JP2006172120A - Printer system, printing method, recording medium and program for the method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer system, a printing method, and a recording medium and a program for the method which have high convenience in communication between a printer and a host PC. <P>SOLUTION: The printer system performing printing by transmitting print data by radio communication to the printer from the host PC, is characterized in that the host PC side determines whether two-way communication by radio communication is available and transmits information to the printer, notifying that the two-way communication is available when available, and the printer side registers the identification information of the host PC which has transmitted the information notifying that the two-way communication is available. The printing method and the like are also provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer system, a printing method, a recording medium, and a program for transmitting print data by wireless communication.

  Conventionally, Bluetooth communication using a spread spectrum method in a frequency of 2.4 GHz band is used as one of wireless data communication. A unique 48-bit Bluetooth device address (hereinafter referred to as BD_ADDR) is assigned to the Bluetooth communication apparatus, and this BD_ADDR is notified at the time of connection, and link connection is performed.

  In Bluetooth communication, a profile corresponding to each use case is defined, and communication control is performed according to the profile. One of the profiles, Hardcopy Cable Replacement Profile (hereinafter referred to as HCRP), stipulates in detail a method related to communication between a host PC and a printer device or scanner device. Communication takes place. In HCRP, two channels are provided in the L2CAP layer, communication data is transmitted through the data channel, and various controls are performed through the control channel. Data flow control in the data channel gives the partner device the number of data bytes that can be received by the control device via the control channel as a credit, and the partner device transmits communication data through the data channel within a range not exceeding the given credit number. . The control channel is configured to receive the device ID of the printer apparatus.

  Next, a conventional status information communication method between the conventional host PC and the printer will be described. When the printer device and the host PC are connected by HCRP, status information can be transmitted from the printer device through the data channel in order to display the current state of the printer device on the host PC side. . However, there are devices that cannot normally receive the status information of the printer device depending on the difference in the specifications of the protocol stack software installed and used on the host PC side.

  The printer driver installed on the host PC side determines whether the protocol stack to be used can receive the status information of the printer device, and if it is determined that it can be received, The status information command is transmitted through the data channel, and the status information desired to be transmitted to the printer apparatus side is registered. The printer device checks the current status of its own device based on the received status information command. Based on the registered status information, the status information of its own device such as error information, ink remaining amount, battery remaining amount, etc. is stored in a predetermined format. Transmit by channel. On the host PC side, the status information transmitted can be displayed on a display device such as a monitor attached to the host PC to inform the user of the status of the printer device.

  On the other hand, if the printer driver determines that the protocol stack used by the host PC cannot receive the status information of the printer device, the printer driver does not send the status information command and receives the status information from the printer device. Can not accept.

  As described above, there are devices that cannot perform two-way communication with the host PC of the connection partner, and if status information is inadvertently transmitted from the printer device to a device that is not capable of two-way communication, a problem occurs in the connection partner device. It is possible.

  Therefore, in the host PC capable of bidirectional communication, a status information command is transmitted every time a link is connected, and bidirectional communication is performed. In order to always check the status of the printer device and to release the printer device so that it can be used for other devices, a link connection is generated at regular intervals, and a status information command is issued during the link connection. The process of sending and receiving status information data occurs.

  In a printer device that has multiple interfaces and the occupation state of the interface is switched by data communication from the host PC, if the data communication from the host PC occurs every time the connection is made, an inconvenient situation occurs in which the occupation state is temporarily switched. Was.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a printer system, a printing method, a recording medium, and a program that are highly convenient for communication between a printer apparatus and a host PC.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and in the printer system of the present invention, a printer system that performs printing by transmitting print data from a host PC to a printer device by wireless communication, the host PC side To determine whether bi-directional communication by wireless communication is possible, and if possible, transmits to the printer device that bi-directional communication is possible, and the bi-directional communication is possible on the printer device side. The identification information of the host PC that transmitted the message is registered.

  The imaging method according to the present invention is a printing method in which print data is transmitted from a host PC to a printer device by wireless communication and printing is performed, and whether or not bidirectional communication by wireless communication is possible on the host PC side. The step of determining, the step of transmitting that bi-directional communication is possible to the printer device if possible, and the identification information of the host PC that has transmitted that bi-directional communication is possible on the printer device side. And a step of registering.

  The recording medium according to the present invention is a computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute each step of the printing method according to claim 6 is recorded.

  A program according to the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute each step of the printing method according to claim 6.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a highly convenient printer system by reducing the number of data transmissions by registering a device capable of bidirectional communication in the printer device.

  Embodiments in which the present invention is applied to a printer apparatus will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of the configuration of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a printer apparatus 1. In FIG. 1, the printer apparatus 1 includes a printer control unit 105, a CPU 101, a flash ROM 103, a RAM 104, a wireless communication I / F control unit 102, a baseband unit 106, an RF unit 107, and an antenna 108.

  The flash ROM 103 stores a program for causing the CPU 101 to control the printer apparatus 1 and various operation tables. The object of the present embodiment can also be achieved by simultaneously providing a non-volatile memory such as a ROM and an EEPROM without using a flash ROM. The RAM 104 stores and uses various variables, control tables, temporarily used data, transmission / reception buffers for packet reception, and the like.

  The signal received through the antenna 108 is demodulated by the RF unit 107 and output to the baseband unit 106. The baseband unit 106 performs an error correction process on the demodulated data, and outputs normally received data according to the processing result to the wireless communication I / F control unit 102. Request retransmission. Further, the authentication request or encryption processing is performed on the counterpart device according to the security mode setting. Various controls, event processing, and data communication methods between the baseband unit 106 and the wireless communication I / F control unit 102 are transmitted and received in packet units in accordance with a host controller interface (hereinafter referred to as HCI) defined in the standard. .

  The HCI data transmitted from the wireless communication I / F control unit 102 is transferred to the baseband unit 106, added with an error correction code or the like to the output data, converted into a predetermined data format, and output to the RF unit 107. The RF unit 107 modulates the output data and transmits the data to another wireless communication device via the antenna 108.

  As for the data, the wireless communication I / F control unit 102 analyzes the packet data output from the baseband unit 106, and responds to link connection negotiation, service search response, connection negotiation in each protocol layer, data transfer, flow control, etc. Perform control processing.

  Similarly, the wireless device 2 on the connection partner side is also provided with a CPU 201, a wireless communication I / F control unit 202, a ROM 203, a RAM 204, and an antenna 205. Various print data and control data are transmitted through the wireless communication I / F control unit 202 to the printer device. 1 is connected by wireless communication, and printing is performed by transmitting print data. The wireless device 2 includes a display device (not shown), and is configured to analyze the status information data received from the printer device 1 and display the status of the printer device.

  The operation at the time of HCRP connection in the printer apparatus 1 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 2 updates the registered flag in the return value of the device ID when the HCRP connection is made from the wireless device 2 to the printer device, and the registration full flag setting that is set when the maximum number that can be recorded in the printer device is reached. The flowchart of the process to perform is shown. In the printer apparatus 1, identification information by BD_ADDR or the like of a device capable of bidirectional communication by HCRP is recorded and stored in a nonvolatile memory or RAM. When the HCRP connection is made (S201), the registered flag is set (S203) depending on whether the device is registered based on the identification information of the wireless device connected to the printer apparatus 1 (S202). ). If not registered, the registered flag is reset (S204). Next, it is confirmed whether or not the maximum number that can be recorded in the printer apparatus 1 has been reached (S205). If the maximum number has been reached, a registration full flag is set (S206), and if it has not exceeded, it is reset (S207). In this way, a part of the device ID information is updated when the HCRP is connected.

  When the device ID is requested from the wireless device 2 through the HCRP control channel, the device ID value including the device name and the manufacturer name is returned in addition to the set registration information.

  Next, a device registration method capable of bidirectional communication in the printer apparatus 1 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The flowchart of FIG. 3 shows the processing of the printer apparatus 1 when a bidirectional communication enable command is transmitted from the wireless device 2 during HCRP connection. When the command is received (S301), the printer apparatus 1 checks whether the identification information of the wireless device has already been registered (S302). If the identification information has already been registered, the process is terminated as it is (S308). If it is not registered, it is confirmed whether or not the recording area of the printer 1 is all filled and the maximum number of registrations has been reached (S303). If the maximum number of registrations has been reached, one existing registration is deleted to secure the area (S304). As a method of deleting this registration, in addition to a method of deleting old information, a method of providing a priority order such as the number of times of connection and deleting from a lower priority order is also conceivable. In this way, the registration area is secured, and identification information of the connected unregistered device is registered (S305). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the maximum number of registrations has been reached (S306). If the maximum number of registrations has been reached, the registration full flag is updated (S307), and the process ends (S308). As described above, when a bidirectional command is received from the wireless device 2, the identification information of the device is registered in the printer apparatus 1.

  Next, the configuration of the printer driver in the wireless device 2 will be described. The printer driver is software that operates as an application in the wireless device 2 and has a configuration capable of transmitting print data to the printer apparatus. Further, the status information data received from the printer device 1 is analyzed, and the status of the printer device 1 is displayed on the display device of the wireless device 2. Further, the printer driver is configured to determine whether or not the wireless device 2 can perform two-way communication based on the print port information of the wireless device 2 and the information of the installed protocol stack.

  Next, the operation of the printer driver in the wireless device 2 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The printer driver is activated by a printing process by the user or a printer status confirmation process, and performs a connection process for the printer apparatus (S401). First, connection is made to the printer apparatus 1 by the procedure of link connection and HCRP connection (S402). Next, a device ID is requested from the printer apparatus 1 through the HCRP control channel to obtain the device ID (S403). Next, the printer driver confirms whether or not bidirectional communication is possible in the Bluetooth communication application installed in the wireless device 2 (S404). If bidirectional communication is impossible, no processing is performed. The process ends (S408). If it is determined that bi-directional communication is possible, the registered flag is confirmed from the device ID information that has already been acquired, and it is determined whether or not the device is already registered in the printer apparatus 1 (S405). ). If it has not been registered, a bidirectionally enabled command is transmitted to the printer apparatus 1 (S406). Thereafter, the status information transmitted from the printer apparatus 1 is received (S407), and the process is terminated (S408). When the status information can be received, the information is analyzed and the status of the printer device is displayed on the display device of the wireless device 2 to notify the user of the status of the printer.

  Next, the flow of communication between the printer apparatus 1 and the registered wireless device 2 will be described in detail with reference to the time chart of FIG.

  When a print command is issued by a user operation or the like from the wireless device, the wireless device 2 requests a link connection to the printer device (S501). The printer device acknowledges the link connection (S502), so that the link connection is established. Next, the L2CAP layer requests connection of the HCRP control channel (S503), and the printer device returns an affirmative response (S504), thereby establishing the control channel connection. Since the L2CAP layer needs to negotiate with each other for each connection, the parameters transferred in the control channel are negotiated. First, a negotiation for the control channel is requested from the wireless device side (S505), and the printer device side acknowledges this (S506), thereby completing the negotiation on the wireless device side. Similarly, a negotiation request is also made from the printer device side to negotiate its own parameters (S507), and when an affirmative response is made (S508), the negotiation is completed. Similarly, a connection request and a negotiation request are made for the data channel (S509 to S514), and the parameter negotiation in the data channel ends.

  Next, the wireless device 2 uses the control channel to request a device ID from the printer device (S515), and the printer device 1 sets the registered flag indicating that it is registered in the device ID. The ID is transmitted (S516). If not registered yet, registration is performed in the procedure of FIG. 3 by transmitting a bidirectional communicable command from the wireless device 2 through the data channel. As described above, when the data is not registered, data communication from the wireless device 2 to the printer device 1 using the data channel occurs.

The wireless device 2 confirms that its own device is registered in the printer device 1 as being capable of bidirectional communication, and gives the printer device 1 a credit for the number of bytes of a value that the own device can receive. 1 (S517), the printer apparatus 1 responds with an affirmative response (S518), and credits are given. The printer device 1 transmits the current printer status through the data channel using status information data (S519). The wireless device 2 can display the status of the printer by analyzing the received status information data.
In the case where the wireless device 2 always detects the state of the printer device, if the wireless device 2 is registered in the printer device once, the state of the printer device is changed without data communication through the data channel from the wireless device 2 side. It becomes possible to detect.

  In the above-described embodiment, each process shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 is realized by reading a program for realizing the function of each process from the memory and executing it by a CPU (Central Processing Unit). It is.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described configuration, and all or some of the functions shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 may be realized by dedicated hardware. The above-mentioned memory is based on a nonvolatile memory such as an HDD, a magneto-optical disk device, or a flash memory, a recording medium such as a CD-ROM that can only be read, a volatile memory other than a RAM, or a combination thereof. You may comprise from a computer-readable and writable recording medium.

  2 to 4 are recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium is read into a computer system and executed. Each process may be performed. Here, the “computer system” includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices. Specifically, a program read from a recording medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, and then the program is read based on the instructions of the program. It includes the case where the CPU of the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a recording medium such as a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, a CD-ROM, or a hard disk built in a computer system. Further, the “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a volatile memory (RAM) in a computer system that becomes a server or a client when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In addition, those holding a program for a certain period of time are also included.

The program may be transmitted from a computer system storing the program in a recording device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the “transmission medium” for transmitting the program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line.
The program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. Furthermore, what can implement | achieve the function mentioned above in combination with the program already recorded on the computer system, and what is called a difference file (difference program) may be sufficient.

Further, a program product such as a computer-readable recording medium in which the above program is recorded can also be applied as an embodiment of the present invention. The above program, recording medium, transmission medium, and program product are included in the scope of the present invention.
The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes designs and the like that do not depart from the gist of the present invention.

It is a figure which shows the outline of the whole structure of embodiment described in an Example. It is a flowchart demonstrated in an Example. It is a flowchart demonstrated in an Example. It is a flowchart demonstrated in an Example. It is a sequence chart demonstrated in an Example.

Explanation of symbols

1 Printer device 2 Wireless device 101 CPU
102 Wireless communication I / F control unit 103 Flash ROM
104 RAM
105 Printer Control Unit 106 Baseband Unit 107 RF Unit 108 Antenna 201 CPU
202 Wireless communication I / F control unit 203 ROM
204 RAM
205 Antenna

Claims (8)

A printer system that performs printing by transmitting print data from a host PC to a printer device by wireless communication,
Means for determining whether bidirectional communication by wireless communication is possible on the host PC side;
Means for transmitting that bi-directional communication is possible to the printer device if possible;
A printer system comprising: means for registering identification information of a host PC that has transmitted that bidirectional communication is possible on the printer device side.   The host PC connected to the printer apparatus is notified to the host PC side by adding to the device ID information whether or not identification information for the host PC is registered on the printer apparatus side. Item 2. The printer system according to Item 1.   When it is determined that the connection is from a host PC capable of bidirectional communication based on the identification information registered in the printer apparatus, the status information of the printer apparatus is automatically transmitted to the host PC by bidirectional communication. The printer system according to claim 1.   Even when it is determined that wireless communication is possible on the host PC side, device ID information is first received from the printer device, and identification information is registered on the printer device side in the received device ID information. 2. The printer system according to claim 1, wherein if it is confirmed, the fact that bidirectional communication is possible is not transmitted.   2. The device ID information includes indicating that registration is impossible when the maximum number of identification information of a host PC that can be registered in the printer apparatus is recorded. Printer system. A printing method for performing printing by transmitting print data from a host PC to a printer device by wireless communication,
Determining whether or not bidirectional communication by wireless communication is possible on the host PC side;
If possible, sending to the printer device that bi-directional communication is possible; and
And a step of registering identification information of the host PC that has transmitted that bi-directional communication is possible on the printer device side.   A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for causing a computer to execute each step of the printing method according to claim 6.   The program for making a computer perform each process of the printing method of Claim 6.

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