JP2003087447A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer capable of notifying an operator about index information attached to print information in data transferred from a terminal in voice. SOLUTION: When receiving print data with the index information attached to them, the printer 2 particularizes a location in the data to which a sender name ABC and a document name XYZ are attached, extracts separately the image data and the index information data and stores them. When the reception of all the print data is finished, the index information is interpreted as voice data. On the other hand, the image data are shifted to print processing. After the index information is interpreted, the voice data corresponding to the index information are read and created as voice data. When the print of the image data is finished, a voice generating section 260 outputs voice messages such as 'the document XYZ of Mr. ABC is printed' and 'Paper jamming takes place during print of data from a sender ABC' as execution of voice notice.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that processes print data transferred from a terminal device such as a host computer by data communication and outputs an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing device such as a printer, a multifunction peripheral, a facsimile device, etc., which prints out received print data has been used. When print output is executed in these printers, some troubles or errors may occur on the printer side and the print output may not be executed normally. When the terminal device used by the user who has instructed the print execution is located far from the printing device, the user often does not notice that a printing error has occurred and goes to the printing device to obtain the print result. Sometimes. Therefore, in recent years, in order for a user to notice a printing error quickly, a user is notified of the occurrence of an error or abnormality by sound generation in a printing apparatus.

[0003]

However, in the notification that an error or abnormality has occurred due to voice generation, the user visually confirms what the print result due to the error is, what the cause of the abnormality is, and the like. May need to be done. For example, when the user is a visually impaired person, it is not possible to determine what is causing the error or abnormality, and it is difficult to recognize what the print result is. In addition, when making a copy in the printing apparatus, an error may occur such that the original surface on the original table is installed upside down, or an original different from the original to be copied is installed. With such an operation error by the user, the printing apparatus itself can normally perform the printing operation.
The notification by voice generation may not be performed, the user may not notice the operation error, and it is not possible to prevent the error occurrence.

Therefore, a first object of the present invention is to add an index added to print information transferred from a terminal device such as a host computer by having a voice generating unit, a voice synthesizing function, and voice data. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing device capable of voice notification of information (sound is generated and read aloud). A second object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus which can prompt a smooth operation and can pay attention to an erroneous operation by generating a sound in response to an operation (operation) by a user. Is. A third object of the present invention is to notify the characteristics of a document by voice recognition by character recognition and shape recognition when scanning a document so that the document surface is not mistaken or a different document is not set at the time of printing such as copying. It is to provide a printing device that can do so.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a printing device capable of transmitting / receiving print data to / from another terminal device to which print data information such as a sender name and a document name is added. In the above, the print data receiving means for receiving print data from the other terminal device, the printing means for printing out the print data received by the print data receiving means, and the print data printed out by the printing means Determining means for determining whether or not the print data information is added, and when the determining means determines that the print data information is added to the print data, the print data information is extracted from the print data, Audio data conversion means for converting the print data information into audio data, and the mark converted into the audio data by the audio data conversion means. A voice notification unit for voice notification of data information, wherein the voice notification unit outputs a voice notification of voice data corresponding to the print data information added to the print data after the print data is printed out by the printing unit. By doing so, the first object is achieved. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the operation unit further includes an operation input unit that prompts an operation input of a print setting of print data printed out by the printing unit, and the voice data conversion unit is the operation The print setting input by the input unit is converted into voice data, and the voice notification unit notifies the voice data corresponding to the print setting by voice according to the operation input by the operation input unit.
The second object is achieved.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the data reading means for reading the original on the original plate as image data, the data printing means for printing out the image data read by the data reading means, and the data reading means Data determining means for determining whether character data or graphic data exists in the read image data, and when the data determining means determines that character data exists in the image data, the character data is extracted from the image data. When it is judged by the character data conversion means for extracting and converting the character data into voice data and the graphic data in the image data, the graphic data is extracted from the image data and the graphic data is extracted. Graphic data conversion means for converting the
A voice notification unit for performing voice notification of the character data or the graphic data converted into the voice data by the character data conversion unit or the graphic data conversion unit as image data information of a document, and the voice notification unit is configured to print the data. The third object is achieved by voice notification of the character data of the image data or the voice data of the graphic data as the image data information before the means prints out the image data.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the controller unit of the printing apparatus. Printing device 2 according to the present embodiment
Are connected to the host computer 1 via an external I / F (interface) unit 3. In addition, the printing device 2
Includes a controller unit 210, an engine control unit 220, an engine unit 230, a power supply control unit 240, an operation unit 250, and a sound generation unit 260.

The controller unit 210 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 2101, a program ROM (read only memory) 2102, a reception buffer 2103, an image memory 2104, a font ROM 2105, a voice data storage ROM 2106, and an image processing IC (Integrate).
d Circuit) 2107, video I / F control IC
2108, external I / F bus 2109, video bus 211
0 and an internal bus 2111. The controller unit 210 transmits / receives data to / from the host computer 1 via the external I / F bus 2109 and the video bus 2110. The data received from the host computer 1 is input to the controller unit 210 from the external I / F unit 3 and temporarily stored in the reception buffer 2103. The stored data is decoded by the CPU 2101 and expanded on the image memory 2104 as image data. In general, the data from the host computer 1 is assumed to be compressed data or data converted into a code that can be easily read by the printing device 2. The image image data expanded in the image memory 2104 is transferred to the engine control unit 220 and printed on paper by the engine unit 230.

Now referring to FIGS. 3 and 4,
The printing operation of the printing apparatus 2 according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure transferred from the host computer 1. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the host computer 1 for data transfer (FIG. 4A) and an operation procedure of the printing apparatus 2 side for printing the transferred data (FIG. 4B).
When the document data is created in the host computer 1 (step 401) and the print request is designated (step 402; Y), index information added to the data when the data is transferred from the host computer 1 is created and used as index information. The sender and the document name are designated (step 403). As shown in FIG. 3, the sender name ABC and the document name XYZ are added to the header portion of the print data as index information (step 404).
After the preparation for downloading the print data is complete (step 4
05; Y), and transmitted to the printer 2 (step 40)
6).

On the printer 2 side, after initialization (step 4)
10) When the print data to which the index information is added is received (step 411; Y), the place where the sender name ABC and the document name XYZ are added is specified from the print data, and the image data (FIG. 3) is specified. (Corresponding to the print source data in step 1) and the index information data are separately extracted and stored (step 412). The image data excluding the index information data is the reception buffer 210.
3 to the image memory 2104. When the reception of all the print data is completed (step 413; Y), the index information is decoded by the CPU 2101 as voice data (step 414). On the other hand, the image data is transferred to the printing process (step 415). After decoding the index information, the audio data corresponding to the index information is read from the specific address of the audio data storage ROM 2106 and created as audio data (step 416). Then, when the printing of the image data is completed (step 417; Y), for example, "XYZ of sender ABC has been printed" from the voice generation unit 260,
A voice such as "A paper jam has occurred during printing data from the sender ABC" is output, and the voice notification is executed (step 418).

The voice notification by the printing device 2 may be performed when the user presses any key on the operation unit 250, or the presence / absence of the user is detected by an interpersonal sensor or the like, and the result is detected. A voice notification may be given accordingly. Also, by generating a voice message "A paper jam has occurred while printing the data of the sender ABC", it becomes easy to identify from which data the print error occurred. Further, if an error code is determined in advance when a failure occurs, the user can easily know the error content by reading the error code. As described above, the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment receives the print data with the index information transferred from the host computer 1 side, and decodes the index information added to the print data to print the current print. It is possible to give a voice notification to the user about what kind of data is stored, what the printing status is, and the like.

Next, the operation of the printing device 2 in response to a key operation will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a voice notification processing procedure according to a key operation on the printing apparatus 2. In the present embodiment, as an example, the B key, the C key, and the n key for which a predetermined operation is set are the operation unit 2
The following description will be made assuming that the process is provided on the computer 50, and that the B key, the C key, and the n key can be pressed in this order to shift to the next process. Further, it is assumed that the audio data storage ROM 2106 stores audio data for the B key, C key, and n key. In the standby state (standby state) of the printing apparatus 2 (step 501), when any key is pressed (step 502; Y), the display / setting of the operation unit 250 is changed (step 503). Here, when the B key for which a predetermined operation is set is pressed (step 50
4; Y), the voice data corresponding to the B key is read from a specific address of the voice data storage ROM 2106, and created as voice data (step 505). Then, for example, a voice notification is given regarding the operation process executed by pressing the B key, such as "The B key has been pressed and the magnification has been set" (step 51).
3) Then, the display / internal setting of the operation unit 250 is changed again, and the process ends (step 514).

If the B key for which a predetermined operation is set is not pressed (step 504; N) and the C key is pressed (step 506; Y), the voice data storage ROM
The voice data corresponding to the C key is read from the specific address of 2106 and created as voice data (step 509). Then, for example, "the C key is pressed,
The number of sheets has been set. ”, A voice notification is given regarding the operation processing executed by pressing the C key (step 513), and the processing ends after changing the display / internal setting of the operation unit 250 again. (Step 514).
Further, the B and C keys for which a predetermined operation has been set are not pressed (step 504; N, step 50).
6; N), if the n key is pressed (step 507;
Y), the voice data corresponding to the n key is read out from the specific address of the voice data storage ROM 2106 and created as voice data (step 510). Then, for example, a voice notification is given regarding the operation process executed by pressing the n key, such as "The n key has been pressed and the print settings have been made" (step 513), and the display / inside of the operation unit 250 is displayed again. The setting is changed and the process ends (step 514).

When the B key, C key, and n key for which a predetermined operation is set are not pressed (step 504; N, step 506; N, step 507; N), and a key not in the procedure is pressed ( Step 508; Y), when a key not in the procedure is pressed from a specific address of the voice data storage ROM 2106, the corresponding voice data is read and created. (Step 511). Then, for example, a voice notification such as "wrong key was pressed" is given (step 512), and the process is repeated until the user presses a predetermined key again. As described above, in the printing apparatus 2 of the present embodiment, it is possible to recognize the operation by the user from the operation unit 250 while monitoring the printing state. For example, a visually impaired person can smoothly operate by notifying what the pressed key is by voice. Also,
When an operation is performed in a certain sequence of key pressing, such as pressing the B key, the C key, and the n key in this order, which is an example in the present embodiment, the key does not respond to an incorrect operation. Therefore, malfunction can be prevented. Further, even if the user can press the key, if the key operation itself is incorrect, the printing device 2 is made unresponsive or the voice notification is not made so that the visually impaired person recognizes the erroneous operation of the key. be able to.

Further, in the printing apparatus of the present embodiment, when a key that should not be pressed in a predetermined continuous procedure is pressed, for example, a voice notification is given as "wrong key was pressed". Therefore, the user can easily recognize the erroneous operation. Further, the operation unit 25 for making each setting such as “press 1 button to make XX setting, press 2 button to make XX setting”
By notifying the button or key of 0 by voice, it is possible to guide the operation by the user and prevent erroneous operation. In addition, for example, if the probability that the user presses the key 1 and then the key 3 is high, “3 button to perform XX setting, 2 button to perform XX setting are pressed. Please notify us of highly established actions first, so that the operability can be improved by the advance input of the key. As described above, in the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the printing apparatus itself recognizes the operation (operating) state of the user, predicts the next operation to be performed by the user, guides the operation, or detects an incorrect operation. On the other hand, it is possible to call attention by voice notification.

Next, the operation when the printing device 2 has a scanner function will be described. FIG. 6 shows a document reading operation processing procedure by the printing apparatus (FIG. 6A) and an image data recognition processing procedure by the scanner function (FIG. 6A).
It is the flowchart which showed (b)). In the present embodiment, as an example, the printing apparatus 2 will be described as having a scanner function such as a copying machine or a multi-function machine that can read the data of an original with the scanner function at the time of copying. When the print key is pressed in the standby state of the printing device 2 (step 601) (step 60)
2), the scanner is OCR (Optical Chara)
The characters and figures of the original document on the original table are read by character recognition such as cter reader) and shape recognition (step 603). When the reading of the image data is completed (step 604; Y), the image data read by the CPU 2101 is recognized. Then, the character / shape data extraction processing of the image data is executed (step 6).
05).

The character / shape data extraction process will be described with reference to FIG. 6 (b). CPU2101
In accordance with the image processing IC 2107, the read image data is divided into upper left, upper right, center, lower left and lower right block units, and character extraction is performed for each block (step 6).
10). For example, "Document number ABC-DEF" is shown in the upper left.
However, if a character such as "creator XYZ" is written in the lower right (step 611; Y), the CPU 2101 decodes the character data (step 613), reads the voice data from the voice data storage ROM 2106, and outputs the character. Data explanation voice data is created (step 616). Further, when character data does not exist in each block unit (step 611; N) and graphic data exists (step 6).
12; Y), the CPU 2101 recognizes the graphic data as shape data (step 614), and stores the voice data RO
The voice data is read from M2106 to create shape data explanation voice data (step 616). On the other hand, if character data and graphic data do not exist in each block unit (step 611; N, step 612; N),
The CPU 2101 reads the voice data from the voice data storage ROM 2106 and creates voice data "No recognizable data" (step 615).

Based on the voice data created in steps 610 to 616 (step 606), what is written on the original read by the scanner is displayed, for example, “Document number ABC in the upper left. -DEF and "Creator XYZ is written at the bottom right" (step 607). The user can determine whether or not to execute printing, based on the document information which is read by the scanner and notified by voice. As described above, in the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment, since it is possible to create voice data that describes the character data and the shape data acquired by reading with the scanner and give the voice notification, the user executes printing in the printing apparatus. It is easy to identify what the sentence is saying. that's all,
According to the printing apparatus of the present embodiment, the printing apparatus first recognizes the characteristics of the original to be printed by scanning the original before printing by character recognition and shape recognition, and notifies the recognized characteristics by voice. Therefore, the user can decide whether or not to request the print after the voice notification, and the printing apparatus side performs the regular print processing when the print request is made, so that it is possible to prevent the miscopy and the unnecessary printing. .

[0019]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the voice notifying means gives voice notification of voice data corresponding to the print data information added to the print data after the printing means prints out the print data. The user can be informed what the currently printed data looks like.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the voice data conversion means converts the print setting input by the operation input means into voice data, and the voice notification means converts the voice data corresponding to the print setting by the operation input means. Since a voice notification is given in response to an operation input, it is possible to predict the next operation to be performed by the user and guide the operation, or to call attention to the wrong operation by voice.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the voice notifying means is provided with the following means before the data printing means prints out the image data.
Since the voice data of the character data of the image data or the voice data of the graphic data is notified by voice as the image data information, it is possible to perform a regular print process if there is a print request after the voice notification, and thus miscopying and wasteful printing are performed. Can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus according to this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a controller unit of the printing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure transferred from a host computer.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a host computer that transfers data and an operation procedure of a printing device that prints the transferred data.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a voice notification processing procedure according to a key operation on the printing apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a document reading operation processing procedure and an image data recognition processing procedure by the printing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Host computer 2 printing devices 3 External I / F (interface) section 210 Controller section 220 Engine control unit 230 engine 240 Power supply control unit 250 control 260 voice generator

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Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus capable of transmitting and receiving print data, to which print data information such as a sender name and a document name is added, to and from another terminal apparatus, the print data being received from the other terminal apparatus. Print data receiving means, print means for printing out the print data received by the print data receiving means, and determining whether the print data information is added to the print data printed out by the printing means. And a voice data conversion for extracting print data information from the print data and converting the print data information into voice data when the print data information is added to the print data. Means, and a voice notifying means for giving voice notification of the print data information converted into the voice data by the voice data converting means. When, wherein the voice notification unit after printing out the printing means the print data, the printing apparatus, characterized by voice notification voice data corresponding to the print data information added to the print data. 2. The apparatus further comprises operation input means for prompting operation input of print settings of print data printed out by the printing means, wherein the voice data conversion means outputs the print settings input by the operation input means as voice data. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the voice notification unit performs voice notification of the voice data corresponding to the print setting according to an operation input by the operation input unit. 3. Data reading means for reading a document on a platen as image data, data printing means for printing out the image data read by the data reading means, and image data read by the data reading means. Data judging means for judging whether character data or graphic data exists, and when the data judging means judges that character data exists in the image data, the character data is extracted from the image data, and the character data is extracted. And a character data conversion unit for converting graphic data into voice data, and when the data judgment unit judges that graphic data exists in the image data, the graphic data is extracted from the image data and the graphic data is converted into voice data. Graphic data conversion means, the character data conversion means or the graphic data A voice notification unit for voice notification of character data or graphic data converted into voice data by the data conversion unit as image data information of a document, wherein the voice notification unit prints out the image data by the data printing unit. A printing apparatus, characterized in that a voice notification of character data of the image data or voice data of graphic data is given as the image data information.