JP2008193381A - Order sheet, order sheet preparing method, processing method using order sheet, and apparatus for them - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an order sheet, a preparation method for it and a utilization technology for it which are full of flexibility. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of mark areas CKB arranged at optional positions on an order sheet, a content explaining portion printed at a position corresponding to each mark area and a sheet content information code CD1 are printed on the order sheet PRS. On the sheet content information code CD1, a sheet content information to show kinds of the order sheet, the number and the position of each mark area, and an information to specify the content corresponding to each mark area is printed in such a form that can be read by a machine and can not be visualized. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique related to an order sheet used for instructing electric appliances of processing contents.

  As a technique using an order sheet, for example, one disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-289483

  In this prior art, a printing unit and a recording instruction reading unit are provided inside the digital broadcast receiving apparatus. The printing unit prints the electronic program guide. In this electronic program guide, a reservation check box for the user to instruct a recording reservation is printed. After the user checks the reservation check box, when the electronic program guide is read by the recording instruction reading unit, recording is reserved on the digital television.

  However, the conventional technique has a problem that flexibility is poor because a check box for entering a user instruction can be arranged only at a predetermined position. Such a problem is not limited to the recording reservation using the electronic program guide, and is generally a problem common to a technique for instructing electric appliances of some processing contents using an order sheet.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a versatile order sheet and a technique for producing / using the same.

  In order to solve at least a part of the above-described problems, the present invention can take the following forms.

[Mode 1] A method for creating an order sheet used for instructing electric appliances of processing contents,
(A) arranging a plurality of mark areas used as areas where instructions are written by a user at arbitrary positions on the order sheet;
(B) a step of arranging a content explanation section for explaining the contents associated with each mark area so as to be visually readable at a position associated with each mark area;
(C) machine-readable sheet content information including the type of the order sheet, the number and position of each mark area in the order sheet, and information specifying the content associated with each mark area; Placing a sheet content information code in a visually unreadable form on the order sheet;
(D) printing the plurality of mark areas, the content description section, and the sheet content information code on a print medium;
Order sheet creation method comprising

  According to this form 1, based on the sheet content information code printed on the order sheet, the number and position of each mark area in the order sheet, information for specifying the content associated with each mark area, Therefore, any number of mark areas can be arranged at any position on the order sheet. Therefore, it is possible to provide an order sheet with high flexibility.

[Mode 2] The method according to mode 1,
The step (d)
(D1) A method including a step of arbitrarily selecting and printing one of a plurality of types of order sheets having different mark area positions as the order sheet.

  According to this form 2, it is possible to easily create various different order sheets.

[Mode 3] The method according to mode 2,
A plurality of templates for printing the plurality of types of order sheets are prepared in advance,
The method (d1) includes a step of selecting one of the plurality of templates and printing the order sheet using the selected template.

  According to the third aspect, it is possible to easily create a large number of order sheets using a template.

[Form 4] The method according to any one of Forms 1 to 3,
The sheet content information further includes a URI indicating a destination of the electric device as information indicating a transfer destination of processing content specified by the order sheet.

  According to the fourth aspect, the machine content of the order sheet can be specified by reading the sheet content information code of the order sheet, and the processing content can be easily transferred.

[Mode 5] An order sheet generating apparatus used for instructing electric appliances on processing contents,
A plurality of mark areas used as areas in which instructions are written by the user, a mark area arrangement unit that arranges the mark areas at arbitrary positions on the order sheet;
A content explanation part arranging part for arranging a content explanation part for explaining the contents associated with each mark area so as to be visually readable;
Machine-readable and visually readable sheet content information including the type of the order sheet, the number and position of each mark area in the order sheet, and information for specifying the content associated with each mark area A code placement unit for placing the sheet content information code shown in an unreadable form on the order sheet;
A print request creation unit that creates a print request for printing the plurality of mark areas, the content description unit, and the sheet content information code on a print medium;
An order sheet creation device comprising:

  According to the fifth aspect, as in the first aspect, it is possible to provide an order sheet with high flexibility.

[Mode 6] The apparatus according to mode 5,
The creation apparatus is an apparatus provided in the electrical device.

  According to the sixth aspect, it is possible to create a print request for an order sheet suitable for an electric device.

[Mode 7] The apparatus according to mode 6,
The electrical device is connected to a printing apparatus via a network;
The print request creation unit is an apparatus that transfers the print request to the printing apparatus via the network to print the order sheet.

  According to this form 7, it is possible to cause the printing apparatus to print the order sheet even when the electric apparatus is not provided with the printing apparatus.

[Mode 8] The apparatus according to any one of Modes 5 to 7,
The sheet content information further includes a URI indicating a destination of the electric device as information indicating a transfer destination of processing content specified by the order sheet.

  According to this form 8, even if there are a plurality of electrical devices that can use the order sheet in the network, the processing content of the order sheet can be transferred to an appropriate electrical device.

[Mode 9] A method for causing an electrical device to execute processing using an order sheet,
The order sheet is
A mark area used as an area in which an instruction is written by a user, and a plurality of mark areas arranged at arbitrary positions on the order sheet;
In order to explain the content associated with each mark area, a content explanation section printed at a position associated with each mark area;
Sheet content information indicating the type of the order sheet, the number and position of each mark area, and information for specifying the content associated with each mark area is printed in a machine-readable and invisible form. Sheet content information code,
Including
The processing method is as follows:
(A) reading the order sheet in which an instruction is written in at least one of the plurality of mark areas by a user with a reading device;
(B) according to the content of the order sheet read by the reading device, the electrical device executes a process;
A process execution method comprising:

  According to this form 9, it is possible to make an electric device perform various processing contents using a flexible order sheet.

  The present invention can be realized in various forms, for example, an order sheet, a method for creating the order sheet, a processing method using the order sheet, a computer program for realizing the functions of these methods or apparatuses, The present invention can be realized in the form of a recording medium recording the computer program, a data signal including the computer program and embodied in a carrier wave, and the like.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order.
A. Explanation of terms:
B. System overview:
C. Configuration and operation of processing equipment using order sheets:
D. Variation:

A. Explanation of terms:
The meanings of the terms used in the following description are as follows.
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol): Dynamic host configuration protocol. A protocol that dynamically assigns IP addresses.
GENA (General Event Notification Architecture): General event notification architecture. Used when issuing events in the UPnP architecture.
HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol): Hypertext transfer protocol.
HTTP MU (HTTP Multicast over UDP): HTTP multicast using UDP (User Datagram Protocol).
HTTPPU (HTTP (unicast) over UDP): HTTP unicast using UDP.
MFP (Multi Function Peripheral): A composite peripheral device having functions of a plurality of devices.
SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol): Simple object access protocol. In UPnP architecture, it is used for requesting and responding to actions by RPC (Remote Procedure Call).
SSDP (Simple Service Discovery Protocol): Simple service discovery protocol. In the UPnP architecture, it is used for service discovery.
UPnP (Universal Plug and Play): Universal Plug and Play (UPnP is a trademark of UPnP Implementers Corporation).
URI (Uniform Resource Identifier): Uniform resource identifier. An identifier that is a superordinate concept of URL (Uniform Resource Locator) and indicates a unique position of a resource.
XHTML (eXtensible HyperText Markup Language): An extended hypertext markup language. It is a kind of document description language compatible with HTML, and is a form of XML implementation. XHTML-print described later is a specification for printing an XHTML document.
XML (eXtensible Markup Language): An extensible markup language.

  Although many of the above-described protocols are used in UPnP, these are hereinafter collectively referred to as “UPnP protocol”.

B. System overview:
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a network system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. This network system has a configuration in which a personal computer 100, digital TV sets 120 and 130, and a relay unit 600 are connected to each other via a LAN. The relay unit 600 is connected to the multi-function printer 800. The multi-function printer 800 includes a printer unit 810 and a scanner unit 820. The multi-function printer 800 itself does not support the UPnP protocol, but the relay unit 600 executes processing according to the UPnP protocol. Therefore, the device 900 including the relay unit 600 and the printer 800 can function as a UPnP compatible network device. It should be noted that the network device (network printer) having the functions of the relay unit 600 and the printer 800 can also be realized as a single integrated device. The LAN may be a wired network such as IEEE 802.3 or a wireless network such as IEEE 802.11b / g / a. The digital TV sets 120 and 130 are UPnP compatible network devices. The first digital TV set 120 includes a control point 120C in the UPnP architecture. The second digital TV set 130 also has a control point, but is not shown. The UPnP architecture and control points will be described later.

  In addition to the control point 120C, the digital TV set 120 has functions of a sheet print request issuing unit 122, a sheet reading request issuing unit 124, a recording reservation receiving unit 126, and a recording deletion receiving unit 128. The functions of these parts will be described later. Note that some or all of these units 122 to 128 may be implemented as control points. The digital TV set 120 is a kind of computer, and the functions of the units 120C and 122 to 128 are realized by software (computer program) or hardware. When these functions are realized by a computer program, the computer program is stored in advance in a recording medium (storage medium) in the digital TV set 120.

  The personal computer 100 has a function of creating print data of an image using the printer driver 100D, transferring the print data to the printer 800 via the LAN and the relay unit 600, and executing printing. During this printing process, the printer 800 functions as a normal network printer. On the other hand, when printing is performed according to a request from a control point (for example, 120C), the network device 900 including the printer 800 and the relay unit 600 functions as a UPnP compatible printer device.

  The relay unit includes an MFP server 300 and an MFP device control unit 700. The MFP server 300 has a function as a network protocol control unit 302 that mediates messages exchanged between other devices on the LAN and the MFP device control unit 700. As will be described later, in a typical case, the MFP server 300 interprets the UPnP protocol with respect to the message header during message transfer, but does not interpret or process the message body.

  The MFP device control unit 700 has a function as a device control unit 702 that controls the printer 800 in accordance with a request from a client.

  The MFP server 300 and the MFP device control unit 700 are connected by USB (Universal Serial Bus), and the MFP device control unit 700 and the printer 800 are also connected by USB. However, various physical interfaces other than USB can also be used. Further, the MFP server 300 and the MFP device control unit 700 can be connected with a communication protocol different from the UPnP protocol.

  The printer 800 can also be configured as a multifunction machine that provides services other than the scanner function. In general, a unit connected to the relay unit 600 is referred to as a “device unit”. The device unit only needs to have at least one service device, and is generally configured to have N (N is an integer of 1 or more) service devices. The printer 800 may be configured as a single function device having only the printer unit 810, and the scanner unit 820 may be provided separately from the printer 800.

  When the control point 120C transmits a print request message (for example, XHTML-print data) to the network device 900 according to the UPnP protocol, the MFP device control unit 700 interprets the print request message, and the printer according to the general-purpose standard to which the printer 800 conforms. The data is converted into data for use and transmitted to the printer 800. The printer 800 performs color conversion and halftone processing on the received printer data to create print data, and executes printing according to the print data. “Print data” is data representing the formation state of ink dots for each ink used in the printer, and is clearly distinguished from data used for image display (RGB data or JPEG data). As the print request message, a print request message in which an image to be printed is described using a markup language other than XHTML-print data can be used. Alternatively, a print request message including printer-specific print data may be used.

  UPnP is an architecture that realizes connecting or disconnecting a network device to a network at an arbitrary timing. The UPnP network includes a control point 120C and a service device 800. Here, “service device” means a device that provides a service. In this specification, unless otherwise specified, “device” and “service device” are used as synonyms. The “control point” means a controller that detects and controls other devices on the network, and functions as a client for the service device.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing internal configurations of the MFP server 300 and the MFP device control unit 700 in the relay unit 600. The MFP server 300 includes a central control unit (CPU) 310, a RAM 320, a ROM 330, a network control unit 340, and a USB host control unit 350. The network control unit 340 is connected to a wired network via the connector 342. The USB host control unit 350 has a root hub 352, and two USB connectors 354 and 356 are provided on the root hub 352. The first USB connector 354 is connected to the USB connector 462 of the MFP device control unit 700 via a USB cable. An additional device (for example, a wireless communication circuit for communicating with a wireless LAN network) can be connected to the second USB connector 356.

  The MFP device control unit 700 includes a central control unit (CPU) 410, a RAM 420, a ROM 430, a USB device control unit 460, and a USB host control unit 510. The USB device control unit 460 is connected to the USB host control unit 350 of the MFP server 300 via the USB connector 462. The USB host controller 510 has a root hub 512, and the root hub 512 is provided with a USB connector 514 (USB host terminal). The printer 800 can be connected to the connector 514. The relay unit 600 and the device unit 800 are preferably connected by a plurality of logical channels for a plurality of uses. However, description of the details of the logical channel is omitted.

  The central control unit 310, the network control unit 340, and the USB host control unit 350 of the MFP server 300 realize the function as the network protocol control unit 302 in FIG. More specifically, the network control unit 340 transmits and receives messages according to various network protocols. The central control unit 310 interprets the UPnP protocol and determines the transfer destination. USB host control unit 350 transfers a message to and from MFP device control unit 700. These control units 310, 340, and 350 transfer messages without interpreting or processing the message body.

  The USB device control unit 460 of the MFP device control unit 700 transmits and receives messages according to the USB transfer protocol. The central control unit 410 interprets the content of the message transferred via the MFP server 300, executes processing according to the content of the message, creates control data, and sends the control data to the device unit (printer 800). The function as the device control unit 702 (FIG. 1) to be transferred to () is realized. The operation of the printer 800 is controlled according to this control data. The functions of both MFP server 300 and MFP device control unit 700 may be realized by a single unit without separating MFP server 300 and MFP device control unit 700.

  By the way, the UPnP device architecture is configured according to various protocols such as HTTPMU, HTTPPU, SOAP / HTTP, and HTTP. UPnP implements various processes using these protocols. These processes include addressing, discovery (detection), description, control, event, and presentation, but detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The present invention can also be applied to future versions of UPnP. As network type plug and play, any control point and device can communicate peer-to-peer by addressing (automatic IP address determination) and device discovery, and the control point and device exchange messages. If it is an architecture, the present invention can be applied to network type plug and play specifications other than UPnP.

  FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram illustrating a typical example of processing using the UPnP architecture. Here, a case where a message is transferred among the control point 120C, the MFP server 300, and the MFP device control unit 700 is shown. Actually, control data and status information are exchanged between the MFP device control unit 700 and the device unit 800, but the illustration is omitted in FIG. 3 for convenience. In step [1], the control point 120C transfers the HTTP request message F1 to the MFP server 300. The header of the message F1 includes a request command method (such as POST or GET), a URI indicating a destination in the network device 900 (FIG. 1), and a host name of the network device 900 (in this example, an IP address “169.254.100.100”). ")". Since only one IP address is assigned to the network apparatus 900, this IP address is the IP address of the MFP server 300, the IP address of the MFP device control unit 700, or the device unit (printer 800). It can also be considered as an IP address.

  In step [2], the MFP server 300 analyzes the request message F1. Here, only the header portion of the message F1 is analyzed (interpreted), and the content of the transmission data (that is, the message body) is not interpreted. More specifically, in step [2], the URI of the message F1 is analyzed to determine which logical channel should be used to transfer the message to the MFP device control unit 700. Note that some messages F1 have no substantial message body.

  In step [3], the MFP server 300 transfers the message F2 including the URI and the message body (if present) to the MFP device control unit 700 via USB. In this transfer, a logical channel selected according to the URI is used.

  In step [4], the MFP device control unit 700 executes processing according to the URI and message body (if any) in the received message F2. Specifically, for example, the MFP device control unit 700 creates control data for the device unit 800 by interpreting the contents of the message body, and transfers the control data to the device unit (printer 800) for operation. In step [5], the MFP device control unit 700 transfers the message R1 including the response data to the MFP server 300 via USB. In step [6], the MFP server 300 adds an HTTP header to the transmission data. This HTTP header includes a status code indicating the processing result of the HTTP request. For example, if the processing result is OK, the status code is set to “200”, and if it is an error, it is set to “500”. In step [7], the HTTP response message R2 thus created is transferred from the MFP server 300 to the control point 120C.

  As described above, the MFP server 300 analyzes (interprets) the header of the request message received from the control point, but does not interpret the content of the message body. The message body is processed by the MFP device control unit 700. Is done. This configuration has the following advantages. The first advantage is that the MFP server 300 does not need to know the device configuration of the device unit and the contents of the service, and serves as a network protocol control unit for transferring a message sent to a device unit having an arbitrary configuration. It is a point that can function. The second advantage is that even if the device configuration of the device unit and the contents of the service are changed, it is not necessary to change the configuration and functions of the MFP server 300. A third advantage is that since it is not necessary to mount an interpretation unit (parser) that interprets the content of the message body in the MFP server 300, the configuration of the MFP server 300 can be simplified.

C. Configuration and operation of processing equipment using order sheets:
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an order sheet use service screen displayed on the digital TV set 120. On this screen, four buttons B1 to B4 are displayed so as to be selectable. These buttons are buttons B1 and B2 for instructing printing and reading of the recording reservation sheet, and buttons B3 and B4 for instructing printing and reading of the recording deletion sheet. The user can use these buttons to instruct a TV program recording reservation process or a recorded TV program deletion process. The sheet print request issuing unit 122, the sheet reading request issuing unit 124, the recording reservation receiving unit 126, and the recording deletion receiving unit 128 shown in FIG. 1 are for executing these processes.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the sheet print request issuing unit 122. The template selection unit 210 has a function of selecting one of a plurality of order sheet templates prepared in advance in the hard disk 270 in accordance with a user instruction. One order sheet template is prepared for each type of order sheet.

  FIG. 6A shows an example of a recording reservation sheet template OST1. This template OST1 has a place for printing a television name, its identifier (ID), a sheet content information code CD1, and a reservation instruction area RR1. The sheet content information code CD1 will be described later. In the reservation instruction area RR1, a place for printing the program start time TS, the check box CKB, and the program name PRGN is secured. The locations of the check box CKB and the program name PRGN are provided at positions corresponding to a plurality of television stations. Although the specific contents are not described in the template and only the location is secured, in FIG. 6, for convenience of illustration, some information (for example, code CD1 and program start time TS) is printed. It is shown in the figure. When there are a plurality of program names PRGN to be printed at the time of order sheet printing, a set of check boxes CKB and program names PRGN is repeatedly arranged on the lower side of FIG. The reservation instruction area RR1 is enlarged. An example of this will be described later.

  FIG. 6B shows an example of a recording deletion sheet template OST2. This template OST2 has a place for printing the recorder name, its identifier (ID), the storage location in the recorder, the sheet content information code CD2, and the deletion instruction area RR2. In the deletion instruction area RR2, there are a check box CKB, a program name PRGN, a recording date, a length (recording time), a recording mode (high image quality / 3x speed, etc.), and presence / absence of protection (deletion permission / A place for printing is reserved.

  The sheet content information codes CD1 and CD2 are codes that indicate information printed on the sheet (referred to as “sheet content information”) in a machine-readable and visually unreadable form. Here, “visually unreadable” means that the contents cannot be grasped with the naked eye. In this embodiment, QR codes are used as the sheet content information codes CD1 and CD2. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the sheet content information codes CD1 and CD2 are also called “QR code portions”. However, any type other than the QR code can be used as the machine-readable code type. Note that the sheet content information code is preferably arranged at a fixed position common to different types of order sheets for the convenience of machine reading.

The sheet content information code CD1 of the recording reservation sheet represents the following information, for example.
(1) Number and position of QR code (and its size if necessary)
(2) Order sheet type (indicating at least the type of processing content such as recording reservation, recording deletion, etc.)
(3) Number and position of check box CKB in the order sheet (and its size if necessary)
(4) Information for identifying the content associated with each check box CKB (program name PRGN, time TS, G code, etc.)
(5) TV name (6) TV ID
(7) TV destination information (URI)

  The sheet content information code CD1 may describe only a part of the information (1) to (7), but preferably describes at least the information (2) to (4). This is because the processing content is specified by these pieces of information (2) to (4). These pieces of information (2) to (4) are set to various contents according to the type of order sheet. Therefore, if these information (2) to (4) are included in the sheet content information code, it is possible to use a highly flexible order sheet. The sheet content information code CD2 (FIG. 6B) in the recording deletion sheet preferably describes the same information as the sheet content information code CD1.

  A template for giving various kinds of different processing contents to the digital TV set 120 may be prepared in advance before shipment of the digital TV set 120 and stored therein. Alternatively, the digital TV set 120 may be supplied from the manufacturer of the digital TV set 120 via the Internet after shipment. Alternatively, the user may create a desired template. In this case, it is preferable that a user assistance tool (for example, a wizard or an assistant) for assisting the user in creating a template is mounted on the digital TV set 120.

  The number and position of the check boxes CKB in the order sheet can be arbitrarily set. In particular, in the present embodiment, since the above-described information (2) to (4) is described in the sheet content information codes CD1 and CD2, flexibility in arrangement of check boxes and contents is high. Therefore, it is possible to print order sheets for various uses in an easy-to-use form. In the present specification, the phrase “the check box can be arranged at an arbitrary position” also means that the position of the check box can be set in an arbitrary position in advance using a template.

  Various templates and order sheets can be expressed using a document description language such as XHTML-print or a page description language. As the order sheet template, various sheets other than those shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B may be prepared in advance. Alternatively, an order sheet can be printed without using a template. When a template is not used, for example, a rule for arranging a check box and information (program name or the like) for specifying content is determined in advance, and the arrangement is preferably executed according to the rule.

  The mark area arrangement unit 220, content description arrangement unit 230, and code arrangement unit 240 in FIG. 5 acquire information to be printed on the order sheet and arrange various components on the template (FIG. 6A). (See (B)). Specifically, the mark area arrangement unit 220 arranges the check box CKB on the order sheet. The content explanation arrangement unit 230 arranges the program name PRGN on the order sheet. The code arrangement unit 240 arranges the sheet content information codes CD1 and CD2.

  The print request creation unit 250 creates a print request for causing the printer to print an order sheet on which various parts are placed by the placement units 220, 230, and 240. The print request transfer unit 260 transfers the print request to a predetermined printer via the LAN. In this embodiment, the print request is transferred to the printer 800 via the relay unit 600.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure for program recording reservation using a recording reservation sheet. The left side of FIG. 7 shows processing of the digital TV set 120, the center shows processing of the printer unit 810 of the multi-function printer 800, and the right side shows processing of the scanner unit 820. When the user selects the recording reservation sheet print button B1 on the screen of the digital TV set 120 (FIG. 4), information to be printed on the order sheet (recording reservation sheet) by the sheet print request issuing unit 122 in step S100 of FIG. And generate the print request. In this embodiment, as described above, the order sheet is created from the template (FIG. 6).

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a recording reservation sheet PRS created from the template OST1. On the sheet PRS, a television name, its ID, and a sheet content information code CD1 are printed. The TV name is set to “TV in the living room”, which is the name of the first digital TV set 120 (FIG. 1) here. The ID is set to “DTV01”. When the user uses the second digital TV set 130 to instruct printing of the recording reservation sheet PRS, the TV name and its ID are also set accordingly. In the reservation instruction area RR1, a program start time TS, a check box CKB, and a program name PRGN are printed under the names of individual television stations that can be received by the digital TV set 120. At the time of printing the recording reservation sheet PRS, the sheet print request issuing unit 122 obtains information to be printed (program information related to the time after the current time) from the outside, and the TV station name and time from the obtained program information. TS and program name PRGN are appropriately extracted and arranged on the template OST1 (FIG. 6A). The program information can be acquired from a tuner (not shown) of the digital TV set 120 or a program providing server on the Internet. Since the program length varies from program to program, the position of the check box CKB also becomes irregular to some extent.

  When the content of the recording reservation sheet PRS is determined in this way, a print request for printing the recording reservation sheet PRS is issued in step S110 of FIG. The print request is transferred from the digital TV set 120 (FIG. 1) to the printer 800 via the relay unit 600. Note that the print request describes the recording reservation sheet PRS using a document description language or a page description language. In step S200, the printer unit 810 receives the print request and prints the recording reservation sheet PRS.

  After issuing the print request, the sheet print request issuing unit 122 displays a message (not shown) for prompting entry of the sheet on the screen of the TV set 120 in step S120. This message preferably includes a button for instructing to start reading the order sheet. Using the printed recording reservation sheet PRS, the user fills in the check box CKB of the program for which recording reservation is to be set (see FIG. 8), and places the recording reservation sheet PRS on the scanner unit 820 of the multi-function printer 800. . Thereafter, the user gives an instruction to start reading the order sheet on the screen of the digital TV set 120 (see FIG. 4).

  When the sheet reading request issuing unit 124 (FIG. 1) of the digital TV set 120 receives a sheet reading instruction from the user in step S130, the sheet reading request issuing unit 124 issues an order sheet reading request to the scanner unit 820 in step S140. This read request is issued, for example, in the form of an HTTP GET request (see FIG. 7). The scanner unit 820 is equipped with an HTTP server (not shown) for receiving an HTTP GET request and executing processing.

  Upon receiving the order sheet reading request in step S300, the scanner unit 820 starts reading in the order sheet reading mode. Here, the “order sheet reading mode” means a mode in which the scanner unit 820 reads an order sheet, analyzes the read image, and automatically extracts the contents of the order sheet. This extraction process is executed in steps S310 and S320 described below.

  In step S310, the scanner unit 820 scans and analyzes the QR code unit provided on the top of the order sheet. As described above, the QR code portions CD1 and CD2 (FIGS. 6A and 6B) describe information indicating the contents of the order sheet. Therefore, by analyzing the QR code part, information specifying the type of order sheet, the number and position of each check box CKB in the order sheet, and the content associated with each check box CKB (program name PRGN etc. ) And can be extracted.

  In step S320, the scanner unit 820 scans an area other than the QR code part and analyzes the mark state of the check box CKB. In this analysis, the number and position of the check boxes CKB described in the QR code part are used. For example, when a large number of check boxes CKB are arranged in the recording reservation sheet PRS as in the example of FIG. 8, the presence or absence of a check (in this case, the presence or absence of filling) is determined for each check box CKB. .

  In step S330, the scanner unit 820 returns the mark information in the recording reservation sheet PRS to the digital TV set that issued the sheet reading request. Here, “mark information” is information associated with the marked check box CKB. As the “mark information” at the time of recording reservation, any type of information including information indicating program recording reservation and information for specifying a program to be recorded can be used. For example, the type of the order sheet and the position of the checked check box CKB can be used as the mark information. The scanner unit 820 of the multi-function printer 800 returns this mark information to the sheet reading request issuing unit 124 of the digital TV set 120 as a response to the HTTP GET request received in step S300.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of mark information returned in step S330. In this example, the content “out arg value” described in the element “<mark1> out arg value </ mark1>” describes whether each check box CKB is checked. Therefore, when there are N check boxes CKB (N is an integer of 2 or more) in the order sheet, N elements “<mark1> out arg value </ mark1>” are included in the response. . The response preferably includes information describing the type of order sheet.

  In step S150 of FIG. 7, the response received by the sheet reading request issuing unit 124 is transferred to the recording reservation receiving unit 126, and the recording reservation receiving unit 126 executes the recording reservation according to the mark information. In addition, a recording unit (not shown) provided in the digital TV set 120 executes recording according to this recording reservation.

  In this way, the user can simply make a recording reservation simply by printing an order sheet for program recording reservation, filling the check mark, and then scanning with the scanner unit. The recorded program is stored in a recording medium (for example, a hard disk) in the digital TV set 120. A recorded program can be deleted using a recording deletion sheet.

  FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the recording deletion sheet PDS created from the template OST2 shown in FIG. On this sheet PDS, a recorder name, its ID, and a sheet content information code CD2 are printed. The recorder name is set to “living room television” which is the name of the first digital TV set 120 (FIG. 1). The ID is set to “DTVREC01”. Furthermore, the storage location in the recorder is set to the folder name “\ children area” in the hard disk. In the deletion instruction area RR2, for each program stored in the recorder (ie, the TV set 120), a check box CKB, a program name PRGN, a recording date, a length (recording time), and a recording mode And the presence or absence of protection are printed. Note that a program with a special authority (for example, a password) for deletion is indicated by a circle with “Protect”.

  Printing of such a recording deletion sheet PDS and deletion of a recorded program using the recording deletion sheet PDS are executed in substantially the same procedure as in the flowchart shown in FIG. However, at this time, “recording reservation” in FIG. 7 is read as “recording deletion”. The deletion of the recorded program is executed by the recording deletion receiving unit 128 (FIG. 1).

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing another procedure for program recording reservation using a recording reservation sheet. In this procedure, steps S130 and S140 are deleted from the procedure shown in FIG. 7, and step S290 is added. That is, in the procedure of FIG. 11, after printing the recording reservation sheet, after the sheet is placed on the scanner unit 820, the scan is started by the user pressing the button of the scanner unit 820 in step S <b> 290. The subsequent processing procedure is almost the same as that shown in FIG. However, in step S330, the mark information is transmitted to the digital TV set as an HTTP PUT request. In this case, it is preferable that the recording reservation destination information (for example, URI) is described in the QR code portion CD1 (FIG. 8). By doing so, it is possible for the scanner unit 820 to identify the television to which mark information is to be transmitted by analyzing the QR code portion CD1.

  As described above, in this embodiment, various processes such as recording reservation and recording deletion can be easily performed by using various order sheets. In addition, on each order sheet, check boxes (mark areas) can be arranged in an arbitrary position and in an arbitrary position, so that various processes can be executed using an order sheet rich in flexibility.

D. Variation:
The present invention is not limited to the above-described examples and embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the following modifications are possible.

D1. Modification 1:
In the above embodiment, the check box CKB for filling (FIGS. 8 and 10) is used as the mark area for the user to enter an instruction. However, any mark area other than the check box CKB can be used. is there. For example, as a mark area, a check box for entering a check mark, or an area for entering characters and symbols (for example, ◯ ×) may be used as the mark area.

D2. Modification 2:
In the above embodiment, the order sheet is used to convey the processing contents to the digital TV set 120. However, the present invention can be applied to an order sheet for giving processing contents to an arbitrary electric device. In this case, it is preferable that the content explanation part for explaining the content is printed at a position associated with each mark area in a visible state. Here, the “content” is not limited to the TV program as in the above embodiment, but is used in a broad sense including the processing contents of the electric device.

D3. Modification 3:
Although the system and processing method corresponding to network type plug and play such as UPnP have been described in the above embodiment, the present invention can also be applied to a system and processing method not compatible with network type plug and play.

It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structure of the network system to which the Example of this invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of an MFP server and an MFP device control unit in a relay unit. It is a sequence diagram which shows the typical example of the process using UPnP architecture. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the order sheet utilization service screen displayed on a digital TV set. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of a sheet printing request | requirement issuing part. It is explanatory drawing which shows the template of a recording reservation sheet | seat and a recording deletion sheet | seat. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the program recording reservation using a recording reservation sheet. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the video recording reservation sheet | seat PRS. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the mark information returned in step S330. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the video recording deletion sheet PDS. It is a flowchart which shows the other procedure of the program recording reservation using a recording reservation sheet.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Personal computer 100D ... Printer driver 120 ... Digital TV set 120C ... Control point 122 ... Sheet printing request issue part 124 ... Sheet reading request issue part 126 ... Recording reservation reception part 128 ... Recording deletion reception part 130 ... Digital TV set 210 ... Template selection unit 220 ... Mark area arrangement unit 230 ... Content explanation arrangement unit 240 ... Code arrangement unit 250 ... Print request creation unit 260 ... Print request transfer unit 270 ... Hard disk 300 ... MFP server 302 ... Network protocol control unit 310 ... Central control unit 320 ... RAM
330 ... ROM
340 ... Network control unit 342 ... Connector 350 ... USB host control unit 352 ... Root hub 354, 356 ... USB connector 410 ... Central control unit 420 ... RAM
430 ... ROM
460: USB device control unit 462: USB connector 510 ... USB host control unit 512 ... Root hub 514 ... USB connector 600 ... Relay unit 700 ... MFP device control unit 702 ... Device control unit 800 ... Multifunction printer 810 ... Printer unit 820 ... Scanner 900: Network device

Claims (10)

A method for creating an order sheet used for instructing electric appliances on processing contents,
(A) arranging a plurality of mark areas used as areas where instructions are written by a user at arbitrary positions on the order sheet;
(B) a step of arranging a content explanation section for explaining the contents associated with each mark area so as to be visually readable at a position associated with each mark area;
(C) machine-readable sheet content information including the type of the order sheet, the number and position of each mark area in the order sheet, and information specifying the content associated with each mark area; Placing a sheet content information code in a visually unreadable form on the order sheet;
(D) printing the plurality of mark areas, the content description section, and the sheet content information code on a print medium;
Order sheet creation method comprising The method of claim 1, comprising:
The step (d)
(D1) A method including a step of arbitrarily selecting and printing one of a plurality of types of order sheets having different mark area positions as the order sheet. The method of claim 2, comprising:
A plurality of templates for printing the plurality of types of order sheets are prepared in advance,
The method (d1) includes a step of selecting one of the plurality of templates and printing the order sheet using the selected template. The method of claim 3, comprising:
The sheet content information further includes a URI indicating a destination of the electric device as information indicating a transfer destination of processing content specified by the order sheet. An order sheet generation device used for instructing electric appliances of processing contents,
A plurality of mark areas used as areas in which instructions are written by the user, a mark area arrangement unit that arranges the mark areas at arbitrary positions on the order sheet;
A content explanation part arranging part for arranging a content explanation part for explaining the contents associated with each mark area so as to be visually readable;
Machine-readable and visually readable sheet content information including the type of the order sheet, the number and position of each mark area in the order sheet, and information for specifying the content associated with each mark area A code placement unit for placing the sheet content information code shown in an unreadable form on the order sheet;
A print request creation unit that creates a print request for printing the plurality of mark areas, the content description unit, and the sheet content information code on a print medium;
An order sheet creation device comprising: The apparatus of claim 5, comprising:
The creation apparatus is an apparatus provided in the electrical device. The apparatus of claim 6, comprising:
The electrical device is connected to a printing apparatus via a network;
The print request creation unit is an apparatus that transfers the print request to the printing apparatus via the network to print the order sheet. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein
The sheet content information further includes a URI indicating a destination of the electric device as information indicating a transfer destination of processing content specified by the order sheet. A method for causing an electrical device to execute processing using an order sheet,
The order sheet is
A mark area used as an area in which an instruction is written by a user, and a plurality of mark areas arranged at arbitrary positions on the order sheet;
In order to explain the content associated with each mark area, a content explanation section printed at a position associated with each mark area;
Sheet content information indicating the type of the order sheet, the number and position of each mark area, and information for specifying the content associated with each mark area is printed in a machine-readable and invisible form. Sheet content information code,
Including
The processing method is as follows:
(A) reading the order sheet in which an instruction is written in at least one of the plurality of mark areas by a user with a reading device;
(B) according to the content of the order sheet read by the reading device, the electrical device executes a process;
A process execution method comprising: An order sheet used for instructing electric appliances on processing contents,
A mark area used as an area in which an instruction is written by a user, and a plurality of mark areas arranged at arbitrary positions on the order sheet;
In order to explain the content associated with each mark area, a content explanation section printed at a position associated with each mark area;
Sheet content information indicating the type of the order sheet, the number and position of each mark area, and information for specifying the content associated with each mark area is printed in a machine-readable and invisible form. Sheet content information code,
Order sheet including

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