Print system and method of controlling its user interface
AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorMasayuki Sakura
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This disclosure relates to a technique for eliminating adverse influences when a mismatch between the firmware version of a printer and the driver version has occurred. A printer driver acquires the ID and version information of firmware from a printer. If acquisition is successful, the printer driver searches a firmware management table on the basis of the acquired firmware related information so as to check if the firmware is compatible to a new function. If the firmware is compatible to the new function, the printer driver provides a user interface that allows a setup associated with the new function; otherwise, it masks a setting control of the new function.
Claims29
A print system which includes a printer connected to a communication medium, and an information processing apparatus connected to said printer via the communication medium,
- said printer comprising:
- a first storage component for storing updateable firmware;
- a second storage component for storing identification information of the firmware;
- and
- an output component for outputting the identification information, and
- said information processing apparatus comprising:
- an input component for inputting the identification information;
- and
- a display control component for controlling to display a user interface which corresponds to the input identification information, and is used to set a plurality of functions included in said printer.
An information processing apparatus connected to a device to be controlled via a communication medium, comprising:
- an input component for inputting identification information used to identify software which is to run on the device to be controlled;
- and
- a control component for controlling a user interface, which is used to set a plurality of functions included in the device to be controlled, on the basis of the input identification information.
A method of controlling a user interface used to set functions of a device to be controlled, comprising:
- the step of inputting identification information used to identify updateable software which is to run on the device to be controlled;
- the step of judging based on the input identification information whether or not the device to be controlled includes a predetermined function;
- and
- the step of displaying a user interface used to set a plurality of functions included in the device to be controlled, on the basis of a judgment result.
A method of providing a user interface used to set functions of a device to be controlled, comprising:
- the step of identifying updateable firmware which is to run on the device to be controlled;
- and
- the step of displaying a user interface corresponding to the firmware.
A storage medium that stores a program for controlling a device to be controlled via a communication medium, said program comprising:
- an input module for inputting identification information used to identify software which is to run on the device to be controlled;
- and
- a control module for controlling a user interface used to set a plurality of functions included in the device to be controlled, on the basis of the input identification information.
A storage medium that stores a program for controlling a user interface used to set functions of a device to be controlled, said program comprising:
- an input module for inputting identification information used to identify updateable software which is to run on the device to be controlled;
- a judgment module for judging based on the input identification information whether or not the device to be controlled includes a predetermined function;
- and
- a display control module for controlling to display a user interface used to set a plurality of functions included in the device to be controlled, on the basis of a judgment result.
A printer driver comprising:
- a judgment component for judging whether or not firmware information of a printer can be acquired;
- a component for, when said judgment component judges that the firmware information cannot be acquired, displaying a setting window used to set firmware information of a printer;
- and
- a component for setting a specific function associated with the firmware to be unable to be designated in accordance with the firmware information of the printer.
A function setting method comprising:
- the judgment step of judging whether or not firmware information of a printer can be acquired;
- the step of displaying, when it is judged in the judgment step that the firmware information cannot be acquired, a setting window used to set firmware information of a printer;
- and
- the step of setting a specific function associated with the firmware to be unable to be designated in accordance with the firmware information of the printer.
A print system comprising:
- a judgment component for judging whether or not firmware information of a printer can be acquired;
- a component for, when said judgment component judges that the firmware information cannot be acquired, displaying a setting window used to set firmware information of a printer;
- a component for setting a specific function associated with the firmware to be unable to be designated in accordance with the firmware information of the printer;
- and
- a component for printing the firmware information.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.