JP2006318423A - Print system, mobile communication terminal device, and program and storage medium of mobile communication terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print system capable of suitably printing contents on a network with a high degree of freedom of operation. <P>SOLUTION: The print system comprises a printer which is connected to the network and has a network communication function of sending and receiving various data through the network, a network communication function of sending and receiving various data to and from the printer through the network, a server device providing content information for other terminal devices through the network, and a terminal device transmitting a print request to the printer through the network. The terminal device sends the print request together with included identification information on the content information to be provided by the server device, and the printer once receiving the print request from the terminal device acquires the corresponding content information from the server device according to the identification information included in the print request, and records and outputs the contents of the content information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing device having a printing function and a network communication function that connects to a network and exchanges various data via the network, and a printing device that connects to the network and connects to the network via the network. A network communication function for exchanging various data between the server, a server device having a content providing server function for providing content information to other terminal devices via the network, and a connection to the network via the network. The present invention relates to a printing system including a terminal device that transmits a print request to the printing device.

  In recent years, printing devices such as copiers and printers have become more sophisticated. For example, content on a network can be obtained by directly operating an image forming apparatus without using a host device (such as a personal computer device). A printer that has been acquired and printed has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

  There has also been proposed a document in which a document once printed from a host device is temporarily stored in the printing device and can be reprinted without going through the host device (see Patent Document 2).

Conventionally, when a host device prints using a printing device, it has been necessary to install printing software (a so-called printer driver or the like) on the host device. There has also been proposed an image forming apparatus that has a Web server function for providing the image data and can directly print without installing a driver using a Web browser installed in a host device (see Patent Document 3).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-134125 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-235372 JP 2004-7348 A

  However, when printing with the image forming apparatus without going through the host apparatus, it is necessary to specify the print content on the poor operation panel of the image forming apparatus, which is inconvenient. In addition, in order to reprint a document that has been printed once from the host device, it is naturally necessary to print it once from the host device. In addition, in order to perform driverless printing by the Web service, it is necessary to provide a high-performance processing function corresponding to the Web service, which causes a problem that the apparatus price increases.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a printing system, a mobile communication terminal device, and a mobile communication terminal device capable of printing content on a network appropriately and with a high degree of freedom of operation. It is an object to provide a program and a storage medium.

  The present invention relates to a printing device having a printing function and a network communication function that connects to a network and exchanges various data via the network, and a printing device that connects to the network and connects to the network via the network. A network communication function for exchanging various data between the server, a server device having a content providing server function for providing content information to other terminal devices via the network, and a connection to the network via the network. In the printing system including a terminal device that transmits a print request to the printing device, the terminal device transmits a print request to the printing device including identification information of content information provided by the server device, and the printing device When the device receives the print request from the terminal device, the device Based on the identification information of the content information contained in, acquires content information corresponding from the server device, in which the contents of the content information to be recorded and output.

  In addition, when transmitting the content information to the printing apparatus, the server apparatus transmits the content information after converting the data into data interpretable by the printing apparatus.

  The printing apparatus further includes additional information storage means for storing predetermined additional information, and when the content information is recorded and output, the additional information is also recorded and output.

  The terminal device further includes current date information acquisition means for acquiring current date information, and transmits the print request including the acquired current date information, and the printing device is included in the received print request. The additional information corresponding to the current date and time information is extracted from the additional information storage means, and when the content information is recorded and output, the extracted additional information is also recorded and output.

  The terminal device further includes position information acquisition means for acquiring current position information. The terminal device transmits the print request including the acquired current position information, and the printing device is included in the received print request. The additional information corresponding to the current position information is extracted from the additional information storage means, and when the content information is recorded and output, the extracted additional information is also recorded and output.

  The terminal device further includes an authentication information storage unit that stores authentication information that is referred to when performing an authentication operation regarding the print request, and refers to the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit when the print request occurs. The user is allowed to perform an authentication operation, and if the authentication operation fails, the user operation regarding the print request is prohibited thereafter.

  The terminal device further includes an authentication information storage unit that stores authentication information that is referred to when performing an authentication operation regarding the print request, and refers to the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit when the print request occurs. The user is allowed to perform an authentication operation, and when the authentication operation fails a predetermined number of times, a part or all of the information stored regarding the print request is deleted.

  The terminal device and the printing device are connected by predetermined wired communication means or wireless communication means, and information exchange between the terminal device and the printing device is performed by the wired communication means or wireless communication means. It is what is said.

  Server identification information for identifying a server device that provides content information in a mobile communication terminal device that has a mobile communication function, connects to a printing device, and transmits a print request to the printing device; A print request is transmitted to the printing device including content identification information of content information provided by the server device. The information transmitted to the printing apparatus at the time of the print request further includes user authentication information for accessing the server apparatus.

  Server identification information for identifying a server device that provides content information in a program of a mobile communication terminal device that has a mobile communication function and connects to a printing device and transmits a print request to the printing device. And a step of transmitting a print request to the printing device including the content identification information of the content information provided by the server device.

  A storage medium storing the program according to claim 11.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily print content in a server device on a network from a terminal device such as a portable terminal that is usually used and used to operation.

  In addition, since complicated processing is not performed in the terminal device, for example, even a terminal device having a relatively low processing capability such as a mobile phone terminal has an effect that sufficiently practical operability can be maintained.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In this figure, this printing system is composed of a mobile phone terminal TM as a terminal device, a printing device PT having a network printing function, and a server device SC having a content providing barbis function, etc. The server device SC is connected to the Internet NT. Further, the mobile phone terminal TM is connected to the Internet NT by the inter-network connection function of the mobile communication network MT in which the mobile phone terminal TM is accommodated. The mobile phone terminal TM is connected to the mobile communication network MT via the base station BS.

  Therefore, the mobile phone terminal TM, the printing device PT, and the server device SC can exchange information as appropriate via the Internet NT.

  As will be described later, the preview creation server apparatus SP has a function of creating a preview image necessary for displaying content on the mobile phone terminal TM, and this preview image creation function is provided to the server apparatus SC. It is provided only when not provided.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of the mobile phone terminal TM.

  In the figure, a system control unit 1 controls the operation of the cellular phone terminal TM, and a key input unit 2 is used by a user to input various information such as a telephone number, The unit 3 is for displaying various types of information, and is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display device.

  The clock circuit 4 outputs the current date and time information, and the memory 5 is for storing various information unique to the mobile phone terminal TM.

  The wireless communication unit 6 is for exchanging call information and the like with the base station BS via the antenna 7, and the communication control unit 8 performs a predetermined communication control operation to perform call or data communication. Is for doing.

  The microphone 9 converts a user's speech into a voice signal during a call, the speaker 10 converts and outputs a received call signal into an acoustic signal, and the call circuit 11 is input from the microphone 9. The voice signal is output to the communication control unit 8, and the received call signal output from the communication control unit 8 is output to the speaker 10.

  FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the printing apparatus PT.

  In the figure, a system control unit 21 performs control processing of each unit of the printing apparatus PT and various control processing such as printing control processing. The system memory 22 is control processing executed by the system control unit 21. The program and various data necessary for executing the processing program are stored, and the work area of the system control unit 21 is configured. The parameter memory 23 stores various information unique to the printing apparatus PT. The clock circuit 24 outputs current time information.

  The color scanner 25 is for reading a document image in full color at a predetermined resolution. The plotter 26 is for recording and outputting an image in full color at a predetermined resolution. The operation display unit 27 is used for printing. It is for operating the device PT and comprises various operation keys and various displays.

  The image processing unit 28 performs various image processing (for example, resolution conversion processing, scaling processing, processing for converting specific application data into image data, etc.) on image data to be printed. The magnetic disk device 29 is for storing application programs executed by the system control unit 21.

  The network interface circuit 31 is for connecting the printing device PT to the Internet NT, and the network transmission control unit 32 exchanges various data with other data terminal devices via the Internet NT. This is for executing communication control processing of various predetermined protocol suites.

  These are the system control unit 21, system memory 22, parameter memory 23, clock circuit 24, color scanner 25, color plotter 26, operation display unit 27, image processing unit 28, magnetic disk device 29, and network transmission control unit 32. Are connected to the internal bus 33, and data exchange between these elements is mainly performed via the internal bus 33.

  Here, in the present embodiment, basically, data exchange between terminals connected to the Internet NT is performed by a transmission protocol up to a transport layer called TCP / IP and higher layers above it. A combination with a communication protocol (so-called protocol suite) is applied. For example, in the exchange of e-mail data, a communication protocol called SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is applied as an upper layer communication protocol. For Web service communication, HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) is applied.

  Here, regarding the printing process, the mobile phone terminal TM stores various information as shown in FIG.

  First, as print-related information, as shown in FIG. 6A, terminal identification information representing identification information of the terminal registered in the printing system, user authentication information referred to authentication at the time of content printing, content A preview image history table for storing a history of preview images of content received during printing, and preview image data # 1 to #m storing the received preview images in the order of reception are stored.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 4B, the user authentication information includes a user ID assigned to the user, a registered password for user authentication, and deletion of printing related information when the user authentication fails. It consists of erased information for controlling whether or not to perform.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4C, the erasure designation information is set when erasing and is erased when not erasing, and an erasing category (partially specifying the contents to be erased). / All). If the value of the erasure category is set to “partial”, the preview image history table and the preview image data are erased. Further, when the value of the erasure category is set to “all”, all the contents of the printing related information are erased.

  Further, the preview image history table includes a plurality of preview image reference information as shown in FIG. Also, as shown in FIG. 5E, the preview image reference information includes a URI (Uniform Resource Identifiers; refer to RFC 2396, etc.) indicating the original information that created the preview image, and corresponding preview image data. It consists of a preview image data number for designating.

  The preview image data includes a preview image data number for enabling a preview image to be designated based on preview image reference information, and a preview image data body that is the preview image data itself, as shown in FIG. Consists of.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of processing of the mobile phone terminal TM.

  In this case, first, the user of the mobile phone terminal TM displays a list of contents in the server device SC using a Web browser installed in the mobile phone terminal TM (processing 101), selects the desired content, An instruction to print is given (process 102).

  When the print instruction is operated in this way, the mobile phone terminal TM displays a predetermined authentication screen and requests the user to input a user ID and a password (process 103). In response to this, when the user inputs the user ID and password (the result of determination 104 is YES), the entered user ID and password values are registered in the user authentication information of FIG. 4B. It is checked whether or not the value matches a certain value (process 105), and it is checked whether or not the check result is OK (decision 106).

  When the result of determination 106 is YES, the printing process is started in a state where the server URI for designating the server device SC and the content URI for designating the content instructed to be printed are designated.

  When the result of determination 106 is NO, it is checked whether or not the authentication operation has failed a predetermined number of times (for example, 3 times) (determination 108). Prompts the user for a user ID and password.

  If the authentication operation has failed a predetermined number of times and the result of determination 108 is YES, the fact that the authentication has failed is displayed on the display unit 3 (process 109). Then, it is checked whether or not the erase designation flag of the erased information in FIG. 4C is set (decision 110). When the result of judgment 110 is YES, printing is performed according to the value of the erase category of the erase designation information. The contents of the related information are deleted (process 111). Further, when the result of determination 110 is NO, processing 111 is not executed.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of the printing process.

  In the printing process, the server URI and content URI specified at the time of activation are acquired (process 201), and a predetermined print screen is displayed (process 202). Here, it waits whether the user requests display of a preview or instructs printing (NO loop of determinations 203 and 204).

  When the user instructs printing, if the result of determination 204 is YES, a print request is transmitted to the printing apparatus PT with the content URI specified (process 205).

  When the user instructs a preview display request and the result of determination 203 is YES, it is checked whether or not the content URI is registered in the preview image history table (process 206).

  If it has not been registered (the result of determination 207 is NO), authentication information is acquired (process 208), and the server apparatus SC specified by the server URI is connected using the authentication information (process 209).

  Next, the connected server device SC is requested to acquire a preview image file by specifying the content URI (processing 210).

  When a preview image is received from the server device SC (process 211), the preview image data is saved and the preview image history table is updated for the received preview image (process 212).

  Then, the preview image data is displayed (process 213) and waits until the user gives a print instruction (NO loop of decision 214). When the user gives a print instruction and the result of determination 214 is YES, the process proceeds to process 205, and a print request is transmitted to the printing apparatus PT.

  If the designated content URI is registered in the preview image history table and the result of determination 207 is YES, the preview image data is read according to the contents of the preview image history table (processing 215), The process proceeds to 213 and the subsequent processing is performed.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of processing of the server device SC.

  If there is a connection request from any of the terminals (the result of determination 301 is YES), a predetermined authentication operation is performed according to the received authentication information (process 302). If the authentication result is OK (the result of determination 303 is YES), the content URI is received (process 304).

  Here, it is checked whether or not the content of the received content URI is stored (determination 305). When the result of determination 305 is YES, the designated content is read (process 306).

  Next, it is checked whether a preview is instructed (determination 307). When the session at this time is by the mobile phone terminal TM, the preview is designated. Further, when the session at this time is performed by the printing apparatus PT, the preview is not designated.

  When the result of determination 307 is NO, the read content data is transmitted to the request source (process 308), and the operation at this time is terminated.

  If the result of determination 307 is YES, it is checked whether a preview server (preview creation server apparatus SP) is set (determination 309). When the result of determination 309 is YES, connection is made to the preview creation server apparatus SP (process 310), content data is transmitted, and a request to create a preview image is made (process 311).

  When a preview image is received from the preview creation server apparatus SP (process 312), the received preview image data is transmitted to the request source (process 313), and the operation at this time is terminated.

  If the preview creation server apparatus SP is not set and the result of determination 309 is NO, preview image data corresponding to the content data is created (process 314), the process proceeds to process 313, and the created preview is displayed. Data is transmitted to the request source, and the operation at this time is terminated.

  Further, when the authentication result is NG and the result of determination 303 is NO, or when the content corresponding to the received content URI is not held and the result of determination 305 is NO, the request source An error corresponding to each error type is returned (process 315), and the operation at this time is terminated with an error.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of processing of the printing apparatus PT.

  When a print request is received from any terminal (the result of determination 401 is YES), print instruction information is received (process 402). Next, using the designated server URI and content URI, the designated content data is received from the server device SC (process 404), and a printed matter corresponding to the received content data is created and recorded (process 404). ).

  In the case of the present embodiment, when transmitting content data, the server device SC converts the data into data that can be processed by the printing device PT and transmits the data. For example, when the printing apparatus PT can process a specific PDL, data obtained by converting the display data of the content into the PDL is transmitted.

  Further, for example, when the designated content data is created by a specific application, the preview image creates display data of the content data, and reduces the display data to the screen size of the mobile phone terminal TM. It is created by converting into an image data format that can be processed by the mobile phone terminal TM.

  Thereby, the mobile phone terminal TM can appropriately display the display image of the received preview image data on the display unit 3.

  FIG. 9 shows another example of print processing performed by the mobile phone terminal TM.

  In the printing process, the server URI and content URI specified at the time of activation are acquired (process 501), and a predetermined print screen is displayed (process 502). Here, it waits whether the user requests display of a preview or instructs printing (NO loop of determinations 503 and 504).

  If the user instructs printing and the result of determination 504 is YES, the current date and time information and position information are acquired (process 505), and the content URI, current time and date information, and position information are specified. Then, a print request is transmitted to the printing apparatus PT (process 506).

  When the user instructs a preview display request and the result of determination 503 is YES, it is checked whether or not the content URI is registered in the preview image history table (process 507).

  If it has not been registered (the result of determination 508 is NO), authentication information is acquired (process 509), and the server apparatus SC specified by the server URI is connected using the authentication information (process 510).

  Next, the connected server device SC is requested to acquire a preview image file by specifying the content URI (processing 511).

  When a preview image is received from the server device SC (process 512), the preview image data is saved and the preview image history table is updated for the received preview image (process 513).

  Then, the preview image data is displayed (process 514), and the process waits until the user gives a print instruction (NO loop of decision 515). If the user gives a print instruction and the result of determination 515 is YES, the process proceeds to step 505 to send a print request to the printing apparatus PT.

  If the designated content URI is registered in the preview image history table and the result of determination 508 is YES, the preview image data is read according to the contents of the preview image history table (processing 516) and processed. The process proceeds to 514 and the subsequent processing is performed.

  FIG. 10 shows another example of processing of the server device SC. In this case, the server device SC accumulates and manages advertisement information such as contract stores in each region and notification information from those stores as additional information, and adds such additional information to the content when printing is requested. Like to do.

  If there is a connection request from any of the terminals (the result of determination 601 is YES), a predetermined authentication operation is performed according to the received authentication information (process 602). If the authentication result is OK (the result of decision 603 is YES), the content URI is received (process 604).

  Here, it is checked whether or not the content of the received content URI is stored (determination 605). When the result of determination 605 is YES, the designated content is read (process 606).

  Next, it is checked whether a preview is instructed (decision 607). When the session at this time is by the mobile phone terminal TM, the preview is designated. Further, when the session at this time is performed by the printing apparatus PT, the preview is not designated.

  When the result of determination 607 is NO, display information of the received date / time information is added to the content (process 608), and additional information corresponding to the received position information is searched (process 609). If additional information is found as a result of the search (the result of determination 610 is YES), the additional information is further added to the content (process 611). Further, when the result of determination 610 is NO, processing 611 is not performed.

  Then, the content data to which the additional information is added is transmitted to the request source (process 612), and the operation at this time is terminated.

  If the result of determination 607 is YES, it is checked whether a preview server (preview creation server apparatus SP) is set (determination 613). When the result of the determination 613 is YES, connection is made to the preview creation server apparatus SP (process 614), content data is transmitted, and a preview image is requested to be created (process 615).

  When a preview image is received from the preview creation server apparatus SP (process 616), the received preview image data is transmitted to the request source (process 617), and the operation at this time is terminated.

  If the preview creation server apparatus SP is not set and the result of determination 613 is NO, preview image data corresponding to the content data is created (process 618), the process proceeds to process 617, and the created preview is created. Data is transmitted to the request source, and the operation at this time is terminated.

  Further, when the authentication result is NG and the result of determination 603 is NO, and when the content corresponding to the received content URI is not held and the result of determination 605 is NO, the request source An error corresponding to each error type is returned (process 619), and the operation at this time is terminated with an error.

  In the above-described embodiment, the server device SC accumulates the additional information and adds the additional information to the content data. However, the content data received by the printing device PT from the server device SC is provided with the additional information. It is also possible to add additional information to.

  Further, the additional information may change according to time. For example, it is convenient when it is desired to add a time service or a limited time service notice from a store.

  Further, as a means for the mobile phone terminal TM to know the position information, for example, it acquires its own position information from the base station BS, or includes a GPS receiver (not shown), and receives the received position coordinate data such as address information. It can be acquired by converting to coordinate information. Further, the conversion of the position coordinate data received from the GPS receiver may be shared by the server device SC, or a server device for the data conversion may be provided separately.

  By the way, since the preview image data stored in the mobile phone terminal TM has a relatively large amount of data, in order to store a large number of data, it is necessary to increase the storage capacity of the mobile phone terminal TM.

  Therefore, the storage effective period of the preview image data is set, and the stored date and time is registered in the preview image data. The preview image data whose storage effective period has passed can be deleted sequentially, so that the capacity for storing the preview image data can be reduced.

  In the above-described embodiment, one content is specified at the time of a print request at the mobile phone terminal TM. However, a plurality of contents can be specified. In that case, a composite of a plurality of contents is handled as the requested content, and preview image data and print data are created.

  In the above-described embodiments, the application for designating the content URI has been described as a Web browser, but other appropriate applications such as e-mail client software can be applied. In this case, for example, the content URI is included in the body of the received e-mail, and the same processing can be activated by an operation such as designating the content URI and instructing printing.

  By the way, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the mobile phone terminal TM is used as the terminal device has been described. However, this terminal device accesses a wireless access point AP that can be connected to the Internet NT, for example, as shown in FIG. A terminal device TT having a function can be applied.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 12, a terminal device TT ′ that can be directly connected to the printing apparatus PT ′ by wired communication means or wireless communication means can be applied.

  Here, as the wireless communication means, infrared communication means, so-called Bluetooth communication means, RF-ID communication means, or the like can be applied. When using the RF-ID communication means, the terminal device TT ′ includes an IC tag and an IC tag writer, and the printing device PT ′ includes an IC tag reader. In the terminal device TT ′, information necessary for printing is written on the IC tag by the IC tag writer and is read by the printing device PT ′.

  FIG. 13 shows a printing system according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 and corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In the figure, this printing system is composed of a mobile phone terminal TMa as a mobile communication terminal device, a printing device PTa having a network printing function, and a server device SC having a content providing barbis function, The printing device PTa and the server device SC are connected to the Internet NT. Further, the mobile phone terminal TMa is connected to the Internet NT by the inter-network connection function of the mobile communication network MT in which the mobile phone terminal TMa is accommodated. The mobile phone terminal TMa is connected to the mobile communication network MT via the base station BS. Further, the cellular phone terminal TMa and the printing apparatus PTa can communicate with each other by infrared communication.

  Accordingly, the mobile phone terminal TMa, the printing device PTa, and the server device SC can exchange information appropriately via the Internet NT. Further, the cellular phone terminal TMa can transmit information to the printing apparatus PTa by infrared communication.

  FIG. 14 shows an example of the configuration of the mobile phone terminal TMa. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG. 2 and the corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In the figure, a system control unit 1 controls the operation of the mobile phone terminal TMa, and a key input unit 2 is used by a user to input various information such as a telephone number, and displays The unit 3 is for displaying various types of information, and is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display device.

  The clock circuit 4 outputs current date and time information, and the memory 5 is for storing various kinds of information unique to the mobile phone terminal TMa.

  The wireless communication unit 6 is for exchanging call information and the like with the base station BS via the antenna 7, and the communication control unit 8 performs a predetermined communication control operation to perform call or data communication. Is for doing.

  The microphone 9 converts a user's speech into a voice signal during a call, the speaker 10 converts and outputs a received call signal into an acoustic signal, and the call circuit 11 is input from the microphone 9. The voice signal is output to the communication control unit 8, and the received call signal output from the communication control unit 8 is output to the speaker 10.

  The infrared communication unit 12 is connected to an external device (for example, the printing device PTa) and exchanges various information with the external device.

  FIG. 15 shows a configuration example of the printing apparatus PTa. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG. 3 and corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In the figure, a system control unit 21 performs control processing of each unit of the printing apparatus PTa and various control processing such as printing control processing. The system memory 22 is control processing executed by the system control unit 21. The program and various data necessary for executing the processing program are stored, and the work area of the system control unit 21 is configured. The parameter memory 23 is various information unique to the printing apparatus PTa. The clock circuit 24 outputs current time information.

  The color scanner 25 is for reading a document image in full color at a predetermined resolution. The plotter 26 is for recording and outputting an image in full color at a predetermined resolution. The operation display unit 27 is used for printing. This is for operating the device PTa, and includes various operation keys and various displays.

  The image processing unit 28 performs various image processing (for example, resolution conversion processing, scaling processing, processing for converting specific application data into image data, etc.) on image data to be printed. The magnetic disk device 29 is for storing application programs executed by the system control unit 21.

  The network interface circuit 31 is for connecting the printing device PT to the Internet NT, and the network transmission control unit 32 exchanges various data with other data terminal devices via the Internet NT. This is for executing communication control processing of various predetermined protocol suites.

  The infrared communication unit 34 is connected to an external device (for example, the mobile phone terminal TMa) and exchanges various information with the external device.

  The system control unit 21, system memory 22, parameter memory 23, clock circuit 24, color scanner 25, color plotter 26, operation display unit 27, image processing unit 28, magnetic disk device 29, network transmission control unit 32, and The infrared communication unit 34 is connected to the internal bus 33, and data exchange between these elements is mainly performed via the internal bus 33.

  Here, in the present embodiment, basically, data exchange between terminals connected to the Internet NT is performed by a transmission protocol up to a transport layer called TCP / IP and higher layers above it. A combination with a communication protocol (so-called protocol suite) is applied. For example, in the exchange of e-mail data, a communication protocol called SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is applied as an upper layer communication protocol. For Web service communication, HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) is applied.

  An appropriate communication protocol or the like is applied to infrared communication between the mobile phone terminal TMa and the printing apparatus PTa.

  FIG. 16 shows an example of a process in which the user of the mobile phone terminal TMa selects the contents of the server device SC and issues a print request to the printing device PTa.

  First, the user of the mobile phone terminal TMa operates a content list request of the server device SC using Web browsing (processing 701). Thereby, the cellular phone terminal TMa requests the server apparatus SC to acquire the contents list information (process 702), and receives the contents list information from the server apparatus SC (process 703).

  Next, the received content list information is displayed on, for example, a screen as shown in FIG. 17, and the user is allowed to select content to be printed (processing 704, 705, NO loop of determination 706).

  If the user selects print content and the result of determination 706 is YES, it is checked in the printing process whether user authentication information is registered (determination 707). When the result of determination 707 is NO, an authentication information input request guidance message is displayed on the screen and waits until the user finishes inputting authentication information (for example, user name and password) (NO in processing 708 and determination 709). loop).

  When the user inputs authentication information, when the result of determination 709 is YES, and when the user authentication information is registered in the printing process and when the result of determination 707 is YES, server device SC Print request information including a server URI that is a URI of the content, a content URI that is a URI of the content, and authentication information (process 710), and the generated print request information is transmitted to the printing apparatus PTa via the infrared communication unit 12. (Process 711).

  At this time, it is checked whether or not an appropriate response has been received from the printing apparatus PTa (determination 712). If the result of determination 712 is NO, no printer is displayed (processing 713), and the processing at this time is terminated.

  If the result of determination 712 is YES, the process at this time is terminated as it is.

  FIG. 18 illustrates an example of processing performed when the printing apparatus PTa receives information from an external apparatus via the infrared communication unit 34. In this case, the printing apparatus PTa causes the server apparatus SC to execute processing for converting the printing information (content information) into a page description language that can be interpreted by the terminal itself.

  When print request information is received via the infrared communication unit 34 (process 801), the server URI, content URI, and authentication information included in the received print request information are stored (process 802).

  Next, a print request including the content URI, the authentication information, the printer address representing the network identification information of the own terminal, and interpretable language information representing the type of page description language interpretable by the own terminal is edited (process 803). .

  Then, the server URI is applied to connect to the corresponding server device SC, and a print request is transmitted to the server device SC (process 804). The print request includes the print request information edited and created in process 803.

  Next, it is checked whether print information has been received from the server device SC (decision 805). If the result of judgment 805 is YES, the received content data (print information) is saved (process 806), and the saved print information is saved. Is printed out (process 807), and the process at this time is terminated.

  If the print information is not received from the server device SC and the result of determination 805 is NO, a print error is displayed (process 808), and the process at this time ends in error.

  FIG. 19 shows an example of processing of the server device SC in this case.

  When the print request is received, the content URI, authentication information, printer address, and interpretable language information included in the print request are stored (process 901).

  Next, based on the stored authentication information, a predetermined authentication operation is performed (process 902), and it is checked whether the authentication result is OK (decision 903). When the result of determination 903 is NO, an authentication error is notified to the printing apparatus PTa (process 904), and the operation at this time is terminated.

  If the result of determination 903 is YES, the content information corresponding to the content URI is read (process 905), and the read content information is converted into print data in a page description language corresponding to interpretable language information ( Process 906), the printer address is extracted (Process 907), and the print data created by conversion in Process 906 is transmitted to the printer PTa of the printer address extracted in Process 907 (Process 908).

  FIG. 20 illustrates an example of processing that is performed when the printing apparatus PTa receives information from an external apparatus via the infrared communication unit 34. In this case, the printing apparatus PTa executes processing for converting print information (content information) into a page description language that can be interpreted by the terminal itself.

  When print request information is received via the infrared communication unit 34 (process 1001), the server URI, content URI, and authentication information included in the received print request information are stored (process 1002).

  Next, a print request including a content URI, authentication information, and a printer address representing the network identification information of the terminal itself is edited (process 1003).

  Then, the server URI is applied to connect to the corresponding server device SC, and a print request is transmitted to the server device SC (processing 1004). The print request includes the print request information edited and created in the process 1003.

  Next, it is checked whether or not print information has been received from the server device SC (determination 1005). If the result of determination 1005 is YES, the received content data is stored (process 1006), and the stored content data is stored in the own terminal. Is converted into page description language data (print data) that can be interpreted in (Processing 1007), the printed matter of the print data generated by the conversion in Process 1007 is recorded and output (Processing 1008), and the processing at this time ends. .

  If the print information is not received from the server device SC and the result of determination 1005 is NO, a print error is displayed (process 1008), and the process at this time ends with an error.

  FIG. 21 shows an example of processing of the server device SC in this case.

  When the print request is received, the content URI, the authentication information, and the printer address included in the print request are stored (processing 1101).

  Next, a predetermined authentication operation is performed based on the stored authentication information (process 1102), and it is checked whether or not the authentication result is OK (decision 1103). When the result of determination 1103 is NO, an authentication error is notified to the printing apparatus PTa (processing 1104), and the operation at this time is terminated.

  If the result of determination 1103 is YES, the content information corresponding to the content URI is read (process 1105), the printer address is extracted (process 1106), and the content information read in process 1105 is extracted from the printer extracted in process 1106. The address is transmitted to the printing apparatus PTa (process 1107).

1 is a block diagram showing an example of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram which showed an example of the structure of the mobile telephone terminal TM. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the printing apparatus PT. Schematic which showed an example of the information which the mobile telephone terminal TM memorize | stores regarding a printing process. The flowchart which showed an example of the process of the mobile telephone terminal TM. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a printing process. The flowchart which showed an example of the process of the server apparatus SC. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of processing of the printing apparatus PT. The flowchart which showed the other example of the printing process which the mobile telephone terminal TM performs. The flowchart which showed the other example of the process of the server apparatus SC. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating another example of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing still another example of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram which showed the printing system concerning another Example of this invention. The block diagram which showed an example of the structure of the mobile telephone terminal TMa. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printing apparatus PTa. The flowchart which showed an example of the process of the mobile telephone terminal TMa. Schematic which showed an example of the content selection screen. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of processing of the printing apparatus PTa. The flowchart which showed the other example of the process of the server apparatus SC. 10 is a flowchart showing another example of processing of the printing apparatus PTa. The flowchart which showed the further another example of the process of the server apparatus SC.

Explanation of symbols

TM, TMa mobile phone terminal PT, PT ′, PTa printing device SC server device SP preview creation server device TT, TT ′ terminal device

Claims (12)

A printing device having a printing function and a network communication function for connecting to a network and exchanging various data via the network;
A network communication function that connects to the network and exchanges various data with the printing apparatus via the network; and a content provision server function that provides content information to other terminal apparatuses via the network. Server device,
In a printing system comprising a terminal device connected to the network and transmitting a print request to the printing device via the network,
The terminal device transmits a print request to the printing device including identification information of content information provided by the server device,
When the printing device receives the print request from the terminal device, the printing device acquires the corresponding content information from the server device based on the identification information of the content information included in the print request, and stores the content information. A printing system characterized by recording output.   2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the server device transmits the content information after converting the content information into data interpretable by the printing device.   2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising additional information storage means for storing predetermined additional information, wherein when the content information is recorded and output, the additional information is also recorded and output. The printing system according to claim 2. The terminal device further includes a current date and time information acquisition unit for acquiring current date and time information, and the print request includes the acquired current date and time information.
The printing apparatus takes out additional information corresponding to the current date and time information included in the received print request from the additional information storage unit, and records and outputs the extracted additional information when recording and outputting the contents of the content information. The printing system according to claim 3, wherein the printing system is configured as described above. The terminal device further includes position information acquisition means for acquiring current position information, and transmits the print request including the acquired current position information,
The printing apparatus takes out the additional information corresponding to the current position information included in the received print request from the additional information accumulating unit, and records and outputs the extracted additional information when recording and outputting the contents of the content information. The printing system according to claim 3, wherein the printing system is configured as described above. The terminal device further includes an authentication information storage unit that stores authentication information to be referred to when performing an authentication operation regarding a print request,
When a print request occurs, the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit is referred to cause the user to perform an authentication operation. If the authentication operation fails, the user operation regarding the print request is thereafter performed. 6. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing system is prohibited. The terminal device further includes an authentication information storage unit that stores authentication information to be referred to when performing an authentication operation regarding a print request,
When a print request occurs, the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage means is referred to cause the user to perform an authentication operation. If the authentication operation fails a predetermined number of times, information stored regarding the print request is stored. 6. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing system is partially or entirely erased.   The terminal device and the printing device are connected by predetermined wired communication means or wireless communication means, and information exchange between the terminal device and the printing device is performed by the wired communication means or wireless communication means. The printing system according to claim 1, claim 2, claim 3, claim 4, claim 5, claim 6, or claim 7. In a mobile communication terminal device that has a mobile communication function, connects to a printing device, and transmits a print request to the printing device.
A mobile unit comprising: server identification information for identifying a server device that provides content information; and content identification information of content information provided by the server device, and a print request transmitted to the printing device. Communication terminal device.   10. The mobile communication terminal apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the information transmitted to the printing apparatus at the time of the print request further includes user authentication information for accessing the server apparatus. In a program of a mobile communication terminal device that has a mobile communication function, connects to a printing device, and transmits a print request to the printing device.
Including a step of transmitting a print request to the printing apparatus including server identification information for identifying a server apparatus that provides the content information, and content identification information of the content information provided by the server apparatus. A mobile communication terminal program.   A storage medium storing the program according to claim 11.

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