JP2008004051A - Printing system and printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

Communication costs on a server side can be reduced when a print document addressed to an individual is output to a multi-function copying apparatus or the like in a convenience store.
A server 3 sends print data from a PC 4 to a server 3 via a wide-area data communication network, and the server 3 that receives the print data transmits the corresponding print data by wireless communication when the in-vehicle information device 2 is in the vicinity. The in-vehicle information apparatus 2 distributes the print data distributed from the server 3 to the copying apparatus 1 by wireless communication when the in-vehicle information apparatus 2 moves to the vicinity of the copying apparatus 1, and the copying apparatus 1 The received print data is stored, and when a predetermined print operation is received, printing is performed using the stored print data.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention mainly relates to a printing system for sending a document to a partner, and more specifically, an information device with a wireless communication function mounted on a mobile body such as an automobile from an information processing device such as a personal computer via a server. In particular, the present invention relates to a printing system capable of sending print data to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer installed in a convenience store.

  In recent years, copying machines have been installed in convenience stores and the like, making it easy to copy. Since data communication using a wide-area data communication network such as the Internet has become widespread, by connecting the above-described copying apparatus to the wide-area data communication network, document data stored in a personal computer or the like in the site There has also been put to practical use in which information is instructed from a portable terminal device (for example, a mobile phone) on the go and output to a copying machine installed at the nearest convenience store. Alternatively, a method of instructing from a portable terminal device and outputting from a server having a facsimile communication function or an information processing apparatus to a copying apparatus having a facsimile communication function installed in a nearest convenience store has been put into practical use.

For example, the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1 is an example of the latter. In this prior art, a portable terminal device is used to access a site, select desired information in the site, and a convenience store. The facsimile number of the composite apparatus installed in the site is notified to the site, the selected information is transferred from the site to the composite apparatus by facsimile communication, and the information is printed out by the composite apparatus.
The prior art disclosed in Patent Document 2 is also an example of the latter. In this prior art, print data is transmitted to a FAX mail server from an outside location by e-mail, and the FAX mail server converts the print data into facsimile data. The facsimile data is sent to a FAX terminal device in a convenience store by facsimile communication and output.
On the other hand, when sending a document to the other party, which is the main use of the present invention, it is possible to use postal mail, send it to a facsimile machine owned by the other party using facsimile communication, or use personal data using data communication such as the Internet. Send to a computer.

JP 2002-183028 A JP 2002-111921 A

The main use of the present invention is to send a document to an individual, but a method for sending to a personal computer or facsimile apparatus having a data communication function (for example, a communication function using the Internet) owned by an individual is available for those apparatuses. However, it is limited because it is not widespread for most individuals for reasons such as needs.
Also, a method for outputting a print document addressed to an individual to a multifunctional copying machine in a convenience store by data communication such as the Internet or facsimile communication has not been widespread. This is mainly due to the fact that, when data communication is used, there is a cost to pay to the service provider, the multi-function copying apparatus having the data communication function is expensive, and the maintenance cost is also high. Even in the case of facsimile communication, communication costs are incurred on the facsimile server side.
The present invention is intended to solve such a problem of the prior art. Specifically, when outputting a print document addressed to an individual to a multi-function copying apparatus or the like in a convenience store, the communication on the server side is performed. The purpose is to provide a printing system that can reduce costs.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the printing system according to claim 1 includes an information processing apparatus connected to a wide area data communication network and a first wireless communication unit and is also connected to the wide area data communication network. A printing system comprising: a server; an image forming apparatus including a second wireless communication unit; and an in-vehicle information device provided with a third wireless communication unit installed on a mobile body and capable of communicating with the server and the image forming apparatus. And storing means for storing print data received from the information processing apparatus in the server, and distribution means for distributing the print data to the in-vehicle information apparatus when the in-vehicle information apparatus is in the vicinity of the server Storage means for storing the print data distributed from the server in the in-vehicle information device, and the in-vehicle information device is moved to the vicinity of the image forming apparatus. A transfer means for transferring the print data stored in the storage means to the image forming apparatus, and storing means for storing the received print data in the image forming apparatus; Printing means for printing the print data in response to a predetermined printing operation.

The printing system according to claim 2 is the printing system according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus transmits print data added with installation location information of the image forming apparatus to the server, and the storage in the server is performed. The means stores the print data to which the installation location information is added, and the distribution means in the server distributes the print data having the installation location information instructed from the in-vehicle information device to the in-vehicle information device. To do.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printing system according to the first or second aspect, when the transfer unit in the in-vehicle information apparatus moves to the vicinity of the image forming apparatus, the print data is automatically transferred to the image forming apparatus. The configuration is transferred to the forming apparatus.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the printing system according to the first, second, or third aspect, the information processing apparatus transmits print data to which collation information is added to the server, and the storage unit in the server includes The print data to which the verification information is added is accumulated, the distribution means in the server distributes the print data to which the verification information is added to the in-vehicle information device, and the transfer means in the in-vehicle information device The print data to which the collation information is added is transferred to the image forming apparatus, and the printing means in the image forming apparatus is configured to print the print data to which the collation information is added.
The printing system according to claim 5 is the printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein when the print data transferred to the server is text data, image data is obtained from the text data. Image data generating means for generating is provided, and the image data generating means adds another image data to the generated image data when generating the image data.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the printing system according to the fifth aspect, when the printing operation is performed, the image of the added image data is displayed on the image forming apparatus before entering the printing operation. Display means are provided.
The method according to claim 7 is a printing method for printing print data received from a server by an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with the in-vehicle information device via the in-vehicle information device installed in the mobile body. The print data is sent from the information processing apparatus to the server via the server, and the server that has received the print data converts the corresponding print data into image data as needed when the in-vehicle information apparatus is in the vicinity and the image data Another image data is added to the data and distributed to the in-vehicle information device by wireless communication. When the in-vehicle information device moves to the vicinity of the image forming device, the image data distributed from the server is transmitted to the image by wireless communication. The image forming apparatus stores the received image data and stores the stored image data. When printing by receiving the printing operation, prior to entering the printing operation, a configuration of displaying an image of the image data or additional image data.

According to the present invention, print data is sent from an information processing device to a server via a wide area data communication network, and the server that receives the print data transmits the corresponding print data by wireless communication when the in-vehicle information device is in the vicinity. When the in-vehicle information apparatus is distributed to the in-vehicle information apparatus and the in-vehicle information apparatus moves to the vicinity of the image forming apparatus, the print data distributed from the server is transferred to the image forming apparatus by wireless communication, and the image forming apparatus receives the received print data. Since the data is stored and the print data is printed in response to a predetermined print operation, the server side communication cost is required when outputting a print document addressed to an individual to a multifunctional copying machine in a convenience store. Can be reduced.
Further, in the configuration in which another image data is added to the print image data and distributed to the in-vehicle information device, and the image data is transferred to the image forming device, an advertisement or the like can be added to the print image. Can be cheaper.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the components, types, combinations, shapes, relative positions, and the like described in this embodiment are not merely intended to limit the scope of this description unless otherwise specified, but are merely illustrative examples. .
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing the overall configuration of a printing system as an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, this printing system is connected to a copying apparatus 1 as an image forming apparatus, an in-vehicle information apparatus 2 as an information apparatus with a wireless communication function installed in a moving body such as a delivery vehicle, and the Internet as a wide area data communication network. Server 3, and a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) 4 connected to the Internet. FIG. 1 shows only one copying apparatus 1 and one server 3, but there are a plurality of servers 3 to which one PC 4 can be connected, and an in-vehicle information apparatus that can communicate with the server 3. There are also two.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the in-vehicle information device 2. As shown in the figure, the in-vehicle information device 2 includes a wireless LAN card 11 including an antenna, a wireless transmission / reception circuit connected to the antenna, a communication control unit that executes a communication protocol of each layer, and a memory (for example, a memory for storing image data). (RAM) 12, an operation unit 13 having keys 14 and a display panel 15, a ROM 17 and a CPU 18 storing programs, and a control unit 16 for controlling the entire vehicle information system. Note that the compression method of image data transferred between the server 3 and the in-vehicle information apparatus 2 and between the in-vehicle information apparatus 2 and the copying apparatus 1 is, for example, TIF or JPEG. Encoding to TIF or JPEG is performed by the server 3 and decoding is performed by the copying apparatus 1. In this embodiment, the server 3 is provided in a distribution center that delivers goods to a nearby convenience store, and the copying apparatus 1 is provided in a convenience store.
In this embodiment, the wireless communication means described in the claims is realized by a wireless LAN card.

Hereinafter, each embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the printing system as the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the first embodiment will be described according to this operation flow.
In the first embodiment, first, the sender of the print document is instructed, for example, from his own PC 4 as the destination information of the print document, the collation number unique to the recipient and the postal code of the area where the recipient lives (step 1). In the PC 4, the convenience store name and its code are registered in advance as application level data in association with, for example, the postal code, and the Internet address of the server 3 of the distribution center used by the convenience store is registered. When the postal code of the destination is input, the CPU of the PC 4 displays the destination convenience store name associated with the postal code according to the application program.
When the sender inputs OK (step 2), the CPU uses the document entered by the sender or the file instructed by the sender as print data, and sends it to the server 3 associated with the convenience store. The print data, the store code of the convenience store, and the verification number are transmitted (step 3). Thus, when the server 3 on the Internet receives the set of print data, convenience store code and collation number, the set is stored in a hard disk storage device or the like (corresponding to the storage means described in the claims) (step 4). ).

Thereafter, when the delivery vehicle of the delivery center where the server 3 is installed goes to the convenience store, the user uses the operation unit 13 (see FIG. 2) in the in-vehicle information device 2 to instruct communication with the server 3. . The server 3 also includes the above-described wireless LAN card, and wireless communication with the in-vehicle information device 2 is possible. As a result, the CPU 18 in the in-vehicle information device 2 displays a list of convenience store names registered in advance on the display panel 15 and selects a convenience store heading from now on (step 5). Then, the CPU 18 acquires a store code (registered in advance) associated with the selected convenience store, and sends a print data transfer request with the store code to the server 3 via the wireless LAN card 11. Transmit (step 6).
When the server 3 receives the print data transfer request with the store code, the distribution means realized by the CPU or the like checks whether or not the print data with the store code is stored (step 7). If so (Yes in Step 7), the print data is distributed to the in-vehicle information device 2 together with the verification number (Step 8). The server 3 includes image data generating means for generating print image data from text data. If the print data sent from the PC 4 is text data, the server 3 generates image data from the text data, and the image data. Is encoded by, for example, the TIF method, and the encoded image data is transferred as print data (when the registered copying apparatus 1 has a decoding function, the decoding method is also registered in the server 3). If the decoding function is not provided, the server 3 transfers image data that is not encoded).

  The distributed print data and the like are stored in the memory 12 (refer to FIG. 2, corresponding to the storage means described in the claims), and then the delivery vehicle arrives at the convenience store, and wireless communication via the wireless LAN card 11 is performed. When it becomes possible with the copying apparatus 1, the transfer means (implemented by the CPU 18 and the wireless LAN 11 or the like) in the in-vehicle information apparatus 2 automatically sets the print data received from the server 3 and a set of collation numbers. (Step 9). Note that the copying apparatus 1 also includes a wireless card 11, and thus can perform such wireless communication. In this way, the copying apparatus 1 stores the received print data and the like in a storage device (corresponding to storage means described in claims) (step 10).

On the other hand, when a print request is issued from the PC 4 to the server 3, the sender notifies the destination user of the scheduled print time at the convenience store by telephone or the like. Since the collation number is determined in advance between the sender and the destination user, there is no need to notify the destination user again. In this way, the destination user goes to the convenience store after the scheduled printing time, inputs the collation number, and instructs printing output (step 11).
Thereby, the control unit of the copying apparatus 1 determines whether or not the print data having the collation number is stored (step 12). If the print data is stored (Yes in step 12), the print data is encoded. It is determined whether it is data (step 13). If it is encoded data (Yes in step 13), after decoding (step 14), if not encoded (No in step 13), the printing means immediately prints (step 15). Furthermore, the destination user pays a predetermined charge corresponding to the number of output sheets to the convenience store side.
Thus, according to the first embodiment, a print document addressed to an individual can be output to a copying apparatus or the like in a convenience store, and communication between the server and the copying apparatus is wireless communication, thereby reducing the communication cost on the server side. it can.

In the second embodiment, in the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the server 3 side reduces the print image and adds an advertisement image or the like on the condition that the print fee is discounted with respect to the PC 4 side. Check if you want. If the user desires, as shown in FIG. 4, when print data is sent from the PC 4 to the server 3, the server 3 is made to send the user profile of the destination user. This profile has contents that can narrow down individual preferences such as age, sex, and hobbies. Based on this profile, the server 3 uses a plurality of advertisement image data registered in advance by the CPU. The image data of the advertisement expected to meet the preference of the sender of the profile is selected, and the selected image data is added to the received print data (see FIG. 4). At this time, the CPU of the server 3 reduces the sent print data and arranges the print image and the advertisement image to be printed side by side on one page.
Note that the print image to be added is not limited to an advertisement or the like, and may be, for example, a coupon ticket that can be used at a convenience store where the copying apparatus 1 is installed.
As described above, according to the second embodiment, a print image such as an advertisement or a coupon can be added to the print data in the server, so that a discount service for a fee for printing can be provided. In addition, it is possible to select an appropriate advertisement content by sending the profile of the user to whom the print data is sent, and to improve the advertisement effect.

In the third embodiment, the advertisement data selected from the user profile is transferred to the copying apparatus 1 separately from the print data as shown in FIG. 5 in the configuration shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. The print image of the print data is transferred to the copying apparatus 1 as in the first embodiment.
Thereafter, the destination user arrives at the installation location (for example, in a convenience store) of the copying apparatus 1 to which the print image data is transferred, and performs printing. FIG. 6 is an operation flow at the time of printing at the place where the copying apparatus 1 is installed. Hereinafter, this operation flow will be described.
First, when the destination user inputs printing conditions (step 21) and there is a printing instruction from the operation panel of the copying apparatus 1, the control unit of the copying apparatus 1 displays an advertisement image based on the transferred advertisement image data. Is displayed on the display device in the operation panel (corresponding to the display means described in the claims) (step 22), and an input for reconfirming whether or not to perform additional printing of the advertisement image is performed (step 23). . When the destination user performs an input indicating that additional printing is to be performed (Yes in step 23), the control unit of the copying apparatus 1 reduces the received print image and adds an advertisement image to the print image. The print image with the advertisement image added is printed (step 24). On the other hand, when the destination user makes an input indicating that the additional printing is not performed (No in step 23), the control unit of the copying apparatus 1 prints the print image to which the advertisement image is not added (step 25). .
Thus, according to the third embodiment, since the additional printing can be canceled after the advertisement image is viewed on the display device, unintentional additional printing of the destination user can be avoided. When displaying for confirmation, it is also possible to display a print image obtained by combining the original print image and the additional image. With such a configuration, it is possible to make a selection more suited to the user's intention.

1 is a system configuration diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a printing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of this vehicle-mounted information apparatus as one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation flow of the printing system as the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of this printing system as Embodiment 2 of this invention. FIG. 10 is a system configuration diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a printing system according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the copying apparatus as a third embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Copy apparatus, 2 vehicle-mounted information apparatus, 3 server, 4 personal computer, 11 wireless LAN card, 12 memory, 13 operation part, 18 CPU

Claims (7)

  An information processing apparatus connected to a wide area data communication network, a server including a first wireless communication means and also connected to the wide area data communication network, an image forming apparatus including a second wireless communication means, Print data received from the information processing apparatus is stored in the server in a printing system having a third wireless communication means installed on the body and having an in-vehicle information apparatus capable of communicating with the server and the image forming apparatus Storage means to be distributed, and distribution means for distributing the print data to the in-vehicle information device when the in-vehicle information device is in the vicinity of the server, the distribution in the in-vehicle information device from the server Storage means for storing print data and the print data stored in the storage means when the in-vehicle information apparatus is moved to the vicinity of the image forming apparatus A transfer unit configured to transfer the image data to the image forming apparatus; a storage unit that stores received print data; and a print unit that prints the stored print data in response to a predetermined print operation. A printing system characterized by comprising.   2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus transmits print data to which the installation location information of the image forming apparatus is added to the server, and the storage unit in the server is added with the installation location information. The printing system is characterized in that the print data is stored, and the distribution means in the server distributes the print data having the installation location information instructed from the in-vehicle information device to the in-vehicle information device.   3. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein a transfer unit in the in-vehicle information device automatically transfers the print data to the image forming apparatus when the transfer unit moves in the vicinity of the image forming apparatus. Printing system to do.   4. The printing system according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the information processing apparatus transmits print data to which collation information is added to the server, and the storage unit in the server prints data to which the collation information is added. The distribution means in the server distributes the print data to which the verification information is added to the in-vehicle information device, and the transfer means in the in-vehicle information device prints the verification information to which the verification information is added. A printing system, wherein data is transferred to the image forming apparatus, and the printing means in the image forming apparatus prints the print data to which the input collation information is added.   5. The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising image data generation means for generating image data from the text data when the transferred print data is text data in the server. The image data generating means adds another image data to the generated image data when generating the image data.   6. The printing system according to claim 5, wherein the image forming apparatus includes display means for displaying an image of the added image data before entering a printing operation when the printing operation is performed. Printing system to do.   In a printing method for printing print data received from a server by an image forming apparatus communicable with the in-vehicle information device via the in-vehicle information device installed in the mobile body, the information processing device transmits the print data from the information processing device through a wide area data communication network. When the print data is sent to the server, the server that has received the print data converts the corresponding print data into image data as needed when the in-vehicle information device is in the vicinity, and adds another image data to the image data. And when the vehicle information apparatus moves to the vicinity of the image forming apparatus, the image data distributed from the server is transferred to the image forming apparatus by wireless communication. The forming apparatus stores the received image data and prints the stored image data after receiving a predetermined printing operation. To time, prior to entering the printing operation, the printing method characterized by displaying an image of the image data or additional image data.

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