JP2004110844A - Print processing method, print processing device and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the latest information on a printer capable of print processing easily without a user's special operation. <P>SOLUTION: When a request for printing is made, the first inquiry signal is issued. If there is a response from a predetermined printer and an instruction for printing is given, print processing is carried out. If there is a printer selection operation, the second inquiry signal is issued, and a wireless printer which has responded to the second inquiry signal is displayed on a printing instruction window. When the printer is selected and printing instruction is made, print processing is carried out. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

The present invention relates to a print processing method, a print processing device, and a recording medium, and is particularly suitable for use in a print processing method for detecting a terminal device in a network including a movable terminal device and performing a print process.

デ ー タ Conventionally, data communication has been performed between a plurality of terminals having a communication function. This data communication uses a network connected by a wire specified by a standard such as Ethernet (R), or uses a radio specified by a standard such as IrDA (infrared data association) or Bluetooth. There was something to do. In data communication between a plurality of terminals having such a communication function, when performing data communication, a terminal detection operation for detecting a terminal with which communication is possible has been performed.

For example, in a wireless communication terminal that performs data communication by moving using wireless, a terminal detection operation for detecting a terminal in a communication area has been performed prior to communication. In this terminal detection operation, a fixed control channel allocated to a predetermined frequency is used, an inquiry signal for detection is transmitted to this channel, and a detection method by receiving a response signal to the transmitted inquiry signal is performed. It was widely used.

Further, there has been a frequency hopping communication system in which communication is performed by switching frequency channels to be transmitted and received in accordance with a predetermined switching pattern in units of data blocks used for data communication represented by packets. In the frequency hopping communication method, a part of a channel of a frequency band used as a communication channel is shared with a control channel, an inquiry frequency is selected by a predetermined hopping pattern for terminal detection, and from the selected inquiry frequency, There has been a detection method of dynamically allocating a detection signal transmission frequency, transmitting an inquiry signal while scanning this channel, and receiving a response signal to the transmitted inquiry signal to perform detection.
With these detection methods, a terminal requesting data communication has detected a terminal within a communication range and has performed data communication.

端末 In addition, the terminal detection operation as described above has been performed when a communication program for controlling a communication operation of a terminal that performs communication is activated. Therefore, when obtaining the latest information about the terminal within the communication range of the terminal after the communication program is started, the terminal detection operation is instructed by the operation of the terminal user and the terminal program is executed to execute the terminal detection operation. I was going. Alternatively, the communication program automatically performs a terminal detection operation every time a predetermined time elapses after the start of the communication program, thereby obtaining the latest information on a terminal within a communication range of the terminal.

However, as described above, when the terminal detection operation is performed by instructing the terminal detection operation by the user's operation and the communication program is executed to perform the terminal detection operation and obtain the latest information regarding the terminals in the communication range, the user needs to perform multiple operations. Operation had to be performed. For example, first, the user performs an operation for selecting a communication program on the screen, and then performs an operation for displaying a menu. Further, the terminal detection operation has been performed by selecting an item instructing the terminal detection operation from the displayed menu.

As described above, in order to perform the terminal detection operation, the user has to perform a plurality of operations according to a predetermined procedure, and it is troublesome to execute the communication program and perform the terminal detection by the user's operation. .

Also, when automatically obtaining the latest information on a terminal within the communication range of the terminal every time a predetermined time elapses, even when it is not necessary to obtain the latest information, that is, even when communication is not performed, The terminal detection operation has always been performed after a predetermined time has elapsed. For this reason, there is a problem in that the transmission band for performing data communication is used by the terminal detection operation, so that the transmission band becomes insufficient, and other data communication is disturbed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and enables the effective use of a transmission band and obtains the latest information on a terminal capable of performing data communication by an easy operation. The purpose is to be able to.

According to the print processing method of the present invention, when there is a print request, a print instruction window is displayed, a first inquiry signal is transmitted, and a response from the preset printer to the first inquiry signal is received. When a print instruction is issued, a print process is performed, and when a printer selection operation is performed, a second inquiry signal is transmitted. When a response to the second inquiry signal is received from the wireless printer, It is displayed in a print instruction window, and print processing is performed when a printer is selected and a print instruction is issued.

The print processing apparatus of the present invention has display means for displaying a print instruction window and transmission means for transmitting an inquiry signal. When a print request is issued, the print instruction window is displayed, and the first inquiry signal is displayed. If there is a response from the preset printer to the first inquiry signal, the printer performs print processing if there is a print instruction, and sends a second inquiry signal if there is a printer selection operation. When a response from the wireless printer to the second inquiry signal is received, the wireless printer that responds is displayed in a print instruction window, and the printer is selected and print processing is performed when there is a print instruction.

The computer-readable recording medium of the present invention, upon receiving a print request, displays a print instruction window, sends out a first inquiry signal, and receives a response from the printer set in advance to the first inquiry signal. When there is a print instruction, a print process is performed when there is a print instruction, a second inquiry signal is sent out when there is a printer selection operation, and when there is a response from the wireless printer to the second inquiry signal, a response is made. A wireless printer is displayed in a print instruction window, and a print processing program for causing a computer to execute a print process when a printer is selected and a print instruction is issued is recorded.

According to the present invention configured as described above, a first inquiry signal is transmitted in response to a print request, and when there is a response from a preset printer, if there is a print instruction, print processing is performed. When a printer selection operation is performed, a second inquiry signal is transmitted, a wireless printer responding to the second inquiry signal is displayed in a print instruction window, and when a printer is selected and a print instruction is issued, a printing process is performed. Thus, by requesting printing, a printer can be detected, and printing processing can be performed by the detected printer.

According to the present invention, a first inquiry signal is transmitted in response to a print request, and when there is a response from a preset printer, print processing is performed when a print instruction is issued, and a printer selection operation is performed. If there is, a second inquiry signal is sent out, the wireless printer responding to the second inquiry signal is displayed in a print instruction window, and when a printer is selected and a print instruction is issued, a print process is performed. When this is done, an inquiry signal is sent out to detect the printer, and printing processing is performed by the detected printer. As a result, the transmission band for performing data communication can be effectively used, and the latest information on the terminal capable of transmitting and receiving data can be obtained by an easy operation without the user of the terminal performing a special operation.
Further, at the time of data printing, it is possible to reliably confirm a terminal capable of performing data communication.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(1st Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a data communication system according to a first embodiment to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a server (computer) having a function of performing centralized control of communication in the data communication system. 103, 104, 105, and 107 are terminals such as laptop computers having a wireless communication function. 106 and 108 are image processing terminals such as digital cameras having a wireless communication function.

Reference numeral 102 denotes a communication area of the server 101. An area (communication area) surrounded by the communication area 102 including the server 101 is an area where the server 101 can perform wireless communication, and other areas (outside the communication area). Is an area where the server 101 cannot perform wireless communication. That is, in FIG. 1, the server 101 can perform wireless communication with the terminals 103, 104, and 105 and the image processing terminal 106.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the server 101 shown in FIG.
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 201 denotes a communication unit, which includes a transmission unit 202 and a reception unit 203.

The transmission unit 202 transmits an inquiry signal for detecting a terminal, transmission data, and the like based on an instruction from the control unit 204. Further, when the receiving unit 203 receives an inquiry signal transmitted from another terminal at the standby frequency, it transmits a response signal. This transmission unit 202 constitutes the transmission means of the present invention.
Receiving section 203 receives a response signal to the transmitted inquiry signal and received data.

The control unit 204 includes an operation detection unit 205, reads a program stored in the program storage unit 207 in the storage unit 206, and controls each functional unit according to the read program. The operation detection unit 205 detects whether a communication program is selected by an input unit (not shown).

The storage unit 206 includes a program storage unit 207 and a terminal information storage unit 208. The program storage unit 207 stores programs such as a communication program and a document editing program. The terminal information storage unit 208 stores information on the detected terminal based on the response signal received by the reception unit 203 as a response to the inquiry signal transmitted by the transmission unit 202. Reference numeral 209 denotes a display device.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing a terminal detection operation and a connection establishment operation of the server 101 shown in FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes a transmission / reception timing signal of the server 101 shown in FIG. 1, and reference numeral 302 denotes a transmission / reception timing signal of the image processing terminal 108 outside the communication range of the server 101. Reference numerals 303 and 304 denote transmission / reception timing signals of the terminals 104 and 105 in the communication range of the server 101, respectively.

Hereinafter, the terminal detection operation of the server 101 will be described with reference to FIG.
First, when the communication program of the server 101 is started, the control unit 204 of the server 101 starts transmitting an inquiry signal for terminal detection. Upon receiving the inquiry signal transmission instruction, transmitting section 202 repeatedly transmits the inquiry signal to a half frequency band used in common with the control channel of the communication channel band while shifting the frequency band.
That is, the server 101 selects a predetermined frequency fk according to the value of a predetermined hopping sequence for terminal detection according to the state of its own system clock. The frequency is gradually changed from this frequency fk to frequencies fk + 1, fk + 2,..., Fk + 31, and an inquiry signal is transmitted.

The frequencies fk to fk + 31 are half the frequency band used in common with the control channel of the communication channel band. In addition, two inquiry signals are transmitted in one transmission slot. For example, in the first transmission slot (Tx1), inquiry signals S0 (frequency fk) and S1 (frequency fk + 1) of different frequencies are transmitted.

{Circle around (2)} In the receiving slot following the transmitting slot, the server 101 performs a receiving operation on the two frequencies used for transmitting the inquiry signal in order to receive a response to the inquiry signal. For example, in a first reception slot (Rx1) subsequent to the first transmission slot (Tx1), a reception operation is performed for the frequencies fk and fk + 1 of the inquiry signals S0 and S1.

On the other hand, the terminal that receives the inquiry signals S0 and S1 (for example, the terminal 104 illustrated in FIG. 1) enters an inquiry signal reception standby state when data communication is not performed with another terminal. In the inquiry signal reception standby state, the terminal uses a predetermined transmission / reception slot at one of the frequencies used for the inquiry signal (hereinafter, referred to as “standby frequency”) to receive the inquiry signal. The receiving operation is performed for a time (for example, 18 slots). In this receiving procedure, specific 32 terminal detection hop frequencies are used according to the terminal detection hopping pattern. Also, the phase of the reception timing is determined by the system of the terminal that performs the detection operation, and the phase changes, for example, every 1.28 s.

When receiving the inquiry signal transmitted from the server 101 at the standby frequency during the receiving operation, the mobile station transmits a response signal of the standby frequency as a response to the received inquiry signal. For example, when the terminal 104 is waiting for reception at the standby frequency fk, when the terminal 104 receives the inquiry signal S0 (frequency fk) transmitted in the first transmission slot Tx1, the state shifts to the detection response state. Then, the response signal A1 is transmitted at the frequency fk in the first reception slot Rx1. The response signal A1 includes information such as the address and model of the terminal 104.

When the server 101 receives the response signal A1 in the first reception slot Rx1, it registers information such as the address and the model included in the response signal A1 as a terminal within the communication range in the terminal information storage unit 208, and continues to transmit the frequency of the inquiry signal. While the terminal detection operation is continued. Therefore, in the second transmission slot Tx2, the inquiry signals S2 (frequency fk + 2) and S3 (frequency fk + 3) are transmitted.

Similarly, upon receiving the inquiry signal Sn (frequency fk + n) from the server 101, the terminal 105 that is waiting for reception at the standby frequency fk + n transmits the response signal An in the next received slot. Then, upon receiving the response signal An, the server 101 registers information such as the address and the model of the terminal 105 in the terminal information storage unit 208.

On the other hand, if the standby frequency inquiry signal is not received from the server 101 during the reception operation, the terminal changes the standby frequency according to the frequency hopping pattern defined for receiving the inquiry signal after a predetermined time has elapsed. Change and perform the receiving operation again.

The transmission of the inquiry signal described above is such that scanning of the selected half frequency is repeated a plurality of times (for example, 256 times), and then scanning of the remaining frequencies is repeated a plurality of times. This scanning is repeatedly performed within a preset time or within a range of the number of times 313. When the set time or the number of times 313 elapses, the terminal detecting operation is terminated.

Next, the connection establishment operation will be described with reference to FIG.
First, when a user who operates the server 101 performs a connection request operation on a terminal detected by the terminal detection operation, the server 101 sets an access code indicating an address of the terminal to the terminal as a connection request signal SR. Send. This connection request signal SR is transmitted using a frequency estimated from a hopping pattern generated based on information obtained by the terminal detection operation.

However, since the server 101 does not know the timing at which the partner terminal receives the connection request, the server 101 transmits the same connection request signal SR at a different hop frequency and transmits it until a response from the terminal is received. Then, in the same manner as in the terminal detection operation, in the reception slot following the transmission of the connection request signal, the reception of the response is performed using the same frequency as the frequency at which the request was transmitted.

If the server 101 selects the frequency fl from the hop sequence predicted by the server 101, the connection request signal is transmitted while changing the request frequency from fl to fl + 1 and fl + 2 in order. (However, this frequency selection method is not limited to this. For example, even if the frequency is selected as fl-8, fl-7,..., Fl + 7, the same operation can be performed. This is a terminal detection operation. The same applies to the frequency selection operation described above.)

On the other hand, terminal 104 having the address indicated in connection request signal SR receives a connection request signal from another terminal by using a part of the time during which the standby operation for receiving the terminal detection signal is not performed. Therefore, a standby operation for receiving a connection request signal is performed according to a frequency selected according to a hopping pattern generated from an address.

In FIG. 3, when the terminal 104 shifts to the connection request standby operation and receives a connection request signal SR from the server 101 while waiting at the frequency fl + 3, the terminal 104 shifts to a connection response state. A request response signal SA is returned using the same frequency as the received connection request signal SR. When the server 101 receives the request response signal SA, the server 101 transmits information IR necessary for setting a communication channel to the terminal 104.

The terminal 104 that has received the information IR transmits the response signal IA using the frequency at which the information IR has been received, stores the timing and hopping pattern of the communication channel to be used from now on, and stores the hopping of the communication channel determined here. According to the pattern, it shifts to the next coming frequency and waits for a connection establishment confirmation signal CR.

When the server 101 receives the response signal IA, it sends out a confirmation signal CR. When receiving the confirmation signal CR, the terminal 104 returns a confirmation response CA. The establishment of the connection is completed by transmitting and receiving the confirmation signal CR and the confirmation response CA.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on the display device 209 of the server 101, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the server 101.
In FIG. 4, reference numeral 401 denotes a display screen of the display device 209; 402, a window of a communication program; and 403, a window of a document editing program or the like.

In FIG. 5, first, when a communication program is selected by a menu selection button or the like (not shown) on the display screen 401 of the server 101 or a start button of the communication program is clicked, the control unit 204 of the server 101 displays the display screen 401 on the display screen 401. A window 402 of the communication program is displayed, and an instruction to send an inquiry signal for terminal detection is issued (S501). The transmission unit 202 that has received the transmission instruction of the inquiry signal transmits the inquiry signals of the frequencies fk to fk + 31 as shown in FIG.

と When the transmission of the inquiry signal of the frequency fk to fk + 31 is completed (S502), the control unit 204 of the server 101 determines whether or not there is a response from the terminal to the transmitted inquiry signal (S503). That is, it is determined whether or not a response signal having the same frequency as the frequency of the transmitted inquiry signal has been received. As a result of the determination, if there is a response from the terminal to the transmitted inquiry signal, the address and the like of the terminal that has received the response to the inquiry signal are registered in the terminal information storage unit 208 in step S504, and the process proceeds to step S505. On the other hand, if there is no response from the terminal to the transmitted inquiry signal, the process proceeds to step S505 without performing any processing.

Then, in step S505, the server 101 determines whether the inquiry signal has been transmitted for a preset time or number of times. As a result, if the inquiry signal has not been transmitted for the preset time or number of times, the process returns to step S502, and the operations of steps S502 to S505 described above are performed. On the other hand, if the inquiry signal is transmitted for a preset time or number of times, a list of terminals within the communication area detected by the terminal detection operation is displayed on the window 402 of the communication program, and the process proceeds to step S506, where the user It is in a state of waiting for an input operation from.

In the list of detected terminals displayed in the window 402 of the communication program, “known” in the “Status” column is a terminal detected in the previous terminal detection operation and further detected in the latest terminal detection operation. It is shown that. Further, “respond” indicates that the terminal was not detected in the previous terminal detection operation, but was detected in the latest terminal detection operation.

When the user performs an input operation at this time, the operation detection unit 205 of the server 101 determines whether the input operation is a communication program selection operation. As a result, if the input operation is a communication program selection operation, the process proceeds to step S507; otherwise, the process returns to the input operation standby state. In step S507, the server 101 determines whether the terminal detection operation has been completed. If not, the server 101 proceeds to step S501 to perform the terminal detection operation. On the other hand, if the terminal detection operation has been completed and the termination of the communication program has been instructed, the process is terminated. If not, the process returns to step S506 to be in a user input operation waiting state (S508). .

That is, in the above-mentioned steps S506 to S508, after the communication program is started, processing by a program such as a document editing program other than the communication program is performed, and a plurality of windows such as the window 403 are displayed as shown in FIG. When the window 402 of the communication program is selected by an input unit (not shown) during the operation, the server 101 performs a terminal detection operation.
The terminal detection operation is performed every time the window 402 of the communication program is selected by an input unit (not shown).

As described above in detail, according to the present embodiment, after starting the communication program, when performing a process by a program other than the communication program, when the user selects a communication program using an input unit (not shown), The operation detection unit 205 detects that a communication program has been selected. Based on the detection result, transmitting section 202 transmits an inquiry signal for detecting a terminal in accordance with an instruction from control section 204.

By transmitting an inquiry signal and detecting a terminal only when a communication program is selected, that is, only when data communication is requested, the transmission band of data communication can be effectively used and a communication program can be selected. The user can detect the terminal and obtain the latest information on the terminal without any operation by the user.

(4) In addition to storing the information on the terminals detected by the terminal detection operation in the terminal information storage unit 208 and displaying the information in a list on the window 402 of the communication program, the terminals for performing data communication can be easily set.

In the present embodiment, a data communication system that performs data communication by wireless communication has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a data communication system that performs data communication by both wireless communication and wired communication, or wired communication. The present invention can also be applied to the present invention.

For example, the present invention can be applied to a data communication system for performing data communication by both wireless communication and wired communication as shown in FIG.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another configuration example of the data communication system to which the present invention is applied. 6, reference numeral 601 denotes a server (computer), which has the same configuration as the server 101 shown in FIG. 603 and 604 are terminals such as a laptop computer having a wireless communication function. 605 and 606 are terminals such as laptop computers connected by a LAN (Local Area Network) 607. 608 and 609 are image processing terminals such as digital cameras having a wireless communication function.

Reference numeral 602 denotes a wireless communication area of the server 601, and an area (communication area) surrounded by the wireless communication area 602 including the server 601 is an area where the server 601 can perform wireless communication, and other areas (communications) (Out of service area) is an area where the server 601 cannot perform wireless communication. Note that the terminals 605 and 606 can communicate with the server 601 regardless of the wireless communication area 602.

In the case where the present invention is applied to the data communication system shown in FIG. 6, in the terminal detection operation shown in FIG. What should I do?
FIG. 7 shows an example of a display screen of the server 601 of the data communication system shown in FIG.
In FIG. 7, reference numeral 701 denotes a display screen of the display device, 702 denotes a window of a communication program, and 703 denotes a window of a document editing program or the like. In the communication program window 702, terminals connected to the LAN 607 are displayed in addition to the terminals having the detected wireless communication function.

(Second embodiment)
FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a data communication system according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 801 denotes a server (computer) having a function of performing centralized control of communication in the data communication system. Further, in the present embodiment, the server 801 transmits print data. A printer 803 is connected to the server 801 by a cable via an interface such as Centronics. Reference numerals 804, 805, and 806 denote printers having a wireless communication function.

Reference numeral 802 denotes a communication area of the server 801. An area (communication area) surrounded by the communication area 802 including the server 801 is an area where the server 801 can perform wireless communication, and other areas (outside the communication area). Is an area where the server 801 cannot perform wireless communication. In the present embodiment, all of the printers 804 to 806 having a wireless communication function are within the communication range of the server 801 and can perform wireless communication.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the server 801 shown in FIG. In FIG. 9, the same functional blocks as those shown in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description will be omitted.

In FIG. 9, reference numeral 204 ′ denotes a control unit, which includes an operation detection unit 205 and a detection unit 901, and controls each functional unit according to a program read from the program storage unit 207. The detection unit 901 detects whether a terminal set in advance is included in the terminals detected by the terminal detection operation. That is, the detection unit 901 compares the information on the preset terminal stored in the terminal information storage unit 208 'with the information on the terminal detected by the terminal detection operation and stored in the terminal information storage unit 208'. Do. As a result of the comparison, when there is information on the detected terminal that matches information on the preset terminal, it is determined that the preset terminal has been detected.
The terminal information storage unit 208 'is for storing information about preset terminals in addition to information about detected terminals.

Next, the operation will be described based on FIG. 10 and FIG.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display device of the server 801. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the server 801. The flowchart illustrated in FIG. 11 illustrates a part of the program stored in the program storage unit 207, and the control unit 204 ′ reads out the program from the program storage unit 207 and executes the processing illustrated in FIG. It consists of.
10, reference numeral 1001 denotes a display screen of the display device 209; 1002, a window for a document editing program or the like; and 1003, a print instruction window for a document edited by the document editing program or the like.

In FIG. 10, when the user of the server 801 requests printing of a document edited by a document editing program or the like, a print instruction window 1003 is displayed on the display screen 1001 of the server 801 and print selection processing is started. At this time, in step S1101, the server 801 determines whether the preset printer (hereinafter, referred to as “default printer”) is a printer having a wireless communication function (hereinafter, referred to as “wireless printer”). Determine whether or not. If the result of the determination is that the default printer is a wireless printer, the flow proceeds to step S1102; otherwise, the flow jumps to step S1108.

In step S1102, which proceeds when the default printer is a wireless printer in step S1101, the control unit 204 'of the server 801 instructs the transmission unit 202 to transmit an inquiry signal for printer detection, and Sends an inquiry signal. It should be noted that this inquiry signal is transmitted in the same manner as in the first embodiment, in which the inquiry signal is transmitted at frequencies fk to fk + 31.

と When the transmission of the inquiry signal of the frequency fk to fk + 31 is completed (S1103), the control unit 204 ′ of the server 801 determines whether or not there is a response from the wireless printer to the transmitted inquiry signal (S1104). If the result of the determination is that there has been a response from the wireless printer to the inquiry signal, the address of the printer that has received the response to the inquiry signal is registered in the terminal information storage unit 208 'in step S1105, and the flow advances to step S1106. If there is no response from the wireless printer to the inquiry signal, the process advances to step S1106.

Then, in step S1106, server 801 determines whether an inquiry signal has been transmitted for a preset time or number of times. As a result, if the inquiry signal has not been transmitted for the preset time or number of times, the process returns to step S1103, and the operations of steps S1103 to S1106 described above are performed. On the other hand, if the inquiry signal is transmitted for a preset time or number of times, the process advances to step S1107 to determine whether a response from the default printer has been received in the terminal detection operation. That is, the information of the wireless printer registered in step S1105 of the detection operation is compared with the information of the default printer, and it is determined whether or not the default printer is included in the registered wireless printers.

If it is determined that there is no response from the default printer, the process advances to step S1112 to display an error message on the display screen 1001 of the server 801 and end the print selection process. On the other hand, if there is a response from the default printer, the process advances to step S1108.

Step S1108 is a state of waiting for an instruction from the user. When the user gives an instruction using an input unit (not shown), the processing from step S1108 is started, and it is determined whether the input instruction is a print instruction. . If it is determined in step S1108 that the instruction is a print instruction, the process advances to step S1109 to determine whether the set printer is a wireless printer. As a result, if the setting printer is not a wireless printer, the process proceeds to step S1111. If the setting printer is a wireless printer, a wireless connection process, that is, a connection establishment operation is performed in step S1110, and the process proceeds to step S1111. This connection establishment operation is an operation from transmission of the connection request signal SR to reception of the acknowledgment CA described in the latter half of FIG. Then, in step S1111, the printing process is performed, and the printing selection process ends. The process may proceed to S1109 without waiting for a print instruction in S1108.

On the other hand, if the instruction input in step S1108 is not a print instruction, the process advances to step S1113 to determine whether the instruction is a print cancel instruction. If the input instruction is a print cancel instruction, the print selection processing ends. If the input instruction is not the print cancel instruction, the process advances to step S1114 to determine whether the input instruction is a printer selection operation. If the operation is a printer selection operation, the process proceeds to a printer search process shown in FIG. 12, and if not, the process returns to step S1108.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printer search process that proceeds from step S1114 when the instruction input in step S1108 shown in FIG. 11 is a printer selection operation.
First, in step S1201, the control unit 204 'of the server 801 instructs the transmission unit 202 to transmit an inquiry signal for printer detection, as in step S1102 shown in FIG. Send a signal.

When the transmission of the inquiry signal of the frequency fk to fk + 31 is completed (S1202), the control unit 204 'of the server 801 determines whether or not there is a response to the inquiry signal from the wireless printer (S1203). If the result of the determination is that there is a response from the wireless printer to the inquiry signal, the address of the wireless printer that has received the response to the inquiry signal is registered in the terminal information storage unit 208 'in step S1204, and the flow advances to step S1205. If there is no response from the terminal to the inquiry signal, the process advances to step S1205.

Then, in step S1205, the server 801 determines whether the inquiry signal has been transmitted for a preset time or number of times. As a result, if the inquiry signal has not been transmitted for the preset time or number of times, the process returns to step S1202, and the operations of steps S1202 to S1205 described above are performed. On the other hand, when the inquiry signal is transmitted for a preset time or number of times, the wireless printer detected in the printer detection operation is displayed on the print instruction window 1003 of the display screen 1001 of the server 801 and the process proceeds to step S1206. Instead of transmitting the inquiry signal in S1201, the terminal registered in S1105 may be displayed in S1204. If the user selects a printer using the input unit (not shown) in step S1206, the process advances to step S1207.

Step S1207 is a state of waiting for an instruction from the user. When the user gives an instruction using an input unit (not shown), the processing from step S1207 starts, and it is determined whether the input instruction is a print instruction. . If it is determined in step S1207 that the instruction is a print instruction, the process advances to step S1208 to determine whether the set printer is a wireless printer. As a result, if the setting printer is not a wireless printer, the process proceeds to step S1210. If the setting printer is a wireless printer, the process proceeds to step S1209 to perform wireless connection processing, that is, a connection establishment operation, and proceeds to step S1210. Then, a printing process is performed in step S1210, and the process ends.

On the other hand, if the instruction input in step S1207 is not a print instruction, the process advances to step S1211 to determine whether the instruction is a print cancel instruction. If the input instruction is a print cancel instruction, the process ends. On the other hand, if the input instruction is not the print cancel instruction, the process returns to step S1207 and waits for an instruction from the user.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, when a print request or the like is issued by a document editing program or the like, and a communication program for printing included in the document editing program or the like is activated, the control unit 204 ', The transmitting unit 202 transmits an inquiry signal for detecting the printer. By transmitting an inquiry signal and detecting a printer only when print data communication is requested by a user's print request or the like, the transmission band of data communication can be effectively utilized, and only a print request is made. Thus, the printer capable of printing can be detected without any operation by the user.

Further, by comparing the preset printer information stored in the terminal information storage unit 208 'with the preset printer information and detecting the detected printer information, it is determined whether the default printer is within the communication range. By simply setting printer information in advance as a printer, it is possible to easily know whether or not a predetermined printer is within the communication range.

In addition, when the user selects a printer, the printer within the communication range is automatically detected, and the detected printer is displayed and can be selected. Printers can be used.

In the first and second embodiments described above, the data communication system including the server, the computer terminal, the printer, and the like has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be a mobile phone, a PDA (Personal digital assistants). ) Can be applied to data communication systems including portable terminals of portable information terminals.

Also, in the first and second embodiments, the case where the servers 101, 601, 801, and 1301 transmit the inquiry signal has been described. However, the transmission of the inquiry signal is not limited to the servers 101, 601, 801, and 1301. It goes without saying that another terminal having a communication function may transmit the signal.

(Another embodiment of the present invention)
In order to operate various devices to realize the functions of the above-described embodiments, a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is transmitted to an apparatus or a computer in a system connected to the various devices. The present invention also includes those which are supplied and executed by operating the above-described various devices according to a program stored in a computer (CPU or MPU) of the system or the apparatus.
In this case, the program code itself of the software realizes the function of the above-described embodiment, and the program code itself and a unit for supplying the program code to the computer, for example, the program code is stored. The recording medium constitutes the present invention. As a recording medium for storing such a program code, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, and the like can be used.
When the computer executes the supplied program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the OS (operating system) or other application software running on the computer. It goes without saying that such a program code is also included in the embodiment of the present invention when the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized in cooperation with the above.
Further, after the supplied program code is stored in the memory provided in the function expansion board of the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the CPU provided in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit based on the instruction of the program code. It is needless to say that the present invention includes a case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are implemented by performing some or all of the actual processing.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a data communication system according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a server 101. 5 is a timing chart illustrating a terminal detection operation and a connection establishment operation of the server 101. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen of a server 101. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the server 101. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating another configuration example of a data communication system to which the present invention has been applied. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen of a server 601. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a data communication system according to a second embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a server 801. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen of a server 801. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a print selection processing operation of a server 801. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a printer search processing operation of a server 801.

Explanation of reference numerals

101 server 102 communication range of server 103, 104, 105, 107 terminal 106, 108 image processing terminal 201 communication unit 202 transmission unit 203 reception unit 204, 204 ', 204 "control unit 205 operation detection unit 206 storage unit 207 program storage unit 208, 208 ′ Terminal information storage unit 209 Display device 901 Detection unit

Claims (3)

When there is a print request, a print instruction window is displayed, a first inquiry signal is sent,
When there is a response from the printer set in advance to the first inquiry signal, if there is a print instruction, print processing is performed, and if there is a printer selection operation, a second inquiry signal is sent out,
When a response from the wireless printer to the second inquiry signal is received, the wireless printer responding is displayed in a print instruction window, and when the printer is selected and a print instruction is issued, print processing is performed. Method. Display means for displaying a print instruction window;
Sending means for sending an inquiry signal,
When there is a print request, the print instruction window is displayed, a first inquiry signal is sent,
When there is a response from the printer set in advance to the first inquiry signal, if there is a print instruction, print processing is performed, and if there is a printer selection operation, a second inquiry signal is sent out,
When a response from the wireless printer to the second inquiry signal is received, the wireless printer responding is displayed in a print instruction window, and when the printer is selected and a print instruction is issued, print processing is performed. apparatus. When there is a print request, a print instruction window is displayed, a first inquiry signal is sent,
When there is a response from the printer set in advance to the first inquiry signal, if there is a print instruction, print processing is performed, and if there is a printer selection operation, a second inquiry signal is sent out,
When a response from the wireless printer to the second inquiry signal is received, the responding wireless printer is displayed in a print instruction window, and when a printer is selected and a print instruction is issued, the computer performs a procedure for performing a print process. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a print processing program.

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