Printer configuration data setting method and server using the printer configuration data

Abstract

A method for setting configuration data of a printer for a printer driver in a server is provided, in which the server is used in an image printing system that includes a client, the printer and the server including the printer driver for the printer. In the method, the server stores the configuration data obtained from the printer, and a configuration data obtaining part in the server reads the stored configuration data according to a request from the printer driver, and sends the configuration data to the printer driver.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for setting configuration data of a printer for a printer driver in a server of an image printing system that includes a client, the printer and the server including the printer driver for the printer, the method comprising the step of: 
 storing the configuration data obtained from the printer into the server;    wherein a configuration data obtaining part in the server reads the stored configuration data according to a request from the printer driver, and sends the configuration data to the printer driver.    
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an application program interface between the configuration data obtaining part and the printer driver in the server is the same as an application program interface between a network communication module and a client printer driver same as the printer driver in the server, in which the network communication module is used for obtaining configuration data of the printer for the client printer driver in a client terminal.  
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , the configuration data obtaining part comprising: 
 the application program interface;    a part for determining which piece of configuration data to obtain among the stored configuration data on the basis of information from the application program interface; and    a part for accessing the configuration data and reads the determined piece of configuration data.    
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the configuration data to be stored in the server is obtained from the printer by using a network communication module that performs bidirectional communication with the printer.  
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the configuration data is obtained by a computer that includes a software tool that causes the computer to display a window for selecting at least one printer driver included in the computer and to obtain configuration data from a printer corresponding to the selected printer driver.  
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the client, instead of the server, stores the configuration data, and the configuration data obtaining part in the server obtains the configuration data from the client.  
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the server is used for realizing server-based computing in which application processing is handled by the server and not by the client.  
     
     
         8 . A server to be used in an image printing system that includes a client, a printer and the server including a printer driver for the printer, the server comprising: 
 a part for storing configuration data obtained from the printer; and    an configuration data obtaining part, wherein the configuration data obtaining part reads the stored configuration data according to a request from the printer driver, and sends the configuration data to the printer driver.    
     
     
         9 . The server as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein an application program interface between the configuration data obtaining part and the printer driver in the server is the same as an application program interface between a network communication module and a client printer driver same as the printer driver in the server, in which the network communication module is used for obtaining configuration data of the printer for the client printer driver in a client terminal.  
     
     
         10 . The server as claimed in  claim 9 , the configuration data obtaining part comprising: 
 the application program interface;    a part for determining which piece of configuration data to obtain among the stored configuration data on the basis of information from the application program interface; and    a part for accessing the configuration data and reads the determined piece of configuration data.    
     
     
         11 . The server as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the configuration data to be stored in the server is obtained from the printer by using a network communication module that performs bidirectional communication with the printer.  
     
     
         12 . The server as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the configuration data is obtained by a computer that includes a software tool that causes the computer to display a window for selecting at least one printer driver included in the computer and to obtain configuration date from a printer corresponding to the selected printer driver.  
     
     
         13 . A program to run on a server to be used in an image printing system that includes a client, a printer and the server including a printer driver for the printer, the program comprising: 
 configuration data obtaining program code means for reading configuration data of the printer according to a request from the printer driver, and sends the configuration data to the printer driver, wherein the configuration data is obtained from the printer and is stored in the server.    
     
     
         14 . The program as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein an application program interface between the configuration data obtaining program code means and the printer driver in the server is the same as an application program interface between a network communication module and a client printer driver same as the printer driver in the server, in which the network communication module is used for obtaining configuration data of the printer for the client printer driver in a client terminal.  
     
     
         15 . The program as claimed in  claim 14 , the configuration data obtaining program code means comprising: 
 program code means for realizing the application program interface;    program code means for determining which piece of configuration data to obtain among the stored configuration data on the basis of information from the application program interface; and    program code means for accessing the configuration data and reads the determined piece of configuration data.    
     
     
         16 . A computer readable medium storing a program to run on a server to be used in an image printing system that includes a client, a printer and the server including a printer driver for the printer, the program comprising: 
 configuration data obtaining program code means for reading configuration data of the printer according to a request from the printer driver, and sends the configuration data to the printer driver, wherein the configuration data is obtained from the printer and is stored in the server.    
     
     
         17 . The computer readable medium as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein an application program interface between the configuration data obtaining program code means and the printer driver in the server is the same as an application program interface between a network communication module and a client printer driver same as the printer driver in the server, in which the network communication module is used for obtaining configuration data of the printer for the client printer driver in a client terminal.  
     
     
         18 . The computer readable medium as claimed in  claim 17 , the configuration data obtaining program code means comprising: 
 program code means for realizing the application program interface;    program code means for determining which piece of configuration data to obtain among the stored configuration data on the basis of information from the application program interface; and    program code means for accessing the configuration data and reads the determined piece of configuration data.