuration file for the introduction of the previous SL driver to the information processing terminal,
For a script in which a series of processes for introducing the driver into the information processing terminal using the setting file is described, a template parameterized a part specific to the printer to be used;
A printer information recording unit for holding management information about one or more printers;
A printer information management unit that acquires the management information corresponding to the printer instructed from the information processing terminal from the printer information recording unit;
A script file for introducing the driver corresponding to the printer into the information processing terminal by replacing the parameterized part in the template based on the content of the management information acquired by the printer information management unit. A printer driver introduction support system, comprising: an introduction script generation unit that generates. The printer driver introduction support system according to claim 1,
The printer driver introduction support system, wherein the management information held in the printer information recording unit includes installation information about the printer and driver information related to the corresponding driver and the setting file. The printer driver introduction support system according to claim 2,
The printer driver introduction support system, wherein the installation information includes model information about the printer and assigned address information on the network. The printer driver introduction support system according to claim 2,
The driver information includes the setting file for the printer, information on the model corresponding to the printer included in the setting file, and information on the holding location of the setting file and the driver. . In the printer driver introduction support system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A printer driver introduction support system which causes the generated script file to be downloaded by the information processing terminal.