JP2004276256A - Printing device and printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the ease of use of a printing device connected to a digital TV. <P>SOLUTION: The printing device 20 is constituted as a multifunction device which functions as a printer and also functions as a scanner. The printing device 20 is connected to the digital TV 30 which receives broadcast data composed of XHTML files sent from a broadcasting station 42 by an antenna 44 and outputs to display the data on a screen. When printing by the printing device 20 is instructed while a goods order screen including information related to an address is displayed on the digital TV 30, the XHTML file related to the goods order screen is received, interpreted, and printed as a goods order document at a printer part. When goods desired by a user 10 are written in the printed goods order document, and scanning is instructed, information written by the user 10 and address information are read by a scanner part of the printing device 20, and information related to the desired goods is transmitted to an order managing server 70 as the address to order the goods. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing method, and more particularly, to a printing apparatus connected via a predetermined communication interface to a broadcast receiving apparatus that receives and displays and outputs an image transmitted from a broadcasting station, and a printing apparatus used in the printing apparatus. About the method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a printing apparatus of this type, an apparatus connected to a personal computer via a communication interface such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1). In this apparatus, when a print instruction for a screen displayed on a display of a personal computer is received from the personal computer, the received screen is printed on printing paper.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-05-11943 (FIG. 3)
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in recent years, there has been an increasing demand for making it possible to connect devices other than the personal computer to the printing device and to widely utilize the printing device. In particular, it is convenient if a television can be connected to the printing apparatus so that images of programs broadcast by a broadcasting station can be output to the printing apparatus. Conventionally, for example, when using a postcard or FAX as an application form to purchase a product introduced in a TV program such as a TV shopping program, purchase all items such as a product name, a product number, and a destination. Since the buyer himself had to fill out the application form, some buyers felt it was inconvenient.
[0005]
The printing apparatus and printing method of the present invention solve such a problem, and perform a predetermined application using a printing apparatus connected via a communication interface to a broadcast receiving apparatus that receives and displays and outputs an image from a broadcast station. The purpose is to further improve the convenience at the time.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems and Their Functions and Effects]
The printing apparatus and the printing method of the present invention employ the following means in order to achieve the above object.
[0007]
The printing apparatus of the present invention
A printing apparatus connected via a predetermined communication interface to a broadcast receiving apparatus that receives and displays and outputs an image transmitted from a broadcast station,
Information receiving means for receiving information that can be a predetermined application document provided with an entry column and destination information on the destination of the application document from the broadcast receiving device via the communication interface;
An image printing means for printing an image on a printed matter as an application document containing the destination information based on the received information is provided.
[0008]
According to the printing apparatus of the present invention, information that can be an application document provided with an entry column and destination information regarding the destination of the application document are transmitted from a broadcast receiving device that receives an image transmitted from a broadcast station and displays and outputs the communication interface. And prints an image on a printed matter as an application document including destination information based on the received information. Thus, the user can make an application by simply filling in the required fields in the entry field with the printed matter as an application document and sending it to the destination using the destination information included in the application document. As a result, it is possible to further improve the convenience when making an application using the printing device. Here, the “predetermined application documents” include documents such as an application for a product order, an application for a campaign, and an application for an event.
[0009]
In such a printing apparatus of the present invention, information input means for inputting entry information entered in an entry column of an application document printed by the image printing means and destination information included in the application document, and the entered entry information And an information transmitting means for transmitting to the destination using the input destination information. By doing so, the user only needs to fill in the necessary fields in the entry fields of the printed document, so that the convenience can be further improved. In the printing apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the information input unit is a unit for inputting information including an e-mail address as the destination information, and the information transmitting unit transmits an e-mail based on the input entry information. It may be a means for creating and sending the created e-mail to a destination using the input e-mail address, or the information input means may include information including a URL as the destination information. It is a means for inputting, and the information transmitting means may be a means for transmitting the input entry information to a destination using the input URL.
[0010]
Further, in the printing apparatus according to the present invention, the application document provided with the entry field may be a document for a mark sheet. In this way, the user can make an application only by writing a mark at an appropriate position.
[0011]
Further, in the printing apparatus according to the present invention, the image receiving unit receives the file described in a predetermined markup language, and receives information that can be the application document and destination information regarding a destination of the application document. The image printing means may be means for interpreting the received file and performing printing. In the printing apparatus according to the aspect of the present invention, the predetermined markup language may be XHTML.
[0012]
The printing method of the present invention
A printing method used for a printing apparatus connected via a predetermined communication interface to a broadcast receiving apparatus for receiving and displaying and outputting an image transmitted from a broadcasting station,
(A) receiving from the broadcast receiving device via the communication interface, information that can be a predetermined application document provided with an entry column and destination information regarding the destination of the application document;
(B) The gist is to print an image on a printed matter as an application document containing the destination information based on the received information.
[0013]
In the printing method of the present invention, information that can be a predetermined application document provided with an entry column from a broadcast receiving device that receives and displays and outputs an image transmitted from a broadcasting station and destination information regarding the destination of the application document are An image is received on the communication interface, and an image is printed on a printed matter as an application document including destination information based on the received information. Thus, the user can make an application by simply filling in the required fields in the entry field with the printed matter as an application document and sending it to the destination using the destination information included in the application document. As a result, the convenience at the time of applying using the printing device can be further improved. Here, the “predetermined application documents” include an application for a product order, an application for a campaign, an application for an event, and the like.
[0014]
In the printing method of the present invention, (c) inputting the entry information entered in the entry column of the application document printed in the step (b) and the destination information included in the application document by scanning, d) The input entry information may be transmitted to a destination via a predetermined network using the input destination information. In this case, the user only needs to fill in the required fields in the entry field of the printed application document, so that the convenience can be further improved.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described using examples. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram schematically showing the configuration of a product ordering system including a printing device 20 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The product ordering system according to the embodiment includes a digital TV 30 having a built-in broadcast receiving device that receives broadcast data from a broadcast station 42 via an antenna 44 and displays and outputs the digital TV 30, a digital TV 30 (broadcast receiving device) and a communication interface cable 40 ( A printing device 20 of the embodiment connected via an IEEE 1394 interface cable or a USB interface cable, an order information management server 70 connected to the printing device 20 of the embodiment via the Internet 60, and an order information management server. It comprises a product distribution center 74 connected to a server 70 via a network 72. In the embodiment, the printing apparatus 20 receives the product order document displayed on the screen of the digital television 30 and the data regarding the destination of the document from the digital television 30 as an XHTML (extensible Hyper Text Markup Language) file and converts the data into printing data. The product order document 50 is printed by converting and outputting it on a print sheet, and the product order data entered by the user 10 in the entry field of the printed product order document 50 and the destination data printed on the product order document 50 Is optically read and the product order data entered by the user 10 is transmitted to the order information management server 70, which is the destination of the product order document 50. The order information management server 70 that has received the product order data from the printing device 20 according to the embodiment outputs a delivery instruction to the product delivery center 72 so as to deliver the product corresponding to the product order data to the user 10.
[0016]
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of the printing apparatus 20 and the digital television 30 connected to each other via the communication interface cable 40 according to the embodiment. The digital television 30 mainly includes a television controller 31 that controls each unit, and includes a receiving unit 32 that receives broadcast data from an antenna 44, a display unit 33 that displays the broadcast data received by the receiving unit 32, And a memory (for example, a hard disk device) 34 for storing the broadcast data received by the receiving unit 32, and a communication for exchanging broadcast data with the printing apparatus 20 of the embodiment connected by the communication interface cable 40. A communication controller 35 and an operation unit 36 including a remote controller for performing various operations such as power ON / OFF, channel switching, and volume adjustment, and a remote controller receiving unit are provided. In the embodiment, the digital television 30 is integrated with the above-mentioned broadcast receiving apparatus. However, it is needless to say that the digital television 30 may be configured separately.
[0017]
The printing apparatus 20 of the embodiment is configured as a multifunction peripheral that functions as a printer and also functions as an image scanner, and includes a print controller 21 that controls each unit, a printing unit 22 that prints an image on printing paper, and a printing unit 22 that prints images on printing paper. A reading unit 23 for scanning the entered data; a memory 24 for temporarily storing image data to be printed by the printing unit 22 and temporarily storing data read by the reading unit 23; A communication controller 25 for communicating with the digital television 30 connected by the interface cable 40, an operation unit 26 operated for instructions such as a start of printing and a start of scanning, and data scanned by the reading unit 23 Internet control for transmission via Internet 60 And a La 27.
[0018]
Next, the operation of the printing apparatus 20 according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an image printing process performed by the printing apparatus 20 according to the embodiment. This process is executed, for example, when a print button (not shown) of the operation unit 36 (remote controller) of the digital television 30 is pressed and an instruction to print a product order screen displayed on the digital television 30 is issued. FIG. 4 shows an example of a product order screen displayed on the digital television 30. The product order screen can be used as a product order document 50 when it is printed on a printing sheet described later. The product order document 50 has a unique 1 to 5 8-digit number assigned to each user at the time of user registration. "Customer number 52" for inputting the ID number of the customer, "order product 54" for inputting the presence or absence and the number of orders for each of the products A to C, and "customer number 52" provided at the lower right of the screen. And a “destination code 56” in which a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) as a transmission destination of the product order data input in the “order product 54” field is provided. Also, on the product order screen, when a field of “customer number 52” or a field of “ordered product 54” is marked by the user 10 as a document for a mark sheet on a printing sheet described later, the mark is displayed in the embodiment. A reference mark 58 for reading by the reading unit 23 of the printing device 20 is also provided.
[0019]
When the image printing process is executed, the print controller 21 of the printing apparatus 20 of the embodiment inputs an XHTML file related to the image displayed on the screen via the communication interface cable 40 (Step S100), and inputs the input XHTML file. A process for interpreting the grammar of the file is performed (step S102). The interpretation of the XHTML file is, specifically, a process of grammatically interpreting the tags described in the XHTML file. Instructing the XHTML source to display image files (such as JPEG files "c: / **** / *****. Jpg"("c: / *** /" is a path name)) in the grammatical interpretation of tags When the tag is described, the image file is received from the memory 34 of the digital television 30 via the communication interface cable 40 based on the path name and the file name of the image file specified by the tag. Hereinafter, a communication procedure between the printing apparatus 20 and the digital television 30 in such an embodiment will be described in detail.
[0020]
FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a communication procedure between the communication controller 25 of the printing apparatus 20 and the communication controller 35 of the digital television 30 according to the embodiment. The example of FIG. 5 shows a communication procedure when IEEE1394 is used as the communication interface cable 40. When printing of a display screen displayed on the digital television 30 is instructed while the printing apparatus 20 and the digital television 30 are connected to the communication interface cable 40, first, as shown in the sequence of FIG. The television 30 exchanges information about the connection between the digital television 30 and the printing apparatus 20 of the embodiment to establish a connection between plugs and to issue a command for instructing image printing, “CAPTURE REF (“ object_path ”). , Base_path,... ")" Is transmitted (S10). Here, ““ object_path, base_path ”” means a file name and a path name of a file to be printed. The printing apparatus 20 of the embodiment that has received the “CAPTURE REF” command transmits “INTERIM”, which is a command for requesting standby (S12), and performs processing for requesting a necessary file, that is, the received “INTERIM”. The "CAPTURE REF" command specifies "" object_path, base_path "" as "" file_path "", and transmits "SEND FILE (" file_path ")" which is a command for requesting a file necessary for printing from the digital television 30. (S14), and receives an XHTML file (“DATA (toppage.xhtml)”) from the digital television 30. The printing apparatus 20 according to the embodiment analyzes the tag of the received XHTML file, and when an object file to be referred to by the tag (for example, “c: / **** / ****. Jpg”) is specified, A command “SEND FILE (“ file_path ”)” (for example, “SEND FILE (“ c: / *** / ****. Jpg ”)”) is transmitted using the file name and the path name of the object file. (S18), a reference object file “DATA” is received from the digital television 30 (S20). When all the reference object files specified by the tags are received in this way, the printing apparatus 20 according to the embodiment sends the digital television 30 an “ACCEPTED” code indicating that the necessary files have been received in response to the “CAPTURE REF” command. (S22). The digital television 30 that has received the “ACCEPTED” code performs a process of disconnecting the connection and terminates.
[0021]
Returning to the processing of FIG. 3, when the grammatical interpretation of the XHTML file is completed, processing for generating print data for printing such as layout processing, color conversion processing, halftone processing, and interlace processing is performed based on the interpretation result. At the same time (step S104), a process for printing on print paper based on the generated print data is performed (step S106), and the present routine ends. FIG. 6 shows an example of the product order document 50 printed on printing paper by the printing unit 22. The user 10 marks the ID number assigned to the user 10 in the “customer number 52” column, and also marks the desired product and the number thereof in the “order product 54” column. The product is ordered by being read by the reading unit 23 of the printing device 20.
[0022]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the order information transmission process performed by the printing device 20 according to the embodiment. In this process, for example, the commodity order document 50 marked by the user 10 is set at a predetermined reading position of the reading unit 23 of the printing apparatus 20, and an instruction button (not shown) of the operation unit 26 for instructing the start of reading is pressed. Is executed when When the order information transmission process is executed, the print controller 21 of the printing device 20 of the embodiment sends the customer number (ID number) marked by the user 10 via the reading unit 23, the ordered product, and the product order data related to the number of products. , The destination code is input (step S200), the input destination code is analyzed to obtain the URL of the order information management server 70 which is the destination of the product order data (step S202), and the order information is managed using the obtained URL. The product order data is transmitted to the server 70 (step S204), and the process ends. As a result, the order information management server 70 accepts the customer number, the ordered product, and the product order data relating to the number of products, and transfers the received product data to the product delivery center 74. The ordered product is delivered from the product delivery center 74 to the user 10. become. In the embodiment, the mark described in the product order document 50 is read and transmitted as it is to the order information management server 70 as the product order data. The order may be printed and transmitted to the order information management server 70 when the user 10 confirms the content and presses a transmission button (not shown) of the operation unit 26.
[0023]
According to the printing apparatus 20 of the embodiment described above, the XHTML file in which the product order screen is converted into data is received from the digital television 30, grammatically interpreted and converted into print data for printing, and the printing unit 22 orders the product. A document (mark sheet) 50 is printed on printing paper, and the position marked by the user 10 on the printed product order document 50 is optically read by the reading unit 23 to generate product order information from the read mark and generate a destination. Is transmitted to the order information management server 70, the user 10 can place an order for a product by simply marking the desired product and its quantity on the product order document 50 printed by the printing unit 22 and reading it by the reading unit 23. Can be. As a result, the convenience when ordering a product using the printing device 20 of the embodiment connected to the digital television 30 can be further improved.
[0024]
Here, a communication controller 25 for communicating with the digital television 30 and a print controller 21 for controlling the communication controller 25 correspond to information receiving means, and include a printing unit 22 and a printing unit 22 for printing on a printing sheet as a product order document 50. The controlling print controller 21 corresponds to an image printing unit, the reading unit 23 for scanning necessary data from the product order document 50 and the printing controller 21 for controlling the reading unit 23 correspond to an information inputting unit, and the scanning unit 23 performs scanning. The Internet controller 27 that transmits the data thus obtained to the order information management server 70 via the Internet 60 and the print controller 21 that controls the Internet controller 27 correspond to an information transmitting unit.
[0025]
In the printing apparatus 20 of the embodiment, the URL is received from the digital television 30 as the destination of the product order document 50, and the mark written in the column of the customer number 52 and the order product 54 of the product order document 50 by the user 10 and the product order document The reading unit 23 reads the URL pre-printed on the unit 50 to obtain the customer order number and the product order data on the ordered product and the number thereof, and transmits the obtained product order data to the order information management server 70 using the URL. However, an e-mail address is received in place of the URL, a mark entered by the user 10 in the field of the customer number 52 or the order product 54 of the product order document 50 and an e-mail pre-printed on the product order document 50 The reading unit 23 reads the address and the customer number and the product related to the ordered product and its quantity. Create an e-mail based on the product order data acquired obtains the order data may be a created electronic mail as to transmit the order information management server 70 by using the e-mail address.
[0026]
In the printing apparatus 20 of the embodiment, the product order screen for the mark sheet is received from the digital television 30 and printed as the product order document 50. However, the product order screen for FAX transmission is received from the digital television 30 and the product is received. It may be printed as an order document, or may be a product order screen for a postcard received from the digital television 30 and printed on a postcard as a product order document. When a product order screen for FAX transmission is received and printed as a product order document, a fax number is received from the digital television 30 as a destination of the product order document 50 and printed. It is sufficient that the necessary items of the order document are filled in and faxed using the printed fax number. When a postcard product order screen is received and printed as a product order document, the postcard address is received from the digital television 30 and printed on the postcard address surface. The items should be described and mailed. In these cases, the printing apparatus 20 of the embodiment may not include the reading unit 23 that reads characters, marks, and the like written on a sheet.
[0027]
In the printing apparatus 20 of the embodiment, the information on the destination of the product order document 50 is coded and printed on the product order document 50. However, the information is not necessarily coded and may be printed as text, for example. In this case, the text read by the reading unit 23 may be recognized as a destination using pattern recognition.
[0028]
In the printing apparatus 20 according to the embodiment, the case where the product order screen is received from the digital television 30 and printed on the printing paper as the product order document 50 has been described as an example. The present invention may be applied to a case where an application screen for participating in an event is received from the digital television 30 and printed on a print sheet as an application document.
[0029]
In the printing apparatus 20 of the embodiment, the digital TV 30 (broadcast receiving apparatus) is connected via the wired communication interface cable 40. However, the printing apparatus 20 may be connected to the digital TV 30 via a wireless communication interface.
[0030]
In the embodiment, as an embodiment of the present invention, the printing apparatus 20 which receives an application screen for applying for an order of a product from the digital television 30 and prints the application screen has been described. May be in a form of a printing method of receiving and printing an application screen for performing from the digital television 30.
[0031]
As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described using the examples. However, the present invention is not limited to these examples, and may be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention. Obviously you can get it.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram schematically showing the configuration of a product ordering system including a printing device.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram schematically showing the configuration of a printing apparatus and a digital television connected via a communication interface cable;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an image print processing routine.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a product order screen.
FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a communication procedure.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a product order document 50.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an order information transmission process.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 users, 20 printing devices, 21 print controllers, 22 printing units, 23 reading units, 24 memories, 25 communication controllers, 26 operation units, 27 Internet controllers, 30 digital televisions, 31 television controllers, 32 reception units, 33 display units, 34 memory, 35 communication controller, 36 operation unit, 40 communication interface cable, 42 broadcasting station, 44 antenna, 50 product order documents, 60 Internet, 70 order information management server, 72 network, 74 product distribution center.

Claims (10)

A printing apparatus connected via a predetermined communication interface to a broadcast receiving apparatus that receives and displays and outputs an image transmitted from a broadcast station,
Information receiving means for receiving information that can be a predetermined application document provided with an entry column and destination information on the destination of the application document from the broadcast receiving device via the communication interface;
A printing apparatus comprising: an image printing unit that prints an image on a printed matter as an application document including the destination information based on the received information. The printing device according to claim 1,
The printing device is a document for applying for a product order, applying for a campaign, applying for an event, and the like. The printing device according to claim 1 or 2,
Information input means for inputting entry information entered in an entry field of an application document printed by the image printing means and destination information included in the application document;
A printing apparatus comprising: an information transmission unit configured to transmit the input entry information to a destination using the input destination information. The printing device according to claim 3,
The information input unit is a unit for inputting information including an e-mail address as the destination information,
The printing apparatus, wherein the information transmitting unit is a unit that generates an e-mail based on the input entry information and transmits the generated e-mail to a destination using the input e-mail address. The printing device according to claim 3,
The information input unit is a unit for inputting information including a URL as the destination information,
The printing apparatus, wherein the information transmitting unit is a unit that transmits the input entry information to a destination using the input URL. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein:
A printing apparatus in which the predetermined application document provided with the entry field is a document for a mark sheet. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein:
The image receiving unit is a unit that receives information that can be the application document by receiving a file described in a predetermined markup language and destination information regarding a destination of the application document,
A printing device, wherein the image printing means is means for interpreting the received file and performing printing. The printing device according to claim 7,
The printing device, wherein the predetermined markup language is XHTML. A printing method used for a printing device connected via a predetermined communication interface to a broadcast receiving device that receives and displays and outputs an image transmitted from a broadcasting station,
(A) receiving from the broadcast receiving device via the communication interface, information that can be a predetermined application document provided with an entry column and destination information regarding the destination of the application document;
(B) A printing method for printing an image on a printed matter as an application document including the destination information based on the received information. The printing method according to claim 9, wherein
Furthermore,
(C) inputting the entry information entered in the entry field of the application document printed in step (b) and the destination information included in the application document by scanning;
(D) A printing method for transmitting the input entry information to a destination via a predetermined network using the input destination information.

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