JP2004268516A - Printer control system, printer, and printer driver - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To offer convenience to the user of an ink cartridge when the user purchases the ink cartridge using a vending machine. <P>SOLUTION: When a residual quantity of ink calculation means 16 detects ink end during use of a printer 30, a pop-up message "ink in cartridge ran short" is displayed on the screen of a computer 10. A purchase guide display means 17 outputs ink cartridge purchase guide information for a user into the screen. The output may be presented on the display or may be printed out as it is. The user attains such information as what vending machine is selling an ink cartridge or how to operate the ink cartridge. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printer control system, a printer, and a printer driver suitable for selling ink cartridges for a printer.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Printers widely used for printing documents in personal computers and the like continue to use while periodically replacing toner and ink cartridges. In the case of an ink cartridge, when ink runs out, an indication to that effect is displayed on a printer or a printer driver. When the user runs out of ink, the user installs the newly purchased ink cartridge in the printer and resumes use. Since a warning is automatically displayed when a little ink remains, it is sufficient to purchase an ink cartridge at an appropriate timing after seeing this, and replace the cartridge when the ink is completely exhausted. (Patent Document 1)
[Patent Document 1] JP-A-2002-370379
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, the conventional techniques as described above have the following problems to be solved.
When a warning message is displayed because the remaining amount of ink in the printer is low, a spare ink cartridge must be purchased immediately. Even if a spare ink cartridge has been purchased in advance, it is preferable to purchase an ink cartridge to be stored for the next spare at this timing. However, when the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge decreases, the store that sells the ink cartridge is not necessarily in business hours. Further, the printer may be used at a place far from a store where the ink cartridge is sold. Even if there is a spare, if you plan to purchase later or place an order later, you may forget to purchase or order.
[0004]
Thus, for example, an ink cartridge vending machine that can be installed in a store that is open all night, such as a convenience store, has been developed. However, unlike vending machines for cigarettes and soft drinks, the number of installations is limited, so that there is a problem that it is difficult to use because the location and the operation method are not known in an emergency. In addition, since the warning that the ink cartridge is low in the remaining amount of ink is not so frequent, even if it is used once, there are cases where the installation location of the vending machine cannot be remembered.
The present invention has been made for the convenience of the user of such an ink cartridge.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention employs the following configuration to solve the above points.
<Configuration 1>
Means for monitoring the amount of ink used by the printer, means for calculating the amount of ink remaining based on the amount of ink used, means for comparing the amount of ink remaining with a threshold, and when the amount of ink remaining falls below the threshold. Means for automatically displaying ink cartridge purchase guide information.
[0006]
The method of monitoring the amount of ink used is arbitrary. It is sufficient that any one of the ink cartridge, the printer, and the computer that controls the printer is provided with a sensor or an arithmetic processing unit that measures and monitors the amount of ink used and the remaining amount. The method of calculating the remaining ink amount is also arbitrary. Numerical data suitable for comparison with the threshold value may be obtained from the monitoring result of the ink usage. The threshold value is arbitrarily set based on the experience value in consideration of the timing of purchasing ink. When the remaining amount of the ink falls below the threshold, the ink cartridge purchase guidance information is automatically displayed. Some existing printers and printer drivers have an ink exhaustion warning display and an ink remaining amount display function. In this system, ink cartridge purchase guidance information is displayed. The purchase guidance information may include arbitrary information such as a purchase time, a purchase method, a purchase price, a purchase place, a replacement operation method, an operation method of a vending machine, and the like. As a method of automatically displaying, there are arbitrary methods such as a pop-up display method and a display requesting that a display request button is pressed.
[0007]
<Configuration 2>
Means for monitoring the amount of ink used by the printer, means for calculating the amount of ink remaining based on the amount of ink used, means for comparing the amount of ink remaining with a threshold, and when the amount of ink remaining falls below the threshold. Means for automatically printing out ink cartridge purchase guide information.
[0008]
In this configuration, the purchase guidance information is printed out. This is because if a map of the place of purchase is included, it is convenient to carry around at the time of purchase. In this case, since the remaining amount of ink must be equal to or more than the amount at which the purchase guidance information can be printed, the threshold may be set based on this amount.
[0009]
<Configuration 3>
The printer control system according to Configuration 1 or 2, wherein the ink cartridge purchase guide information includes an indication of a place where a vending machine for the ink cartridge is installed.
[0010]
A vending machine that operates all day when it is necessary to purchase ink cartridges outside of business hours at a mass retailer or when using a printer at a location far from the mass retailer. Is helpful. However, the number of ink vending machines installed is smaller than other vending machines. Therefore, the location is displayed so that the installation location can be easily found. The display method of the location may include only characters or a map.
[0011]
<Configuration 4>
The printer control system according to Configuration 1 or 2, wherein the ink cartridge purchase guide information includes a display explaining a method of operating an ink cartridge vending machine.
[0012]
For users who rarely use a vending machine or those who use a vending machine for the first time, a display explaining how to operate the vending machine is displayed. Display contents and means of the operation method are arbitrary.
[0013]
<Configuration 5>
The printer control system according to Configuration 1 or 2, wherein the ink cartridge purchase guide information includes a display of a URL of a website that provides the purchase guide information.
[0014]
The method of displaying the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the website that provides the purchase guidance information is arbitrary. It is preferable to use a website when the amount of purchase guidance information is large or when the information requires freshness.
[0015]
<Configuration 6>
In the printer control system according to Configuration 5, the ink cartridge purchase guide information includes a display of a URL of a website that provides the purchase guide information, and the purchase guide information of the website includes a map of a vending machine installation location. A printer control system, characterized in that:
[0016]
The information on the installation location of a vending machine often becomes out of date if it is written in an ink cartridge or a printer driver. Therefore, the URL of the website is displayed.
[0017]
<Configuration 7>
In the printer control system according to Configuration 5, the ink cartridge purchase guide information includes a display of a URL of a website that provides the purchase guide information, and the purchase guide information on the website includes an operation method of each vending machine. A printer control system comprising a display to explain.
[0018]
The website includes instructions on how to operate each vending machine, not just where vending machines are installed. When the operation method differs depending on the location, it is preferable to individually guide the operation method.
[0019]
<Configuration 8>
The printer control system according to Configuration 5, wherein the ink cartridge purchase guidance information includes advertisement information of the printer.
[0020]
The user of the ink cartridge is a user of the printer, and including the advertisement information of the printer in the purchase guide has a very large effect of the advertisement. The content and format of the advertisement information are arbitrary.
[0021]
<Configuration 9>
The printer control system according to Configuration 5, wherein the ink cartridge purchase guide information includes update information of a printer driver of a printer using the ink cartridge.
[0022]
If information on updating (upgrading) the printer driver of the ink cartridge can be obtained when the ink cartridge is purchased, the user has a chance to install the latest printer driver as long as the printer is used. It is preferable that the update information of the printer driver include not only the update history but also purchase guidance information such as a download method of the printer driver.
[0023]
<Configuration 10>
Means for monitoring the amount of ink used by the printer, means for calculating the amount of ink remaining based on the amount of ink used, means for comparing the amount of ink remaining with a threshold, and when the amount of ink remaining falls below the threshold. Means for automatically displaying ink cartridge purchase guide information.
[0024]
This is an invention in which the system of the configuration 1 is built in the printer. The display means is a display or the like provided in the printer. Instead of displaying the whole at once, a partial display may be used.
[0025]
<Configuration 11>
Means for monitoring the amount of ink used by the printer, means for calculating the amount of ink remaining based on the amount of ink used, means for comparing the amount of ink remaining with a threshold, and when the amount of ink remaining falls below the threshold. Means for automatically printing out the ink cartridge purchase guidance information.
[0026]
This is an invention in which the system of the configuration 2 is built in the printer. Since the printer itself automatically prints out the ink cartridge purchase guidance information, there is an effect that the printer operates even when the computer or the like connected to the printer is not running.
[0027]
<Configuration 12>
A process of monitoring the amount of ink used by the printer, a process of calculating the remaining amount of ink based on the amount of used ink, a process of comparing the remaining amount of ink with a threshold, and a case where the amount of remaining ink falls below the threshold. A printer driver for causing a computer to automatically execute a process of displaying ink cartridge purchase guidance information.
[0028]
The printer driver for controlling the printer has all the functions of the first configuration.
[0029]
<Configuration 13>
A process of monitoring the amount of ink used by the printer, a process of calculating the remaining amount of ink based on the amount of used ink, a process of comparing the remaining amount of ink with a threshold, and a case where the amount of remaining ink falls below the threshold. A printer driver for causing a computer to automatically print out the ink cartridge purchase guidance information.
[0030]
The printer driver for controlling the printer has all the functions of the second configuration.
[0031]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described using specific examples.
In this embodiment, when the printer runs out of ink while in use, a pop-up message is displayed on the screen of the personal computer, stating that "the cartridge has run out of ink." A function of outputting ink cartridge purchase guidance information to the user during this popup message is provided. The output may be on a display or may be printed out as it is. Since the pop-up message is displayed under the control of the printer driver, this display control system module is incorporated in the printer driver. The description is given below.
[0032]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a specific example of the printer control system of the present invention.
As shown in the figure, a computer 10 such as a personal computer includes a storage device 12 and is configured to control a printer 30 connected via an input / output interface 15 by a printer driver 14. The storage device 12 stores ink cartridge purchase guidance information 13 described later. The printer driver 14 is a computer program having a known function for controlling the printer 30 to execute a printing operation and the like. The printer driver 14 incorporates computer programs for new functions such as an ink remaining amount calculation unit 16 and a purchase guidance display unit 17. These functions will be described later.
[0033]
The printer 30 is controlled by a CPU (central processing unit) 31. An ink cartridge 32 is attached to the printer 30. The ink cartridge 32 stores the remaining ink usage. This is the ink usage information 33. For example, when the ink cartridge 32 is driven by a print command from a printer, the ink cartridge 32 has a memory that counts the number of print dot pulses and stores the count as the amount of ink used. That is, in this memory, data of how many dots, how many dots of cyan ink, how many dots of magenta ink, and how many dots of yellow ink have been recorded since the start of using black ink. This is data that is updated each time the ink cartridge 32 is used.
[0034]
The ink cartridge purchase guide information 13 of the computer 10 is data that stores information such as at which vending machine the ink cartridge is sold and how the vending machine is operated. The computer 10 is connected to the network 1. A web server 11 is connected to the network 1. The storage device 20 of the web server 11 stores data such as ink cartridge purchase guide information 21, printer driver update information 22, and printer driver 23. The ink cartridge purchase guide information 21 includes complicated data, image data, latest information, and the like that cannot be expressed by the ink cartridge purchase guide information 13 stored in the storage device 12 of the computer 10, and is displayed on the computer 10 through the network 1. I can do it. The printer driver update information 22 includes data indicating information such as whether the printer driver 14 used in the computer 10 has been upgraded. The printer driver 23 is a program library that is downloaded to the computer 10 through the network 1 and used.
[0035]
The network 1 is a network for various information communication such as the Internet and an intranet (LAN, WAN). It can be a wired network or a wireless network. The web data stored in the storage device of the web server 11 can be browsed through a network by using a predetermined URL (Uniform Resource Locator). Web data can be HTML (Hyper Text Mark-up Language), SGML (Standard Generalized Mark-up Language), XML (Browse data in a format that can be created by a browser in an extensible network, or in a format that can be created by a browser in the form of an eXtensible Markup Language). It is.
[0036]
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of the purchase guidance screen 40 displayed on the display of the computer 10 shown in FIG.
On the purchase guide screen 40 shown in the figure, for example, a product code 41 of an ink cartridge to be purchased, a printer name 42 in which the ink cartridge is used, and the like are displayed. Further, the information includes information that allows the user to specifically check the installation location of a vending machine for purchasing the ink cartridge. For example, when an area such as a prefecture or a municipal is designated by the drop-down lists 43 and 44 shown in the figure, all the vending machines installed in that area are displayed in the drop-down list 45. By operating the drop-down list 45 to select a place to be used and clicking the button 46, the location of the store, the position where the vending machine is installed, and the like are displayed on the screen 51.
[0037]
The screen 51 displays a product code 41 of the ink cartridge, a printer name 42 to be used, and the like. Below that, a map 52 of the vending machine where the vending machine is installed is displayed. The floor guide 53 of the store is also displayed in a plan view. If you print this screen as it is, you will get all the information about where and what to buy. Therefore, the user can immediately prepare to purchase an ink cartridge. When the user clicks the button 48 displayed as the information providing site, the computer 10 calls the corresponding website of the web server 11 through the network 1. Then, the web page 60 of the website is displayed. Here, for example, an advertisement of a new product relating to the printer, a notice of version upgrade of the printer driver, and various information of the ink cartridge are displayed. By clicking any of the buttons 61, 62, 63, the specific contents of each can be displayed. This specific example is not specifically described, but can include arbitrary information.
[0038]
FIG. 3 is a screen that appears when the operation method of the guidance screen 40 and the displayed button 47 are clicked. This screen 70 describes a specific operation method of the vending machine. This also includes a product code 41 and a display 42 of a printer to be used so that it is convenient to actually print and take it to a vending machine. In addition, an external view of the vending machine 73 is shown here, and operation methods are listed in order on the right side. The vending machine 73 is provided with a display 74, a selection button 75, a card reader 76, a cash depositing / dispensing device 77, a discharge tray 78, and the like. Various guides are displayed on the display 74 at the time of purchase. The selection button 75 is provided for selecting a displayed content and performing a purchase operation. The card reader 76 allows a user to bring an ID card and insert it into the card reader to purchase a target ink cartridge without complicated operations.
[0039]
The cash depositing / dispensing device 77 has a function of calculating the amount of money and issuing change when the user deposits money. The discharge tray 78 is a part for discharging the sold ink cartridge. The basic mechanism is the same as a general existing vending machine. In this operation procedure, for example, first, an ID card is inserted into the card reading device 76, and a desired one is selected from a product list displayed on the display 74. In the ID code, the product code of the ink cartridge that the user wants to purchase is recorded as information. This is displayed on the display 74. The user looks at the display and decides whether to purchase. When the operation is performed, the price of the product is displayed on the display 74. When the displayed price is input, the display 74 displays information such as the purchase price, the input amount, change, and the product code of the purchased ink cartridge.
[0040]
Here, when the confirmation button is pressed, the ink cartridge is discharged to the discharge tray 78. You just need to receive this, receive the change and return. Such a description is included in this screen 70. By printing the screen 70 as it is, the operation of the vending machine can be reliably and promptly performed. A screen 80 shown in (b) of the figure is displayed when the driver information and the displayed button 49 of the guide screen 40 are clicked. Here, version information 81 of the printer driver and a URL 82 of a website for displaying information for upgrading the version are displayed. Since the information for the version upgrade must always be the latest, the web server 11 may manage the information. By browsing the printer driver update information 22 of the web server 11 in FIG. 1, it is possible to confirm whether the printer driver is new. If a new version of the printer driver is to be installed, the printer driver 23 of the web server 11 may be downloaded by a well-known operation.
[0041]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a modification of the present invention and showing a specific configuration of a printer.
In the system shown in FIG. 1, information indicating the amount of ink used is recorded in an ink cartridge of the printer. Various guidance screen display operations are performed. However, by incorporating all of the above functions in the network printer, all operations can be performed on the printer side. For this purpose, as shown in FIG. 4, the printer 100 includes, for example, a CPU 101, a storage device 102, an ink cartridge 32, an ink remaining amount calculation unit 105, a purchase guidance display unit 106, an operation button interface 107, and an operation button 110. And so on.
[0042]
The CPU 101 is a computer that controls the operation of the printer 100. The storage device 102 stores printer information 103 and ink cartridge purchase guidance information 104. The printer information 103 stores a model of the printer 100, a product code of an ink cartridge that can be used by the printer, and various other information about the printer. The ink cartridge purchase guide information 104 stores the position of a vending machine when purchasing an ink cartridge and other information as described above. Note that the storage device 102 is formed of a nonvolatile memory provided inside the printer 100. The ink cartridge 32 stores ink usage information 33. The content of this information is the same as that described above. The ink remaining amount calculating unit 105 is a computer program that reads out the ink usage amount information 33 of the ink cartridge 32 and performs a process of calculating the ink remaining amount. The purchase guide display means 106 is a computer program having a function of editing a purchase guide displayed on the display 111 of the printer 100 and controlling display.
[0043]
When the screen of the display provided in the printer is sufficiently large, a detailed and specific screen as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 can be displayed. However, if the display 111 of the printer 100 has a narrow display screen, There may be. At this time, a part of the purchase guide may be displayed, and thereafter, the print output by the printer may be mainly used. The operation button interface 107 has a function of transmitting operation information of the operation 110 of the printer 100 to the CPU 101. The operation button 110 is used for performing an operation of switching display contents and the like. According to the above configuration, the printer itself detects the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge, and when the remaining amount of ink is low, not only issues a warning to supplement the remaining amount of ink, but also displays an ink cartridge purchase guide. Then, it operates to print the contents as needed. This allows the user to purchase an ink cartridge at the nearest vending machine as soon as the ink becomes insufficient.
[0044]
FIG. 5 is a specific operation flowchart of the printer driver described in FIG.
In the system shown in FIG. 1, first, when the printer driver 14 is started in response to printing control or the like in step S1, the ink usage information 33 stored in the ink cartridge 32 is read in step S2. In step S3, the remaining ink amount calculating means 16 calculates the remaining ink amount, and in step S4, compares the remaining ink amount with a threshold. If it is determined in step S5 that the remaining amount of ink is smaller than the threshold value, the process proceeds to step S6, where the purchase guide display unit 17 edits the purchase guide information. Otherwise, the process ends. Then, a screen 40 as shown in FIG. 2 is displayed.
[0045]
Here, for example, when the button for requesting the display of the map is clicked, the process proceeds from step S8 to step S9, and the map information as shown on the screen 51 is displayed. When the print button 55 is clicked, the process advances from step S10 to step S11 to print the currently displayed screen. When the button 47 for displaying the operation method is clicked, the process proceeds from step S12 to step S13, and the screen 70 as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed. Further, when browsing of the website is requested, the process proceeds from step S14 to step S15, and connection to the network is performed. If the functions described above are provided in the printer driver 14 of the computer 10, the user of the ink cartridge can acquire the purchase information by operating the printer driver.
[0046]
The same operation is performed when all functions are provided on the printer side as shown in FIG. In the printer, the remaining ink amount calculation means 105 and the purchase guidance display means 106 execute the same processing as described above. If the printer is a network printer, for example, purchase connection information and printer driver update information can be downloaded and printed out when connected to a network.
[0047]
In addition, the computer programs installed in the arithmetic processing device may be configured by combining independent program modules, or may be configured by an integrated program as a whole. All or some of the processes controlled by the computer program may be configured by hardware having equivalent functions. Further, the above-described computer program may be used by being incorporated into an existing application program. The computer program for realizing the present invention as described above can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, and installed and used in an arbitrary information processing apparatus. In addition, it can be downloaded and used in the memory of any computer through a network.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a specific example of a printer control system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of a purchase guidance screen 40 displayed on a display of the computer 10 shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a screen that appears when an operation method of a guidance screen 40 and a displayed button 47 are clicked.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a modification of the present invention and showing a specific configuration of a printer.
FIG. 5 is a specific operation flowchart of the printer driver described in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 10 computer, 11 web server, 12 storage device, 13 ink cartridge purchase guide information, 14 printer driver, 15 input / output interface, 16 ink remaining amount calculation means, 17 purchase guide display means, 20 storage device, 21 ink cartridge purchase guide information , 22 printer driver update information, 23 printer driver, 30 printer, 31 CPU (central processing unit), 32 ink cartridge, 33 ink usage information

Claims (13)

Means for monitoring the ink usage of the printer;
Means for calculating an ink remaining amount based on the ink usage amount,
Means for comparing the remaining amount of ink with a threshold,
Means for automatically displaying ink cartridge purchase guide information when the ink remaining amount falls below a threshold value. Means for monitoring the ink usage of the printer;
Means for calculating an ink remaining amount based on the ink usage amount,
Means for comparing the remaining amount of ink with a threshold,
Means for automatically printing out the ink cartridge purchase guide information when the remaining amount of ink falls below a threshold value. In the printer control system according to claim 1 or 2,
A printer control system, wherein the ink cartridge purchase guide information includes an indication of a place where a vending machine for the ink cartridge is installed. In the printer control system according to claim 1 or 2,
A printer control system, wherein the ink cartridge purchase guide information includes a display explaining an operation method of an ink cartridge vending machine. In the printer control system according to claim 1 or 2,
A printer control system, wherein the ink cartridge purchase guide information includes a display of a URL of a website that provides the purchase guide information. The printer control system according to claim 5,
A printer control system, wherein the ink cartridge purchase guide information includes a display of a URL of a website that provides the purchase guide information, and the web site purchase guide information includes a map of a vending machine installation location. The printer control system according to claim 5,
The ink cartridge purchase guide information includes a display of a URL of a website that provides the purchase guide information, and the purchase guide information of the website includes a display that describes an operation method of each vending machine. Printer control system. The printer control system according to claim 5,
A printer control system, wherein the ink cartridge purchase guidance information includes printer advertisement information. The printer control system according to claim 5,
A printer control system, wherein the ink cartridge purchase guide information includes update information of a printer driver of a printer using the ink cartridge. Means for monitoring the ink usage of the printer;
Means for calculating an ink remaining amount based on the ink usage amount,
Means for comparing the remaining amount of ink with a threshold,
Means for automatically displaying ink cartridge purchase guidance information when the ink remaining amount falls below a threshold value. Means for monitoring the ink usage of the printer;
Means for calculating an ink remaining amount based on the ink usage amount,
Means for comparing the remaining amount of ink with a threshold,
Means for automatically printing out ink cartridge purchase guide information when the remaining ink amount falls below a threshold value. A process for monitoring the ink usage of the printer;
A process of calculating an ink remaining amount based on the ink usage amount;
Comparing the remaining amount of ink with a threshold;
A printer driver for causing a computer to automatically execute a process of displaying ink cartridge purchase guidance information when the remaining ink amount falls below a threshold value. A process for monitoring the ink usage of the printer;
A process of calculating an ink remaining amount based on the ink usage amount;
Comparing the remaining amount of ink with a threshold;
A printer driver for causing a computer to execute a process of automatically printing out ink cartridge purchase guidance information when the remaining amount of ink falls below a threshold value.

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