JP5811748B2 - Printing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus having a wireless communication function.

Conventionally, a printing apparatus that performs printing on a print medium is known. Examples of print information used in the printing apparatus include font information and template information. The font information is information about fonts such as characters and numbers. For example, the template information is information related to a fixed form, a decorative frame, a figure, and the like. Such print information is stored in a memory built in the printing apparatus. When the printing apparatus receives a printing instruction, the printing information may not be stored in the memory. In that case, the printing apparatus needs to receive print information from an external device. A printing apparatus having a wireless communication function transmits and receives various data wirelessly with other external apparatuses. However, there are cases where data cannot be received accurately if the communication status is poor. Thus, for example, in a communication terminal having a wireless communication function, according to the communication status of the wireless radio communication terminal disclosed for downloading by selecting the image data of VGA and QVGA (Qu ar t er VGA 320 × 240 pixels) size (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-129472 A

  However, since the wireless communication terminal described in Patent Document 1 has only one external device that can transmit print information to the printing apparatus, when the wireless communication status is poor, low-resolution QVGA-size image data is received. There is a problem that even if high-resolution VGA size image data is necessary, it cannot be stably downloaded.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus that can receive print information in a more stable communication state according to the data size of the print information when the print information is received wirelessly from an external device.

A printing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is a printing apparatus capable of wirelessly communicating with at least one external device, and is necessary for executing a printing unit that receives a printing instruction and a printing instruction received by the receiving unit. Print information storage means for storing print information which is various information, storage determination means for determining whether or not the print information is stored in the print information storage means, and the print determination information stored by the storage determination means If it is determined that the print information is stored in the external device, an inquiry signal transmission unit that transmits an inquiry signal asking whether the print information is stored; and the inquiry signal transmitted by the inquiry signal transmission unit. Response signal receiving means for receiving a response signal corresponding to the inquiry signal from the received external device, and the response signal receiving means Thus, based on the response signal received, the external device specifying means for specifying the external device that stores the print information, and the response signal receiving means transmits the inquiry signal, and the response signal receiving means transmits the response. a time taken until the reception of the signal, and the response time measurement means for measuring the external device specified response time are be longer time according to the operating condition of the external device identified by device, the response time measurement Response time storage means for storing the response time measured by the means, and the external device specifying means based on the received signal of the response signal received by the response signal receiving means converted into a transmission signal for wireless communication a received signal strength in a wireless communication with the identified said external device by the installation ring identified the external device A received signal strength measuring means for measuring a received signal strength that may be reduced in response to a received signal strength storing means for storing the received signal strength measured by the received signal strength measurement unit, the data size of the print information A size acquisition unit to acquire, a size determination unit to determine whether the data size acquired by the size acquisition unit is larger than a predetermined size, and the size determination unit to determine that the data size is larger than the predetermined size A first target device determining unit that determines an external device measured as having the highest received signal strength stored in the received signal strength storage unit as a target device that requests transmission of the print information. The response time storage when the size determination means determines that the data size is equal to or smaller than the predetermined size. A second target device determining means for determining the external device measured as the shortest response time stored in the means as the target device, and the target determined by the first or second target device determining means. A request signal transmitting unit that transmits a request signal for requesting transmission of the print information to the device, and the print information transmitted from the target device that has received the request signal transmitted by the request signal transmitting unit. A printing information receiving unit; and a printing execution unit that executes the printing based on the printing information received by the printing information receiving unit.

  In this printing apparatus, when the data size of print information to be received from outside is larger than a predetermined size, the print information is received from an external device having a strong response signal reception signal strength. Therefore, print information can be received from the external device in a more stable communication state, and printing according to the print instruction can be executed satisfactorily. When the data size is equal to or smaller than a predetermined size, the response signal is received from the external device having the shortest response time. Therefore, it is possible to execute printing based on the instruction by using the print information received promptly from the external device.

  In the printing apparatus, identification information acquisition means for acquiring identification information for identifying the external device, communication permission identification information storage means for storing identification information of a device that permits communication among the at least one external device, A communication permission determining means for determining whether or not the identification information acquired by the identification information acquiring means corresponds to the identification information stored in the communication permission identification information storage means. The means may identify the external device for which the identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition means is determined to correspond to the identification information stored in the communication permission identification information storage means by the communication permission determination means. Good. This prevents, for example, receiving unusable print information from an external device by specifying the external device that permits communication when print information is received from an external device that has different specifications from the printing device. it can.

  In the printing apparatus, the inquiry signal transmitting unit inquires whether the print information for the print medium having the same width as the print medium for executing the printing is stored in the external device. May be sent. Thus, for example, even if print information having a width different from the width of the print medium targeted by the print instruction is received from the external device, if appropriate printing according to the width of the print medium cannot be performed, In response to the inquiry about whether the print information for the print medium having the same width as the print medium to be printed is stored, the print information corresponding to the width of the target print medium is received. it can.

1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of an implementation of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view of a printing apparatus with a cover removed according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is an example of the communication permission table which is embodiment of this invention. It is an example of the communication candidate table which is embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of a printing control process. It is a flowchart of a printing information acquisition process. It is a flowchart which shows the continuation of FIG.

  Hereinafter, a printing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings to be referred to are used for explaining the technical features that can be adopted by the present disclosure, and the configuration of the apparatus described is not intended to be limited to that, but merely an illustrative example. In the following description, the left diagonally lower, right diagonally upward, right diagonally downward, left diagonally upward, downward, and upward of FIGS. 2 and 3 are respectively the front, rear, right, left, downward, and upward of the printing apparatus 1. And

  First, an outline of implementation of the printing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The printing apparatus 1 prints characters, symbols, graphics, or the like on a label sheet 3A (see FIG. 3) described later. A PC 30 is connected to the printing apparatus 1. The PC 30 instructs the printing apparatus 1 to print. The printing apparatus 1 executes printing based on a printing instruction from the PC 30. The printing apparatus 1 can transmit and receive various types of information by wireless communication with other printing apparatuses 1A, 1B, and 1C that are external devices.

  In the present embodiment, the printing apparatus 1 stores print information in the flash ROM 14 (see FIG. 4). The print information is information necessary for executing the print based on a print instruction from the PC 30, for example. For example, font information and template information. The font information is information about fonts such as characters and numbers. The template information is information relating to, for example, a fixed form, a decorative frame, and a graphic. However, when the printing apparatus 1 receives a printing instruction from the PC 30, the printing information necessary for the printing may not be stored in the flash ROM 14. In that case, the printing apparatus 1 wirelessly receives print information necessary for the printing from the other printing apparatuses 1A to 1C.

  The printing apparatus 1 can select an appropriate printing apparatus from the printing apparatuses 1A to 1C under various communication conditions according to the data size of print information to be received. Therefore, the printing apparatus 1 can receive printing information from the other printing apparatuses 1 </ b> A to 1 </ b> C more stably or more quickly, and can execute printing based on the printing instruction satisfactorily.

  Next, the external configuration of the printing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The printing apparatus 1 includes a housing 2. The housing 2 is a resin component that is open at the top. The housing 2 accommodates a printing mechanism, a transport mechanism, and the like. As shown in FIG. 3, a storage portion 4 is provided at the upper rear of the housing 2. The storage portion 4 is formed in a concave shape that curves downward in a substantially arc shape. The storage unit 4 stores the roll sheet holder 3. The roll sheet holder 3 rotatably supports a label sheet 3A having a predetermined width wound around the winding core. An identification sensor 21 (see FIG. 4) is provided at the bottom of the storage unit 4. The identification sensor 21 detects medium information such as the type, width, and material of the label sheet 3 </ b> A supported by the roll sheet holder 3.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a cover 5 is provided at the upper opening of the housing 2 so as to be opened and closed. The cover 5 covers the roll sheet holder 3 from above. The cover 5 is a transparent resin part. A tray 6, a power button 7, and a cutter lever 9 are provided on the front surface of the housing 2. The tray 6 is provided in front of the cover 5 and receives a printed label sheet 3A discharged from a discharge port (not shown). The power button 7 is located on the right side of the front surface of the housing 2. The cutter lever 9 is located below the power button 7. The user operates the cutter lever 9 in the left-right direction. Therefore, the cutter unit (not shown) in the housing 2 is driven. A power connection portion (not shown) to which a power cord (not shown) is connected is provided at the lower rear portion of the housing 2. Next to the power supply connection unit, a USB connection unit 16 (see FIG. 4) is provided. A PC 30 or the like can be connected to the USB connection unit 16.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the printing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The printing apparatus 1 includes a CPU 11. The CPU 11 performs overall control of the operation of the printing apparatus 1. A ROM 12, a RAM 13, a flash ROM 14, a timer 15, a USB connection unit 16, an input / output interface 17, and the like are connected to the CPU 11 by a bus. The ROM 12 includes a program storage area 121. The program storage area 121 stores various programs for the CPU 11 to control the printing apparatus 1. The RAM 13 includes a print buffer 131 and the like. The print buffer 131 temporarily stores data and various settings necessary for printing in the printing apparatus 1.

  The flash ROM 14 includes various storage areas described later. The timer 15 measures various times. For example, a PC 30 is connected to the USB connection unit 16. An identification sensor 21, a drive circuit 22, a drive circuit 23, and a wireless communication unit 26 are connected to the input / output interface 17. A thermal head 24 is connected to the drive circuit 22. The drive circuit 22 drives the thermal head 24. A sheet feed motor 25 is connected to the drive circuit 23. The drive circuit 23 drives the sheet feed motor 25. The sheet feed motor 25 is a drive source of a transport mechanism for transporting the label sheet 3A. The wireless communication unit 26 transmits / receives various information to / from other printing apparatuses 1A to 1C wirelessly. In addition, the wireless communication unit 26 includes an electric field strength calculation unit 261 and calculates the electric field strength from the communication output voltage output from the wireless communication unit 26. The printing apparatuses 1A to 1C have the same configuration as the printing apparatus 1.

  Next, various storage areas of the flash ROM 14 will be described with reference to FIG. The flash ROM 14 is a nonvolatile memory. The flash ROM 14 includes a print information storage area 141, a communication permission table storage area 142, a communication candidate table storage area 143, and the like. The print information storage area 141 stores print information. The communication permission table storage area 142 stores a communication permission table 1421 (see FIG. 5). The communication candidate table storage area 143 stores a communication candidate table 1431 (see FIG. 6).

  Next, the communication permission table 1421 will be described with reference to FIG. The communication permission table 1421 is for specifying a model of an external device that permits communication with the printing apparatus 1. The communication permission table 1421 stores a registration number, a series number, and a model code in association with each other. The registration number indicates the order of registration in the communication permission table 1421. The series number indicates, for example, the type of the printer model. In this embodiment, for example, two types of series 1 and 2 are assumed. The model code indicates each model designed for each series by a code number. In the present embodiment, for example, two types of models 1 and 2 are assumed. “-” Means all series. In the present embodiment, the model number of the printing apparatus that may allow communication with the printing apparatus 1 is specified by the series number and the model code.

  Next, the communication candidate table 1431 will be described with reference to FIG. The communication candidate table 1431 is for registering a printing apparatus that has returned a response signal in response to the print information inquiry signal of the printing apparatus 1 as a communication candidate. The communication candidate table 1431 stores a registration number, an identification number, an electric field strength, and a response time in association with each other. The registration number indicates the order of registration in the communication candidate table 1431. The identification number is a number of identification information transmitted from another printing apparatus. The electric field strength is an electric field strength (V / m) calculated based on a response signal received from another printing apparatus. The response time is an elapsed time (ms) from when the inquiry signal is transmitted from the printing apparatus 1 until the response signal is received from another printing apparatus.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, for the registration number 1, the identification number “aaab”, the electric field strength “x1”, and the response time “t1” are stored. For registration number 2, values of identification number “abaa”, electric field strength “x2”, and response time “t2” are stored. For registration number 3, values of identification number “acdd”, electric field strength “x3”, and response time “t3” are stored. As will be described later, according to the present embodiment, the registration order is rearranged in order of increasing electric field strength or increasing response speed according to the data size of the received print information. The printing apparatus with the registration number 1 at the top is the communication partner.

  Next, print control processing executed by the CPU 11 of the printing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. In response to the reception of a print instruction signal for executing printing from the PC 30, the CPU 11 calls and executes a “print control program” stored in the program storage area 121 (see FIG. 4) of the ROM 12. .

  First, the CPU 11 executes a process for receiving a print instruction signal transmitted from the PC 30 (S11). The print instruction signal transmitted from the PC 30 includes designation information for designating details of print information in addition to character information including characters, figures, symbols, or the like to be printed. The designation information is information that designates at least one of a font, a template, a sheet width of the label sheet, and the like. The CPU 11 stores character information and designation information in the RAM 13 in the reception process. Based on the designation information, the CPU 11 determines whether print information necessary for execution of printing is stored (S12). The print information is stored in the print information storage area 141 of the flash ROM 14. The CPU 11 determines whether font information or template information corresponding to the designation information is stored.

  When the CPU 11 determines that the print information based on the designated information is stored in the print information storage area 141 of the flash ROM 14 (S12: YES), the print buffer 131 displays the print data obtained by combining the print information and the character information. And print processing is executed (S13). In the printing process, the CPU 11 drives the thermal head 24 and the sheet feed motor 25 to print characters, figures, symbols, and the like on the printing surface of the label sheet 3A, and conveys the label sheet 3A from the discharge port to the outside. Then, the CPU 11 ends the print control process.

  On the other hand, if the CPU 11 determines that the print information based on the designation information is not stored in the print information storage area 141 (S12: NO), the print information cannot be used, and therefore the print process cannot be executed. Therefore, the CPU 11 executes print information acquisition processing (S14).

  Next, the print information acquisition process will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. First, as shown in the flow of FIG. 8, the CPU 11 transmits an inquiry signal for inquiring whether or not it has print information based on the designation information to an external device existing around the printing apparatus 1 (S21). The CPU 11 resets and starts the timer 15 (S22). The counter value of the timer 15 is stored in the RAM 13 and counted up with time. Note that the printing devices 1A to 1C, which are external devices, differ in communication status with the printing device 1 depending on the installation environment, operation status, and the like. The farther the separation distance from the printing apparatus 1 is, the weaker the electric field strength for communication becomes. On the contrary, if the distance from the printing apparatus 1 is short, the electric field strength becomes strong, but if there is a radio wave shield around it, the communication state becomes unstable. Further, if the CPU 11 is executing another process, the process for the inquiry signal is also delayed. Therefore, it is assumed that the printing apparatuses 1A to 1C cannot receive the inquiry signal from the printing apparatus 1 depending on the installation environment, or a response signal is returned considerably late.

  The CPU 11 determines whether or not a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds) has elapsed since the inquiry signal was transmitted (S23). The CPU 11 determines whether a response signal has been received from the external device (S24) until a predetermined time has elapsed (S23: NO). Until the CPU 11 receives the response signal (S24: NO), the CPU 11 returns to S23 and monitors the reception of the response signal until a predetermined time elapses.

  Among the other printing apparatuses 1A to 1C around the printing apparatus 1, the printing apparatus having no problem in the communication status with the printing apparatus 1 can receive the inquiry signal. For example, the inquiry signal includes designation information included in the print instruction signal of the PC 30. Therefore, the other printing apparatus that has received the inquiry signal can specify the font and the template for the printing information requested by the printing apparatus 1. The other printing apparatus determines whether or not such print information is stored in the memory, and adds the result information to the response signal and returns it to the printing apparatus 1. The response signal includes identification information of the printing apparatus and information on the series number and model code of the model.

  If the CPU 11 determines that a response signal has been received from another printing apparatus (S24: YES), it determines the response time and temporarily stores it in the RAM 13 (S25). Further, the CPU 11 measures the electric field strength of the received response signal and temporarily stores it in the RAM 13 (S26). Next, the CPU 11 determines whether the model of the other printing apparatus that has transmitted the response signal is a model registered in the communication permission table 1421 stored in the flash ROM 14 (S27). The response signal includes information on the series number and model code of the printing apparatus that has transmitted the response signal. The CPU 11 determines whether or not such information is registered in the communication permission table 1421.

  For example, if the other printing apparatus is different from the model of the printing apparatus 1, the specification of the model is different, so that it cannot be used even if print information is received. On the other hand, in the case of a model that has the same model as the printing apparatus 1 or that can use the same printing information, the printing information received from such a model can also be used in the printing apparatus 1. Therefore, by registering in advance in the communication permission table 1421 other printing apparatuses that can transmit print information that can be used, it is possible to prevent unnecessary print information from being received.

  If the CPU 11 determines that the model of the other printing apparatus that has transmitted the response signal is not a model registered in the communication permission table 1421 (S27: NO), it returns to S23 and repeats the process without doing anything.

  If the CPU 11 determines that the model of the other printing apparatus that has transmitted the response signal is a model registered in the communication permission table 1421 (S27: YES), does the printing apparatus store the printing information to be received by the printing apparatus? It is determined whether or not (S28). The CPU 11 determines whether print information to be received is stored based on the result information added to the response signal. If the CPU 11 determines that the printing apparatus does not store print information to be received (S28: NO), the CPU 11 returns to S23 and repeats the process without doing anything.

  When the CPU 11 determines that the printing apparatus stores the print information to be received (S28: YES), the CPU 11 registers the identification number of the printing apparatus in the communication candidate table 1431 (see FIG. 6) (S29). Furthermore, the CPU 11 registers the confirmed response time in the communication candidate table 1431 (S30). Further, the CPU 11 registers the measured electric field strength of the response signal in the communication candidate table 1431 (S31). The CPU 11 returns the process to S23 and repeats the above process until a predetermined time has elapsed (S23: NO).

  When the CPU 11 determines that the predetermined time has elapsed (S23: YES), the communication candidate table 1431 is determined. Therefore, as shown in the flow of FIG. 9, the CPU 11 acquires the data size of the print information based on the designation information stored in the RAM 13 (S41). When the data size of the print information is larger than a predetermined size, it may not be able to be received accurately if the communication state is unstable. Therefore, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the acquired data size is larger than a predetermined size (S42). For example, font information generally has a large amount of data. Such information cannot receive font information accurately and stably unless the communication state is stable. On the other hand, since the template information is smaller than the font information, it can be received even if the communication state is unstable.

  Therefore, when the CPU 11 determines that the acquired data size is larger than the predetermined size (S42: YES), the CPU 11 rearranges each information corresponding to each printing device in the communication candidate table 1431 based on the electric field strength (S43). Specifically, the registration numbers are rearranged from the registration number 1 to the last in descending order of electric field strength. Therefore, the printing apparatus with the registration number 1 which is the highest position in the communication candidate table 1431 is the printing apparatus with the highest electric field strength. As a result, the printing apparatus having the strongest electric field strength can be determined as a target device that requests transmission of print information.

  On the other hand, when the CPU 11 determines that the acquired data size is equal to or smaller than the predetermined size (S42: NO), the CPU 11 rearranges the information corresponding to each printing device in the communication candidate table 1431 based on the response time (S44). Specifically, the registration numbers are rearranged in order from the fastest response time. Therefore, the printing apparatus with the registration number 1 that is the highest in the communication candidate table 1431 is the printing apparatus with the fastest response time. As a result, the printing device with the fastest response time can be determined as the target device that requests transmission of print information.

  Next, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the communication candidate table 1431 is empty (S45). If various types of information about the printing device are registered in the communication candidate table 1431 (S45: NO), the CPU 11 transmits a print information request signal to the printing device with the registration number 1 which is the highest level in the communication candidate table 1431 ( S46). The print information request signal is a signal for requesting transmission of print information. The other printing apparatus that has received the print information request signal transmits print information corresponding to the print information request signal to the printing apparatus 1.

  If the print information received here is larger than the predetermined size, the registration number 1 which is the highest rank in the communication candidate table 1431 is the printing apparatus with the highest electric field strength. By determining such a printing apparatus as a communication partner and transmitting a print information request signal, print information can be received under a more stable communication situation. On the contrary, if the received print information is less than or equal to the predetermined size, the registration number 1 which is the highest rank in the communication candidate table 1431 is the printing apparatus with the fastest response time. By determining such a printing apparatus as a communication partner and transmitting a print information request signal, small print information such as template information can be quickly received.

  The CPU 11 determines whether the communication is successful (S47). When the CPU 11 determines that the communication is successful (S47: YES), the CPU 11 receives print information from another printing apparatus that has transmitted the print information request signal (S48). Subsequently, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the print information has been successfully received (S49). When the CPU 11 determines that the print information has been successfully received (S49: YES), the received print information is stored in the print information storage area 141 of the flash ROM 14, and the process proceeds to S13 in FIG. 8 to execute the print process. (S13). In this way, the CPU 11 ends the print control process.

  By the way, the position of the printing apparatus in communication with the CPU 11 may be moved by the user. Further, the power of the printing apparatus in communication with the CPU 11 may be turned off. In this case, since the CPU 11 determines that the communication has failed (S47: NO), each information of the printing apparatus with the registration number 1 which is the highest level in the communication candidate table 1431 is deleted (S51), and the remaining printing apparatuses are registered. The number is incremented (S52).

  The CPU 11 returns to S45 and determines whether or not the communication candidate table 1431 is empty. If the CPU 11 determines that the communication candidate table 1431 is empty (S45: YES), the CPU 11 transmits an error signal to the PC 30 (S53) and ends the process. The PC 30 receiving the error signal performs error notification on the display.

  Further, while the CPU 11 is receiving print information from another printing apparatus, the communication may be disconnected for the reason described above. In such a case, the CPU 11 determines that reception of the print information has failed (S49: NO), deletes each piece of information of the printing apparatus with the registration number 1 which is the highest level in the communication candidate table 1431 (S51), and the remaining information The registration number of the printing apparatus is incremented (S52). The CPU 11 returns to S45 and repeats the process in the same manner as described above.

  As described above, when the CPU 11 of the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment receives a print instruction from the PC 30, print information necessary for execution of printing may not be stored in the flash ROM 14. In this case, the CPU 11 wirelessly transmits inquiry signals to other printing apparatuses 1A to 1C that are peripheral external devices. The inquiry signal is a signal for inquiring whether or not there is print information. The CPU 11 receives a response signal for this inquiry signal from another printing apparatus. The CPU 11 registers the response time of the response signal and the electric field strength in the communication candidate table 1431 stored in the flash ROM 14 for the printer that has responded that the print information is stored.

  Here, if the data size of the received print information is larger than the predetermined size, the CPU 11 rearranges the printing devices registered in the communication candidate table 1431 in the order of strong electric field strength of the response signal. On the other hand, if the data size of the received print information is equal to or smaller than the predetermined size, the printing apparatuses registered in the communication candidate table 1431 are rearranged in order of the response time of the response signal. Then, the CPU 11 transmits a print information request signal to the uppermost printer in the communication candidate table 1431. As described above, since the print information can be received from other printing apparatuses in a more stable communication state according to the data size of the print information, it is possible to improve the printing according to the print instruction of the PC 30.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation is possible. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the printing apparatuses 1A to 1C are described as an example of external devices. However, print information may be received from a PC or a server.

  In the above-described embodiment, font information and template information have been described as examples of print information. However, the present invention can also be applied to other information.

  In the above-described embodiment, the communication permission table 1421 is stored in the flash ROM 14, and print information is not received from an external device that is not registered in the flash ROM 14, but the communication permission table 1421 may not be used.

1 Printing device 1A, 1B, 1C Printing device 11 CPU
12 ROM
13 RAM
14 Flash ROM
15 timer 26 wireless communication unit 261 electric field strength calculation unit 1421 communication permission table 1431 communication candidate table

Claims (3)

A printing apparatus capable of wirelessly communicating with at least one external device,
A receiving means for receiving a print instruction;
Print information storage means for storing print information which is information necessary for execution of printing whose instruction is received by the receiving means;
Storage determination means for determining whether or not the print information is stored in the print information storage means;
An inquiry signal transmitting means for transmitting an inquiry signal for inquiring whether or not the print information is stored in the external device when the storage determination means determines that the print information is not stored;
Response signal receiving means for receiving a response signal corresponding to the inquiry signal from an external device that has received the inquiry signal transmitted by the inquiry signal transmitting means;
Based on the response signal received by the response signal receiving means, an external device specifying means for specifying an external device storing the print information;
The transmission of said inquiry signal by said inquiry signal transmission means, a time required until the reception of the response signal by the response signal receiving means, depending on the operating conditions of the external device specified by the external device specifying means A response time measuring means for measuring a response time, which can be a long time, and
Response time storage means for storing the response time measured by the response time measurement means;
It is converted into a transmission signal of the radio communication, based on the received signal of the response signals received by the reply signal receiving means, met the received signal strength in a wireless communication with the external device specified by the external device specifying means Received signal strength measuring means for measuring received signal strength that can be reduced according to the specified installation environment of the external device ,
Received signal strength storage means for storing the received signal strength measured by the received signal strength measuring means;
Size acquisition means for acquiring the data size of the print information;
Size determination means for determining whether or not the data size acquired by the size acquisition means is larger than a predetermined size;
When the size determination unit determines that the data size is larger than the predetermined size, an external device measured as having the highest received signal strength stored in the received signal strength storage unit is connected to the print information. First target device determination means for determining a target device that requests transmission;
When the size determination unit determines that the data size is equal to or smaller than the predetermined size, the external device measured as the shortest response time stored in the response time storage unit is determined as the target device. 2 target device determination means;
Request signal transmitting means for transmitting a request signal for requesting transmission of the print information to the target device determined by the first or second target device determining means;
Print information receiving means for receiving the print information transmitted from the target device that has received the request signal transmitted by the request signal transmitting means;
A printing apparatus comprising: a print execution unit that executes the printing based on the print information received by the print information reception unit. Identification information acquisition means for acquiring identification information for identifying the external device;
Communication permission identification information storage means for storing identification information of a device that permits communication among the at least one external device;
Communication permission determination means for determining whether the identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition means corresponds to the identification information stored in the communication permission identification information storage means;
The external device specifying unit is configured to select the external device that has been determined that the identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition unit corresponds to the identification information stored in the communication permission identification information storage unit by the communication permission determination unit. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is specified. The inquiry signal transmitting means includes
3. The inquiry signal for inquiring whether or not the print information for a print medium having the same width as the print medium for executing the printing is stored is transmitted to the external device. The printing apparatus as described in.

Images