JP2009059103A - Relay device compatible with network-type plug and play, and relay method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely print a printed matter to be linked with information to be reproduced by informing the control point of an information reproducer as if a printer is ready even when the printer is not ready. <P>SOLUTION: When a printer state determining part 25 determines that the printer 2 is not connected to a relay device 1, a printer reservation part 25 discloses the printer onto a network by using printer information stored in a printer information storage part 30. A print request issued from the control point 8 of a TV apparatus 3 is stored in a print request storage part 28. After the printer 2 is prepared, a user instructs printing by selecting the stored print request. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a relay apparatus and a relay method compatible with network type plug and play.

  As a first conventional technique, a technique is known in which a television device and a printer are connected and an XHTML (eXtensible HyperText Markup Language) document transmitted from the television device is printed by the printer (Patent Document 1). ).

  As a second prior art, as known as UPnP (Universal Plug and Play: trademark of UPnP Implementers Corporation), a device such as a television device or a printer is used as a communication network such as a LAN (Local Area Network). A technique for enabling use of these devices by simply connecting them is also known (Patent Document 2).

In the second conventional technique, a printer that does not support UPnP is connected to a communication network via a relay device that supports UPnP. Thus, in the second conventional technique, a print request issued from a television apparatus corresponding to UPnP can be printed by a printer by using a relay device.
JP 2004-291494 A JP 2007-188255 A

  In the second prior art, in order for the printer to print a print request from the television apparatus, the printer needs to be ready for printing in advance. That is, if the printer is turned on and printing paper, ink, or the like is set in the printer, it is possible to process a print request from the television apparatus and perform printing.

  However, the printer is not always ready for printing. Rather, the power switch of the printer is often turned off in order to save power. Even if the power switch of the printer is turned on, if printing paper, ink, or the like is not set in the printer, printing cannot be performed, and there is a possibility that a printing opportunity may be missed.

  This is because the time during which a print button for printing content related to a program or the like (including CM) played on the television device is displayed is limited. Therefore, the user needs to turn on the printer, replenish printing paper, ink, etc., and operate the print button displayed on the screen within the limited time. As described above, in order to print content related to a program or the like, it is necessary to prepare the printer in a printable state in advance, which is inconvenient for the user.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a relay device and a relay method compatible with network-type plug-and-play that can improve user-friendliness. .

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention is a relay apparatus that supports network type plug and play in which an information reproducing apparatus that issues a print request and a printer are connected via a communication network. A communication control unit for communicating with a communication network, a printer status determination unit for determining whether or not the printer is usable, and a printer communicate with each other in order to make the information reproducing apparatus recognize the presence of the printer. When the printer disclosure control unit that publishes via the network determines that the printer is usable by the printer status determination unit, the first printer information related to the printer is sent to the information reproduction device via the communication control unit. If the printer status determination unit determines that the printer is not usable, the printer status determination unit (2) A printer disclosure control unit that notifies the information reproducing apparatus of printer information via the communication control unit, and a print request storage that stores a print request issued from the information reproducing apparatus when it is determined that the printer is not usable. A data conversion unit that converts a print request issued from the information reproducing apparatus or a print request stored in the print request storage unit into printer data to be transmitted to the printer, and transmits the printer data to the printer. .

  The information reproducing apparatus is an apparatus for reproducing information such as a program, a CM, and a movie, such as a personal computer, a television apparatus, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) apparatus, and a radio. The information reproducing apparatus and the relay apparatus are compatible with network type plug and play. Network-type plug-and-play means, for example, a technology that allows a user to use a device without performing a special operation just by connecting the device to a communication network, as known as UPnP. To do.

  With the above configuration, the information reproducing apparatus can recognize the presence of the printer and issue a print request to the printer regardless of whether the printer is actually usable. A print request issued when the printer is unusable can be printed after the printer is ready for use. Therefore, the user can obtain a desired printed matter without missing the printing opportunity given during the reproduction of information.

  The printer disclosure control unit generates first printer information based on information acquired from the printer when it is determined that the printer is usable, and notifies the information reproducing apparatus of the generated first printer information. A configuration may be provided that includes a first disclosure control unit and a second disclosure control unit for notifying the information reproducing apparatus of the second printer information when it is determined that the printer is unusable.

  The printer further includes a print menu providing unit that provides a print menu screen for the user to select a print request stored in the print request storage unit, and the data conversion unit includes, among the print requests stored in the print request storage unit, The print request selected using the print menu screen may be converted into printer data, and the printer data may be transmitted to the printer.

  A printer information storage unit for storing information about the printer is further provided. The printer information storage unit stores the latest first printer information generated by the first disclosure control unit, and the second disclosure control unit. The configuration may be such that the latest first printer information stored in the printer information storage unit is used as the second printer information.

  A printer information storage unit for storing information about the printer is further provided. General-purpose printer information is stored in advance in the printer information storage unit, and the second public control unit is stored in the printer information storage unit. The general-purpose printer information may be used as the second printer information.

  The print request storage unit includes a paper size, a print resource location address or file data to be printed, and a print request storage date and time. The print menu includes at least the paper size and the storage date and time. The displayed configuration may be used.

  The first printer information may include a printer name preset for the printer, and the second printer information may include a different name prepared in advance separately from the printer name. .

  According to another aspect of the present invention, a relay method for connecting an information reproducing apparatus that issues a print request and a printer according to a network-type plug-and-play protocol includes determining whether the printer is usable, When it is determined that the printer is usable, the information reproducing device indicates the presence of the printer by generating the first printer information relating to the printer and notifying the information reproducing device of the generated first printer information. And when the printer is determined to be unusable, a step of generating second printer information relating to the printer and a notification of the generated second printer information to the information reproducing apparatus The step of causing the reproduction apparatus to recognize the presence of the printer and waiting for a print request to be issued from the information reproduction apparatus Storing the print request issued from the information reproducing apparatus and transmitting the print request issued from the information reproducing apparatus or the stored print request to the printer when it is determined that the printer is unusable A relay method comprising the steps of: converting the printer data into printer data; and causing the printer data to be transmitted to the printer.

  Note that at least a part of the configuration of the present invention can be realized as a computer program, and the computer program can be distributed via a communication network or a storage medium.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, as described in detail below, the relay device causes the information reproducing device to recognize the presence of the printer regardless of whether the printer is actually usable or not. A print request can be issued to the printer. The relay apparatus according to the present embodiment stores the print request issued in a state where the printer is not usable, and can print the stored print request after the printer is usable. I have to.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an overall outline of a network system including a relay device 1 according to the present embodiment. In this system, as will be described later, for example, a relay device 1, a printer 2, a television (hereinafter referred to as TV) device 3, a connection device 4, a router 5, a TV broadcasting system 6, and a print content. A server 7 and a control point (abbreviated as CP in the figure) 8 are provided. Among these, the relay device 1, the printer 2, the TV device 3, the connection device 4, and the router 5 are arranged in a space where a user stays, such as a home or an office.

  First, the configuration of the communication network will be described. The first communication network CN1 is configured as a LAN, for example, and is laid in a home or office. The second communication network CN2 is configured as a wide-area communication network such as the Internet, for example, and the relay device 1 can access the print content server 7 via the communication networks CN1 and CN2. The third communication network CN3 is configured, for example, as terrestrial digital broadcasting, satellite broadcasting, or cable broadcasting.

  That is, in the present embodiment, the second communication network CN2 and the third communication network CN3 are clearly separated, and the program data D1 and the like are distributed to the TV device 3 via the third communication network CN3. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the program data D1 and the like may be distributed from the TV broadcasting system 6 to the TV device 3 via the second communication network CN2. Further, the second communication network CN2 is not limited to the Internet, and may be a wide area communication network in which band control or the like is performed by a specific administrator.

  Prior to the description of the relay device 1 and the printer 2, the TV device 3 will be described. The TV device 3 as an example of the “information reproducing device” is configured as a digital TV device, receives data transmitted from the TV broadcasting system 6 via the third communication network CN3, and displays the data on the screen. .

  In addition to the program data D1, URL (Uniform Resource Locator) data D2 or a print file D3 is transmitted from the TV broadcast system 6 to the TV apparatus 3. The program data D1 includes, for example, drama programs, educational programs, entertainment programs, infant programs, movies, commercials, and the like. The URL data D2 is information for specifying the location of the print content stored in advance in the print content server 7. The print file D3 is data to be printed. The print file D3 is created as, for example, a MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension) format file. Note that various print setting values necessary for printing such as the paper size and paper type are also included in the data D2 and D3.

  The TV device 3 displays the print buttons corresponding to the data D2 and D3 for a predetermined time while reproducing the program data D1. The control point 8 is a control device for discovering other devices on the first communication network CN1 and controlling the devices. In this embodiment, the relay apparatus 1 and the printer 2 constitute a UPnP compatible printer as a service device. The service device is a device that provides a service (the service in this embodiment is printing) to the control point 8 that is a client.

  The control point 8 is connected to the first communication network CN1 via the connection device 4. The connection device 4 is connected to the first communication network CN1 by either or both of wired and wireless. When the user operates the print button in the TV screen by the remote controller, the control point 8 issues a print request. The print request is transmitted to the relay device 1 via the first communication network CN1.

  The printer 2 is configured as, for example, a serial printer such as an inkjet printer or a page printer such as a laser printer. Alternatively, the printer 2 can be configured as a composite apparatus having two or more types of functions among a scanner function, a printer function, and a copy function. The printer 2 of this embodiment does not support UPnP by itself, but functions as a UPnP compatible device via a relay device 1 connected by USB (Universal Serial Bus).

  The relay device 1 is provided between the printer 2 and the TV device 3, and connects the printer 2 to the first communication network CN1. The relay device 1 includes a network communication control unit 10 as a “communication control unit” and a service processing unit 20.

  The network communication control unit 10 includes various protocols such as TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol), SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol), HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol), and SSDP (Simple Service Discovery Protocol). And communicate with the TV apparatus 3 and the print content server 7.

  The service processing unit 20 provides a print service to the TV apparatus 3. The service processing unit 20 includes, for example, an XHTML printing unit 21, an ESC / PR encoder 22, a printer driver 23, a USB control unit 24, a printer status determination unit 25, a printer information disclosure unit 26, and a print reservation. A unit 27, a print request storage unit 28, a print menu providing unit 29, a printer information storage unit 30, and a disclosure control unit 31.

  The XHTML printing unit 21 constitutes a “data conversion unit” together with the ESC / PR encoder 22. The XHTML printing unit 21 determines the layout of the print page by reading and analyzing the XHTML document. When the print page includes an image (print content), the XHTML printing unit 21 acquires the image from the print content server 7, performs rendering processing, and outputs RGB data suitable for the printer 2.

  The ESC / PR encoder 22 converts RGB data input from the XHTML printing unit 21 into ESC / PR data that is general-purpose printer data. The ESC / PR encoder 22 registers ESC / PR data in the printer driver 23. The printer driver 23 transmits the registered ESC / P-R data to the printer 2 via the USB control unit 24. The USB control unit 24 transmits ESC / P-R data to the printer 2 as a USB host.

  The printer state determination unit 25 determines whether the printer 2 is usable. Here, that the printer 2 is usable means, for example, a state in which the printer 2 is connected to the relay device 1 and power is supplied to the printer 2. Alternatively, the printer 2 being usable means that the relay device 1 and the printer 2 are connected by USB.

  The printer information disclosure unit 26 as the “first disclosure control unit” constitutes the disclosure control unit 31 together with the print reservation unit 27 as the “second disclosure control unit”. When the printer status determination unit 25 determines that the printer 2 can be used, the printer information disclosure unit 26 acquires necessary information from the printer 2 to generate printer information, and uses the printer information as the TV device 3. Publish to The printer information generated by the printer information disclosure unit 26 corresponds to “first printer information”. When this printer information is disclosed, the control point 8 of the TV apparatus 3 recognizes the presence of the usable printer 2.

  The print reservation unit 27 publishes printer information prepared in advance in the printer information storage unit 30 to the TV apparatus 3 when the printer status determination unit 25 determines that the printer 2 is unusable. That is, the print reservation unit 27 makes the TV device 3 appear as if the printer 2 can be used even when the printer 2 cannot actually be used. The printer information used by the print reservation unit 27 corresponds to “second printer information”.

  Here, the printer information used by the print reservation unit 27 is obtained by the following plurality of methods. In the first method, the latest printer information generated by the printer information disclosure unit 26 is stored in the printer information storage unit 30, and the print reservation unit 27 reads and uses the printer information stored in the printer information storage unit 30. It is a method to do. The second method is a method for storing general-purpose printer information in the printer information storage unit 30 in advance. General-purpose printer information is, for example, information describing the greatest common divisor specification common to a plurality of types of printers.

  According to the first method, there is no reliable guarantee that the printer 2 corresponding to the printer information stored in the printer information storage unit 30 is actually connected and used. However, in general, since the printer 2 used last time is more likely to be used next time, the TV apparatus 3 uses the printer information of the printer 2 that is likely to be actually used. The printer 2 can be made public.

  According to the second method, even when the model of the printer 2 that is actually connected is changed, it is possible to cope with it. In the second method, since the name of the printer 2 that is actually used is unknown, a dummy printer name set in advance in the relay apparatus 1 is used.

  The print request storage unit 28 stores a print request issued from the control point 8 of the TV apparatus 3 when the print reservation unit 27 notifies the TV apparatus 3 of the printer information, that is, when the printer 2 cannot be used. To do. The print request storage unit 28 includes a storage medium such as a flash memory or a hard disk. The contents stored in the print request storage unit 28 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The print request includes URL data D2 or print file D3. In the case of the URL data D2, since the amount of data is small, a relatively large number of print requests can be stored in the print request storage unit 28. On the other hand, in the case of the print file D3, since the amount of data is large, many print requests cannot be stored in the print request storage unit 28. When the free space in the print request storage unit 28 becomes small, for example, an old print request may be updated with a new print request, or an old print request may be deleted.

  The print menu providing unit 29 provides the control point 8 with a print menu to be displayed on the screen of the TV apparatus 3. An example of the print menu will be described later with reference to FIG. The print menu displays the print requests stored in the print request storage unit 28 in a list format. The print request stored in the print request storage unit 28 is a print request issued from the TV apparatus 3 in a situation where the printer 2 cannot actually be used, and is in a print waiting state. The user can obtain a printed matter related to the print request by selecting a desired print request from the print menu.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing, in a simplified manner, a procedure when the control point 8 of the TV apparatus 3 finds the printer 2 (specifically, a UPnP compatible printer including the relay apparatus 1 and the printer 2). At the right end in FIG. 2, there are procedures executed by the printer 2, but are omitted for convenience. The network communication control unit 10 is simply displayed as “NW communication control unit”.

  Each flowchart shown below shows an outline of each process to the extent necessary for understanding and implementing the present invention, and may differ from an actual computer program. A so-called person skilled in the art will be able to change a part of the illustrated steps to another step, change the execution order of one step and another step, or delete a part of the steps.

  Negotiation is performed between the network communication control unit 10 and the service processing unit 20 (S10). The network communication control unit 10 requests the service processing unit 20 for information regarding the printer status (S10). The service processing unit 20 acquires information related to the printer status from the printer 2 and responds to the network communication control unit 10 (S11). If the printer 2 is not connected to the relay device 1, the service processing unit 20 responds to the network communication control unit 10 using the print reservation unit 27 as if the printer 2 is connected. (S11).

  The control point 8 issues an M-Search request to search for devices on the first communication network CN1 (S12). The network communication control unit 10 responds to the search request from the control point 8 that the printer 2 exists (S13).

  The control point 8 confirming the existence of the printer 2 requests acquisition of printer information in order to confirm the details of the printer 2 (S14). The network communication control unit 10 acquires printer information from the service processing unit 20 (S15, S16), and transmits the acquired printer information to the control point 8 (S17).

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an overall outline of the print control process executed by the relay apparatus 1. When the relay device 1 is started or restarted (S20: YES), the following steps are executed. When the printer 2 is connected to the relay device 1 by USB or the printer 2 is removed from the relay device 1, the relay device 1 is restarted.

  The relay device 1 determines whether or not the printer 2 is usable (S21). In a normal case, from the viewpoint of power saving or the like, since the power switch of the printer 2 that is not used is turned off, “NO” is determined in S21.

  When the printer 2 is not usable (S21: NO), the relay apparatus 1 activates the print reservation unit 27 (S22), reads the printer information from the printer information storage unit 30 (S23), and this printer information (second) Based on the printer information), a service description is created (S24). The service description is information indicating details of a print service provided by a UPnP compatible printer configured by the relay apparatus 1 and the printer 2. The service description includes, for example, printable paper size, print resolution, presence / absence of a color printing function, presence / absence of a duplex printing function, and the like.

  The relay device 1 reads the printer information stored in the printer information storage unit 30 in response to a request from the control point 8 (S12 and S14 in FIG. 2). The relay apparatus 1 notifies the read printer information to the control point 8, and discloses the printer 2 to the control point 8 (S25). As a result, the control point 8 can issue a print request to the printer 2.

  The relay apparatus 1 waits for a print request to be issued from the control point 8 (S26). If a print request is issued (S26: YES), the print request is stored in the print request storage unit 28 (S27). ). The XHTML document print request is analyzed by the XHTML printing unit 21. As a result, predetermined parameters such as the paper size are extracted from the print request and stored in the print request storage unit 28.

  In this way, even when the printer 2 is not ready by starting the print reservation unit 27, the user can press the print button displayed on the screen each time while viewing the program reproduced on the TV device 3. The user can operate to instruct printing of the print content associated with the program. However, since the printer 2 is not connected to the relay apparatus 1 at this time, actual printing is not performed.

  Thereafter, the user prepares the printer 2 by connecting the printer 2 to the relay device 1 or turning on the power switch of the printer 2. When the printer 2 is USB-connected to the relay device 1, the relay device 1 is restarted and the determination in S21 is performed.

  If it is determined that the printer 2 is usable (S21: YES), the relay device 1 acquires printer information from the printer 2 (S28), and stores this printer information in the printer information storage unit 30 (S29). . The relay apparatus 1 creates a service description based on the printer information acquired from the printer 2 (S30), and discloses the printer 2 to the control point 8 (S31).

  When the printer 2 is in an idle state, a print menu transmitted from the print menu providing unit 29 to the control point 8 is displayed on the screen of the TV apparatus 3 (S32). The print menu process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The relay apparatus 1 waits for a print request to be issued from the control point 8 (S33), and when a print request is issued (S33: YES), executes the printing process (S34). The printing process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In this way, even before the printer 2 is ready, printing can be instructed from the print button displayed on the screen of the TV apparatus 3 (S22 to S27), and after the printer 2 is ready. The reserved print request can be processed (S28 to S34).

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the contents stored in the print request storage unit 28. The print request storage unit 28 stores, for example, a reservation number 280, a reservation time 281, a paper size 282, a URL 283, a program name 284, and a print job name 285.

  It is not necessary to store all of these items 281 to 285, and it is sufficient that at least one of the reservation number 280 or the reservation time 281 as well as the paper size 282 and the URL 283 are stored.

  The reservation number 280 indicates the order in which print requests are stored. The reserved time 281 indicates the date and time when the print request was saved. The paper size 282 is the size of the printed matter according to the print request. URL 283 indicates the location of data to be printed. For convenience, the URL 283 is used, but when the print file D3 is stored in the relay apparatus 1, the storage destination address of the print file D3 is set. The program name 284 is the name of the program for which a print request has been issued. If possible, the program type may be stored in place of the individual program name. The print job name 285 is the name of the print request. If possible, the print job type may be stored instead of the individual print job name.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the print menu process. The relay apparatus 1 determines whether the status of the printer 2 is idle (S40). When the printer status is idle (S40: YES), the relay apparatus 1 transmits a print menu to the control point 8 and displays the print menu on the screen of the TV apparatus 3 (S41).

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the print menu G1. The print menu G1 includes, for example, a list display unit G11 that displays reserved print requests (that is, stored print requests) in a list format, a print button G12, and a cancel button G13.

  In FIG. 6, for convenience, only some of the items 280 to 285 shown in FIG. 5 (for example, reservation number, reservation time, paper size, URL, print job name) are displayed. Instead, a configuration may be adopted in which all items stored in the print request storage unit 28 are displayed on the list display unit G11. Or, only predetermined items such as reservation number only, reservation number and reservation date and time, reservation number and paper size only, reservation date and time and paper size, reservation number and reservation date and time and paper size only, etc. The structure displayed on the list display part G11 may be sufficient.

  Returning to FIG. The user operates the print menu G1 displayed on the screen of the TV apparatus 3 with the remote controller, and selects a print request desired to be printed. If the user desires printing (S42: YES), the control point 8 issues a print request (S44). The user can cancel the print instruction (S43). If canceled, the print menu is deleted from the screen of the TV apparatus 3.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the printing process. First, the XHTML printing unit 21 of the relay apparatus 1 acquires an XHTML document from the network communication control unit 10 or the print request storage unit 28 (S50), and analyzes this XHTML document (S51).

  As a result of the analysis, the XHTML printing unit 21 acquires the image file used in the document from the print content server 7 (S52), performs rendering processing, and generates RGB data (S53). The ESC / PR encoder 22 converts the RGB data into ESC / PR data (S54). The ESC / P-R data is transmitted to the printer 2 via the USB control unit 24 (S55). Until all the pages of the selected print request are processed (S56), S50 to S55 are repeatedly executed.

  Upon receiving the ESC / PR data (S57), the printer 2 performs necessary image processing and generates image data for printing (S58). Examples of image processing include color conversion processing, enlargement processing, reduction processing, and the like. The generated image data is sent to the print engine and printed.

  According to this embodiment configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained. In this embodiment, even when the printer 2 is not ready, the relay device 1 looks like the control point 8 of the TV device 3 as if the printer 2 is usable. Therefore, the control point 8 can issue a print request to a printer that cannot actually be used, and the relay apparatus 1 stores the print request as a reserved print. Thereafter, after preparing the printer 2, the user can obtain a desired printed matter using the print menu G <b> 1 displayed on the screen of the TV apparatus 3. Therefore, in this embodiment, the user can obtain a desired printed matter without missing a printing opportunity, and usability is improved.

  In this embodiment, since the print menu G1 for selecting reserved printing is displayed on the screen of the TV apparatus 3, the user can easily select a desired printed matter and instruct printing.

  In this embodiment, when a print request is stored in the print request storage unit 28, the XHTML document is analyzed to detect the paper size in advance, and the paper size is displayed on the print menu G1. Therefore, the user can operate the print button after preparing printing paper of a necessary size in advance, and usability is improved.

  In this embodiment, the name or type of a print job and the program name or type can be displayed on the print menu G1. Therefore, even when a plurality of print requests are reserved for printing, the user can easily select a desired printed matter.

  In this embodiment, printer information generated when the printer 2 is connected to the relay device 1 is stored in the printer information storage unit 30. In this embodiment, when the printer 2 is detached from the relay device 1, the printer is disclosed on the first communication network CN1 using the latest printer information stored in the printer information storage unit 30. Therefore, it is possible to make the control point 8 appear as if the printer 2 is currently usable by using information of the printer 2 that is likely to be actually used, and the usability is improved.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the print control process executed by the relay device 1 according to the second embodiment. Each of the following embodiments, including the present embodiment, corresponds to a modification of the first embodiment, and a description overlapping with the first embodiment is omitted. The difference between the flowchart of this embodiment and the flowchart of the first embodiment is that S29 in FIG. 3 does not exist in this embodiment, and S23 in FIG. 3 is replaced with S23A.

  If the printer 2 is not connected to the relay device 1, the print reservation unit 27 reads general-purpose printer information stored in advance in the printer information storage unit 30 (S23A). The print reservation unit 27 uses general-purpose printer information to make it appear as if there is a usable printer at the control point 8. In the general-purpose printer information, a fictitious printer name set in advance in the relay apparatus 1 is set. Configuring this embodiment like this also achieves the same effects as the first embodiment.

  A third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, a DVD device 3A is used instead of the TV device 3. In this embodiment, the relay device 1 is built in the printer 2A.

  The printer 2A according to the present embodiment includes, for example, the relay device 1, a print control unit 41, a print engine 42, a user interface (abbreviated as UI in the figure) unit 43, and a power supply control unit 44.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the power supply control process. When the power switch is turned off (S60: YES), the power control unit 44 stops energizing the print control unit 41, the print engine 42, and the user interface unit 43 (S61). The power supply control unit 44 does not stop energization of the relay device 1 and continues power supply (S62). Therefore, even when the power switch of the printer 2A is turned off, the relay device 1 is operating and can appear to the control point 8 as if the printer 2A can be used. Configuring this embodiment like this also achieves the same effects as the first embodiment.

  In addition, embodiment mentioned above is an illustration for description of this invention, and is not the meaning which limits the scope of the present invention only to those embodiment. Those skilled in the art can implement the present invention in various other modes without departing from the gist of the present invention.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the whole structure of the system containing the relay apparatus of a present Example. It is a flowchart which shows the process in which a control point detects a printer. 6 is a flowchart illustrating print control processing. It is explanatory drawing which shows the memory content of a printing request | requirement memory | storage part. It is a flowchart of a print menu process. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a print menu. It is a flowchart of a printing process. It is a flowchart of the printing control process performed by the relay apparatus which concerns on 2nd Example. It is a whole block diagram of the system containing the relay apparatus which concerns on 3rd Example. It is a flowchart of a power supply control process.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Relay apparatus, 2 and 2A ... Printer, 3 ... Television apparatus, 3A ... DVD apparatus, 4 ... Connection apparatus, 5 ... Router, 6 ... Television broadcasting system, 7 ... Print content server, 8 ... Control point, 10 Network communication control unit, 20 Service processing unit, 21 XHTML printing unit, 22 ESC / PR encoder, 23 Printer driver, 24 USB control unit, 25 Printer status determination unit, 26 Printer information disclosure , 27 ... Print reservation unit, 28 ... Print request storage unit, 29 ... Print menu providing unit, 30 ... Printer information storage unit, 31 ... Public control unit, 41 ... Print control unit, 42 ... Print engine, 43 ... User interface , 44 ... power supply control unit, CN1 to CN3 ... communication network, D1 ... program data, D2 ... URL data, D3 ... printing Airu, G1 ... print menu, G11 ... list display unit

Claims (8)

A relay device corresponding to a network type plug and play, which connects an information reproduction device that issues a print request and a printer via a communication network,
A communication control unit for communicating with the communication network;
A printer state determination unit for determining whether or not the printer is usable;
A printer disclosure control unit for publishing the printer via the communication network in order to make the information reproducing apparatus recognize the presence of the printer, and the printer status determination unit determines that the printer is usable If the printer information is notified to the information reproducing apparatus via the communication control unit, and the printer status determining unit determines that the printer is unusable. A printer disclosure control unit for notifying the information reproducing apparatus of the second printer information related to the printer via the communication control unit;
When it is determined that the printer is unusable, a print request storage unit that stores a print request issued from the information reproduction device;
A data conversion unit that converts a print request issued from the information reproducing apparatus or a print request stored in the print request storage unit into printer data to be transmitted to the printer, and transmits the printer data to the printer When,
A relay device comprising:   The printer disclosure control unit generates the first printer information based on information acquired from the printer when it is determined that the printer is usable, and the generated first printer information is used as the information reproducing apparatus. And a second public control unit for notifying the information reproducing apparatus of the second printer information when it is determined that the printer is unusable. The relay device according to claim 1. A print menu providing unit for providing a print menu screen for the user to select the print request stored in the print request storage unit;
The data conversion unit converts a print request selected using the print menu screen among the print requests stored in the print request storage unit into the printer data, and converts the printer data into the printer data. The relay device according to claim 1, wherein the relay device is transmitted to a printer. A printer information storage unit for storing information related to the printer; the printer information storage unit stores the latest first printer information generated by the first public control unit;
The relay apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second public control unit uses the latest first printer information stored in the printer information storage unit as the second printer information. A printer information storage unit for storing information related to the printer is further provided. General-purpose printer information is stored in advance in the printer information storage unit.
The relay apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second disclosure control unit uses the general-purpose printer information stored in the printer information storage unit as the second printer information. The print request storage unit includes a paper size, a print resource location address or file data to be printed, and a print request storage date and time, respectively.
The relay apparatus according to claim 3, wherein at least the paper size and the storage date / time are displayed in the print menu. The first printer information includes a printer name preset for the printer,
The relay apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the second printer information includes a different name prepared in advance separately from the printer name. A relay method for connecting an information reproducing apparatus that issues a print request and a printer according to a network type plug and play protocol,
Determining whether the printer is usable;
If it is determined that the printer is usable, generating first printer information relating to the printer;
Notifying the information reproducing apparatus of the existence of the printer by notifying the information reproducing apparatus of the generated first printer information;
If it is determined that the printer is unusable, generating second printer information relating to the printer;
Notifying the information reproduction apparatus of the generated second printer information, and waiting for the information reproduction apparatus to recognize the presence of the printer and issuing the print request from the information reproduction apparatus;
Storing the print request issued from the information reproducing device when it is determined that the printer is unusable;
Converting a print request issued from the information reproducing apparatus or the stored print request into printer data for transmission to the printer;
Sending the printer data to the printer;
Relay method including.

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