JP2002014790A - Printing system, printing method, printing device, terminal device, and server device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] When a user designates content information obtained by a terminal device and prints it by a printing device via a server device,
Provided is a printing system capable of exchanging an arbitrary print request between a plurality of terminal devices and a printing device. When a user issues a print instruction, a printing device selection unit detects a list of currently recognized printing devices, and the user selects one of the printing devices requesting printing from the list. When the print request is transmitted to the selected printing device 108, the printing device 108 stores the print request in the print request storage unit 114. In addition to the print request information, ID information for specifying the IA device that is the request source is also stored.
Then, it requests the server device 101 to acquire the print data. In response to this acquisition request, the printing apparatus 108 receives the PML data for printing created by the server apparatus 101 and outputs it.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a content or document for printing based on location information such as a URL of data (content information) of content or document on a portable terminal device such as a cellular phone or PDA. The present invention relates to a printing system, a printing method, a printing device, a terminal device, and a server device that provide a service for outputting data (printing data) such as data to a printing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At the same time, when printing data (content information) such as contents and documents on the Internet obtained by a portable terminal device (Information Appliance, simply referred to as an IA device), the applicant of the present invention uses a printing device from the IA device. In response to the print instruction, the printing device sends a request for obtaining the print data to the server device via the network, and in response to the request, the server device A printing system that acquires print data and prints the print data received from the server device has been proposed.

In such a printing system, communication between the IA apparatus and the printing apparatus has been performed by recognizing a mutual connection relationship in advance.

[0004]

However, in the above-described printing system, it is necessary to recognize the connection relationship in advance, so that when the user goes out, it is necessary to output data from the IA device to an arbitrary printing device. Could not.

[0005] In view of the above, according to the present invention, when a user designates content information obtained from a terminal device and prints the content on a printing device via a server device, the connection relationship between a plurality of terminal devices and the printing device is dynamically changed. An object of the present invention is to provide a printing system, a printing method, a printing device, a terminal device, and a server device that can exchange an arbitrary print request between a plurality of terminal devices and a printing device by recognizing the printing device.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing system in which at least one server device, a terminal device, and a printing device are connected to a network, and The terminal device to which the device is locally connected receives the first command in response to a print instruction from a user.
Transmitting a content information print request to the printing device by designating the position information of the content information, and in response to the print request, the printing device designates second position information based on the first position information. Sending a print data acquisition request to the server device, and in response to the print data acquisition request, the server device acquires print data based on the designated second position information and A printing system for transmitting to a printing device, wherein the printing device performs printing in accordance with the acquired printing data, wherein the terminal device includes a recognition unit that recognizes at least one printing device existing within a predetermined range. Selecting means for selecting the printing apparatus to which the print request is transmitted, and notifying means for notifying the selected printing apparatus of the first position information by local communication. Printing request storage means for sequentially storing first position information and information for specifying the terminal device that has notified the first position information, and sequentially printing based on the stored first position information It is characterized by.

[0007] The printing apparatus may further include printing data generating means for generating data unique to the printing apparatus based on the printing data transmitted from the server apparatus.

Further, the server device includes a print data generating unit for generating data unique to the printing device from print data acquired based on the designated second position information, Is transmitted to the printing apparatus.

Further, when the recognizing device recognizes one printing device within the predetermined range, the recognizing device performs control to automatically select the printing device and invalidate the selecting device. And

[0010] Further, the recognizing means controls so as not to output a print instruction of the user when the printing device cannot be recognized within the predetermined range.

[0011] Further, when the printing device cannot recognize the printing device within the predetermined range, the recognition device controls to notify an error when the user instructs printing.

Further, the first position information is different from the second position information.

Further, the first position information and the second position information are the same.

Further, the second position information may include the first position information.
In the content information specified by the position information.

[0015] Further, the printing data transmitted to the printing apparatus is content information designated by the first position information or the second position information.

Further, the printing data transmitted to the printing apparatus is different from the content information specified by the first position information or the second position information.

Further, the printing apparatus includes a printing data generating means for generating data unique to the printing apparatus, and the printing data transmitted to the printing apparatus is in an HTML format which can be interpreted by the printing data generating means. It is characterized by being data.

Further, the printing apparatus includes printing data generating means for generating data unique to the printing apparatus, and the printing data transmitted to the printing apparatus is in an XML format which can be interpreted by the printing data generating means. Data.

Further, the server device is provided with print data acquisition means for acquiring the print data from the content information to be printed.

Further, the terminal device, the printing device, or the server device includes a position information acquiring unit for acquiring position information of content information to be printed.

Further, the printing device notifies the terminal device that printing is completed by local communication.

Further, at least a part of the network is the Internet or an intranet.

The printing method according to claim 18 uses a printing system in which at least one server device, a terminal device, and a printing device are connected to a network, and the terminal device to which the printing device is locally connected is a user. Transmits a content information print request to the printing apparatus by designating first position information in response to a print instruction from the printing apparatus, and in response to the print request, the printing apparatus uses the first position information based on the first position information. A request for acquiring print data is transmitted to the server device by designating the second position information, and in response to the request for acquiring print data, the server device responds to the request for acquisition of the print data based on the designated second position information. A printing method for acquiring printing data and transmitting the printing data to the printing apparatus, and the printing apparatus performs printing in accordance with the acquired printing data. A step of recognizing one printing apparatus, a step of selecting the printing apparatus to which the print request is transmitted, and a step of notifying the selected printing apparatus of the first position information by local communication. The printing device sequentially stores the notified first position information and information for specifying the terminal device that has notified the first position information; and the stored first position information. And a step of sequentially performing printing on the basis of

[0024] A printing apparatus according to claim 19 is connected to a network together with at least one server apparatus and a terminal apparatus, and is a content transmitted by specifying first position information from the locally connected terminal apparatus. Receiving a print request for information and responding to the print request,
Transmitting a print data acquisition request to the server device by designating the second position information based on the position information, and responding to the print data acquisition request in response to the print data acquisition request. 2. A printing device that receives the printing data acquired based on the position information of 2, and performs printing in accordance with the received printing data, and is recognized by the terminal device as a printing device existing within a predetermined range, A receiving unit that is selected as the printing device that transmits the print request from the recognized printing devices, and that receives the first position information notified by the local communication from the terminal device; And print request storage means for sequentially storing information specifying the terminal device that has notified the first position information, and sequentially prints based on the stored first position information. And wherein the door.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, the locally connected printing device prints by designating the second position information based on the first position information in response to the print request of the content information. The server device transmits a data acquisition request to the server device, and in response to the print data acquisition request, the server device acquires the print data based on the designated second position information, and The printing device is a terminal device connected to a network together with the server device and the printing device in order to perform printing in accordance with the acquired printing data, and at least one device existing within a predetermined range. Recognizing means for recognizing the printing device, selecting means for selecting the printing device to send the print request,
And notifying means for notifying the selected printing device of the first position information by local communication.

A server device according to a twenty-first aspect is connected to a network together with a terminal device and a printing device, and the terminal device to which the printing device is locally connected is a first device.
And transmitting a content information print request to the printing device by designating the position information of the second position information based on the first position information from the printing device in response to the print request. A printing apparatus that receives the transmitted print data acquisition request, and in response to the print data acquisition request, acquires print data based on the designated second position information and performs printing. Wherein the terminal device recognizes at least one of the printing devices existing within a predetermined range and selects the printing device to which the print request is to be transmitted. Notifying the selected printing device of the first position information by local communication, the printing device transmits the notified first position information,
And information specifying the terminal device that has notified the first position information is sequentially stored, and printing is sequentially performed based on the stored first position information.

A printing method according to a twenty-second aspect is a step of detecting printing devices existing in the vicinity and selecting a printing device requesting printing specified by the user from among the printing devices, and selecting the selected printing device from the portable terminal device. Making a print request at the designated address to the designated printing device; and making a print request at the designated address from the portable terminal device to the server device from the selected printing device; and Transmitting print data corresponding to the specified address to the printing device, and performing printing based on the print data transmitted from the server device;
Sending a print end notification to the portable terminal device after printing of the print data transmitted from the server device is completed.

Further, the print data includes print data corresponding to a print address derived from a display address designated by the portable terminal device.

Further, the print data includes print data corresponding to a display address designated by the portable terminal device.

[0030] The method may further include a step of requesting a display of an address designated from the portable terminal to the server, and a step of transmitting display data corresponding to the address designated to the portable terminal from the server. Features.

A printing method according to a twenty-sixth aspect includes a step of detecting printing devices present in the vicinity, and selecting a printing device that requests printing specified by the user from the detected printing devices, and Making a print request for a designated address, and selecting the printing device selected in the previous period after terminating printing based on print data corresponding to the designated address from the portable terminal device received from the server device by the selected printing device. And receiving a print end notification.

Further, the print data includes print data corresponding to a print address derived from a display address specified by the portable terminal device.

Further, the print data includes print data corresponding to a display address specified by the portable terminal device.

[0034] Further, the method further comprises a step of requesting display of an address designated by the portable terminal device to the server device, and a step of transmitting display data corresponding to the address designated by the portable terminal device from the server device. Features.

[0035]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of a printing system, a printing method, a printing device, a terminal device and a server device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment. This printing system uses a portable terminal device (Information Ap
, the server device 101 and the printing device 108 are connected to the Internet 10.
3 are connected. Server device 101
Is connected to the Internet 103 and functions as a WEB server, and has a PML conversion unit 109. PML converter 1
09 receives a request for print data from the printing apparatus 108 and converts the print data into a PML (Print Markup).
(Language) data. still,
The PML conversion unit 109 skips the PML conversion when the print data is described in PML in advance.

The IA device 105 is a portable information terminal, a portable telephone, or the like, and is connected to the carrier or provider to which the device belongs via the network 104 via the network 104.
3 is connected. The IA device 105 includes a printing device communication unit 110, and performs wireless communication (for example, Blue
Tooth) can communicate with the printing apparatus 108 via a network 106.

The mutual recognition with one or more printing devices is also performed by the printing device communication unit 110. further,
The IA device 105 has a printing device selection unit 115, and an arbitrary printing device can be designated by the printing device selection unit 115 from the printing devices recognized by the printing device communication unit 110.

The printing device 108 is a server device communication unit 11
1, an IA communication unit 112, a PML printing unit 113, and a print request storage unit 114. The printing apparatus 108 can communicate with one or more IA apparatuses 105 via a network such as wireless communication (Blue Tooth) by the IA communication unit 112. Thus, the IA device 105 and the printing device 1
08 is a printer communication unit 110 and an IA communication unit 112
Connected locally by

The printing device 108 is connected to the Internet 103 via the network 107 by the server communication unit 111. The printing device 108 is the server device 1
01 received by requesting print data from
The ML data is printed by the PML printing unit 113.

Printing device communication unit 110 and IA communication unit 1
12 perform mutual recognition by approaching each other within a certain distance. When the IA device 105 is in a state of mutual recognition with the printing device 108, the IA device 105 can request the printing device 108 to print data. The printing device 108
When a print request is received from the A device 105, the print request is temporarily stored in the print request storage unit 114, and the server device 101
In response to the request for print data, the PML data received from the server
To print.

Here, PML is an XML-based printing data description language that can be transmitted and received on an arbitrary line basis according to the processing capacity of the printing apparatus. Such information is described as data to which print instruction information such as "."

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a printing operation procedure of the printing system. First, the user operates the IA device 105 to specify data such as content to be displayed on the IA device 105 (S201).

The IA 105 stores the UR of the designated data.
The location information such as L (hereinafter simply referred to as URL) is transmitted to the server apparatus 101 via the Internet 103 (S2).
02). Then, according to the http protocol, the HTM
The display data described in L or the like is acquired (S203),
The acquired display data is displayed (S204).

Thereafter, the user issues a print instruction from the IA device 105 (S205). The printing device selection unit 115
The printing device existing near the current position recognized by the IA device 105 is detected, a list is displayed, and one printing device that requests printing specified by the user is selected (S206). Here, the recognized printing device is 1
In the case of a table, the selection can be omitted. In addition, when no device is recognized, it is possible to control so that the user cannot instruct printing.
In this case, when the user issues a print instruction, control may be performed so as to notify the user of an error.

Thus, the IA device 105 issues a print request to the printing device 108 by designating the URL of the data displayed by the printing device communication section 110 (S20).
7).

The printing device 108 that has received the print request stores the print request in the print request storage unit 114 (S20).
8). When storing a print request, it is possible to simultaneously store, in addition to the print request information, ID information for identifying the IA device that is the request source, and accept requests from a plurality of IA devices as needed. The print request storage unit 114 sequentially retrieves the stored print requests and executes the following print processing.

Upon receiving the print request, the printing device 108
Connects to the server device 101 according to the tp protocol,
The URL of the display data received from the A device 105 is notified to the server device 101 (S209).

Upon receiving the notification, the server apparatus 101 acquires display data based on the URL of the display data, extracts the URL of the print data from the display data, and extracts the print data from the URL of the print data. To get. Further, if the acquired print data is not in the PML format suitable for printing and communication, the PML conversion unit 109 converts the print data into a PML format.
The data is converted into ML data (S210), and the requesting printing device 1
The PML data is transmitted to 08 (S211). If the acquired print data is in a PML format suitable for printing and communication, it is transmitted as it is.

Printer 108 that has received PML data
Interprets the PML data by the PML printing unit 113,
The data is converted into printable data and printed (S212).
When the printing is completed, the printing device 108 notifies the IA device 105 of the completion of the printing (S213).

As described above, in the printing system of the present embodiment, when printing from the IA device 105, the printing
, It is possible to automatically recognize and print the printing device 108. At the same time, a plurality of terminal devices and printing devices can dynamically exchange print requests.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the configurations of the embodiments, and the functions described in the claims or the functions of the embodiments are described. Any configuration that can achieve the function of the configuration is applicable.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, when a plurality of printing devices are recognized within a predetermined range, the user has selected a specific printing from the plurality of printing devices. Alternatively, for example, a printing apparatus connected to a line with the most stable communication quality may be selected to perform printing.

Further, in the above embodiment, the IA device 10
5 performs mutual recognition with the printing apparatus 108 existing within a predetermined range, for example, within 20 m, by wireless communication (Blue Tooth), but communicates between the IA apparatus and the printing apparatus by infrared light communication other than wireless communication, cable, or the like. , It is possible to perform mutual recognition within a range corresponding to each connection method.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the printing system in which the respective devices are connected via the Internet has been described.
Instead of the Internet, an intranet or other network is also possible.

In the above-described embodiment, the PML conversion unit is provided in the server device. However, a PML conversion unit may be provided in the printing device. In this case, data such as contents and documents are sent from the server device to the printing device. Is transmitted as it is, and the printing apparatus converts data such as contents and documents into PML data and prints it.

Further, the server device may have a print data generation unit for generating the PML data converted by the PML conversion unit into data unique to the printing device. By transmitting to the apparatus, the processing on the printing apparatus side can be reduced.

Although only the terminal device has acquired the position information of the content information to be printed, the present invention is not limited to the terminal device, and any of the server device and the printing device may acquire the position information.

The network to which the server device, the IA device, and the printing device are connected includes, in addition to the Internet,
Multiple intranets such as ANs may intervene.

[0059]

According to the present invention, when printing from a terminal device, the printing device is automatically registered by recognizing the printing device by approaching an arbitrary printing device without registering the printing device in advance. It is possible to At the same time, a plurality of terminal devices and printing devices can dynamically exchange print requests.

Therefore, even when the user is out of the office, when the user specifies the content information obtained by the terminal device and prints the content with the printing device via the server device, the connection relationship between the plurality of terminal devices and the printing device is dynamically determined. By making them recognize each other,
Arbitrary printing requests can be exchanged between a plurality of terminal devices and printing devices.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a printing operation procedure of the printing system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 101 server device 103 Internet 105 mobile terminal device (IA device) 108 printing device 109 PML conversion unit 110 printing device communication unit 111 server device communication unit 113 PML printing unit 114 print request storage unit 115 printing device selection unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Eiichi Takagi, 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Shinji Fukunaga 3-30-2, Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Non-corporation F term (reference) 2C061 HJ06 HJ08 HN15 HQ14 HQ17 5B021 AA01 BB01 BB05 EE05 5K033 BA15 CB01 DA19

Claims (29)

[Claims] At least one server device, a terminal device, and a printing device are connected to a network, and the terminal device to which the printing device is locally connected transmits first position information in response to a printing instruction from a user. And transmitting a print request for the content information to the printing device, and in response to the print request, the printing device specifies second position information based on the first position information and transmits the print data. An acquisition request is transmitted to the server device, and in response to the acquisition request for the print data, the server device acquires the print data based on the designated second position information and transmits the acquired print data to the printing device. The printing device is a printing system that performs printing in accordance with the acquired print data, wherein the terminal device recognizes at least one printing device that exists within a predetermined range, A selecting unit for selecting the printing device to which the print request is transmitted; and a notifying unit for notifying the selected printing device of the first position information by local communication. A print request storage unit for sequentially storing first position information and information for specifying the terminal device that has notified the first position information; and performing sequential printing based on the stored first position information. A printing system characterized by the following. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus includes printing data generating means for generating data unique to the printing apparatus based on the printing data transmitted from the server apparatus. Printing system. 3. The server device according to claim 2, wherein
2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a printing data generating unit configured to generate data unique to the printing apparatus from the printing data acquired based on the positional information of the printing apparatus, and transmitting the generated data to the printing apparatus. Printing system. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the recognizing unit automatically selects the printing device and controls the selection unit to be invalid when one printing device is recognized within the predetermined range. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein: 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recognizing unit controls so as not to output a print instruction of the user when the printing apparatus cannot be recognized within the predetermined range. Printing system. 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the recognition unit controls to notify an error when the user instructs printing when the printing device cannot be recognized within the predetermined range. Printing system. 7. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the first position information is different from the second position information. 8. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the first position information and the second position information are the same. 9. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the second position information is indicated in content information specified by the first position information. . 10. The print data transmitted to the printing apparatus is content information designated by the first position information or the second position information. The printing system as described. 11. The printing data transmitted to the printing apparatus is different from the content information specified by the first position information or the second position information. A printing system according to claim 1. 12. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a printing data generating unit configured to generate data unique to the printing device, wherein the printing data transmitted to the printing device is in an HTML format interpretable by the printing data generating unit. 2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the data is the following data. 13. A printing apparatus, comprising: printing data generating means for generating data unique to the printing apparatus, wherein printing data transmitted to the printing apparatus is in an XML format interpretable by the printing data generating means. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing system is data. 14. The server device according to claim 1, wherein the server device includes a print data acquisition unit that acquires the print data from the content information to be printed.
The printing system according to any one of the above. 15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device, the printing device, or the server device includes a position information acquiring unit that acquires position information of content information to be printed. A printing system according to claim 1. 16. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing device notifies the terminal device that printing is completed by local communication. 17. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the network is the Internet or an intranet. 18. A printing system in which at least one server device, a terminal device, and a printing device are connected to a network, wherein the terminal device to which the printing device is locally connected responds to a print instruction from a user. And transmitting a content information print request to the printing apparatus by designating the first location information, and in response to the print request, the printing apparatus designates second location information based on the first location information. Transmitting a print data acquisition request to the server device, and in response to the print data acquisition request, the server device acquires print data based on the designated second position information. A printing method for transmitting to the printing device, the printing device performing printing in accordance with the acquired printing data, wherein the terminal device includes at least one of a plurality of printing devices that are within a predetermined range.
Recognizing one printing device; selecting the printing device to which the print request is transmitted; and notifying the selected printing device of the first position information by local communication. The printing device sequentially stores the notified first position information and information specifying the terminal device that has notified the first position information, and based on the stored first position information. And printing sequentially. 19. A content information print request, which is connected to a network together with at least one server device and at least one terminal device and which is transmitted by designating first position information from the locally connected terminal device, In response to the print request, a second data is designated based on the first location information, and a print data acquisition request is transmitted to the server device. hand,
A printing device that receives print data acquired based on the designated second position information from the server device, and performs printing in accordance with the received print data. Receiving the first position information notified by local communication from the terminal device, selected as a printing device that transmits the print request from the recognized printing devices, and Means, and print request storage means for sequentially storing the notified first position information and information for specifying the terminal device that has notified the first position information, and the stored first position information. A printing apparatus for sequentially performing printing based on a printer. 20. A printing apparatus connected locally, in response to a print request for content information, designates second position information based on the first position information and issues a request for obtaining print data to the server device. In response to the print data acquisition request, the server device acquires print data based on the designated second position information and transmits the acquired print data to the printing device. A recognition device for recognizing at least one printing device existing within a predetermined range, the terminal device being connected to a network together with the server device and the printing device for performing printing in accordance with the acquired printing data. Selecting means for selecting the printing device to which the print request is transmitted; and notifying means for notifying the selected printing device of the first position information by local communication. Characteristic terminal device. 21. A terminal device connected to a network together with a terminal device and a printing device, wherein the terminal device to which the printing device is locally connected transmits a content information print request to the printing device by designating first position information. Receiving, in response to the print request, an acquisition request for print data transmitted from the printing apparatus by designating second position information based on the first position information, and acquiring the print data. A server device for acquiring print data based on the designated second position information in response to a request, and transmitting the acquired print data to the printing device that performs printing, the server device comprising: Recognizes at least one of the printing devices existing within a predetermined range, selects the printing device to which the print request is transmitted, and sends the first position information to the selected printing device by local communication. The printing device sequentially stores the notified first position information and information specifying the terminal device that has notified the first position information, and based on the stored first position information. , A server device for sequentially performing printing. 22. A step of detecting a printing device existing in the vicinity and selecting a printing device requesting printing specified by the user from among the printing devices, and an address specified by the mobile terminal device to the selected printing device. Making a print request from the selected printing device, making a print request of an address specified from the portable terminal device to the server device, and an address specified from the server device to the selected printing device. Transmitting print data corresponding to the above, performing printing based on the print data transmitted from the server device, and performing a print completion notification to the mobile terminal device after the printing of the print data transmitted from the server device is completed. A printing method comprising: 23. The printing method according to claim 22, wherein the print data includes print data corresponding to a print address derived from a display address specified by the portable terminal device. 24. The printing method according to claim 22, wherein the print data includes print data corresponding to a display address specified by a portable terminal device. 25. A mobile terminal device comprising: a step of requesting a display of an address designated to a server device from a portable terminal device; and a step of transmitting display data corresponding to the address designated to the portable terminal device from the server device. The printing method according to claim 22, characterized in that: 26. A step of detecting printing devices existing in the vicinity and selecting a printing device requesting printing specified by the user from the printing devices, and printing a printing request of an address specified by the selected printing device. Performing, after the selected printing device finishes printing based on the print data corresponding to the address specified by the mobile terminal device received from the server device, and then receiving a print completion notification from the selected printing device in the previous period. And a printing method. 27. The printing method according to claim 26, wherein the print data includes print data corresponding to a print address derived from a display address specified by the mobile terminal device. 28. The printing method according to claim 26, wherein the print data includes print data corresponding to a display address specified by a mobile terminal device. 29. A mobile terminal device requesting a display of an address designated to a server device from a portable terminal device, and transmitting a display data corresponding to the address designated to the portable terminal device from the server device. 27. The printing method according to claim 26, wherein: