JP2004255603A - Printing apparatus, printing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing apparatus which can reduce the power consumption of a host side device connected by radio communication. <P>SOLUTION: The printing apparatus has a communication means for carrying out inputting and outputting of data by radio communication, a control means, and a printing process means. When information showing that a file storing image data is included in the printing object data inputted by the communication means is detected, the control means controls the communication means to input the image data stored in the file, and when the image data is inputted, the control means controls the communication means to terminate the communication by radio communication. The printing process means generates printing data from the printing object data inputted by the communication means after the communication termination by the control means, and prints the printing object data including the image data on the basis of the generated printing data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a printing method, and a program for printing data to be printed including image data received by wireless communication.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, accessing a homepage on the Internet using a personal computer or the like has been performed. When a user accesses a desired homepage, the user prints necessary information using a printer connected to the personal computer. I have. In such a case, recently, it has been seen that the connection between the personal computer and the printer is performed not by a physical wired connection such as USB or RS-232C but by wireless communication to print necessary information. Was. This is because as the number of devices that can be connected to a network, such as a personal computer and a printer, such as at home and at work, increases, so does the number of wirings, and physical connection involves cumbersome work. As a communication protocol for wireless connection, Bluetooth is available. Bluetooth is a communication protocol suitable for relatively short-distance wireless communication such as at home, and the types of commands and data that can be communicated are determined by standards called various profiles (for example, Non-Patent Document 1).
[0003]
On the other hand, a homepage on the Internet is created in a language such as HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language), and recently, various tags have been added to the HTML to improve the degree of freedom in creating a homepage. 2. Description of the Related Art Homepages are now expressed in Hyper Text Markup Language (Language). When printing necessary information on a homepage with a personal computer, printing is performed based on information (HTML data, XHTML data) created in the HTML language or the XHTML language (for example, Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Non-Patent Document 1] Supervised by Ericsson Japan Co., Ltd., written by Kazuhiro Miyazu, "Technical Disassembly Shinsho, Bluetooth Technology Commentary Guide," published by Rick Telecom, Inc., May 25, 2001
[0005]
[Patent Document 1] Published Patent Publication JP-A-2002-182865
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when image data is included in the information expressed in the HTML language or the XHTML language, if the image data is transmitted to the printer by Bluetooth, there is a problem that the processing in the printer takes time. That is, the printer that receives the information expressed in the HTML language or the like first creates an internal tree including a plurality of trees classified for each tag, and creates and processes print data for each tree. If there is a file name indicating the image data in the tree, at the stage of the print data processing, the personal computer performs the image data fetching process and prints the data including the image data. Therefore, when the printing is completed, the Bluetooth communication is terminated, so that the information expressed in the HTML language or the like is read, the image data is captured, and the communication is not terminated unless the printing is completed. Become. The personal computer has to wait for the end of the communication for that much, and the power consumption is forced.
[0007]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of reducing the power consumption of a host device connected by wireless communication.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a communication unit for inputting / outputting data by wireless communication, and a file in which image data is stored among print target data input by the communication unit is used as print target data. When detecting the information indicating that the image data is included, the communication unit is controlled to input the image data stored in the file, and when the image data is input, the communication unit is controlled to end the wireless communication. The control unit generates print data from the print target data input by the communication unit after the communication by the control unit ends, and prints the print target data including the image data input by the control unit based on the generated print data. And a print processing unit. Thus, for example, since the printing process is performed after capturing the image data and ending the wireless communication, it is possible to provide a printing apparatus that reduces the power consumption of the host connected by the wireless communication.
[0009]
Further, in the above-described printing apparatus, when the communication unit is controlled by the control unit to input the image data, the communication unit outputs a command for requesting the input of the image data, and the control unit controls the wireless communication to end. At the time, a command indicating the end of communication is output. As a result, commands can be transmitted and received in accordance with the Bluetooth communication protocol.
[0010]
Further, in the above-described printing apparatus, the control unit controls the communication unit to input the print target data by a push type, and controls the communication unit to input the image data by a pull type. This makes it possible to speed up processing from printing target data to input of image data without terminating communication when inputting image data.
[0011]
Further, in the above printing apparatus, the print target data is hypertext data. This makes it possible to print the home page data.
[0012]
Further, in the above printing apparatus, the information indicating that the file storing the image data is included in the print target data is represented by a predetermined tag. Thus, the printing apparatus can search whether or not the image file exists in the hypertext simply by searching for the tag.
[0013]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a first step in which data is input from a communication unit by wireless communication, and wherein image data is stored in the print target data input in the first step. A second step of controlling the communication means to input image data stored in the file when the information indicating that the file contained in the print target data is included, and controlling the communication means by the second step. A third step of controlling the communication means to end the communication by wireless communication when the image data is input by wireless communication, and a print object input in the first step after the end of communication by the third step Print data is generated from the data, and the print processing unit is controlled to print the print target data including the image data based on the generated print data. It is characterized in that a fourth printing process and a step of. Thus, since the image data is taken in, the wireless communication is terminated, and then the printing process is performed, the power consumption of the host connected by the wireless communication can be reduced.
[0014]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a first process in which data is input from a communication unit by wireless communication, and wherein image data is stored in print target data input in the first process. A second process for controlling the communication unit to input image data stored in the file when detecting information indicating that the file is included in the print target data; and controlling the communication unit by the second process. A third process for controlling a communication unit to end communication by wireless communication when image data is input by wireless communication, and print target data input in the first process after communication by the third process ends Generating print data from the printer, and controlling the print processing unit to print the print target data including the image data input in the third process based on the generated print data. It is characterized in that a program for executing processing and, to a computer. Thus, since the image data is taken in, the wireless communication is terminated, and the printing process is performed thereafter, it is possible to provide a program for reducing the power consumption of the host connected by the wireless communication.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0016]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a host (personal computer) 1 and a printer 10 to which the present invention is applied.
[0017]
First, the internal configuration of the host 1 will be described. The host 1 includes a CPU 2, a RAM 3, an interface (I / F) 4, a hard disk drive (HDD) 5, a display unit 6, and a ROM 7 as a whole.
[0018]
The CPU 2 is connected to the RAM 3, the I / F 4, the HDD 5, the display unit 6, and the ROM 7 via the bus, respectively, reads a program stored in the ROM 7, and executes various processes. Further, the CPU 2 interprets a Bluetooth command input from the outside via the I / F 4 and reads out data from the HDD 5 and outputs the response to the command from the I / F 13 to the outside to output the I / F 13 to the outside. Control. Details will be described later.
[0019]
The RAM 3 temporarily stores data and the like when the program is executed by the CPU 2, and serves as a working memory.
[0020]
The I / F 4 serves as an interface with an external device. In the I / F 4, a command conforming to the Bluetooth standard is created under the control of the CPU 2 and output to an external device, and a command conforming to the Bluetooth standard output from the external device is input, and data relating to the content of the command and its data are transmitted. The data accompanying the command is output to the CPU 2. The I / F 4 has a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, and according to a control command from the CPU 2, creates and outputs subsequent Bluetooth commands and interprets contents input from the outside to create and output the commands. It can also be configured to do so. Further, the I / F 4 also serves as an interface for connecting to the Internet, and is connected to another personal computer or server via the Internet so that data on a homepage can be input. The data is stored in the RAM 3 or the HDD 5 under the control of the CPU 2 via the I / F 4.
[0021]
The HDD 5 stores image data to be printed by the printer 10 as a storage device. That is, in this embodiment, the image on the homepage is stored in the HDD 5. The data is read out under the control of the CPU 2, output to the I / F 4, and output to, for example, the printer 10 as an external device.
[0022]
The display unit 6 displays a home page on the Internet. The display is displayed on the display unit 6 by reading data once stored in the RAM 3 or the HDD 5 under the control of the CPU 2. In addition, for example, the contents of the program stored in the ROM 7 after execution can be displayed.
[0023]
The ROM 7 stores various programs executed by the CPU 2 and the like.
[0024]
Next, the internal configuration of the printer 10 will be described. The printer 10 includes a CPU 11, a RAM 12, an I / F 13, a control panel 14, and a printing unit 15.
[0025]
The CPU 11 is connected to the RAM 12, the I / F 13, the control panel 14, the printing unit, and the ROM 16 via a bus. The CPU 11 reads programs and the like stored in the ROM 16 and executes various processes, and controls the I / F 13, the control panel 14, and the printing unit 15. Further, the CPU 11 interprets a Bluetooth command input from the outside via the I / F 13 and controls the printing unit 15 and controls the I / F 13. Details will be described later.
[0026]
The RAM 12 temporarily stores data and the like when a program is executed by the CPU 11, and functions as a working memory.
[0027]
The I / F 13 is an interface with an external device wirelessly connected by Bluetooth in the present invention. In the I / F 13, a command conforming to the Bluetooth standard is created under the control of the CPU 11 and output to the host 1 as an external device. In addition, a command conforming to the Bluetooth standard output from the host 1 is input, and the content of the command is input. And data associated with the command are output to the CPU 11. The I / F 13 has a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, and then creates and outputs a Bluetooth command according to a control command from the CPU 11 and interprets the input content of the command to create a response command to the command. It can be configured to output.
[0028]
The control panel 14 is for setting print paper, print speed, image quality, and the like in the printer 10, and allows a user to make various settings while viewing a setting screen displayed on the panel 14. The set data is stored in the RAM 12.
[0029]
The printing unit 15 is a unit for actually performing printing on printing paper, and includes, for example, a paper feeding motor for moving paper, an ink cartridge, a printing head for discharging ink from the cartridge, and a carriage motor for moving the printing head to a printing position. Etc. The image data to be printed input from the I / F 13 is temporarily stored in the RAM 12. Then, the stored image data is subjected to resolution conversion processing, color correction processing, and halftone processing by the CPU 11, the RAM 12, and the ROM 16, and is stored in the RAM 12 as print data. The print data is output to the print unit 15 under the control of the CPU 11, and the input image data is actually printed on the print paper. Of course, the host 1 may perform resolution conversion processing, color correction processing, and halftone processing on the image data, and output the print data to the printer 10. In this case, such processing is executed by the host 1, the CPU 2, the RAM 3, and the ROM 7.
[0030]
The ROM 16 stores various programs executed by the CPU 11.
[0031]
Next, operations of the host and the printer 10 when wireless communication is performed by Bluetooth will be described with reference to FIG.
[0032]
First, the host 1 outputs an Inquiry command (step S1). This is a command for a connection request by the host 1, and the address of the host 1 is stored in the Inquiry command. This means that, when the host 1 wants to perform communication by Bluetooth, which of the various devices that can receive communication is the device that actually communicates with the host 1, and which device wants to connect with the host 1 This command is used to check the status. Specifically, the CPU 2 of the host 1 executes a program for performing communication by Bluetooth stored in the ROM 7 by turning on the power or operating the operating unit (not shown), and stores the address of the host itself stored in the ROM 7. The CPU 2 controls the I / F 4 to create and output an Inquiry command including this address from the I / F 4.
[0033]
Next, the printer 10 receives the Inquiry command, and outputs a Response command corresponding to the Inquiry command to the host 1 when it wants to establish a connection with the host 1 (step S2). As described above, although the host 1 outputs an inquiry command, it does not know which device to actually communicate with without waiting for a response from the communication partner. When the printer 10 responds to this command, it indicates that the printer 10 among the devices within the communication reception range with the host 1 will communicate. The specific processing performed by the printer 10 is as follows. When the printer 10 is turned on or enters a state in which communication by Bluetooth is possible within a range in which the printer 10 can receive the Inquiry command, the I / F 13 of the printer 10 receives the Inquiry command. The I / F 13 outputs a control signal indicating reception of the inquiry command to the CPU 11, and when the CPU 11 wants to communicate with the host 1, instructs the I / F 13 to create a Response command indicating the response. The address of the host 1 input together with the Inquiry command is also output from the I / F 13 and stored in the RAM 12 under the control of the CPU 11. Then, the address of the printer 10 itself stored in the ROM 16 is also read out under the control of the CPU 11, and instructs the I / F 13 to output the address together with the Response command. The I / F 13 receiving the response creation instruction and the address of the printer 10 creates a Response command conforming to the Bluetooth standard and outputs it to the host 1.
[0034]
The host 1 that has received the Response command from the printer 10 outputs an SDP command to the printer 10 indicating who the communication partner is, what profile can be used for communication, and the like (step S23). By receiving the response to the Inquiry command output from the host 10 from the printer 10, the host 1 can establish a Bluetooth communication connection with the device having the address. However, in Response, only the address information is used, and the communication destination is a printer, digital camera, mobile phone, and even if Bluetooth communication is possible, it is possible to communicate with any specific profile I don't know. Therefore, this SDP command is confirmed by outputting it to the device that has output the Response command. Specifically, when the response command is received by the I / F 4, the I / F 4 outputs a control signal indicating that the command has been received to the CPU 2, and the address of the printer 10 included in the response command is controlled by the RAM 3 under the control of the CPU 2. And stored once. Then, the CPU 2 outputs an instruction for creating the above-described SDP command to the I / F 4, and the SDP command is output from the I / F 4.
[0035]
Next, the printer 10 that has received the SDP command outputs a Response to the command (Step S4). In order to respond to this command, the CPU 11 obtains information about the printer, for example, information about the printer itself, the name and model number of the printer, and information on which Bluetooth profile can be used for communication, for example, Since a BPP (Basic Printing Profile) is stored in the ROM 16 in advance, the information is read from the ROM 16 and output to the I / F 13. Further, the CPU 11 instructs the I / F 13 to create a Response command indicating a response to the SDP command. This allows the I / F 13 to output a response to the SDP to the host 1.
[0036]
Next, the host 1 that has received this command outputs an Open Data Channel command (step S5). This command is, for example, a command for inquiring as to which channel is to be used for communication afterward when the I / F 13 of the printer 10 has a plurality of channels for performing Bluetooth communication. Thereafter, a command from the host 1 can be transmitted to the channel of the destination (the printer 10 in the example of FIG. 1) using this channel number. Specifically, the I / F 4 of the host 1 that has received the response to the SDP command outputs a control signal indicating the reception to the CPU 2. The information on the printer and the information on the profile (BPP in this case) included in the response are stored in the RAM 3 under the control of the CPU 2. Then, the CPU 2 instructs the I / F 4 to create an Open Data Channel command, and outputs an Open Data Channel command from the I / F 4.
[0037]
Upon receiving this command, the printer 10 outputs a Success command including information on which channel is specifically used (Step S6). FIG. 3 shows a configuration of a port portion of the I / F 13. As shown in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, a port portion of the I / F 13 is composed of a priority port and a wireless port. The wired port is configured to be able to connect a wired cable such as USB or RS-232C, and the wireless port is configured to be able to wirelessly connect by Bluetooth. In the example shown in FIG. 3, each of the wired ports is connected to a computer or an external memory. Here, the wireless port is configured to be able to perform communication for two channels, and the above-described command from the host 1 performs communication using “ch1”. Which port of the ports is used and which channel is used are managed by using a table or the like in a memory (not shown) of the RAM 12 or the I / F 13, for example. Then, the input and output of the above-mentioned command are performed on the channel. Therefore, the Success command for the OpenData Channel command can include a channel to be used with reference to this table or the like. Specifically, the CPU 11 reads this information from the RAM 12 or the memory, and outputs a control signal instructing creation of a Success command to the I / F 13 so that the I / F 13 outputs a Success command including the information.
[0038]
As shown in FIG. 2, the host 1 and the printer 10 each include an object server and a BPP client, and a BPP server and an object client, and a single device constitutes a server and a client. This is physically realized by using each channel of the wireless port shown in FIG. That is, the I / F 13 of the printer 10 can play the role of the host 1 and the BPP server using ch1, and can play the role of the object client using ch2. Of course, the I / F 4 on the host 1 side is also configured to play a role as a BPP client and an object server using different channels.
[0039]
Here, the relationship between the client and the server will be described. The above-mentioned commands are input / output by the host 1 as the client (BPP client) and the printer 10 as the server. This is because a series of processing is performed by transmitting data such as image data to the server (to the printer 10) in response to a request from the client (from the host 1 side). Such a case where image data or the like is transmitted from the client side to the server side is called a Push type in Bluetooth. On the other hand, there is a case where the server (printer 10) to which the data has been sent also wants to take in data such as image data. This is when the server (printer 10) that has fetched the homepage information by the Push type wants to fetch a file indicating the image data included in the information. In such a case, if the positions of the server and the client are reversed, and the printer 10 plays the role of the client and the host 1 plays the role of the server, the process of taking in the image data stored in the server (host 1) is performed. Can be. Such transmission of image data and the like from the server side to the client side is called a pull type in Bluetooth. The Push type and the Pull type are realized by each channel shown in FIG. Of course, it can be realized by one channel. However, after transmitting and receiving a communication end command (Close command) to be described later, the connection confirmation must be performed again from the transmission and reception of the above-mentioned Inquiry command, which takes time. It is.
[0040]
Returning to the processing of FIG. 2 again, the host 1 that has received the Success command in step S6 outputs a Data Send command (step S7). In the present embodiment, specific data transmitted to the printer 10 by the Data Send command is information of a homepage created in an HTML language or an XHTML language. The host 1 is connected to the Internet via the I / F 4 and performs a predetermined operation, whereby HTML data and XHTML data expressed in the HTML language and the XHTML language are controlled by the CPU 2 from the I / F 4 to the RAM 3 and the HDD 5. Is stored in Then, the stored data is read out under the control of the CPU 2, a predetermined program stored in the ROM 7 is read out, the XHTML language is interpreted, and a home page on the Internet is displayed on the display unit 6. Data expressed in such a language is stored in the RAM 3, and image data expressed as a file name in the data is stored in the HDD 5. Then, when the above-mentioned Success command (step S6) is input, the data stored in the RAM 3 is read out under the control of the CPU 2 and output to the I / F 4. Further, the CPU 2 outputs an instruction for creating and outputting a Data Send command to the I / F 4, so that the Data Send command is output from the host 1 to the printer 10.
[0041]
The printer 10 receiving this Data Send command starts the processing shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the processing corresponding to FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIG.
[0042]
First, upon receiving the Data Send command, the CPU 11 of the printer 10 causes the XHTML data included in the Data Send command to be stored in the RAM 12 via the I / F 13 (Step S20). In the present embodiment, description will be made below assuming that XHTML data is input. FIG. 5 shows an example of the XHTML data. This example is expressed for the sake of simplicity of description, and actually includes data with various tags. It should be noted that the hypertext for creating the homepage may be data created in HTML, XML (Extention Mark up Language), SGML (Standard Generalized Mark up Language), or the like, in addition to data created in XHTML.
[0043]
The beginning and end of the data indicate that the data is created in the XHTML language, indicating that the data starts with an <XHTML> tag and ends with a </ XHTML> tag.
[0044]
The <p> tag indicates the beginning of a paragraph, and the </ p> tag indicates the end of the paragraph. The <IMG> tag indicates that image data is included, and in the example of FIG. 5, indicates that the image data is represented by a file name “CCC.JPG”.
[0045]
The home page represented by the XHTML data is represented on the display unit 6 as shown in FIG. Here, “AAA” and “BBB” indicate characters “AAA” and “BBB”. Image data expressed by a file name “CCC.JPG” is displayed below the character.
[0046]
Returning to the processing of FIG. 4, next, the CPU 11 performs a success command transmission processing (step S21). This corresponds to the output of the Success command in step S8 in FIG. When the XHTML data as shown in FIG. 5 is received by the Data Send command and stored in the RAM 12 under the control of the CPU 11, the CPU 11 outputs a control signal for generating and outputting a Success command indicating that the data reception is successful, to the I / O. Output to F13. As a result, a success command is output from the printer 10 to the host 1.
[0047]
Next, the CPU 11 searches the XHTML data stored in the RAM 12 for an IMG tag in step S20. In the example shown in FIG. 5, <IMG = "CCC.JPG"> on the ninth line from the top is searched.
[0048]
Next, when the <IMG> tag indicating the image data is searched by the search in step S22, an Open Object Channel command is first transmitted to capture the image data (step S23). This corresponds to step S9 in FIG. As described above, in the processing so far (see FIG. 2), commands are input and output by Bluetooth using the host as the client and the server as the printer (Push type). In such a state, since the client is the host 1, the printer 10 cannot capture the image data stored in the host 10 in response to a request from the printer 10 (server). Therefore, an Open Object Channel command is transmitted from the printer 10 so that the printer 10 is a client and the host 1 is a server. As described above, in the I / F 13 of the printer 10, subsequent commands are exchanged using a channel different from the channel used so far. Specifically, upon searching for the <IMG> tag in step S22, the CPU 11 outputs a control signal indicating an instruction for creating and outputting an Open Object Channel command to the I / F 13. As a result, the I / F 13 can create this command and output it to the host 1.
[0049]
Returning to FIG. 2, the host 1 that has received the Open Object Channel command outputs a number indicating a port channel used on the host side to the I / F 4 under the control of the CPU 2. Further, the generation and output of the Success command for this command are output to the I / F 4. As a result, a Success command is output from the host 1 to the printer 10 (Step S10).
[0050]
The I / F 13 of the printer 10 that has received this command outputs a control signal indicating that the command has been received to the CPU 11. Upon receiving this, the CPU 11 performs a process of capturing image data by Pull (step S24). The image data is the image data indicated in the <IMG> tag retrieved in step S22 (the example in FIG. 5 is image data “CCC.JPG”). The image data is stored in the HDD 5 of the host 1. In FIG. 2, the processing corresponds to the processing from transmitting a Request Image Data command (Step S11) to capturing Image Data (Step S12). Specifically, when receiving the Success command in FIG. 2 (step S10), the CPU 11 outputs a control signal indicating that the command has been received from the I / F 13, and based on this signal, the I / F 13 Then, a control signal indicating an instruction for creating and outputting a Request Image Data command is output to the I / F 13. As a result, a Request Image Data command is output from the I / F 13 to the host 1 (step S11). The CPU 11 also reads out information on the file name indicating the image data retrieved in step S22 from the RAM 12, and controls the I / F 13 to output the information together with the Request Image Data command.
[0051]
The host 1 that has received this receives a control signal indicating that it has been received from the I / F 4 to the CPU 2, and performs processing for outputting image data. Specifically, a file name indicating image data is input from the I / F 4 to the CPU 2, and the CPU 2 reads out the image data stored in the HDD 5 based on the file name. Under the control of the CPU 2, the read image data is output to the I / F 4. Further, the CPU 2 instructs the I / F 4 to create and output a Send Image Data command indicating output of image data. From the I / F 4, image data of the file name searched in step S22 is output together with the SendImage data (step S12 in FIG. 2).
[0052]
The I / F 13 of the printer 10 that has received the image data together with this command causes the image data to be stored in the RAM 12 under the control of the CPU 11. This completes the image data capturing process shown in FIG. 4 (step S24).
[0053]
Next, the CPU 11 transmits a Close command. This corresponds to step S13 in FIG. The process after step S26 in FIG. 4 is performed after the output of the Close Object Channel command in FIG. First, processing after step S13 in FIG. 2 will be described.
[0054]
When the image data is captured in step S24 in FIG. 4, the CPU 11 outputs a control signal to the host 1 to instruct the I / F 13 to create and output a Close Object Channel command. Thereby, the Close Object Channel command shown in FIG. 2 is output from the I / F 13 to the host (step S13).
[0055]
The I / F 4 of the host 1 that has received this outputs a control signal indicating the reception to the CPU 2 and terminates communication on the channel of the I / F 4 opened as an object server (the channel opened as a pull type). CPU 2 instructs I / F 4 to create and output a Success command. As a result, a success command is output from the I / F 4 (step S14).
[0056]
Next, the CPU 2 of the host 1 instructs the I / F 4 to create and output a Close Data Channel command. As a result, the host 1 outputs a CloseData Channel command (step S15). This is to end the communication of the channel opened as the Push type.
[0057]
The I / F 13 of the printer 10 that has received this command outputs a control signal indicating that this command has been received to the CPU 11. The CPU 11 receiving this outputs a control signal instructing the creation and output of the Success command to the I / F 13 in order to end the communication. As described above, a series of communication by Bluetooth started from step S1 ends.
[0058]
After finishing the series of communication, the CPU 11 performs tree generation processing (step S26). The generation of a tree refers to, for example, generating a tree for each attribute of an element expressed in the XHTML language, and distributing elements having the same attribute to each node to generate a tree structure (tree). As a result, subsequent processing, display and printing of a homepage, and the like are effectively performed. FIG. 8 shows an example of this internal tree. Actually, the tree is represented by a predetermined code, but is shown as in FIG. 8 for ease of explanation. As shown in FIG. 5, there are three types of <p> tags having the same attribute, so that three nodes are created. The elements of each tag are “AAA” and “BBB”, which are character expressions, and “CCC.JPG” which indicates a file name of image data. Therefore, the file expressed in the XHTML language shown in FIG. 5 generates an internal tree composed of three nodes as shown in FIG. Since the XML data acquired in step S20 is also stored in the RAM 12 in this tree creation, the CPU 11 reads this data in step S26, and reads out a program for generating an internal tree from the ROM 16 and executes it. , A tree composed of predetermined codes is generated. The generated tree is stored in the RAM 12 again.
[0059]
Next, the CPU 11 that has generated the tree executes XHTML image processing (step S27). FIG. 7 shows a specific operation of this image processing as a flowchart. Upon shifting to this image processing, the CPU 11 starts an operation for this processing (step S270). The operation is started when the CPU 11 reads out the XHTML image processing program stored in the ROM 16.
[0060]
Next, the CPU 11 performs processing of the entire layout (step S271). The layout process is a process for determining the overall layout for the printing paper. For example, if the image data received in step S23 is A4 size, a layout having the same ratio as the A4 size is created. Specifically, the CPU 11 creates a blank area in which nothing is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 12. The blank area has the same ratio as the size of the image data.
[0061]
Next, the CPU 11 performs processing of each tree created in step S26 (see FIG. 4). Here, for the sake of simplicity, the processing when the three trees shown in FIG. 8 are created (steps S272 to S274) will be described below. Of course, when a tree configuration other than that of FIG. 8 is generated as well as the processing of three trees as shown in FIG. 7, the processing of each generated tree may be performed. The same applies even if the tree has a hierarchical structure.
[0062]
First, the CPU 11 performs the processing of the tree 1. Here, the processing of the tree 1 is to process the element "AAA" on the leftmost side shown in FIG. Specifically, since the tree generated in step S26 (see FIG. 4) is stored in the RAM 12, the CPU 11 reads “AAA” and stores the “AAA” in the entire layout (predetermined area of the RAM 12) created in step S271. AAA "is stored.
[0063]
Next, the CPU 11 performs the processing of the tree 2. The processing of the tree 2 is to process the element “BBB” in the middle shown in FIG. Specifically, the element “BBB” of the tree generated in step S26 (see FIG. 4) is read from the RAM 12 and stored in the overall layout generated in step S271.
[0064]
Next, the CPU 11 performs the processing of the tree 3, that is, the processing of “IMG CCC.JPG” shown in FIG. Specifically, in order to indicate that “IMG” is image data, the CPU 11 reads the image data having this file name already stored in the RAM 12 in step S24 (see FIG. 4). Then, the image data read from the RAM 12 is stored in a predetermined area of the entire layout.
[0065]
Then, the XHTML image processing ends (step S275). When this processing is completed, an actual image display, for example, data similar to that shown in FIG. Thereafter, by printing this data, the home page displayed on the display unit 6 of the host 1, for example, the display shown in FIG. 6 can be printed. In the printing process, as described above, the CPU 11 reads out the data after step S28 stored in the RAM 12, and the CPU 11, the RAM 12, and the ROM 16 perform a resolution conversion process, a color correction process, and a halftone process. The data is stored in the RAM 12 as data. The print data is output to the print unit 15 under the control of the CPU 11, and the home page is actually printed on the print paper.
[0066]
Here, since the image data has already been stored in the RAM 12 in step S24 (see FIG. 4) in the last step S275, it is only necessary to read this image data. The printer 10 captures the XHTML data, generates a tree, and performs the image data capture processing (step S24 in FIG. 4) at the tree processing stage (steps S272 to S274). Of Bluetooth communication is delayed. When the <IMG> tag is found by the search in the acquired XHTML data, the image data capturing process is performed immediately, so that the communication can be terminated earlier than in the case described above. Thereby, power saving of the power of the host 1 can be achieved.
[0067]
In the above-described embodiment, the personal computer is used as the host. However, a digital camera, a mobile phone, and other portable information terminals may be used.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a host 1 and a printer 10.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a timing chart illustrating a flow of a command.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a port of an I / F 13 of the printer 10.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the printer after receiving XHTML.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of XHTML data.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example when the XHTML data shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on a display unit 6;
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating image processing of XHTML data.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an internal tree.
[Description of Signs] 1 Host 2 CPU 3 RAM 4 I / F 5 HDD 6 Display unit 7 ROM 10 Printer 11 CPU 12 RAM 13 I / F 15 Printing unit

Claims (7)

Communication means for inputting and outputting data by wireless communication;
When detecting information indicating that a file in which image data is stored among the print target data input by the communication unit is included in the print target data, the image data stored in the file is input. Controlling communication means, and when the image data is input, control means for controlling the communication means to end the communication by the wireless communication,
After the communication by the control unit is completed, print data is generated from the print target data input by the communication unit, and based on the generated print data, the print target data including the image data input by the control unit Print processing means for printing
A printing device comprising: The communication means,
When controlled to input image data by the control means, outputs a command for inputting the image data,
2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the control unit controls the wireless communication to be terminated, a command indicating termination of the communication is output. The control means,
Controlling the communication means so that the print target data is input by a push type,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit is controlled so that the image data is input by a pull type. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print target data is hypertext data. The printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the information indicating that the file in which the image data is stored is included in the print target data is expressed by a predetermined tag. A first step in which data is input from communication means by wireless communication;
When information indicating that a file in which image data is stored in the print target data input in the first step is included in the print target data is detected, the image data stored in the file is input. A second step of controlling said communication means to cause
A third step of controlling the communication unit to end the communication by the wireless communication when the image data is input by the wireless communication, by controlling the communication unit in the second step;
After the communication in the third step is completed, print data is generated from the print target data input in the first step, and the print target data including the image data is printed based on the generated print data. A fourth step of controlling the processing means;
A printing method comprising: A first process in which data is input from communication means by wireless communication;
When detecting information indicating that a file storing image data is included in the print target data among the print target data input in the first process, inputting the image data stored in the file A second process for controlling the communication means to cause
A third process for controlling the communication unit to end the communication by the wireless communication when the image data is input by the wireless communication, by controlling the communication unit by the second process;
After the communication in the third process is completed, print data is generated from the print target data input in the first process, and printing is performed so as to print the print target data including the image data based on the generated print data. A fourth process for controlling the processing means;
A program that causes a computer to execute.

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