JP3481348B2 - Wireless remote control unit and remote control printing device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing system including one printing device and a plurality of remote control units, and more particularly to a wireless remote control unit and a remote control printing device used in such a system. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a general office environment or the like, one printing device is connected to a plurality of terminal devices in order to effectively use the printing device as a resource as the printing device becomes multifunctional and faster. Is being shared. In such a system, it is necessary to set various output formats (formats) of the printing device in accordance with various demands of the user of each terminal device, but the user is generally located at a place distant from the printing device. Therefore, it is very inconvenient to move to the installation location of the printing device and perform the setting operation.

As a measure for solving such a problem, in the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-2460, for example, the power supply of a printing device arranged remotely is controlled by a wireless device. Things are shown. Further, in the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-173735, an operation panel is attachable / detachable and data is exchanged wirelessly using the operation panel. Further, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 6-28120 discloses a technique in which each user has a remote control (remote control unit) so that the state of the printing apparatus can be known through the display of the remote control unit. Has been done.

[0004]

In a system in which one printing device is shared by a plurality of terminal devices, a method combining the above measures, that is, a remote control unit detachable for each user of each terminal device It is considered to be effective to have a personal computer and use it to perform operations such as setting and changing the format wirelessly. However, in this case,
The following problems may occur.

First, there is a simultaneous conflict of print requests to the printing devices. In this case, since the control radio waves are simultaneously transmitted from the remote control devices of the respective users, there is a possibility that interference or interference may occur and normal operation may not be performed. Second
In addition, after a certain user A finishes the predetermined format setting A to the printing device by his / her remote control unit and before the actual print output is executed, another user B is different from A from his / her remote control unit. Formatting B may be performed. In this case, if A sends the print data without knowing that the contents set by itself have been changed, the print result will be in the format B, and the print result in the desired format cannot be obtained.

In order to prevent such a situation, the setting state of the printing apparatus may be displayed on the remote control unit so that the user can confirm the final setting contents. However, in this case, although the user can know that the setting contents have been changed by another user before printing, there is a disadvantage that the operation itself of such another user cannot be prohibited. Thirdly, when another user tries to use the printing device, even if the current setting status of the printing device can be confirmed by the display of the remote control unit, which user made the setting? If it is unknown, there is an inconvenience that it is impossible to judge whether the setting may be changed without permission or whether the setting content may be reset by operating the printing apparatus main body.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is a wireless printing system including one printing device and a plurality of remote control units detachable from the printing device. It is another object of the present invention to provide a wireless remote operation unit and a remote operation printing device that can ensure smooth operation and normal printing operation among a plurality of users.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wireless remote operation unit, wherein the wireless remote operation unit is provided with a plurality of detachable wireless remote operation units. An operation unit for performing various setting operations, a transmission unit that wirelessly transmits the contents set by this operation unit to the printing apparatus main body, and a part of the control radio signal from the other wireless remote operation unit to the printing apparatus main body. The above-described object is achieved by including a receiving unit that receives the signal and a transmission control unit that controls the transmitting operation of the transmitting unit when the receiving unit receives a part of the control radio signal. To do.

According to another aspect of the remote control printing apparatus of the present invention,
A printing apparatus having a plurality of detachable remote operation units, a receiving unit that receives a transmission signal from the remote operation unit, and settings necessary for printing through the receiving unit by an operation from any one remote operation unit. When the operation is performed, unless the storage means for storing the setting content and a change permission from the one remote operation unit are given, the setting of the setting is performed by an operation from another remote operation unit other than the one remote operation unit. The above object is achieved by including a setting change prohibition unit that prohibits the contents from being changed.

According to another aspect of the remote control printing apparatus of the present invention,
A printing apparatus having a plurality of detachable remote operation units, a receiving unit that receives a transmission signal from the remote operation unit, and settings necessary for printing through the receiving unit by an operation from any one remote operation unit. The above-mentioned object can be achieved by including a display unit for specifying and displaying the remote control unit when the operation is performed.

[0011]

In the wireless remote control unit according to claim 1,
While receiving (intercepting) the control radio signal to the printer body from another wireless remote operation unit, the transmission operation of its own transmission unit is prohibited. Interference and interference due to transmission are prevented.

According to another aspect of the remote-controlled printing apparatus of the present invention,
The setting contents cannot be changed by an operation from a remote operation unit other than the one remote operation unit that has performed the settings necessary for printing. On the other hand, when there is a change permission signal from the one remote control unit, the change can be made by another user.

According to another aspect of the remote control printing apparatus of the present invention,
When the setting required for printing is performed by an operation from any one remote operation unit, the remote operation unit is specified and displayed.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows an arrangement relationship between a remote control printing apparatus and a wireless remote control unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, and an external configuration of the wireless remote control unit. As shown in the figure, one printer 10 as a remote control printing device is arranged, and wireless remote control units (hereinafter, simply referred to as operation unit) 20, 40 are arranged at a position separated from the printer 10. ing. The operation units 20 and 40 are owned by different users. The printer 10 may be a laser printer as a single function machine, or a composite type copier having a printer function, a facsimile function, and the like.

The operation unit 20 includes a display unit 21 for displaying the format of print output by the printer 10, that is, items required for setting the format, and various setting keys operated when setting the format. The operation unit 26 includes 22 to 24 and a transmission key 25 for starting transmission of the set contents. The display unit 21 is composed of, for example, an LCD (liquid crystal display device). The setting key 22 is a mode key used to select the type (mode) of the setting item, and the setting keys 23 and 24 are scroll keys used to scroll up and down the display contents of the setting item, respectively. . The operation unit 40 has the same configuration. Note that in this figure, for the sake of simplicity of explanation, 2
Although it is a single operation unit, more operation units may be provided.

FIG. 2 shows a main structure of the operation unit 20 shown in FIG. The operation unit 20 includes an antenna 27, a switch 28, a transmitter 29, and a receiver 30.
And a control unit 31 that controls these units and the display unit 21 and the operation unit 26 described above. The antenna 27 receives a part of the transmission signal transmitted from the other operation unit 40 to the printer 10. Switch 28
Is normally switched to the receiving unit 30 side,
It can be switched to the side of the transmitter 29 (when transmitting) as needed.

The transmitting unit 29 modulates the signal from the control unit 31, a mixing unit 32 that mixes the output signal of the modulating unit 33 and the output of the local oscillator 38, and amplifies the output of the mixing unit 32. Power amplifier 31 for The output of the power amplifier 31 is transmitted from the antenna 27 via the switch 28. Receiver 30
Is a high-frequency amplifier 34 that amplifies a reception signal input from the antenna 27 through the switch 28, and the high-frequency amplifier 3
4 is mixed with the output signal of the local oscillator 38, and the detection unit 36 for detecting the output from the mixing unit 35.
And a low frequency amplifier 37 that amplifies the output of the detection unit 36. Then, the output of the low frequency amplifier 37 is input to the control unit 31.

The receiving frequency of the receiving section 30 is the same as the transmitting frequency of the transmitting section 29. Therefore, when the switch 28 is switched to the receiving side, the radio wave transmitted to the printer 10 from another operation unit 40 or the like. It is ready to receive signals. The control unit 31 is set with an ID number for identifying itself from other operation units. Then, the control unit 31 outputs the setting information input from the operation unit 26 to the transmitting unit 29 together with the ID number, and the transmitting unit 29 wirelessly transmits the setting information to the printer 10. The setting information includes format setting information for setting the print output format of the printer 10 and the operation unit 2
A setting change permission signal or the like transmitted when the 0 user judges that the set contents may be changed is included.

FIG. 3 shows a main configuration of the printer 10 shown in FIG. The printer 10 includes a control unit 11 that controls the entire apparatus, a printer engine 12 that actually performs a printing operation, and a reception unit 13 that receives a radio signal transmitted from any one of the remote operation units via an antenna 14. , An operation unit 15 for accepting various operations
A memory 16 for storing necessary information such as the operation mode of the apparatus and a display unit 17 for performing necessary display. The information stored in the memory 16 includes the set print output format, the ID number of the operation unit that made the setting,
And information indicating the operation mode of the device. In this way, the printer 10 and the operation units 20, 40, etc. are all exchanged with signals of the same frequency.

Next, the operations of the printer 10 and the operation unit 20 having the above-mentioned configurations will be described. The control unit 31 of the operation unit 20 normally switches the switch 28 to the receiving side to keep it in a receivable state. In this state, when any received signal having the same frequency as the transmission / reception frequency is detected, the control unit 31 determines that an operation is being performed by another operation unit 40 or the like, and prohibits its own transmission operation. That is, even if the setting is performed by the operation unit 26 and the transmission key 25 is pressed, the switching unit 2
8 is never switched to the transmitting side. Therefore, the transmission from the operation unit 20 is restricted during the setting operation of the other operation unit 40 to the printer 10. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent inconveniences such as erroneous settings and malfunctions caused by interference and interference due to simultaneous transmission from a plurality of operation units.

Further, in the receiving section, the presence / absence of transmission from another operation unit is determined by detecting the presence / absence of reception of a radio wave having a constant frequency (the same frequency as the transmission frequency). The circuit (demodulation section etc.) necessary for checking the contents is not necessary. Therefore, the circuit configuration can be simplified.

On the other hand, the operation for setting the printer 10 from the operation unit is as shown in FIG. That is, the user can operate the display unit 2 of the operation unit 20.
After operating the setting keys 22 to 24 of the operation unit 26 while watching 1 to make desired settings (step 101), when the transmission key 25 is pressed, the switch 28 is switched to the transmission side, and the setting contents are changed. The setting information is transmitted from the antenna 27 together with the ID number (step 102).

The receiving unit 13 of the printer 10 has an antenna 1
The setting information and the ID number received via the control unit 1
Send to 1. The control unit 11 confirms the ID number and determines whether to accept the received setting content. Specifically, when the received content is a request for formatting (step 103; Y), the operation mode information of the printer main body is checked by referring to the memory 16. As a result, when the operation mode is the setting change permission mode (step 104; Y), the format setting value already set in the memory 16 is changed to the newly received content, and the received ID number is changed. Display on the display unit 17 (step 10)
5).

On the other hand, when the apparatus is in the setting change prohibition mode (step 104; N), the control section 11 refers to the memory 16 and identifies the setter (the operation unit that has newly made a request) of this time. It is checked whether the ID number matches the ID number of the former setter (the operation unit that has made the current setting) (step 106). As a result, when they match (step 106; Y), it is determined that the setting change request is from the same operation unit, and the setting value of the memory 16 is changed and the identification number is displayed (step 105). In this way, the set value can be changed from the same operation unit regardless of the operation mode of the printer 10. I
If the D numbers do not match (step 106;
N), the setting value of the memory 16 is not changed (step 107).

On the other hand, the content of the transmission from the operation unit 20 is not the format setting request (step 103; N),
If the setting change permission signal is from the same user (operation unit 20) (step 108; Y), the operation mode of the apparatus is switched to the setting change permission mode (step 109). Specifically, the content of the operation mode information in the memory 16 is changed. As a result, thereafter, setting requests from other operation units can be accepted.

As described above, the print format contents once set are retained unless a setting change permission signal is sent from the operating unit that made the setting, and a setting change request from another operating unit 40 or the like is not accepted. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the format setting is changed by an operation from another operation unit after the format setting and before the transfer of the print data. Note that the operation unit is not limited to the wireless type as long as it has a configuration that produces such effects, and may be a wired type. In addition, settings can be changed from the same operation unit regardless of the operation mode.This is especially effective when a user prints once but is not satisfied with the print result and tries to print again in another format. is there.

Further, since the ID number of the person who has made the current setting (operation unit) is displayed on the display unit 17 of the printer 10, other users who are going to change the setting are When the setting request from the own operation unit is not accepted, it becomes possible to confirm the current setting person by looking at the display of the printer 10 and request the present setting person for permission to change the setting. This is particularly effective when the current setter has already finished printing but has forgotten to send the setting change permission signal. Note that the operation unit is not limited to the wireless type as long as it has a configuration that produces such effects, and may be a wired type.

[0028]

According to the wireless remote operation unit according to the first aspect of the invention, when the control radio signal to the printing apparatus main body is being received (intercepted) from the other wireless remote operation unit, the transmitting unit of its own device. Since the transmission operation is prohibited, it is possible to reliably prevent inconveniences such as erroneous settings and malfunctions caused by interference and interference due to simultaneous transmission from a plurality of wireless remote operation units.

According to the remote control printing apparatus of the second aspect, the setting contents are not changed by the operation from the remote control unit other than the one remote control unit that has performed the setting necessary for printing. Therefore, the contents of the format setting once made are retained unless a setting change permission signal is issued from the operating unit which made the setting, and a setting change request from another operating unit cannot be accepted. For this reason,
For example, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the format setting is changed by an operation from another operation unit after the format setting and before the transfer of the print data.

According to the remote control printing apparatus of the third aspect, when the setting required for printing is made by an operation from any one of the remote control units, the remote control unit is specified and displayed. Therefore, if another user who wants to change the setting cannot accept the setting request from his / her operation unit, he / she can check the current setting person by looking at the display of the printer main body, and confirm the current setting. It is possible to ask the person to permit the setting change. As a result, it is possible to avoid inconvenience in the case where the current setting person has forgotten to send the setting change permission signal even though the printing has already been completed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between a remote control printing apparatus and a wireless remote control unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, and an external configuration of the wireless remote control unit.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an operation unit according to an embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the printer of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an operation procedure of the wireless printing system shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Printer 11 Control unit 13 Receiver 14 antenna 16 memory 17 Display 20 Operation unit 21 Display 26 Operation part 27 antenna 28 switch 29 Transmitter 30 Receiver 31 Control unit

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 3/12 G06F 3/14 320 H04N 1/00 H04Q 9/00 301

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] In a wireless remote operation unit of a printing apparatus including a plurality of detachable wireless remote operation units, an operation unit for performing various setting operations related to the printing apparatus main body, A transmission unit that wirelessly transmits the contents set by the operation unit to the printing apparatus main body, a reception unit that receives a part of the control radio signal for the printing apparatus main body from another wireless remote operation unit, and this reception unit is the control unit. A wireless remote control unit, comprising: a transmission control unit that controls so as to prohibit the transmission operation of the transmission unit when a part of a radio wave signal is received. 2. A printing apparatus comprising a plurality of detachable remote control units, the receiving unit receiving a transmission signal from the remote control unit, and the receiving unit operated by any one of the remote control units. When a setting necessary for printing is performed through the unit, unless there is a storage unit that stores the setting content and a change permission from the one remote operation unit,
A remote operation type printing apparatus, comprising: a setting change prohibition unit that prohibits the contents of the setting from being changed by an operation from a remote operation unit other than the one remote operation unit. 3. The display device according to claim 2 , further comprising display means for specifying and displaying a remote control unit when a setting required for printing is made through the receiving unit.
On-board remote control printing device.