JP2007226747A - Electronic apparatus and printer device selection method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic apparatus and a printer device selection method that can increase the convenience of a user in printing in a specified print format when a plurality of printer devices are available. <P>SOLUTION: A notebook computer establishes a BPP connection to printers P[i] (S702) to acquire print formats (such as color/monochrome printing, layout and single/double-sided printing) compatible with the printers P[i] by GetPrinterAttributes (S703). P[i] incompatible with a print format specified by a user (S704: No) are deleted from target printers (S705). Printers compatible with the print format specified by the user can be automatically detected for printing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus and a printer device selection method.

In recent years, printer apparatuses compatible with networks and wireless communication are becoming widespread. Such a printer device is highly convenient because it can exchange print data by communication without using a storage medium such as a memory card.

By the way, in an environment where print data is exchanged via a network or wireless communication, there are many printer apparatuses that can be used by a user. When there are a plurality of printer apparatuses that can be used, it is usually necessary for the user to designate a printer apparatus to be used for printing in advance.

Therefore, it is considered that data is transmitted and printed without designating a printer device to perform printing in advance (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 describes an electronic camera device that knows the types of electronic devices that constitute a wireless network, and transmits image data to one selected printer when there are a plurality of printers in the wireless network. Has been.
JP 2002-199324 A

For example, when printing from PC (Personal Computer) document software or spreadsheet software, specify various printing formats such as whether to use double-sided printing, color printing, or black-and-white printing. I do. In this case, the user needs to select a suitable printer device after knowing in advance whether or not each available printer device supports double-sided printing, which is not convenient. This problem becomes more prominent if the number of available printer devices is large.

However, since an electronic camera device is disclosed in Patent Document 1, image data is transmitted to a printer and printed. When printing the image data of the electronic camera device, the user does not normally specify the print format. That is, it is not necessary to know whether each printer is compatible with the printing format designated by the user and to determine whether it is a suitable printer.

Even if the user designates a print format, the electronic camera device disclosed in Patent Document 1 displays a list of printers and allows the user to select a printer from the list. In other words, the user needs to select the printer after knowing the functions of each printer in advance, and cannot solve the above-mentioned problems.

Further, Patent Document 1 also describes specifying a printer based on an evaluation value obtained by substituting characteristic information such as maximum resolution from each printer into an evaluation function. Is not disclosed at all, and does not solve the above-mentioned problem concerning the printing format.

Therefore, the present invention provides an electronic device and a printer device selection method that can improve the convenience of the user when performing printing in which a print format is designated when a plurality of printer devices are available. Objective.

In order to achieve the above object, the electronic apparatus according to claim 1 is configured so that a user communicates with a plurality of printer devices and a designation unit for designating a print format of print data, and each printer device has a corresponding print format. A communication unit that receives the print format information, and a selection that selects a printer device that corresponds to the print format specified by the specifying unit from the printer devices that have received the print format information by the communication unit. And the communication means transmits the print data and the print format to the printer device selected by the selection means.

The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the user designates a print format of print data;
A communication unit that communicates with a plurality of printer devices and receives print format information relating to a print format supported by each printer device, and the printer device that receives the print format information by the communication unit, List creating means for creating a list of printer apparatuses including only printer apparatuses corresponding to the printing format designated by the designation means, and a display unit for displaying a list of printer apparatuses created by the list creating means on a display device It is characterized by providing.

The printer device selection method according to claim 11 is a printer device selection method for selecting a printer device to be printed, in which a user designates a print format of print data, and a print format corresponding to each printer device. A receiving step for receiving the printing format information, and a printer device corresponding to the printing format specified in the specifying step is selected from among the printer devices that have received the printing format information in the receiving step. And a selection step.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electronic device and a printer device selection method capable of improving the convenience of the user when performing printing in which a print format is designated when a plurality of printer devices are available. Can do.

Hereinafter, an electronic apparatus and a printer device selection method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a notebook computer (Personal Computer) according to an embodiment of an electronic apparatus of the present invention.
ter) is a diagram illustrating an example of a system in which ter) is used. This system includes a notebook PC 1 and printers 2a, 2b, and 2c.

The notebook PC 1 includes printers 2a to 2c and a BPP (Basic Printing P).
profile (registered trademark, the same applies hereinafter) communication. The notebook PC 1 BPPs information on the printing format (printing on both sides or on one side, whether full-color printing is possible, layout printing, paper size, paper type, printing quality, maximum number of copies, etc.) supported by each printer. The GetPrinterAttributes function is used to select a printer corresponding to the print format designated by the user and transmit the print data.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the notebook PC 1. The notebook PC 1 includes a control unit 10 and a Blu
The communication unit 11 includes an antenna 12, a print information processing unit 13, a storage unit 14, a user interface unit 15, and a display unit 16.

The control unit 10 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like, and controls each component that configures the notebook PC 1 by executing a program.

The Bluetooth communication unit 11 is a wireless communication interface, modulates a signal received from the control unit 10, transmits the signal from the antenna 12 to the printers 2a to 2c, and demodulates a signal received from the printer 2a to 2c by the antenna 12, It passes to the control unit 10. Bl
The uote communication unit 11 not only transmits print data to the printers 2a to 2c by BPP connection, but also acquires information on the print format corresponding to the printers 2a to 2c. At this time, the Bluetooth communication unit 11 acquires the print format by using the BPP GetPrinte.
This is done with the rAttributes function.

Here, the print format refers to a format for printing a document, such as paper size and paper type, color printing or monochrome printing, double-sided printing or single-sided printing, assignment, print quality, number of copies, etc. .

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing attribute information that can be acquired by the GetPrinterAttributes function of BPP. As shown in FIG. 3, in the GetPrinterAttributes function, the printer name (PrinterName), the printer installation location (Printe)
rLocation), printer status (PrinterState), reason why the printer is in that status (PrinterStateReasons), document format (Doc)
umentFormat), whether full-color printing is possible (ColorSuppor)
ted), maximum number of copies (MaxCopies), single-sided / double-sided printing (Sides), layout printing (NumberUp), printing direction (Orientation), paper size (Me)
diaSize), paper type (MediaType), size and type of paper loaded in the printer (MediaLoaded), print quality (PrintQuality)
The number of print jobs stored in the print queue (Queued JobCount), the image format (ImageFormat), and the number of characters that can be printed on one line by default (Basi
cTextPageWidth), the number of characters that can be printed in one column by default, printer support contact information (PrinterGeneralCurrentOperator)
Can be obtained.

The notebook PC 1 has GetPrinterAttribute specifying the attribute information to be acquired.
By transmitting a tes request signal, a response signal including designated attribute information is sent to the printer 2.
a to 2c.

Further, the Bluetooth communication unit 11 connects the printers 2a to 2c to the GOEP (Gen
eric Object Exchange Profile)
Also communicate. The Bluetooth communication unit 11 receives attribute information such as power supply information (AC power supply or battery, or battery remaining if battery), ink remaining amount, paper remaining amount, and the like from the printers 2a to 2c by GOEP connection.

Note that GOEP is OPP (Object Push Profile), FTP (Fi
le Transfer Profile), SYNC (Synchronization)
Profile) and the like that include a profile for transmitting and receiving files.

The print information processing unit 13 performs various processes related to printing. More specifically, first, the print information processing unit 13 receives the print format designated by the user by operating the user interface unit 15 from the control unit 10 and stores it. Further, from the printers 2a to 2c, the Bluetooth
A function of receiving a print format corresponding to each printer received from the oth communication unit 11 from the control unit 10, selecting a printer that provides a print format designated by the user, and notifying the control unit 10 of information on the selected printer Have

The storage unit 14 is a storage medium such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or a flash memory, and stores print data 14a and setting information 14b.
The print data 14a is document data that the user causes the printers 2a to 2c to print.
The setting information 14b is information set by the user for processing when a plurality of printers corresponding to the printing format designated by the user are detected.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print setting window displayed on the display unit 16 by the control unit 10 when the user sets the setting information 14b.
The print setting window 90 includes radio buttons 91a to 91c, a priority order setting window 92, an add button 93, a delete button 94, an OK button 95, and a cancel button 96.

The radio buttons 91 a to 91 c are displayed when the user operates the user interface unit 15.
It is a button for selecting one item. More specifically, the user selects the radio button 91a.
Is selected, the notebook PC 1 “prints the print data by distributing it to each printer”. That is, when the print data 14a is a document extending over a plurality of pages, the notebook PC 1 distributes and prints the print data 14a to all printers corresponding to the print format designated by the user. Thereby, since it can print in parallel with each printer, printing time can be shortened.

When the user selects the radio button 91b, the notebook PC 1 presents “printer manual selection (list display)”, that is, presents a printer corresponding to the designated print format as a list and allows the user to select one of the printers. Send print data to the printer.

When the user selects the radio button 91c, the print information processing unit 13 automatically selects one printer in accordance with “automatic printer selection”, that is, the priority order set by the user in the priority order setting window 92, and selects the selected printer. Send print data to. At this time, since the user does not select the printer, even if there are a plurality of printers corresponding to the print format designated by the user, the user can complete printing only by designating the print data and the print format.

The priority order setting window 92 determines the order of attributes to be determined when the print information processing unit 13 selects one printer to be printed when the user selects the radio button 91c.

In the example of FIG. 4, the priority set in the priority setting window 92 is “power”, “number of print jobs”, “ink remaining amount”, and “printing paper remaining amount” in descending order of priority. The print information processing unit 13 first determines the power source, and if one printer can be selected, selects the printer. If there are a plurality of printers that cannot be determined by the power supply alone, the print information processing unit 13 next determines the number of print jobs.
As a result, when one printer can be selected, the print information processing unit 13 selects the printer, and when there are a plurality of printers that do not yet have superiority or inferiority, the print information processing unit 13 determines the remaining ink amount. to decide. The same applies to the rest.

The printer selection process according to the priority set in the priority setting window 92 will be described in detail later.
Note that the priority order set on the priority order setting window 92 can be changed by, for example, the user performing a drag operation with the mouse as the user interface unit 15.

The add button 93 is a button used when adding a new attribute to the priority order setting window 92, and the delete button 94 is a button used when deleting an attribute from the priority order setting window 92.

The OK button 95 includes radio buttons 91a to 91c and a priority order setting window 92.
This button is used to overwrite the setting in the storage unit 14 as setting information 14b and reflect it in subsequent printing. The cancel button 96 is a button that is used when the setting information 14b that has been set before is continuously used without being overwritten and stored in the storage unit 14.

The user interface unit 15 is, for example, a keyboard or a mouse, and is an input interface for inputting an instruction from the user. When printing, the user operates the user interface unit 15 to specify a document to be printed and a print format.

The display unit 16 is an output interface such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), for example, and is controlled by the control unit 10, for example, a print setting window 90.
Etc. are displayed.

Details of the processing of the notebook PC 1 will be described later with reference to FIGS.
This will be briefly described below.
The user operates the user interface unit 15 to input the print data 14a that is a document to be printed and the print format. In response to this, the control unit 10 notifies the print information processing unit 13 of the print format designated by the user, and the print information processing unit 13 stores this.

Further, the control unit 10 detects the printer in order to detect the printer in the vicinity.
An nquery signal and a service search signal are sent to the Bluetooth communication unit 11. Blue
The tooth communication unit 11 modulates the inquiry signal and the service search signal to change the antenna 1
Send from 2. The response to the inquiry signal is transmitted via the antenna 12 to the Bluetooth.
The oth communication unit 11 receives, demodulates, and passes to the control unit 10.

The control unit 10 sends a signal (GetPrinterAttri) for acquiring the print format provided by each printer to the detected printer (printers 2a to 2c in the example of FIG. 1).
a Bluetooth request signal) to the Bluetooth communication unit 11. The Bluetooth communication unit 11 modulates the GetPrinterAttributes request signal received from the control unit 10 and transmits it to the printers 2 a to 2 c via the antenna 17.

The Bluetooth communication unit 11 receives GetPrinterAtt regarding information on the print format provided by each printer received from the printers 2a to 2c via the antenna 12.
The responses response signal is demodulated and sent to the control unit 10.

The control unit 10 passes the print format information provided by each printer included in the GetPrinterAttributes response signal to the print information processing unit 13. Print information processing unit 13
Selects a printer corresponding to the print format designated by the user, and sends information about the selected printer to the control unit 10.

The control unit 10 creates a CreateJob request signal including information on the print format designated by the user for the printer selected by the print information processing unit 14, and the Bluetooth communication unit 11.
Is modulated and transmitted through the antenna 12, and the print data 14a is acquired to generate a SendDocument signal that is a signal related to the print data.
The oth communication unit 1 modulates this and transmits it via the antenna 12.

Next, the configuration of the printer 2a will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 shows the printer 2
It is a figure which shows the structure of a. The printer 2a includes a control unit 20 and a Bluetooth communication unit 2
1, an antenna 22, a printer information management unit 23, and a print processing unit 24.

Note that the printers 2b and 2c have the same configuration as the printer 2a and perform the same processing, and thus the description thereof is omitted.
The control unit 20 includes, for example, a CPU, a RAM, and the like, and controls each component that configures the printer 2a by executing a program.
The Bluetooth communication unit 21 is a wireless communication interface, modulates a signal received from the control unit 10, transmits the signal from the antenna 22 to the notebook PC 1, and also uses the notebook PC 1
The signal received by the antenna 22 is demodulated and passed to the control unit 20. The Bluetooth communication unit 21 not only receives print data from the notebook PC 1 by BPP connection, but also transmits information on the print format supported by the printer 2 a to the notebook PC 1 via the antenna 22.

Furthermore, the Bluetooth communication unit 21 is connected to the notebook PC 1 and GOEP Bluetooth.
oth communication can also be performed. The Bluetooth communication unit 21 is connected by GOEP.
Attribute information such as power information, ink remaining amount, paper remaining amount and the like is transmitted to the notebook PC 1.

The printer information management unit 23 is a management unit that manages printing formats and attribute information (printer 2a power supply information, ink remaining amount, printing paper remaining amount, etc.) supported by the printer 2a. The printer information management unit 23 manages a set of attribute information as an object. If the notebook PC 1 knows this object name in advance, various attribute information such as power supply information can be acquired by the Pull function designating the object name when GOEP is connected.

The print processing unit 24 performs print processing based on the print data and the print format received from the notebook PC 1 by the Bluetooth communication unit 21 under the control of the control unit 20.
Hereinafter, the processing of the printer 2a will be briefly described.
The Bluetooth communication unit 21 demodulates the inquiry signal and the service search signal received by the antenna 22 and passes them to the control unit 20. For the received Inquiry signal, the control unit 20 generates an Inquiry response signal including information on its own device type (printer) and information on the Bluetooth address, and modulates it to the Bluetooth communication unit 21 from the antenna 22. Reply to notebook PC1.

In response to the received service search signal, the control unit 20 causes the printer 2a to execute BPP and GO.
A response signal including information indicating that the profile corresponds to the EP profile is generated, and this is expressed as Blue.
It is modulated by the tooth communication unit 21 and sent back from the antenna 22 to the notebook PC 1.

Further, the Bluetooth communication unit 21 receives the GetPrint received by the antenna 22.
The rAttributes request signal is demodulated and passed to the control unit 20. In response to the request signal, the control unit 20 sends information related to the print format supported by the print processing unit 24 to the printer information management unit 2.
3 to create a GetPrinterAttributes response signal. Blu
The etoth communication unit 21 modulates the GetPrinterAttributes response signal and transmits it to the notebook PC 1 via the antenna 22.

Further, the Bluetooth communication unit 21 receives the CreateJo received by the antenna 22.
b The request signal and the SendDocument signal are demodulated and passed to the control unit 20. Control unit 20
Causes the print processing unit 24 to print the print data in the SendDocument signal in the print format included in the CreateJob request signal.

Hereinafter, the flow of the printing process in the notebook PC 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9 are diagrams showing a flow of printing processing of the notebook PC.
In the following description, it is assumed that the notebook PC 1 can acquire the information shown in FIG. 6 from the printers 2a to 2c. In the example of FIG. 6, the printer 2 a has a Bluetooth address (DB_ADDR) of “0011223334455”, and single-sided and double-sided printing is possible (S
IDs), the paper size is A4, and printing with high quality and normal quality is possible (PrintQuali)
ty), the number of print jobs is 0 (Queued JobCount), the power supply information is AC, the remaining amount of paper is 100 sheets, and the remaining amount of ink is 60%.

Similarly, the printer 2b has a Bluetooth address “00AABCCDDEE”.
1 side printing possible, paper size is A4, high quality and normal quality printing is possible, number of print jobs is 3, battery operation is possible, estimated time is 3 hours, remaining amount of paper is 200 sheets, remaining ink amount Is 80%.

The printer 2c has a Bluetooth address “0012345ABCDE”, can be printed on one side, the paper size is A4, can be printed in high quality and normal quality, the number of print jobs is 0,
The battery-driven operation possibility time is 5 hours, the remaining amount of paper is 300 sheets, and the remaining amount of ink is 90%.

Among these pieces of information, the Bluetooth address (BD_ADDR) can be obtained from inquiry response signals from the printers 2a to 2c. Double-sided / single-sided printing (Sides), paper size (MediaSize), print quality (PrintQua)
(lity) and the number of print jobs (QueuedJobCount) are G
It can be obtained by the etPrinterAttributes response signal. The power supply information, the remaining amount of paper, and the remaining amount of ink are obtained by object acquisition by GOEP as described above.

First, the user operates the user interface unit 15 of the notebook PC 1 to select the print data 14a that is a document to be printed (S601). Further, the user operates the user interface unit 15 of the notebook PC 1 and designates a print format for printing the print data 14a (S602). In the notebook PC 1 of this embodiment, the following description will be made assuming that the paper size, single-sided / double-sided printing, and print quality can be selected as the print format.

After selecting the print data 14a to be printed and designating the print format, when the user operates the user interface unit 15 to input a print instruction (S603), the control unit 10 searches for printers that exist in the vicinity. Create an Inquiry signal to create a Bluetooth
h Pass to the communication unit 11. The Bluetooth communication unit 11 modulates this inquiry signal and transmits it to the surrounding Bluetooth device via the antenna 12 (S604).

The printer 2 a receives the inquiry signal with the antenna 22, demodulates it with the Bluetooth communication unit 21, and passes it to the control unit 20. As a response to Inquiry, the control unit 20 generates an Inquiry response signal including its own Bluetooth address (uniquely assigned to each device) and information indicating that the own device is a printer.
The root communication unit 21 modulates this inquiry response signal and transmits it to the notebook PC 1 via the antenna 22. The printers 2b and 2c perform the same processing.

The notebook PC 1 sends an inquiry response signal from the printers 2a to 2c to the antenna 1
2 is received by the Bluetooth communication unit 11 (S605). Bluetooth
The communication unit 11 demodulates this Inquiry response signal and passes it to the control unit 10.

From the received inquiry response signal, the control unit 10 creates a service search signal for a device whose device type is a printer (printers 2a to 2c in this embodiment), and
The data is passed to the tooth communication unit 11. The Bluetooth communication unit 11 modulates this service search signal and transmits it to the printers 2a to 2c via the antenna 12 (S606).

The Bluetooth communication unit 21 of the printer 2 a demodulates the service search signal received via the antenna 22 and passes it to the control unit 20. The control unit 20 creates a service search response signal including information related to the profile (BPP and GOEP in this embodiment) to which the control unit 20 corresponds, and passes the service search response signal to the Bluetooth communication unit 21. The Bluetooth communication unit 21 modulates this service search response signal and transmits it to the notebook PC 1 via the antenna 22.

The printers 2b and 2c perform the same processing. Here, the printers 2b and 2c will be described below assuming that they are compatible with BPP and GOEP, similarly to the printer 2a.

The notebook PC 1 sends a service search response signal from the printers 2a to 2c to the antenna 12
Via the Bluetooth communication unit 11. The Bluetooth communication unit 11 demodulates the service search response signal and passes it to the control unit 10.

The control unit 10 informs the print information processing unit 13 of whether or not each printer is compatible with BPP from the received service search response signal. Based on this, the print information processing unit 13 creates a printer array P [] corresponding to BPP (S607). In this embodiment, the printer array P = printer 2a, printer 2b, printer 2c]. In addition, the number of printers (P length) is n (in this embodiment, n = 3).

Here, the print information processing unit 13 determines whether n = 0, that is, whether there is one or more printers that can be BPP-connected (S608). If there is no printer capable of BPP connection (No in S608), the print information processing unit 13 notifies the control unit 10 to that effect, and the control unit 10
Causes the display unit 16 to display an error message (S609).

When n is not 0, that is, when there are a plurality of printers corresponding to BPP (Y in S608)
es), the print information processing unit 13 creates a temporary variable i and substitutes n−1 for i (S70 in FIG. 8).
1).

Next, the print information processing unit 13 transmits the Bluetooth address of the printer P [i] to the control unit 10, and the control unit 10 generates a BPP connection request signal designating the Bluetooth address and sends it to the Bluetooth communication unit 11. The Bluetooth communication unit 11 modulates the connection request signal to the printer P [i] and transmits it via the antenna 12 (S
702).

(Here, printer P [i] will be described as being printer 2a.) Printer 2a
The Bluetooth communication unit 21 demodulates the BPP connection request signal received via the antenna 22 and passes it to the control unit 20. The control unit 20 creates a response signal to the BPP connection request signal, causes the Bluetooth communication unit 21 to modulate the response signal, and transmits the modulated signal from the antenna 22.

When the Bluetooth communication unit 11 of the notebook PC 1 receives the BPP connection response signal from the printer P [i] via the antenna 12, modulates it, and passes it to the control unit 10, the printer P [
i] is established.

Next, the notebook PC 1 is GetPrinterAttribute defined by BPP.
The print format provided by the printer P [i] is acquired by es. As described above with reference to FIG. 3, in GetPrinterAttributes, the notebook PC 1 transmits the request signal designating the attribute to be acquired to the printer P [i] and receives the response signal. Information can be acquired.

The control unit 10 obtains GetPrinterAttributes for the printer P [i].
Generate a request signal. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG.
The mediaSize, PrintQuality, and QueuedJobCount are designated as attributes desired to be acquired. The Bluetooth communication unit 11 is connected to the control unit 1
Modulating the GetPrinterAttributes request signal generated at 0
2 to the printer P [i] (S703).

(Here, it is assumed that the printer P [i] is the printer 2a.) The Bluetooth communication unit 21 of the printer 2a receives the GetPrinterA via the antenna 22.
The request request signal is received from the notebook PC 1, demodulated, and passed to the control unit 20. The control unit 20 inquires of the printer information management unit 23 about the attribute specified by the received GetPrinterAttributes request signal, and acquires attribute information of the specified attribute. As described above with reference to FIG. 6, the attribute information of the printer 2a includes Sides for single-sided and double-sided, MediaSize for A4, PrintQuality for high quality and normal quality, Q
euedJobCount is 0.

The control unit 20 generates a GetPrinterAttributes response signal including the acquired attribute information. The Bluetooth communication unit 21 modulates this and transmits it to the notebook PC 1 via the antenna 22.

The Bluetooth communication unit 11 of the notebook PC 1 receives the antenna 12 from the printer P [i].
The GetPrinterAttributes response signal received via is demodulated and passed to the control unit 10. The control unit 10 passes the attribute information of the printer P [i] included in the received GetPrinterAttributes response signal to the print information processing unit 13, and the print information processing unit 13 stores this information.

The print information processing unit 13 determines whether the printer P [i] is compatible with the print format designated by the user. If the printer P [i] does not correspond to the print format designated by the user (No in S704), the print information processing unit 13 determines that the printer array P to P
[I] is deleted, and n which is the length of P [i] is decremented by 1 (S705).

After this (S705, Yes in S704), the print information processing unit 13 determines whether i = 0 (S706). If i ≠ 0 (No in S706), i is decremented (subtracted by 1) (S707), and the process returns to S702.

That is, it is determined whether or not each printer can support the printing format designated by the user before i = 0 (Yes in S804) in S706, and the printing format designated by the user is stored in the printer array P. Only compatible printers will remain.

Here, if n = 0 (No in 708), there is no printer corresponding to the user's designated print format. At this time, the print information processing unit 13 selects a printer corresponding to the largest number of print formats designated by the user from printers compatible with BPP (S709).

For example, if the printing format designated by the user is paper size A3, duplex printing, and high quality, as can be seen from FIG. 6, none of the printers 2a to 2c satisfy this printing format. Here, the printer 2a corresponds to two items of double-sided printing and high quality, the printer 2b corresponds to one item of high quality, and the printer 2c does not correspond to any item. Therefore, the print information processing unit 13 selects 2a as the printer that supports the most print formats and sets the print format to A.
4 is notified, and the control unit 10 is notified accordingly.

If n ≧ 1 in S708 (Yes in S708), the print information processing unit 13 determines whether n = 1 (S710). If n = 1, that is, the printer corresponding to the print format designated by the user is selected. If there is only one, the printer P [0] is selected, and a notification to that effect is sent to the control unit 10 (S711).

When n ≧ 2, that is, when there are a plurality of printers conforming to the printing format designated by the user (Yes in S710), the print information processing unit 13 refers to the setting information 14b via the control unit 10 ( S712). As described with reference to FIG. 4, the user sets the processing when there are a plurality of printers that conform to the print format designated by the user.

If the user selects the radio button 91a in the print setting window 90 and sets “print data to the printer for printing” (“split transmission” in S712), the print data 14a is set for each page. Assign to each printer (S713). That is, print data 1
When the number of pages 4a is 10 and n = 2, for example, the control unit 20 allocates 1 to 5 pages to the printer P [0] and 6 to 10 pages to the printer P [1]. . Thereafter, printing processing is performed for each printer by performing S807 to S810 in FIG. 9 described later.

By making it possible to print by sorting in this way, it is possible to shorten the printing time.
If the user selects the radio button 91b in the print setting window 90 and sets “printer manual selection (list display)” in S712 (“user selection” in S712),
The print information processing unit 13 passes the information on the printer array P to the control unit 10, and the control unit 10 displays the list of the printer array P (that is, the list of printers P [0] to P [n−1]) on the display unit 16. The user can select an arbitrary printer (S714).

If the user selects a printer from the list on the user interface unit 15 (S7).
15), the process proceeds to the printing process for the printer (S807).
By displaying the list in this way and allowing the user to select a printer, it is possible to flexibly respond to user requests other than the print format. For example, when it is desired to print to a printer as close as possible, it is difficult to automatically acquire distance information, but the user selects the closest printer from a list of printers corresponding to the designated print format. Thus, such a flexible request can be met. At this time, since the print information processing unit 13 determines whether or not the printer is compatible with the print format, the user need not consider it.

If the user selects the radio button 91c in the print setting window 90 and sets “automatic printer selection” in step S712 (“automatic selection” in step S712), the print information processing unit 1 is selected.
In step 3, attribute information such as power supply information and ink remaining amount is acquired from each printer by the following processing, and a printer to be printed is selected based on the attribute set in the priority order setting window 92.

First, the print information processing unit 13 defines j as a temporary variable and substitutes n−1 for j (FIG. 9).
S801).
Next, the print information processing unit 13 transmits the Bluetooth address of the printer P [j] to the control unit 10, and the control unit 10 generates a GOEP connection request signal designating the Bluetooth address and sends it to the Bluetooth communication unit 11. Bluetooth communication unit 11
Modulates the connection request signal to the printer P [j] and transmits it via the antenna 12 (
S802).

(Here, it is assumed that the printer P [j] is the printer 2a.) Printer 2
The Bluetooth communication unit 21 a demodulates the GOEP connection request signal received via the antenna 22 and passes the demodulated signal to the control unit 20. The control unit 20 generates a response signal for the GOEP connection request signal, modulates the response signal to the Bluetooth communication unit 21, and transmits the modulated signal from the antenna 22.

When the Bluetooth communication unit 11 of the notebook PC 1 receives the GOEP connection response signal from the printer P [j] via the antenna 12, modulates it, and passes it to the control unit 10, the printer P [j]
And a GOEP connection between the laptop PC 1 and the notebook PC 1 are established.

Next, the control unit 10 creates an object request signal specifying the object name of the object for which the printer 2a manages the attribute information such as the power supply information, the remaining amount of paper, and the remaining amount of ink.
This is modulated by the etoth communication unit 11 and transmitted to the printer P [j] via the antenna 12.

(Here, it is assumed that the printer P [j] is the printer 2a.) Printer 2
The Bluetooth communication unit 21 of a receives the object request signal specifying the object name via the antenna 22, demodulates it, and passes it to the control unit 20. The control unit 20 inquires of the printer information management unit 23 about the received object request signal, and supplies power information,
An object for managing the remaining paper amount information, the remaining ink amount information, and the like is acquired from the printer information management unit 23, and an object response signal is created. As shown in FIG. 6, the object response signal includes information that the printer 2a is powered by an AC power source, the remaining amount of paper is 100 sheets, and the remaining amount of ink is 60%. The Bluetooth communication unit 21 modulates the object response signal and transmits it to the notebook PC 1 via the antenna 22.

The Bluetooth communication unit 11 of the notebook PC 1 receives the antenna 12 from the printer P [j].
The object response signal received via is demodulated and passed to the control unit 10 (S803). The control unit 10 passes the attribute information of the power supply information, the remaining paper amount information, and the remaining ink information included in the object response signal to the print information processing unit 13, and the print information processing unit 13 stores this information.

Thereafter, the print information processing unit 13 determines whether i = 0 (S804). If i ≠ 0 (No in S804), i is decremented (subtracted by 1) (S805), and the process returns to S802.

That is, the print information processing unit 13 can obtain attribute information such as power supply information of all the printers in the printer array P until i = 0 (Yes in S804).
After acquiring the attribute information of all the printers in the printer array P, the print information processing unit 13 selects a printer that prints the print data 14a based on the acquired attribute information and setting information 14b (S806).

More specifically, the print information processing unit 13 determines each attribute according to the priority order set in the setting information 14b. In the example of the print setting window 90, the priority order is set in the order of “power”, “number of print jobs”, “ink remaining amount”, and “printing paper remaining amount” on the priority order setting window 92. The unit 13 first determines the power source.

In order to avoid turning off the printer during printing, the print information processing unit 13
When there are AC-powered printers and battery-powered printers (for example, the printer 2a and the printer 2b in the example of FIG. 6), the print information processing unit 13 selects an AC-powered printer. If the printer is all driven by a battery (in the example of FIG.
b and printer 2c), a printer with a large remaining battery capacity is selected.

If the power cannot be determined (unlike this embodiment, for example, a plurality of printers
Next, the printer with the smaller number of print jobs, that is, the number of print jobs stored in the print queue is selected. By selecting a printer with a small number of print jobs in this way, it is possible to shorten the time until the start of printing.

If the power supply and the number of print jobs cannot be determined (for example, when a plurality of printers are operating with an AC power supply and the number of print jobs stored in the print queue is 0), the print information processing unit 13 Selects the printer with the most remaining ink to avoid running out of ink during printing.

If determination is not possible even with the power supply, the number of print jobs, and the remaining amount of ink, the print information processing unit 13 selects a printer with a large remaining amount of print paper in order to avoid running out of paper during printing.

As described above, the print information processing unit 13 finally selects one printer by making a determination for each attribute according to the priority order set as the setting information 14b by the user.

When one printer is selected by the user or the print information processing unit 13 (S709,
S711, Yes in S715, S806), the control unit 10 displays the information of the selected printer on the display unit 16 (S807). At this time, if a printer is selected in step S709, the print format is partially changed, and the control unit 10 also displays this fact on the display unit 16 together with the printer information.

Next, the control unit 10 generates a CreateJob request signal. In the following description, it is assumed that the selected printer is the printer 2a.
CreateJob is a function for creating a print job including information related to a print format defined by BPP. The notebook PC 1 uses the CreateJob function to transmit a CreateJob request signal designating a print format to the printer 2a, and receives a print job ID assigned by the printer 2a from the printer 2a, thereby creating a print job.

The control unit 10 includes information on the print format designated by the user (however, if the printer is selected in step S709, the print information processing unit 13 partially changes the print format; the same applies hereinafter).
A reateJob request signal is generated. For example, when the user designates “duplex, A4, high quality” as the print format, the control unit 10 selects Sides, MediaSize, and PrintQuality from the print format attribute information defined by CreateJob. A4, a CreateJob request signal is generated as high quality.

The Bluetooth communication unit 11 modulates the CreateJob request signal generated by the control unit 10 and transmits it to the printer 2a via the antenna 12 (S808).
When the Bluetooth communication unit 21 of the printer 2 a receives a CreateJob request signal from the notebook PC 1 via the antenna 22, it demodulates it and passes it to the control unit 20. The control unit 20 assigns a unique ID for a print job called JobID to the CreateJob request signal, and generates a CreateJob response signal including this JobID. Also, the assigned JobID and the Side included in the received CreateJob request signal
s, MediaSize, and PrintQuality information are sent to the printer information management unit 23 for storage.

The control unit 20 generates a CreateJob response signal including the JobID, and the Bluetooth
It is passed to the oth communication unit 21. The Bluetooth communication unit 21 modulates the CreateJob response signal and transmits it to the notebook PC 1 via the antenna 22.

The Bluetooth communication unit 11 of the notebook PC 1 receives the Cr received via the antenna 12.
The eateJob response signal is demodulated and sent to the control unit 10 (S809).
Next, the control unit 10 of the notebook PC 1 sends SendDocument to send print data.
Generate a signal. The SendDocument is a function for printing by sending the print data 14a, which is the job ID and print document data, defined by the BPP to the printer 2a.

The control unit 10 reads the print data 14a from the storage unit 14, and prints the print data 14a and Cre.
A SendDocument signal is generated from the JobID acquired by the ateJob response signal. The Bluetooth communication unit 11 is a send document generated by the control unit 10.
The t signal is modulated and transmitted to the printer 2a via the antenna 12 (S810).

The Bluetooth communication unit 21 of the printer 2a sends SendDoc from the notebook PC 1.
The ument signal is received via the antenna 22, demodulated and sent to the control unit 20. The control unit 20 reads the JobID from the SendDocument signal, acquires information on the print format corresponding to the JobID from the printer information management unit 23, and sends the SendDoc.
The print data 14a is read from the ument signal. The control unit 20 sends the print format and the print data 14a to the print processing unit 24, and the print processing unit 24 performs printing on the paper based on this.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the user can print on a printer corresponding to the designated print format without considering which printer provides the desired print format. User convenience is improved.

Further, even when a printer that can provide the print format specified by the user cannot be used, the print information processing unit 13 changes the print format, so the user needs to change the print format or select a printer. Therefore, convenience for the user is improved.

In this embodiment, even when there are a plurality of printers corresponding to the printing format, the user can select a printer without being aware of the status of each attribute based on attribute information such as the power source and the remaining amount of paper. As a result, user convenience is improved.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, attribute information such as a print format corresponding to each printer is acquired by the function of BPP. Thus, GetPrinterAttribute defined in BPP
By using the function of s, versatility can be improved and it can respond to many apparatuses.

In order to exchange attribute information such as a printing format that is normally supported, the notebook PC 1 operates the printer driver of each printer and then acquires attribute information from each printer. Since the print format can be acquired within the function defined by BPP without operating the driver, it is not necessary to operate the printer driver of each printer.

In this embodiment, the notebook PC 1 has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) may be used. For portable devices such as notebook PCs and PDAs, it is more difficult for the user to grasp the functions of the printer device in each environment to be used, so that a more remarkable effect can be obtained.

In the present embodiment, the notebook PC 1 and each of the printers 2a to 2c perform Bluetooth communication using BPP and GOEP, and exchange information such as a print format. However, the present invention is not limited to this. If attribute information such as printing format and power information corresponding to each printer 2a to 2c can be acquired, it is possible to implement a combination of BIP (Basic Imaging Profile) and Bluetooth communication such as other profiles, or other wireless communication such as a wireless LAN. Also good. Alternatively, the notebook PC 1 and the printers 2a to 2c may communicate via a wired network.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a system in which a notebook PC according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is used. The figure which shows the structure of the notebook PC which concerns on Example 1 of this invention. The figure which shows the attribute information acquirable with the GetPrinterAttributes function of BPP. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print setting window displayed by the notebook PC according to the first embodiment of the invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer that communicates with a notebook PC according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of attribute information of a printer that communicates with the notebook PC according to the first embodiment of the invention. The figure which shows the flow of the process which concerns on printing of the notebook PC which concerns on Example 1 of this invention. The figure which shows the flow of the process which concerns on printing of the notebook PC which concerns on Example 1 of this invention. The figure which shows the flow of the process which concerns on printing of the notebook PC which concerns on Example 1 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Notebook PC
2a, 2b, 2c ... printer 10 ... control unit 11 ... Bluetooth communication unit 12 ... antenna 13 ... print information processing unit 14 ... storage unit 14a ... print data 14b ... Setting information 15 ... User interface unit 16 ... Display unit 21 ... Bluetooth communication unit 22 ... Antenna 23 ... Printer information management unit 24 ... Print processing unit 90 ... Print setting window 91a, 91b, 91c ... radio button 92 ... priority order setting window 93 ... add button 94 ... delete button 95 ... OK button 96 ... cancel button

Claims (15)

A designation means for the user to designate the print format of the print data;
Communication means for communicating with a plurality of printer apparatuses and receiving print format information related to the print formats supported by each printer apparatus;
Selecting means for selecting a printer device corresponding to the print format designated by the designation means from among the respective printer devices having received the print format information by the communication means;
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit transmits print data and a print format to the printer device selected by the selection unit. The communication means is a Bluetooth based on Basic Printing Profile.
The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic apparatus wirelessly communicates with the plurality of printers by oth (registered trademark, hereinafter the same) communication. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the designation unit designates one or more of a single-sided printing or a double-sided printing, a paper size, a printing quality, and a color printing or a monochrome printing as a printing format. The communication means receives power supply information from a printer device,
The selection means, when there are a plurality of printer apparatuses corresponding to the printing format designated by the designation means, selects a printer apparatus operated by an external power source from among the plurality of printer apparatuses. The electronic device described. The communication means receives power supply information from a printer device,
In the case where there are a plurality of printer apparatuses corresponding to the printing format designated by the designation means, and all of the printer apparatuses are driven by a battery, the selection means is provided with a remaining battery capacity. 5. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printer apparatus having the largest number is selected. The communication means receives paper remaining amount information from the printer device,
2. The selection unit according to claim 1, wherein when there are a plurality of printer apparatuses corresponding to the print format designated by the designation means, the printer apparatus having the largest remaining amount of paper is selected from the plurality of printer apparatuses. Electronic equipment. The communication means receives ink remaining amount information from the printer device,
2. The selection unit according to claim 1, wherein when there are a plurality of printer apparatuses corresponding to the printing format designated by the designation means, the printer apparatus having the largest ink remaining amount is selected from the plurality. Electronic equipment. The communication means receives print job information from a printer device,
2. The selection unit according to claim 1, wherein when there are a plurality of printer apparatuses corresponding to the printing format designated by the designation unit, the selection unit selects a printer apparatus having the least number of print jobs. Electronics. The electronic device according to claim 1,
A setting unit for setting a priority order for at least two of the power information, the remaining paper information, the remaining ink information, and the print job information;
The communication means receives information set with the priority by the setting means from each printer device,
The selection unit selects one printer device according to the priority set by the setting unit when there are a plurality of printer devices corresponding to the printing format designated by the designation unit. Electronics. A designation means for the user to designate the print format of the print data;
Communication means for communicating with a plurality of printer apparatuses and receiving print format information related to the print formats supported by each printer apparatus;
A list creation means for creating a list of printer apparatuses including only the printer apparatus corresponding to the print format designated by the designation means from among the respective printer apparatuses having received the print format information by the communication means;
An electronic apparatus comprising: a display unit configured to display a list of printer devices created by the list creation unit on a display device. A printer device selection method for selecting a printer device to print,
A specification step in which the user specifies the print format of the print data;
A receiving step of receiving print format information related to a print format supported by each printer device;
And a selection step of selecting a printer device corresponding to the print format designated in the designation step from among the printer devices having received the print format information in the reception step. Selection method. The printer device selection method according to claim 11, comprising:
12. The printer apparatus selection method according to claim 11, further comprising a transmission step of transmitting print data and a print format to the printer apparatus selected in the selection step. In the reception step, the Basic Printing P of Bluetooth communication is performed.
12. The printer device selection method according to claim 11, wherein each printer device receives print format information corresponding to the GetPrinterAttributes supported by the file. 12. The printer device selection according to claim 11, wherein in the designation step, one or more of a single-sided printing or a double-sided printing, a paper size, a printing quality, and a color printing or a monochrome printing is designated as a printing format. Method. The printer device selection method according to claim 11, comprising:
A printer device selection method, further comprising a display step of displaying a list of printer devices when there are a plurality of printer devices selected in the selection step.

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