Network system, information processing apparatus, and information memory medium

• US 6,631,008 B2
• Filed: 03/30/1998
• Issued: 10/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Aoki, Mikio
• Primary Examiner(s): Garcia, Gabriel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Douglas
• Application Number:
  US09/049,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20020041388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,017 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.14, 358/1.12, 358/1.15, 358/1.18, 358/1.13, 358/1.9, 358/401, 358/408, 358/438, 709/200, 709/201-206, 709/213, 709/220, 709/223-232, 710/1-12, 710/31-34
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1203 Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1232 Transmitting printer device capabilities, e.g. upon request or periodically
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1247 by conversion to printer ready format
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/126 Job scheduling, e.g. queuing, determine appropriate device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration

Abstract

An information processing apparatus, an information memory medium, and a network system are provided which can efficiently select the most appropriate printer from among a plurality of printers which are connected to the network, and perform a printing operation. This network system may include at least one server and a plurality of printers connected through a communication line. In the server, based upon a printing instruction which is transmitted from a computer, an inquiry signal is output to each printer. The printer to be used for printing is then selected based upon the information transmitted from a processor of each printer. Any processor which responds to the inquiry signal is an option selection for printing data from the network system, including an unknown processor or an upgraded processor. Thus, even if a user disconnects one of the selected printers from the network system, the network system can submit printing data to another printer that responded to the inquiry signal as a match selected for printing. Furthermore, data conversion processing is performed in order to convert the image data to printing data for printing.

Claims

1. A network system, comprising:

a server that receives a printing instructions and image data for printing which are transmitted from a terminal apparatus and at least one printer connected to the server;

the server further including;

a printer server that outputs a device information inquiry signal based upon a printing instruction from the terminal apparatus, the printer server selecting a printer for an intended printing data transmission based upon device information received in response to the device information inquiry signal;

the at least one printer including a device information transmission controller that transmits device information including classification information of the at least one printer to the printer server in response to the device information inquiry signal;

a printer memory;

an image processing server that performs data conversion processing to convert the image data from the terminal apparatus to printing data and transmits the printing data that is formed by the data conversion processing to the selected printer, and the selected printer prints the printing data, and

based on the device information provided by the selected printer, the server determining a need for updating a version of a data processing program which is stored in the printer memory based upon the version information, and transmitting information for updating the version of the data processing program to the printer memory when a need for updating the version is determined.

2. The network system as set forth in claim 1, the server further including a memory that stores a data processing program to convert printing capability information and image data to printing data for each printer of different classification,

the printer server further selecting the printer for the intended printing data transmission based upon the printing capability information that is read from the memory in response to a load status of each printer and the classification information, and

the image processing server further performing the data conversion processing using a data processing program corresponding to the classification of the selected printer.

3. The network system as set forth in claim 1, the printer server further outputting a device information inquiry signal for at least another server or printer based upon a printing instruction from the terminal apparatus, the printer server selecting at least another server or printer to share the data conversion process based upon the device information which is received from other devices in response to the device information inquiry signals, and the printer server transmitting a sharing instruction and shared image data to the selected device, and

the image processing server further performing data conversion processing of the shared image data based upon the sharing instruction, and transmitting printing data that is formed by the data conversion processing to the selected printer.

4. The network system as set forth in claim 1, the printer server further outputting a device information inquiry signal to at least another server or printer based upon a printing instruction from the terminal apparatus, determining a priority order of the printers for an intended printing data transmission based upon the device information which is received from other servers or printers in response to the device information inquiry signal, performing a determination selection inquiry to the terminal apparatus, and selecting the printer for the printing data transmission based upon the selection information of the terminal apparatus.

5. The network system as set forth in claim 1, the device information including the data processing program version information that is stored in a printer memory;

and the printer including an updating device that updates the data processing program and the program version information which are stored in the printer memory when information for updating the version of the data processing program is received from the server.

6. The network system as set forth in claim 1, wherein one of the printers functions as a server.

7. The network system as set forth in claim 1, the network system further being accessible from an external terminal apparatus, and the server of the network system which was accessed, transmits the printing data to a printer that was selected from the network system.

8. A network system comprising:

a terminal apparatus;

at least one server that includes a printer server and a second server; and

a plurality of printers connected to the at least one server,

at least one of the plurality of printers including the printer server that outputs a device information inquiry signal to the network based upon a printing instruction and image data received from the terminal apparatus, the printer server selecting the second server which is different from the printer server or a second one of the plurality of printers for data conversion processing based upon device information received from the at least one server and the plurality of printers in response to the device information inquiry signal, and the printer server performing data conversion processing of a portion of the image data and transmitting data conversion instructions and image data including the processed portion of the image data to the selected second server or the second one of the plurality of printers,

the second server or second one of the plurality of printers further performing data conversion of the remaining portion of the image data and forming printing data based upon the data conversion instruction, and then transmits the printing data to the one of the plurality of printers which further prints the printing data that is transmitted from the selected second server or second one of the printers.

9. An information processing apparatus that can receive a printing instruction and image data for printing that are transmitted from a terminal apparatus, comprising:

a printer server that outputs a device information inquiry signal to the network based upon a printing instructions from the terminal apparatus, and that selects a printer for an intended printing data transmission based upon a device information received from each printer corresponding to the device information inquiry signal;

a image processing server that performs data conversion processing to convert image data from the terminal apparatus to printing data and transmits the printing data formed by the data conversion processing to the selected printer;

a printer memory;

a data processing program that is stored in the printer memory; and

based on the device information provided by the selected printer, a controller that determines whether a version of the data processing program that is stored in the printer memory needs to be updated based upon the current version of the data processing program, and transmits information for updating the data processing program version to the printer memory if it is determined that updating the data processing program version is required.

10. The information processing apparatus as set forth in claim 9, further comprising:

a memory which stores a data processing program to convert printing capability information and image data to printing data for each printer of different classification,

the printer server further selects the printer for the intended printing data transmission based upon a load status of each printer and the printing capability information that is read from the memory corresponding to printer classification information, and

the image processing server further performing data conversion processing to convert the image data to printing data by using a data processing program corresponding to the classification of the selected printer.

11. The information processing apparatus as set forth in claim 9, the printer server further outputting a device information inquiry signal to at least another server or printer based upon a printing instruction from the terminal apparatus, determining at least another server or printer to share the data conversion processing based upon the device information which is received from the at least another server or printer in response to the device information inquiry signal, and transmitting a sharing instruction and sharing image data to the at least another server or printer, and

the image processing server further performing data conversion processing of the shared image data based upon the sharing instruction, and transmitting printing data which is formed by the data conversion processing to the selected printer.

12. The information processing apparatus as set forth in claim 9, the printer server further outputting a device information inquiry signal to at least another server or printer based upon a printing instruction from the terminal apparatus, determining a priority of the printers for printing a data transmission based upon the device information which is received from other printers in response to the device information inquiry signals, performing a determination selection inquiry to the terminal apparatus, and selecting the printer for printing the data transmission based upon selection information of the terminals apparatus.

13. The information processing apparatus as set forth in claim 9, further comprising:

a device information transmission controller to transmit device information, including classification information, to the server in response to a device information inquiry signal from printers or servers, the selected printer printing the data.

14. An information memory medium for controlling an information processing apparatus that can receive a printing instruction and image data for printing that are transmitted from a terminal apparatus, comprising:

first information for outputting a device information inquiry signal to the network based upon a printing instruction from the terminal apparatus, and selecting a printer for an intended printing data transmission based upon device information which is received from each printer or server in response to the device information inquiry signal, and

second information for performing data conversion processing to convert image data from the terminal apparatus to printing data and transmit the printing data which is formed by the data conversion processing to the selected printer,

based on the device information provided by the selected printer, a version of the second information stored in the information memory medium being updated by receiving transmitted information for updating the version of the second information if it is determined that updating the version of the second information is required.