JP2003283758A - Terminal device, network server, and communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a terminal device capable of obtaining appropriate content information according to the output capability of the device itself. A terminal device (A) for requesting a server (C) on a network (1) to transmit content information and printing the content information sent in response to the request.
Notifies the server C of the printing capability of the terminal device A itself. After notifying the server C of the print capability and requesting transmission of the content information, the CPU 10 acquires content information matching the print capability from the server C,
Print it.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a terminal device capable of acquiring content information from a server on the Internet and directly printing the content information, a network server compatible with access from such terminal device, and communication. Regarding the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, as an Internet infrastructure, ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Lin) is used.
e), CATV (Cable Television) network, F
With the expansion of TTH (Fiber to the Home) etc., the broadband connection environment is being prepared. Therefore, even for the method in which an individual user connects to the Internet, the on-demand connection method such as dial-up connection is being switched to the constant connection method.

On the other hand, as a usage form of the Internet, it is general to exchange content information such as web pages and electronic mails between computers, but recently, a multifunction peripheral (a printer, a scanner) equipped with an internet connection function is recently used. , A copy, a telephone, a facsimile function, etc. are provided in one set), and various Internet services can be used in a terminal device other than a computer under a constant connection environment. For example, when a user wants to view content information provided as a pay Internet service, if this type of multi-function peripheral is used, the content can be connected to the Internet without using a computer as a data communication terminal device and the content placed on an Internet server can be used. Information can be obtained and printed directly.

[0004]

However, in the pay Internet services as described above, the usage fee is fixed, and the number of colors and resolution of content information are almost the same. When the printing capacity of the above is inferior to the number of colors and resolution of the content information, there was a feeling that it was not worth it because the content information of the image quality commensurate with the usage fee could not be obtained. This is not limited to pay Internet services, and can also be applied to the case where content information is freely acquired from an Internet server and printed.

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above points, and a terminal device capable of obtaining appropriate content information according to the output capability of the device itself, and access from such a terminal device It is intended to provide a network server and a communication method corresponding to.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the terminal device of the invention described in claim 1 requests the server on the network to transmit the content information, and the content transmitted in response to the request. A terminal device for outputting information, comprising: output capability notifying means for notifying the server of the output capability of content information; and transmitting the content information after notifying the server of the output capability by the output capability notifying means. After the request is made, the content information acquisition means for acquiring the content information suitable for the output capability from the server is provided.

According to such a terminal device, by notifying the server of the output capability such as printing or display, the content information corresponding to the output capability can be acquired from the server, so that the output capability of the device itself can be obtained. Therefore, appropriate content information can be obtained.

The terminal device of the invention described in claim 2 is the terminal device according to claim 1, wherein after the output capability is notified to the server by the output capability notifying means, the range of the output capability is A selection list of content information that can be output is provided from the server, and the content information acquisition unit requests the server to transmit the content information selected based on the selection list.

According to such a terminal device, in addition to the effect of the terminal device according to the first aspect, it is possible to select and acquire content information matching the output capability from the selection list.

Further, the terminal device of the invention described in claim 3 is the terminal device according to claim 2, wherein the output capability notifying means outputs the content information when notifying the server of the output capability. The user is also notified of the desired amount of the usage fee required for the above, and the server provides the selection list corresponding to the contents information within the output capacity and below the desired amount.

According to such a terminal device, in addition to the effect of the terminal device according to the second aspect, the content information that matches the output capability and is less than the usage fee desired by the user is selected from the selection list. Can be obtained at.

A terminal device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the terminal device according to any of the first to third aspects, and has a function of printing out the content information as print information.

According to such a terminal device, in addition to the effect of the terminal device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, for example, the fee and the image quality at which the user feels that news information distributed as a pay Internet service is optimal. It is possible to print within the range.

Further, the network server of the invention described in claim 5 is a network server which receives a content information transmission request from a terminal device on a network and transmits the content information to the terminal device in response to the request. It is characterized by further comprising content information transmitting means for receiving a notification of the output capability from the terminal device before requesting the transmission of the content information and transmitting the content information corresponding to the output capability to the terminal device.

According to such a network server,
Based on the output capability notified from the terminal device, it is possible to transmit content information that matches the output capability, so that it is possible to transmit content information that is appropriate for the output capability of each terminal device.

Further, the network server of the invention described in claim 6 is the network server according to claim 5, wherein the content information transmission means outputs within the range of the output capability notified from the terminal device. The selection list of possible content information is provided to the terminal device, and the content information selected based on the selection list is generated by conversion processing and then transmitted to the terminal device.

According to such a network server,
In addition to the effect of the network server according to claim 5, it is not necessary to prepare different types of content information for each output capability, and it is sufficient to prepare one content information to meet the output capability. Can be converted and sent.

Further, the network server according to the invention described in claim 7 is the network server according to claim 6, wherein the desired amount of usage fee required for outputting the content information from the terminal device is output. Also, in response thereto, the content information transmitting means provides the terminal device with the selection list including content information within the range of output capability and below the desired amount as selection items.

According to such a network server,
In addition to the effect of the network server according to claim 6, when distributing content information as a pay Internet service, for example, the content information is commensurate with the output capability of the terminal device that is the distribution destination, and is less than or equal to the usage charge desired by the user. Content information can be selected appropriately.

The communication method of the invention described in claim 8 is a communication method for requesting a server on a network to transmit content information and outputting the content information transmitted in response to the request. An output capability notifying step of notifying the server of the output capability of the content information, and a content matching the output capability after requesting the server to notify the server of the output capability and requesting the transmission of the content information. The content information acquisition step of acquiring information from the server is sequentially executed.

According to such a communication method, the same effect as that of the terminal device according to the first aspect can be obtained by being executed by the terminal device.

Further, the communication method of the invention described in claim 9 is a communication method for receiving a content information transmission request from a terminal device on a network and transmitting the content information to the terminal device in response to the request. It is characterized in that a notification of the output capability is received from the terminal device before a request for transmitting the content information, and the content information matching the output capability is transmitted to the terminal device.

According to such a communication method, the same effect as that by the network server according to the fifth aspect can be obtained by being executed by the network server.

[0024]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a terminal device and a network server according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the terminal device.

The terminal device A according to the present invention has a printer, a scanner, a copier, a telephone, a facsimile function, and an internet connection function, and is connected via a splitter 30 and an ADSL modem 31 installed in the house. It is always connected to the Internet 1 by the broadband connection method. The network server is WW
Internet 1 as W (World Wide Web) server C
It exists above and exchanges content information such as web pages and electronic mails with the terminal device A and a computer (not shown). By the way, the WWW server C has a wide variety of TV program guides, online manuals, etc. as free web pages that can be viewed freely, and a usage fee is charged for each use such as electronic payment. News information as a distribution service is also available.

For example, from the terminal device A to the WWW server C
When requesting transmission of content information to the terminal device A, a request (transmission request information) described by a URL (Uniform Resource Locators) is sent from the terminal device A to the ADSL modem 31, the splitter 30, the subscriber line indicated by a broken line, and telephone exchange. It is sent to the WWW server C via the station B and the Internet 1. Although the internal configuration of the telephone exchange B is not shown in particular, the request from the terminal device A receives an MDF (Main D
istributing Frame: Main distribution board), splitter in station building, W on Internet 1 via router in station building
It is delivered to the WW server C. In response to this, the target content information is delivered to the terminal device A from the WWW server C following the same route in reverse.

On the other hand, when the facsimile data is transmitted from the terminal device A to the facsimile device of the other party, the facsimile data passes through the splitter 30 and the telephone exchange B and is transmitted to the other party through a public telephone line network (not shown). It is sent to the facsimile machine. In this case, inside the telephone exchange B, the facsimile data is delivered to the destination facsimile machine connected to the public telephone line network via the MDF, the splitter in the station building, and the exchange. Even when facsimile data is sent from the other party to the terminal device A, the facsimile data is delivered to the terminal device A by following the same route in reverse.

To describe the specific configuration, the terminal device A includes a CPU 10 and an NCU (Network Co
control unit) 11, RAM 12, modem 13, ROM 1
4, EEPROM 15, gate array 16, codec 17, and DMA (Direct Memory Access) controller 18, as well as a reading unit 20, a printing unit 21, an operating unit 22, a display unit 23, and a notification unit 2 connected to the gate array 16.
4, NIC (Network Interface Card) 25, and P
It is composed of a C connecting portion 26.

The CPU 10 controls the operation of the entire terminal device A. By the way, the CPU 10 has a built-in real-time clock circuit for measuring the current time. NCU
Reference numeral 11 is connected to a subscriber line via a splitter 30 to perform network control. The RAM 12 provides a work area for the CPU 10 and a storage area for various data. The modem 13
Modulates and demodulates facsimile data. ROM1
Reference numeral 4 stores a program or the like to be executed by the CPU 10. The EEPROM 15 stores various flags and setting information. The gate array 16 is the CPU 1
Various signals are exchanged between 0 and the respective units 20 to 26. The codec 17 encodes and decodes facsimile data. The DMA controller 18, as a bus arbiter, directly controls reading / writing of data from / to the RAM 12.

The reading section 20 is equipped with an image sensor, an LED light source and the like, and reads an image image from a document or the like.
The printing unit 21 performs color printing by, for example, an inkjet method. The printing unit 21 includes a printing material remaining amount detection sensor 2 for detecting the remaining amount of ink as a printing material.
1A, a remaining sheet number detection sensor 21B for detecting the remaining number of sheets set in the sheet feeding section 21D shown in FIG. 2, and a sheet jam detection sensor for detecting a sheet jam on a sheet conveyance path inside the apparatus. 21C is provided. Sensor signals from the sensors 21A, 21B, 21C are transmitted to the CPU 10 through the gate array 16. As shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit 22 has a ten-key 22A for inputting numbers and characters, a display operation key 22B for performing an operation according to the display content of the display unit 23, and other operations. It is composed of a function key 22C. Operation signals from the keys 22A, 22B, 22C are transmitted to the CPU 10 through the gate array 16. The display unit 23 includes, for example, a liquid crystal screen of a relatively small number of lines display type, and is controlled by the CPU 10 to display various information. The notification unit 24 includes a speaker (not shown) and the like, and is controlled by the CPU 10 to generate notification sounds of various tones. The NIC 25 connects the terminal device A to the LAN
In this embodiment, the NI
An ADSL modem 31 is connected to C25. The PC connection unit 26 is, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus).
It is used when connecting the terminal device A to a personal computer using a cable or the like.

Although the specific structure of the WWW server C is not shown in the figure, a large capacity hard disk for storing a large amount of information and a mechanism for efficiently providing Internet service are provided. ,
Physically, it is not different from the main body configuration of a personal computer or the like. In short, terminal device A and WWW
The server C is characterized by a control operation at the time of so-called web print processing such as transmitting / receiving content information between them and printing the content information received on the terminal device A side. The convenience of the user who is the recipient of is improved.
These points will be described in detail below with reference to flowcharts and the like.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the web print process, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are explanatory diagrams for explaining the contents displayed on the screen of the display unit 23 during the web print process. In the web print process, it is assumed that pay news information is exchanged between the terminal device A and the WWW server C as content information. Further, in the flowchart of FIG. 3, steps indicated by solid lines are executed by the terminal device A, and steps indicated by broken lines are executed by the WWW server C.

First, when the user performs a predetermined operation, C
The PU 10 acquires the content menu from the WWW server C and displays it on the screen of the display unit 23 (S
1). As shown in FIG. 4, on the screen of the display unit 23, content information showing an outline of each content number and content name, and a predetermined usage fee are displayed. It should be noted that the WWW server C is provided with content information in a single data format for each content number and content name.

When the user selects a content number from the content menu, the CPU 10
WWW the terminal capability information with its content number
It is transmitted to the server C (S2). The terminal capability information is for transmitting to the WWW server C whether or not the printing capability of the terminal device A is compatible with color printing, the printing resolution, and the like.

Upon receiving the terminal capability information together with the content number, the WWW server C creates a content selection list for selecting content information corresponding to the content number and printable within the range of the terminal capability. The content selection list created in this way is presented from the WWW server C to the terminal device A (S3). As a result, on the display unit 23 of the terminal device A,
A content selection list is displayed (S4). For example, when “# 002” is selected as the content number, color printing is possible as the printing capability of the terminal device A, and the printing resolution is 300 dpi, the content selection list includes the printing capability of the terminal device A as shown in FIG. A content selection list corresponding to the content number “# 002” corresponding to is displayed. Usage charges are also displayed in each list, but depending on the printing capability of the terminal device A, the WWW server C
Since the print result is lower than that of the content information prepared in (1), a charge lower than the predetermined use charge is displayed.

When the user selects the desired content from the content selection list (S
5), the CPU 10 sends the content to the WWW server C
A content request for requesting transmission is sent to the Internet 1 (S6). At this time, the content request is sent out on the Internet 1 as a GET request described by the URL and delivered to the WWW server C.

WW that received the content request
The W server C converts the content information, which is prepared in advance and has only one data format, into content information in a data format suitable for the printing capability of the terminal device A in response to the content request (S7).

Finally, the WWW server C transmits the converted content information to the terminal device A (S8), and W
The terminal device A that has received the content information from the WW server C prints the content information (S9). In other words, the WWW server C has only prepared content information in a data format that exceeds the printing capability of the terminal device A, but the data format is converted to match the printing capability of the terminal device A, and the content information is used accordingly. It is possible to print the content information that has a low fee. In short, it is not necessary to prepare content information of different data formats in the WWW server C according to different printing capabilities of each model of the terminal device A, and it is possible to easily centrally manage the content information. it can.

Therefore, according to the terminal device A and the WWW server C, the terminal device A notifies the WWW server C of the printing capability in advance, so that the content information corresponding to the printing capability is provided to the WWW server C. It is possible to obtain and print from the device, and it is possible to obtain content information having an appropriate image quality as a print result according to the printing capability of the terminal device A itself. Moreover, since the usage fee is changed to a low value according to the printing capability of the terminal device A, the content information can be printed at a reasonable usage fee for the user.

Next, another embodiment will be described.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a web print process according to another embodiment, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the contents displayed on the screen of the display unit 23 during the web print process of FIG. is there. In addition, FIG.
The description of the same points as those of the web print processing will be omitted, and different points will be mainly described.

According to the web print process according to another embodiment, when the content menu is displayed on the screen of the display unit 23 (S21), the user specifies a desired amount of money as the usage fee (S22).

When the user selects a content number from the content menu, the CPU 10
Is the WWW server C regarding the desired amount of money designated by the user together with the content number and terminal capability information.
To (S23).

Upon receiving the desired amount of money together with the content number and the terminal capacity information, the WWW server C selects the content information corresponding to the content number, which can be printed within the range of the terminal capacity and within the desired amount of money. Create a content selection list for selection. The content selection list created in this way is the WWW server C
Is presented to the terminal device A (S24). As a result, the content selection list is displayed on the display unit 23 of the terminal device A (S25). For example, when “# 002” is selected as the content number, color printing is possible as the printing capability of the terminal device A, the print resolution is 300 dpi, and the desired amount of money is 700 yen or less, the content selection list is shown in FIG. As described above, as the content selection list corresponding to the content number “# 002” according to the printing capability of the terminal device A, a list with a usage charge of 700 yen or less is displayed. Subsequent processing (S26 to S30)
Is the same as S5 to S9 in FIG.

Therefore, according to the terminal device A and the WWW server C according to the other embodiment, in addition to the effect that the content information corresponding to the printing capability of the terminal device A is printed as in the above-described embodiment, the user can It is possible to print only the content information below the desired usage fee, and as much as possible, the content information can be printed under the image quality and usage fee according to the user's request.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

The terminal device A is always connected to the Internet 1 by ADSL.
It may be always connected by a network or FTTH. Also, the dial-up connection or the like is not limited to the constant connection.

Each of the above-described embodiments is characterized by the web print processing relating to the web page, but of course the same processing as the web print processing should be applied to the case of acquiring and printing an electronic mail or the like. You can

In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the content information as the paid news information is printed by the terminal device A, but in the case of a device having a relatively large display screen, the WWW server C is notified of the display capability. Content information may be displayed. Of course, W for printing and display
The content information sent from the WW server C is not limited to pay information, and may be freely viewable.

In each of the above embodiments, first, a content menu is acquired from the WWW server C, the menu is displayed on the display unit 23 on the terminal side, and the user selects the desired content from the menu. However, when the display unit 23 on the terminal side is small, the user sees the list of contents printed on printed matter such as magazines, and directly selects the desired contents from the list to make a selection. You may do it.

Although the WWW server C is prepared with only the content information in one data format,
Content information having different data formats may be prepared according to different printing capabilities for each model of the terminal device A.

The terminal capability information is not limited to whether it is compatible with color printing or the printing resolution, but other information related to the printing function such as double-sided printing is also available.
It may be transmitted to the server C.

As the printing method, in addition to the ink jet method, an electrophotographic method using toner as a printing material, a sublimation method using an ink ribbon, or a heat sensitive method may be adopted.

[0055]

As described above, according to the terminal device of the invention described in claim 1, by notifying the server of the output capability such as printing and display, the content information corresponding to the output capability is sent to the server. Therefore, it is possible to obtain appropriate content information according to the output capability of the device itself.

Further, according to the terminal device of the invention described in claim 2, in addition to the effect of the terminal device described in claim 1, it is possible to select and acquire content information suitable for the output capability from the selection list. .

Further, according to the terminal device of the invention described in claim 3, in addition to the effect of the terminal device described in claim 2, the content information is commensurate with the output capability, and the content information is less than the usage fee desired by the user. Content information can be selected and acquired from a selection list.

Further, according to the terminal device of the invention described in claim 4, in addition to the effect of the terminal device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, for example, news information distributed as a pay Internet service is provided to the user. You can print within the price range and image quality that you feel is optimal.

Further, according to the network server of the invention described in claim 5, the content information corresponding to the output capability can be transmitted based on the output capability notified from the terminal device. Appropriate content information can be sent.

According to the network server of the invention described in claim 6, in addition to the effect of the network server described in claim 5, it is not necessary to prepare different kinds of content information for each output capability. , By simply preparing one piece of content information, it can be converted and transmitted to match the output capability.

Further, according to the network server of the invention described in claim 7, in addition to the effect of the network server described in claim 6, when the content information is distributed as a pay Internet service, for example, a terminal to be a distribution destination. Content information that matches the output capability of the device,
Moreover, it is possible to appropriately select content information below the usage fee desired by the user.

According to the communication method of the invention described in claim 8, by being executed by the terminal device, the same effect as that by the terminal device described in claim 1 can be obtained.

Further, according to the communication method of the invention described in claim 9, by being executed by the network server, the same effect as that by the network server described in claim 5 can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a terminal device and a network server according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a terminal device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a web print process.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating contents displayed on a screen of a display unit during web print processing.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating contents displayed on a screen of a display unit during web print processing.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a web print process according to another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the contents displayed on the screen of the display unit during the web print process of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Internet 10 CPU 11 NCU 12 RAM 13 modem 14 ROM 15 EEPROM 16 gate array 17 CODEC 18 DMAC (DMA controller) 20 Reader 21 Printing Department 22 Operation part 23 Display 24 Notification section 25 NIC 26 PC connection 30 splitter 31 ADSL modem A terminal device B telephone exchange C WWW server (network server)

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A terminal device for requesting a server on a network to transmit content information and outputting the content information sent in response to the request, the output notifying the server of the output capability of the content information. And a capacity information notifying unit that notifies the server of the output capability by the output capability notifying unit, requests the content information to be transmitted, and then acquires the content information matching the output capability from the server. A terminal device characterized by the above. 2. After notifying the server of the output capability by the output capability notifying unit, a selection list of content information that can be output within the range of the output capability is provided from the server, and the content information acquiring unit is The terminal device according to claim 1, which requests the server to transmit the content information selected based on the selection list. 3. The output capability notifying means, when notifying the server of the output capability, also reports the desired amount of the usage fee required for outputting the content information, and accordingly, the range of the output capability from the server. The terminal device according to claim 2, wherein the selection list including content information within a desired amount and a desired amount or less is provided as a selection item. 4. The terminal device according to claim 1, which has a function of printing out the content information as print information. 5. A network server, which receives a content information transmission request from a terminal device on a network and transmits the content information to the terminal device in response to the request, wherein output capability is provided before the content information transmission request is sent from the terminal device. And a content information transmitting means for transmitting content information matching the output capability to the terminal device. 6. The content information transmitting means provides the terminal device with a selection list of content information that can be output within the range of the output capability notified from the terminal device, and is selected based on the selection list. The network server according to claim 5, wherein the content information is generated by conversion processing and then transmitted to the terminal device. 7. The terminal device is notified of the output capacity as well as the desired amount of the usage fee required to output the content information, and accordingly, the content information transmitting means is within the range of the output capacity, and The network server according to claim 6, wherein the selection list including content information of a desired amount or less as selection items is provided to the terminal device. 8. A communication method for requesting a server on a network to transmit content information and outputting the content information sent in response to the request, wherein the server is notified of an output capability of the content information. And a content information acquisition step of acquiring content information matching the output capability from the server after requesting transmission of content information after notifying the server of the output capability by the output capability notification step. A communication method characterized by sequentially executing. 9. A communication method for receiving a content information transmission request from a terminal device on a network and transmitting the content information to the terminal device according to the request, wherein the content information transmission request is sent from the terminal device. A communication method comprising: receiving a notification of output capability and transmitting content information matching the output capability to the terminal device.