JP2007041840A - Maintenance system of printer, printer, portable terminal and server - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a maintenance system capable of obtaining detailed and the latest maintenance information with an inexpensive system configuration, and to provide a printer, a portable terminal and a server. <P>SOLUTION: When an abnormal state occurs, abnormality information showing abnormality contents and information for transmitting the abnormality information to a server 3 are output by a QR code. When a mobile printer 1 can perform printing, a user is made to select whether to perform printing or displaying on a liquid crystal panel of the mobile printer 1 so that the user can perform an output in his/her agreeable way. If the mobile printer 1 cannot perform printing, the QR code is displayed on the liquid crystal panel without user's selection. The user have only to pickup the QR code by a mobile phone 2. The abnormality information of the QR code is sent to the server 3 and measures against a trouble (maintenance information) is displayed on the display screen of the mobile phone 2. In addition, when a command (recovery information) has to be transmitted to the mobile printer 1 according to the abnormality contents, the command is transmitted. Additionally, the user can select whether to continue printing or stop printing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a maintenance system for a printing apparatus, a printing apparatus, a portable terminal, and a server, and in particular, a maintenance system for a printing apparatus that performs a measure for an abnormality of the printing apparatus, a printing apparatus, a portable terminal, and It is about the server.

Conventionally, when an abnormality occurs in a printing device, a simple message such as “Ink level is low” or “Paper jam” is displayed on the display device provided in the printing device. The contents of the abnormality were reported by printing. However, the detailed maintenance procedure for the abnormality needs to be printed on an instruction manual and notified to the user in advance. In recent years, a technique has also been proposed in which a maintenance procedure printed in an instruction manual or the like is provided on the WEB via the Internet (for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, the printer is equipped with a two-way communication means that can be connected to the network. When an error occurs, the server is notified of the error via the host, and the server sends a countermeasure to the host and further to the printer. There are some (for example, Patent Document 2). In addition, there is a printer that includes a bidirectional communication unit that can be connected to a network, and a printer driver provided in a user PC connected to the printer detects a printer error (for example, Patent Document 3).
JP 2001-344203 A JP 2004-240588 A JP 2003-108355 A

  However, in order to store a large number of messages in the printing apparatus, there is a problem that a large-capacity storage means is required and costs are increased. In addition, since the maintenance procedure cannot be communicated with only a simple message, displaying the maintenance procedure or using image data to make it easier to understand requires a large-capacity storage means, which increases costs. There is. In addition, when an instruction manual or the like is printed in advance and distributed to users, there is a problem that printing costs are incurred. Further, if a maintenance procedure is provided after printing, it cannot be known. There was a problem.

  Further, even when the maintenance procedure is provided on the WEB via the Internet as in the support method of the invention described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary for the user to input the content of the abnormality or the environment connected to the Internet. There is a problem that it is difficult to solve quickly. In addition, the information processing system described in Patent Document 2 and the device control apparatus described in Patent Document 3 have a problem in that it is necessary to provide a bidirectional communication unit that can be connected to a network to the printer, which increases costs.

  In addition, in order to display a large amount of information, that is, detailed explanations and images, on the display device provided in the printing device, a high-performance display device must be provided, and there is a problem that costs are increased.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides a maintenance system, a printing apparatus, a portable terminal, and a server capable of obtaining detailed and latest maintenance information with an inexpensive system configuration. The purpose is to do.

  In order to solve the above problems, in the printing apparatus maintenance system according to the first aspect of the present invention, a printing apparatus including a printing unit that performs printing on a printing medium, and a portable terminal capable of transmitting various types of information to the printing apparatus, A maintenance system for a printing apparatus that includes a portable terminal and a server capable of transmitting and receiving information, and that takes measures for an abnormality of the printing apparatus, wherein the printing apparatus detects abnormality of the printing apparatus; When an abnormality is detected by the abnormality detection means, a code creation means for creating at least a barcode or a two-dimensional code indicating abnormality information indicating the content of the abnormality, and the barcode created by the code creation means And output means for outputting at least one of the two-dimensional code, and recovery information reception for receiving recovery information, which is information for recovering an abnormality, from the portable terminal And recovery means for performing processing based on the recovery information received by the recovery information receiving means, and the portable terminal captures the barcode or the two-dimensional code output by the output means as an image Capture means; analysis means for analyzing the barcode or the two-dimensional code captured by the capture means to read the abnormality information; abnormality information transmitting means for transmitting the abnormality information to the server; Maintenance information receiving means for receiving maintenance information from the server, which is information relating to measures for abnormality information, and recovery for creating the recovery information to be transmitted to the printing apparatus based on the maintenance information received by the maintenance information receiving means An information creating means; and a recovery information transmitting means for transmitting the recovery information to the recovery information receiving means of the printing apparatus. The server includes a maintenance information storage unit that stores the maintenance information, an abnormality information reception unit that receives the abnormality information transmitted from the abnormality information transmission unit of the portable terminal, and the abnormality information reception unit that receives the abnormality information. Maintenance information determination means for determining the maintenance information to be transmitted to the portable terminal from the maintenance information stored in the maintenance information storage means based on the abnormality information, and the maintenance information determined by the maintenance information determination means Maintenance information transmitting means for transmitting to the maintenance information receiving means of the portable terminal.

  Further, in the printing apparatus maintenance system of the invention according to claim 2, in addition to the configuration of the invention of claim 1, the output means of the printing apparatus is the printing means.

  In the printing apparatus maintenance system according to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect of the invention, the printing apparatus includes a printing apparatus display means for displaying various information, and the output means. Outputs at least one of the barcode and the two-dimensional code created by the code creation means to at least one of the printing device display means and the printing means. In the output means, the barcode Alternatively, output destination selection means for selecting whether to output the two-dimensional code to the printing apparatus display means or the printing means, and the barcode or the two-dimensional code to the output destination selected by the output destination selection means And a first output control means for outputting.

  Further, in the printing apparatus maintenance system of the invention according to claim 4, in addition to the configuration of the invention of claim 3, the printing apparatus, when the abnormality is an abnormality that cannot be printed in the printing apparatus, The output means includes second output control means for outputting the bar code or the two-dimensional code to the printing apparatus display means.

  Further, in the printing apparatus maintenance system according to the fifth aspect of the invention, in addition to the configuration of the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the portable terminal is generated when printing is performed by the printing unit. When the maintenance information for the abnormality is received by the maintenance information receiving unit, the maintenance information is provided with a print continuation selection unit that selects whether to continue or cancel the printing, and the maintenance information stops or cancels the printing. Including at least selection instruction information for instructing that the print continuation selection unit selects the information, and the recovery information includes at least information indicating that the printing is continued or information indicating that the printing is to be stopped. Features.

  In the printing apparatus maintenance system according to the sixth aspect of the invention, in addition to the configuration of the invention according to the fifth aspect, the maintenance information includes control information for operating the print continuation selection means of the portable terminal. It is characterized by that.

  In the maintenance system for a printing apparatus according to a seventh aspect of the invention, in addition to the configuration of the invention according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the maintenance information is an abnormality indicating a method for recovering the abnormality. Including at least one of recovery information and an abnormal recovery information code indicating the abnormal recovery information, wherein the mobile terminal receives mobile terminal display means for displaying various information, and the maintenance information is received by the maintenance information receiving means Abnormality recovery information display control means for displaying the abnormality recovery information included in the maintenance information or the abnormality recovery information indicated by the abnormality recovery information code included in the maintenance information on the portable terminal display means; It is characterized by having.

  In the printing apparatus maintenance system according to the eighth aspect of the invention, in addition to the configuration of the invention according to the seventh aspect, the maintenance information includes control information for operating the abnormality recovery information display control means of the portable terminal. It is characterized by including.

  In the printing apparatus maintenance system according to the ninth aspect of the invention, in addition to the configuration of the invention according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, the printing apparatus detects the remaining amount of consumables of the printing apparatus. The abnormality detection means detects an abnormality when the remaining amount of the consumable is less than a predetermined amount or less than a predetermined amount by the remaining amount detection means. And

  In the printing apparatus maintenance system according to the tenth aspect, in addition to the configuration according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, the barcode or the two-dimensional code includes the abnormality information. Transmission information that is information for transmitting the abnormality information to the server is included, and the abnormality information transmitting means transmits the abnormality information to the server based on the transmission information. .

  In the printing apparatus maintenance system according to an eleventh aspect, in addition to the configuration of the tenth aspect, the transmission information is a URL of the server.

  Further, in the printing apparatus maintenance system according to the twelfth aspect of the invention, in addition to the configuration of the invention of the tenth aspect, the transmission information is an e-mail address addressed to the server.

  According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus including a printing unit that performs printing on a printing medium, and capable of receiving various types of information from a portable terminal capable of capturing an image, An abnormality detecting means for detecting the error, a code creating means for creating a barcode or a two-dimensional code indicating at least abnormality information indicating the content of the abnormality when the abnormality is detected by the abnormality detecting means, and the code creating means Output means for outputting at least one of the bar code and the two-dimensional code created by the above, recovery information receiving means for receiving recovery information as information for recovering an abnormality from the portable terminal, and reception of the recovery information Recovery means for performing processing based on the recovery information received by the means.

  According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the thirteenth aspect, the output means is the printing means.

  According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the thirteenth aspect, the printing apparatus includes a printing apparatus display means for displaying various information, and the output means is created by the code creation means. Output at least one of the bar code and the two-dimensional code to at least one of the printing device display unit and the printing unit, and the output unit prints the bar code or the two-dimensional code. Output destination selection means for selecting which of the apparatus display means and the printing means to output, and first output control means for outputting the barcode or the two-dimensional code to the output destination selected by the output destination selection means It is characterized by comprising.

  Further, in the printing device of the invention according to claim 16, in addition to the configuration of the invention of claim 15, when the abnormality is an abnormality that cannot be printed in the printing device, the output means causes the barcode or A second output control means for outputting the two-dimensional code to the printing apparatus display means is provided.

  In addition to the configuration of the invention according to any one of claims 13 to 16, the printing device of the invention according to claim 17 includes a remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of consumables of the printing device, The abnormality detection means detects an abnormality when the remaining amount of the consumables becomes less than a predetermined amount or less than a predetermined amount by the remaining amount detection means.

  In addition to the configuration of the invention according to any one of claims 13 to 17, the barcode or the two-dimensional code relates to a measure for an abnormality of the printing apparatus. In addition to the abnormality information, transmission information that is information for transmitting the abnormality information to a server that stores maintenance information that is information is indicated, and the abnormality information transmitting unit is configured to transmit the abnormality information based on the transmission information. Information is transmitted to the server.

  According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the eighteenth aspect, the transmission information is a URL of the server.

  According to a twentieth aspect of the invention, in addition to the configuration of the eighteenth aspect of the invention, the transmission information is an e-mail address addressed to the server.

  In the portable terminal according to the twenty-first aspect, various types of information can be transmitted to a printing apparatus including a printing unit that performs printing on a printing medium, and maintenance information that is information regarding a measure against an abnormality of the printing apparatus is stored. A portable terminal capable of exchanging information with a stored server, which is output to printing device display means for displaying various information provided in the printing device or printing means for printing on a printing medium, A capturing unit that captures, as an image, a barcode or two-dimensional code indicating the content of an abnormality that has occurred in the printing apparatus, and reads the abnormality information by analyzing the barcode or the two-dimensional code captured by the capturing unit. Analyzing means, abnormality information transmitting means for transmitting the abnormality information to the server, maintenance information receiving means for receiving the maintenance information from the server, and recovering the abnormality Recovery information creation means for creating recovery information, which is information for receiving the maintenance information, based on the maintenance information received by the maintenance information receiving means, and recovery information transmission means for sending the recovery information to the printing apparatus. A featured mobile terminal.

  According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the twenty-first aspect of the invention, the maintenance information receiving unit receives the maintenance information for an abnormality that has occurred when printing is performed by the printing unit. In the case where the printing has been performed, a printing continuation selection unit is provided for selecting whether to continue or cancel the printing, and the maintenance information instructs the printing continuation selection unit to select whether to continue or cancel the printing. The recovery information includes at least information indicating that the printing is to be continued or information indicating that the printing is to be stopped.

  In the mobile terminal of the invention according to claim 23, in addition to the configuration of the invention of claim 22, the maintenance information includes control information for operating the print continuation selection unit of the mobile terminal. And

  Further, in the portable terminal of the invention according to claim 24, in addition to the configuration of the invention according to any one of claims 21 to 23, the maintenance information includes abnormality recovery information indicating a method for recovering the abnormality, and The portable terminal includes at least one of an abnormality recovery information code indicating the abnormality recovery information, and the portable terminal displays the maintenance information when the maintenance information is received by the portable information display means for displaying various information and the maintenance information receiving means. Abnormality recovery information display control means for displaying on the portable terminal display means the abnormality recovery information indicated by the abnormality recovery information included in the maintenance information or the abnormality recovery information code included in the maintenance information. It is characterized by that.

  In the portable terminal of the invention according to claim 25, in addition to the configuration of the invention of claim 24, the maintenance information includes control information for operating the abnormality recovery information display control means of the portable terminal. It is characterized by.

  The portable terminal of the invention according to claim 26 is characterized in that, in addition to the configuration of the invention according to any of claims 21 to 25, the capturing means is a digital camera.

  According to a 27th aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the invention according to any of the 21st to 26th aspects, the mobile terminal includes a call means for making a call and a network connection means for connecting to a network. The server is connectable via a network.

  In addition to the configuration of the invention according to any one of claims 21 to 27, the portable terminal of the invention according to claim 28 includes a call means for making a call and an e-mail transmission / reception means for sending / receiving e-mail. It is a telephone and transmits and receives electronic mail to and from the server.

  In addition, in the mobile terminal of the invention according to claim 29, in addition to the configuration of the invention according to any of claims 21 to 28, the bar code or the two-dimensional code includes the server in addition to the abnormality information. Transmission information that is information for transmitting the abnormality information is included, and the abnormality information transmitting means transmits the abnormality information to the server based on the transmission information.

  Further, in the mobile terminal of the invention according to claim 30, in addition to the configuration of the invention of claim 29, the transmission information is a URL of the server.

  Further, in the mobile terminal of the invention according to claim 31, in addition to the configuration of the invention of claim 29, the transmission information is an e-mail address addressed to the server.

  A server according to a thirty-second aspect of the present invention is a server capable of sending and receiving information to and from a portable terminal capable of transmitting various types of information to a printing apparatus having printing means for printing on a printing medium. Maintenance information storage means for storing maintenance information, which is information relating to a measure for the abnormality, abnormality information receiving means for receiving abnormality information indicating the content of the abnormality that has occurred in the printing apparatus, and the abnormality information receiving means Maintenance information determining means for determining the maintenance information to be transmitted to the portable terminal from the maintenance information stored in the maintenance information storage means based on the abnormality information received by the maintenance information, and the maintenance information determining means Maintenance information transmitting means for transmitting the maintenance information thus transmitted to the portable terminal.

  In the server according to the thirty-third aspect, in addition to the configuration of the thirty-second aspect, the maintenance information instructs the portable terminal to select whether to continue or cancel the printing. It includes at least selection instruction information.

  Further, in the server of the invention according to claim 34, in addition to the configuration of the invention of claim 33, the maintenance information is a print continuation selection means for selecting whether to continue or stop printing in the portable terminal. It includes control information for operating.

  In the server of the invention according to claim 35, in addition to the configuration of the invention according to any one of claims 32 to 34, the maintenance information includes abnormality recovery information indicating a method for recovering the abnormality, and the maintenance information. It includes at least one of an abnormality recovery information code indicating abnormality recovery information.

  In the server of the invention according to claim 36, in addition to the configuration of the invention according to claim 35, the maintenance information in the portable terminal is the abnormality recovery information or the maintenance included in the maintenance information. Control information for operating an abnormality recovery information display control means for displaying the abnormality recovery information indicated by the abnormality recovery information code included in the information on the portable terminal display means is included.

  In the printing apparatus maintenance system according to the first aspect of the invention, the abnormality detection means of the printing apparatus detects an abnormality of the printing apparatus, and the code creating means detects the abnormality content when the abnormality detection means detects the abnormality. A barcode or two-dimensional code indicating at least abnormality information indicating the error is generated, the output means outputs at least one of the barcode and the two-dimensional code created by the code creation means, and the recovery information receiving means recovers the abnormality Recovery information, which is information to be received, is received from the portable terminal, and the recovery means can perform processing based on the recovery information received by the recovery information receiving means. Then, the capturing means of the portable terminal captures the barcode or two-dimensional code output by the output means as an image, and the analyzing means analyzes the barcode or two-dimensional code captured by the capturing means to detect abnormal information. , The abnormality information transmitting means transmits the abnormality information to the server, the maintenance information receiving means receives the maintenance information that is information related to the measure against the abnormality information from the server, and the recovery information creating means is received by the maintenance information receiving means. Based on the received maintenance information, recovery information to be transmitted to the printing apparatus is created, and the recovery information transmitting unit can transmit the recovery information to the recovery information receiving unit of the printing apparatus. The maintenance information storage unit of the server stores the maintenance information, the abnormality information receiving unit receives the abnormality information transmitted from the abnormality information transmitting unit of the portable terminal, and the maintenance information determining unit is operated by the abnormality information receiving unit. Based on the received abnormality information, maintenance information to be transmitted to the mobile terminal is determined from the maintenance information stored in the maintenance information storage means. The maintenance information transmission means carries the maintenance information determined by the maintenance information determination means. It can be transmitted to the maintenance information receiving means of the terminal. Therefore, the printing apparatus only needs to output a barcode or a two-dimensional code when an abnormality occurs, so there is no need to have a large-capacity storage means for storing all of the recovery methods for the abnormality. In addition, since the abnormality information indicating the content of the abnormality can be output as a barcode or a two-dimensional code, it is not necessary to transmit the abnormality information to another device, for example, a device instructing printing in the printing unit. It is not necessary to provide a communication means for performing bidirectional communication with other devices. Further, since it is not necessary to display all of the recovery methods for the abnormality in the printing apparatus, it is not necessary to provide a high-performance display means. Therefore, cost reduction can be achieved. In addition, when an abnormality occurs in the printing apparatus, the abnormality can be easily recovered by photographing a barcode or a two-dimensional code with a portable terminal.

  In addition, in the printing apparatus maintenance system according to the second aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the invention, the printing means provided as the original function of the printing apparatus can be used as the output means of the printing apparatus. .

  In the printing apparatus maintenance system according to the third aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the invention, the printing apparatus display means of the printing apparatus can display various information. The output means outputs at least one of the barcode and the two-dimensional code created by the code creation means to at least one of the printing apparatus display means and the printing means. The output destination selection means is the output means The bar code or the two-dimensional code is selected to be output to the printing apparatus display means or the printing means, and the first output control means outputs the bar code or the two-dimensional code to the output destination selected by the output destination selecting means. Can be output. Therefore, it is possible to select whether to display the abnormality information or to print it, and to output it to the preferred one. Further, the printing device display means only needs to be capable of outputting a bar code or a two-dimensional code. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a high-performance display means, and the cost can be reduced.

  Further, in the printing apparatus maintenance system according to the fourth aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the third aspect of the invention, the second output control means of the printing apparatus is an abnormality that the printing apparatus cannot print. In some cases, the output unit can output the barcode or the two-dimensional code to the printing device display unit. Therefore, even when an abnormality occurs in the printing unit, the occurrence of the abnormality and the content of the abnormality information can be output.

  In the printing apparatus maintenance system according to the fifth aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the print continuation selection means of the portable terminal performs the printing by the printing means. When the maintenance information for the abnormality that has occurred is received by the maintenance information receiving means, it is possible to select whether to continue printing or to cancel. The maintenance information includes at least selection instruction information for instructing the print continuation selection unit to select whether to continue or stop printing, and the recovery information is information indicating that printing is continued or printing is stopped. Information indicating the effect can be included at least. Therefore, if an abnormality occurs during printing, it is possible to select whether to continue or cancel the printing, and therefore it is possible to take a preferable action for the user depending on the state of the printing result.

  In the printing apparatus maintenance system of the invention according to claim 6, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 5, the maintenance information can include control information for operating the print continuation selection means of the portable terminal. . Therefore, a program such as an application that performs the operation as maintenance information can be downloaded from the server, and it is possible to select whether printing is continued or stopped in the portable terminal.

  In the maintenance system for a printing apparatus according to a seventh aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the invention according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the maintenance information includes abnormality recovery information indicating a method for recovering the abnormality. And at least one of an abnormality recovery information code indicating abnormality recovery information, the portable terminal display means of the portable terminal displays various information, and the abnormality recovery information display control means receives the maintenance information by the maintenance information receiving means In this case, the error recovery information included in the maintenance information or the error recovery information indicated by the error recovery information code included in the maintenance information can be displayed on the portable terminal display means. Accordingly, since a method for recovering the abnormality is displayed on the portable terminal, the user can deal with the abnormality of the printing apparatus while viewing the method. Further, when the abnormality recovery information is stored in the server, the abnormality recovery information can be easily maintained with the latest information.

  In the printing apparatus maintenance system according to the eighth aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the seventh aspect of the invention, the maintenance information includes control information for operating the abnormality recovery information display control means of the portable terminal. Can do. Therefore, since a program such as an application for displaying the abnormality recovery information as the maintenance information can be downloaded from the server, various methods for recovering the abnormality can be produced and displayed in an easy-to-understand manner for the user.

  In the printing apparatus maintenance system according to the ninth aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the invention according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, the remaining amount detection means of the printing apparatus is configured to provide a remaining amount of consumables for the printing apparatus. The amount can be detected. The abnormality detection means can detect an abnormality when the remaining amount of the consumables is less than a predetermined amount or less than the predetermined amount by the remaining amount detection means. Can know.

  In addition, in the printing apparatus maintenance system according to the tenth aspect, in addition to the effect of the invention according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, the barcode or the two-dimensional code includes the abnormality information and the server. Transmission information which is information for transmitting the abnormality information is included, and the abnormality information transmitting means can transmit the abnormality information to the server based on the transmission information. Therefore, the portable terminal does not need to have transmission information to the server.

  In addition, in the printing apparatus maintenance system according to the eleventh aspect, in addition to the effect of the tenth aspect, the transmission information can be the URL of the server. Abnormal information can be transmitted.

  In addition, in the printing apparatus maintenance system according to the twelfth aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the tenth aspect of the invention, the transmission information can be an e-mail address addressed to the server. Can be sent.

  In the printing apparatus according to the thirteenth aspect, the abnormality detection means detects an abnormality of the printing apparatus, and the code creating means indicates abnormality information indicating the content of the abnormality when the abnormality detection means detects the abnormality. A bar code or a two-dimensional code indicating at least the output, the output means outputs at least one of the bar code and the two-dimensional code created by the code creating means, and the recovery information receiving means provides information for recovering the abnormality The recovery information can be received from the portable terminal, and the recovery means can perform processing based on the recovery information received by the recovery information receiving means. Therefore, the printing apparatus only needs to output a barcode or a two-dimensional code when an abnormality occurs, so there is no need to have a large-capacity storage means for storing all of the recovery methods for the abnormality. In addition, since the abnormality information indicating the content of the abnormality can be output as a barcode or a two-dimensional code, it is not necessary to transmit the abnormality information to another device, for example, a device instructing printing in the printing unit. It is not necessary to provide a communication means for performing bidirectional communication with other devices. Further, since it is not necessary to display all of the recovery methods for the abnormality in the printing apparatus, it is not necessary to provide a high-performance display means. Therefore, cost reduction can be achieved.

  In addition, in the printing apparatus according to the fourteenth aspect, in addition to the effect of the invention according to the thirteenth aspect, printing means provided as an original function of the printing apparatus can be used as output means.

  Further, in the printing apparatus according to the fifteenth aspect, in addition to the effect of the invention according to the thirteenth aspect, the printing apparatus display means can display various information. The output means outputs at least one of the barcode and the two-dimensional code created by the code creation means to at least one of the printing apparatus display means and the printing means. The output destination selection means is the output means The bar code or the two-dimensional code is selected to be output to the printing apparatus display means or the printing means, and the first output control means outputs the bar code or the two-dimensional code to the output destination selected by the output destination selecting means. Can be output. Therefore, it is possible to select whether to display the abnormality information or to print it, and to output it to the preferred one. Further, the printing device display means only needs to be capable of outputting a bar code or a two-dimensional code. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a high-performance display means, and the cost can be reduced.

  In addition to the effect of the invention of the fifteenth aspect, in the printing device of the invention according to the sixteenth aspect, the second output control means uses the output means when the abnormality is an abnormality that cannot be printed in the printing apparatus. A bar code or a two-dimensional code can be output to the printing device display means. Therefore, even when an abnormality occurs in the printing unit, the occurrence of the abnormality and the content of the abnormality information can be output.

  In the printing apparatus according to the seventeenth aspect, in addition to the effect of the invention according to any one of the thirteenth to sixteenth aspects, the remaining amount detecting means can detect the remaining amount of the consumables of the printing apparatus. it can. The abnormality detection means can detect an abnormality when the remaining amount of the consumables is less than a predetermined amount or less than the predetermined amount by the remaining amount detection means. Can know.

  In the printing apparatus according to the eighteenth aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the invention according to any of the thirteenth to seventeenth aspects, the barcode or the two-dimensional code includes information relating to a measure for an abnormality of the printing apparatus. Transmission information that is information for transmitting the abnormality information to the server that stores the maintenance information is shown in addition to the abnormality information, and the abnormality information transmitting means may transmit the abnormality information to the server based on the transmission information. it can. Therefore, the portable terminal does not need to have transmission information to the server.

  In the printing apparatus of the invention according to claim 19, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 18, the transmission information can be the URL of the server. Can be sent.

  In the printing apparatus of the invention according to claim 20, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 18, since the transmission information can be an e-mail address addressed to the server, it is possible to easily transmit abnormality information. Can do.

  In the portable terminal of the invention according to claim 21, the capture means is output to a printing device display means for displaying various information provided in the printing device or a printing means for printing on a printing medium, A barcode or two-dimensional code indicating the content of the abnormality that has occurred in the printing apparatus is captured as an image, and the analysis means analyzes the barcode or two-dimensional code captured by the capturing means, reads the abnormality information, and transmits the abnormality information The means transmits the abnormality information to the server, the maintenance information receiving means receives the maintenance information from the server, and the recovery information creation means receives the recovery information that is information for recovering the abnormality by the maintenance information receiving means. Based on the maintenance information, the recovery information transmitting means can transmit the recovery information to the printing apparatus. Therefore, when an abnormality occurs in the printing apparatus, the abnormality can be easily recovered by taking in the barcode or the two-dimensional code with the portable terminal.

  In addition, in the portable terminal of the invention according to claim 22, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 21, the print continuation selection means receives maintenance information for an abnormality occurring when printing is performed by the printing means. When received by the means, it is possible to select whether to continue printing or to cancel printing. The maintenance information includes at least selection instruction information for instructing the print continuation selection unit to select whether to continue or stop printing, and the recovery information is information indicating that printing is continued or printing is stopped. Information indicating the effect can be included at least. Therefore, if an abnormality occurs during printing, it is possible to select whether to continue or cancel the printing, and therefore it is possible to take a preferable action for the user depending on the state of the printing result.

  In the portable terminal according to the twenty-third aspect, in addition to the effect of the twenty-second aspect, the maintenance information can include control information for operating the print continuation selecting unit of the portable terminal. Therefore, a program such as an application that performs the operation as maintenance information can be downloaded from the server, and it is possible to select whether printing is continued or stopped in the portable terminal.

  In the mobile terminal of the invention according to claim 24, in addition to the effect of the invention according to any of claims 21 to 23, the maintenance information includes abnormality recovery information and abnormality recovery indicating a method for recovering the abnormality. Including at least one of an abnormality recovery information code indicating information, the portable terminal display means displays various information, and the abnormality recovery information display control means is included in the maintenance information when the maintenance information is received by the maintenance information receiving means The error recovery information indicated by the error recovery information code included in the error recovery information or the maintenance information can be displayed on the portable terminal display means. Accordingly, since a method for recovering the abnormality is displayed on the portable terminal, the user can deal with the abnormality of the printing apparatus while viewing the method. Further, when the abnormality recovery information is stored in the server, the abnormality recovery information can be easily maintained with the latest information.

  In the mobile terminal of the invention according to claim 25, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 24, the maintenance information can include control information for operating the abnormality recovery information display control means of the mobile terminal. Therefore, since a program such as an application for displaying the abnormality recovery information as the maintenance information can be downloaded from the server, various methods for recovering the abnormality can be produced and displayed in an easy-to-understand manner for the user.

  Further, in the portable terminal of the invention according to claim 26, in addition to the effect of the invention of any of claims 21 to 25, since the taking-in means can be a digital camera, the barcode or 2 Dimension code can be imported.

  In the mobile terminal of the invention according to claim 27, in addition to the effect of the invention according to any of claims 21 to 26, the call means can make a call and the network connection means can be connected to a network. It has a function as a telephone and can be connected to a server via a network. Therefore, since a commercially available mobile phone can be used as a mobile terminal, it is not necessary to prepare a terminal device that can be connected to the Internet or the like in order to know a countermeasure for the abnormality, and the countermeasure can be easily known.

  In the mobile terminal of the invention according to claim 28, in addition to the effect of the invention according to any of claims 21 to 27, the calling means can make a call and the e-mail transmitting / receiving means can send / receive e-mail. It is a mobile phone and can send and receive electronic mail to and from the server. Therefore, it is possible to easily know the coping method using e-mail.

  In the mobile terminal of the invention according to claim 29, in addition to the effect of the invention according to any of claims 21 to 28, in addition to the abnormality information, the barcode or the two-dimensional code sends abnormality information to the server. Transmission information, which is information for transmission, is included, and the abnormality information transmitting means can transmit abnormality information to the server based on the transmission information.

  Further, in the mobile terminal of the invention according to claim 30, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 29, since the transmission information can be the URL of the server, it is easy to connect to the server and send the abnormality information. The transmission does not need to have transmission information to the server in the portable terminal.

  In addition, in the portable terminal of the invention according to claim 31, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 29, since the transmission information can be an e-mail address addressed to the server, it is easily abnormal using e-mail. Information can be transmitted, and the mobile terminal does not need to have transmission information to the server.

  In the server according to the thirty-second aspect of the present invention, the maintenance information storage means stores maintenance information that is information relating to a measure for an abnormality in the printing apparatus, and the abnormality information reception means indicates the content of the abnormality that has occurred in the printing apparatus. The abnormality information is received from the portable terminal, and the maintenance information determining means determines the maintenance information to be transmitted to the portable terminal from the maintenance information stored in the maintenance information storage means based on the abnormality information received by the abnormality information receiving means. The maintenance information transmitting unit can transmit the maintenance information determined by the maintenance information determining unit to the portable terminal. Accordingly, since the maintenance information is stored in the server, it is not necessary to print a manual booklet or the like, so that the cost can be reduced and the maintenance information can be easily maintained.

  In the server according to the thirty-third aspect, in addition to the effect of the thirty-second aspect, the maintenance information is selection instruction information for instructing the portable terminal to select whether to continue or stop printing. At least. Therefore, the user can select whether to display the abnormality information or to print it.

  In the server according to the thirty-fourth aspect, in addition to the effect of the thirty-third aspect, the maintenance information operates a print continuation selecting means for selecting whether to continue or stop printing in the portable terminal. Control information to be included. Therefore, a program such as an application that performs the operation as maintenance information can be downloaded to the mobile terminal, and it is possible to select whether to continue or stop printing in the mobile terminal.

  In the server according to the thirty-fifth aspect, in addition to the effects of the thirty-second to thirty-fourth aspects, the maintenance information includes abnormality recovery information and abnormality recovery information indicating a method for recovering the abnormality. Can be included. Therefore, even if abnormality recovery information is stored in the server or stored in the mobile terminal, a method for recovering the abnormality is displayed on the mobile terminal. You can deal with it. Further, when the abnormality recovery information is stored in the server, the abnormality recovery information can be easily maintained with the latest information.

  In the server of the invention according to claim 36, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 35, the maintenance information is included in the abnormality recovery information or maintenance information included in the maintenance information in the portable terminal. The control information for operating the error recovery information display control means for displaying the error recovery information indicated by the error recovery information code on the portable terminal display means can be included. Therefore, since a program such as an application for displaying the abnormality recovery information as the maintenance information can be downloaded from the server, various methods for recovering the abnormality can be produced and displayed in an easy-to-understand manner for the user.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing the configuration of the maintenance system of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mobile printer 1, FIG. 3 is a plan view of the mobile printer 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view of the mobile printer 1 as viewed from an arrow direction A in FIG. 3. 5 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the mobile printer 1, FIG. 6 is an external view of the mobile phone 2 in an opened state, and FIG. 7 shows an electrical configuration of the mobile phone 2. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the server 3.

  First, with reference to FIG. 1, functions and relationships of the mobile printer 1, the mobile phone 2, and the server 3 in the present embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, the mobile phone 2 can print various data by transmitting print data to the mobile printer 1 using wired communication using a cable such as a USB standard or wireless communication such as IrDA or Bluetooth. . The mobile printer 1 prints the print data received from the mobile phone 2. Further, when an abnormality occurs, the mobile printer 1 prints or displays a QR code 10 indicating abnormality information indicating the content of the abnormality on the liquid crystal panel 48 (see FIG. 3). Since the mobile phone 2 includes a digital camera 29 (see FIG. 7), the QR code 10 printed by the mobile printer 1 and the QR code displayed on the liquid crystal panel 48 are photographed, captured, and recorded in the QR code. Information can be read.

  Further, the server 3 stores information (maintenance information) for dealing with the abnormality of the mobile printer 1. In addition to the abnormality information, information (transmission information) for transmitting abnormality information to the server 3 is recorded in the QR code. In the present embodiment, a URL for connecting to the server 3 is recorded as the transmission information. The mobile phone 2 can be connected to the Internet 4, the QR code is analyzed by the mobile phone 2, and the abnormal information is transmitted by connecting to the server 3 via the Internet 4. In the server 3 that has received the abnormality information, the maintenance information for the abnormality indicated by the abnormality information is read and transmitted to the mobile phone 2.

  Then, the mobile phone 2 deals with the abnormality based on the maintenance information received from the server 3. The maintenance information includes a method for canceling the abnormality of the mobile printer 1 with characters and images and an application for displaying those characters and images on the screen of the mobile phone 2. Depending on the contents of the abnormality, the application included in the maintenance information not only displays characters and images, but also deletes the command (recovery information) for restarting printing to the mobile printer 1 and the print data. It also has a function of transmitting a command to cancel (recovery information) and a function of allowing the user to select an operation such as resuming printing or canceling printing.

  Next, the mobile printer 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the main body case 12 of the mobile printer 1 has a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, the length in the longitudinal direction is about 16 cm, and the length in the short direction is about 10 cm. It has a size of A6 size, a thickness of about 2 cm, and a rectangular parallelepiped shape with an open upper surface. The main body case 12 has case side surfaces 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d, and is provided on a control board arranged in the main body case 12 along the longitudinal direction of the case side surface 12a at a substantially middle portion of the case side surface 12a. A hole for exposing each of the formed parts is formed. In these holes, from the right-hand side of the case side surface 12a in the drawing, an AC adapter connector 45 for receiving power supply, a USB connector 81 for communicating with an external device based on the USB standard, an infrared ray with the external device An infrared communication port 52 for performing communication and a power switch 53 for turning on / off the power of the mobile printer 1 are provided.

  Further, on the upper surface of the main body case 12, a fixed cover 13 having a size that occupies about 1/4 of the upper surface of the main body near one edge of the main body case 12 in the longitudinal direction, and a storage portion 15 is formed in a portion other than that. Has been. Inside the main body case 12 covered with the fixed cover 13, a printing mechanism unit 11 described later is provided. Further, the print mechanism unit 11 is provided with a paper discharge unit 54 for discharging the recording medium from the mobile printer 1 after printing at the edge of the fixed cover 13 on the storage unit 15 side. Further, a case cover 14 is provided so as to cover the storage portion 15. As shown in FIG. 3, a liquid crystal panel 48 and an input button 49 are provided on the upper surface of the case cover 14. The input button 49 includes a left arrow button, a right arrow button, and a selection button. The left arrow button and the right arrow button move the cursor between items displayed on the liquid crystal panel 48 to select the input button 49. Confirm the selection with the button.

  The storage portion 15 is provided in a portion of the upper surface of the main body case 12 except the fixed cover 13 at a position lower than the fixed cover 13 by the thickness of the case cover 14 in a U-shape with the direction of the fixed cover 13 as an opening. A top surface portion 15f, a bottom surface portion 15a that faces the opening and forms the bottom surface of the recess portion provided at the center of the top surface portion 15f, and a side surface portion 15b that surrounds the four sides of the bottom surface portion 15a and forms the side surface of the recess portion. , 15c, 15d, and 15e. The bottom surface portion 15a is approximately A7 size, and stores a paper package (not shown) that stores heat-sensitive cut paper.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the mobile printer 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the mobile printer 1 is provided with a CPU 80 for processing print data and controlling the operation of the mobile printer 1. The CPU 80 is provided with a feed motor drive circuit 40 and a thermal head control circuit 42, a step motor 89 is connected to the feed motor drive circuit 40, and a thermal head 41 is connected to the thermal head control circuit 42. Yes. These motor drive circuit 40, step motor 89, thermal head control circuit 42, and thermal head 41 are provided in the printing mechanism section 11, and the feed motor drive circuit 40 drives the step motor 89 based on control from the CPU 80. Then, the cut sheets stacked in the sheet package are conveyed, separated into one sheet by the sheet feeding roller, the separation unit, and the guide plate, and conveyed to the platen roller. Then, based on the control of the CPU 80, the thermal head control circuit 42 drives the thermal head 41 pressed in the platen roller direction on the platen roller by the biasing force of the spring, and thermal printing is performed.

  The CPU 80 is connected to a USB I / F drive circuit 82 which is an interface circuit for performing communication based on the USB standard with an external device, and is connected to the USB connector 81 from this circuit. The CPU 80 is connected to an IrDA modulation / demodulation circuit 83 which is an interface circuit for performing communication based on the IrDA standard with external devices. The IrDA modulation / demodulation circuit 83 is connected to the IrDA light emitting / receiving element 84 disposed in the vicinity of the edge portion in contact with the case side surface 12a on the control board, and is provided at a position facing the IrDA light receiving / emitting element 84 on the case side surface 12a. Infrared data is exchanged with an external device through the infrared communication port 52. Therefore, the print data created by the cellular phone 2 is input to the CPU 80 via the USB I / F drive circuit 82 via the USB connector 81 in the case of wired communication, and IrDA via the infrared communication port 52 in the case of wireless communication. The signal is input to the CPU 80 via the modulation / demodulation circuit 83.

  Further, the CPU 80 includes a power supply circuit 46 connected to a power switch 53 for turning on / off the power, an SRAM 43 for temporarily storing data when the CPU 80 processes data, a ROM 44 for storing a program executed by the CPU 80, A mode display LED 47 for displaying the operation status to the user, a liquid crystal panel 48 for displaying various information, an input button 49 for selecting information displayed on the liquid crystal panel 48, and a sheet mounted in the storage unit 15 It is connected to a paper cassette type sensor 50 for identifying the type of package and a paper remaining amount sensor 55 for detecting the remaining amount of paper. The ROM 44 stores a program for controlling the mobile printer 1, and the SRAM 43 stores a status code for each status abnormality and a URL for connecting to the server 3. When data is received, it is stored here.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the mobile phone 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 6, the mobile phone 2 includes a display screen 25, a numeric key input unit 73, a multi-button 74 having four-direction buttons and a determination button, a call start button 75, and a call end button. 76, a microphone 66, a speaker 65, function selection buttons 77 and 78, and an antenna 67 (see FIG. 7) are provided. The numeric key input unit 73 (see FIG. 7) is composed of the ten key input unit 73, the multi button 74, the call start button 75, the call end button 76, and the function selection buttons 77 and 78.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the mobile phone 2 is provided with a control unit 20 that controls the entire mobile phone 2. The control unit 20 includes a CPU 21, a RAM 22 that temporarily stores data, and a mobile phone. A ROM 23 storing a program for controlling the telephone 2 (including a list display program which is a main part of the present invention) and a clock function unit 24 are incorporated. The control unit 20 is connected to a key input unit 28 for inputting characters and the like, a melody generator 27 for generating a ring tone, a display screen 25, and a hard disk 26 for storing programs and various information. . The melody generator 27 is connected to a speaker 69 that generates a ringtone generated by the melody generator 27. The control unit 20 is connected to an I / F circuit 68 to which a digital camera 29 is connected.

  Further, the control unit 20 includes an analog front end 64 that amplifies the audio signal from the microphone 66 and the audio output from the speaker 65, and converts the audio signal amplified by the analog front end 64 into a digital signal and a modem. An audio codec unit 63 that converts the digital signal received from the unit 62 into an analog signal so that the analog front end 64 can amplify the signal, a modem unit 62 that performs modulation / demodulation, and amplification and detection of the radio wave received from the antenna 67. A transmission / reception unit 61 is provided for modulating and amplifying the carrier signal with the signal received from the modem unit 62.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the server 3 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, the server 3 is provided with a CPU 30 that controls the server 3. The CPU 30 includes a RAM 31 that temporarily stores various data, a ROM 32 that stores BIOS and the like, and data transfer. Is connected to an I / O interface 33 that mediates. A hard disk device 38 is connected to the I / O interface 33, and the hard disk device 38 is provided with a maintenance information storage area 380, a program storage area 381, and other information storage areas 382.

  In the maintenance information storage area 380, maintenance information that is information related to a method for dealing with an abnormality in the mobile printer 1 is stored. A program executed by the CPU 30 is stored in the program storage area 381, and other information used in the server 3 is stored in the other information storage area 382.

  In addition, a video controller 34, a key controller 35, a CD-ROM drive 36, and a communication device 39 are connected to the I / O interface 33, and a display 92 is connected to the video controller 34. Is connected to the keyboard 93, the router 91 is connected to the communication device 39, and can be connected to the Internet 4. The CD-ROM 94 inserted into the CD-ROM drive 36 stores a control program for the server 3. At the time of introduction, the control program is set up in the hard disk device 38 from the CD-ROM 94 and is stored in a program storage area. 381 is stored.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 9 to FIG. 11, a countermeasure for an abnormality that has occurred in the mobile printer 1 will be described. FIG. 9 is an image diagram of the selection screen 201 displayed as “out of paper”, and FIG. 10 is for selecting whether a QR code is printed or displayed when an abnormality occurs in a printable state. FIG. 11 is an image diagram of the output destination selection screen 481, and FIG. 11 is an image diagram of the selection screen 202 displayed as “paper size error”.

  First, with reference to FIG. 9, a description will be given of how to deal with an abnormality “out of paper” during printing. When the mobile printer 1 runs out of paper during printing and printing cannot be continued, it is detected as an abnormality, and a QR code describing the content of the abnormality and the URL for connecting to the server 3 is created. Since the mobile printer 1 cannot print due to “out of paper”, the QR code is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 48. Therefore, the user activates an application for handling a mobile printer error on the mobile phone 2 and shoots the QR code displayed on the liquid crystal panel 48. Then, the mobile phone 2 analyzes the information described in the captured QR code and connects to the server 3 via the Internet 4 according to the URL described therein. When the mobile phone 2 and the server 3 are connected, the server 3 requests the mobile phone 2 for abnormality information. Therefore, the server 3 requests the abnormality information described in the QR code (abnormality “out of paper occurred during printing”). Is transmitted).

  Then, in the server 3 that has received the abnormality information, the maintenance information corresponding to the received abnormality information is read from the maintenance information storage area 380 and transmitted to the mobile phone 2. The maintenance information includes an application that displays a selection screen 201 shown in FIG. 9 on the mobile phone 2 and transmits a command to the mobile printer 1 based on an input to the selection screen 201. As shown in FIG. 9, the selection screen 201 displays a message indicating the content of the abnormality “A paper could not be printed because it was out of paper. Furthermore, a “Yes” button and a “No” button are displayed. When the “Yes” button is selected on the selection screen 201, a “forced printing” command to be described later is transmitted to the mobile printer 1. When the “No” button is selected, a “memory clear” command to be described later is transmitted to the mobile printer 1. That is, when the user wants to continue printing, he / she only needs to newly set paper and select the “Yes” button. Further, if printing is to be stopped, a “No” button may be selected.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, a description will be given of a countermeasure when an abnormality “paper size is different” occurs during printing. In the mobile printer 1, when the size of the document printed when the printing instruction is issued and the size of the paper actually set in the mobile printer 1 are detected as abnormal. Then, a QR code describing the content of the abnormality and the URL is created in the same manner as the “out of paper” abnormality described with reference to FIG. Then, an output destination selection screen 481 shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 48. On the output destination selection screen 481, as shown in FIG. 10, the QR code output method “An error has occurred. Do you want to print the QR code to display the countermeasure? A message prompting you to select is displayed. Further, a “print” button and a “display” button are displayed. If “print” is selected by the input button 49, the created QR code is printed, and if the “display” button is selected, it is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 48.

  Then, when the QR code printed or displayed on the mobile phone 2 on which the application for dealing with the mobile printer error is activated is photographed, similarly to the “out of paper” abnormality described with reference to FIG. Abnormal information (a status code indicating the occurrence of an abnormality “the size of the document differs from the size of the set paper”) is transmitted. Then, in the server 3 that has received the abnormality information, the maintenance information corresponding to the received abnormality information is read from the maintenance information storage area 380 and transmitted to the mobile phone 2. The maintenance information includes an application that displays a selection screen 202 shown in FIG. 11 on the mobile phone 2 and transmits a command to the mobile printer 1 based on an input to the selection screen 202.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the selection screen 202 displays a message indicating the content of the abnormality “The document size is different from the paper size. Do you want to forcibly print?” And how to deal with it, and “Yes”. A button and a “No” button are displayed. When the “Yes” button is selected on this selection screen 202, a “forced printing” command to be described later is transmitted to the mobile printer 1. When the “No” button is selected, a “memory clear” command to be described later is transmitted to the mobile printer 1. That is, when the user wants to continue printing even if the paper sizes are different, or when he / she reloads the paper to match the size of the document, the user may select the “Yes” button. Further, if printing is to be stopped, a “No” button may be selected.

  Next, a command (recovery information) transmitted from the mobile phone 2 to the mobile printer 1 will be described while describing the printer instruction data 100 transmitted from the mobile phone 2 to the mobile printer 1 with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the printer instruction data 100. As shown in FIG.

  In the printer instruction data 100, as shown in FIG. 12, a value indicating the type of data is set in the first byte, a value indicating a maintenance command is set in the second byte, and print data is stored in the third and subsequent bytes. Set. The data types set in the first byte include “print data” and “maintenance data”, “print data” is indicated by “0”, and characters and images printed in the print data column after the third byte. Data is set. “Maintenance data” is indicated by “1”, and a value indicating a maintenance command is set in the maintenance command code field of the second byte. There are three types of maintenance commands: “memory clear”, “forced printing”, and “reset”. “Memory clear” is indicated by “0” and is a command for erasing print data stored in the mobile printer 1 and stopping printing. “Forced printing” is a command indicated by “1”, and is a command for starting printing of print data stored in the mobile printer 1. “Reset” is indicated by “2” and is a command for turning off / on the power of the mobile printer 1.

  Next, processing of the mobile printer 1 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. FIG. 13 is a flowchart of printer detection processing that is periodically performed in the mobile printer 1 to check for occurrence of an abnormality. FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating printer reception that is performed when the mobile printer 1 receives data from the mobile phone 2. It is a flowchart of a process.

  First, printer detection processing will be described with reference to FIG. In the printer detection process, as shown in FIG. 13, first, status detection is performed (S11). Here, various circuits and parts of the mobile printer 1 (feed motor drive circuit 40, step motor 89, paper cassette type sensor 50, etc.) and the remaining amount of paper (value of the remaining paper sensor 55) are listed. To be acquired. Then, it is determined whether or not there is an acquired status indicating “abnormal” (S12). Therefore, if “abnormality” has not occurred (S12: NO), this processing is terminated without doing anything.

  If an “abnormality” has occurred (S12: YES), a code indicating the abnormality is read from the SRAM 43, and the URL for connecting to the server 3 is also read from the SRAM 43 to create a QR code. (S13). In the creation of this QR code, when a status code and a URL are delivered to a library that creates a QR code by a known QR code creation method, a QR code on which the information is placed is created. The information (abnormal information) placed on the QR code uses a predetermined format. For example, the first to sixth bytes are the status code, and the seventh and subsequent bytes are the URL. Then, as a result of the status detection in S11, it is determined whether or not printing is possible (S14). If the error cannot be printed (S14: NO), the QR code cannot be printed and is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 48 (S18). Then, this process ends.

  If the error is a printable error (S14: YES), the output destination selection screen 481 (see FIG. 10) is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 48, and the input is accepted (S15). If “print” is selected on the output destination selection screen 481 (S16: YES), the QR code is printed by the printing mechanism unit 11 (S17), and this process ends. When “print” is not selected on the output destination selection screen 481 and “display” is selected (S16: NO), a QR code is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 48 (S18), and this process ends.

  As described above, the mobile printer 1 prints or displays a QR code when an abnormality occurs.

  Next, printer reception processing will be described with reference to FIG. This printer reception process is performed when some data is received via the USB connector 81 or the infrared communication port 52. As shown in FIG. 14, in the printer reception process, first, a data reception process is performed (S21), and it is determined whether or not the received data is maintenance data (S22). If the data type of the first byte of the received data is “1” and it is maintenance data (S22: YES), the maintenance command code of the second byte is “0” and whether or not memory clear is instructed. Is determined (S23). If the memory is cleared (S23: YES), the print data stored in the SRAM 43 is erased and the printing state is initialized (S26). Then, this process ends.

  If the maintenance command code of the second byte of the received maintenance data is not “0” but “1” and forced printing is instructed (S23: NO, S24: YES), the data is stored in the SRAM 43. Printing of the print data that has been performed by the printing mechanism unit 11 is started (S27). Then, this process ends. If the maintenance command code in the second byte of the received maintenance data is not “0” or “1” but “2” and a reset is instructed (S23: NO, S24: NO), A reset process is performed in which the power of the mobile printer 1 is turned off and turned on again (S28). In this case, the power-off instruction and the instruction to turn on the power again after the power-off process is completed are given to the power circuit 46. Then, this process ends.

  If the data type of the first byte of the received data is not “1” and is not maintenance data (S22: NO), the print data of the received data is print data with the data type “0”. The printing mechanism unit 11 starts printing (S25), and this process ends.

  As described above, when the mobile printer 1 receives the maintenance data for the QR code, the process based on the maintenance data is performed.

  Next, processing of the mobile phone 2 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 15 and 16. FIG. 15 is a flowchart of the mobile phone process, and FIG. 16 is a flowchart of the application process performed in the mobile phone process. The cellular phone process shown in FIG. 15 is started in the cellular phone 2 when the mobile printer error handling application is activated. First, a message prompting the user to capture the QR code is displayed on the display screen 25. When the QR code is captured by a user operation (S31), the information described in the QR code is analyzed (S32). For this analysis, a well-known library for analyzing the QR code is used. Then, connection is made to the server 3 indicated by the URL indicated after the seventh byte of the analyzed abnormality information (S33), and a status code is transmitted to the server 3 (S34). Then, maintenance information for the transmitted status code is received (S35), and application processing by the application included in the maintenance information is performed (S36). Then, this process ends.

  In the application process, as shown in FIG. 16, a screen showing a coping method (for example, the selection screens 201 and 202 shown in FIGS. 9 and 11) is displayed on the display screen 25 (S41). Then, it is determined whether there is an option button (for example, a “Yes” button or a “No” button on the selection screens 201 and 202) selected by the user on the screen displayed in S41 (S42). If there is no user selection (S42: NO), the user can deal with the abnormality by referring to the message or photo displayed on the screen displayed in S41, so this process ends and the mobile phone process is also completed. finish.

  If there is a user selection (S42: YES), selection input is accepted (S43). If the selected result is an action that requires command transmission (S44: YES), “1” indicating maintenance data in the data type of the first byte, and a value indicating a command corresponding to the maintenance command code of the second byte Is generated and transmitted to the mobile printer 1 (S45). In the selection screen 201 shown in FIG. 9, when “Yes” is selected, the “Forced printing” command “1” is set, and when “No” is selected, “Memory clear” is selected. Command “0” is set. Then, this process ends, and the mobile phone process also ends. If the command transmission is not necessary (S44: NO), the process is terminated as it is, and the mobile phone process is also terminated.

  In this way, the mobile phone 2 can capture the QR code output from the mobile printer 1 to transmit the content of the abnormality of the mobile printer 1 to the server 3 and obtain a countermeasure. Furthermore, a command can be transmitted to the mobile printer 1 so that the mobile printer 1 can be automatically treated.

  Next, processing of the server 3 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 17 is a flowchart of server processing. This server process is started when a status code is transmitted from the mobile phone 2 (FIG. 15, S34). First, status code reception processing is performed, and the status code is read from the received data (S51). Then, the maintenance information corresponding to the status code received from the maintenance information storage area 380 is retrieved and read (S52). Then, the read maintenance information is transmitted to the mobile phone 2 (S53). As described above, the server 3 returns maintenance information corresponding to the status code transmitted from the mobile phone 2 to the mobile phone 2.

  In this way, in the printing apparatus maintenance system of the present invention, when an abnormality occurs in the mobile printer 1, the content of the abnormality (status code) and information for transmitting the content of the abnormality to the server 3 are included in the QR code. Is output. At this time, if the mobile printer 1 is in a printable state, the user can select whether to print or display on the liquid crystal panel 48, and the QR code can be output to the user's preferred one. However, if the mobile printer 1 is not in a printable state, the QR code is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 48 without causing the user to select.

  Then, the user simply images the QR code with the mobile phone 2, and the status code included in the QR code is sent to the server 3, and a countermeasure for the abnormality is displayed on the display screen 25 of the mobile phone 2. Further, when it is necessary to transmit a command to the mobile printer 1 depending on the content of the abnormality, the command is transmitted. Further, in dealing with the mobile printer 1, the user can select whether to continue printing or cancel printing.

  Therefore, even if the mobile printer 1 does not have a function of transmitting information to other devices, the information can be output on the QR code, so that the manufacturing cost of the mobile printer 1 can be reduced. Further, since it is not necessary to display a lot of information on the mobile printer 1 and it is not necessary to provide a high-performance display screen, the cost can be reduced. Further, since it is not necessary to store a large amount of information in the mobile printer 1, the storage capacity can be reduced and the cost can be reduced. In addition, since the user can easily obtain a countermeasure by using the mobile phone 2, an environment without a terminal device such as a PC that can be connected to the Internet (for example, an abnormality in using the mobile printer 1 on the go) Occurrence)), it is possible to cope with the abnormality. In addition, since the manufacturer of the mobile printer 1 does not need to print a manual booklet or the like, the cost can be reduced. Further, since the maintenance information is stored in the server 3, the maintenance information can be easily maintained, and the latest maintenance information can be provided more quickly.

  In the above embodiment, the liquid crystal panel 48 corresponds to “printing device display means”, and the output destination selection screen 481 shown in FIG. 10 corresponds to “output destination selection means”. The CPU 80 that performs the process of S11 of the printer detection process shown in FIG. 13 corresponds to the “abnormality detection unit” and the “remaining amount detection unit”, and the CPU 80 that performs the process of S13 corresponds to the “code generation unit”, S17, S18 The CPU 80 that performs the process of FIG. 8 corresponds to “output means”, the CPU 80 that performs the processes of S16, S17, and S18 corresponds to “first output control means”, and the CPU 80 that performs the processes of S14 and S18 corresponds to “second output control”. It corresponds to “means”. The CPU 80 that performs the process of S21 of the printer reception process shown in FIG. 14 corresponds to the “recovery information receiving unit”, and the CPU 80 that performs the processes of S26, S27, and S28 corresponds to the “recovery unit”.

  Further, the digital camera 29 corresponds to “capture means”, the display screen 25 corresponds to “portable terminal display means”, the selection screen 201 shown in FIG. 9 and the selection screen 202 shown in FIG. It corresponds to. Then, the CPU 21 that performs the process of S32 of the mobile phone process shown in FIG. 15 corresponds to “analysis means”, the CPU 21 that performs the process of S35 corresponds to “abnormal information transmission means”, and the CPU 21 that performs the process of S34 “ Corresponding to “maintenance information receiving means”, the CPU 21 performing the process of S45 corresponds to “recovery information creating means”, the CPU 21 performing the process of S45 corresponds to “recovery information transmitting means”, and the CPU 21 performing the process of S41 This corresponds to “abnormality recovery information display control means”.

  The maintenance information storage area 380 of the hard disk device 38 corresponds to “maintenance information storage means”. 17 corresponds to “abnormal information receiving means”, S52 corresponds to “maintenance information determining means”, and S53 corresponds to “maintenance information transmitting means”.

  The printing apparatus maintenance system, printing apparatus, portable terminal, and server of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Of course. In the above embodiment, the mobile printer 1 is taken as an example of the printing apparatus. However, the printing apparatus is not limited to the mobile printer 1, and any printing apparatus such as a tape printer, a fixed thermal printer, an inkjet printer, or a laser printer may be used. There may be. In the above embodiment, the thermal transfer type mobile printer 1 is taken as an example, and the remaining amount of paper is detected as a consumable. However, the consumable is an ink jet printer, a tape printer or the like. The remaining amount of consumables used in each printing apparatus may be detected.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the mobile telephone 2 with a digital camera was mentioned as an example as a portable terminal, a portable terminal is not restricted to the mobile telephone 2 with a digital camera. For example, instead of a digital camera, a “handy scanner” may be provided as the “capture means”. Also, when exchanging information with the server 3, instead of connecting to the server 3 using a URL, the status code is written in the subject or body of the email and sent to the email address of the server 3, The server 3 may reply with the maintenance information described or attached to the transmitted e-mail. Therefore, the mobile terminal may be a small mobile terminal provided with a network connection means capable of connecting to the Internet instead of the mobile phone 2 or a small mobile terminal provided with an electronic mail transmission / reception means. In the above embodiment, the mobile phone 2 and the server 3 are connected via the Internet, but may be connected not in the Internet but in a LAN.

  In the above embodiment, the QR code is used as the two-dimensional code. However, the code describing the abnormality information and the information transmitted to the server may be a bar code or another type of two-dimensional code. Needless to say. Further, in the above embodiment, the abnormality “out of paper” and “paper size is different” has been described as an example, but it goes without saying that the content of the abnormality is not limited to this, and both cases are from the mobile phone 2. Although a command is transmitted to the mobile printer 1, there may be a procedure that does not involve command transmission. For example, if the mobile printer 1 is provided with a print start button and the “Yes” button is selected on the selection screen 201 for an abnormality “out of paper” shown in FIG. You may simply send a message such as “Please press the print start button”.

  There may be maintenance information that does not display the selection screen. In such a case, instead of sending the application as maintenance information, only text and image data may be sent and displayed on the display screen 25. For example, if it is abnormal that the remaining amount of paper is low, only a message indicating a paper setting method and a photograph or a moving image may be displayed.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the displayed message, image data, and application are all downloaded from the server 3 without being stored in the mobile phone 2, but are not necessarily downloaded from the server 3. 2 may be stored. At that time, the server 3 may transmit a message to be displayed and a code indicating an application to be activated (corresponding to “abnormality recovery information code”).

  Further, when there is a change in the information for connecting to the server 3 ("transmission information" such as URL and e-mail address), new transmission information and an application for rewriting old transmission information are transmitted as maintenance information. Also good. Similarly, maintenance information that rewrites a message to be displayed and an application to be activated stored in the mobile phone 2 may be transmitted.

  The printing apparatus maintenance system, printing apparatus, portable terminal, and server of the present invention are particularly effective for a printing apparatus that does not have a bidirectional communication function, but also in a printing apparatus that has a bidirectional communication function. It is valid.

It is a system configuration figure showing the composition of the maintenance system of this embodiment. 1 is a perspective view of a mobile printer 1. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a mobile printer 1. FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view of the mobile printer 1 as viewed from an arrow direction A in FIG. 3. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the mobile printer 1. FIG. It is an external view in the state which opened the mobile telephone 2. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the mobile phone 2. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a server 3. FIG. FIG. 11 is an image diagram of a selection screen 201 displayed as “out of paper”. FIG. 20 is an image diagram of an output destination selection screen 481 for selecting whether a QR code is printed or displayed when an abnormality occurs in a printable state. FIG. 10 is an image diagram of a selection screen 202 displayed with “paper size error”. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of printer instruction data 100. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of printer detection processing that is performed when an abnormality occurs in the mobile printer 1; 4 is a flowchart of printer reception processing that is performed when the mobile printer 1 receives data from the mobile phone 2. It is a flowchart of a mobile phone process. It is a flowchart of the application process performed in a mobile telephone process. It is a flowchart of a server process.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mobile printer 2 Mobile telephone 3 Server 4 Internet 11 Printing mechanism part 21 CPU
25 Display screen 30 CPU
38 Hard disk device 43 SRAM
44 ROM
48 LCD panel 55 Paper level sensor 80 CPU
100 Printer instruction data 201 Selection screen 202 Selection screen 380 Maintenance information storage area 481 Output destination selection screen

Claims (36)

A printing apparatus having printing means for printing on a printing medium, a portable terminal capable of transmitting various types of information to the printing apparatus, and a server capable of exchanging information with the portable terminal. A maintenance system for a printing device that performs an action,
The printing apparatus includes:
An abnormality detection means for detecting an abnormality of the printing apparatus;
A code creating means for creating a barcode or a two-dimensional code indicating at least abnormality information indicating the content of the abnormality when an abnormality is detected by the abnormality detecting means;
Output means for outputting at least one of the barcode and the two-dimensional code created by the code creation means;
Recovery information receiving means for receiving recovery information, which is information for recovering an abnormality, from the mobile terminal;
Recovery means for performing processing based on the recovery information received by the recovery information receiving means,
The portable terminal is
Capture means for capturing the barcode or the two-dimensional code output by the output means as an image;
Analysis means for analyzing the barcode or the two-dimensional code captured by the capture means and reading the abnormality information;
Abnormality information transmitting means for transmitting the abnormality information to the server;
Maintenance information receiving means for receiving, from the server, maintenance information which is information relating to a measure for the abnormality information;
Based on the maintenance information received by the maintenance information receiving means, recovery information creating means for creating the recovery information to be transmitted to the printing apparatus;
Recovery information transmitting means for transmitting the recovery information to the recovery information receiving means of the printing apparatus,
The server
Maintenance information storage means for storing the maintenance information;
Abnormality information receiving means for receiving the abnormality information transmitted from the abnormality information transmitting means of the portable terminal;
Maintenance information determination means for determining the maintenance information to be transmitted to the mobile terminal from the maintenance information stored in the maintenance information storage means based on the abnormality information received by the abnormality information receiving means;
A maintenance system for a printing apparatus, comprising: maintenance information transmitting means for transmitting the maintenance information determined by the maintenance information determining means to the maintenance information receiving means of the portable terminal.   The printing apparatus maintenance system according to claim 1, wherein the output unit of the printing apparatus is the printing unit. The printing apparatus includes:
Comprising a printing device display means for displaying various information;
The output means outputs at least one of the barcode and the two-dimensional code created by the code creation means to at least one of the printing device display means and the printing means,
In the output means, an output destination selecting means for selecting whether to output the barcode or the two-dimensional code to the printing device display means or the printing means;
The printing apparatus maintenance system according to claim 1, further comprising: a first output control unit that outputs the barcode or the two-dimensional code to an output destination selected by the output destination selection unit. The printing apparatus includes:
When the abnormality is an abnormality that cannot be printed in the printing apparatus, the output means includes second output control means for outputting the barcode or the two-dimensional code to the printing apparatus display means. The maintenance system for a printing apparatus according to claim 3. The portable terminal is
A printing continuation selection unit that selects whether to continue or stop the printing when the maintenance information receiving unit receives the maintenance information for an abnormality that has occurred when printing by the printing unit;
The maintenance information includes at least selection instruction information for instructing the print continuation selection unit to select whether to continue or cancel the printing,
The printing apparatus maintenance system according to claim 1, wherein the recovery information includes at least information indicating that the printing is continued or information indicating that the printing is stopped.   The printing apparatus maintenance system according to claim 5, wherein the maintenance information includes control information for operating the print continuation selection unit of the portable terminal. The maintenance information includes at least one of error recovery information indicating a method for recovering the error and an error recovery information code indicating the error recovery information,
The portable terminal is
Mobile terminal display means for displaying various information;
When the maintenance information is received by the maintenance information receiving means, the abnormality recovery information included in the maintenance information or the abnormality recovery information indicated by the abnormality recovery information code included in the maintenance information 7. The maintenance system for a printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an abnormality recovery information display control means for displaying on the terminal display means.   8. The maintenance system for a printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the maintenance information includes control information for operating an abnormality recovery information display control unit of the portable terminal. The printing apparatus includes:
Comprising a remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of consumables of the printing apparatus;
9. The abnormality detection unit according to claim 1, wherein the abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality when the remaining amount of the consumable is less than a predetermined amount or less than a predetermined amount by the remaining amount detection unit. The maintenance system of the printing apparatus in any one. The bar code or the two-dimensional code includes transmission information that is information for transmitting the abnormality information to the server in addition to the abnormality information.
The printing apparatus maintenance system according to claim 1, wherein the abnormality information transmission unit transmits the abnormality information to the server based on the transmission information.   The printing apparatus maintenance system according to claim 10, wherein the transmission information is a URL of the server.   The printing apparatus maintenance system according to claim 10, wherein the transmission information is an e-mail address addressed to the server. A printing apparatus comprising printing means for printing on a printing medium and capable of receiving various types of information from a portable terminal capable of capturing an image,
An abnormality detection means for detecting an abnormality of the printing apparatus;
A code creating means for creating a barcode or a two-dimensional code indicating at least abnormality information indicating the content of the abnormality when an abnormality is detected by the abnormality detecting means;
Output means for outputting at least one of the barcode and the two-dimensional code created by the code creation means;
Recovery information receiving means for receiving recovery information, which is information for recovering an abnormality, from the mobile terminal;
A printing apparatus comprising: recovery means for performing processing based on the recovery information received by the recovery information receiving means.   The printing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the output unit is the printing unit. Comprising a printing device display means for displaying various information;
The output means outputs at least one of the barcode and the two-dimensional code created by the code creation means to at least one of the printing device display means and the printing means,
In the output means, an output destination selecting means for selecting whether to output the barcode or the two-dimensional code to the printing device display means or the printing means;
The printing apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising: a first output control unit that outputs the barcode or the two-dimensional code to an output destination selected by the output destination selection unit.   When the abnormality is an abnormality that cannot be printed in the printing apparatus, the output means includes second output control means for outputting the barcode or the two-dimensional code to the printing apparatus display means. The printing apparatus according to claim 15. Comprising a remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of consumables of the printing apparatus;
17. The abnormality detection unit according to claim 13, wherein the abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality when the remaining amount of the consumable is less than a predetermined amount or less than a predetermined amount by the remaining amount detection unit. The printing apparatus in any one. The bar code or the two-dimensional code indicates, in addition to the abnormality information, transmission information that is information for transmitting the abnormality information to a server that stores maintenance information that is information relating to measures for the abnormality of the printing apparatus. Has been
The printing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the abnormality information transmitting unit transmits the abnormality information to the server based on the transmission information.   The printing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the transmission information is a URL of the server.   The printing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the transmission information is an e-mail address addressed to the server. A mobile terminal capable of transmitting various information to a printing apparatus having printing means for printing on a printing medium and capable of transmitting and receiving information to and from a server storing maintenance information that is information relating to a measure for an abnormality of the printing apparatus. There,
A bar code or a two-dimensional code that is output to a printing device display unit that displays various information provided in the printing device or a printing unit that prints on a printing medium, and indicates the content of an abnormality that has occurred in the printing device Capturing means for capturing images as images,
Analysis means for analyzing the barcode or the two-dimensional code captured by the capture means and reading the abnormality information;
Abnormality information transmitting means for transmitting the abnormality information to the server;
Maintenance information receiving means for receiving the maintenance information from the server;
Recovery information creating means for creating recovery information, which is information for recovering an abnormality, based on the maintenance information received by the maintenance information receiving means;
A portable terminal comprising recovery information transmission means for transmitting the recovery information to the printing apparatus. A printing continuation selection unit that selects whether to continue or stop the printing when the maintenance information receiving unit receives the maintenance information for an abnormality that has occurred when printing by the printing unit;
The maintenance information includes at least selection instruction information for instructing the print continuation selection unit to select whether to continue or cancel the printing,
The mobile terminal according to claim 21, wherein the recovery information includes at least information indicating that the printing is continued or information indicating that the printing is stopped.   The mobile terminal according to claim 22, wherein the maintenance information includes control information for operating the print continuation selection unit of the mobile terminal. The maintenance information includes at least one of error recovery information indicating a method for recovering the error and an error recovery information code indicating the error recovery information,
Mobile terminal display means for displaying various information;
When the maintenance information is received by the maintenance information receiving means, the abnormality recovery information included in the maintenance information or the abnormality recovery information indicated by the abnormality recovery information code included in the maintenance information The mobile terminal according to any one of claims 21 to 23, further comprising abnormality recovery information display control means for displaying on the terminal display means.   The mobile terminal according to claim 24, wherein the maintenance information includes control information for operating the abnormality recovery information display control means of the mobile terminal.   26. The portable terminal according to claim 21, wherein the capturing unit is a digital camera.   27. A mobile phone comprising a call means for making a call and a network connection means for connecting to a network, wherein the mobile phone can be connected to the server via a network. Terminal.   The mobile phone according to any one of claims 21 to 27, wherein the mobile phone is provided with a calling means for making a call and an electronic mail sending / receiving means for sending / receiving an electronic mail, and sends / receives an electronic mail to / from the server. Terminal. The bar code or the two-dimensional code includes transmission information that is information for transmitting the abnormality information to the server in addition to the abnormality information.
The mobile terminal according to any one of claims 21 to 28, wherein the abnormality information transmitting unit transmits the abnormality information to the server based on the transmission information.   The mobile terminal according to claim 29, wherein the transmission information is a URL of the server.   30. The portable terminal according to claim 29, wherein the transmission information is an e-mail address addressed to the server. A portable terminal capable of transmitting various types of information to a printing apparatus provided with printing means for printing on a printing medium, and a server capable of transferring information;
Maintenance information storage means for storing maintenance information which is information relating to a measure for an abnormality of the printing apparatus;
Abnormality information receiving means for receiving abnormality information indicating the content of the abnormality that has occurred in the printing apparatus from the mobile terminal;
Maintenance information determination means for determining the maintenance information to be transmitted to the mobile terminal from the maintenance information stored in the maintenance information storage means based on the abnormality information received by the abnormality information receiving means;
A server comprising maintenance information transmitting means for transmitting the maintenance information determined by the maintenance information determining means to the portable terminal.   The server according to claim 32, wherein the maintenance information includes at least selection instruction information for instructing the portable terminal to select whether to continue or cancel the printing.   34. The server according to claim 33, wherein the maintenance information includes control information for operating a print continuation selection unit that selects whether to continue or stop printing in the portable terminal.   The maintenance information includes at least one of abnormality recovery information indicating a method for recovering the abnormality and an abnormality recovery information code indicating the abnormality recovery information. server.   In the portable terminal, the maintenance information includes the abnormality recovery information included in the maintenance information or the abnormality recovery information indicated by the abnormality recovery information code included in the maintenance information in the portable terminal display means. 36. The server according to claim 35, comprising control information for operating an abnormality recovery information display control means for displaying.

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