JP2004181806A - Printing controller and control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing controller which prevents failures of printing to disk media in a printer capable of printing on papers and disk media, and to provide a control method. <P>SOLUTION: The printing controller is used in a printing device which has a first printing mode of printing on a sheet-shaped medium, and a second mode of printing on a surface of a digital data recording medium capable of reading and writing digital data, and includes a selecting means capable of selecting the first printing mode and the second printing mode, and an input receiving means capable of receiving a plurality of printing instructions. The printing controller has a printing control means for avoiding a printing process in the case where the printing instruction not instructing printing on the digital data recording medium is inputted to the input receiving means at the time of a state in which the second printing mode is selected by the selecting means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a print control device and a control method used in a printing device connected to a television receiver or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, with the spread of digital television, there has been an increasing demand for printing television video and data broadcast. Furthermore, service forms such as the Internet, e-mail, automatic distribution of news and advertisements have been diversified, and the digital television environment has been developed as a core system of homes. There is a digital television printer system that prints a digital television program as prior art document information in such a field (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
The only printing medium output by the printing device in such a conventional digital television system is paper.
[0004]
On the other hand, disk recording such as a DVD (digital versatile disc) has already become widespread as a television program recording device, and it is expected that the environment of digital television + DVD recorder + printer will become more and more common in the future. In such an environment, a request to print recorded contents such as a title on a disk medium on which a television broadcast or the like is recorded naturally occurs.
[0005]
In the case of a CD-R / RW (CD-Recordable, CD-ReWritable), a method of printing on a surface-treated disk medium for printing using a personal computer and a printer having a mechanism for printing the disk medium is used. It was mainstream.
[0006]
However, in view of the widespread use as a television system that is a household device, it is desirable that a printing device can be directly connected to a broadcast receiving device without using a personal computer. That is, in a recent digital television or the like in which television broadcasting and data broadcasting have been integrated, it is possible to send data related to the program to a broadcast receiving device along with the recorded program and print the data. In this case, being directly connectable to a broadcast receiving device is very convenient.
[0007]
By the way, some expensive paper such as specialty paper is used. However, in general, even if the printing fails, it is sufficient to perform the printing again, and there is no fatal situation. In addition, since the cost of the medium for printing on the conventional CD-R / RW medium is low and the data can be copied using a personal computer, even if the printing fails, the data is copied to a new medium again. It can also be printed. However, DVD media that can record television programs are expensive, and depending on the content of the recording, data may not be duplicated due to copyright protection. For example, copyright-free (for example, copying within a certain range without permission is permitted. However, since the medium has a large capacity, there is a limitation that a personal computer needs appropriate facilities to perform copying. For this reason, failure of printing on a DVD medium or the like is much more unacceptable than paper or CD-R / RW media.
[0008]
In such a digital television system, services of automatic distribution and automatic printing of news and advertisements can be considered, but in this case, printing is performed at a timing that the user is not conscious of. Therefore, when the user is performing a print operation on the disk medium or when the disk medium is accidentally left in the disk medium, it is absolutely necessary to avoid performing a printing process that should not be performed on the disk medium. .
[0009]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-094917 (page 15, FIG. 3)
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, there has been no control means for controlling printing permission and prohibition according to the type of print medium in such a television printer system, and the possibility of printing failure has been high.
[0011]
An object of the present invention is to provide a print control apparatus and a control method for printing on a disk medium in a television printer system or the like.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention includes a mode for printing on a sheet-like medium such as paper and a mode for printing on a disk medium. In the case of the mode for printing on a disk medium, an instruction to print on a disk medium is provided. A print control method that does not execute a print process other than the performed print data.
[0013]
With the above configuration, it is possible to realize a printing failure avoiding method in printing on a disk medium in the television printer system.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The first aspect of the present invention includes a first print mode for printing on a sheet-like medium and a second print mode for printing on the surface of a digital data recording medium on which digital data can be read and written. What is claimed is: 1. A print control apparatus for use in a printing apparatus, comprising: a selection unit capable of selecting a print mode and a second print mode; and an input reception unit capable of receiving a plurality of print instructions. When the mode is selected, when a print instruction not instructing to print on the digital data recording medium is input to the input receiving unit, the print control unit includes a print control unit that avoids a printing process. A print control device that monitors input data in a state where the second print mode is selected, and instructs printing on a digital data recording medium. No print instruction, for example, when the print instruction to the sheet-like medium is inputted, has the effect of detecting the input data, to avoid printing on the digital data recording medium.
[0015]
Here, avoiding printing includes mechanically interrupting and interrupting a print instruction.
[0016]
Further, the print instruction not instructing to print on the digital data recording medium includes, in addition to the print instruction for the sheet-like medium, a case where the instruction is not specified by default (initial setting).
[0017]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the selection unit is a unit that switches a transport path provided in the printing apparatus, and the print control unit is configured to switch between the second printing mode and the second printing mode. At this time, when a print instruction not instructing printing on the digital data recording medium is input to the input receiving unit, the selection of the second print mode by the selection unit is released, and the first print mode is selected. 2. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a function of holding a print instruction that is not instructed to print on a digital data recording medium until the print control is performed. Is mechanically released so that the digital data recording medium cannot be transported. Further, since the print instruction is held, the digital data recording medium is taken out from the printing apparatus, and after setting the sheet-like medium, printing can be performed without having to input again. The means for switching the transport path includes a mechanism for selecting and branching an optimal transport path from a plurality of different transport paths, as well as a mechanism for changing the form of the transport path, such as the height and width.
[0018]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the print control means, when the second print mode is selected by the selection means, receives a print instruction not instructing printing on the digital data recording medium. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a function of avoiding a printing process that does not instruct printing on the digital data recording medium when input is received by the input receiving unit, and providing a notification using the notification unit. Alternatively, the printing control device described in item 2 above has an effect of notifying an operator of an operation error and speeding up subsequent correction work. Here, the notification unit includes a unit that performs notification using sound, light, vibration, or the like, for example, a device using a light emitting element, a speaker, or a vibration motor.
[0019]
The invention according to claim 4 of the present invention comprises a first print mode for printing on a sheet-like medium and a second print mode for printing digital data on the surface of a readable and writable digital data recording medium. A printing control method for controlling printing using a printing apparatus including a selection unit capable of selecting a printing mode and a second printing mode, and an input receiving unit capable of receiving a plurality of printing instructions, the printing control method comprising: When the second print mode is selected and a print instruction not instructing to print on the digital data recording medium is input to the input receiving means, a print control method for avoiding print processing is provided. A print instruction that does not instruct to print on a digital data recording medium by monitoring input data while the second print mode is selected, for example, When the instruction to print Jo medium is inputted, it has the effect of detecting the input data, to avoid printing on the digital data recording medium.
[0020]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
[0021]
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 100 is a television broadcast receiving unit, 200 is a communication unit, 300 is an image supply device, and 400 is a printing device. The television broadcast receiving means 100 includes an antenna device and a tuner device. The tuner device may be provided inside the image supply device 300, or provided outside the image supply device 300 and connected to the image supply device 300. Is also good. The communication means 200 may be any means capable of data communication, such as IEEE1284, IEEE1394, USB, and the Internet, and is not limited to a specific communication protocol. Further, a plurality of these communication means may be provided. The image supply device 300 may be any device serving as a data supply source, such as a digital television (DTV) or a set-top box (STB).
[0022]
FIG. 2 shows a configuration diagram of the image supply device and the printing device of the printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 301 denotes an application for displaying a television broadcast and displaying or editing image and character data; 302, a conversion unit for converting data output from the application 301 into print description data that can be interpreted by the printing apparatus 400; Denotes a printer job issuing unit for issuing a printer job, 304 denotes a communication interface serving as a connection interface with the communication unit 200, and 305 denotes a buffer device used for converting and temporarily storing print description data.
[0023]
The application 301 may be provided in the terminal of each home as an electronic mail software, a WEB browser, a BML browser, a digital camera viewer, an image editor, etc. in addition to the display of the television broadcast. Some are provided as applications that deliver services. Further, the application 301 may directly output in the print description data format, in which case the conversion means 302 may not be used. The print description data includes a description about the type of the print medium.
[0024]
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 401 denotes a communication interface which is an example of an input receiving unit serving as an interface for connection with the communication unit 200, and 402 denotes a queue for accumulating printer jobs (queue: a mechanism which is processed in order from the one that arrived first). 403 is a print buffer for temporarily storing print description data, 404 is a printer control means for decoding print description data and managing the buffer of print description data, and 405 is for decoding print description data. An interpreter 406 is a rasterizer for rasterizing bitmap data based on the print data obtained from the interpreter 405, and a printer engine 407 is for printing the rasterized bitmap data on a print medium. The printer engine 407 includes a recording head, a recording color material storage room, a print medium transport unit, and the like. The transporting means may include both a transport path for paper and similar sheets and a transport path for disk media, or may include a mechanism for mechanically switching one of the transport paths to an effective state.
[0025]
When the user wants to print on paper or similar sheets, select the mechanism that transports the paper or sheet and perform printing, and when printing on disk media, select the mechanism that transports the disk medium. Perform printing. The transport mechanism is selected in accordance with, for example, differences in rigidity, shape, size, and the like of the printing target. For example, when paying attention to the rigidity of the print medium, when printing on a sheet-like medium having flexibility, a digital data recording medium such as a rigid disk medium is passed through a curved conveyance path using rollers or the like. When printing on a sheet, the sheet can be passed through a linear conveyance path.
[0026]
The method of selecting each mechanism of the selection unit provided in the printing apparatus 400 may be performed by software on the application 301 to operate the selection unit via the communication unit 200, or by a mechanical switching unit. The selection means may be switched directly. In either case, the user can switch between a print mode for paper or similar sheets (paper print mode) and a print mode for disk media (disk print mode) as necessary.
[0027]
In such a television printing system, by applying for an automatic delivery service to a service provider, a newspaper printing service for automatically receiving and printing data at a fixed time every day without a user setting each time, an advertisement printing service, Various automatic printing services such as services are available.
[0028]
The print control device performs print control according to the type of print medium according to the flowchart shown in FIG. When a print job occurs, first, the queue control unit 402 manages a queue and print description data (STEP 101). Next, the printer engine 407 checks whether or not printing is possible (STEP 102). If it is busy, it waits until printing becomes possible. If printing is possible, it is determined whether the current print mode is the paper print mode or the disk print mode (STEP 103). In the case of the paper print mode, the print description data stored in the print buffer 403 is transferred to the interpreter 405, the rasterizer 406, and the printer engine 407 (STEP 104), and then the print job is deleted (STEP 105). ). In the case of the disc printing mode, it is determined whether or not disc medium printing is designated as a printing medium (STEP 106). If a disk medium is specified as a print medium in the print description data, the printing process is performed (STEP104, STEP105). If another print medium is specified, the printer job and the print description data are discarded (STEP105). .
[0029]
The function of performing these controls can be provided as a program in a part of the application 103. Further, the program or the circuit can be provided in the printing apparatus 400. The print control unit is configured by the function of performing the determination in STEP 103 and the processing in STEP 105.
[0030]
(Embodiment 2)
The print control apparatus according to the second embodiment uses the print control apparatus according to the first embodiment, but the control procedure is partially different. The print control apparatus according to the second embodiment performs print control according to the type of print medium according to a flowchart as shown in FIG.
[0031]
When a print job occurs, first, the queue control unit 402 manages a queue and print description data (STEP 201). Next, the printer engine 407 checks whether printing is possible (STEP 202). If it is busy, the printer engine 407 waits until printing is possible. If printing is possible, it is determined whether the current print mode is the paper print mode or the disk print mode (STEP 203). In the case of the paper print mode, the print description data stored in the print buffer 403 is passed through the interpreter 405, the rasterizer 406, and the printer engine 407 to perform the printing process (STEP 204), and then the printer job and the print description data are deleted (STEP 205). ). In the case of the disc printing mode, it is determined whether or not disc medium printing is designated as a print medium (STEP 206). If a disk medium is specified as a print medium in the print description data, the print processing is performed (STEP 204, STEP 205). If another print medium is specified, the print processing is not executed and the print buffer 403 is stored. The print description data is held as it is. However, when the disk print mode is canceled and the paper print mode is selected, the print processing can be executed because the job is stored in the queue. The return destination after the determination in STEP 206 when the print description data is suspended may be, for example, STEP 202.
[0032]
The print control means is constituted by the judgment in STEP 206 and the function of holding the printer job and the print description data without deleting them.
[0033]
(Embodiment 3)
The print control apparatus according to the third embodiment uses the print control apparatus according to the first embodiment, but the control procedure is partially different. The print control apparatus according to the second embodiment performs print control according to the type of print medium according to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0034]
When a print job occurs, first, the queue control unit 402 manages the queue and the print description data (STEP 301). Next, the printer engine 407 checks whether or not printing is possible (STEP 302). If printing is possible, it is determined whether the current print mode is the paper print mode or the disk print mode (STEP 303). In the case of the paper print mode, the print description data stored in the print buffer 403 is passed through the interpreter 405, the rasterizer 406, and the printer engine 407 to perform the printing process (STEP 304), and then the printer job and the print description data are deleted (STEP 305). ). In the case of the disc printing mode, it is determined whether or not disc medium printing is designated as a printing medium (STEP 306). If a disk medium is specified as a print medium in the print description data, the print processing is performed (STEP 304, STEP 305). If another print medium is specified, the print processing is not performed and the light is emitted from a light emitting element or the like. Then, a notification means such as light, voice, or vibration is driven to notify the user (STEP 307). When the disk print mode is canceled and the paper print mode is selected, the job is stored in the queue, so that print processing can be executed. At this time, the driving of the notification means is stopped (STEP 308).
[0035]
The function of notifying using the notification unit in STEP 307 is configured as a part of the function of the print control unit that makes the determination in STEP 306.
[0036]
The digital television or set-top box has been described above as an example. However, it is apparent that application to a printing system connected to a personal computer is easy.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, there are provided a paper print mode for printing on paper or a similar sheet-like medium and a disk print mode for printing on the surface of a disk medium, and printing on the disk medium when the disk print mode is selected. When a print instruction not instructing to perform printing is input, a print failure avoiding method in printing on a disk medium can be realized by suspending a printing process not instructing printing on a disk medium. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an image supply device and a printing device of the printing system; FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of a printing control device of the printing system; 4 is an operation flowchart of the print control device of the print system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart of the print control device of the print system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
100 TV broadcast receiving means 200 Communication means 300 Image supply device 301 Application 302 Conversion means 303 Printer job issuing means 304 Communication interface 305 Buffer device 400 Printing device 401 Communication interface 402 Queue control means 403 Print buffer 404 Printer control means 405 Interpreter 406 Rasterizer 407 Printer engine

Claims (4)

A first print mode for printing on a sheet-like medium; and a second print mode for printing on the surface of a digital data recording medium capable of reading and writing digital data, wherein the first print mode and the second print mode are provided. A print control apparatus used in a printing apparatus including a selectable selection unit and an input reception unit capable of receiving a plurality of print instructions,
When a printing instruction not instructing printing on the digital data recording medium is input to the input receiving unit while the second printing mode is selected by the selecting unit, the printing process is performed. A print control device, comprising: a print control unit that avoids printing. The selection unit is a unit that switches a transport path provided in a printing apparatus, and the printing control unit is configured to control the digital data recording when the second printing mode is selected by the selection unit. When a print instruction not instructing printing on a medium is input to the input receiving unit, the selection unit cancels the selection of the second print mode until the first print mode is selected. 2. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a function of holding a print instruction not instructing printing on the digital data recording medium. The print control unit, when a print instruction not instructing to print on the digital data recording medium is input to the input receiving unit when the second print mode is selected by the selection unit, 3. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a function of avoiding a printing process not instructing printing on a digital data recording medium and notifying using a notifying unit. The printing apparatus is provided with a first print mode for printing on a sheet-like medium and a second print mode for printing digital data on a surface of a digital data recording medium capable of reading and writing, wherein the first print mode and the second print mode are provided. A print control method for controlling printing using a printing apparatus including a selection unit that can select a print mode and an input reception unit that can receive a plurality of print instructions,
When a printing instruction not instructing printing on the digital data recording medium is input to the input receiving unit while the second printing mode is selected by the selecting unit, the printing process is performed. A printing control method characterized by avoiding the printing.

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