JP2002014780A - Print system, printing method, printer, terminal device, and server device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print system which can reduce the load on a server device side and the load of communication on a user side when the user specifies content information obtained by a terminal device and prints them on a printer through the server device. SOLUTION: When a portable terminal device 105 sends a print indication for content information to the printer 108, the printer 108 requests the server device 101 to obtain its print data in response to the print indication. At the acquisition request, the printer 108 receives and outputs PML data for print generated by the server device 101. At this time, the server device 101 divides PML-converted data by division parts 206 and 207 and sends them to the printer when the size of the receiving buffer of the printer 108 which is received together with the request is small.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a content or document for printing based on location information such as a URL of data (content information) of content or document on a portable terminal device such as a cellular phone or PDA. The present invention relates to a printing system, a printing method, a printing device, a terminal device, and a server device that provide a service for outputting data (printing data) such as data to a printing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The present applicant has disclosed a portable terminal device (Info).
When printing data (content information) on the Internet, such as contents and documents, obtained by a translation application (hereinafter simply referred to as an IA device), a print instruction is directly transmitted from the IA device to the printing device, and in response to the print instruction, The printing device sends a request for obtaining the print data to the server device via the network, and in response to the request, the server device obtains the print data, and the printing device prints the print data received from the server device. It is proposed to print the data for use.

[0003] At this time, the server device creates and transmits print data, as a driver of a personal computer (PC) does, and the printer receives the created print data.

[0004]

However, in the above-described conventional printing system, a remarkably large load is applied to the server device, and when a plurality of requests are received simultaneously,
There was a problem that the response deteriorated.

[0005] In addition, the printing apparatus also has a problem in that it takes a lot of time to receive the data to be printed, and the communication load on the user increases.

Further, since a relatively inexpensive printing apparatus does not have a page memory, in order to transfer the data in a divided manner, the data must be converted into data that can be printed as it is on the server device side and transmitted. Communication time was long.

Therefore, the present invention can reduce the load on the server device and the burden on the communication on the user side when the user specifies the content information obtained on the terminal device and prints the content information on the printing device via the server device. It is an object to provide a printing system, a printing method, a printing device, a terminal device, and a server device.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing system in which at least one server device, a terminal device, and a printing device are connected to a network, and The terminal device to which the device is locally connected sends a print instruction of content information to the printing device by designating first position information, and in response to the print instruction, the printing device sends the first position information to the first position information. Transmitting a print data acquisition request to the server device by designating second position information based on the information; and in response to the print data acquisition request, the server device transmits the designated second data to the designated second data. A printing system that acquires print data based on position information and transmits the acquired print data to the printing device, and the printing device performs printing in accordance with the acquired print data, and the server device includes:
An acquisition unit that acquires information about the printing device through the network in advance, a division unit that divides the printing data based on the acquired information about the printing device, and transmits the divided printing data to the printing device. And transmitting means for performing the transmission.

Further, the server device or between the server device and the printing device is provided with data conversion means for converting the print data into data in a format that can be interpreted by the printing device. Is characterized in that the printing apparatus divides the printing data converted into data in a format that can be interpreted by the printing apparatus.

Further, the obtaining means obtains the size of the receiving buffer of the printing device, the dividing means divides the print data according to the obtained size of the receiving buffer, and the transmitting means And transmitting the divided print data.

The print data is composed of a text portion and an object portion, and the dividing means divides at least one of the text portion and the object portion.

Further, the object section has a plurality of object data corresponding to the resolution of the printing apparatus.
The acquisition unit acquires a size and a resolution of a reception buffer of the printing apparatus, and the division unit divides object data according to the acquired resolution according to the size of the reception buffer. .

[0013] The image processing apparatus further comprises a decompression means for decompressing the compressed image, and when the object portion is a compressed image which cannot be divided as it is, the division means divides the image decompressed by the decompression means. I do.

Further, after dividing the expanded image,
The image processing apparatus further comprises a compression unit for compressing the divided image.

Further, the transmitting means transmits the decompressed and divided image.

Further, the first position information is different from the second position information.

Further, the first position information and the second position information are the same.

Further, the second position information includes the first position information.
In the content information specified by the position information.

Further, the printing data transmitted to the printing apparatus is content information specified by the first position information or the second position information.

Further, the printing data transmitted to the printing apparatus is different from the content information specified by the first position information or the second position information.

Further, the printing apparatus includes a printing data generating means for generating data unique to the printing apparatus, and the printing data transmitted to the printing apparatus is in an HTML format which can be interpreted by the printing data generating means. It is characterized by being data.

Further, the printing apparatus is provided with printing data generating means for generating data unique to the printing apparatus, and the printing data transmitted to the printing apparatus is in an XML format which can be interpreted by the printing data generating means. It is characterized by being data.

Further, the transmitting means does not transmit a part of the divided print data based on the acquired information on the printing apparatus.

Further, the terminal device, the server device or the printing device is provided with specifying means for determining position information of the content information to be printed and specifying a position where the content information is actually held. It is characterized by the following.

[0025] In addition, specifying means for determining position information of the content information to be printed and specifying a position where the content information is actually held is provided separately from the terminal device, the server device, and the printing device. It is characterized by having been provided.

Further, the server device is provided with print data acquisition means for acquiring the print data from the content information to be printed.

Further, the printing device notifies the terminal device that printing is completed by local communication.

Further, at least a part of the network is the Internet or an intranet.

A printing method according to a twenty-second aspect uses a printing system in which at least one server device, a terminal device, and a printing device are connected to a network, and the terminal device to which the printing device is locally connected is 1 is designated, and a print instruction of the content information is transmitted to the printing apparatus, and in response to the print instruction, the printing apparatus designates the second position information based on the first position information. Transmitting a print data acquisition request to the server device, and in response to the print data acquisition request, the server device acquires print data based on the designated second position information. A printing method for transmitting to the printing device, the printing device performing printing in accordance with the acquired print data, wherein the server device reserves information about the printing device through the network. A step of acquiring, based on information relating to the printing device the acquired, a step of dividing the printing data, characterized by a step of transmitting the printing data the divided to the printing apparatus.

[0030] The printing apparatus according to claim 23 is connected to a network together with at least one server apparatus and a terminal apparatus, and is a content transmitted by designating first location information from the locally connected terminal apparatus. Receiving a print instruction for information and responding to the print instruction,
Transmitting a print data acquisition request to the server device by designating the second position information based on the position information, and responding to the print data acquisition request in response to the print data acquisition request. A printing device that receives the printing data acquired based on the position information of No. 2 and performs printing in accordance with the received printing data, and transmits in advance information about the printing device to the server device via the network. A transmitting unit; and a receiving unit that receives the print data divided by the server device based on the information about the printing device.

According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, the locally connected printing device prints by designating the second position information based on the first position information in response to the print instruction of the content information. The server device transmits a data acquisition request to the server device, and in response to the print data acquisition request, the server device acquires the print data based on the designated second position information, and The printing device is a terminal device connected to a network together with the server device and the printing device in order to perform printing in accordance with the acquired printing data, and the printing device has the first location information. And transmitting the print instruction by designating the print device. The server device acquires information about the print device in advance through the network, and Based on distribution, dividing the printing data, and transmits the printing data the divided to the printing apparatus.

The server device according to claim 25 is connected to a network together with a terminal device and a printing device, and the terminal device to which the printing device is locally connected is a first device.
And sending a print instruction of the content information to the printing device by designating the position information, and in response to the print instruction, designating the second position information based on the first position information from the printing device. A printing apparatus that receives the transmitted print data acquisition request, and in response to the print data acquisition request, acquires print data based on the designated second position information and performs printing. A server device for transmitting the obtained print data to the printer device, wherein the obtaining device obtains information about the print device through the network in advance, and dividing the print data based on the obtained information about the print device. The printing apparatus further includes a dividing unit and a transmitting unit that transmits the divided print data to the printing apparatus.

A printing method according to a twenty-sixth aspect is a step of receiving a print request and a buffer size from a printing apparatus, a step of creating divided print data based on the received buffer size, and a step of receiving the created divided print data. Sequentially transmitting to the printing apparatus.

Further, the print request includes a print request from a portable terminal device.

Further, the receiving is characterized by receiving a print request, a buffer size, and a resolution.

[0036]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of a printing system, a printing method, a printing device, a terminal device and a server device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system. This printing system has a configuration in which a portable terminal device (Information Appliance, simply referred to as an IA device) 105, a server device 101, and a printing device 108 are connected via the Internet 103. The server device 101 is the Internet 1
03, which functions as a WEB server and has a PML conversion unit 109. The PML conversion unit 109 is a printer 10
8 receives the print data request from PML (Print Markup Language).
e) Convert to data and send. The PML conversion unit 10
9 is P when print data is described in PML in advance.
Skip ML conversion.

The IA device 105 is a portable information terminal, a portable telephone, or the like.
3 is connected. The IA device 105 includes a printing device communication unit 110, and performs network 1 communication such as wireless communication.
06 and can communicate with the printing device 108.

The printing device 108 is a server device communication unit 11
1, an IA communication unit 112 and a PML printing unit 113. The printing device 108 can communicate with the IA device 105 via a network such as wireless communication by the IA communication unit 112. Thus, the IA device 105 and the printing device 108
Are locally connected by a printing device communication unit 110 and an IA communication unit 112.

The printing device 108 is connected to the Internet 103 via the network 107 by the server communication unit 111. The printing device 108 is the server device 1
01 received by requesting print data from
The ML data is printed by the PML printing unit 113.

In the figure, reference numeral 114 denotes a sample of PML data transmitted from the server apparatus 101 to the printing apparatus. PM
L is an XML-based printing data description language that can be transmitted and received in arbitrary line units according to the processing capacity of the printing apparatus. It is described as added data.

The IA device 105 acquires content information from the Internet 103 through the communication line 104. When printing data (content / document or content information) such as content or a document as the acquired content information, the IA device 105 notifies the printing device 108 of the content information by the printing device communication unit 110.

The printing device 108 receives the content information and the print request by the IA communication unit 112 transmitted from the IA device 105 via the network 106.
The printing device 108 notifies the server device 101 of a content / document request via the network 107 by the server device communication unit 111.

Upon receiving the request from the printing apparatus 108, the server apparatus 101 converts the designated content / document into PML data by the PML conversion unit 109, and transmits the PML data to the printing apparatus 108 via the network 102, the Internet 103, and the network 107. P
Upon receiving the ML data, the printing apparatus 108 converts the data into print data by the PML printing unit 113 and performs printing.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the operation of the printing system. The server device 102 receives the reception buffer size 223 of the printing device 102 at the same time as receiving the request from the printing device 108. The server apparatus 101 owns a text portion 204 obtained by performing PML conversion on the content 201 and an object 205 included in the content 201.

The reception buffer size 223 received from the printing apparatus 108 includes the size of the reception character buffer 214 and the size of the reception object buffer 215 of the printing apparatus 108.

The server device 102 divides the text portion 204 of the content 201, that is, the portion composed of character data by the dividing unit 206. That is, the size of the reception character buffer 214 is n characters ×
If there are m lines, the content is divided into n characters × m lines. Similarly, the object is divided according to the size of the reception object buffer 215. Thus, the divided data can be transmitted as if it were one content.

In printing, if a character larger than the received character buffer 214 has to be transmitted, it is calculated how many lines the data portion crosses in actual printing, and the number of crossing lines is divided by m lines. Is transmitted as divided data the same number of times.

Although the printing apparatus 108 receives the same data, the transmitted data includes the divided data 229 and 230 of the same data.

Specifically, the content 201 shown in FIG.
"AAAAAAA", "BBBBBBB", "CCCCC
"C" character group, "DDDDDD" larger than this character group
In addition to the character group of "D", an elliptical object is included.

The character group 208 of “AAAAAAA” is transferred as transmission data 224 and expanded as data 216 in the reception character buffer 214. "BBBBB
The character group 210 of “B” is transferred as transmission data 226 and is expanded as data 218 in the reception character buffer 214. The character group 212 of “CCCCCC” is expanded as transmission data 228 in the reception character buffer 214 as data 220.

The character group 2 of the large "DDDDD"
13 is transferred as divided data 229 and 230 and is developed as data 221 and 222 in the reception character buffer 214.

As described above, by transmitting, without performing a complicated process unlike the driver mounted on the PC,
Division can be performed in character units.

The elliptical object is also divided by the dividing unit 20.
Divided by seven. Divided object 209,
211 is transferred as divided data 225 and 227, respectively, and is developed as divided data 217 and 222 in the reception object buffer 215. In this way, the object can be divided and transferred, so that the receiving buffer on the printing apparatus side can handle the minimum.

In the above-described embodiment, the server device divides both the text portion and the object portion and transfers them to the printing device.
It is also possible to split and transfer only the object. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the operation of the printing system in the case where the text part is transferred collectively and only the object is transferred in a divided manner. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

When receiving the request, the server apparatus 101 receives the size of the reception object buffer 215.

The text portion of the content 201, specifically, “AAAAAAA”, “BBBBBBB”, “CCCC
CC "and the larger" D "
The group of characters “DDDDD” is collectively transferred to the printing apparatus 108 as data 313.

On the other hand, the elliptical object 205 is divided into two divided objects 209 and 211, each of which is transferred as divided data 225 and 227, and developed as divided data 217 and 219 in the reception object buffer 215. You.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the operation of the printing system when the object has a plurality of object data corresponding to the resolution of the printing apparatus. When the object has a plurality of object data corresponding to the resolution of the printing apparatus, when receiving the request, the server apparatus 101 simultaneously receives the resolution of the printing apparatus 108 and the size of the reception object buffer 215.

The server apparatus 101 is provided with a plurality of object data 405, 406, and 407 having different resolutions.
Object data suitable for the resolution of the printing device 108 is selected, and the division unit 207 performs division according to the size of the reception object buffer 215 to generate divided objects 209 and 211. Divided object 209,
211 is transferred to the printing apparatus 108 as data 225 and 227, and the data 2 is stored in the reception object buffer 215.
17, 219 are developed.

If the object is a compressed image such as JPEG and cannot be divided as it is, the server temporarily expands the image and divides the expanded image. Then, each divided object is again compressed to JPEG or the like and transmitted. At this time, the data of the divided object can be transmitted as it is without compression.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the configurations of the embodiments, and the functions described in the claims or the functions of the embodiments are not limited thereto. Any configuration that can achieve the function of the configuration is applicable.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the printing system in which the respective devices are connected via the Internet has been described, but an intranet or another network may be used instead of the Internet.

Further, in the above embodiment, the PML conversion unit is provided in the server device holding the content information to be printed. However, the PML conversion unit is provided in a server device different from the server device holding the content information. In this case, the PM converted by the server device may be provided.
The L data is transferred to the printing device. Also, P
The ML data conversion unit may be provided in the printing apparatus. In this case, after the printing apparatus converts the data into PML data, the printing apparatus generates and prints data unique to the printing apparatus.

Further, the server device may have a print data generation unit for generating the PML data converted by the PML conversion unit into data unique to the printing device. In this case, the server device generates data unique to the printing device. By transmitting the data to the printing apparatus, the processing on the printing apparatus side can be reduced.

Furthermore, although only the terminal device has acquired the position information of the content information to be printed, the present invention is not limited to the terminal device, and any of the server device and the printing device may acquire it.

The network to which the server device, the IA device, and the printing device are connected includes, in addition to the Internet,
Multiple intranets such as ANs may intervene. The IA device and the printing device only need to be connected by local communication, and can be connected by wireless communication, infrared light communication, a cable, or the like.

[0067]

According to the present invention, when a user designates content information obtained by a terminal device and prints it with a printing device via a server device, the load on the server device and the burden on the user for communication are reduced. Can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the printing system.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the printing system in a case where a text portion is batch-transferred and only an object is divided and transferred.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the printing system when an object has a plurality of object data corresponding to the resolution of the printing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 101 server device 103 Internet 105 portable terminal device (IA device) 108 printing device 109 PML conversion unit 110 printing device communication unit 111 server device communication unit 113 PML printing unit 201 content 204 text part 205 object 206, 207 division unit 214 reception character buffer 215 Receive object buffer 209, 211 Split object

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hirohisa Suzuki 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term in Canon Inc. (reference) 2C087 BA06 BA14 BC07 BD40 5B021 AA01 BB01 BB05 EE04 5C073 CA01 CD12 CE04

Claims (28)

[Claims] At least one server device, a terminal device, and a printing device are connected to a network, and the terminal device, to which the printing device is locally connected, designates first position information and instructs printing of content information. To the printing apparatus, and in response to the print instruction, the printing apparatus sends a print data acquisition request to the server apparatus by designating second position information based on the first position information. Then, in response to the print data acquisition request, the server device acquires the print data based on the designated second position information and transmits the data to the printing device, and the printing device acquires the acquired data. A printing system that performs printing in accordance with printing data, wherein the server device obtains information about the printing device through the network in advance, and the obtained printing device A printing system comprising: a dividing unit that divides the print data based on the information about the print data; and a transmitting unit that transmits the divided print data to the printing apparatus. 2. The server device or, between the server device and the printing device, a data conversion unit that converts the print data into data in a format that can be interpreted by the printing device. 2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus divides the printing data converted into data in a format that can be interpreted by the printing apparatus. 3. The obtaining unit obtains a size of a receiving buffer of the printing apparatus, the dividing unit divides the print data according to the obtained size of the receiving buffer, and the transmitting unit 2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the divided print data is transmitted. 4. The printing system according to claim 3, wherein the print data includes a text part and an object part, and the dividing unit divides at least one of the text part and the object part. 5. The object unit has a plurality of object data corresponding to the resolution of the printing device, the obtaining unit obtains a size and a resolution of a receiving buffer of the printing device, and the dividing unit The printing system according to claim 4, wherein the object data corresponding to the acquired resolution is divided according to the size of the reception buffer. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a decompression unit that decompresses the compressed image, wherein, when the object part is a compressed image that cannot be divided as it is, the division unit divides the image decompressed by the decompression unit. 4. The printing system according to 4. 7. After dividing the expanded image,
7. The printing system according to claim 6, further comprising compression means for compressing the divided image. 8. The printing system according to claim 6, wherein the transmitting unit transmits the decompressed and divided image. 9. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the first position information is different from the second position information. 10. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the first position information and the second position information are the same. 11. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the second position information is indicated in content information specified by the first position information. . 12. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print data transmitted to the printing apparatus is content information specified by the first position information or the second position information. The printing system as described. 13. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print data transmitted to the printing apparatus is different from the content information specified by the first position information or the second position information. A printing system according to claim 1. 14. A printing apparatus, comprising: printing data generating means for generating data unique to the printing apparatus, wherein the printing data transmitted to the printing apparatus is in an HTML format interpretable by the printing data generating means. 9. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing system is data. 15. A printing apparatus, comprising: printing data generating means for generating data unique to the printing apparatus, wherein the printing data transmitted to the printing apparatus is in an XML format interpretable by the printing data generating means. 9. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing system is data. 16. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit does not transmit a part of the divided print data based on the acquired information on the printing apparatus. system. 17. The terminal device, the server device, or the printing device, further comprising: a determination unit configured to determine position information of the content information to be printed and to specify a position where the content information is actually held. The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein: 18. A method for determining position information of the content information to be printed and specifying a position where the content information is actually held, separately from the terminal device, the server device, and the printing device. 9. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing system is provided. 19. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the server device includes a print data acquisition unit that acquires the print data from the content information to be printed.
The printing system according to any one of the above. 20. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing device notifies the terminal device that printing has been completed by local communication. 21. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the network is the Internet or an intranet. 22. A printing system in which at least one server device, terminal device, and printing device are connected to a network, wherein the terminal device to which the printing device is locally connected specifies first position information. A printing instruction for the content information is transmitted to the printing apparatus, and in response to the printing instruction, the printing apparatus designates second position information based on the first position information and issues a request for obtaining print data. Transmitting to the server device, and in response to the print data acquisition request, the server device acquires print data based on the designated second position information and transmits the acquired print data to the printing device; A printing method in which the printing device performs printing in accordance with the obtained printing data, wherein the server device obtains information about the printing device in advance through the network, Based on said printing device information regarding the steps of dividing the printing data, printing method characterized by a step of transmitting the printing data the divided to the printing apparatus. 23. A content information printing instruction, which is connected to a network together with at least one server device and at least one terminal device and which is transmitted by designating first position information from the locally connected terminal device, In response to the print instruction, the second position information is designated based on the first position information, a print data acquisition request is transmitted to the server device, and the print data acquisition request is responded to the print data acquisition request. hand,
A printing device that receives the print data acquired based on the designated second position information from the server device, and performs printing in accordance with the received print data; A printing apparatus comprising: a transmitting unit that transmits information about the printing device in advance; and a receiving unit that receives printing data divided by the server device based on the information about the printing device. 24. A printing apparatus locally connected, in response to a print instruction of content information, specifies a second position information based on the first position information and issues a request for obtaining print data by a server device. In response to the print data acquisition request, the server device acquires print data based on the designated second position information and transmits the acquired print data to the printing device. A terminal device connected to a network together with the server device and the printing device for performing printing in accordance with the acquired print data, the terminal device designating the first position information to the printing device and issuing the print instruction. The server device acquires information about the printing device in advance through the network, and based on the acquired information about the printing device, the server device sends the printing data. Dividing the data, the terminal apparatus and transmits the print data said divided into the printing device. 25. The terminal device, which is connected to a network together with a terminal device and a printing device, and to which the printing device is locally connected, specifies first position information and transmits a content information print instruction to the printing device. Receiving, in response to the print instruction, a print data acquisition request transmitted from the printing apparatus by designating second position information based on the first position information, and acquiring the print data. A server device that acquires print data based on the designated second position information in response to the request, and transmits the acquired print data to the printing device that performs printing, Acquiring means for previously acquiring information on the printing device; dividing means for dividing the print data based on the acquired information on the printing device; A transmission unit for transmitting data to the printing apparatus. 26. A step of receiving a print request and a buffer size from a printing apparatus, a step of creating divided print data based on the received buffer size, and a step of sequentially transmitting the created divided print data to a printing apparatus. A printing method, comprising: 27. The printing method according to claim 26, wherein the print request includes a print request from a mobile terminal device. 28. The printing method according to claim 26, wherein the receiving step receives a print request, a buffer size, and a resolution.