JP2002036638A - Output device and printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] High-resolution printing that can withstand actual printing from electronic mail information held by a portable electronic device or a URL specifying relatively low-resolution information referenced from the portable electronic device. To be able to acquire and print information. A printing apparatus has a printing unit, a central processing unit, and an operation unit, a network interface unit connectable to the Internet, and a one-to-one interface connectable to an electronic device such as a mobile phone. Part 5
Having. For example, a URL of map information retrieved from a server on the Internet using a personal computer or the like is transmitted to the portable electronic device by e-mail. The user connects the portable electronic device to the printing apparatus 10 of the present invention and reads the URL. The printing device 10 connects to the Internet using the read URL to acquire and print high-resolution map information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an output device and a printing device, and more particularly, to a device for connecting to a portable electronic device such as a portable telephone, and an Internet connection device. The present invention relates to an output device and a printing device for downloading and outputting information such as a map from the Internet based on the URL of the Internet, and to an output device and a printing device applicable to Internet services and network printing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, portable electronic devices represented by portable telephones are becoming increasingly popular. Portable electronic devices, unlike traditional PCs, are very easy to use by specializing in single purpose applications. Mobile electronic devices include mobile phones and PDAs (Personal Digital Assemblies).
and has a telephone function and holds schedule management information, address book information, telephone directory information, and the like. Furthermore, the recent movement of these portable electronic devices has been to respond to the Internet.

[0003] For example, it is possible to perform e-mail communication with people all over the world in real time and anywhere by using a home location telephone, and to directly search information on the Internet using a Web browser. Data can be extracted. In addition, by applying such functions, it is possible to search maps provided on the Internet, perform online shopping, arrange tickets, and even make bank transfers by using a mobile phone.

On the other hand, one of the weak points of these portable electronic devices is that no printing means is provided. This is because the software (printer driver) for using the printer does not work on portable electronic devices because it is specialized for a single purpose, and there is no connector to connect to the printer because emphasis is placed on portability. There is a wear factor.

[0005] In such a situation, since a portable electronic device is generally provided with only a small display panel, it is difficult to view information referred to by the portable electronic device in a large display state. There is a particularly strong demand in paper search for maps that require a large image. However, since portable electronic devices are very inexpensive, it is impossible for a user to purchase a dedicated printer that is several times to several tens of times more expensive than the portable electronic device itself.

[0006] Copy machines installed in convenience stores and general offices are now almost completely digitized and have been converted to MFPs (Multi Function Peripherals), and have a printing function in response to printing requests from PCs and other devices. Most are connected to a network and are often shared on an intranet / Internet. Therefore, there is a demand for a system that connects an MFP installed in such a convenience store or office to a portable electronic device and provides a printing unit for, for example, a map field. In this system, the electronic mail information held by the portable electronic device and the relatively low-resolution information referred to from the portable electronic device are designated by U.
There is a demand for a function capable of acquiring and printing high-resolution print information that can withstand actual printing from the RL.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and obtains information such as high-resolution information for printing from electronic mail information or reference URL information of a portable electronic device. It is an object of the present invention to provide an output device and a printing device having a function of performing output.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a portable electronic device connection means enabling connection with a portable electronic device, an Internet connection means enabling connection to the Internet, and temporary storage of information. And an output means for outputting information in a predetermined output form, the output device comprising: a portable electronic device holding an e-mail including an Internet URL; When connected using the device connection means, the device receives the e-mail from the portable electronic device, extracts a URL included in the received e-mail, connects to the Internet by the Internet connection means, and extracts the extracted URL. The information of the corresponding site is downloaded and temporarily stored in the storage means, and the temporarily stored information is output by the output means. It is obtained by, characterized in that force.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an output device having portable electronic device connection means to which a portable electronic device can be connected, and an Internet connection means to enable connection to the Internet, wherein the map is searched on the Internet. When the portable electronic device whose URL including the location information is registered in the bookmark is connected using the portable electronic device connection means, the selection of the URL of the bookmark is accepted, and the selected URL is stored in the portable electronic device. Read from the device,
Connecting to the Internet by the Internet connection means, downloading the information of the corresponding site using the read URL, temporarily storing the information in the storage means, and outputting the temporarily stored information by the output means; It was done.

A third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first aspect of the present invention, the portable electronic device connected by using the portable electronic device connection means has a function of connecting to the Internet and receiving an electronic mail. It was done.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the portable electronic device connected using the portable electronic device connection means has a function of connecting to the Internet and browsing the Web, and the map information. It is possible to search URLs including the URL on the Internet.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, there is provided an output instruction unit for inputting an information output instruction, and the output unit outputs the information by the output instruction unit. It is characterized by outputting information in response to an instruction.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, the output means is means for printing and outputting the downloaded information.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus having portable electronic device connection means to which a portable electronic device can be connected, and Internet connection means to enable connection to the Internet. URL containing the location information of the map retrieved on the Internet by a third party
When the portable electronic device holding the e-mail containing is connected using the portable electronic device connection means, receives the e-mail from the portable electronic device, extracts the URL included in the received e-mail, The apparatus is characterized in that information on a corresponding site is downloaded and printed using the extracted URL by connecting to the Internet by an Internet connection means.

The invention according to claim 8 is a printing apparatus having portable electronic device connection means to which portable electronic devices can be connected, and Internet connection means to enable connection to the Internet, using a personal computer or the like. A portable electronic device holding the document downloaded from a server in which a document in which information such as a comment is added to a URL retrieved by a third party on the Internet is stored using the portable electronic device connection means. When connected, the document is read from the portable electronic device, a URL included in the read document is extracted, and the Internet is connected to the Internet by the Internet connection means, and information on a corresponding site is extracted using the extracted URL. It is characterized by being downloaded and printed.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the seventh aspect, the portable electronic device connected by using the portable electronic device connecting means has a function of receiving an e-mail by connecting to the Internet. It was done.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the eighth aspect, the portable electronic device connected by using the portable electronic device connection means has a function of connecting to the Internet and browsing the Web. It is characterized in that a document to which information such as a comment is added can be downloaded from the Internet.

[0018]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining an example of a hardware configuration of a printing apparatus according to the present invention. Hereinafter, each component of the printing apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The printing unit 1 can execute printing upon receiving a print processing request from the central processing unit 2. Further, the current number of printed sheets can be notified to the central processing unit 2.

The central processing unit 2 can issue a print processing request to the printing unit 1. Further, it is possible to receive a request from the user through the operation unit 3 and notify the user of the state of the apparatus and warning information. Further, it can communicate with other devices connected to the network through the network interface unit 4. In addition, it is possible to communicate one-to-one with a device such as a mobile phone through the one-to-one interface unit 5. Further, it controls processes such as URL extraction, map information download, and print instruction according to the present invention.

The operation unit 3 is connected to the central processing unit 2 and has a function of displaying information and an input function using a “print” button or the like. The network interface unit 4 has a function for connecting to a network, can transmit information to and from another OA device, and has a unique network identifier. Also, it sends a request from the central processing unit 2 to the network, and transmits information from the network to the central processing unit 2.

The one-to-one interface unit 5 is an interface for one-to-one connection with a portable electronic device such as a mobile phone. The one-to-one interface unit 5 converts a request from the central processing unit 2 and transmits it to the mobile phone or the like. Can be transmitted to the central processing unit 2.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the operation of the printing apparatus shown in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a configuration between devices A, and FIG.
1 can be connected to a portable electronic device 20 such as a mobile phone by the one-to-one interface unit 5 shown in FIG. 1, and can be connected to the Internet 30 by the network interface unit 5. The printing apparatus 10 can access the map information content server 40 via the Internet 30 to search and download information.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a portable electronic device connected to the printing apparatus.
1 is a display unit, 52 is a mobile phone interface, 53 is a cable connection end cover, 54 is an interface cable, 60 is a portable information device, 61 is a portable information device main body, 62 is a display unit, 63 is a pen-type input device, 64 is a portable information device interface.

The one-to-one interface unit 5 of the printing apparatus 10
As shown in FIG. 3, for example, a portable information device 60 capable of inputting information with a pen-type input device 63 may be connected using a portable information device interface 64, and the mobile phone 50 may be connected to a mobile phone interface. 52 may be used for direct connection. That is, if the mobile phone 50
The mobile phone 50 may be directly connected to the printing apparatus 10 when information such as an e-mail including the information is held, or the mobile phone 50 and the portable information device 60 may be connected to each other.
The information including the URL may be transferred to the portable information device 60, and then the portable information device 60 may be connected to the printing apparatus 10 and used. In the embodiment described below, the printing apparatus 1
An example in which a mobile phone 50 is used as the mobile electronic device 20 connected to the mobile electronic device 20 will be described.
Similar processing is possible by connecting the portable information device 60 as shown in FIG.

(Embodiment 1) First, a third party connects to the Internet using a personal computer or the like and searches for map information from a server that provides a map service. The searched content is, for example, as shown in FIG. An e-mail is sent to the mobile phone 50. The point here is that the URL searched by the personal computer or the like is stored in the e-mail as it is.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a process until the URL data is downloaded by the portable telephone 50 which has received the e-mail created by the third party as described above. The mobile phone 50 that has received the e-mail created by the third party
Is connected to the printing apparatus 10 using the one-to-one interface unit 5 shown in FIG. 1 (step S1).

The central processing unit 2 of the printing apparatus 10 reads and extracts one line of the URL portion of the e-mail received by the mobile phone 50 using a predetermined algorithm (step S).
2) Compare with the previously stored pattern search data of the map URL to determine whether or not there is an equal one (step S3). FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of search data of a map URL pattern held by the printing apparatus 10.

In step S3, if there is no map URL equal to the stored map URL, the process proceeds to the determination of the end of the process (step S4). Is displayed (step S5). Then, when the user inputs that the user accepts the printing (step S6), the central processing unit 2 causes the central processing unit 2 to extract the corresponding U
The map information data according to the RL is downloaded from the map information content server 40 via the Internet 30 (step S7) and printed by the printing unit 1 (step S8).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a more detailed example of a process of reading a URL from an e-mail held by the portable electronic device in the present invention.
First, a user who wants information (for example, map information) connects the mobile phone 50 to the printing apparatus 10 of the present invention, and transmits an e-mail held by the mobile phone 50 to the printing apparatus 10 (step S11). To S12).

The printing device 10 that has received the e-mail
The model and data format of the mobile phone 50 are confirmed (step S13). That is, for example, a normal mobile phone and PH
Such processing is necessary when the data format differs depending on S or the communication method of the mobile phone.

The printing device 10 converts the UR to the e-mail data in accordance with the data format confirmed by the above confirmation process.
It is determined whether L data is included (step S14). When the URL data is directly included in the e-mail data, it is further determined whether or not the URL is located at a predetermined position based on the data format confirmed at step S13 (step S15). For example, the URL located at that position is read (step S16).

If it is determined in step S15 that the location where the URL is located is not determined, that is, if the URL is sent as data that cannot be determined, the data other than the basic data of the e-mail is read out. (Step S20), the data is compared with a fixed format of the URL stored in advance (Step S21), and data conforming to the fixed format is read out as a URL (Step S16).

If the URL is not included in the e-mail in step S14, if there is attached data, the attached data is opened to check for the presence or absence of the URL (steps S17 to S17).
18). If the URL is included, step S15
To determine the position of the URL according to the format of the attached data, and read the URL according to the result. If the URL is not included in step S18,
The user is notified of this (step S19).

(Embodiment 2) First, a third party connects to the Internet 30 using a personal computer or the like, searches for map information from a map information content server 40 that provides a map service, adds a comment, and adds a document to the server. Save as FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the above-mentioned document. In the map server, the document to which a comment is added is stored as general-purpose content and mobile electronic device content, and at this time, the URL of both contents is one-to-one. Is associated with.

The user refers to the document stored in the server using the cellular phone 50, and if the user likes the referenced document, the map information is stored in URL holding means called a “bookmark” or the like. Save the URL of the containing document.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining a process until the URL data is downloaded by the portable telephone 50 which has received the e-mail created by the third party as described above. The user can use the U
The mobile phone 50 storing the RL is connected to the printing device 10 (step S31). The central processing unit 2 of the printing device 10
URL of “bookmark” stored by mobile phone 50
Is read and extracted (step S32), and is compared with the pattern search data of the map URL held in advance (step S33). If there is no map URL equal to the held map URL and the bookmark is terminated. Proceed to the determination of the end of the process (step S34), and step S3
If there is something equal to the map URL in 3, a confirmation display is performed through the operation unit 3 to confirm the user's intention to print (steps S <b> 35 to S <b> 36).

If the user has accepted the printing in step S36, the URL is converted using a conversion table as shown in FIG. 10 stored in advance in the printing apparatus 10 (step S37), and the URL is converted through the network interface unit 4. The URL data is downloaded from the Internet and printed (steps S38 to S39). That is, the conversion table is for converting the low-resolution portable electronic device URL held by the mobile phone 50 into a URL corresponding to high-resolution data for the Web.

(Third Embodiment) As a service for connecting to the Internet from the mobile phone 50, for example, i-mode
(Registered trademark). In the content provided by the Internet 30, the content that can be viewed on the i-mode is different from the content that can be viewed on the Web. Actually, even if they are the same, access is possible. However, depending on the model, i-mode has a limited display capacity, cannot display color on a black and white screen, or has a small screen size. In reality, the site operator creates and distributes i-mode content and Web content separately.

In this embodiment, for example, when the user
e, browsing the homepage of the i-mode map information providing service, and if the user wants to print out this map, the mobile phone 5 displays the i-mode map page.
Registered in the bookmark 0, a cable is connected to the printing apparatus 10 of the present invention, and the corresponding URL is selected from the bookmarks downloaded by the printing apparatus 10. Then, the printing apparatus 10 goes out to the Internet 30 and fetches a map page from the map information content server 40. At this time, using a predetermined algorithm, instead of the bookmarked i-mode page, the Web page is used. Download the page for printing and print out.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the processing of the printing apparatus of this embodiment. First, the user uses, for example, an i-mode mobile phone 50 as the mobile electronic device,
When browsing a homepage for a portable electronic device (for example, a homepage of a map information providing service) and thinking that "I want to print out this map", a portable URL for designating a map page for the portable electronic device is registered in a bookmark. .

Next, the portable telephone 50 and the printing device 10 such as a printer and a copier are connected with a cable. Further, the printing apparatus 10 may be provided with an I / F to which the mobile phone 50 can be directly connected.

Next, the user selects a URL from the bookmarks held by the mobile phone 50. This selection can be made, for example, by the user touching the target URL displayed on the selection screen of the printing apparatus 10. Further, the selection screen may be configured to be displayed on the display of the mobile phone 50.

When the URL is selected, the printer 10
Goes to the Internet 30 and obtains a map page from the map information content server 40. At this time, in the map displayed on the screen of the printing device 10, either the image of the page for the mobile electronic device or the image of the Web page is predetermined or can be selected and designated. The printing device 10 downloads not the map page information for the portable electronic device registered in the bookmark but the map page information for the Web, and outputs a print or the like.

[0044]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the electronic mail information held by the portable electronic device and the URL specifying relatively low-resolution information referred to from the portable electronic device can be obtained. , Because it can acquire and print high-resolution print information that can withstand actual printing, it is very convenient for users, and also increases the demand for content, and also induces profits for content distributors An output device and a printing device capable of being provided can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a configuration between OA devices on which the printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 operates.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a portable electronic device connected to a printing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which searched contents are sent to a portable electronic device by e-mail.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process until the URL data is downloaded by the portable electronic device that has received the e-mail created by the third party.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of search data of a map URL pattern held by the printing apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a more detailed example of a process of reading a URL from an e-mail held by a portable electronic device according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a document in which map information is searched and a comment is added.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating another process until the URL data is downloaded by the portable electronic device that has received the e-mail created by the third party.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state where a URL is converted using a conversion table stored in a printing apparatus in advance.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for describing a processing example of the printing apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printing part, 2 ... Central processing part, 3 ... Operation part, 4 ... Network interface part, 5 ... One-to-one interface part, 10 ... Printing apparatus, 20 ... Portable electronic device, 30 ... Internet, 40 ... Map information content server , 50 ...
Mobile phone, 51 display unit, 52 mobile phone interface, 53 cable connection end cover, 54 interface cable, 60 portable information equipment, 61
Display unit, 62: portable information device main body, 63: pen-type input device, 64: portable information device interface.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Satoshi Fujitani 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Akira Hirata 1, Kanda Izumicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Letterpress printing shares In-house (72) Inventor Kenji Hamaya 3-29, Kanda Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo F-term (reference) 2C061 AP01 HH03 HJ06 HJ08 HN15 HQ17 2C087 BA14 BC07 BD02 5B021 AA01 BB01 CC06 EE01

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A portable electronic device connection unit enabling connection with a portable electronic device, an Internet connection unit enabling connection to the Internet, a storage unit for temporarily storing information, and a predetermined output. Output means for outputting information in a form, wherein the output device is connected to a portable electronic device holding an e-mail including an Internet URL by using the portable electronic device connection means. Receiving the electronic mail from the portable electronic device, extracting a URL included in the received electronic mail,
Connecting to the Internet by the Internet connection means, downloading the information of the corresponding site using the extracted URL, temporarily storing the information in the storage means, and outputting the temporarily stored information by the output means; Output device. 2. An output device having a portable electronic device connection means connectable to a portable electronic device and an Internet connection means enabling connection to the Internet, the output device including position information of a map searched on the Internet. When a portable electronic device whose URL is registered in a bookmark is connected using the portable electronic device connection means, the selection of the URL of the bookmark is accepted and the selected URL is received.
L from the portable electronic device, connects to the Internet by the Internet connection means, downloads the information of the corresponding site using the read URL, temporarily stores the information in the storage means, and stores the temporarily stored information in the storage means. An output device for outputting by an output means. 3. The output device according to claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device connected using the portable electronic device connection means has a function of receiving an e-mail by connecting to the Internet. apparatus. 4. The output device according to claim 2, wherein the portable electronic device connected by using the portable electronic device connection means has a function of connecting to the Internet and browsing the Web, and includes the map information. An output device capable of searching for a URL on the Internet. 5. The output device according to claim 1, further comprising output instruction means for inputting an information output instruction, wherein said output means receives an output instruction from said output instruction means. An output device for outputting information according to the information. 6. The output device according to claim 1, wherein the output unit is a unit that prints and outputs the downloaded information. 7. A printing apparatus having portable electronic device connection means to which a portable electronic device can be connected and Internet connection means to enable connection to the Internet, wherein a third party uses a personal computer or the like to access the Internet. When the portable electronic device holding the electronic mail including the URL including the location information of the map searched above is connected using the portable electronic device connection means, the portable electronic device receives and receives the electronic mail from the portable electronic device. A printing apparatus for extracting a URL included in the electronic mail, connecting to the Internet by the Internet connection means, downloading and printing information of a corresponding site using the extracted URL. 8. A printing apparatus having portable electronic device connection means to which a portable electronic device can be connected and Internet connection means to enable connection to the Internet, wherein a third party uses a personal computer or the like to connect to the Internet. When a portable electronic device holding the document downloaded from a server storing a document in which information such as a comment is added to the URL searched above is connected using the portable electronic device connection means, Reading the document from the portable electronic device, extracting a URL included in the read document, connecting to the Internet by the Internet connection means, and downloading and printing information of a corresponding site using the extracted URL. A printing device characterized by the above-mentioned. 9. The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the portable electronic device connected by using the portable electronic device connection means has a function of receiving an e-mail by connecting to the Internet. apparatus. 10. The printing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein
The portable electronic device connected by using the portable electronic device connection means has a function of browsing the Web by connecting to the Internet, and a document in which information such as a comment is added to the URL can be downloaded from the Internet. A printing device, characterized in that: