JP2010179615A - Printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing apparatus that, when an e-mail for printing a post card is received through a network, prints this e-mail automatically on a post card-shaped printing medium. <P>SOLUTION: When a post card-printing e-mail prepared in a format through a network 4 is received through a communication processing part 35, the CPU 41 of the printing apparatus 2 selects a front side template and a reverse side template in accordance with the "printing format" on the tenth line of the post card-printing e-mail. Then, the CPU 41 prints each character string of the first to ninth line of this post card-printing e-mail on the front side of a post card through a printing section 33 in accordance with the front side template. Successively, the CPU 41, if no image data is attached to the post card-printing e-mail, prints insertion character strings of the eleventh line and thereafter of the post card-printing e-mail on the reverse side of the post card through the printing section 33 in accordance with the reverse side template. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus capable of printing print data on a postcard-shaped print medium.

  In recent years, with the widespread use of mobile phones with digital cameras, various systems have been proposed in which images taken with mobile phones with digital cameras are sent via a network to a print agent and printed postcards incorporating the images. ing.

  For example, a camera-equipped mobile phone connected to a printing company's computer system through a computer network orders the printing company to create and deliver a postcard with a photo, and sends the postcard with a photo to be printed on a card. An image and text data including a destination and a sender are transmitted from a camera-equipped mobile phone to a computer network, and an order for creation and delivery of a postcard with a photo is made to a printing company. The printing company receives the image and text data sent via the computer network by the computer system and receives an order to create and deliver the postcard with the photo, and then prints the received image and the predetermined text data on the postcard. Then, there is a photo card delivery system that creates and delivers a photo card (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-44355 A (paragraphs (0018) to (0036), FIGS. 1 to 5)

  However, in the configuration described in Patent Document 1 described above, when sending a New Year's card, a summer greeting card, a greeting card, etc., it is necessary to place an order for the creation and delivery of a postcard with a photo from a printing company, which is troublesome. There's a problem. In addition, there is a problem that it feels uncomfortable when an e-mail or fax with an image is directly sent from a camera-equipped mobile phone. In addition, it is conceivable to send an image-attached e-mail or an image-less e-mail from a mobile phone to the other party's personal computer and operate the other person's personal computer to print it. For humans, there is a problem that the received electronic mail cannot be printed easily.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. When a postcard printing e-mail is received via a network, the postcard printing e-mail is automatically printed as a postcard. It is an object to provide a printing apparatus capable of printing on a medium.

In order to achieve the above object, a printing apparatus according to claim 1 is created with a printing unit capable of printing print data on both sides of a postcard-like print medium and a predetermined format transmitted from a communication terminal device via a network. Mail information acquisition means for acquiring postcard printing mail information, template storage means for storing a plurality of types of postcard templates provided with predetermined character printing areas, and postcard printing mail information acquired via the mail information acquisition means Template selection means for selecting the postcard template based on the above, front side print information extraction means for extracting front side print information to be printed on the front side of the print medium including destination information and sender information from the postcard printing mail information, Extract backside print information to be printed on the backside of the print medium including merged character strings from postcard print mail information And control to print the front side print information extracted by the front side print information extraction unit via the printing unit on the front side of the print medium according to the postcard template selected by the template selection unit. And printing control means for controlling to print the back side print information extracted by the back side print information extracting means on the back side of the print medium according to the postcard template.
Here, the postcard means a greeting card such as a birthday card or a postcard-shaped paper in addition to a normal postcard or a New Year's card.

  A printing apparatus according to claim 2 is the printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a character size adjusting unit that adjusts a character size so that the inserted character string is placed in the predetermined character printing area. The means controls the insertion character string adjusted by the character size adjusting means to print in the predetermined character printing area.

  The printing apparatus according to claim 3 is the printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the postcard template prints image information attached to the mail information for postcard printing on the back side of the printing medium. An attachment determination means for determining whether or not image information is attached to the postcard printing mail information, and when it is determined that image information is attached to the postcard printing mail information Includes image adjusting means for adjusting the image information so as to fit the image printing area of the postcard template selected by the template selecting means, and the print control means adjusts the image information via the image adjusting means. The image information is controlled to be printed on the back side of the print medium in accordance with the image print area.

  Furthermore, the printing apparatus according to claim 4 is the printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the postcard printing mail information identifies whether or not the postcard printing mail information is mail information for printing on a postcard. Identification information and template specifying information for specifying a postcard template selected by the template selection means, the destination information includes a destination address and a destination name, and the sender information includes a sender address and a sender name. The predetermined format is configured such that the identification information, the template specifying information, the destination address, the destination name, the sender address, the sender name, and the insertion character string are input for each line feed. It is characterized by.

  In the printing apparatus according to claim 1, when the postcard printing mail information created in a predetermined format transmitted from the communication terminal apparatus via the network is acquired, the postcard template is obtained based on the postcard printing mail information. select. Then, the front side print information including the destination information and the sender information is extracted from the postcard printing mail information, and printed on the front side of the postcard according to the postcard template. Further, the back side print information including the inserted character string is extracted from the postcard printing mail information and printed on the back side of the postcard according to the postcard template.

  Thus, by sending postcard printing mail information created in a predetermined format from the communication terminal device to the printing device via the network, the destination information, sender information, merged character string, etc. included in this postcard printing mail information Can be automatically printed on a postcard-like print medium. Therefore, even a person unaccustomed to a personal computer such as an elderly person simply installs the printing device and connects to the network, and the destination information included in the postcard printing mail information transmitted from the communication terminal device via the network, It becomes possible to easily obtain a postcard-like print medium on which the sender information and the inserted character string are printed.

  Further, in the printing apparatus according to claim 2, even if the character size or text of the insertion character string is not set in accordance with the predetermined character print area in the communication terminal device, the print is appropriately placed in the predetermined character print area and printed. It becomes possible to improve usability.

  In the printing apparatus according to claim 3, when image information is attached to the postcard printing mail information, the image information is adjusted so as to match the image printing area of the postcard template selected by the template selection means. Thus, it is possible to print on the back side of the print medium. Therefore, even a person unaccustomed to a personal computer such as an elderly person can install the printing apparatus and connect it to the network, and the image information and postcard printing mail information transmitted from the communication terminal apparatus via the network are included. It becomes possible to easily obtain a postcard-like print medium on which the destination information, the sender information, the insertion character string, and the like are printed.

  Furthermore, in the printing apparatus according to claim 4, the predetermined format of the postcard printing mail information is that the identification information, the template specifying information, the destination address, the destination name, the sender's address, the sender's name, and the insertion character string are set for each line feed. Since it is configured to be input, each information can be read and quickly acquired for each line feed. Also, the user of the communication terminal device can easily create postcard printing mail information according to a predetermined format.

1 is a schematic configuration of a postcard printing system according to the present embodiment. It is a circuit block diagram which shows the circuit structure of the printing apparatus and mobile telephone which comprise a postcard printing system. It is a figure which shows an example of the front side template which sets printing areas, such as a character printed on the front side of the postcard memorize | stored in a template memory area. It is a figure which shows an example of the back side template which sets printing areas, such as a character and an image printed on the back side of the postcard memorize | stored in a template memory area. It is a figure which shows an example of the format of the e-mail for postcard printing displayed on the liquid crystal display. It is a main flowchart which shows the email printing process which prints the email for postcard printing received by the printing apparatus on a postcard. FIG. 7 is a sub-flowchart showing a sub-process of “postcard printing process” in FIG. 6. It is a figure which shows an example of the e-mail for postcard printing to which the data file of the image image | photographed with the imaging part of the mobile telephone was attached. It is a figure which shows an example which printed the address etc. of the e-mail for postcard printing of FIG. 8 on the front side of the postcard. It is a figure which shows an example which printed the insertion character string of the e-mail for postcard printing of FIG. 8 and the attached image on the back side of the postcard. It is a figure which shows an example of the e-mail for postcard printing to which the data file of an image is not attached. It is a figure which shows an example which printed the insertion character string of the e-mail for postcard printing of FIG. 11 on the back side of the postcard.

  Hereinafter, a printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings based on a specific embodiment of a postcard printing system.

First, a schematic configuration of a postcard printing system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, a postcard printing system 1 according to the present embodiment has a postcard shape (for example, 9 to 10.7 cm × 14 to 15.4 cm) that can be printed on both sides in addition to a normal postcard and a New Year's card. It is basically composed of a printing apparatus 2 capable of color printing on both sides of a rectangular sheet (hereinafter referred to as “postcard”), a mobile phone 3 with a digital camera, and a network 4.

  The mobile phone 3 is configured to be able to send an e-mail to the printing apparatus 2 via the network 4, and the printing apparatus 2 is configured to be able to receive the e-mail via the network 4. As the network 4, for example, a communication system such as a mobile phone network, a telephone network, a public communication network, a dedicated communication network, or a communication network such as the Internet can be used.

  In addition, the printing apparatus 2 is provided with an operation unit 32 including various operation buttons 12 and a liquid crystal display 13 on the upper surface of the main body 11. In addition, a paper feed cassette 15 is provided at the bottom of the main body 11 so as to be detachable from the front side. The paper feed cassette 15 is configured such that a plurality of postcards can be stacked and stored so that the short side (width) thereof is along the direction orthogonal to the transport direction.

  When the printing apparatus 2 receives postcard printing mail information (hereinafter referred to as “postcard printing e-mail”) from the mobile phone 3 as described later, the printing apparatus 2 passes the printing unit 33 (see FIG. 2). The postal code of the destination, the address, the destination name, the sender's postal code, the sender's address, the sender's name are printed on the front side, and the postcard 16 etc. with the message printed on the back side is provided on the front side. It is discharged from the discharge port 17. The printing apparatus 2 is connected to the network 4 by a LAN cable (not shown) or the like.

  In addition, the mobile phone 3 is provided with an imaging unit 63 (see FIG. 2) constituted by a CCD camera or the like on the back side, and takes an image of a person, landscape, etc., and generates an image to be printed on a postcard. In addition to the telephone number, the cellular phone 3 is provided with a numeric keypad 21 for inputting a destination zip code, a destination address, a destination name, a sender zip code, a sender address, a sender name, a message, and the like. . In addition, the mobile phone 3 is provided with a liquid crystal display 22, a speaker 23, a microphone 24, and the like that can display an image captured by the imaging unit 63, a message input via the numeric keypad 21, and the like.

Next, the circuit configurations of the printing apparatus 2 and the mobile phone 3 constituting the postcard printing system 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the printing apparatus 2 includes a control circuit unit 31 that performs overall control of the printing apparatus 2, an operation unit 32, a printing unit 33, an image processing unit 34, a communication processing unit 35, and the like.

  The control circuit unit 31 includes a CPU 41 as a calculation device and a control device that controls the entire printing apparatus 2, a ROM 42, a RAM 43, a timer 44 that measures time, and the like. Further, the CPU 41, the ROM 42, the RAM 43, and the timer 44 are connected to each other via a bus line (not shown), and exchange data with each other.

  The ROM 42 stores various programs. When a print control program or an e-mail for postcard printing to be described later is received, a destination address or the like is printed on the front side of the postcard, and a message or the like on the back side. Various programs such as a postcard printing process (see FIG. 6) for printing are stored. Further, the ROM 42 is provided with a template storage area 42A for storing a plurality of types of postcard templates (see FIGS. 3 and 4) in which arrangement areas for characters or images to be printed are set on the front side or the back side of the postcard. .

The CPU 41 performs various calculations and controls based on various programs stored in the ROM 42. The RAM 43 is for temporarily storing various calculation results and print data calculated by the CPU 41.
Further, an operation unit 32, a printing unit 33, an image processing unit 34, and a communication processing unit 35 are connected to the control circuit unit 31.

  The operation unit 32 includes various operation buttons 12, a liquid crystal display 13, and the like, and is operated when turning on / off the power or setting a postcard printing style. Then, the control circuit unit 31 performs control to execute various corresponding operations based on switch signals output by pressing the operation buttons 12 or the like. The operation unit 32 can also be configured by a touch panel provided on the front surface of the liquid crystal display 13.

  The printing unit 33 includes a paper feed mechanism (not shown), a color ink jet head, and the like, and in accordance with an instruction from the control circuit unit 31, a postal code, a destination address, and a destination address received from the mobile phone 3 as will be described later. The name, sender's zip code, sender address, sender name are printed on the front side of the postcard 16, and images, messages, etc. are printed on the back side of the postcard 16 (see FIG. 7).

The image processing unit 34 adjusts the image data attached to the e-mail received from the mobile phone 3 so that the image data fits in the image print area according to the postcard template, and outputs the adjusted image data to the control circuit unit 31.
In addition, the communication processing unit 35 performs reception processing of the e-mail and the attached image data according to a predetermined protocol via the network 4 with the mobile phone 3 as described later in accordance with an instruction from the control circuit unit 31.

As shown in FIG. 2, the mobile phone 3 includes a control circuit unit 61 that performs overall control of the mobile phone 3, a communication processing unit 62, an imaging unit 63, an output unit 64, an input unit 65, and the like. .
The control circuit unit 61 includes an arithmetic device that controls the entire mobile phone 3 and a CPU 71 as a control device, a ROM 72, a RAM 73, a timer 74 that measures time, and the like. The CPU 71, the ROM 72, the RAM 73, and the timer 74 are connected to each other via a bus line (not shown) and exchange data with each other.

  The ROM 72 stores various programs, and includes a call control program for controlling the telephone number input from the numeric keypad 21 to make a call, an e-mail created in a predetermined format, and an attached image. Various programs such as a transmission control program for transmitting data via the network 4 are stored. The ROM 72 is provided with a format storage area 72A for storing the format of the postcard printing e-mail (see FIG. 5).

The CPU 71 performs various calculations and controls based on various programs stored in the ROM 72. The RAM 73 is used to temporarily store various calculation results calculated by the CPU 71, postcard printing e-mails, and the like.
Further, a communication processing unit 62, an imaging unit 63, an output unit 64, and an input unit 65 are connected to the control circuit unit 61.

The communication processing unit 62 communicates via a cellular phone line network, and transmits and receives e-mails and attached image data via the network 4 by a predetermined web browser and mail software for enabling Internet communication. Do.
In addition, the imaging unit 63 captures a landscape or a person with a digital camera configured with a CCD camera or the like, and outputs the captured image to the control circuit unit 61 as digital image data.

The output unit 64 includes a liquid crystal display 22 that displays images, telephone numbers, messages, and the like, a speaker 23 that outputs sound, and the like.
In addition to the telephone number, the input unit 65 includes a numeric keypad 21 and a microphone 24 (see FIG. 1) for inputting e-mail messages and the like, a shutter button (not shown) for operating the camera, and the like.

Here, an example of the postcard template stored in the template storage area 42A of the ROM 42 of the printing apparatus 2 will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 3, a front side template 81 for setting a print area for characters or the like to be printed on the front side of a postcard is formed approximately equal to the size of a vertically placed postcard. A horizontally long arrangement area 81A is provided. In the right side portion of the front-side template 81, a vertically long arrangement area 81B where the address A of the destination is arranged and a vertically long arrangement area 81C where the address A of the destination is arranged are arranged in parallel. In addition, an arrangement area 81D for arranging a destination name is provided in the center of the front template 81.

  In the left side portion of the front-side template 81, a vertically long arrangement area 81E for arranging the sender's address A and a vertically long arrangement area 81F for arranging the sender's address B are arranged side by side. Further, a vertically long arrangement area 81G for arranging the sender name is provided at the left end portion of the front template 81. Further, a horizontally long arrangement area 81H for arranging the sender's postal code is provided at the lower end of the left side portion of the front side template 81. Further, the placement areas 81A and 81H are set to horizontal writing, and the placement areas 81B to 81G are set to vertical writing.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, each of the back side templates 91 to 94 for setting a print area for characters and images to be printed on the back side of the postcard is formed substantially equal to the size of the horizontal postcard, and the image is placed horizontally. The image printing area 95 to be arranged in the area is set to almost the entire area. Further, in the upper left part of the back side template 91, the upper right part of the back side template 92, the lower left part of the back side template 93, and the lower right part of the back side template 94, horizontally long rectangular characters in which insertion character strings such as messages are arranged horizontally. Each print area 96 is set.

  Further, each of the back side templates 98 to 101 for setting a print area for characters and images to be printed on the back side of the postcard is formed substantially equal to the size of the vertically placed post card, and the image print area 102 in which the image is vertically arranged. Is set to almost the entire area. Also, in the upper left part of the back side template 98, the upper right part of the back side template 99, the lower left part of the back side template 100, and the lower right part of the back side template 101, a vertically long rectangular shape in which insertion character strings such as messages are arranged vertically. Each character print area 103 is set.

  Further, the back side template 105 for setting the print area of characters to be printed on the back side of the postcard is formed to be substantially equal to the size of the horizontal postcard, and the character print area 106 in which the inserted character string such as a message is arranged in horizontal writing is almost the same. Set to all areas. Also, the back side template 108 for setting the print area of characters to be printed on the back side of the postcard is formed approximately equal to the size of the vertically placed postcard, and the character print area 109 for arranging the inserted character string such as a message in the vertical writing is provided. Almost all areas are set.

Next, an example of the format of an e-mail for postcard printing stored in the format storage area 72A of the ROM 72 of the mobile phone 3 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the postcard printing e-mail format 110 stored in the format storage area 72A of the ROM 72 of the mobile phone 3 is selected from the “menu list” of the mobile phone 3 and then the “template list”. And then “postcard mail” is displayed on the liquid crystal display 15.

  In the format 110, input frames L1 to L10 are provided from the first line to the tenth line, and an input frame L11 for inputting a message is provided from the eleventh line. In this input frame L1, “postcard mail:” indicating that it is an e-mail for postcard printing is displayed, and “(mail title)” indicating that the title of the e-mail is to be input is displayed. In addition, in the input frame L2 on the second line to the input frame L5 on the fifth line, "destination zip code", "destination address 1", "destination address 2", and "address" are entered, respectively. It is displayed.

  In addition, the “sender's postal code”, “sender's address 1”, “sender's address 2”, and “sender's name” are entered in the input box L 6 on the sixth line to the input box L 9 on the ninth line, respectively. Is displayed. In addition, the input frame L10 on the 10th line displays that a “printing style” indicating the type of the back side template for arranging an image, a message, or the like on the back side of the postcard is input. Further, an input frame L11 on and after the 11th line displays that the “inserted character string” that is a message to be printed on the back side of the postcard is input.

  Therefore, postcard printing e-mails created in accordance with the format 110 are “postcard mail: (mail title)”, “address postal code”, “address address 1” for each line break in the first to tenth lines. ”,“ Address 2 ”,“ address ”,“ postal code of sender ”,“ address 1 of sender ”,“ address 2 of sender ”,“ name of sender ”,“ printing style ”are sequentially arranged, Subsequently, “inserted character strings” are arranged in the 11th and subsequent lines. Further, the cellular phone 3 can attach the image taken by the imaging unit 63 to this postcard printing e-mail and transmit it to the printing apparatus 2 via the network 4.

  Next, an e-mail printing process for printing a postcard printing e-mail received by the printing apparatus 2 of the postcard printing system 1 configured as described above on a postcard will be described with reference to FIGS. The program shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 is stored in the ROM 42 of the printing apparatus 2 and is executed by the CPU 41 at predetermined time intervals (for example, every 0.1 second).

  As shown in FIG. 6, first, in step (hereinafter abbreviated as “S”) 11, the CPU 41 of the printing apparatus 2 initializes data stored in the RAM 43 and functions of each unit. That is, the CPU 41 initializes by substituting “0” into various flags and counters stored in the RAM 43, and stores a print buffer provided in the RAM 43 for storing print data and received e-mail. An electronic mail storage area, an image file storage area for storing an image file attached to the electronic mail, and the like are initialized.

Subsequently, in S <b> 12, the CPU 41 executes a determination process for determining whether or not an e-mail or an image file attached to the e-mail is received via the communication processing unit 35. If an e-mail or an image file attached to the e-mail has not been received (S12: NO), the CPU 41 ends the process.
On the other hand, when an e-mail or an image file attached to the e-mail is received (S12: YES), the CPU 41 proceeds to the process of S13.

  In S <b> 13, the CPU 41 receives the email and the attached image file via the communication processing unit 35 and sequentially stores the email and the attached image file in the RAM 43. The CPU 41 reads the count value N of the reception counter from the RAM 43 every time the electronic mail, the attached image file, and the like are stored in the RAM 43, adds “1”, and stores it again in the RAM 43. That is, the count value N of the reception counter represents the number of received emails.

In S <b> 14, the CPU 41 reads the count value P of the order counter from the RAM 43, substitutes “1” for the count value P of the order counter, and stores it again in the RAM 43.
After that, in S15, the CPU 41 reads the count value P of the order counter from the RAM 43, and the mail title of the P-th e-mail, that is, the P-th e-mail is used as the order of the e-mails that received this count value P. The character string in the first line is read.

  Subsequently, in S16, the CPU 41 executes a determination process for determining whether or not the mail title of the P-th electronic mail is a mail title representing a postcard printing electronic mail. Specifically, the CPU 41 performs a determination process for determining whether or not the character string “postcard mail:” is included in the first part of the character string in the first line read from the P-th e-mail. Execute.

  If the first part of the character string on the first line read from the P-th e-mail contains the character string “postcard mail:” (S16: YES), the CPU 41 determines that the P-th e-mail It is determined that the e-mail title of the e-mail is the e-mail title representing the postcard printing e-mail, and the process proceeds to S17. In S <b> 17, the CPU 41 proceeds to a process of S <b> 18 below after executing a sub-process (see FIG. 7) of “postcard printing process” described later.

  On the other hand, when the character string “postcard mail:” is not included in the first part of the character string in the first line read from the P-th e-mail (S16: NO), the CPU 41 It is determined that the e-mail title of the e-mail is not the e-mail title representing the postcard printing e-mail, and the process proceeds to S18.

In S <b> 18, the CPU 41 reads the count value P of the order counter from the RAM 43, adds “1” to the count value P of the order counter, and stores it in the RAM 43 again.
Subsequently, in S <b> 19, the CPU 41 reads out the count value P of the order counter and the count value N of the reception counter from the RAM 43, and executes a determination process for determining whether or not the count value P is larger than the count value N.

When the count value P is equal to or less than the count value N (S19: NO), the CPU 41 executes the processes after S15 again.
On the other hand, when the count value P is larger than the count value N (S19: YES), the CPU 41 ends the process.

Next, the sub-process of the “postcard printing process” executed in S17 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, first, in S111, the CPU 41 reads the count value P of the order counter from the RAM 43, and the P-th electronic mail (postcard printing electronic mail) as the order of the received electronic mail. E-mail) from the second line to the fifth line are sequentially read out from the RAM 43 and sequentially stored in the RAM 43 as “destination zip code”, “destination address 1”, “destination address 2”, and “address”. Remember.

In S112, the CPU 41 sequentially reads out the character strings from the 6th line to the 9th line of the Pth e-mail (e-mail for postcard printing) from the RAM 43, and sequentially reads “postal code of sender”, “ It is stored in the RAM 43 as “sender address 1”, “sender address 2”, and “sender name”.
Subsequently, in S113, the CPU 41 reads out the character string on the 10th line of the Pth e-mail (postcard printing e-mail) from the RAM 43, and selects the corresponding back side template as the “printing style”. And stored in the RAM 43.

Here, an example of “printing style” corresponding to each of the back side templates 91 to 94, 98 to 101, 105, and 108 will be described.
Each of the back side templates 91 to 94 is formed to be approximately equal to the size of the horizontal postcard, and is horizontally written in a horizontally long rectangle in the upper left part, upper right part, lower left part, and lower right part of the image printing area 95 set to almost the entire area. The character print areas 96 are set. Accordingly, the “printing styles” of the backside templates 91 to 94 are “horizontal horizontal writing upper left”, “horizontal horizontal writing upper right”, “horizontal horizontal writing lower left”, and “horizontal horizontal writing lower right”.

  Further, each of the back side templates 98 to 101 is formed substantially equal to the size of a vertically placed postcard, and has a vertically long rectangle in the upper left part, upper right part, lower left part, and lower right part of the image printing area 102 set to almost the entire area. The vertical character print areas 103 are set in the above. Thus, each “printing style” of each of the back side templates 98 to 101 is “vertical vertical writing upper left”, “vertical vertical writing upper right”, “vertical vertical writing lower left”, and “vertical vertical writing lower right”. is there.

  The back side template 105 is formed substantially equal to the size of a horizontal postcard, and a horizontally written character print area 106 is set in almost all areas. As a result, the “printing style” of the back side template 105 is “horizontal writing”. Further, the back side template 108 is formed substantially equal to the size of a vertically placed postcard, and a vertically written character print area 109 is set in almost all areas. Thus, the “printing style” of the back side template 108 is “vertical writing”.

  Therefore, for example, when the character string in the 10th line of the Pth e-mail (e-mail for postcard printing) is “horizontal horizontal writing upper right”, the CPU 41 selects the back side template 92 and stores it in the RAM 43. To do. When the character string on the 10th line of the Pth e-mail (postcard printing e-mail) is “horizontal writing”, the CPU 41 selects the back side template 105 and stores it in the RAM 43.

  Subsequently, in S114, the CPU 41 reads a character string from the RAM 43 on and after the 11th line of the P-th electronic mail (postcard printing electronic mail), and inserts it into the character printing areas 96, 103, 106, and 109. It is stored in the RAM 43 as an “inserted character string”.

  In S115, the CPU 41 reads from the RAM 43 "destination zip code", "destination address 1", "destination address 2", "address", "sender zip code", "sender address 1", " The “sender address 2” and “sender name” are read out, arranged in the placement areas 81A to 81H of the front side template 81 so as to fit each, and printed on the front side of the postcard 16 (see FIG. 1). It is stored as “front side print data” in a print buffer provided in the RAM 43. Then, the CPU 41 sequentially reads “front side print data” from the print buffer, and prints it on the front side of the postcard 16 via the color inkjet head or the like while conveying the postcard 16 via the printing unit 33.

Subsequently, in S116, the CPU 41 determines whether or not a data file of an image photographed by the imaging unit 63 of the mobile phone 3 is attached to the Pth email (postcard printing email). Execute.
If a data file of an image captured by the imaging unit 63 of the mobile phone 3 is attached (S116: YES), the CPU 41 proceeds to S117.

  In S <b> 117, the CPU 41 reads from the RAM 43 the image data file attached to the P-th electronic mail (postcard printing electronic mail). Then, the CPU 41 adjusts and arranges the image size so that the image fits in the image printing area 95 or the image printing area 102 of the back side template selected in S113 among the back side templates 91 to 94 and 98 to 101. Then, it is stored in a print buffer provided in the RAM 43 as “back side print data” to be printed on the back side of the postcard 16 (see FIG. 1).

  Further, the CPU 41 reads the “inserted character string” from the RAM 43, and selects the “inserted character string” from the back side templates 91 to 94 and 98 to 101 in the character printing area 96 or character printing of the back side template selected in S113. The character size is adjusted so as to fit in the area 103, and the “back side print data” of the print buffer provided in the RAM 43 is overwritten and stored.

  Subsequently, the CPU 41 sequentially reads the “back side print data” from the print buffer, turns the post card 16 through the printing unit 33 and conveys it, and prints it on the back side of the post card 16 through a color inkjet head or the like. The sub-process is terminated and the process returns to the main flowchart, and the process proceeds to S18.

Here, an example in which the CPU 41 prints an e-mail for postcard printing attached with a data file of an image taken by the imaging unit 63 of the mobile phone 3 will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 8, the e-mail received by the CPU 41 is an e-mail for postcard printing created according to the format 110, and the camera icon 121, that is, a “shrine landscape” as described later, the imaging unit of the mobile phone 3. A data file 121 of the image taken at 63 is attached.

  Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 9, the CPU 41 determines from the postcard printing e-mail the “destination zip code”, “destination address 1”, “destination address 2”, “address”, “sender zip code”. ”,“ Sender Address 1 ”,“ Sender Address 2 ”, and“ Sender Name ”are“ 123-0012 ”,“ Tokyo XX Ward ”,“ XX1-1 ”,“ Hanako Yamada ”,“ 234-5678 ”,“ Osaka City XX Ward ”,“ XX3-2 ”, and“ Taro Yamada ”are read out.

  Then, the CPU 41 determines the “123-0012”, “Tokyo XX Ward”, “XX1-1”, “Yamada Hanako”, “234-5678”, “Osaka City XX Ward”, “XX”. “3-2” and “Taro Yamada” are arranged in the arrangement regions 81A to 81H of the front side template 81 so that the character size is adjusted, and the RAM 43 is used as “front side print data” to be printed on the front side of the postcard 16. Is stored in the print buffer provided in Then, the CPU 41 sequentially reads the “front side print data” from the print buffer and prints it on the front side of the postcard 16 via the color inkjet head or the like while conveying the postcard 16 via the printing unit 33.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the CPU 41 selects the back side template 94 (see FIG. 4) because the character string on the 10th line of the postcard printing e-mail is “horizontal horizontal writing, lower right”. Store in the RAM 43. Then, the CPU 41 arranges the attached data file 121 of the “shrine landscape” image so as to fit in the image printing area 95 of the back side template 94 and prints it on the back side of the postcard 16. It is stored in a print buffer provided in the RAM 43 as “back side print data”.

  In addition, the CPU 41 reads from the RAM 43 as “insertion character string”, “Thank you for coming to the summer. The character size is adjusted so as to fit in the character print area 96, and the “back side print data” of the print buffer provided in the RAM 43 is overwritten and stored.

  Subsequently, the CPU 41 sequentially reads the “back side print data” from the print buffer, conveys the postcard 16 upside down via the printing unit 33, and conveys the backside image of the horizontal postcard 16 via the color inkjet head or the like. In addition to printing “Shinjuku landscape” in the printing area 95, in the letter printing area 96 on the lower right of the horizontal postcard 16, print “Thank you for the summer. .

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, when the data file of the image imaged by the imaging unit 63 of the mobile phone 3 is not attached (S116: NO), the CPU 41 proceeds to S118.
In S118, the CPU 41 reads the “inserted character string” from the RAM 43, and stores this “inserted character string” in the character printing area 106 or the character printing area 109 of the backside template selected in S113 of the backside templates 105 and 108. The character size is adjusted so as to fit, and is stored in a print buffer provided in the RAM 43 as “back side print data” to be printed on the back side of the postcard 16 (see FIG. 1).

  Subsequently, the CPU 41 sequentially reads the “back side print data” from the print buffer, turns the post card 16 through the printing unit 33 and conveys it, and prints it on the back side of the post card 16 through a color inkjet head or the like. The sub-process is terminated and the process returns to the main flowchart, and the process proceeds to S18.

  Here, an example in which the CPU 41 prints an e-mail for postcard printing to which an image data file is not attached will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 11, the e-mail received by the CPU 41 is an e-mail for postcard printing created according to the format 110, and no camera icon is displayed, that is, an image taken by the imaging unit 63 of the mobile phone 3. No data file is attached.
Further, the contents input in the input frame L9 in the first line of the e-mail received by the CPU 41 in the input box L9 in the first line of the e-mail are as follows. This is the same as the content input in the input frame L9 on the line.

  Therefore, “123-0012”, “Tokyo XX Ward”, “XX1-1”, “Hanako Yamada”, “234-5678” on the first to ninth lines of the postcard printing e-mail. , “Osaka City ○○ Ward”, “○○○ 3-2”, and “Taro Yamada” are arranged in the placement regions 81A to 81H of the front-side template 81 by adjusting the character size so as to be respectively accommodated. 16 is stored in a print buffer provided in the RAM 43 as “front side print data” to be printed on the front side. Then, the CPU 41 sequentially reads out the “front side print data” from the print buffer and conveys the postcard 16 via the printing unit 33 as shown in FIG. Print on the front side.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the CPU 41 selects the back template 108 (see FIG. 4) and selects the RAM 43 because the character string on the 10th line of the postcard printing e-mail is “vertical writing”. To remember. The CPU 41 then sends “postcard print email” from the RAM 43 as the “insert string” on the 11th and subsequent lines of the e-mail for the postcard printing. The character size is adjusted so as to fit in the character print area 109 of the back side template 108 and stored in “back side print data” of the print buffer provided in the RAM 43.

  Subsequently, the CPU 41 sequentially reads the “back side print data” from the print buffer, reverses the postcard 16 via the printing unit 33 and conveys it, while the characters on the back side of the vertical postcard 16 via the color inkjet head or the like. In print area 109, print "Thank you for the summer. It's very hot every day, but how are you doing? Are you going to play in the tray?"

  Here, the printing unit 33 functions as an example of a printing unit. The mobile phone 3 functions as an example of a communication terminal device. Further, the communication processing unit 35 functions as an example of a mail information acquisition unit. The ROM 42 functions as an example of a template storage unit. The CPU 41 functions as an example of a template selection unit, a front side print information extraction unit, a back side print information extraction unit, a print control unit, a character size adjustment unit, an attachment determination unit, and an image adjustment unit.

  As described above in detail, in the postcard printing system 1 according to the present embodiment, the CPU 41 of the printing apparatus 2 communicates a postcard printing e-mail created in the format 110 transmitted from the mobile phone 3 via the network 4. If acquired via the processing unit 35, the back side template is selected according to the “printing style” of the tenth line of the postcard printing e-mail. Then, the CPU 41 reads out each character string in the first to ninth lines of the postcard printing e-mail, and reads “destination postal code”, “destination address 1”, “destination address 2”, “address”. , Adjust the character size so that it fits in each of the placement areas 81A to 81H of the front side template 81 as "sender's zip code", "sender's address 1", "sender's address 2", and "sender's name". It is arranged and printed on the front side of the postcard 16 via the printing unit 33. Subsequently, when the image data is not attached to the acquired postcard printing e-mail, the CPU 41 reads the insertion character string from the 11th line onward of the postcard printing e-mail, and the character printing area of the selected back side template The character size is adjusted so as to fit in the area 106 or the character print area 109, and printing is performed on the back side of the postcard 16 via the printing unit 33.

  As a result, the postcard printing e-mail created in the format 110 is transmitted from the mobile phone 3 to the printing apparatus 2 via the network 4, whereby each character in the second to ninth lines of the postcard printing e-mail is sent. It is possible to print the column at a predetermined position on the front side of the postcard 16 and print the insertion character string on and after the 11th line of the postcard printing e-mail on the back side of the postcard 16. Accordingly, even a person unaccustomed to a personal computer such as an elderly person simply installs the printing apparatus 2 and connects it to the network 4, so that the destination information of the postcard printing e-mail transmitted from the mobile phone 3 via the network 4 can be obtained. It is possible to easily obtain the postcard 16 in which the sender information and the insertion character string are printed on the front side and the back side, respectively.

  Even if the character size, text, etc. of the character strings of the second to ninth lines of the postcard printing e-mail and the inserted character strings of the eleventh and subsequent lines are not set in the mobile phone 3, the CPU 41 can According to the printing style specified in the 10th line of the printing e-mail, it is possible to appropriately print in the character printing areas of the front side template 81 and the back side template 105 or the back side template 108 of the postcard 16 and improve usability. Can be achieved.

  When the CPU 41 obtains a postcard printing e-mail attached with the image data file 121 via the network 4, the CPU 41 follows this image according to the “printing style” on the 10th line of the postcard printing e-mail. The image size is adjusted and arranged so as to fit in the image printing area 95 or the image printing area 102 of the selected back side template, and the inserted character strings in the eleventh and subsequent lines of the postcard printing e-mail are displayed in the character printing area 96 of the back side template. Alternatively, the character size is adjusted and arranged so as to fit in the character print area 103, and printing is performed on the back side of the postcard 16 via the printing unit 33.

  Accordingly, the data file 121 of the image photographed by the imaging unit 63 of the mobile phone 3 is attached to the postcard printing e-mail created in the format 110 and transmitted from the mobile phone 3 to the printing apparatus 2 via the network 4. As a result, each character string of the second to ninth lines of the postcard printing e-mail is printed at a predetermined position on the front side of the postcard 16 and attached to the post-printing e-mail in the eleventh and subsequent lines. The printed image can be printed on the back side of the postcard 16. Accordingly, even a person unaccustomed to a personal computer such as an elderly person simply installs the printing apparatus 2 and connects it to the network 4, so that the destination information of the postcard printing e-mail transmitted from the mobile phone 3 via the network 4 can be obtained. It is possible to easily obtain the postcard 16 in which the sender information, the inserted character string, and the image are printed on the front side and the back side, respectively.

  Further, the postcard printing e-mail format 110 includes “postcard mail: (mail title”, “address postal code”, “address address 1”, “address address 2”, “address”, as identification information. "Sender's postal code", "Sender's address 1", "Sender's address 2", "Sender's name", "Print style", and "Insertion string" are configured to be input for each line feed. For this reason, the CPU 41 of the printing apparatus 2 can read out each information for each line feed and quickly obtain the information, and the user of the mobile phone 3 can easily read the postcard printing e-mail according to the format 110. It becomes possible to create.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, Of course, various improvement and deformation | transformation are possible within the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention. For example, the following may be used.

  (A) Not only the front-side template 81 formed substantially equal to the size of the vertically placed postcard, but also the “side-by-side horizontal writing” front-side template in which the placement areas 81A to 81H are horizontally written may be provided. If the printing style of the 10th line of the postcard printing e-mail is “vertically placed”, in S113, the CPU 41 selects the front template 81, while the postcard printing e-mail 10 When the printing style of the line is “landscape...”, In S113, the CPU 41 may select the front side template of “landscape horizontally”.

  (B) Also, a personal computer connected to the network 4 receives the postcard printing e-mail and the attached image data transmitted from the mobile phone 3 via the network 4, and the personal computer receives the USB ( The received postcard printing e-mail and attached image data may be output to the printing apparatus 2 connected via a universal serial bus) cable or the like.

  (C) Also, the cellular phone connected to the network 4 receives the postcard printing e-mail and the attached image data transmitted from the cellular phone 3 via the network 4, and the cellular phone performs infrared communication. The received postcard printing e-mail and attached image data may be output to the printing apparatus 2 by, for example.

  (D) Also, the mobile phone 3 does not have the format storage area 72A for storing the postcard printing e-mail format 110, and the user remembers the input format of the format 110, and the postcard printing e-mail according to the format 110. May be created and sent to the printing apparatus 2 as a normal electronic mail.

  (E) Further, the CPU 41 of the printing apparatus 2 does not include the character string “postcard mail:” in the first part of the character string in the first line read from the P-th electronic mail in S16. (S16: NO), the electronic mail may be printed as it is on the front side or the back side of the postcard, and after discharging, the process may proceed to S18.

  (F) Not only the mobile phone 3 but also a desktop personal computer, a notebook computer, or the like transmits a postcard printing e-mail or attached image data created in accordance with the format 110 via the network 4 to the printing apparatus 2. You may do it. As a result, the postcard printing e-mail and attached image data created according to the format 110 are transmitted to the printing means 2 according to the format 110, and the postcard printing e-mail and attached image data are printed. A postcard 16 can be created.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Postcard printing system 2 Printing apparatus 3 Mobile phone 4 Network 16 Postcard 31, 61 Control circuit part 33 Printing part 35, 62 Communication processing part 41, 71 CPU
42, 72 ROM
43, 73 RAM
42A Template storage area 72A Format storage area 81 Front template 91-94, 98-101, 105, 108 Back template 110 Format 121 Camera icon (image data file)

Claims (4)

Printing means capable of printing the print data on both sides of the postcard-like print medium;
Mail information acquisition means for acquiring mail information for postcard printing created in a predetermined format transmitted from a communication terminal device via a network;
Template storage means for storing a plurality of types of postcard templates provided with predetermined character printing areas;
Template selection means for selecting the postcard template based on postcard printing mail information acquired via the mail information acquisition means;
Front side print information extracting means for extracting front side print information to be printed on the front side of the print medium including destination information and sender information from the postcard print mail information;
Back side print information extracting means for extracting back side print information to be printed on the back side of the print medium including the insertion character string from the postcard printing mail information;
The front side print information extracted by the front side print information extraction unit via the printing unit is controlled to be printed on the front side of the print medium according to the postcard template selected by the template selection unit, and the back side print information extraction Print control means for controlling to print the back side print information extracted by the means on the back side of the print medium according to the postcard template;
A printing apparatus comprising: Character size adjusting means for adjusting the character size so that the inserted character string enters the predetermined character printing area,
2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print control unit performs control to print the insertion character string adjusted by the character size adjustment unit in the predetermined character print region. The postcard template includes an image printing area for printing image information attached to the postcard printing mail information on the back side of the printing medium;
Attachment determination means for determining whether image information is attached to the postcard printing mail information;
When it is determined that image information is attached to the postcard printing mail information, the image adjustment unit adjusts the image information so as to fit the image printing area of the postcard template selected by the template selection unit. When,
With
The print control unit controls the image information adjusted via the image adjustment unit to print on the back side of the print medium according to the image print area. Printing device. The postcard printing e-mail information includes identification information for identifying whether it is e-mail information for printing on a postcard, and template specifying information for specifying a postcard template selected by the template selection means,
The destination information includes a destination address and a destination name,
The sender information includes a sender address and a sender name,
The predetermined format is configured such that the identification information, the template specifying information, the destination address, the destination name, the address of the sender, the sender name, and the insertion character string are input for each line feed. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is a printer.

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