Network device and printer

• US 7,440,130 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2005
• Issued: 10/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Shima, Toshihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Haskins; Twyler L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Singh; Satwant K
• Application Number:
  US11/285,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20060072156A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,063 Days
• Field of Search: 358 111- 118, 358/1.1, 358/1.9, 710/8, 709/227, 709/203, 709/206, 709/209, 709/230
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1225 Software update, e.g. print driver, modules, plug-ins, fonts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1229 Printer resources management or printer maintenance, e.g. device status, power levels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration

Abstract

Provided is a network board for generating print data in accordance with the information resources received from outside, and sending the print data to a printer, which can easily install or update a color conversion table or a printer driver, etc. necessary for generating the print data.

Whereby, the network board for generating print data in accordance with the information resources received from outside, and sending the print data to a printer is configured to be able to, by itself, access a prescribed site on the network at the prescribed time, such as when the printer is tuned on, and appropriately download a color conversion table or a printer driver, etc. in order to utilize it.

Claims

1. A printer network board for generating print data in accordance with information resources received from outside, and sending said print data to a printer, characterized in that print related information necessary for generating said print data is appropriately acquired from a prescribed location on the network at a prescribed time;

wherein said network board is contained in and dedicated to said printer for generating said print data directly to said printer;

wherein said print data is generated by using said acquired print related information, and sent to said printer, and

wherein the network board confirms a model of the printer in which the network board is contained at a predetermined time.

2. A network board according to claim 1,

characterized in that said information resources are appropriately acquired from a prescribed location on the network.

3. A network board according to claim 1,

characterized in that said information resources are at least one of image data, text data, or intermediate data generated in the process of generating print data.

4. A network board according to claim 1,

characterized in that said prescribed time is one of when said printer is turned on, upon receipt of instructions from a user, or upon receipt of said information resources.

5. A network board according to claim 1,

characterized in that said print related information comprises at least one of a color conversion table, printer driver program, font data or font renderer program.

6. A network board according to claim 1,

characterized in that said print related information is classified under at least two groups in accordance with the priority of acquisition thereof.

7. A network board according to claim 6,

characterized in that the print related information classified under a high-priority installation group comprises at least one of a color conversion table, printer driver program, basic font data or basic font renderer program.

8. A network board according to claim 6,

characterized in that the print related information classified under a low-priority installation group comprises at least one of a program for interpreting a format of said information resources to be received, font data of the font which is included in said information resources or the font renderer program of said font.

9. A network board according to claim 6,

characterized in that said network board, concerning a memory area for storing print related information, classifies and manages the storage area for each of said groups.

10. A network board according to claim 6,

characterized in that said network board, concerning print related information under a low-priority installation group, appropriately deletes the print related information at a prescribed time.

11. A network board according to claim 1,

characterized in that said network board, upon acquiring print related information, accesses a server providing location information of the print related information, and inquires for the location information on the network of the print related information.

12. A network board according to claim 1,

characterized in that said print related information is acquired in case that said print related information which has already been contained in said network board is judged to be different from said print related information which has been contained in a prescribed location on said network.

13. A network board according to claim 1,

characterized in that said print related information is acquired in case that said print related information which has already been contained in said network board is judged to be required to be replaced with said print related information which has been contained in a prescribed location on said network.

14. A network board according to claim 12,

characterized in that said network board makes said judgement by itself.

15. A network board according to claim 13,

characterized in that said network board makes said judgement by itself.

16. A network board according to claim 12,

characterized in that said judgement is made at a prescribed location on said network.

17. A network board according to claim 13,

characterized in that said judgement is made at a prescribed location on said network.

18. A network board according to claim 1,

characterized in that the print related information acquired from a prescribed location on said network is retained in said network board, and said print related information is held to be available until it is deleted.

19. A network board according to claim 1,

characterized in that if, upon acquiring said print related information from a prescribed location on said network, said network board comprises preceding print related information corresponding to said print related information which is acquired, said preceding print related information is deleted.

20. A network board according to claim 1,

characterized in that the print related information which is acquired from a prescribed location on said network contains information concerning a prescribed location on said network to be accessed upon the next acquisition of said print related information.