JP4273761B2 - Printing instruction apparatus and printing system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a print instruction technique for specifying a print condition as necessary and executing a print instruction to a printer when printing a document.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When printing electronic data from any terminal, for example, when instructing printing from the computer to the printer, specify the printing conditions from the screen that the printer driver displays on the computer, such as print size, number of prints, color or black and white, etc. The operation to instruct printing was performed.
[0003]
In addition, to simplify such troublesome operations, the size specified by the created document can be automatically set or the standard print size of the printer can be set without specifying anything. In general, methods such as automatic setting have been taken.
[0004]
Furthermore, as in Patent Document 1, an automatic setting technology has been developed in which a digital camera performs wireless communication with a printer, performs pre-processing according to the circumstances of the printer, and then prints by transmitting data. ing.
[0005]
However, these are only for automatically setting the printing conditions based on the circumstances of the created data and the circumstances of the printer, and there is a problem that the viewpoint of what conditions the printed material is used is not reflected in the automatic setting.
[0006]
For this reason, for example, if the data was originally created for A4 size, but you want to use it for a poster, or if you want to paste it in a notebook, specify the print size after measuring the size of the place to paste. There was inconvenience that we had to.
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-57936
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
An object of the present invention is to provide a means for easily reflecting the use condition (also referred to as use environment) of a printed matter in a print condition when a print instruction is given from a terminal to a printer. It is to make it easier.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to this invention, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the configuration as described in the claims is adopted. Here, prior to describing the invention in detail, supplementary explanations of the claims will be given.
[0009]
That is, according to one aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above-described object, a printing use environment component that configures an environment in which a printed material is used in a printing instruction device that issues a print instruction for electronic data to a printer In order to reflect the print use environment reflection information for reflecting the environment in which the print is used in the printing conditions, a print use environment reflection information acquisition unit is provided for acquiring the print use environment reflection information. Print conditions for the print instruction are generated using the printed material use environment reflection information, and the print instruction is executed to the printer.
[0010]
In this configuration, the print instruction apparatus acquires information for reflecting the printed material usage environment from the printed material usage environment component, generates a printing condition reflecting the printed material usage environment, and transmits a printing command with the printing condition to the printer. As a result, it is possible to easily set printing conditions that match the environment (conditions) in which the printed material is used.
[0011]
The printed material use environment component is a material (may be a person) that constitutes an environment or a condition for using the printed material, and can also be regarded as a material that constitutes a factor that determines the printing condition.
[0012]
For example, (1) Printed objects such as labels to be printed, or objects to be printed or put, or (2) lighting devices, walls, etc. Appearance, change of color, ▲ 3 ▼ People who see the printed matter, people who use it (for example, use large letters for elderly people, change the letters and symbols used according to their own language), ▲ 4 ▼ Or (5) the printed matter itself (for example, when there is a request to make a duplicate of the same appearance).
[0013]
The printed material usage environment reflection information may be information related to the printed material usage environment, or may be information related to the printing conditions. The information on the printed material usage environment may be one or more attributes of the usage environment or usage conditions, or may be an identifier of the printed material usage environment. When the information about the printed material usage environment is an identifier of the printed material usage environment, it is preferable to use a table or the like that extracts attributes and further printing conditions from the identifier. The condition regarding the printing condition is, for example, an attribute of the printing condition to be changed or a set value thereof. Of course, all of the printing conditions may be used.
[0014]
Further, the printed material use environment component may be a printed material itself. In this case, the document information such as the file name of the printed document and the storage location of the electronic data, the print information indicating the print format such as the size and image processing, and the management information such as the information regarding the owner and the charge are stored in the printed material. In addition, it is possible to easily print the same thing as a printed matter such as a poster by using the information obtained from the printed matter, and to pay a copyright fee based on the owner and billing information.
[0015]
The present invention can also be realized as a printed material that holds information for reflecting the printed material usage environment for reflecting the environment in which the printed material main body is used in the printing conditions. The printed matter retains management information such as document information such as a document file name and electronic data storage location of the printed matter main body, print information indicating a print format such as size and image processing, and information relating to the owner and billing. .
[0016]
For example, a wireless tag is detachably or fixedly attached to the printed matter, and the wireless tag holds information to be held. Of course, information can be held in other modes, and may be recorded on the printed matter itself with symbols, barcodes, and the like.
[0017]
The present invention can be realized not only as an apparatus or a system but also as a method. Of course, a part of the invention can be configured as software. Of course, software products used to cause a computer to execute such software are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Examples of the present invention will be described below.
[0019]
[Example 1]
FIG. 1 shows a basic configuration of a print instruction apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship among the print instruction apparatus 10, the printer 20, and the printed material use condition component 30 of this embodiment.
[0020]
In these drawings, a print instruction device 10 includes a CPU 101 that performs various operations, a memory 102 that temporarily stores data, a display device 103 that displays a file to be printed, a printer to be output, printing conditions, and the like. An input device 104 for performing various operations and inputting printing conditions, a printed material usage condition acquisition unit 105 for acquiring a printed material usage condition 400 from an external printed material usage condition component 30, a printing condition 401 to the printer 20, The printer communication means 106 is used when sending print data (data to be printed) 402 or the like.
[0021]
The printed material usage condition acquisition unit 105 communicates with the communication unit 301 provided in the printed material usage condition component 30 having all or part of the conditions (environment) in which the printed material is used as data. The wireless tag reader and the wireless tag respectively use this communication in that it is cableless and simple, the amount of data to be communicated is small, so that a high communication speed is not necessary, and the information acquisition partner is not easily mistaken. It is preferable. The wireless tag is a minute-sized communication device including an IC chip and a loop antenna, and the wireless tag reader is a device that wirelessly reads data from the wireless tag.
[0022]
The printer communication means 106 also has a wireless communication function such as a wireless LAN in that it can easily communicate with the printer 20 without a cable. Although only one printer 20 is shown in the figure, a plurality of printers 20 may be used.
[0023]
As a specific example of the printed material use condition composition 30,
[0024]
(1) Object itself such as a label to be printed, or something to put or paste printed matter: files, bulletin boards, notice panels, label seal packages, picture frames, CDs, CD cases, etc.
(2) Appearance when printed materials are posted, items related to color change: lighting device, wall, floor, ceiling, etc.
(3) Things related to the person who sees or uses the printed matter: Person (Age, gender, nationality, clothes, etc.)
[0027]
(4) Things related to location-specific conditions Bulletin board: Rules on the size, color, font, etc. of the postings are fixed [0028]
(5) The printed matter itself may be printed under exactly the same conditions as this, and the exact same thing may be printed in the same way.
[0029]
FIG. 3 is an example of a user interface screen displayed on the display device 103 of FIG. In this example, since a user interface in a personal computer is assumed, an operation with a mouse and a keyboard is assumed.
[0030]
The general flow of this system will be briefly described mainly with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. The following steps {circle around (1)}, {circle around (2)}, {circle around (3)} and {circle around (4)} correspond to the respective operation locations of the user interface of FIG.
[0031]
[Step 1]
The print instruction apparatus 10 searches and selects print data (data to be printed) 402 in the same apparatus or in an external server (not shown) connected to the printer 20 via a network from the file selection menu 104A in FIG. .
[0032]
[Step (2)]
Next, the printer to be output is searched and selected from the same printer selection menu 104B.
[0033]
[Step (3) -1]
Next, in order to specify the conditions for printing, the printed material use condition acquisition unit 105 of the print instruction device 10 is brought close to the communication unit 301 of the printed material use condition component 30 and is displayed on the display device 103 (not shown). By pressing the condition acquisition button, communication is performed between the printed material usage condition acquisition unit 105 and the communication unit 301, and the printed material usage condition 400 can be obtained.
[0034]
[Step (3) -2]
The printing instruction apparatus 10 automatically sets the parameters of the printing condition selection menu 104C according to the obtained printed material usage conditions 400. If necessary, the user manually changes the partial correction of the parameters while viewing the screen.
[0035]
[Step 4]
When setting of the printing conditions is completed, the printing start button 104D is pressed.
[0036]
The print instruction apparatus 10 creates the print condition 401 at the same time when the print start button 104D is pressed.
[0037]
[Step 5]
The print instruction apparatus 10 transfers the data 402 to be printed obtained from another server on the same apparatus or on the network and the previously created print condition 401 to the printer 20 by the printer communication means 106, so that the printer 20 Printing is performed by performing processing based on these two data.
[0038]
In this example, the data 402 to be printed and the print condition 401 are sent. However, when the printer 20 that has selected the data format of the data 402 to be printed cannot directly process, the data 402 to be printed by the print instruction device 10 is displayed. It is also possible to employ a method in which print data is created by processing in advance by a printer driver in accordance with the print conditions 401 and the completed print data is transferred to the printer 20.
[0039]
[Example 2]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0040]
The content of the printing condition selection menu 104C is the same as that of an existing general printer. For example, in addition to specifying the page to print and the number of copies,
(1) Print size related (paper size, print size)
(2) Graphics related (color, black and white, resolution, color correction, etc.)
(3) Fonts (used font, font size, etc.)
(4) Print imposition (double-sided printing, bundled printing, etc.)
▲ 5 ▼ Processing (Fuchidori etc.)
(6) Post-processing (sort, staple, punch, etc.)
(7) Additional processing (stamps, etc.)
Is mentioned.
[0041]
Next, a specific example of the printed material usage condition 400 obtained from the printed material usage condition component 30 and how it is reflected in the automatic setting will be described.
[0042]
For example, suppose that it is desired to print some electronic data for storage in a predetermined document file (file stationery). At this time, a relationship as shown in FIG. 4 may be provided between the printed material use condition 400 included in the wireless tag of the document file (file stationery) and the contents of the print condition selection menu 104C.
[0043]
In this way, not only can the printing conditions be set easily, but also the format of the document bound to the file stationery can be easily unified, making it ideal for storing documents according to rules such as ISO9001. Realization of printing services.
[0044]
[Example 3]
Next, Example 3 of the present invention will be described.
[0045]
In the above example, the printed material usage condition 400 is obtained only from one printed material usage condition component 30 and automatically set. However, of course, a plurality of printed material usage condition components 30 may be used. An example is shown here.
[0046]
For example, suppose you have a panel for exhibiting at an exhibition. First, the information recorded on the display panel with a wireless tag or the like is read as shown in FIG. 5 by reading the printed material use condition (condition name: display panel) 400 by bringing the wireless tag reader provided in the print instruction apparatus 10 closer. Automatic setting like this can be done.
[0047]
Further, this time, the information recorded by the wireless tag or the like on the illumination device that illuminates the display panel is brought close to the wireless tag reader provided in the print instruction device 10 to read the print use condition 400, thereby adjusting the color tone of the illumination. It is possible to obtain information and add color correction processing according to lighting color tone information to the automatic setting content as shown in FIG.
[0048]
In addition, the print size is set by default with the use condition of the printed matter (condition name: looks ABC), but the user designates the number of pasted sheets (not shown) from 1 to, for example, 4 from the print condition selection menu. Thus, based on the user's desire to paste four sheets on the panel, the print size can be automatically set to A4.
[0049]
Instead of designating the paper size one by one as in the past, it is possible to easily print by directly reflecting the user's desire to paste a number of sheets here.
[0050]
[Example 4]
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0051]
In the description of the first embodiment, the printer is selected by the user himself, but this may be selected appropriately. That is, according to the print use condition 400 acquired by acquiring the condition in the print condition selection menu 104C, the optimum printer is selected from the printers connected on the network, or the condition is met. By automatically filtering things and displaying them, the printer can be selected automatically or semi-automatically.
[0052]
[Example 5]
Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0053]
In Examples 2 and 3, the printed material use condition component 30 is a file (stationery for files), a panel, or the like. However, the printed material use condition component 30 is selected by directly selecting the printed material as the printed material use condition component 30. The method of automatically setting the same printing conditions as that of the printed material usage condition component 30 or the inclusion of the file name of the document and the storage location such as URL information in the printed material usage conditions 400 are completely different. It is also possible to print the same electronic data by setting exactly the same printing conditions. Instead of including the file name in the printed material use condition 400, the file name may be associated with the printed material use condition 400. In short, it is only necessary that the print product use condition 400 and the file name can be acquired from the print product use condition component 30.
[0054]
[Example 6]
Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0055]
In the embodiments described so far, an example is shown in which the print instruction use condition 400 acquired by the print instruction apparatus 10 is used on the spot to send a print instruction to the printer 20, but the present invention is not limited thereto. After obtaining the print use condition 400 from the print use condition component 30 and storing it in the print instruction apparatus 10, select a file to be printed after a while, and select and connect a printer to be printed. It is also possible to call and set the stored print usage condition 400.
[0056]
According to this method, the print instruction apparatus 10 has a personal information acquisition means by further applying the embodiment 5, and for example, selecting a poster in a store, in a town, on a train, etc., and instructing exactly the same printing. It is also possible to provide a service in which the personal information obtained by the personal information acquisition means and the content to be printed are sent to a server that manages the electronic data, and a print service is performed via the server, and at the same time, charging is performed.
[0057]
This makes it possible to provide a service for printing posters in town for a fee.
[0058]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, information on the printed material usage conditions is acquired from the printed material usage condition component such as a file stationery, but the substance is the name and type of the printed material usage conditions and the printing conditions determined thereby. . It is also possible to acquire the name, type, or identifier of the printed material usage conditions, and generate the printing conditions from a table or the like.
[0059]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, there is no need for the user to bother checking and inputting the paper size, and it is possible to easily set the printing conditions that match the use environment or conditions of the printed material.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a print instruction apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention as a whole.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a relationship among a print instruction apparatus, a printer, and a printed material use condition component according to the above-described embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen of the print instruction apparatus according to the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating Example 2 of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating Example 3 of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating Example 3 of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Print instruction | indication apparatus 20 Printer 30 Printed material use condition component 101 CPU
102 memory 103 display device 104 input device 104A file selection menu 104B printer selection menu 104C printing condition selection menu 104D print start button 105 printed material usage condition acquisition unit 106 to printer communication unit 301 communication unit 400 printed material usage condition 401 printing condition 402 data to be printed

Claims (8)

In a print instruction apparatus that executes an instruction to print electronic data to a printer,
First printing use environment construct a was in the or al holds the first printed matter using environment reflect information identifying the printing conditions to be employed in environments that use the printed material constituting the environment using printed material The first print use environment reflection information is acquired , and further, a second print use environment component constituting an environment in which the print is used, and an additional print condition element is added to the print conditions. A printed material use environment reflecting information acquisition means for acquiring the second printed material use environment reflecting information from what holds the second printed material use environment reflecting information for specifying correction information for correcting the printing conditions ,
The first print use environment formulation and the second printed using environment configuration of the printed material using the environment reflect information acquisition unit acquires the first printed matter using environment reflect information and the second printed matter from each A print instruction apparatus that generates print conditions for the print instruction by using usage environment reflection information together and executes the print instruction to the printer. In a print instruction apparatus that executes an instruction to print electronic data to a printer,
A printer communication means for data communication with the printer;
Electronic data to be printed, printer to output, display means for displaying printing conditions,
The electronic data to be printed, the printer to be output, input means for selecting the printing conditions and inputting numerical values;
First printing use environment construct a was in the or al holds the first printed matter using environment reflect information identifying the printing conditions to be employed in environments that use the printed material constituting the environment using printed material The first print use environment reflection information is acquired , and further, a second print use environment component constituting an environment in which the print is used, and an additional print condition element is added to the print conditions. A printed material use environment reflecting information acquisition means for acquiring the second printed material use environment reflecting information from what holds the second printed material use environment reflecting information for specifying correction information for correcting the printing conditions ,
The first print use environment formulation and the second printed using environment configuration of the first printed material usage environment reflect information and the second printed matter printed material usage environment reflect information acquisition unit has acquired from each of A print instruction apparatus that generates print conditions for the print instruction by using usage environment reflection information together and executes the print instruction to the printer. The printed material usage environment reflect information acquiring unit, a print instruction apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 which is a wireless tag reader. The print instruction apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the communication means with the printer performs wireless communication with a printer. Based on the first printed material usage environment reflection information and the second printed material usage environment reflection information , a printer that best meets the condition is selected from the printers that can communicate, and the selection of the printer is automatically executed. The printing instruction apparatus according to claim 2 or 3 , wherein a printer matching the above is filtered and presented to the user as a selectable printer. The first print use environment component or the second print use environment component is a file name of data to be printed together with the first print use environment reflection information or the second print use environment reflection information. And the storage location reflection information acquisition means, and the file name and storage location of the data to be printed together with the first print usage environment reflection information or the second print usage environment reflection information. get the print instruction apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 for executing the print instruction data to be printed automatically selected and. The print instruction apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , further comprising means for holding the generated print condition, wherein the once saved print condition is reused later when another print instruction is given. A printer and a print instruction device for executing an instruction to print electronic data to the printer, and further provided in association with a first print use environment component that constitutes an environment for using the printed material. A first printed material usage environment reflection information holding device that holds first printed material usage environment reflection information that specifies printing conditions to be employed in an environment in which the printed material is used, and a second that configures the environment in which the printed material is used Second print use environment reflection information that is provided along with the print use environment component and specifies correction information for correcting the print condition by adding an additional print condition element to the print condition is held. In a printing system having a second printed material use environment reflecting information holding device ,
The print instruction device, the first printed matter using environment reflect information holding device or al the first obtains the printed matter using environment reflect information, further, the from the second printed matter using environment reflect information holding device get the second printed matter using the environment reflect information identifying the correction information for correcting the printing conditions, those said mounting obtain the above first printed matter using environment reflect information, and the second printed matter using environmental reflection information together A printing system that generates a printing condition for the printing instruction by using the printing instruction and executes the printing instruction for the printer.

Images