JP3424474B2 - Data transfer output system and service center device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus installed in various stores scattered in an area and is output from an information terminal.
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a data transfer output system and a service center device that enable print output of input print data .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), which are small-sized personal digital assistants having functions such as a timekeeping function, a scheduler function, a document creation function, and a communication function (PHS function, facsimile function, etc.), etc. The use of mobile terminals has made it possible for users to easily manage their schedules, search for various types of information, and create documents, etc., regardless of time or place.

Further, the PDA is provided with a communication function such as a PHS function and a facsimile function, so that it receives data from an external device having a communication function and receives information from a network providing various information. It is also possible. When the PHS function is used, it has a location registration function that updates and registers its own location, and the location information of the PDA is monitored by the PHS service control station, which is the parent station on the PHS side, so that the location of the PDA can be known. Has become.

[0004]

However, a small portable information terminal such as a PDA is usually not equipped with a printer for printing out data, and an attempt is made to print out a document or the like created on the move or on the go. It wasn't easy.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide information such as PDA.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a data transfer output system capable of performing print output of print data held by a terminal in a printing device installed in a store designated by a user.

[0006]

[0007]

The invention according to claim 1 is
The data transfer output system includes an information terminal having a communication function and a scheduler function, a database that stores information about the locations of various stores in which the printing apparatus is installed, and print data transmitted from the information terminal in the printing apparatus. A service center for printing, in response to a print request from the information terminal, searches the database based on the incidental information transmitted from the accessory information terminal, and selects one or more stores that are candidates for the printing location. Selection means,
A transmitting unit that transmits information about the store selected by the selecting unit to the information terminal, and a store is designated by the information terminal with respect to the store information transmitted by the transmitting unit. And a service center having transfer means for transferring print data from the information terminal for printing. According to a third aspect of the present invention, the service center device receives the data print request from the information terminal, and the data print request is received by the reception means, thereby receiving and printing the data via the network. Search means for searching a database for a store equipped with a printing device capable of performing, a transmitting means for transmitting the store information searched by the searching means to the information terminal, and the store information transmitted by the transmitting means for the store information. Since the information terminal has a control means for printing data output from the information terminal when the shop is designated by the information terminal, the user provides the printing service by using the network. It becomes possible to select a store according to one's situation.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The details of an embodiment of a data transfer output system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] In the first embodiment, the PDA 10 is applied as a portable information terminal and the PHS center 40 is applied as an apparatus for monitoring the position information of the PDA 10 (note that the PDA 10 is When the vehicle is in the vehicle, the position of the PDA may be grasped from the position information of the GPS unit 3).

First, the configuration of the first embodiment will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall schematic configuration of a data transfer output system according to the first embodiment.

The data transfer output system according to the present embodiment includes a vehicle electronic control unit 1, a PDA 10, a service center 20, and a printing device 30, a PHS center 40, and a printing device 30 in various stores that provide a printing service. Network 24, PH connecting service centers 20
The S center 40 side includes a base station 41 and the like.

The vehicle electronic control unit 1 is an electronic control unit relating to a portion of various electronic control units mounted on the vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention. The electronic control unit 1 monitors and controls the GPS unit 3. And the arithmetic processing function and PD
It has a short-distance communication function with the A10 and the like, and can perform data communication with the PDA 10 (details of the electronic control unit 1 of the vehicle are described later in FIG. 2).

PDA (Personal Digital Assistants)
A user 10 is provided with a document creation function capable of inputting and creating data by key input or pen input, a clock function, a personal data management function (PIM function) such as a scheduler, and a communication function such as a PHS function. Is a small-sized portable information terminal which is also carried by the user, and also has a communication function with the electronic control unit 1 of a vehicle at a short distance (details of the PDA 10 are described later in FIG. 3).

The service center 20 includes a database 23 of various stores in which the printing devices 30 scattered in the area are installed and a print service at the stores, and the printing device suitable for a print request from the user's PDA 10. The user selects 30 to send the document data to the printing device 30 designated by the user and cause the printing device 30 to print (details of the service center 20 will be described later in FIG. 4). The service center 20 also creates personal identification data and sends it to both the PDA 10 and the printing device 30.

The printing device 30 is a device that is installed in various stores (eg, convenience stores, gas stations, etc.) that provide printing services scattered in the area, receives print data from a user, and prints it out. Print data sent from the PDA 10 to the PHS center 40 is PHS.
The information is transmitted from the center 40 to the printing device 30 via the service center 20 (or directly without passing) (at this time, the personal identification data is transmitted from the service center 20 to the PDA).
10 and the printing device 30 respectively). Then, the user who requests the printing service receives the printed-out document at the store at a prescribed charge. However, when creating personal identification data, the printer 3
The 0 side and the user side of the PDA 10 each confirm whether or not the password data (password etc.) received from the service center 20 match.

The PHS center 40 is a PHS service control station which is a parent station of the base stations 41 installed in order to receive the radio waves from the PDA 10. The position information of the PDA 10 which is a terminal is monitored, and the received data from the PDA 10 is transmitted to the service center 20 or the data from the service center 20 is transmitted to the PDA 10 via the base stations 41 distributed in the area. (However, the print data may be directly transmitted to the printing device 30 without being transmitted to the service center 20).

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle electronic control unit 1 which is one of the components of the data transfer output system according to the present embodiment.

The vehicle electronic control unit 1 includes a CPU 2, a GPS
Unit 3, display unit 4, input unit 5, RAM 6, ROM
7, a storage device 8 including a storage medium 8a, a communication unit 9, and the like, and these constituent devices are mutually connected via a bus 1a.

CPU (Central Processing Unit) 2
Stores a system program stored in the storage device 8 and an application program designated from various application programs corresponding to the system program in a program storage area in the RAM 6,
Various instructions or data input from the GPS unit 3, the input unit 5, and the PDA 10 (via the communication unit 9) are stored in the RAM 6, and stored in the storage device 8 according to the input instruction or the input data. Various processing is executed according to the application program, and the processing result is R
The data stored in the AM 6 and transmitted to the PDA 10 are transmitted to the communication unit 9.

GPS unit (Global Positioning Sys
tem unit) 3 receives radio waves from geostationary satellites (at least three or more) by a dedicated antenna installed in the car, calculates the position (longitude, latitude) of the car, and determines the optimal route to the destination. The calculation result (hereinafter, the calculation result is referred to as GPS information) is sent to the CPU 2 by the device that calculates and calculates the distance to the destination, and the CPU 2 stores the received calculation result data in the RAM 6. . In addition, the GPS unit is usually provided with a display unit which is an image display device for performing CRT display or LCD display, and visually displays the above calculation result by a map or the like which is displayed as an image on the screen.
Further, the above calculation result is transmitted from the communication unit 9 to the PDA 10 as needed (in response to the request from the PDA 10).

The GPS unit 3 itself usually has a dedicated CPU, RAM, ROM, etc.
Is configured to send only a calculation command or a calculation result data transmission command to a dedicated CPU, receive the calculation result, and store it in the RAM 6.

The display unit 4 is composed of an image display device for performing CRT display or LCD display, and the position (longitude, latitude) of the vehicle by the GPS unit 3, the optimum route to the destination, and the distance to the destination. , Etc. are displayed.

The input section 5 is an input section for inputting various data such as initial setting data to the GPS unit 3 and an instruction for switching the display on the display section 4.

A RAM (Ramdom Access Memory) 6 is a C
The storage area is configured to temporarily store various programs and data that are arithmetically processed by the PU 2, and the stored various programs and data are also read.

In the RAM 6, from the GPS unit 3,
Data relating to GPS information (vehicle position, optimum route to destination, distance to destination, etc.) is temporarily stored.

A ROM (Read Only Memory) 7 is a CPU 2
It is a read-only memory for reading the stored data in accordance with an instruction from, and stores a dedicated program for processing various data relating to vehicle monitoring control.

The storage device 8 has a storage medium 8a in which programs, data, etc. are stored. The storage medium 8a is composed of a magnetic or optical storage medium or a semiconductor memory. The storage medium 8a is fixedly provided in the storage device 8 or detachably mounted.

The storage medium stores a system program, various application programs corresponding to the system program, various data input processing, communication processing, detection processing, data processed by each processing program, and the like.

The program, data, etc. stored in the storage medium 8 may be received and stored from another device connected via a communication line or the like, and may be further stored via the communication line or the like. A storage device including the storage medium may be provided on the other connected device side, and the programs and data stored in the storage medium may be used via a communication line.

The communication unit 9 is a PDA 1 carried by the user.
A communication device for performing short-distance communication (for example, infrared communication) with 0 transmits a signal for specifying the transmission source (for example, a signal indicating that the transmission source is a car) to the PDA 10.

FIG. 3 shows a PDA (Pe) which is one of the constituent elements of the data transfer output system according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of rsonal Digital Assistants) 10.

The PDA 10 includes a CPU 11, a PHS unit 12, a display unit 13, a clock unit 14a, an input unit 14b and R.
The storage device 17 includes an AM 15, a ROM 16, a storage device 17 including a storage medium 17a, a communication unit 18, and the like, and these constituent devices are connected to each other via a bus 10a.

CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11
Stores a system program stored in the storage device 17 and an application program designated from various application programs corresponding to the system program in the program storage area of the RAM 15, and stores the PHS unit 12, the clock unit 14a, and the input unit. Part 14
b, various instructions or data input from the vehicle electronic control unit 1 (via the communication unit 18) and the PHS 40 (that is, the service center 20) via the base station 41, etc.
Various processes are executed according to the application program stored in the storage device 17 according to the input instruction or the input data stored in the AM 15, and the processing result is
The service center 2 is stored in the RAM 15
Data to be sent to 0 (document data, print request data, etc.)
Is read from the RAM 15 and input to the PHS unit 12. In addition, the transmission data to the electronic control unit 1 of the car,
The data is read from the RAM 15 and input to the communication unit 18.

PHS unit (Personal Handy-phone S
The ystem unit) 12 transfers the data (document data, print request data, etc.) input from the CPU 11 to the external wireless base station 41 from the attached small antenna 12a.
It is a device that transmits in a radio wave form based on the communication protocol of.

The display unit 13 has a display screen capable of LCD display and CRT display, and is a device for displaying various data input from the CPU 11 on the display screen.

The clock unit 14a is a device having a time counting function, and information regarding the time to be clocked is displayed on the display unit 13, and the CPU 11 inputs data accompanied by the time information (for example, data regarding a schedule). When saving, etc., the clock unit 14a inputs information about the time to the CPU 11, and the CPU 11 performs the above-mentioned operation based on the input time information.

The input unit 14b is composed of various function keys and a display screen for inputting a pen (the display screen in this case is almost always the display screen of the display unit 13) and the like. By inputting or pen input (including handwritten character recognition by pen), data input regarding schedule etc., input of various search commands, and PD
An input device for inputting various settings such as A10 outputs signals input by key input or pen input to the CPU 11.

The RAM (Ramdom Access Memory) 15 is
The storage area temporarily stores various programs and data that are arithmetically processed by the CPU 11, and the stored various programs and data are also read.

In the RAM 15, an input instruction or input data from the input unit 14b, various data (including personal identification data) sent from the service center 20 or the like through the PHS unit 12, the CPU 11 is a storage medium 17a.
The processing result processed according to the program code read from, the schedule data, and the like are temporarily stored.

ROM (Read Only Memory) 16 is a CPU
It is a read-only memory for reading the stored data according to the instruction from 2.

The storage device 17 has a storage medium 17a in which programs and data are stored. The storage medium 17a is composed of a magnetic or optical storage medium or a semiconductor memory. Further, the storage medium 17a is
It is fixedly provided in the storage device 17 or detachably mounted.

The storage medium stores a system program, various application programs corresponding to the system program, display processing, communication processing, input processing, data processed by each processing program (including schedule data), and the like.

The program, data, etc. stored in the storage medium 17 may be received and stored from another device connected via a communication line or the like, and may be further stored via the communication line or the like. A storage device including the storage medium may be provided on the other connected device side, and the programs and data stored in the storage medium may be used via a communication line.

The communication unit 18 is a communication device for performing short-distance communication (for example, infrared communication) with the communication unit 9 of the electronic control unit 1 of the vehicle, and when the user carries the PDA 10 and gets in the vehicle. The communication unit 18 receives a signal transmitted from the communication unit 9 of the electronic control unit 1 (for example, a signal indicating that it is a car), and the received signal is transmitted to the CPU 11 so that the PDA 10 allows the user to call the car. Detect that you got on.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the outline of the configuration of the service center 20 which is one of the components of the data transfer output system according to this embodiment.

The service center 20 includes the communication unit 2
1, an information search device 22, a database 23, and the like.

The communication unit 21 is connected to the PH from the PDA 10.
Document data sent via S center 40 and PD
Data on the position of A10 (GP when you are in the car
The position information by the S unit 3) is received, and the received data is input to the information retrieval device 22. Further, the data searched by the information search device 22, the created secret code data, and the like are transmitted to the PDA 10 and the printing device 30 via the communication unit 21.

The information retrieval device 22 has a CPU 22 inside.
a, RAM 22b, ROM 22c, and storage medium 22e
And a storage device 22d having a storage device 22d, etc., and these constituent devices are mutually connected via a bus 22f.

CPU (Central Processing Unit) 22
a stores a system program stored in the storage device 22d and an application program designated from various application programs corresponding to the system program in a program storage area in the RAM 22b, and is stored in the communication unit 21 and the database 23. Various input instructions or data are stored in the RAM 22b, various processing is executed according to the application program stored in the storage device 22d according to the input instruction or input data, and the processing results are stored in the RAM 2
2b as well as the PDA 10 and the printing device 30.
The data to be transmitted to the communication unit 21 is read from the RAM 22b and output to the communication unit 21.

The CPU 22a has a communication unit 21.
The database 23 is searched based on the data regarding the position of the PDA 10 input via the PDA 10 (that is,
Information regarding a store in which the printing device 30 near the user is installed is extracted from the database 23 (at this time, when the PDA 10 is in the car, a gas station is extracted as a store), and the extracted data is communicated. Output to the unit 21. In addition, the communication unit 21 is the PDA1
When the user inputs the information about the printing device 30 designated from 0, password data or the like is created, and the document data and the password data are output to the communication unit 21.

RAM (Ramdom Access Memory) 22b
Is a storage area that temporarily stores various programs and data that are arithmetically processed by the CPU 22a, and also reads the stored various programs and data.

The RAM 22b temporarily stores input data from the communication unit 21, output data from the communication unit 21, data retrieved and extracted from the database 23 by the CPU 22a according to the program code read from the storage medium 22e, and the like. It

ROM (Read Only Memory) 16 is a CPU
It is a read-only memory for reading the stored data according to an instruction from 22a.

The storage device 22d has a storage medium 22e in which programs and data are stored, and the storage medium 22e is composed of a magnetic or optical storage medium or a semiconductor memory. Also, the storage medium 22e
Is either fixedly provided in the storage device 22d or detachably mounted.

This storage medium stores a system program, various application programs corresponding to the system program, communication processing, input processing, search processing, data processed by each processing program, and the like.

The program, data and the like stored in the storage medium 22e may be configured to be received and stored from another device connected via a communication line or the like, and further via a communication line or the like. A storage device including the storage medium may be provided on the other connected device side, and the programs and data stored in the storage medium may be used via a communication line.

The database 23 is the service center 2
0 is a collection of integrated data files of various stores (for example, a convenience store or a gas station in a nearby area) in which the printing device 30 provided by No. 0 is installed and information on printing services at the stores.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a specific example of file contents stored in the database 23 of the service center 20.

The contents of the file shown in FIG.
Is information about printing services at various stores that provide printing services by installing the above.

The output destination item has data on the store name, the location item has data on the location of the store, the charge item has data on the charge per printed sheet, and the type item has the store. Of the business contents of the store (for example, type X is a store related to convenience stores, type Y is a store related to a gas station, etc.), and the use time item stores data related to the business hours of the store. .

For example, looking specifically at the data of the A store, the location of the A store is × ward × × 2-1, the printing fee is 10 yen per sheet, and the business contents of the store are different. Classified as X (convenience store), it is open 24 hours.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 6 shows the PDA 1 from the time the user creates a document on the PDA 10 until the user receives the printed document.
0, the service center 20, and the printing device 30 designated by the user, are data diagrams in chronological order.

First, the user creates a document with the PDA 10 (step P1). Then, an output request for printing the created document, that is, the user performs an input operation from the input unit 14b of the PDA 10 to output the created document (step P2). At this time, when the PDA 10 is in the vehicle, , GPS information is acquired from the electronic control unit 1 of the vehicle (step P3). Then, the document data (PDA
When 10 is in the vehicle, the GPS data is also transmitted to the service center 20 via the PHS center 40 (step P4).

The service center 20 includes the communication unit 2
1 receives data from the PDA 10 (step Q1), and the information search device 22 searches the database 23 based on the received position information of the PDA 10 (GPS information when the PDA 10 is in a vehicle) and print candidates. A place is selected (step Q2). Then, the data regarding the selected print candidate location is transmitted to the PDA 10 (step Q
3).

The PDA 10 displays the print candidate location received from the service center on the display unit 13 (step P
5) When the user designates the print location from the displayed print candidate locations, the data regarding the designated print location is transmitted from the PDA 10 to the service center 20 (step P6).

When the service center 20 receives the data relating to the designated printing place (step Q4), it calculates the password as the password data based on, for example, the terminal number of the PDA 10 (step Q5) and prints it through the communication unit. The document data and the password are transmitted to the device 30 (step Q6), and the password is transmitted to the PDA 10 (step Q7). At this time, the document data is directly transmitted from the PDA 10 without passing through the service center 20.
The configuration may be such that it is transmitted to the designated printing device 30.

The designated printing device 30 receives the document data and the password from the service center 20 (step R1), and prints out the received document data (step R2). In addition, PDA10 is service center 2
The password is received from 0 (step P7).

Then, after confirming the password at the store where the designated printing device 30 is installed, the printed matter is handed to the user (step R3).

FIG. 7 shows that the service center 20 is a PDA.
9 is a flowchart of a subroutine that is performed when document data (including GPS data) from 10 is received and a print location candidate of document data is selected.

The programs for realizing the functions described in this flowchart are stored in the storage medium 22e of the information retrieval device 22 in the form of program codes that can be read by the CPU 22a of the information retrieval device 22 of the service center 20.

First, in step S1, the present time is checked, and the process proceeds to step S2. In step S2, a store providing print service at the current time, which is the output destination of the document data, is selected, and the process proceeds to step S3.

In step S3, the service center 20
Determines whether the GPS-related data is received from the PDA 10, and if the GPS-related data is received, the process proceeds to step S4. If the GPS-related data is not received, the process proceeds to step S5. Transition.

In step S4, when the data related to the GPS 3 is received, the user carrying the PDA 10 is in the vehicle, so the database 2
In step 3, the information regarding the type Y store (gas station) that provides the printing service is preferentially searched, and the process proceeds to step S6.

In step S5, when the data regarding the GPS 3 is not received, the database 23 is searched for information regarding a store providing a print service nearby based on the position information of the PHS, that is, the position information of the user. Then, the process proceeds to step S6.

In step S6, the search results are sorted and P
The data structure is set so that it can be transmitted to the DA 10, and the process is returned to the main flow.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the document data (PDA
GPS data when 10 is in the car), PHS
Sent to the service center 20 via the center 40,
The service center 20 uses the PDA 1 from the database 23.
Information regarding a store (a gas station in the case of a vehicle), which is a print candidate place in which the printing device 30 near 0 is installed, is selected and the information is transmitted to the PDA 10. Then, when the user designates the print location from the print candidate locations displayed on the PDA 10, the document data can be transferred from the service center 20 to the designated printing device 30 and printed out.

[Second Embodiment] When selecting a candidate printing place in the service center 20 based on the data sent from the PDA 10, in the first embodiment, a document is sent from the PDA 10 to the service center 20. The position information of PDA 10 (or the information from GPS 3 when in a car) is transmitted together with the data, and the PDA is transmitted.
Printing device 30 near the current position of 10 (user)
However, in the second embodiment, the information about the planned moving place such as the visited place which is found from the user's schedule stored in the PPDA 10 is sent to the service center 20 together with the document data.
Then, the printing device 30 near the planned moving place is selected.

The same operation as in the first embodiment is performed except that the print candidate place is selected based on the information about the planned moving place which is known from the user's schedule.

FIG. 8 shows the PDA 1 from the time the user creates a document on the PDA 10 until the user receives the printed document.
0, the service center 20, and the printing device 30 designated by the user, are data diagrams in chronological order.

First, the user creates a document with the PDA 10 (step P'1). Then, an output request for printing the created document, that is, the user performs an input operation from the input unit 14b of the PDA 10 to output the created document (step P'2), and at this time, the schedule stored in the RAM 6 is stored. The next schedule information estimated from the current time is acquired from the data (step P '
3). Then, the data of the next planned moving place (for example, the next visit), which is found from the document data and the schedule,
The data is transmitted to the service center 20 via the PHS center 40 (step P'4).

The service center 20 includes the communication unit 2
1 receives the data from the PDA 10 (step Q′1), and the information retrieval device 22 searches the database 23 and selects a print candidate location based on the received data of the next planned movement location (step Q ′). '2). And
Data regarding the selected print candidate location is transmitted to the PDA 10 (step Q′3).

The PDA 10 displays the print candidate place received from the service center on the display unit 13 (step P'5), and when the user designates the print place from the displayed print candidate place, it is designated by the PDA 10. Data regarding the printing location is transmitted to the service center 20 (step P'6).

When the service center 20 receives the data regarding the designated printing place (step Q'4),
The password as the password data is calculated, for example, based on the terminal number of the PDA 10 (step Q′5), the document data and the password are transmitted to the printing device 30 through the communication unit (step Q′6), and the PDA 10 transmits the password. The password is transmitted (step Q'7). At this time, the document data may be directly transmitted from the PDA 10 to the designated printing device 30 without passing through the service center 20.

The designated printing device 30 receives the document data and the password from the service center 20 (step R'1), and prints out the received document data (step R'2). Further, the PDA 10 receives the password from the service center 20 (step P'7).

Then, after confirming the password at the store in which the designated printing device 30 is installed, the printed matter is handed to the user (step R'3).

FIG. 9 shows that the service center 20 is a PDA.
10 is a flowchart of a subroutine that is executed when document data (including data relating to a moving place such as a visited destination stored in a schedule is included) from 10 is selected and a printing place candidate of document data is selected (step Q′2).

The programs for implementing the functions described in this flowchart are stored in the storage medium 22e of the information retrieval device 22 in the form of program codes that can be read by the CPU 22a of the information retrieval device 22 of the service center 20.

At step T1, the database 23 is searched based on the data about the planned moving place such as the visited place received from the PDA 10, and the process proceeds to step T2. At step T2, the search results can be organized and transmitted to the PDA 10. After forming the data structure, the process returns to step Q'3.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the document data created in the PDA 10 is transmitted to the service center 20 via the PHS center 40 together with the data regarding the next planned moving place which is known from the schedule. Then, the service center 20 selects from the database 23 the information about the store that is the print candidate place where the printing device 30 near the next planned moving place is installed, and transmits the information to the PDA 10. And
When the user designates the print location from the print candidate locations displayed on the PDA 10, it becomes possible to transfer the document data from the service center 20 to the designated printing device 30 and print it out.

[0092]

According to the inventions of claims 1 and 3, when the user sends a print request from the information terminal to the service center, the service center searches the database based on the schedule data transmitted from the information terminal. Select a store that is a candidate for a printing place, information about the selected store is transmitted to the information terminal, and the user specifies the store, so that the printing device installed in the store can print the information. Since the print data is transferred from the information terminal, the user can print out the data such as the document held in the information terminal at a place according to his / her schedule.

[0093]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an entire data transfer output system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a vehicle electronic control unit 1 which is one of the components of the data transfer output system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a PDA (Personal Digital Assy) which is one of the constituent elements of the data transfer output system according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an outline of a configuration of istants) 10.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram outlining the configuration of a service center 20 which is one of the components of the data transfer output system according to the present embodiment.

5 is a diagram showing a specific example of file contents stored in a database 21 of the service center 20. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a time-series description of data exchange between the PDA 10, the service center 20, and the printing device 30 designated by the user from when the user creates the document with the PDA 10 until when the user receives the printed document. It is a figure.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a subroutine performed when the service center 20 receives document data (including GPS data) from the PDA 10 and selects a print location candidate of the document data.

FIG. 8 is data between the PDA 10, the service center 20 and the printing device 30 designated by the user according to the second embodiment, from the time when the user creates a document with the PDA 10 until the time when the user receives the printed document. It is the figure which described the exchange of these in time series.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a subroutine performed when the service center 20 receives document data (including data regarding a moving place such as a visiting destination stored in a schedule) from the PDA 10 and selects a printing place candidate of the document data. is there.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Car electronic control unit 2 CPU (related to the electronic control unit 1 of the car) 3 GPS unit 4 Display 5 Input section 6 RAM (related to vehicle electronic control unit 1) 7 ROM (related to vehicle electronic control unit 1) 8 Storage device (related to electronic control unit 1 of car) 8a Storage medium (related to vehicle electronic control unit 1) 9 Communication unit (related to vehicle electronic control unit 1) 10 PDAs 11 CPU (related to PDA10) 12 PHS unit 13 Display 14a Clock part 14b Input section 15 RAM (related to PDA10) 16 ROM (related to PDA10) 17 Storage device (related to PDA10) 17a Storage medium (related to PDA10) 18 Communication unit (related to PDA10) 20 Information Service Center 21 Communication unit 22 Information retrieval system 22a CPU 22b RAM (related to PDA10) 22c ROM (related to PDA10) 22d storage device (related to PDA10) 22e Storage medium (related to PDA10) 23 Database 24 network 30 printing devices 40 PHS Center 41 wireless base station

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. An information terminal having a communication function and a scheduler function, a database that stores information on the locations of various stores in which the printing device is installed, and print data transmitted from the information terminal that is printed by the printing device. A service center for searching for the database based on schedule information managed by the scheduler function of the information terminal transmitted from the information terminal in response to a print request from the information terminal, and near the scheduled place. Means for selecting a store in, a transmitting means for transmitting information about the store selected by the selecting means to the portable information terminal, and a store is designated by the portable information terminal for the store information transmitted by the transmitting means. This enables the printing data from the information terminal to be printed by the printing device installed in the store. Data transfer output system characterized by comprising: a service center and a transfer means for transferring data, the. 2. The service center includes a personal identification data generating unit and a personal identification data transmitting unit that transmits the personal identification data generated by the personal identification data generating unit to the printing device and the information terminal. 1. The data transfer output system according to 1. 3. A receiving device for receiving a data print request from an information terminal, and a printing device capable of receiving and printing data via a network by receiving the data print request by the receiving device. A searching means for searching a database for available shops based on the user's schedule information of the shops, and a transmitting means for transmitting the shop information searched by the searching means to the information terminal; A service center characterized by having control means for printing data output from the information terminal at the designated store when the store is designated by the information terminal with respect to the store information transmitted by the transmitting means. apparatus. 4. The service center apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the store information includes a printing usage fee. 5. The service center apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means for generating a password for passing the printed matter.