Abstract:
An automatic installation system for printer drivers including a network; at least one printer connected to the network; a printer driver database unit which has a printer driver database and connected to the network; and a terminal connected to the at least one printer via the network, wherein the terminal is adapted to obtain a printer driver from the printer driver database, to install the printer driver, and to set configurations regarding connection and printing when a user selects one of the at least one printer from a list thereof displayed on the terminal based on printer information obtained from the at least one printer, and in a case in which a printer driver is not installed in the terminal or in a case in which a printer driver that has been installed needs to be updated.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to an art to automatically install a printer driver in a terminal which is connected to a printer via a network.  
         [0003]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0004]     When using a printer while operating a terminal, both being connected to each other via a network, it is conventional to run an application which displays a list of printers in the network on the terminal and select one a user wants to use from the list. However, if the printer driver for the printer is not installed in the terminal, the user has to perform many steps before printing can be carried out.  
         [0005]     Specifically, a step of making the terminal read a printer driver for the printer from a CD-ROM or the like and installing the printer driver in the terminal, and a step of setting a connection configuration, printing configuration or the like need to be carried out by users. If these configurations are not carried out properly, it becomes impossible to carry out printing jobs.  
         [0006]     To solve this problem, a method of downloading a required printer driver from a website which the printer manufacturer provides via the network is disclosed. However, in the method, users have to make a correct choice regarding operational factors such as the type of OS their terminal uses, type of the printer and so forth. In addition, the users also have to set the aforementioned configurations correctly.  
         [0007]     An identical situation exists when the printer driver installed in the terminal needs to be updated to the latest version because of a version upgrade.  
         [0008]     Japanese Unexamined Patent Applications, First Publication Nos. 2002-197044 and 2002-108588 disclose a method of downloading a printer driver from a server based on the information on a printer driver obtained from the printer. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2003-084986 discloses an art which automatically sets an initial configuration of a printer driver when installing from a CD-ROM or the like, by analyzing the registration status of the application at the terminal.  
         [0009]     Furthermore, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2001-296976 discloses an art which provides a database for printer drivers in a printer driver server, updates printer drivers for each printer by downloading from the database, and makes each printer install printer drivers in each terminal by downloading updated printer drivers.  
         [0010]     However, in the art disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Applications, First Publication Nos. 2002-197044 and 2002-108588, although selection of the type of printer is properly done by obtaining information on the printer driver from the printer itself before installing, the user may still have to download other printer drivers and set configurations regarding connection and printing. Therefore, the burden on the user is still not satisfactory.  
         [0011]     Similarly, in the art disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2003-084986, although the initial configuration of the printer driver is automatically set in accordance with the condition where the application is registered at the terminal, the user still has to set configurations regarding printing other than the initial configuration. Therefore, the burden on the user and time required are still not satisfactory.  
         [0012]     Furthermore, in the art disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2001-296976, printer drivers of the latest version are saved in the database continuously, and each printer automatically updates its printer driver using the database.  
         [0013]     Accordingly, although the user can easily obtain a printer driver of the latest version by downloading it from the printer which the user wants to use and installing it, the user still has to set configurations regarding connection and printing similarly to the aforementioned case. Therefore, the burden on the user and time required are still not satisfactory.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     To solve the aforementioned problems, the present invention provides an automatic installation system for printer drivers (below, simply referred to as the “driver installation system”) including a network, at least one printer connected to the network, a printer driver database unit (below, simply referred to as the “database unit”) which has a printer driver database (below, simply referred to as the “database”) and connected to the network and a terminal connected to the at least one printer via the network, wherein the terminal is adapted to obtain the printer driver from the database, to install the printer driver, and to set configurations regarding connection and printing when a user selects one of the at least one printer from a list thereof displayed on the terminal based on printer information obtained from the at least one printer, in a case in which the printer driver is not installed in the terminal or in a case in which a printer driver that has been installed needs to be updated.  
         [0015]     In the driver installation system of the aforementioned constitution, when a user selects one of the at least one printer from the list thereof displayed on the terminal, the printer driver is obtained from the database via the network when the printer driver for the printer selected is not installed in the terminal or when a printer driver that has been installed is not of the latest version, and configurations regarding connection and printing are set.  
         [0016]     Thereby the printer driver of the latest version is automatically installed and configurations regarding connection and printing are set even if the printer driver of the latest version for the printer selected by the user is not installed in the terminal. Therefore, not only is the printer driver automatically selected and downloaded, it is also automatically installed and the configurations are automatically set. The user is thus freed from carrying out these operations.  
         [0017]     Accordingly, although it takes a certain period of time to install and configure the printer driver, the user can use the printer connected to the network without being concerned about installing the printer driver, the same as with a printer in which a printer driver is already installed.  
         [0018]     The terminal may be adapted to obtain database information for connection from the database unit, to access the database based on the database information, and to obtain the printer driver.  
         [0019]     In this case, the terminal is adapted to obtain the database information from the database unit by transmitting a request for the database information. The terminal can obtain the printer driver by accessing the database quickly based on the database information.  
         [0020]     The terminal may be adapted to transmit the printer information and terminal information obtained in advance when the terminal obtains the printer driver from the database, and the database unit may be adapted to search the printer driver based on the printer information and the terminal information sent from the terminal, and to transmit the printer driver to the terminal via the network.  
         [0021]     In this case, the database unit is adapted to search the printer driver in the database based on the printer information and the terminal information sent from the terminal. Therefore, the printer driver for the printer selected by the user and the terminal of the user can be easily searched.  
         [0022]     The terminal may be adapted to set a connection configuration of the printer driver, referring to an IP address included in the printer information. In this case, a connection port can be established based on the IP address in the connection configuration.  
         [0023]     The terminal may be adapted to set printing configuration of the printer driver, based on information content included in the printer information such as options and default configuration when the terminal sets the connection configuration thereof.  
         [0024]     In this case, the printing configuration can be set based on the printer information.  
         [0025]     The terminal may be adapted to obtain the printer information again from the at least one printer when information is required that is not included in the printer information obtained before, in setting the printing configuration of the installed printer driver.  
         [0026]     In this case, the printing configuration can be securely set by obtaining the printer information again from the at least one printer, with the information which is not included in the printer information obtained before.  
         [0027]     The terminal may be adapted to notify the user of the completion of installing and setting of configurations regarding connection and printing of the printer driver after finishing the operation.  
         [0028]     In this case, even if it takes a certain period of time for installing and setting configurations regarding connection and printing of the printer driver, the user can use the time for another job due to a notification by a sound of alarm or the like.  
         [0029]     The database unit may be adapted to construct the database, obtaining printer drivers from each printer driver provider of the at least one printer.  
         [0030]     In this case, the database for the at least one printer connected to the network is constructed in the database unit, for example, by an application for database construction used by the administrator.  
         [0031]     The database unit may be provided in a server machine or in the terminal, and be adapted to update the database by obtaining the printer driver of the latest version from the printer driver provider of the at least one printer by accessing the Internet via the server machine or the terminal.  
         [0032]     In this case, the database for the printers connected to the network is constructed in a server machine for network administration or exclusive use, or in at least one of the terminals connected to the network.  
         [0033]     At that time, it is preferable that the network administrator configures the system to automatically check for updates so that the printer driver of the latest version can be obtained from the printer driver provider via the Internet.  
         [0034]     The database unit may be provided in the at least one printer, and be adapted to update the database by obtaining the printer driver of the latest version from the printer driver provider of each printer by accessing the Internet via the at least one printer, the server machine or the terminal.  
         [0035]     In this case, the database for the printers connected to the network is constructed in at least one of the printers connected to the network.  
         [0036]     At that time, the configuration regarding database updates is set so that the printer driver of the latest version can be obtained from the printer driver provider, via the at least one printer in a case in which the at least one printer is connectable to the Internet, or via the server machine or the terminal in a case in which the at least one printer is not connectable to the Internet.  
         [0037]     The database for all the printers connected to the network may be provided in one printer. The database may also be provided in each printer, having printer drivers only for each printer.  
         [0038]     The database unit may be adapted to generate the database information after construction of the database. In this case, since the database unit always has the database information on the printer driver of the latest version, not only when the printer driver of the at least one printer selected is not installed but also when the printer driver is not of the latest version, the terminal can access the database based on the database information.  
         [0039]     The database may be adapted to delete an older version printer driver and to update the database information.  
         [0040]     In this case, by deleting older version printer drivers and updating the printer driver to the latest version, the limited memory area of the database can be effectively utilized.  
         [0041]     In addition, the present invention provides a program recording medium in which a program is recorded for automatic installation of a printer driver in a terminal in a system including a network; at least one printer connected to the network; a database unit which has a database connected to the network; and a terminal connected to the printer via the network, and the program includes a step of selecting one of the at least one printer from a list thereof, a step of obtaining the printer driver of the at least one printer from the database, a step of installing the printer driver, and a step of setting configurations regarding connection and printing after installing.  
         [0042]     In this way, the present invention can be realized as a program. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0043]      FIG. 1  is a drawing which schematically shows the constitution of a driver installation system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0044]      FIG. 2  is a table which shows an example of information in a database updating configuration in the driver installation system of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0045]      FIG. 3  is a table which shows an example of information in a application operation configuration in the driver installation system of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0046]      FIG. 4  is a table which shows database information in the driver installation system of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0047]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart which shows the process involved in automatic installation of a printer driver in the driver installation system of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0048]      FIG. 6  is a drawing which schematically shows the constitution of a driver installation system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0049]      FIG. 7  is a table which shows an example of database information in the driver installation system of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0050]      FIG. 8  is a table which shows another example of database information in the driver installation system of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0051]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart which shows the process involved in constructing the database for printer drivers in the driver installation system of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0000]     First Embodiment  
         [0052]     An explanation of a driver installation system of the first embodiment of the present invention is presented hereinbelow, referring to  FIG. 1 .  
         [0053]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a driver installation system  10  consists of a user terminal  100 , a printer  200 , a database  300 , a network  400  and the Internet  500 .  
         [0054]     Although the user terminal  100  and three printers  200  are connected to the network  400  in  FIG. 1 , this embodiment is not limited to this, and two or more user terminals  100  and one, two, four or more printers  200  may be connected.  
         [0055]     Although the network  400  is constituted as a closed local area network (LAN) such as an in-office LAN, the Internet may also be used.  
         [0056]     The Internet  500  is of a known constitution. It is possible to download a required printer driver of the latest version by accessing a website of a printer driver provider, such as the printer manufacturer (not illustrated in  FIG. 1 .)  
         [0057]     The user terminal  100  is a terminal device such as a personal computer, and is connected to the network  400 .  
         [0058]     An application to enable installation of a printer driver is installed in the user terminal  100 , and the user terminal  100  operates as follows by running the application.  
         [0059]     First, when a user  110  carries out printing, the user terminal  100  searches printers which are available and connected to the network  400 , obtains information about the printers such as type number, displays a list of the available printers on the display, and saves the information of each printer in a registry or memory area.  
         [0060]     When the user  110  selects one printer from the list, the user terminal  100  accesses the database  300  via the network  400 , based on already-obtained database information.  
         [0061]     The user terminal  100  transmits information about the selected printer and the user terminal  100  (such as OS, language used) to the database  300 .  
         [0062]     Then the user terminal  100  receives a printer driver transmitted from the database  300 , installs the printer driver automatically, establishes a connection port based on an IP address included in the printer information, sets a connection configuration, and sets a printing configuration of the printer driver based on the information content included in the printer information such as options, and default configuration.  
         [0063]     When setting the printing configuration if information required is not included in the printer information, the user terminal  100  again obtains printer information including the information from the printer  200  via the network  400 .  
         [0064]     After obtaining and installing the printer driver and setting configurations regarding connection and printing, the user terminal  100  notifies the user. This notification is carried out by displaying a message on the display of the user terminal  100 , sounding an alarm, or the like.  
         [0065]     Each printer  200  is connected to the network  400 . The printers  200  receive printing data from the user terminal  100  connected to the network  400  and carry out printing.  
         [0066]     The printers  200  carry out print jobs based on the connection configuration and the printing information installed in the user terminal  100 .  
         [0067]     In addition, each printer  200  has printer information including a connection IP address to the network  400 , constitution information such as options, and default configuration, and transmits the printer information to the user terminal  100  when requested.  
         [0068]     The database  300  is a database of the printer drivers automatically constructed by an administrator of the network  400  by running an application for database construction provided by the printer driver provider, using an administration server machine or a terminal device for exclusive use (not illustrated).  
         [0069]     Here, the application for database construction obtains the printer driver of the latest version for the printer from the printer driver provider such as the manufacturer of the printer via the Internet  500 , based on the model name of the printer selected by the administrator or automatically obtained, and registers the printer driver in the database.  
         [0070]     At that time, the administrator presets the connection configuration to the Internet  500 , that is, a database update configuration  310  such as an interval when the latest version can be obtained.  
         [0071]     The database update configuration  310  includes information about access points for obtaining printer drivers (IP address of a download server), interval for checking updates, on/off of update notification, notification object (e-mail address), as shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0072]     The database  300  also provides operation configuration information  320  shown in  FIG. 3  for obtaining printer drivers of the latest version.  
         [0073]     Here, in  FIG. 3 , the operation configuration information  320  is set by selecting any one of “EVERY PRINT JOB”  321   a  and “AT A PREDETERMINED INTERVAL”  321   b  in confirmation for printer driver update  321 , and selecting any one of “AT THE SAME TIME AS UPDATING”  322   a  and “OPERATED BY USER”  322   b  in obtaining printer drivers  322 .  
         [0074]     The database  300  compiles database information  330  which explains the content of the database after finishing construction or updating the database.  
         [0075]     The database  300  transmits the database information  330  to the user terminal  100  when the database  300  receives a request for the database information from the user terminal  100 .  
         [0076]     Here as shown in  FIG. 4 , the database information  330  includes a printer model name  331 , driver version  332 , used OS  333 , and saving position  334 , and these information is stored for each printer model, for example, A, B, and C.  
         [0077]     Although the database  300  is disposed in the network  400  independently in  FIG. 1 , it is actually constructed in a server for a database connected to the network  400 .  
         [0078]     The database  300  may be constructed in a server for network administration or one of the user terminals  100 .  
         [0079]     Next, an explanation of an operation of the driver installation system  10  according to the embodiment is presented, referring to  FIG. 5 .  
         [0080]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart showing a process of the automatic installation of a printer driver in the driver installation system  10 .  
         [0081]     First, in  FIG. 5 , the user  110  commands the user terminal  100  to carry out a print job. The user terminal  100  obtains the printer information from the printers  200  connected to the network  400  (step A 1 ), saves the information in a registry or memory area (step A 2 ), and displays a list of the printers on the display (step A 3 ).  
         [0082]     After the user  110  selects one printer (step A 4 ), the user terminal  100  accesses the database  300  via the network  400  (step A 5 ).  
         [0083]     Information for the connection to the database  300  (IP) can be automatically obtained by the database  300  transmitting the database information  330  to the user terminal  100  as a response to the user terminal  100  transmitting a demand for the database information to the whole network  400 .  
         [0084]     After connection is permitted (step A 6 ), the user terminal  100  transmits the printer information and the terminal information to the database  300  (step A 7 ).  
         [0085]     Then the database  300  makes a search in the database based on the printer information and the terminal information (step A 8 ) and transmits a found printer driver to the user terminal  100  via the network  400  (step A 9 ).  
         [0086]     When the user terminal  100  receives the printer driver, the connection to the database  300  (step A 10 ) is closed.  
         [0087]     After installing the printer driver (step A 11 ), the user terminal  100  establishes a port and sets a connection configuration based on an IP address included in the printer information (step A 12 ), and writes the connection configuration in its registry (step A 13 ).  
         [0088]     Then the user terminal  100  sets a printing configuration of the printer driver based on the information content included in the printer information such as options and default configuration (step A 14 ) and writes the printing configuration in its registry (step A 15 ).  
         [0089]     Through these processes, the connection configuration and the printing configuration are written in the registry. The printer driver automatically sets configurations when starting up by reading the configurations in the registry.  
         [0090]     At the end, the user terminal  100  notifies the user  110  of the completion of the automatic installation of the printer driver by displaying a message on the display of the user terminal  100 , sounding an alarm, or the like (step A 16 ).  
         [0091]     Thus, the automatic installation of the printer driver and all the necessary configurations is completed.  
         [0000]     Second Embodiment  
         [0092]     An explanation of a driver installation system of the second embodiment of the present invention is presented hereinbelow, referring to  FIG. 6 .  
         [0093]     In  FIG. 6 , the driver installation system  20  has an almost identical constitution as the driver installation system  10  shown in  FIG. 1 . Therefore, the same reference numerals are provided for the same elements and explanations thereof are omitted.  
         [0094]     In the driver installation system  20 , the database  300  is constructed in one of the printers  200 . The driver installation system  20  differs from the driver installation system  10  in that the printer  200  is connected to the Internet  500  via a download server machine  340 .  
         [0095]     The database  300  provided in the printer  200  is constructed so as to include all the printer drivers for the printers  200  connected to the network  400 .  
         [0096]     The configuration of the database  300  is set in the same way as in the driver installation system  10 ; the database  300  downloads printer drivers from the printer driver provider by the download server machine  340  via the Internet  500  and saves the printer drivers in the download server machine  340 .  
         [0097]     Here as shown in  FIG. 7 , the database information  330  includes the printer model name  331 , driver version  332 , used OS  333 , and saving position  334 , and this information is stored for each printer model. In this case, the IP address of the printer  200 , “192. 168. X. X” is set as the saving position  334 .  
         [0098]     The database which has all the printer drivers for all of the printers  200  does not have to be provided in one printer  200 . For example, the database  300  may be divided into two portions and provided in two printers. In this case, in the database information  330 , each IP address of the printer which saves the printer driver is set as the saving position  334 .  
         [0099]     That is, in  FIG. 8 , the printer driver for a model A printer is saved in the printer itself, and the printer drivers for model B and C printers are saved in the model B printer.  
         [0100]     In a case in which the database  300  is constructed among a plurality of printers, the database information  330  is saved in any one printer among which a portion of the database  300  is constructed.  
         [0101]     Next, an explanation of an operation of the driver installation system  20  according to the embodiment is presented, referring to  FIG. 9 .  
         [0102]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart showing a process of the construction of the database  300  in the driver installation system  20 .  
         [0103]     In  FIG. 9 , an administrator  120  starts up an application for database construction at an administrator terminal  130  (step B 1 ). The administrator terminal  130  determines whether it has a database configuration file (step B 2 ), and encourages the administrator  120  to input a database type if there is no database configuration file (step B 3 ), and to input the access point for obtaining printer drivers (step B 4 ).  
         [0104]     The administrator terminal  130  constructs the database configuration file based the above information about the database type and the access point for obtaining printer drivers (step B 5 ).  
         [0105]     After the aforementioned process, or in the case in which the database configuration file already exists, the administrator terminal  130  obtains printer driver information from the download server machine  340  based on the database configuration file (step B 6 ).  
         [0106]     The administrator terminal  130  displays a list of printer drivers available, based on the printer driver information (step B 7 ).  
         [0107]     Then the administrator  120  selects one or more printer drivers to be saved in the database (step B 8 ), decides where the database is to be made (one of the printers  200 ) (step B 9 ), sets a database update configuration (step B 10 ), and orders a database to be constructed (step B 11 ).  
         [0108]     Thus the administrator terminal  130  constructs a database for printer drivers in the selected printer  200  based on information such as the IP address of the download server machine  340 , printer drivers to be saved, and update configuration information (step B 12 ).  
         [0109]     In constructing a database, the selected printer  200  requests transmission of the printer drivers to the download server machine  340  (step B 13 ) and obtains the printer drivers. Thereby a database for the printer drivers is constructed (step B 14 ).  
         [0110]     After constructing the database information based on the constructed database (step B 15 ), the printer  200  starts a receiving process of requests for printer driver downloads to the database (step B 16 ) and stands by for requests for printer driver downloads from each terminal  100 . Then the printer  200  commands the administrator terminal  130  to terminate operations (step B 17 ). The administrator terminal  130  notifies the administrator  120  of the completion of the processes.  
         [0111]     Thereby, construction of a database for printer drivers is completed.  
         [0112]     In the aforementioned embodiments, although the database  300  is provided in a server machine connected to the Internet  500  or in the printer  200 , this is in no way limiting. In a case in which a printer which is connectable to the Internet  500  is used, the printer  200  may be connected to the Internet  500  directly, without using the download server machine  340 .  
         [0113]     According to the present invention, in a case where a printer driver is not installed in a terminal which a user uses, or in a case where a printer driver installed in a terminal is not the latest version, the terminal automatically downloads and installs the printer driver. In addition, configurations regarding connection and printing of the printer driver are also automatically carried out. Therefore, printer drivers are easily and simply installed without requiring troublesome operations.  
         [0114]     While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated above, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the invention and are not to be considered as limiting. Additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as being limited by the foregoing description, and is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.